June 23, 2010
Sorry for this jank picture, but it will have to do. I present to you: Jitlada’s Morning Glory Salad. I can’t stop thinking about this, since I had it two weeks ago at the famed Thai joint, Jitlada, in LA on Sunset. It’s fried watercress (aka “morning glory”), chopped red cabbage, red onions, shrimp, more […]
June 16, 2010
My bestie Sara and I were literally driving up to The Golden State last week at around 4pm, when I got a phone call from Little Brother (LB), who lives in LA. LB: Where you at? Me: Just pulling up to The Golden State. LB: Nooooo! It’s Thursday! Me: What does that mean? LB: They […]
June 6, 2010
I’ve been dying to visit the San Pedro Fish Market since Sara wrote about it a few years back. It’s the perfect summertime Umamiventure! Although it’s always summer in LA, isn’t it? Sigh. Since I’ll be in LA this week, let’s all get together and gorge on fresh oysters and crab and shrimp and drink […]
May 14, 2010
Hi Umamimarters! My name is Chiara and it’s a pleasure and honor to be contributing to this here blog. Two months ago I purchased a townhouse in Los Angeles and to make up for this seemingly adult transaction, I’ve been drinking like I’m 23 again. Thus, the contents of my fridge completely reflect this delicate […]
October 8, 2009
Trailing on the coattails of Yoko’s earlier Umamiventure post to the SAME EXACT RESTAURANT in Tokyo, I am finally ready to unveil the greatness that was Din Tai Fung (DTF) in LA. The only outpost in the U.S. of this legendary Taiwanese restaurant!! As you’ll see, the dumplings look suspiciously similar to the ones they […]
September 28, 2009
Just got back from LaLaLand for the last in a never ending series of weddings this year (uhhh, SEVEN). Jon Sublet got hitched!!! It was quite the wedding for the ages- the dessert table consisted of Persian sweets, fresh figs and these beautiful petite WHOLE CUCUMBERS. Of course I shamelessly had like five of them, […]
September 13, 2009
With all the talk about xiao long bao aka XLB aka soup dumplings on here these days, no one should be surprised that it won the poll (up there on the top right corner) for where we would go for the next Umamiventure. XLB it is!!! So we’re taking a trip to Din Tai Fung […]
March 28, 2009
In the spirit of March Madness, the heaven-sent blog LA Taco has posted their Elite 8 bracket for Taco Madness 2009. Since college basketball’s Elite 8 commences tonight I thought it would be appropriate to post an expert breakdown of the Taco Madness match-ups by my friend and taco maven Ignacio “Nacho” Garcia–the man is […]
February 25, 2009
My dear friend Jim is opening a sandwich, beer and ice cream joint in LA!!! My three favorite food groups all under one roof- could you ask for anything more? I think not. He and his biz partner Jason have named the cafe The Golden State, that will quite appropriately be highlighting beers, meats, cheeses […]
February 9, 2009
I’ll have the alfalfa sprouts and a plate of mashed yeast. Famous Alvy Singer quote from Annie Hall when Alvy meets Annie at an outdoor cafe in LA, remember? Well, when Moet asked me to meet her at M Cafe de Chaya in West Hollywood and she mentioned “macrobiotic food,” I felt a wave of […]