Man vs. Food: Sacramento

Tonight @ 9pm on The Travel Channel.

The Counter: Hollywood

The Counter has opened yet another location in Southern California this week, near the intersection of Sunset & Fairfax.  The Counter is a one a kind Burger Joint where you create your own burger.  On a Bun or in a Bowl?  Maybe a Fried Egg and Honey Cured Bacon?  The combinations are endless, or almost endless... 312,120 to be exact!

I will be posting a full review later this week.  If you haven't been to The Counter yet, I suggest you make it the next Burger you eat.

Here is a list of all the California locations:

Carlsbad

Corte Madera

El Segundo

Irvine

Los Angeles

Marina del Rey

Palo Alto

Pasadena

Roseville

San Jose

Santa Monica

Studio City

Walnut Creek

Westlake Village

Soda Pop's

Wanna go grab a some lunch at Soda Pop’s?  Sounds like a quote from a 1950’s TV series, when in reality, Soda Pop's is a recently opened sandwich shop on La Cienega just north of the Beverly Center.  It is run by three guys from Boston who I feel have been inspired by the new generation of Guy Fiere’s and Adam Rickman’s.

It is a very clean environment with lots of wood and stainless steel, but still gives the warmth of an intimate sandwich shop.  All of the food is prepared in an open kitchen and you can hear and smell the bacon sizzling on the grill while you wait for your BELT.  These guys also make their own Potato Chips that are simply amazing.

They have one of the largest displays of soda I have seen.  You can even get Coke & Fanta in half liter GLASS bottles.

I have eaten a lot of BLT sandwiches in my life and these guys have seemed to create a BLT on a whole other level.  It is called the BELT and is your mom’s BLT on steroids!  Imagine two slices of toasted French white bread topped off with Apple Wood Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado and an OVER EASY EGG!

Today was my third visit to Soda Pop’s, but I still cannot stray from the BELT with Barbecue Chips and a large Coke in the bottle.  They have cookies and Rice Krispies treats that look amazing as well as slices of Sicilian Pizza on the weekends.

Soda Pop’s also offers a wide variety of salad’s including a Caesar, Cobb, Mixed Green and Nicoise, all of which you can add on Shrimp or Chicken if you are looking for some protein.

These are a few of the other sandwiches that have caught my eye, but have not tried yet:

• Steak Bomb
• Meatball Grinder
• Chicken Parm
• Italian
• French Ham & Cheese
• Grilled Cheese & Tomato

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Morton's Power Hour

When someone says the words "Morton's Steakhouse," the first thing you think of is not necessarily a great place to go for Happy Hour.  But you are wrong.

Over the past few years Morton's has been transforming the bars in their restaurants into the one of a kind Bar 12:21.  The bar gets the name 12:21 from the opening of the first Morton's restaurant in Chicago, IL on 12/21/78.  These newly remodeled bars feature multiple flat screen TV's, more seating and some great appetizers which are properly named "Bar Bites."

Morton's offers what they call Power Hour which is their version of the Happy Hour.  It takes place 7 days a week from 5-6:30pm & 9pm-Close.  This is one of the best Happy Hour deals in the US when you consider the quality of food you are getting for a price that's next to nothing.  All of the Bar Bites are available for $5, with Beer & Wine going for $4 & $5.

The key is to only order the drinks from the Power Hour Menu.  A cocktail will cost you anywhere between $10-$14 depending on where in the country you are dining, but you can choose from one of four Power Hour drinks for only $7.  I personally recommend trying two of the Bar Bites and a Bud Light, which comes to the grand total of $14.  If you told someone you could fill up at Morton's for less than $20 including tax & tip, they would think you were crazy.

If you are looking for something a little more substantial than a snack, you can get a Morton's Prime Cheeseburger with Fries for $15, get a Sam Adams to wash it down and you're still only looking at $19 before tax & tip.

Everything on the menu is classic comfort food, but my favorite would have to be the Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip served with toasted slices of French Bread.  Top it off with some Mini Cheeseburgers and you will be stuffed!

The Beverly Hills location has three 40" TV's that always have sports from open to close.  It's a great place to go with friends and get some "cheap" food before going out or while watching a sporting event.  Nothing goes better with Monday Night Football than some Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip.

'Bar Bites' - $5
*Three Miniature Crab Cakes
Iceberg Wedge Bites
Chicken Goujonettes
*Three Prime Cheeseburgers
*Jumbo Lump Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip
*Four Petite Filet Mignon Sandwiches
Blue Cheese French Fries

Beer - $4
Sam Adams Seasonal
Budweiser
Bud Light

Wine - $5
BV Coastal Cabernet
Canyon Road Chardonnay
Cavit Pinot Grigio
Columbia Crest Merlot

Morton's Mortinis - $7
Power Hour Cosmo
Power Hour Gin or Vodka Mortini
Power Hour Mojito
Power Hour Jim Beam Manhattan

Not all Morton's locations currently off Power Hour so make sure that you call ahead.  The following locations all offer Power Hour:

Downtown LA
Burbank
Beverly Hills
Woodland Hills
Santa Ana
Sacramento

Tomato Pie

Tomato Pie is the best Pizza Joint to hit L.A. since Mulberry Street.  While Mozza and other restaurants offer more fancy pizzas, Tomato Pie keeps it real.

 

(Meat Lover on left & The Grandma on right)

Located on Melrose next to Sportie L.A. and across from Fairfax High School, this place has some of the best slices in town.  There is also a second location on Hyperion in Silver Lake.

Hands down, the favorite is the "Grandma" which was ranked by GQ as one of the Top 25 Pizzas in the U.S.A.

 (Hot Wing - Syracuse Style)

"Grandma: Also known as the “Margarita” after the Italian queen in the year blah blah. Actually it’s the first pizza ever invented. Italian Moms loved to make this at home with fresh filleted tomatoes from the garden that they would marinate for a whole day before using. This super simple pie with very light spots of Mozzarella has only an Olive oil base with no sauce per se. Just the Tomatoes crushed by hand and topped with grated Romano and Fresh Basil. It’s perhaps the greatest pizza on the planet."

My personal favorite is The Grandma but there is a close tie for second between many others:

• Mr. White Gourmet
• Joe P
• Hot Wing (Syracuse Style)
• Meat Lover

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Melrose Location

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Silver Lake Location

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Fast Food Nation

Check out this map of fast food density in the US. I guess all those Olympic athletes really are Mc' Lovin It!




http://www.weathersealed.com/2010/02/23/a-disturbance-in-the-force/

Lunch in Culver City

Trying to blog from the iPhone for the first time, so bear with me.

Just finished a ridiculously amazing lunch at Lunch in Culver City. It officially opened last Saturday and I will definitely be coming back. Located on Main St. it is walking distance Sony & Culver Studios. There are tons of salads and sandwiches as well as a card you can fill out to make your own sandwich.




I had the Bachelor's Beef: Roast Beef, Carmalized Onions, Provolone, Tomato, Horseradish on White Sourdough. Definitely one of the best "Philly Cheese Steaks" I have ever tasted.




The rest of the group had Grandma's Garden, Grilled Cheese w/ Tomato, Chili, Mac & Cheese & the Chop It To Me Salad. We finished off with a variety of cookies: Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Butterscotch & Cranberry Raisin.






Posted from iPhone

Location:Main St,Culver City,United States

LA Street Food Fest

What: 1st Annual LA Street Food Fest

When: Saturday, February 13th, 11am – 5pm

Admission: General Admission will be available at the door the day of the event on a first-come first-served basis.

$5 General Admission . Includes entry to the festival, a free drink ticket, cool giveaways.

Where: LA Center Studios
 
How: Pay as you go (cash only!) directly to food vendors with special Street Food Fest sampling menus priced $1-$5!

Grab food from dozens of the city’s most popular mobile food trucks including The Buttermilk Truck, Grilled Cheese Truck, Sweets Truck, Fresser’s, Frysmith, Slice Truck, Flying Pig, Fishlips, Komodo, a surprise celebrity chef pop-up, and many more ...

FREE Original Grand Slam

If you didn't see the Super Bowl ad for Denny's, here's what you missed:

What:  FREE Original Grand Slam (Two Eggs, Pancakes & Bacon)

Where: Denny's

When:  Tuesday, February 9th (6am-2pm)

Happy Hour: 8oz. Burger Bar

8 oz. Burger Bar on Melrose has conjured up a new happy hour special for meat eaters and their friends.  From 4:00-7:00pm Monday-Friday, and from 10:00pm-closing Monday-Thursday, guests can enjoy $4 cocktails, beers, wines and bar snacks.  Perfect for when you feel like a hamburger, but are on a tight budget.

7661 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

Man v. Food Live Tonight @ 9pm

Adam Richman is live from the Super Bowl tonight at 9pm.  It is a 2 hour episode showing off all of the great eats in Miami, from Cuban Sandwiches to Hot Dogs with Coconut Sauce.  The show will end with Adam trying to eat a 48 oz. Porterhouse from Shula's Steakhouse in under 20 minutes.

Man v. Food LIVE

Short Rib Sandwich from Joan's on Third

Joan's on Third has a reputation for being a trendy celebrity laden spot with a small amount of tables, minimal parking and long waits.  But here's the trick, call ahead, order on the west side of the counter and never eat there.  I will do a more formal review in the next few weeks, but I saw on their twitter page today that the Short Rib Sandwich will be on the cover of the February issue of Bon Appetite.

I have never tried the Short Ribs, but will be doing so in the next few days.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Turkey Meatloaf Sandwich w/ Chili Aioli
  
• Mac & Cheese
• Grilled Cheese w/ Tomato & Bacon
• Tarragon Chicken Salad
  
• Egg Salad
• Albacore Tuna Salad
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes

The salad sandwiches cost between $9-$10.  But, you can buy a half pint for between $5-$6 then take it home and make your own sandwich.  The half pint of Chicken Salad almost yields two sandwiches, depending on your appetite.

Hennessey's Tavern

Hennessey's Tavern is a great place to meet with friends without the usual crowds and loud noise associated with Southern California Beach Bars.  Hennesssey's has 10 locations extending from Manhattan Beach to Las Vegas.  All the locations share a few common traits like plentiful seating, friendly staff, great food & fast bar service.  However if you venture into a Hennessey's on the 4th of July, Memorial or Labor Day, you will find exactly the opposite.  But the majority of the time you can walk in and grab a table inside or outside.

A favorite of my friends and I is Hennessey's Hermosa Beach.  As well as a large patio on the Pier, the Hermosa Beach location offers a rooftop Patio that can seat upwards of 50 people and has it's own bar.  If you choose to sit inside, the west side of the bar has large glass windows that open up to the strand and allow for great people watching and a nice ocean breeze.  It is also a great spot to hit if you are at one of the many bars in Hermosa and are craving some hearty food to soak up the alcohol.  It depends on the location, but most Hennessey's serve food til at least Midnight on the weekends.

Hennessey's serves Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, but in my opinion, is most famous for it's appetizers...  There is nothing better than a cold beer with a Burger Sampler & Cheese Fries.

The Burger Sampler consists of 4 Sliders, each with a different topping.  Cheese, Bacon & BBQ Sauce, Guacamole and finally Sauteed Mushrooms.  I usually have them substitute another Guacamole Burger for the Mushroom Burger.

The Cheese Fries are pretty self-explanatory.  A plate of fries covered with lots of melted Jack & Cheddar cheese served with two sides of ranch.  Get your fork out!

Hennessey's also serves up a killer breakfast with excellent eggs & bacon, but the real treat is the Cap'n Crunch French Toast.  It's basically your run of the mill french toast.  Except before they place it in the pan, they dip it in a batter with finely ground Cap'n Crunch Cereal.  Top with syrup and butter and there ain't nuthin' better...

Hennessey's also has a lot of ways to save money while still enjoying great friends and food.  Tuesdays are 2-for-1 Burgers all day long.  Happy Hour runs from Monday-Friday form 4-7pm with deals on Draft Beers.  Sundays have two specials, a bottle of Champagne & OJ all day long for $20 and 2-for-1 Turkey Dinners after 5pm for $12.95 per person.

But whatever the day or time, Hennessey's is usually open and serving up some great pub favorites.

Locations

• Manhattan Beach (upstairs private room)
  
• Hermosa Beach (rooftop patio)
  
• Redondo Beach (riviera village)
  
• Seal Beach
• Dana Point (outdoor fire pit)
  
• Laguna Beach
• Carlsbad
  
• Pacific Beach
• San Diego (gaslamp district)
  
• Las Vegas

Favorites

• Burger Sampler
• Cheese Fries
• Irish Nachos
• Fish & Chips
• Cap'n Crunch French Toast

If you are in Hermosa Beach and want to grab a drink, check out Sharkeez

LA Restaurant Week 2010

LA Restaurant Week began yesterday and will run through this Friday, the 29th.  It will resume on Sunday, the 31st and continue through Friday, the 5th of February.  You can sort the restaurants on the site by neighborhood, price, cuisine, etc.  I will be out trying some new spots for lunch & dinner as well as posting some new reviews in the next few days.

LA Restaurant Week 2010

Review: Doughboys

DOUGHBOYS IS BACK!

After nearly two years since both of their locations closed, Doughboys will be reopening it's doors on 3rd Street this Monday.  They have been having a soft opening, giving away free food since Wednesday, so I ventured the crowds to find out if it still holds up...

I arrived around 12:30 to find about 25 people waiting in front and immediately thought this was going to take a while.  I gave my name to the waiter out front and he said it should only be about a 20 minute wait.  The staff seemed to be turning the tables over rather quickly and everything looked like it was running smooth.

Shortly after the 20 minutes was up I was seated at a table for 4, which I thought was odd.  My waiter arrived immediately and I ordered my old favorite, the Breakfast Sandwich.  A generous portion of two sandwiches sliced diagonally consisting of fried eggs, bacon and tomato, covered with cheese and broiled for a few minutes.

I would say it took me less than 5 minutes to devour both sandwiches.

The sandwich was a good as I remembered except for one small difference, the cheese.  It used to be covered with GOOEY emmenthal cheese that nearly ran off the plate.  Now, it seems to be covered with a mix of Cheddar & Jack.  When I asked if they had changed the sandwich, the manager had to look in the menu to see what kind of cheese it should have...  I am guessing they are making new menus and were just using photocopies of the old ones for the time being.  The smaller amount of cheese almost seemed to make the sandwich easier to eat and allowed the flavors of the tomatoes and bacon to stand out.

The coffee was excellent and with my wait included I was out in less than 45 minutes, which isn't bad for a restaurant offering free food in a recession.   I will definitely be back when they open for The Monster and a Red Velvet Cupcake.

They are open tomorrow from 11am-2pm & 5pm-8pm, but I'm sure it will be packed with all the buzz that it is has been receiving.

Their website is not fully restored, but I'm sure it will be shortly:  Doughboys

8136 W 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90048

Review for Friday: Baby's Badass Burgers

Tomorrow I will be checking out Baby's Badass Burgers.  Their truck will be parked in the alley behind MTV & Lionsgate @ 2700 Colorado Blvd. in Santa Monica between 11:30am - 2:30pm.  Come on down and have a burger with me and the Wizzle.

IZAKA-YA by KATSU-YA to open in South Bay

L.A. Sushi giant Katsu-Ya is opening another of it's Izaka-Ya restaurants in Manhattan Beach.  The restaurant will take over the space formerly occupied by Octopus across from The Kettle.  I will keep you up to date with opening info as well as a review of the original.  In case you decide to venture to your local Katsu-Ya before then, here is the must list:

• Crispy Rice
• Spicy Tuna Roll w/ Creamy Rock Shrimp Tempura
• Seared Albacore w/ Crispy Onions
  
• Yellowtail w/ Jalapeno
  
• Kobe Burger
  

Doughboys' is Back! Free Food through Friday!

Just because it was on The Hills & Oprah, doesn't mean it's just for douchebags!

Both of Doughboys' locations have been closed for nearly two years.  Home of the best Red Velvet cupcakes in LA and a ton of other random sandwiches.  Doughboys' will be reopening it's 3rd street location on Monday, January 11th, 2009.   They are currently having a soft-opening which started Wednesday and runs through Friday and is FREE!


Thursday & Friday:  11am-2pm & 5pm-8pm

8136 W. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90048

Hopefully they will continue to make their old favorites:

• The Monster
• French Dip
• Pulled Pork
• Shit on a Shingle
• The Fat Boy
  

And most definitely a Red Velvet Cupcake...

I will check it out tomorrow and post photos and a review.

Thanks to Blackburn & Sweetzer for the info...

Harris Ranch

One of the greatest unknown dining destinations in California is Harris Ranch...

Known for it's fine cuts of beef and pungent aroma, Harris Ranch delivers classic American fare on the side of the 5.  If you have never visited Harris Ranch, it is located on the east side of Interstate 5 approximately half way between Sacramento & Los Angeles.

As well as serving as a full-functioning ranch, the property also includes a restaurant, inn & air strip.  You can get breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between at the ranch, which offers three unique dining areas.  The most common is the Ranch Kitchen, which serves all three meals, The Steakhouse, which only serves dinner and requires reservations, and my personal favorite, The Horseshoe Bar.   Menu

The Bar is the best place for the traveler to dine, as there is no wait and relatively fast service.  You can catch a glimpse of the sports that you have been listening to in the car on one of the many flat screen TV's encompassing the room.  There is a large Horseshoe shaped bar at one end of the room which is lit by a giant chandelier that is made of antlers.  The only problem is that children are no longer allowed in the bar, which means longer waits for the family in the Ranch Kitchen.  It's not your typical bar, I don't think there is a house within 10 miles...

Most of my visits to Harris Ranch occur in the late afternoon to early evening so I am partial to the California Burger, which I will explain later.  But, if you are lucky enough to make it to Harris Ranch in the morning, don't miss breakfast.  One of my favorites is the Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs, a speciality of the Ranch.  Along with a "Texas-Sized" piece of Chicken Fried Steak smothered in Gravy, you get Two Eggs, Hash Browns and Biscuits.  I highly recommend it to provide you with energy for the remaining 200 miles of your drive.

You can never go wrong with Steak & Eggs at the Ranch.  Depending on your appetite and wallet size, you can take your pick from a Filet to a Porterhouse!

Hands down, my favorite dish at the Ranch is the California Burger.  Everything in it was raised and farmed on the ranch.  It starts out with 1/3 pound USDA Choice Natural Black Angus Beef topped with Crispy Bacon, Guacamole, Jack Cheese, Lettuce, Red Onions & a Tomato!  I usually go with a side of Sweet Potato Fries and a House Salad to start off the meal.  Even the fresh baked roll and homemade honey butter that comes with the salad are to die for!  During the winter months I will substitute either Cream of Potato, or another homemade soup for the salad.

Here are a few of my other favorites:

• Steak (NY, Filet, Rib-Eye)
• Prime Rib
• Sandwiches (Tri-Tip, Rib-Eye Dip, Prime Rib)
• Chicken Fried Steak
• Pot Roast

Once you have filled your belly, it's time to fill your shopping bag...

You can purchase any cut of beef available on the menu in the Country Store, which is located near the entrance to the restaurants.  Along with the meat, there are sauces, marinades, baked goods, assorted candies and travel goodies.  The meat is placed into vacuum sealed bags, which are then put into brown paper satchels with ice packs.  This way your meat is guaranteed to stay cold for up to 8 hours.

LA Food Trucks

I will begin to track down the Roach Coaches that are roaming the streets of LA, but until then, here is a great website to find them on your own:

Find LA Food Trucks

This will be #1 on my list:

The Grilled Cheese Truck

Coming Soon...

Rinaldi's, Outlaw's, Bay Cities Deli, Philippe's, Comme Ca, Izaka-Ya by Katsuya, Joan's on Third, Eggs Bendict, Burgers, Tacos & more...

Pink's Hot Dogs

I 'm sure that I am the one-millionth person to write a blog about Pink's Hot Dogs, but I feel that I need to put in my two cents and it will be an easy intro into the world of blogging...

If you asked most Angeleno's to tell you about Pink's, you would probably hear the following phrases: "tourists, long lines, no where to sit & bad parking."  While all that may be true, there are a few tips one could use to make their experience at Pink's much more memorable.

Pink's opens at 9:30am everyday.  The best time to go to pinks is between 10:30-11:30 in the morning, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.  But, this rule does not apply during the following seasons and holidays, when it is best to avoid Pink's at all costs.  It's not like it's going anywhere...

• Summer
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• Bowl Season
• Easter

Another good time to visit Pink's is when School is in session and people are less likely to be taking a vacation.  If you ever have the opportunity to go during the rain, seize it!  Angeleno's and tourists are highly unlikely to stand outside in the rain to wait for a hot dog!

Parking can be another tricky situation when visiting Pink's, as they only have a handful of spots.  The other problem is that there is NO PARKING on La Brea between 4-7pm, Monday-Friday.   You can try your luck in the neighborhoods surrounding La Brea & Melrose, but beware that many of these streets require permits to park.  The only advantage of going to Pink's during those times is that the line is noticeably shorter.  Angeleno's don't like to walk.

There are thousands of combination's you can stuff in your face at Pink's from Polish Sausage to an old fashioned Chili Cheese Dog, which is my personal favorite.  You should also go to Pink's with a large appetite, just in case it's a year before your return.

I personally recommend the Chili Cheese Dog, which comes with Mustard, Chili, Cheese on top of Hoffy Frank, packed inside a steamed bun.  I get mine without Mustard because I feel that it takes away from the Chili, which is the real reason you are here!

2 - Chili Cheese Dogs w/o Mustard

2 - Coca Cola Classics

Chili Cheese Fries

Lots of Napkins!!!

Pink's is a Los Angeles staple that should not be passed up by anyone.  You can also try Pink's at Knott's Berry Farm, the Greek Theater and the LA, Ventura & Orange County Fairs.