NYC Part 1: MOMA

I am currently in PA for a few days to see my family. Aside from my awkward sleep schedule that will not budge (5am-11am), it has been a very pleasant trip. On Sunday my parents and I went up to NYC for the day. We started the morning at MOMA.

A Few of My Favorites:

René Magritte’s “The Palace of Curtains, III” (1928-29). The word ciel is French for sky. In the coffin-like misshaped frame on the left is a representation of a sky. In the frame on the right is the word “ciel.” Get it? Surreally cool.

Roy Lichtenstein’s “Drowning Girl” (1963). She’s right though, if she called Brad, he would never let her forget he saved her from drowning.

Ger van Elk’s “The Co-founder of the Word O.K.” (1971). I had never heard of this Danish photographer before, but loved his clever photos and of course the imagery of Hollywood in the 70’s. If you look closely, Ger van Elk is posed in profile to the right of a framed yellow bubble letter “O” in each picture. He is posing as the letter “K” by raising his arm and leg. As a result, he is “O.K.” on a street, a block from the Hollywood Colonial, and outside a store.

Bibigo Hot Stone - Westwood

I rarely enter the Westwood microcosm because of traffic and the consistent lack of street parking.  But after my Dad randomly told me about Bibigo, a fast-casual Korean restaurant that just opened up recently, I figured it was worth the hassle.

Bibigo is probably most notable for its hot stone bibimbap. A bibimbap is more than just a fun word to say - it translates into English as “mixed meal” and typically includes rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables), some type of protein, and a sauce placed in a hot stone bowl. At Bibigo, if you order the hot stone bibimbap, you can choose the type of rice (white, brown, black pearl, barley & white), type of protein (bulgogi, chicken, tofu, shrimp), and sauce (kohot, bean, sesame, citron soy).

I chose the bulgogi (barbequed beef) with black pearl rice and kohot (hot) sauce. My bibimbap came with a side of kimchi and a side of pickled radish (not pictured). The hot stone is HOT (hence the caution tape surrounding it). The sauces come in packets. Kohot was sweeter than expected (sweeter than the sriracha I put on everything).

Overall, it was delicious and inexpensive for the amount of food we ordered.

Bibigo
1091 Broxton Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 824-0011
Hours: 11am-11pm

Spice Table - Little Tokyo

I have been to Spice Table before for lunch (sadly, no picture or post), but this time I went for dinner for which they have a completely separate and different menu. In general, the ambiance is always pretty chill. It gets a little warm by the bar, because that is where they do the cookin’. But, they have some great beer and wine to help keep you cool.

I wanted light so I ordered the gem lettuce, herb and oro blanco salad and the chicken satay. Oro blanco, (which translates literally to “white gold”) is a grapefruit. Unlike common grapefruits, it is much sweeter.

Although I enjoyed the satay, my favorite was the salad. Next time, I will NOT order the $4 iced green tea. Even if it is fresh brewed, it is just tooooo much for iced tea. But, it’s okay — they have the Diet Coke in the glass bottle, which is one of my favorite vehicles for soda.

The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 620-1840
Mon-Wed: Lunch - 11:30-3:30 & Dinner - 5:30pm-11pm
Thu-Sat: Lunch - 11:30-3:30 & Dinner - 5:30pm-12am
Twitter: thespicetable

Lucky Baldwins Pub - Pasadena

I sure don’t go to Pasadena as often as I used to! Fortunately, I recently was able to visit one of my favorite bars in Old Town — Lucky Baldwins Pub. I’m a big fan of LBP’s partly because I grew up with English (UK) au pairs. (my sense of humor, strange loyalty to Manchester United, and use of the word “the Moz” all make a little more sense now!) Surrounded by UK paraphernalia makes me reflect back.  To that time period so very long ago.  Of too hot and humid summer days where we drove down to the local West Coast Video and rented a newly released VHS movie to watch. Does not feel like yesterday.

Although LBP doesn’t allow free tastings, they do let you opt for $4-5 little taster glasses. I chose an always amazing (but some say “too sweet”) Saison Dupont and a really disappointingly disgusting (I gave it away) Jolly Pumpkin something or another (bleh).

We ordered some pasties too. Cornish & chicken.

Lucky Baldwins
17 South Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 795-0652

Pilgrimage

Although I’m a relatively pale person, I do enjoy the ocean/beach. I am fortunate to live close enough to visit it more than I ever did during the first 20+ years of my life.  To be exact, I currently live 3.7 miles away from the North Pacific Ocean. Occasionally, when I have the time, and contrary to “Walking in LA” by Missing Persons, I like to travel to the ocean on foot.

It never gets old.

Never.

Korean Kitchen Hibachi B.B.Q. - Little Tokyo

Unlike most traditional Korean B.B.Q. restaurants I’ve been to where someone at the table does the cooking (not usually me), KKHB was more like a “regular” restaurant that cooks the food in the kitchen and brings it out when it is ready. I preferred this partly because I’m lazy, but mostly because I’m always nervous about food poisoning (N.B. I poison easily). Other pros: (1) Quicker; and (2)  Supposedly we didn’t leave smelling like Korean B.B.Q. for the rest of the day (not sure if this is true though, obv.).

I ordered the extra spicy beef b.b.q. lunch special. It came with a lot of goodies: soup, salad, seasoned vegetables, kimchi, and steamed rice.

Korean Kitchen Hibachi B.B.Q.
135 Japanese Village Plaza Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 680-1039

200th Post! Umami - Santa Monica

So happy that my 200th post is Umami Burger in Santa Monica (connected to Fred Segal). Great burgers, great beer, great location.

pronunciation: uːˈmɑːmi / oo-MAH-me.

translation: savoriness / the 5th taste.

review: delicious / DELICIOUS.

favorite burger: Hatch Burger (4 types of green chilies, house made American cheese).

pictured: Special Burger (I don’t remember what was in it) & Smushed Potatoes (dutch yellow creamers, double fried — get the ketchup!)

UMAMI
500 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401-2406
(310) 451-1300
Mon-Wed & Sun: 11am-10pm
Thu-Sat: 11am-11pm