Michele "Opinionated Chick" G.'s Profile

After learning about the history of buildings and streets in Paris, I realized I knew less about my own city: Los Angeles. So, upon returning home, I went on a tour of downtown LA with the Los Angeles Conservancy. What a fun and informative day!

It's amazing to learn details about the buildings that surround us - who the architects and mural artists were; why the buildings were built; the story of Los Angeles and the people who helped create this city.

On the tour, we were able to go into some of the buildings. Stunning, the details that went into every feature - from the murals, to the deco elevator doors and drinking fountains. I brought my camera and took lots of great shots.

The Conservancy is a much needed advocate for our city's history. Too often buildings that give Los Angeles character are torn down - from Schwabb's Pharmacy to the Malibu Colony Diner and the Ambassador Hotel, and other great architecture - The Conservancy fights to keep these buildings, and LA's history intact.

And that's why I became a member. I love the Conservancy!

When I found out I'd be performing a story I wrote, "Suicidal Santa," at a local theater - a piece about my father's perverse way of celebrating "the most wonderful time of the year," with a dead Santa on my roof, a gun pointed to his head - I knew I'd need a costume.

So I swung by Iguana Vintage, and was stunned to find the perfect Christmas dress (taffeta, tulle, red and green plaid). I was sure it wouldn't fit. But, it did! Perfectly, too. Then I was sure it would be expensive. But everything last December was half-off. Yes, half-off!

With those kind of prices, I tossed in some frilly red and white lacy bloomers. And I was ready to go.

I then pinned the entire dress up to recreate the way my mom overly-starched my Christmas recital dress so that it stuck straight up in the air, revealing my undies as I stood on stage. Yep, that was a Christmas I not only can't forget, but had to write about.

Iguana Vintage not only provided the perfect costume, but had a wide variety of vintage wear, was clean and had a very helpful staff.

It was a great experience - which the year of "Suicidal Santa" was not.

My husband and I met friends, another couple, here. They're craft beer lovers, and I'm becoming one too. Even though it was packed, a few people scooted over and lent us some chairs, so our foursome was able to sit at a table.

We then ordered beers - Racer 5, Idiot, Knuckle Sandwich - and drank them with surprisingly tasty food. The guys loved their chili dogs, while I ate the tasty and crispy onion frizzles. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I ordered a salad in a pub. I wanted to eat light for dancing later in the evening at another club. And, man, was that R&B salad exceptionally good. I haven't had a salad that interesting in a while. The sweet red wine poached pears were a great contrast to the blue cheese and tart vinaigrette.

After we all concluded Tony's Darts Away has really tasty grub for a place that looks like a Mid-west college town hang, we shared a beer sampler (8 bucks? What a deal!), and tried a rye beer, a Russian stout, and two other IPAs.

Fun, tasty food and interesting beer was had by all. We will be back.

I went to Red Medicine to see my friend Marvin Kanarek's artwork, a painting titled "Pond," on their wall, and we stayed for drinks and appetizers. Bartenders Chris and Whitney took us on some exotic drink adventures, concocting all kinds of delightful chemistry in their shakers... tastes of tongue-awakening spices, bitters, liquors and juices - so new to me, I still don't know exactly what they were. But oh what a trip we took!

And the Chinese Lion Peppers were delicious, too! Peppers in a crust of almond skins and stuffed with dates, fragrant with violet basil and sweetened by honey - mmmm... hot, sweet and nutty.

The staff was wonderful. The atmosphere, very metropolitan. The drinks and appetizers, tasty. I will be back for the full dining experience.

*Note: After posting this, I watched Anthony Bourdain's Layover show in LA; they filmed at Red Medicine. There - right on TV - sitting at the bar, was my artist friend... He loves the place so much, the film crew caught him. Hilarious!

I'm a meat-lover! Just try pushing Tofurky or some strangely orange soy hot dogs on me and see what happens. It won't be pretty. With that said, I went with vegetarian friends (long time customers of Garden Wok) who assured me I'd love this place. I was a skeptic.

Then, Ting (the owner/cook's smiling and helpful daughter) brought out an array of dishes: sweet and sour "pork"; lemon "chicken" breast and sizzling "steak" to name a few. They were REALLY delicious, and tasted eerily similar to the meats they were imitating. Ting's father must be some sort of chemist/chef to be able to translate meat textures (the "pork" was crispy on the outside and tender inside) so adeptly.

All the sauces were tasty and the veggies crisp and colorful. The only dish, a friend and I agree, that didn't work so well was the duck. It tasted like tofu with too much Liquid Smoke.

No, I'm not going over to Tofurky... but, I may return to Garden Wok again.

If you like standing in line 20 minutes to order your food; if you like your waiter yelling "Last call for number 13!" (as if he's threatening to throw away the food you pre-paid for, simply because you couldn't hear him call it out over the noisy hipster chatter, even though your number 13 is placed on your table ); if you like quiche with a soggy crust filled with scrambled eggs; if you like tomato bisque that tastes like tomato paste with lots of oregano; if you need to be surrounded by young dudes in skinny jeans, little knit caps, with shirts that have sayings like "Ignorance is dull," and lots of awkward, but trendy facial hair - then you will crave this cafe.

Eh, since I'm feeling generous I'll give it one star for decent (but overly foamy) cappuccino and one star for a lively outdoor cafe setting. Too bad the food looks prettier than it tastes, making me stop at two stars.

My friend took me to Crave with this preface: "The last time I was here  I was wasted." Now I understand. Maybe if I would've been wasted too, I'd have tossed in a few more stars.

*PS - Dear Crave, you know those plastic numbers you have us take and place on our tables?: Use them. No need to call out numbers! And then take them off the tables when you give us our orders. Simple.

Okay, in my last review I gave Sol y Luna three stars. But I've been going for years, always enjoying the service, margaritas and atmosphere. Tonight my meal, the Tampiquena plate (steak in mole sauce) was exceptionally tasty and moist (as was my previous meal of camorones a la diabla), above what I find at many Mexican restaurants that serve margaritas.

Because the atmosphere is so fun, the service so good, the table-side guacamole so tasty and the food is a cut above the usual Mexican fare at restaurants that serve Margaritas, I'm now giving Sol y Luna four stars.

My biggest gripe is that they don't take reservations and we always have to wait. But we always do. Actions speak louder than words, right? If I didn't think it was worth it, I wouldn't wait.

And so I wait.

Last time we were in New York City, when my husband and I walked from our Soho hotel to Chinatown to work at our client's recording studio, we stopped more than a few evenings at the Corner Deli for tortilla soup and carne asada tacos. It was October, and chilly out. The warm, spicy, tasty food was perfect as we sat at the counter watching people in the streets go by.

We loved that the unassuming diner exterior, and initial tiny dining area, led to an underground club at the employee entrance. We listened to more than a few hopeful party-goers (many Europeans for some reason) try to beg their way in, while standing near people waiting to order their tacos. One young European was finally allowed in, but the bouncer warned him he better tip the bartender.

One evening we ate our dinner at the counter just as the lights dimmed and party music pulsated through the tiny diner... eating our tacos, slurping our soup, watching people go by.

Sorry, I can't remember the food (not a good sign!). I only remember swatting flies, constantly, and sweating in the oppressive summer heat. Lots of flies, forgettable food and no air conditioning=1 star.

I'm giving Cocina Primavera all the stars I can for an all-around great experience - the food, service, atmosphere and reasonable price. For some reason I find it hard to find all of these in one place. But here, at Cocina Primavera, I found the full package. Too many restaurants have really good food, but crappy service and horrid atmosphere. Or great atmosphere, cocktails and service, but average food. Or amazing food, with the expected catastrophic prices and less than warm service. Not here!

Lupe (who runs the restaurant with her father and brother) couldn't have been more helpful, charming and accommodating, right from the beginning. When she mentioned sangria, I must've made a face (having had kool-aid sweet and cloying sangria in the past), so she suggested I have a taste "before fully committing" to a glass. I loved that! I found it fruity, but nicely refreshing and un-KoolAidy, so I committed to a full glass.

The four of us in our party started off with the crab cakes (tastiest I've had in a long time!) and sweet corn tamales with a tomatillo sauce. I really liked their beautiful creamy texture and flavor.

For our entrees, my husband raved about his fried chicken breast, mashed yams and plantain. Lupe even gave him a side of their signature spicy black pepper sauce, too. He was in heaven, dipping the fried chicken into the sweet and spicy sauce. My shrimp in (plate-lickingly good) garlic sauce, saffron rice, black beans and crispy outside and moist inside plantain was sooooo good. And the portion was very generous. Our friends each ordered the full lobster with pasta dish, and seemed to enjoy those, as well.

We finished the meal with a round of coffees - espresso, cappuccino and regular coffee, while three of us shared a very generous slice of warm apple tarte tatin (moist and carmely-apple goodness!) with vanilla ice cream.

With all of us ordering glasses of wine, sangria, beer, appetizers, dinners, dessert and coffee, the bill at other restaurants we've been to could have been extremely high. But at Cocina Primavera the bill was shockingly reasonable. We honestly expected it to be higher.

The entire evening, thanks to Cocina Primavera was wonderful! Lupe and her family pour their heart into their food and restaurant - it shows. We will be back!