Brunch Is Back at Sunny Spot

Simply stated, Sunny Spot makes me happy. With its open air atmosphere, brightly-colored decor and, of course, chef Roy Choi’s island-inspired food, the place just feels like home. While perched atop a floral-patterned stool, bobbing your head to Bob Marley, you feel as though you could easily be on the North Shore of Oahu rather than a busy stretch of Venice near a laundromat, and that, braddah, is choice.

On Saturday, with warm weather on the horizon and the cold on its way out, Sunny Spot re-launched its weekend brunch. As a super fan of both Sunny Spot and Chef Roy (seriously, the man can cook no wrong in my eyes), I was thrilled to be invited to a tasting of their brunch menu.

Muh-F’k’n Mofongo and Eggs: 2 fried eggs, ripe plantains, applewood bacon, fennel, garlic, fresh herbs and ginger oil ($11.00)

Hangover Plate: 2 fried eggs with rice, black beans, avocado mash plantain chips and diablo sauce ($15.00)

Egg Plate: 2 eggs any style, jerk potatoes served with hangar steak (or pork belly) ($15.00)

Roasted Veggie Omelette: Fingerling potatoes, brussels sprouts, cipollini onions and goat cheese ($12.00)

Blueberry Pancakes: Homemade batter with sesame seeds and blueberries ($12.00)

Banana French Toast: Served with maple syrup and rum cream ($12.00)

Diablo Shrimp and Grits: Spicy rum sauce, garlic butter and herbs with 2 fried eggs over grits ($12.00)

Sunfire Chicken Salad: Jerk chicken, butter lettuce, radicchio, arugula, cauliflower, grapefruit, goat cheese and chili vinaigrette ($13.00)

Two-Fisted Cheeseburger: Brioche bun, tomato jam, red onion, arugula, cheddar and herb mayo. You can also add an egg for $1.00! ($13.00)

Cuban Torta: Pork terrine, prosciutto, provolone, pickled jalapeno and mustard ($13.00); Yucca Fries ($5.00)

Steak Sandwich: Grilled skirt steak, avocado mash, jalapeno vinaigrette, mayo and pickled red onions on toasted ciabatta ($16.00); Yucca Fries ($5.00)

Home Skillet Bread Pudding: Ciabatta bread pudding with pears, raisins and coconut, topped with vanilla ice cream ($8.00)

Coconut Creme Brulee: With tarragon lime syrup ($8.00)

Hot Fudge Sundae: Vanilla ice cream, candied peanuts, whipped cream and a luxardo cherry ($6.00)

For brunch, Sunny Spot offers $10 bottomless cocktails. The best news: you can mix and match! Bloody Mary AND mimosa, anyone?

Bloody Mary

Rum Punch

While everything was delicious, the unique touches to the pancakes and French toast transformed them from standard brunch fare into standouts. Similarly elevated by its components was the Sunfire Chicken Salad, which my table mates and I piled onto our plates even with heavier options nearby. Also not to be missed are the Steak Sandwich with perfectly crusty ciabatta and the juicy Two-Fisted Cheeseburger. Oh, and all of the desserts. So, like I said, everything…

Thank you to Chef Roy and Natasha Phan for the fun afternoon and the ono-licious grinds!

*Food and drink were hosted.

Sunny Spot

www.sunnyspotvenice.com

822 W. Washington Blvd. 

Venice, CA 90292

(310) 448-8884

Burgers, Shakes and Fries (Greenwich, CT)

During every trip to New York, the gastronome trio– J, his brother and I– reserve one afternoon to drive to Connecticut. For lunch. Admittedly, the drive requires only 25 minutes or so but, still, it’s Connecticut.

The object of our cross-state desire is always the same– Burgers, Shakes and Fries (a.k.a. BSF), located in the quaint Byram section of Greenwich.

BSF opened in 2007, the brainchild of Kory Wollins, a Cornell grad with over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. According to BSF’s website, Wollins’ objective was to serve quality food at a reasonable price in an inviting environment, filling what he saw as a dearth of restaurants that provided bang for your buck. In essence, Wollins is a man after my own heart–and makes a mean burger.

With its tangerine walls and generous amounts of natural light streaming in from over-sized windows, the interior of BSF is bright and welcoming. On this post-Snowpocalypse weekday, many potential lunchers were either still snowed in or back at work, leaving us with our pick of seats. We were pleased because previous visits to the 20-seater restaurant had forced us to hover near those finishing up their meal in order to snag a seat.

BSF also serves hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and salads, but why would you ignore a restaurant’s namesake? All burgers start plain–as either a single or a double– and can be customized with an impressive selection of toppings.

While Adam sipped on a birch beer, J and I shared a strawberry milkshake ($2.83), which was delightfully thick and sweet.

Feeling the post-holiday bloat, I ordered a fairly simple burger– cooked to medium with tomatoes, onions, pickles, cheddar cheese and ketchup and mayo– and our trio split an order of large fries.

Instead of the usual bun, BSF’s burgers are sandwiched between two pieces of buttered, toasted bread. Although this switch-up seemed strange to me at first, I quickly noticed that the bread perfectly soaks up all of the juices from the burger and its toppings. On this day, my burger arrived, juicy and glistening, coated with a generous slice of melting cheese. Each bite provided a satisfying crunch courtesy of the toast followed by a heavenly sink through the meat and toppings. I have sampled few other burgers that come close to BSF’s on the “Satisfying-ness of Bite” scale.

Delicious burgers at a reasonable price are the reason Wollins started BSF and the reason I keep returning.

BSF

www.burgersshakesnfries.com

302 Delavan Avenue

Greenwich, CT 06830

(203) 531-7433

Kalbi Burger

At the 2nd annual Korean BBQ Cook-off, one snaking, weaving line stretched farther than the rest–that of the new burger joint Kalbi Burger. Fittingly, the K-Town restaurant earned the “Crowd Favorite” award at the meaty celebration. Inspired by this and some juicy pictures from Midtown Lunch, I decided to give this latest incarnation of Korean fusion a try.

With its checkered floor and silver tables, Kalbi Burger initially appears to be a quintessential retro throwback diner. The menu of Asian-inspired burgers, hot dogs, fries and salads (we do, after all, live in Los Angeles), however, reveals otherwise.

I opted for the restaurant’s namesake dish the Kalbi Burger ($7.95), a blend of ground chuck and kalbi topped with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, American cheese, Korean vinaigrette and a kalbi aioli sauce. I was pleased by the heft of the burger’s juicy, meaty patty, multiple slices of cheese and fluffy bun, which all came together to make a satisfying bite. Although I enjoyed this classed-up version of a diner burger, I wished that the kalbi flavor was more slightly more prominent and thought that the flavors begged for the addition of a kimchi topping.

J ordered the Seoul Burger combo ($7.95)–an Angus chuck patty with lettuce, onions, American cheese, Thousand Island dressing and sauteed kimchi– with garlic fries. Whereas my burger would have benefited from the addition of kimchi, the pickled veggies seemed out-of-place on J’s, almost an afterthought.

Although the fries were average, the service we received was not. As Kalbi Burger’s owner made the rounds around the restaurant, he looked J’s fry basket and said, “Oh, that’s not enough garlic!” and took it back to the kitchen. He quickly returned with properly garlicky fries and a few tasty dipping sauces for us to sample.

I regularly (i.e. almost weekly) crave both hamburgers and Asian flavors. Kalbi Burger neatly combined the two with satisfying burgers made with hormone- and antibiotic-free beef, a reasonable price point and friendly service.

Kalbi Burger

www.kalbiburger.com

4001 Wilshire Blvd. Unit E

Los Angeles, CA 90010

213-738-7898

A Night at the Roosevelt: 25 Degrees and Library Bar

Hollywood: with the Walk of Fame, the Kodak Theater and numerous iconic streets, it’s quintessentially LA. In other words, it’s an overcrowded tourist trap that most Angelenos avoid at all costs. Last Friday, however, I celebrated the arrival of the weekend at the Roosevelt Hotel, home to both 25 Degrees and Library Bar. After all, after a long week at work, what more does one need than a good burger and a strong drink?

Located on the busy Hollywood Boulevard but in an historic landmark, 25 Degrees represents an intersection between the past and the present, which is reflected in its design. Although chandeliers, oversized quilted booths and luxurious crimson crushed velvet walls evoke images of old Hollywood, the two flatscreens above the service window firmly root you in 2010. Even these, however, nod to both the past and the present; when we arrived Beyonce was on one TV, and Casablanca was on the other. Surprising was the restaurant’s relatively small size, with only seven to eight booths and counter space. With a waiting list for the tables, we sat ourselves at the counter.

J and I ordered the Number One with onion rings and the Number Two with french fries, respectively. Our side dishes arrived first, a practice I neither love nor understand. Fries should definitely go with my burger!

The fries were average, tasting store-bought with too much rosemary thrown on them.

The onion rings, on the other hand, were a sound choice–crunchy and not too greasy.

After hearing much praise for 25 Degrees’ burgers, I, as a burger junkie, was thrilled when my whopping Number Two ($12.00) with pesto, prosciutto, burrata and a roasted tomato arrived. Despite my trepidations about burrata on a burger, this dish delievered on every level. The juicy patty and soft brioche provided a solid, quality foundation for the Italian accoutrements. To my delight, the combination of the salty prosciutto, tangy tomato and creamy burrata with the burger was not at all overwhelming– just mind-blowingly tasty. The brioche also held up surprisingly well, becoming soggy only towards the end of my meal.

J’s Number One ($12.00) with prelibato gorgonzola crescenza, caramelized onions, bacon, arugula and Thousand Island was also quite enjoyable. With a generous serving of cheese and a hearty slice of extra-crispy bacon, what is not to love? Again, the thick, juicy patty set the foundation for this delicious burger.

We passed on ordering drinks at 25 Degrees in favor of saving ourselves for Library Bar. Despite its name, Library Bar is more like a lounge with seating in the form of leather couches and oversized chairs. In an impressive touch, Libary Bar does not have a set menu. Rather, you provide your desired ingredients or flavor profile for your drink, and the bartender does the rest.

For my first drink, I requested something with rum and fruit. The amiable Ryan responded with his take on a Lemon Maid– Strawberry Maid with rum, agave, cucumber and strawberry. Sweet and refreshing, this drink was dangerously delicious.

For my second drink, I opted to stick with the sweet and fruity flavor profile but left the specifics in Ryan’s more than capable hands. He handed me a cocktail with Laird’s Applejack brandy, lemon juice, muddled pear and cinnamon and topped with fresh figs. When I asked him if the drink had a name, he said “No” but suggested George Washington’s Pie because our nation’s first President liked the brandy so much that he asked the Laird family for their recipe. This drink, which reminded me of a cider, begs to be drunk near a roaring fire.

J asked for a savory drink and received a Breeder’s Cup, made of Hendrick’s gin, beet horseradish, cucumber, lime juice and agave. I loved the color imbued by the horseradish, and the sharp kick it added to the otherwise mild drink.

J’s second drink was also gin-based, this time with apricot, basil, lime juice and agave. The basil dominated, lending a lovely, light and refreshing flavor and scent.

All of our drinks were $16.00 each. Although they were slightly pricier than the average cocktail, they were all outstanding–some of my best and most memorable drinks to date! With its talented and affable bartenders and incredible drinks, Library Bar is my new favorite bar.

25 Degrees and Library Bar set a very high standard for my weekend. I can’t wait to return to both.

25 Degrees

www.25degreesrestaurant.com

7000 Hollywood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

(323) 785-7244

Library Bar

7000 Hollywood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Westside Tavern

Traditionally, restaurants located in malls are of the chain variety (there must be some kind of mandate that there be a P.F. Chang’s, Cheesecake Factory or California Pizza Kitchen in every mall) and, if not, they are most likely not noteworthy.

Westside Tavern, however, located in the Westside Pavilion, is no average restaurant-in-a-mall; the restaurant, which is helmed by Chef Warren Schwartz, earned a spot on LA Magazine‘s list of “Best New Restaurants.”

This weekend, after checking out Iron Man 2, I headed to Westside Tavern to give it a try for myself. Because the restaurant doesn’t take reservations (and because a few other movies were letting out), we were told there was a 45 minute wait. Luckily, the ultimate time-killer– Barnes and Noble–is nearby (*dork alert*).

J ordered the Cheeseburger (Tillamook cheddar, caramelized onions, egg bun, $14.00) with fries. With its fluffy bun and cheese dripping down the side, this burger was picture-perfect. In terms of taste, although each bite was satisfyingly textured and juicy, the meat was not particularly impressive, and the $14.00 price tag seems a bit hefty.

Our friend’s Tri-tip Sandwich (arugula, grilled balsamic onions, blue cheese, mustard-horseradish sauce, pain rustique roll, $16.00), on the other hand, was worth every penny. I hate blue cheese, but its kick worked well with the tang of the arugula and the mustard-horseradish sauce. The tri-tip had the perfect char to it, and the crunchy pain rustique roll tied everything together nicely.

I ordered the James Ranch Lamb French Dip (orange marmalade, horseradish cream, rosemary au jus, soft roll, $16.00) because, if ever lamb is on the menu, I will order it. This also contained an ingredient I don’t love–horseradish–but, damn do the folks at Westside Tavern know what they’re doing. It was the spice of the horseradish juxtaposed against the mild flavor of the lamb and au jus that took this sandwich from good to great.

As we were walking out the door, my friend received a text with his dessert recs for Westside Tavern. Nooooo, too late!! Oh well. Guess this means I’m coming back.

Westside Tavern
westsidetavernla.com
10850 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90063
(310) 470-1539

UPDATE: Burger Kitchen

The unethical behavior of Alan and Daniel Saffron, owners of Burger Kitchen, has gotten completely out of hand. Click here for the whole story.

Juniper (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY)

There must be something in the water in Westchester County’s tiny town of Hastings-on-Hudson that fosters culinary inspiration. Last year, Buffet de la Gare, a romantic, Old-World French restaurant earned an “Excellent” from The New York Times. Now, Juniper has entered the Hastings scene, recently garnering its own acclaim from the NYT with a seal of “Don’t Miss.”

Although J and I had heard that Juniper was booked solid following the NYT write-up, he ventured that the rains blanketing the town would work in our favor of dropping in. Fortunately for us, he was correct, and we sat right down for our brunch visit.

Although the restaurant’s business may be booming, its decor asks you to have a seat and peruse a book (Molecular Gastronomy, anyone?). The color palette of light blue, white and dark brown and use of dark-stained wood further lend to the cozy and homey feel.

J’s mother ordered the French Toast with pears, toasted almonds, wildflower honey and creme fraiche–one of their most popular brunch dishes ($9.00). The french toast was hearty but not overwhelmingly filling, and the pears and almonds worked together perfectly to lend a lovely sweetness and interesting texture to every bite. After one bite, all three of us understood why everyone raves about Juniper’s french toast.

J ordered the Buttermilk Pancakes with caramelized bananas and pecans and whipped butter ($9.00). With its delightfully sweet and crunchy bananas and thick but fluffy hotcakes, this dish felt more like a dessert than the most important meal of the day–although I suppose that the two shouldn’t be mutually exclusive…especially when the meal/dessert in question is this delicious.

Whenever I head to brunch and am faced with the question “Breakfast or lunch?” I inevitably choose lunch. Perhaps it’s because if I am at brunch, it means I’ve waited that much longer to eat my first meal…In any case, I ordered the Burger with Gruyere, mustard aioli, griddled onion and roasted tomato on a country roll ($8.00) with a side of French Fries ($3.00), which was easily the best burger I’ve eaten in some time–most likely because of the tasty combination of the Gruyere married with the mustard aioli. The fries were also top notch, crunchy with the perfect amount of seasoning.

For the invalid Adam, we ordered a Slow-roasted Pork Sandwich with shaved fennel, pickled red onion and salsa verde to-go ($8.00). After he yelled at J for stealing a bite, I opted out of sampling it myself but, based on the two boys’ reactions, this was one tasty sammich.

In LA, food of this caliber would easily be $4-5 more expensive per dish but shhhh! Don’t tell Chef Alex Sze that. I think the people of Hastings-on-Hudson like things at this charming restaurant just the way they are.

Juniper

www.juniperhastings.com

www.twitter.com/juniperhastings

575 Warburton Ave.

Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706

(914) 478-2542

Burger Kitchen: All I Can Say Is "Oy"

UPDATE (3/20/2013):

If you’re on this page, chances are pretty good that you’ve just watched the Burger Kitchen episode of Gordon Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares.” The traffic for this post always spikes when the episode re-airs, so, welcome to Noms, Not Bombs!

The juicy stuff is below, but, if you’re interested in an update, Burger Kitchen has since shuttered. Given the father-son action highlighted on the show, the place seemed doomed by its (complete and utter) dysfunction. In watching the show, I pretty quickly realized that all of the insanity posted here was single-handedly the work of Alan Saffron, and I felt terribly for his son Daniel. I can only hope that, without the pressures and stresses of the restaurant, their relationship is faring better now and that Alan is conducting himself in a manner deserving of his son’s forgiveness these days.

For those curious, I was asked to participate in their “Kitchen Nightmares” episode but declined, ultimately deciding that 1) you’ll never win when you’re arguing with crazy (if only I knew just how crazy…) and 2) it wasn’t worth taking time off work.

Now, if it’s crazy that you came here looking for, scroll down and enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.

UPDATE (5/7/10):

The behavior of the owners of Burger Kitchen, Alan and Daniel Saffron, has gone from laughable–with posting phony 5-star reviews of themselves on Yelp–to now unethical–defaming my character (and the character of others who gave them a 1-star review) with outright lies.

Check out this 5-star Yelp review of Burger Kitchen from owner Daniel S. (they have a 2.5 star rating without it) which claims that I emailed him saying, “I am sorry, but I am not taking down my review because you guys are Jewish, and I really don’t want another Jewish person to succeed in my neighborhood.”

Not that I should have to address this but, for the record, any such “email” is a complete fabrication by Daniel and/or Alan Saffron. I have never exchanged emails with either of them and have only responded to one of their (many) Yelp messages–the first one in which Daniel claimed that the vitriolic comment posted here on my blog was not written by him. Right.

Furthermore, I am personally offended by their choice of outright lie about me because, as many of you know, J is Jewish. Also, I even have a “Jewish” tag for my posts!

The fact that two grown men would stoop so low as to spread a blatant, hurtful lie about me because of an honest review of their restaurant is absolutely baffling. This behavior is ridiculous and unacceptable and certainly does not warrant your hard-earned shekels (couldn’t resist).

P.S. 3rd Street is not anywhere remotely near “my neighborhood.” Good try, though, guys.

—————————————————————

Opened last Saturday, Burger Kitchen is the latest gourmet burger restaurant to hit the LA food scene.

The restaurant is co-owned by Alan and Daniel Saffron, a father-son team, and offers a selection of 20 craft beers—10 on tap and 10 bottled—and 22 kinds of burgers.

The burgers are divided into two categories: “From the Ranch” with standards such as Burger Delicious ($9, roasted tomato, grilled onions, pickles, greenleaf lettuce and chipotle ketchup) and “Burgers Around the World” with dishes such as the Negimaki Burger ($12, beef patty with teriyaki glaze, chopped chives and sautéed shiitake mushrooms).

Although I was skeptical about the seemingly overambitious nature of a menu of 22 different kinds of burgers, I decided to pay Burger Kitchen a visit.

After being seated and greeted by Mr. (Alan) Saffron, J and I perused the menu, which was, indeed, somewhat overwhelming with so many choices. We also sampled a few beers (all of which were delicious), with J settling on a white ale while I opted for a hefe-weizen.

Aaaaand the menu continues on the back side…

Sides at Burger Kitchen are sold a la carte. We ordered onion rings ($3.50) and French fries ($3.50), which were, oddly (and to our displeasure), served as an appetizer rather than an accompaniment to the meal. Who wants to eat their fries without their burger?!

The onion rings were delicious—very light and crunchy with little excess oil. The fries, on the other hand, were average. Several hours later, J and I realized that these tasted a lot like the fries we ate from Chili’s in our high school/pre-foodie days.

I ordered the Moroccan Bazaar Burger ($12.50, lamb patty, mint and ginger sauce, roasted tomato). Burger Kitchen isn’t kidding when they say “tomato”; my lamb burger had one slice of tomato, one leaf of lettuce and was rather sad and naked looking. The kitchen was also out of ginger for the mint sauce, and the result was a bite that was much too tangy for my taste.

J ordered the Mountain Burger ($10.00, BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon and jalapeño peppers). The jalapeños played nicely off the BBQ sauce to create a smoky flavor…the second time around.

Our waiter told us that Burger Kitchen cooks its burgers medium rare unless asked to prepare them otherwise. J’s burger, however, was very rare and very red throughout, and he sent it back. Although J’s burger was actually prepared medium rare the second time around, the woman next to us had to send her nearly purple-colored burger back twice after her second burger was just as rare as the first. When we left, her third burger had yet to reach the table, and her husband had already finished his (also very pink) burger.

Extremely apologetic to both of our tables, Mr. Saffron came out to tell us that it was taking time for their chefs to “get it right.” Get what right? The Bobby Flay method for cooking burgers. Mr. Saffron detailed how Burger Kitchen was following Flay’s instructions for patty size, cook time, use of olive oil, etc. It seemed strange to me that Burger Kitchen was cooking using Flay’s methods rather than their own—especially since cook times vary depending on type of grill, heat, etc.
 

With the delicious, gourmet burgers available at places such as The Golden State Cafe, Umami Burger, Father’s Office and even trucks such as Patty Wagon, I don’t know that there’s room for Burger Kitchen with its unfocused menu, flighty service (for example, our waiter took my beer order and left without asking J what he wanted), raw burgers and instructions taken from a cookbook.
 

Thanks to an Eater LA promotion, our burgers were half off, but I still didn’t feel that the quality of the meal warranted the final tab of $34.00. Throughout this post, I have had to stop myself from inadvertently writing “Burger King” instead of “Burger Kitchen,” which I think pretty tidily sums up my feelings about the evening.
 

Burger Kitchen
8048 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 944-0503

Santa Barbara Day Trip!

With graduation, the “real world” and unemployment on the horizon, a vacation to Cabo was not in the cards for my last college Spring Break. I was, however, fairly certain that I would shoot myself in the face if I did nothing to change up my routine. With this in mind, J and I headed North to Santa Barbara (a first for both of us!) on a day trip. Sadly, because this was just to be a day trip, no wine tastings were involved (*wah wah*).

After asking for a food recommendations, J and I made our first stop of the day (obviously a food-related one) at La Super-Rica Taqueria. Literally translated, “la super-rica taqueria” means “the super tasty taco shop,” and, indeed, it is.

Look at that menu!

With its open-air ordering area and covered outdoor patio/eating area, La Super-Rica Taqueria has a nice, relaxing vibe. If I lived in the area, I’d definitely be a regular.

I ordered the chorizo quesadilla ($3.50) and arroz. La Super-Rica Taqueria hand-makes its tortillas on location, and you can taste the difference; they’re so light and fresh. The quesadilla oozed with yummy cheese, and the chorizo added a nice smoky flavor.

I’m not sure what was in this rice, but it was delicious. The flavor was milder than that of traditional Mexican rice, but J and I really enjoyed this.

Next up, The Burger Bus–how could we come to Santa Barbara without trying it? Operating out of a shiny yellow school bus, The Burger Bus uses only grass-fed/free range/hormone-free beef and local bread, jelly, cheese and produce.

The Burger Bus is best known for it’s CB&J ($7.50)–or cheeseburger and jelly. Because the #1 had a cautionary “Hot!” written next to it, I opted for the #2 with cheddar cheese and olallieberry (a hybrid of blackberry and raspberry) jelly.

There was nothing not to love about this burger. From the crusty ciabatta to the sweet jelly to the gooey cheese and the juicy meat, this burger was delicious.

We also ordered yam fries ($2.50), which were delightfully simple. They tasted like sliced-up yams with a little salt thrown in. So fresh! A dip in ranch dressing took the fries to a whole ‘nother level.

J and I then took a stroll around the UCSB campus which is, apparently, a 5(-ish) minute walk from the beach. Clearly I made the wrong choice in university. The campus and surrounding area were gorgeous! I have no idea what their programs are but, if I had toured the campus in high school, I would have definitely applied (you can take the girl out of Hawaii but not the Hawaii out of the girl).

Next up was the Santa Barbara Mission, which was founded by Spanish Franciscans in 1786. Because the day was getting late, we didn’t take the tour which, in retrospect and as a history buff, I regret. I guess I know what I’m doing on my next trip to Santa Barbara.

Afterwards, we headed to State Street, parched and hoping to find a smoothie, which we did at Blenders in the Grass. If you ever happen upon one of these, I highly highly recommend you check it out. My Tropical Guava smoothie was all fruit and flavor and no gritty ice. Yummm…

While walking around State Street, J and I noticed a farmer’s market…and just when we thought that the day couldn’t include any more of our favorite things! We ended up buying some of the best tangerines I’ve ever eaten and some behemoth strawberries.

Although J and I were both pretty stuffed, I had been very strongly urged to visit McConnell’s Ice Cream and Yogurt, a locally-based ice cream chain. Far be it from me to ignore any ice cream recommendation, so off we went.

The first thing I noticed was the size of the servings of ice cream and frozen yogurt of the people around me; they were huge! I then noticed the completely reasonable prices and began trying to convince myself that I was not too full for ice cream.

J ordered the Macadamia Nut ice cream in a cup ($3.75), which had whole macadamia nuts in it. So good.

I ordered the Burgundy Cherry in a sugar cone ($4.25). With its creamy cherry base and chunks of fruit, this was mind-blowingly good.

I’m already trying to find a grocery store near me that carries McConnell’s ice cream pints.

Sadly, it was then time to head back…but not without one last look at the gorgeous water.

I thought this was funny.

And so, my day in Santa Barbara was fun, gorgeous, relaxing and delicious. I didn’t even wish I was in Mexico, instead!

La Super-Rica Taqueria

622 N. Milpas St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

(805) 963-4940

The Burger Bus

www.theburgerbus.com

Blender in the Grass

Locations: www.drinkblenders.com

Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market

www.sbfarmersmarket.org

McConnell’s Ice Cream

www.mcconnells.com

201 W. Mission St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

(805) 569- 2323

Patty Wagon: Finally a food truck burger worth eating

Burger Food Trucks take heed (this means you, Grill ‘Em All and Baby’s Badass Burgers): this is how you do burgers on wheels.

Launched six days ago, the adorably and cheerily wrapped Patty Wagon serves grass-fed mini-burgers, hand-cut organic french fries, homemade dill pickles and desserts.

If you’re not the Food Inc.-watching, The Omnivore’s Dilemma-reading type, feeding cows grass (rather than corn, grain or other animals) is better for them, you and the environment. In short, if every truck needs a “gimmick,” Patty Wagon’s is sustainability and great taste. Count me in!

Patty Wagon has managed to create an impressively diverse menu in terms of toppings, buns and french fry add-ons.

Grass-fed beef has a bad wrap as being expensive. Patty Wagon, however, gets its meat from the owner’s friend in Teton Valley, Idaho, which translates to a more reasonable price for him and less of a markup for you.

The prices, as a result, are both reasonable and comparable to other burger food truck fare–especially when you consider the quality of the beef.

Patty Wagon also displays the source of its produce, which is pulled from various local farms and grocery stores. Love!

I ordered the Keep Your Sunny Side Up ($3.00, L- slider served on ciabatta bread with gremolata) and I Get a Kick Out of You ($3.25, R- roasted jalapenos, pancetta and provolone cheese).

Keep Your Sunny Side Up’s gremolata (garlic, lemon and parsley butter) was fresh and had a lovely tang, and the soft ciabatta worked well with the firm meat. My favorite bites of the slider were where the oil from the gremolata and the meat had soaked through to the ciabatta. Yum.

I Get a Kick Out of You had a wonderful, smoky flavor, and the spice of the jalapeno played nicely off the saltiness of the pancetta. I’m not a fan of spicy foods, but the flavors of this slider were so balanced that I didn’t mind.

The meat on both was juicy, fresh, clean tasting and on-par with any other grass-fed meat I’ve eaten. After polishing off these burgers, I instantly regretted not having more cash on me.

And there’s dessert!

I’m heading back ASAP to try the other mini-burgers and fries. Based on this visit, though, I’ve found my new favorite food truck! Now if they’ll only work on serving regular-sized burgers…

Update 3/12: Just spoke to the Patty Wagon crew. It’s their plan to stick to mini hamburgers to keep prices down and to let people sample different tastes. Sad for our tummies but good for our wallets!

Patty Wagon

www.pattywagonburgers.com

www.twitter.com/pattywagonLA