For those of you who missed Saturday night’s set, here’s the link to the podcast. I didn’t have time nor the skills to mix the songs but I hope you enjoy the song selections, nevertheless. My set is the last hour from “Church Lady” on. Enjoy and thank you again, KPFK 90.7, Truthseekers Radio family :). It was fun! Apologies for Nia’s song being cut off due to lack of time but peep out her EP “Colours” to satisfy more of your listening pleasure.
Yes ya’ll this Saturday at 1am, I will be playing my first set for Truthseekas radio on KPFK 90.7FM Los Angeles. No fancy mixing but a group of songs to share in honor of ladies month. If you’re out and about or sleeping you can catch it on this website or the KPFK website. Otherwise, tune in and I hope that you enjoy my selections. Thank you Christal, Santana, Sean and the rest of the Truthseekas community for this incredible opportunity :)
Good Girl Dinette
Good Girl Dinette gives a contemporary twist to Vietnamese food. Owned by the former owner of the Blue Hen, Diep Tran does a great job at fusing her two cultural experiences bringing a modern American spin to her family’s traditional dishes. At many restaurants, you hardly see the owner but Diep takes it upon herself to converse with her customers, taking her customer service up a notch in comparison to your average restaurant.
There are SO many great options to choose from. With company, I like to order the Mushroom Imperial Rolls (but then again, I LOVE mushrooms) which is a great starter. The rice noodle salads are also good and I’ve enjoyed the one with the seared beef (for you vegetarians, you may wanna go for the tofu or roasted fennel). I LOVE their banh mi with their spicy fries (which I don’t find spicy at all) but vietnamese sandwiches are THE BOMB, especially on a good toasted baguette. I haven’t tried their rice dishes or soups yet but their pot pies are very good.
Highland Park has seen it’s changes through gentrification but Good Girl Dinette is one of those good places that came with the community transformation. Drive or take the gold line, it’s only two blocks away from the metro stop. Oh and before I end this, they also have B.Y.O.B., so you could bring your own beer, to compliment your meal if you prefer.
Guisados
Back from a hiatus of studying to bring you more reviews about something that I love: FOOD. This entry is dedicated to Guisados. If you know about Guisados, you know about their handmade tortillas and their array of tacos, which are all in my opinion, pretty damn good! The original Guisados is located on Cesar Chavez in Boyle Heights and they opened up a second location on Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park which is righteously building it’s popularity.
They use a variety of ingredients, so if you have a bunch of food allergies, this may not be the place for you. At the Echo Park location, it’s listed above the register so you could read it while you fall in line. Nevertheless, there’s a taco for everyone for vegetarians, pecetarians and meat-eaters. Guisados was awarded the best taco from LA Weekly last year, in 2012 and when you try their tacos, you’ll see why. For first-timers, I definitely recommend the sampler. If you’re still hungry, like I was, you could go back and choose your favorites from the sampler or explore a fish or vegetarian taco which is not included. Order a Mexican coke or aguas frescas to wash your meal down and stamp this place in your memory. There’s no place like it!
Burma Superstar
Burma Superstar is always on my list as an option for places to eat while in the bay area. This is definitely a bay area jewel and something that LA does not have. I LOVE me some Burmese food, at least from Burma Superstar. It reminds me of a cross between two types of food that I already enjoy: Thai and Indian.
The first time I ate at Burma Superstar was at the Oakland location but I have also eaten at the San Francisco location as well. Everything I order there, I really enjoy so I feel like I have plenty of room for experimentation which I don’t find at many restaurants. I LOVE the tea leaf salad and the platha with the chicken coconut curry sauce for starters: YUM! I’m already satisfied from these appetizers. The coconut rice is a nice compliment to any entree of your choosing. The braised pork belly with mustard greens, the mint chicken, spicy chicken with fresh basil, eggplant with garlic sauce and sesame beef are all great entrees to choose from.
Ah Burma Superstar, I can’t wait to endulge there again and again with a fresh coconut to wash it all down =)
Pier Market Seafood Restaurant, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA
One of the things that San Francisco is famous for is their clam chowder from Pier 39/Fisherman’s Wharf. I’ve had clam chowder in Boston and in San Francisco. Although the two are different, I am still a fan of the clam chowder in San Francisco, especially when served in a sourdough bread bowl. Clam chowder is a perfect solution to the foggy, cool weather of San Francisco. It warms up your insides and the bread gives you just enough energy to last throughout the day. One of my favorite parts is scooping the rest of the clam chowder at the end, after it’s been soaked and marinated. It’s the best way to end a great clam chowder meal!
Pier Market Seafood I’m sure is not THE best place to get a taste of San Francisco’s famous clam chowder but what I enjoyed about it were the wide windows that allowed you to peak into San Francisco bay while enjoying your meal. You get to preview the walruses and seagulls that are hanging out on the docks or watch the seagulls flying above. It’s such a beautiful thing to witness while enjoying your meal.
Clam chowder is a must when visiting San Francisco unless of course, you have food allergies. Just like seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, you can’t leave San Francisco without having some good seafood and a sourdough bread bowl filled with clam chowder.
Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
Mexicans to LA are like Chinese to the bay in terms of the majority ethnic group. You are probably in agreement if you are familiar with both cities. They are the largest ethnic group in San Francisco. San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in North America. The Chinese have been living in San Francisco since the 1800s.
San Francisco Chinatown covers 24 blocks and 5 zip codes. In distance it is 1 mile long and 1.34 miles wide. Like other Chinatowns throughout the world, it is full of herbal shops, tea shops, restaurants, souvenir stores and that is just scratching the surface.
You could find me in San Francisco Chinatown on a dim sum run or just to order some good traditional Chinese food. After all, I am a quarter Chinese and there’s no better way to honor that than in San Francisco.
San Francisco MOMA
The San Francisco MOMA is a fun museum to visit. Every first Tuesday of the month they provide FREE admission for all visitors. Similar to the MOMA in NY or LACMA in LA, one could enjoy everything from contemporary art to photography, architecture and more. Pictured above are some of the art work featured in this museum.
They also have a rooftop garden where you could purchase coffee and snacks in between or after looking at all the artwork. It’s a great place to sit and chat, relax or study. Maybe on the way to the rooftop garden you might “Find Waldo” if you’re lucky =)
The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
The Golden Gate Bridge is the icon of San Francisco just like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, Big Ben is to London and the Pyramids are to Cairo. On any postcard, in any movie or on many souvenirs you see this image as it is internationally re-known. No matter what type of weather conditions are presented, the Golden Gate Bridge is still a beautiful site. I have witnessed it on a gloomy, foggy day to a clear, sunny day and still find myself mesmerized by it’s aesthetic appeal. Even at night the bridge projects a different appeal with the city lights in the background. I can’t help but smile every time I see the Golden Gate Bridge as it reaffirms that I am definitely in San Francisco.
San Francisco, California
When I need to get away from the smog and stress of Los Angeles and don’t want to spend too much money on a flight, I head up the 5 towards the Bay Area, or fly from Burbank to SFO. One of my favorite things about arriving in the bay area is that first inhale of fresh bay area air the minute I open my window which is magnified the minute I step out of the airport or the car. I love that initial feeling when the crisp, cool air hits me and welcomes me to the bay. It greets me upon every arrival and I always return it with a smile.
For over 10 years, I have been a frequent visitor to the bay area. It is the second region in the US that I have visited the most outside of Los Angeles, with New York being the third. It started off with visits to Berkeley in college while a good friend of mine was attending school there . My time there has been a good balance between the east bay and “the city”. I’ve been to the bay area so many times but haven’t taken enough digital pictures to post. I will have to make it a point on my next future visits up there. I love the different regions of the bay area for it’s different characteristics from San Jose to Oakland, from Fremont to Daly City, to “the city” of San Francisco.
San Francisco to me, is a romantic city, that starts when the sun sets. Each neighborhood, like all major cities, has it’s own unique personality traits from: the Richmond district to the Tenderloin, the Mission district to Hayes Valley, Haight/Ashbury to the Marina, the Fillmore to the Sunset district, Chinatown to the Castro district, etc. all these neighborhoods define San Francisco’s diversity but they all share that San Francisco pride and love for their city. You could see it in their 49ers jerseys and their Giants baseball caps and jackets, to the way the youth rock their hoodies and kicks while riding on the Bart. San Francisco has it’s share of art from the De Young museum to the San Francisco MOMA and it’s share of beautiful sights from the famous Golden Gate Bridge to the Palace of Fine Arts. Just the mention of these places is merely touching the surface. All the good restaurants from their famous clam chowder and seafood from Pier 39 to Burmese food from Burma Superstar and let’s not forget San Francisco’s Chinatown district which is the largest outside of Asia.
San Francisco is very environmentally conscious and the bay area itself is probably the most progressive region in the nation with city composts, where you could drink tap water from the faucet and where the hippy legacy and the 60s has it’s roots in the Haight/Ashbury district. Young high school students are politically conscious about the social ills that plague their city, the nation and the world as this is expressed through their poetry and art. It’s easy to navigate through San Francisco with accessibility provided through public transportation via MUNI or the BART. In fact, it’s better to not have a car in most districts due to the expensive lot parking, street signs and meters. Most people travel the city on foot and unlike Los Angeles, I feel that this creates a stronger sense of community.
There’s so many great things to say about San Francisco and I will add to it in the next few days. In being a frequent visitor, I could appreciate Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” and Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” much more with a deeper appreciation and respect for a city I love to return to.
Kim’s Home Center
I’m a Target fan but when it comes to design and quality, Kim’s Home Center is a running contender. I discovered Kim’s Home Center while shopping for a Korean table for my apartment. My apartment is cozy and small and I needed a place to dine. That’s when my friend had told me about the Korean tables with folding legs that I could just store on the side or even under my couch when I’m not using it. It sounded perfect for my place. I asked my Korean friends where I could purchase something like that and that’s when I got referred to Kim’s Home Center. Little did I know at the time that it was a consumer treasure chest. I’ve been going ever since.
There are so many things that you could buy at Kim’s Home Center with great quality and design. I’ve purchased many things from here ranging from a quality Japanese-brand rice cooker, to a Korean heat pad that you could put on top of your mattress (this comes handy during the winter and could actually cut costs from using your heater), alarm clock, kitchen supplies and more. There have been a couple of times that I’ve even purchased things at this store and because I spent a certain amount of money, I was given two different free glass Tupperware sets on two different occasions. It’s these kinds of incentives, in my opinion that will help your customers remain loyal. They even sell bidets at this store! That will definitely be a purchase once I have my own home some day.
Kim’s Home Center is located on Olympic and Fedora street in LA’s Koreatown. Make sure to stop here first before you head to Target. You might find something that you’re looking for at a good price with better quality and definitely with a better design.
Kim Sun Young Beauty Salon
I have been going to Kim Sun Young for about 5 years now. It came from a referral through a former co-worker who was vouching for the woman who did her hair, Misun. Ever since I received that referral, I’ve been going to her since.
Being 1/4 Chinese and 3/4 Filipino, I obviously have Asian-textured hair. I felt that I wanted my hair to look a certain way but my former non-Asian hairdresser did not understand my hair’s texture or the styles that I was going for. Most of her clientele were non-Asian and their hair was very different than mine. When I thought of who the trendsetters were in Asia , I immediately thought of Japan and Korea. Japanese businesses tended to be on the pricier side so I stuck to a Korean salon where I felt the quality would be just as good but at a cheaper price. This is also the rationale that I used to sticking with Kim Sun Young.
It also helps that Misun knows my hair’s texture, she knows what I like, she stays knowledgeable with the current trends and she LOVES to take risks. She has done everything from cut, styled, permed and colored my hair and I have approved her decision every time. I changed hair dressers once to get a perm and when I came back to her, she was upset that I damaged my hair. It took her over a year to repair the damage, and I’ve been loyal since. Sometimes, you learn the hard way.
Kim Sun Young will give you quality treatment. You change into a robe upon entrance and I have been offered tea or coffee on many occasions. I even waited so long to get my hair done once that when I asked permission to order food, it was delivered to the salon from a local restaurant. Now, that’s what I call service!
I’m sure the other hair dressers at Kim Sun Young are just as good but I will definitely vouch for my girl, Misun. By the way, let me be clear. You don’t have to be Asian to be a customer at Kim Sun Young. There are all types of customers from different ethnic backgrounds that walk through their doors and all are loyal customers who also appreciate quality service.
I encourage you to give Kim Sun Young a shot if you are looking to take a step up in your hair style/cut. Misun and anyone else there, I’m sure will take care of you and may even transform you into another loyal customer.
BCD Tofu House
Soon du bu is the second thing that I crave when I’m sick after juk. I don’t know why I crave Korean food when I’m sick, but that’s what my body asks for so I listen =) When I’m not eating soon du bu or juk, then I’m probably eating pho. Yet, when it comes to soon du bu, I go straight to BCD Tofu House.
I have been going to BCD Tofu House for almost 10 years now. Soon du bu is perfect for so many occasions: late night after a club, during the winter, when it’s raining and especially when you’re sick or coming down with something.
What’s great about BCD Tofu House is that both locations (on Wilshire and the one on Western) are 24 hours. You could order your soon du bu with no spice, mild, medium or hot, with banchan (small Korean appetizers) to enjoy before your meal comes and at BCD Tofu House, that usually consists of a small fried fish. You could order your soon du bu any way you choose: seafood, with mandu/mandoo (dumplings), with meat or with just tofu, if you’d like. You could also order it with as a combination with bulgogi, kalbi, or bibimbap. If you’re not in the mood for soon du bu at all, you could just order bulgogi, kalbi, bibimbap or the other entrees that they offer at the restaurant. Most likely if you eat at BCD Tofu House, you’ll find something decadent that will make your tummy happy and filled.
Worried about the garlic or how the kimchi will leave your breath? You don’t have to worry about that. BCD Tofu House also has mouth wash in their bathroom so you could take care of that problem after dinner, lol. Clean, tasty and fun. BCD Tofu House must be on your “foodie” list!
Cafe Tropical
I was introduced to Cafe Tropical almost 20 years ago while out with my friend, Faith. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a warm summer day in LA and she asked me if I wanted to go with her to this Cuban cafe called “Cafe Tropical” because she was craving the mango shake or the papaya shake from there. We cruised over from SIPA and was there within 15 minutes. I remember trying both the papaya and mango shakes which was a perfect solution to a warm summer day.
At another point, I was introduced to their guava cheese pies also through my time with the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture and Fil-Am Arts. I believe it was their Executive Director, Jilly Canizares who introduced me to their guava cheese pie. Now, I’m a rarity because I don’t have much of a sweet tooth but this guava cheese pie had the perfect amount of sweetness and richness for me. It has since then become one of my favorite desserts and something that I definitely bring to potlucks on occasion or to the office to share. It goes perfect with coffee or tea, also.
Not many businesses have lasted in the neighborhood but I’m glad that a place like Cafe Tropical has stood the test of time through the gentrification of Silverlake. It’s always great to have a hint of Cuban culture in the neighborhood and it’s no wonder that Echo Park is also home to the Los Angeles Cuban Festival annually. It’s no Porto’s Bakery, but it still has Cubano culture written all over it.
Ibex Ethiopian Restaurant
When it came to Ethiopian food, Merkato would be my “go to” restaurant in Little Ethiopia off of Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. That is until I discovered Ibex Ethiopian Restaurant. This was another discovery that surfaced from the short-time period when I was working in Inglewood.
Ibex Ethiopian Restaurant is located off of La Brea Avenue between Centinela and Florence. It’s easy to miss because it’s a small “hole-in-the-wall” type of restaurant that seems to be more popular amongst the locals. I passed it on my first journey there but once I found it, little did I know that I was in for a treat. I ordered my usual: the vegetarian plate with the fried fish on the side and since I knew I had to return to work, I also ordered Ethiopian coffee. The coffee was pretty strong and kept me up for the rest of the workday, but the vegetarian plate and the fish in my opinion, exceeded my expectations. It was more flavorful than my usual order from Merkato and I thought to myself, “this must be what good Ethiopian food really tastes like”. I had no idea that I would discover a good Ethiopian Restaurant outside of Little Ethiopia, but this place really has an authentic feel not only in the food but also in the comfortable atmosphere.
Take away the decor and the flashiness that Little Ethiopian restaurants can bring and find the true essence of Ethiopian cuisine at Ibex Ethiopian Restaurant. The closest thing that I could associate to this place was an Ethiopian Restaurant that I ate at in Washington D.C. but I’m glad that I discovered something just as good in Los Angeles. If only they had the honey wine now that they sell at Merkato, that would give it a solid yelp 5 star in my book =)
A blog based on the things I love, find inspiration in and that make me happy. I hope it does the same for you as you read along.
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Very moved by this! Well done.
