Homegirl/Homeboy revisited

I can't believe it's been more than five years since my post on Homegirl Cafe and Homeboy Bakery! I've been back, and I've bought the bakery's bread at the Autry's farmers' market, but it's time to share again the goodness coming out of this place. 

For starters, I had a glass of the spectacular Angela's Potion: lemonade with spinach and mint. I know!! Plus chips and salsa. Then a sampler of the tacos: pork carnitas with apple-tomatillo slaw and cilantro; carne asada with peanut/chipotle sauce, shaved lettuce, radishes and cilantro; and salmon with jalapeño pesto, pico de gallo and cilantro. Three amazing flavor combinations for $10! It's a tie between the carnitas and the salmon for best-of-show, but they were all delicious!

Since I was sampling anyway, I got a to-do box of the cookies by the pound. I'm not sure what all of these are, but the linzer and the chocolate-covered macaroon were especially tasty!

Once again, if you don't know the Homeboy story, it was started in 1992 after the LA riots. "Jobs not jail" is noted on the t-shirts and signage inside the building. They are doing amazing work, and the food is just one aspect of that. Make an effort to support this cause!

Click here to learn more about Homeboy Industries.

Homegirl Cafe and Homeboy Bakery

I'm strong to the finich cause I drinks me spinach... and this is just one reason to visit the Homegirl Cafe and Homeboy Bakery. Angela's Green Potion, actually lemonade with mint and spinach, is worthy of a visit on its own. However, once you realize that the non-profit Homeboy Industries focuses all its divisions (cafe, bakery, silk screen/embroidery and maintenance businesses, merchandising) on gang intervention and re-entry, your reason to stop is now two-fold. While savoring the Potion (granted, a boggish-looking beverage), a massive plate of breakfast arrived. This is the Chilaquiles plate with the tomatillo salsa and cojita cheese, roasted potatoes and scrambled eggs. If I took an after photo, this plate would be cleaned and the glass would be drained. And just to make sure my meal wasn't a fluke, I sampled a few treats from the Bakery, and grand-slam-home-run all were amazing! Located literally across the tracks from the Chinatown Goldline station and easily accessible, I can't wait to get back to try the lunch menu and more of the baked goodies.

Click here to go to their Web site.

Nick's Cafe

I was catching up with two of my running friends, and of course we were going to eat. Due to scheduling challenges, it would have to be early. Nick's Cafe - over by Chinatown, the Homegirl Cafe (see May 2009 post) and LA Historic Park/Cornfields - came up after hearing KTLA morning anchor Michaela Pereira raving about Nick's as her favorite breakfast place.

Here you see what she was talking about. It's the eggs n corned beef hash (their wording, not mine!) with the country potatoes and a pancake. I know, can you believe all that for $8.50? The waitress also brought an order of the sourdough toast just in case I didn't have enough carbs. The hash was delish with lots of peppery flavor, and their homemade apple-blueberry jam was fantastic! I'll let you know how it reheats, as half the eggs, hash and potatoes are taunting me from the fridge.

Nick's is an old-school diner, with the U-shaped counter and stools. It reminded me of Chili John's in Burbank (see May 2010 post); Nick's could be the younger brother of John's, as Nick's opened in 1948, two years after John's. Check it out for yourself next time you're heading downtown. And, tell me about your favorite breakfast place. Maybe it will end up here!

Click here to go to Nick's Web site.