The Stand

I was in Century City to see the Annenberg Space for Photography's exhibition The Power of Photography, which commemorates 125 years of National Geographic photos. Stunning is the word that comes to mind! After an hour or so of looking at the beautiful/haunting/iconic images, it was time for some lunch. Luckily, several restaurants are right under the museum, and I went with The Stand. This sandwich is the reason; reading the menu was all it took!

This is the Porchetta, with slow roasted pork, Brussels sprouts, sweet chili aioli, and green apple and red onion slaw on a delicious bun. YUM! They also have all sorts of sausages, burgers, and hot dogs, including a Chicago Dog that I think deserves a return visit. Who wants to go with me?!

The Stand has additional locations in Encino and Woodland Hills. Click here for their Web site.

The Power of Photography continues through April 27. Click here for the Web site. Note that the Annenberg Space for Photography is celebrating five years this weekend! Go check it out.

Glazed Donut Bistro

I wrangled a friend to join me for a donut tasting at Glazed Donut Bistro, subtitled as Donuts for Grownups, on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. Remember my SK's Donuts & Croissants post with the joke about the maple bacon donut bracket? Well, here ya go!

So here you see the donut flight: peanut butter and jelly and maple bacon upfront, with Boston cream and s'mores in back.

My clear winner was the PB&J! The strawberry jam inside was worth the price of admission. Next would be the unique s'more with crack-worthy marshmallow filling. DELISH!! The Boston cream was tasty, but my heart (attack) will stay with Randy's long john version. And, I'm keeping the maple bacon nod with SK's, as I actually liked their donut base more. Rest assured, I'm open to further testing.

Glazed Donut Bistro also has a tempting savory menu, with fried chicken beignet and a pulled pork in a brioche donut. That will have to be a new bracket!

Click here for Glazed Donut Bistro's Web site.

El Nosh and Cowboys & Turbans

This is a rare double-up post because it focuses on two fusion eateries I enjoyed in the the last few days. Fusion food LA-style generally means two foods or influences that aren't generally paired up. Unknowingly, I've been fusioning my food for many years; two of my classic duos are stale Fritos dipped in frozen chunky pineapple, and sautéed mushrooms with some Hershey Kisses melted on top. I know some of you have tried - and enjoyed - these treats with me!

Up first is El Nosh, a Latin delicatessen, in food truck version. Here you see the a falafel taco with cabbage and tahini, and a pastrami burrito with some crunchy pickles, situated in front of their sombrero and serape-wearing and Chasidic Jew mascots. Y-U-M!! I heard the latkes were off the chart, and I'm bummed I overlooked the option. Next time!

Today, I enjoyed this Mexican-Indian flavor meld at Cowboys & Turbans. On the left is a masala veggie burger with spicy hot masala dipping sauce for the fries, and a lamb tikka burrito with curried-rice and mint throughout. In this plate the dipping sauce was firey hot. In short, the flavors were amazing and so well blended!!

I must note that Cowboys & Turbans was a bit difficult to locate; entrance is not off the parking lot with the big sign is. Go about a half-block east to find a wonderful patio with lots of mosaic-topped tables, twinkle lights, greenery and statuary. It's worth it! They are also in the process of changing their name to Flying Monkey, so it's also a challenge to find them online.

Click here for El Nosh Food Truck's Web site.

Cowboys & Turbans/Flying Monkey is located at 2815 Sunset Boulevard, LA 90026. Phone is 213-483-7778.

Big Green Puppetzilla Puppet Slam

OK, I was new to this, too, but I'm happy to share it was a HOOT! The Big Green Puppetzilla Puppet Slam, with the St. Patrick's Day theme, featured a slew of edgy adult acts - from a sandwich that ate the rodent instead of the expected outcome, a devil crooning to "I Put A Spell on You," Sochi Insect Olympics, re-enacted "Teenage Wasteland," an innocently offensive Elmo-type, a newscaster interviewing a tree, and a talking cigarette box. The performers were connected to the LA Guild of Puppetry, so it was quality material.

Puppet Slam was held at the Bootleg Theater, on Beverly near Alvarado. Great place for a great show!! They announced the next show date is April 6. Will I see you there?!

I wasn't new to the McDonald's green Shamrock Shake, which was a mintalicious end to a hysterical night. I'll have to find another snackie for the April show. Let's go!

Click here for Bootleg Theater's Web site.

Echo Park Lake Pedal Boats

This is the best $10 I've spent in a long time!! That's one of my new black leather Converse pedaling around Echo Park Lake. It was super fun - and quite a workout - taking spins around the lake; the only thing more fun would have been having a chum along! I'll definitely go back to see the lotus blooms in the summer. Who wants to come along?!

The park and lake recently went through a major rehab, and the park reopened last summer to much hoopla. Welcome back to the pedal boats, too! And, if you need a snackie after your cruise, Square One set up a shop in the historic boathouse. I had a fantastic glass of blood orange lemonade as my reward. Let's go back now!!

Click here for Echo Park's Web site.

Click here for pedal boat information.

Click here for Square One's Web site.

Brent's Deli

So I've posted on a number of LA delis: Canter's, Billy's, Jerry's, and Art's. I think I've found my new barometer: Brent's Deli. This is the Hot Brisket of Beef sandwich served Sky High with cole slaw and Russian dressing. The bread is what sends it up into the stars; it is double-baked rye which means it's all toasty-crusty outside and all soft inside. WOW!! And the potato salad was almost a mashed consistency and totally smooth.

Then there was this black and white cookie, almost the size of my Glen Campbell "Gentle on My Mind" 45! Luckily I got it to go, so the other folks at Brent's didn't see me embarrass myself scarfing it down!! It was gentle on my taste buds, all the way down!

Click here for Brent's Northridge location, where I enjoyed this fantastic food!