Our first introduction to Astro Doughnuts was at an outdoor movie screening of Top Gun last summer at Veterans Park in Culver City. It was one of the food trucks at the event. I was in line for another food truck with a friend so I sent my husband to get in line at their truck to get me fried chicken. Everybody in front of him was ordering the PB&J doughnut. Although he ordinarily wouldn’t eat a doughnut, he did enjoy an occasional PB&J sandwich so he ordered one of those. To say that on first bite, the obsession was born would be a severe understatement.
A former coworker was working at Deutsch and she posted a photo on Instagram that Satan had pulled up, showing the photo of the Astro Doughnuts food truck. I immediately tagged my husband on her post and mentioned that he had been craving those doughnuts and for him to head over before they left. My husband luckily made it over right before the end of the lunch rush and was lucky to get the last two PB&J doughnuts.
When I mentioned that a Santa Monica storefront was opening up, he kept checking their Instagram page for updates on opening day. They finally opened last Thursday but we were both busy with work so we made a plan to pick up dessert before our Saturday night dinner reservation. Sadly, the business hours on the site and even on the door were not accurate. We arrived at 7:18 p.m. and though my husband begged the guy in the store to let him in just so he could buy his PB&J doughnuts, his efforts were foiled because they had none left. He looked sad and dejected as he walked away empty handed.
On this beautiful sunny Sunday, I decided it time for a proper and successful do-over. This time I called the downtown Los Angeles location and asked for the Santa Monica phone number. The woman on the phone claimed to not have their number but she was told they would be closing at 3 p.m. today. At the time of the call, it was 1:45 p.m. so we immediately headed out.
I dropped my husband off at the corner and asked him to order me 2 fried chicken thighs and tater tots. I drove around the block and saw a guy in a Prius getting ready to leave on the same block as Astro. I immediately made a sharp U-turn and pulled into the spot. Thank you Parking Fairy.
When I walked into the shop, my husband had just ordered 8 pieces of chicken which was 6 more than I wanted though he correctly assumed I would want leftovers so points scored for him. He also ordered my tater tots extra crispy. For his lunch, the cashier offered him a make your own combo consisting of a fried chicken breast sandwich with a farm fresh egg in between a cheddar biscuit and for dessert/breakfast/snack for the week, he ordered 3 PB&J doughnuts and 3 coconut almond doughnuts. While we were waiting, we noticed a kid chomping down on the most popular offering which was the chocolate chip cookie dough. I decided to buy the second to the last one since clearly the day’s diet was blown.
The food arrived and boy it was a sight to see. Talk about abundance of happiness!! I immediately started munching on the tater tots which were perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The fried chicken was cooked simply. It had a light tight crispy batter with juicy moist meat underneath, lightly peppered but not overly seasoned. It was also surprisingly not greasy or oily like the fried chicken at other establishments.
The decadence and indulgence obviously came in the form of their doughnuts. The chocolate chip cookie dough had a dense chocolate cake for its main portion with a thick layer of iced sugar and chocolate chips on top with a scoop of actual cookie dough filling the hole in the middle. The key is to parse off a bite of the main doughnut and take a piece of the cookie dough and set it on top of the bite to get the full effect of this doughnut. The seasonal vegan coconut almond doughnut is much lighter, more subtle but definitely is still a contender. With that said, both pale in comparison to the PB&J doughnut. The combo of the peanut butter icing and chopped peanuts on top with the jelly oozing out of the middle is what foodies call a foodgasm. Hail to the king of all doughnuts!!
The true sign of a successful paring/merger of flavors is the ability of each layer to complement and yet be able to stand on its own. Astro Doughnuts is just beginning its winning streak and we cannot wait to enjoy their offerings over and over. We are customers for life! Thank you for coming to California and thank you for coming to the Westside!!
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
2309 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(424) 280-4414
I first came upon Yours Truly when I was on Resy looking for weekend dinner ideas. I looked on Yelp and there were only reviews posted, all positive, so I booked a Saturday night dinner. Unfortunately, my husband caught the awful cough I’ve had for the last 3 months so we pushed had to o push our dinner date a week.
When we arrived for our 7:30 dinner reservation, the restaurant was about halfway full. The clientele was Venice hipster upscale chic. The restaurant’s decor was eclectic shabby chic to match. We were blessed with our server, Glen, who was truly quite phenomenal. He was present when he needed to be but always had a watchful eye from afar.
First to arrive were the Parker rolls which were served with seaweed butter. The 6 dinner rolls were petite, quite warm and had a slightly crispy top with moist center. Its accompaniment was slightly salty with some subtle hints of herbs.
Next to arrive were the avocado hummus which came with a toasted flatbread and the charred peas salad. The hummus was quite rich and tasty and the sugar snap peas in the salad had a very light citrus dressing. However, the greens which sat on top of the peas were not the best paring. The stalks of the stems were very hard to chew even though the leaves were quite dainty. It really took me out of the moment and was sadly a miss.
Fortunately, the fingerling potatoes came out piping hot and saved the day. There was an egg yolk in between each of the potatoes which were perfectly cooked. The flavor of the dish harkened the pasta dish which was its inspiration. This by far, was my favorite dish of the evening.
The two main dishes, the Nashville hot shrimp and roasted chicken were the two priciest items of our dinner. The shrimp came out crispy, tightly breaded and hot, in temperature and in flavor. It sat on a piece of toast with some coleslaw on the side. The roasted chicken had a bit of toasted breading on top and under the skin and a few items on the side which had flavor combinations reminiscent of a chicken pot pie.
I think of the items we ordered, I would recommend the avocado hummus, fingerling potatoes and the Nashville hot shrimp. The six $9 dinner rolls just seemed a bit much for what they were. The greens on the salad dish was too distracting and the chicken breast simply didn’t have enough flavor contrast to be interesting and also was at a high price point of $36.
With that said, the restaurant is beautiful. It would be a great place to meet a group of friends to have drinks and share a few plates. The service is first class and we met Paul who is one of the partners and he is very intent in making sure Yours Truly is one of the go to restaurants on Abbot Kinney.
Yours Truly
1616 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
https://www.ytvenice.com
A week ago to the day was the first time we realized that Ayara Thai had reopened at its original location. Our only prior experience with the restaurant was at its pop-up which was located on the opposite side of the parking lot, on the east side of Sepulveda.
Looking for a nice but casual dinner out at the end of a very long workweek, I happily made our reservation for 7:30 p.m. We arrived on time but the restaurant does not have an on-staff host/hostess so after 9 minutes of waiting, I grabbed ahold of a waiter who immediately seated us window side at a four top.
Once our waitress had made contact with us and we ordered our food and drinks, everything came out quickly and seamlessly. First out was the chicken pad see ew which had a mild subtle soy flavor encompassing its al dente flat rice noodles. Then came the dungeness crab fried rice which had the opposite texture. It was light and fluffy but savory.
Then came the seasonal spinach and asparagus dish, the spicy basil with ground chicken and fried egg wok entree and the chicken tom kha coconut soup. Of the latter offerings, the vegetable dish was the weakest and didn’t really hold its own compared to the heat of the chicken basil dish and the slightly sour, savory complex flavoring of the tom kha soup which was probably the winner of the dinner entrees. Tied in second place were the rice, noodles and ground chicken. However, the icing on the cake or on the sticky rice was the very thick, very coconuty sauce drenched on the dessert dish sitting alongside fresh slices of mangoes. That was truly magical and should definitely be enjoyed over and over.
Ayara Thai is that sweet neighborhood gem that only those in the know are aware of and hope remains a secret. Although at first glance, it seems like a small restaurant, it actually 3 separate sections so it can accommodate many more who want to enjoy its many delicious complex offerings. We will be back for sure!
Ayara Thai
6245 W. 87th Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
I’ve been wanting to try out Ramen Joint for quite some time. It’s not too far from home, the prices are reasonable and it’s casual. With me suffering from a cold for the past 3 months and with my husband finally succumbing to the vicious cold and flu season, I chose tonight to finally check out this hidden gem. It’s not easy to find as it’s off of Truxton in a small street in a Westchester strip mall area. There’s plenty of parking in the lot close by so that’s not an issue.
The restaurant is quite small with a 6 top, a 4 top, around 4 deuces and a wraparound counter seating which can seat about 16 people. However, thanks to the handy Yelp app, one can be added to the waitlist prior to arrival which is what we utilized, minimizing our on-site wait time. When we arrived, 2 parties of 2 were ahead of us. We likely waited about 10-15 minutes and once seated, we ordered and the food came out fast and furious.
The first items which to be served were the steaming hot edamame and the very tasty seaweed salad.
Next up were the 4 shrimp spring rolls which had a light and crispy wrapper accompanied with a tasty spicy mayo and the chicken karaage which were thick chunks of chicken with a somewhat crispy batter and a savory garlic aioli.
The main event of this dinner were the shoyu tonkotsu and shoyu chicken ramen entrees which were both ordered with a seasoned soft boiled egg and crispy garlic chips. My tonkotsu had an array of ingredients but was light on the tasty and savory broth. My husband’s spicy chicken ramen had quite a bit of noodles and spinach but was sparse on the chicken.
Our total bill was around $46 so with tip, it was $28 per person and I still have half of my ramen and half of the chicken leftover. For those who have had ramen in Tokyo as we have of late, I should warn you that this is not that. Nothing can compare to the technique utilized by the Japanese in preparing their broth and the quality of their noodles. However, considering the efficiency and effectiveness of the Yelp waitlist, the super attentive service combined with the fast turnaround of the food and the reasonable prices, The Ramen Joint will definitely be on our shortlist of favorite local haunts in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
The Ramen Joint
6220 W. 87th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90045
http://www.theramenjoint.com/menu
4 USDA prime filet mignon
4 tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil
Organic black pepper
Mediterranean Sea salt
7 cloves of organic garlic, skins removed, chopped in mini food processor
Organic white mushroom, stems removed, hand shredded
Organic baby spinach
1. Take the filet out of the fridge and let rest in room temperature for 30-45 minutes.
2. Set the pan on the stove and heat on high.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to the pan and swirl to completely coat the pan.
4. Season the filet with salt and pepper on all sides and add to sizzling hot pan.
5. Cook all 4 sides, letting each side sear for about 5 minutes.
6. Add shredded mushrooms to the pan.
7. Remove the filet and let them rest of a cutting board.
8. Finish sautéing the mushrooms in the pan.
9. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and place on the cutting board or a plate.
10. Add 2 more tablespoons of coconut oil in the pan.
11. Once melted, add garlic and scrape off the filet drippings from the bottom of the pan, mixing with the garlic.
12. Add the spinach and sauté.
13. Remove spinach from the pan.
14. Slice the filet against the grain on the cutting board. If the meat is too pink, place back in the pan to cook for another minute or two on each side.
15. To serve, add the spinach on the plate first, place the slices of filet and sprinkle the mushrooms around the filet.
Note: For this recipe, I only had 5 mushrooms left and didn’t have time to sauté more spinach but to have even servings to go with the 4 filets, I suggest 15 mushrooms and repeating the stovetop spinach sauté twice more.
One would be hard pressed to find fault with Don Chuy’s Taco Tuesday special. I did a search of the best Taco Tuesday special and discovered that Don Chuy’s, a mere 5 minute drive from home, offered 99 cent tacos!
Since it was mid afternoon, the chances of the restaurant being busy were fairly slim, I leaped out of bed like a kid on Christmas morning and made my way out the door. I got there, parked in the first parking space in the very small parking lot, went in and ordered my 3 tacos: carnitas, al pastor and carne desebrada totaling $3.25 with tax. In less than 5 minutes, with soft tacos, chips and salsa in hand, I made my way home to indulge in my afternoon treat.
Each taco delivered a unique story, taste and tribute to Mexican cuisine. The al pastor was quite lean and tender with the small chunks of meat having a slight tomato aftertaste. The carnitas screamed pork juices and the pork bits were silky and unctuous mixed with a bit of citrus. The shredded beef was lean and tender like the al pastor but was a bit drier with a hint of onion.
Taco Tuesday at Don Chuy’s is definitely one to be applauded and celebrated. The food has always been sensational but the added bonus and bargain of Taco Tuesday makes it a true winner!!
Don Chuy’s Restaurant
11800 Jefferson Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230
http://donchuysrestaurant.com/
2 cups of organic coconut milk, boiled
4 cups of organic oats
2 tablespoons of organic peanut butter
1/2 cup organic honey
Optional toppings:
Organic fruit (berries, bananas, apples)
Organic notes (almonds, candied cashews)
1. Boil the coconut milk
2. Add the oats
3. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Add the peanut butter and honey
5. Boil another 5 minutes, stirring constantly
6. Turn off heat, stir and cover for 5 minutes
7. Stir
8. Put in large glass container and store in refrigerator
9. When ready to eat, take portion and place in bowl and microwave for 1 minute with a bit of coconut milk and a drizzle of honey
10. Add optional toppings if desired.
Makes 10 servings
Living in Los Angeles, one gets spoiled into thinking and believing that the sun is always shining. In the 40 years I’ve lived in LA, this has been the rainiest “winter” we’ve ever experienced. With the rains comes an extended or cyclical cold and flu season. Though I got the flu shot last year and (knock on wood) have not gotten the flu, I’m now at the beginning stages of my second consecutive cold.
The first one started right after the MLK, Jr. weekend. It started as a bit of fluid in my throat which I couldn’t clear. A week later, I started to cough which evolved into a hacking cough that spiraled out of control, eventually causing me to pull a rib muscle by the 3rd week of the cold. The 4th week added the discomfort of a sinus congestion but then finally by the 5th week, the symptoms appeared to have subsided, along with the rains.
Sadly, the reprieve would be short lived, much like the clear blue skies. The rain returned with a vengeance and so did Round 2 of my cold, complete with coughing and another pulled rib muscle on the opposite side.
This time, rather than being passive like the first round, I’m actively fighting it. I’m on oscilloccocinum, a homeopathic remedy primarily for flus though it tends to shorten or lessen the symptoms of a cold as well. I also changed my toothbrush, am gargling with warm salt water, drinking lots of water and organic green tea, will be taking naps and going to bed early. On day 3 of the cold, I got up early and went to the store to buy some zinc, organic grapefruit and organic ingredients for my homemade low sodium organic chicken soup.
The one ingredient I didn’t include is celery, due to my allergies. This delicate panda has her eyelid puff up like Will Smith in that movie “Hitch” so that I can’t actually see out of that eye so no celery for me. I did however put a whole onion and a whole garlic in the mix to ward off vampires and humans in general with my oh so attractive scent which will eventually come out of my pores. Also, onions and garlic have been used for centuries to help rebuild the immune system. I don’t normally eat carrots because of their sugar content but they are an excellent source of beta carotene which is a natural antioxidant. I used bone broth in lieu of regular chicken broth or stock as it has the added boost of more protein.
And now onto the recipe.
1 organic yellow onion, chopped
Grace Gambin
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