I picked him up at the Burbank airport on Friday morning and we went to lunch at The Counter. We both had veggie burgers and then we went shopping in Santa Monica with L.
We celebrated Friday night at Vitello's -- a very yummy, old-school Italian joint in Studio City (also the scene of Bonnie Lee Bakely's last meal) -- and we had dessert at The Gelato Bar.
Saturday we woke up earlier than needed to watch the Russia v. Israel football match on TV (time difference issues) and then Mr. Happy and I headed out for lunch before checking out a punk show in the LA River. Lunch was at Casa Vega but it was not what Matt had expected. He said that when he thinks of California Mexican food he thinks of "lite and healthy" or burritos served out of stands next to car washes. Casa Vega was neither, it was more like Chi-Chi's (if you don't know the reference, you must not be from Pittsburgh!). Think heavy, saucy, cheesy, fried stuff. Needless to say, neither Mr. Happy nor I could risk being far away from a bathroom so we bagged the punk show and came home to watch TV.
This incident with Casa Vega drives home an issue I've been having for quite some time now here in Sherman Oaks: I am having trouble finding good, inexpensive, neighborhood joints -- what I call "go-to" restaurants. After 10 years in New York, I had a very good handle on go-to places. Even now, it is not unusual for me to get a text from my cousin in New York that says something to the effect of (or quite literally) "where's the place that serves free hot dogs while you're drinking?" And of course, I know the answer ("Rudy's 44th(?) and 9th"). So we're new here, and I know you can't cram 10 years of experience into a few months, but I am already bored with the Ventura Boulevard restaurant rut we've gotten ourselves into: Mel's, Cafe Marmalade, Le Frite, Corner Bakery, Baja Fresh...all too uninspiring.
I was trying to figure out why it was that I wasn't finding more interesting places to eat around here and it occurred to me that it's actually three things:
1 - We don't know anyone in our neighborhood
2 - We drive Ventura Boulevard more than we walk it and it's hard to see what's around when you're wooshing by at 45 miles an hour
and
3 - I'm not working!
It occurred to me that I got to know New York's restaurants because I worked with a foodie and paid a lot of attention to where she ate. I don't have a restaurant mentor here and I'm suffering for it.
But this weekend when a local blogger offered her email address for a local question or two, I took her up on it. She proved to be very hospitable! She not only gave me suggestions of where to eat in my neighborhood, she is helping me plan my mom's December visit!
But back to this weekend....Saturday night we went to see No Country For Old Men at the brand new Arc Light Cinema in Sherman Oaks. Arc Light is an upscale, RESERVED seating theatre that we can actually walk to! It was quite an experience (and quite a movie!) and it, like flying first class, may have spoiled me for "regular" movie theatres.
Sunday brought us to another great meal. Matt and I had lunch at Pizzeria Mozza, the LA version of my favorite New York restaurant, Otto. YUM.
Unfortunately a wonderful meal was followed by a disappointing Steelers lost to the Jets (J-E-T-S) but all in all, it was a nice weekend.
In other news, despite the meals we consumed, all my pants are currently too big. A nice problem to have, but a problem none the less! I guess there is a benefit to not knowing where to eat!
No comments:
Post a Comment