Sushi-Gen: The Hype is Right

Sushi clean and smooth
Rich moist flesh melts into tongue
My brain sighs in joy

Haikus, though childish and cliche, are fun to write. Sushi bars, though common and often cliche in L.A., are also fun to write about.

I often get cravings not for specific foods, but for new tastes and experiences. Whenever I get the urge to explore something culinarily new, I either turn to Yelp, or my mental arsenal of places I've wanted to try for a long time.

Today, my mind rested on Sushi Gen, and would not let go. I knew it'd be a costly trip, but once my mind was set, there was no turning back.

I'd first heard of Sushi Gen sometime last year, reading an article in the Food section of the L.A. Times. A well-regarded chef mentioned it as the ultimate example of authentic, quality sushi in L.A. Then, just last week in another article of the Food section, ANOTHER chef mentioned it as a must-go restaurant while in Los Angeles. Can you see why Sushi Gen has been on my mind?

Right in the heart of Little Tokyo, Sushi Gen seems to always sport a long line. Behind the bar, the sushi chefs (generally young) work carefully but quickly, serving out perfectly portioned morsels of tender hamachi, buttery toro, and other delectable sushi. Their snapper has a limey kick, served with a dot of bright green marinade on top.

The cherry on top of my meal was their iteration of the spicy tuna roll: small pieces with a big spicy punch. Also, this roll was the first time I ever appreciated the flavor of the nori while eating sushi; theirs was a perfect balance of toasty chewy crispiness. Served with the rich nuttiness of toasted sesame seeds sprinkled inside, rather than outside, of the roll, the spicy tuna was a perfect way to end the meal.

Though it was  a quick in-and-out stop by for lunch, I can see why top chefs and neighborhood families alike can't get enough of Sushi Gen. Some of the original sushi creations by the chefs looked intriguing, and I definitely will try on my next visit (which of course there will be).

Art-like Food, or Food-like Art?

Culled from latimes.com

If art and food had a baby together, Caitlin Williams Freeman's desserts would pop out. Today the LA Times website featured a piece on the former photographer's unique and eclectic creations at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's cafe.

One of my favorite examples of William Freeman's work is a popsicle inspired by a painting by Santa Monican artist John Zurier. The dual colors of the spearmint ice milk and strawberry popsicle of spearmint ice milk and strawberry perfectly mimic the duo-tone color block painting. And the flavor combo is super fun!

Next Door Savior: Bringing Him nearer to your heart

What does it mean that Jesus was fully man, and fully God at the same time? This question is answered over and over in Max Lucado's book Next Door Savior. Through short, yet spiritually and emotionally powerful chapters, Lucado examines the essence of Christ's utter humanity, and simultaneous consummating divinity.

In expositions of Christ's life through examples from the Gospels, Lucado breaks down familiar stories and passages and reflects them through his own unique imagination. Like a tour guide, he brings the reader into the story and brings their attention to details they might have missed, explains historical background to better understand the people and places explored, and brings life to characters who mostly look flat and one-dimensional on page. In some circumstances, Lucado becomes a time-machine-translator in a way, by taking these biblical stories and placing them in contemporary contexts, trying to help modern-day readers easily relate to foreign situations.

At times, Lucado's use of such liberties with the Holy Word made me feel uncomfortable; who is he to think he can assume and imagine what was happening in the bible? It's fine for personal reflection, but to teach these assumptions to the mass public edged the line of liberality too closely for my comfort.

However, I cannot deny that Lucado has the power of exhortation, especially when he uses these emotionally rhetorical devices. Lucado's use of personal anecdotes, his understanding and sympathy for present-day spiritual and emotion afflictions, and his sensitivity to what our hearts crave most make Next Door Savior a deeply reflective book for any person to read.

For the non-believer, it is a good book to understand what it really means for Jesus to be fully man and fully God at the same time. For the searching believer, it is a great reminder of who and what it is exactly that you believe, and why. For the mature believer, it is an excellent book to re-look at certain stories of the bible in a new light, and reset the spiritual sensor of your heart.

All in all, I don't think you'll walk away from Next Door Savior disappointed, and will definitely bring the real next door Savior nearer to your heart.

The essence of travel

A street in Jamaica Plain, Boston

One of the best ways to explore and discover a new city, is to avoid the main attractions altogether. Get off the tour bus, strap on some comfortable shoes, and download a good map of the city onto your smartphone: it's time to see the city in a whole new light.

Don't get me wrong: the famous sights are popular for a good reason. But to really get a feel for the "essence" of a city, you need to walk on the well-treaded sidewalks of the business district, eat at the grungy little coffee shop across from the train station, and take a leisurely bike ride through a sleepy suburb. Then you can discover the true beat of the heart that pumps within a city.

The scariest thing about wandering aimlessly through an unknown town is the fear of getting lost. In fact, some of the best discoveries I've made in some of the different cities I've traveled to, were found by letting go of that constant need to be in control, and letting the crowded roads and rhythm of a busy town sweep me away.

Like the little Thai place that had the best green curry I've tasted, five miles away from the main Strip in Las Vegas; a misty pond resting in the stillness of a summer dawn deep in the hills of Malibu; a cozy vegetarian restaurant snuggled amongst other quaint restaurants deep in an alley of London; all were met through the openness of a curious mind and wandering feet.

The best thing about running away from tourist roads and trolling everyday streets, is discovering a world slightly familiar, yet so different from the one you call home. My sister and I took the "T" from Downtown to Jamaica Plain, a suburb of Boston on our visit last month. The narrow, sun-dappled roads,  pastel-colored homes, and whimsical spirit of the neighborhood reminded me of home, and yet was totally foreign to me. 

In travel, you can't help but compare your destination to the place you know best; the similar things spark a comforting familiarity; but the different things bring an awareness of the foreignness of this new city. This ambiguity is the essence of travel.

So, fellow netizens, heed my call: the next time you visit a new city, town, or country, try taking that small side road, instead of the main thoroughfare; you might find exactly what you were/were not looking for.

Hungry Pocket doesn't empty your wallet

The Lamb Shawarma Plate at the Hungry Pocket

Let’s face it, Santa Monica is not the first place someone would think to go for some good, quick Mediterranean food. However, possibly due to the large number of Middle Eastern students attending Santa Monica College right across the street, Hungry Pocket Falafel House is an unexpected haven for some strongly satisfying Mideast grub.

At first glance, the unassuming stark exterior of the building that houses the fast food establishment doesn’t feel too promising. Neither is the first step into the stuccoed and tiled miniscule space. The hand-painted flowery designs over the arches and red wooden trimmings bring taquerias and Mexican-style street tacos to mind, more than it does hummus and falafels.

Comic newspaper clippings on politics in the Middle East, and all-you-can-eat falafel night

But don’t let the size or décor stop you from trying this place out. For cheap and fast Mediterranean in Santa Monica, this is the place to beat.

Offering most of the typical Mediterranean fare from falafels to kabobs, hummus and tabouleh, though not perfectly authentic and high quality, this place will fulfill a temporary fix.

Read the rest on Examiner.com here.

D + J Recommendations Part 1

Two friends of mine who are dating asked me for some recommendations on good places to eat in L.A., and of course I was happy to oblige. There just are so many good places to eat, so I decided to update the list in parts. D + J will probably gain some weight chasing down these amazing eats, but they're both pretty skinny, so a few extra pounds won't really matter.

Let's start with Ktown and move outwards, shall we?

Best Sushi: Noshi Sushi. It's on the corner of Beverly and Hobart. Sushi is usually pricey, but this place is really worth it. It's Japanese owned and run, not like most sushi places in Ktown. Best things to get here: spicy tuna rolls, california rolls, uni, yellowtail, the yellowtail salad, dynamite, tempura, and pretty much any sushi. And awesome green tea.

Best gohgoomah cake: Cafe Mak, on Shatto Place between 6th and Wilshire. I like to go and study here sometimes, because there are a lot of small tables, it's cozy, they have free wifi, and music isn't too loud. Like most Ktown cafes, the drinks are kind of expensive, but their gohgoomah cake really is amazing, if you like sweet things. Its a nice place to study, to stop by with friends and have a chat, or have a date :)

Best ice cream: Scoops on Heliotrope Drive (a few blocks west of Vermont), just north of Melrose. This tiny shop is behind the LACC campus, and has really amazing and creative ice cream flavors, like balsamic vinegar and ricotta, strawberries and basil, and their most famous flavor, brown bread. They make their ice cream fresh every day, so sometimes if you go too late, they run out of flavors, and have really long lines. But every time I've gone, the lines haven't been too long.

Best kong gook soo and kahl gook soo: Myung Dong Kyoja on Wilshire and Harvard. They have a really small menu, mostly kahl gook soo and kong gook soo, and super garlicky kimchi, but they really hit the spot when you're craving some hot or cold noodles. I love that they give you mini mandu in the kahl gook soo, and also that they're open 24 hours... it's the perfect place to go late night for some huge filling bowls of noodles.


Best cheong gook jang bibimbap: Olympic Cheong Gook Jang on Olympic, a block west of Hoover on Arapahoe Street. If you don't like the smell of chung gook jang, you should just take this togo, but their bibimbap is really amazing. I haven't had anything else here, and it's a pretty small store. But they slice fresh lettuce on top, and serve the bibimbap with a small side of chung gook jang that is really good mixed into the bap. And the banchan taste even better than your halmuhnee's... perfectly seasoned and just the right amount of spicy.

I'll list some more places again soon!

The Misfit's happy hour: bang or bust?

Crispy Fries at The Misfit Restaurant and Bar

 Half off happy hours at buzzed-about new bars and restaurants draw L.A.’s foodies like sweet nectar to bees. The Misfit features such a happy hour, in tourist-happy downtown Santa Monica. Although with a name like “The Misfit”, customers might expect a bit more quirkiness in décor and menu than what they actually encounter at the newly opened bar and restaurant.

The atmosphere           

Walking in on a bright Saturday afternoon, dark wood panels, low-slung leather chairs, and nude women cavorting in flowery murals spread above the bar bring old boys’ clubs to mind. High windows cut into the walls and dark fans swinging overhead add a light and summery feel to an otherwise rustic yet refined environment.

Noting the dark browns and iron trimmings of the room, and the heavy bass of the loud and mostly electronic music, the bar and restaurant are apparently best enjoyed during evening hours.


Promptly seated in the sparsely populated room, a companion notes the inventive use of a wine cork as a prop for a card displaying the brunch and drink options available on the weekend. It’s a quaint touch added to the masculine chrome and glass table settings.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: The Misfit's happy hour: bang or bust?