Jay Eats Worldwide

  It’s Grammy Night! 11 years ago was the last Grammy party I catered… I remember we had to arrive at the Biltmore Hotel by Noon, due to security restrictions. We set up our area in the largest kitchen I’ve ever worked in and then down a long ramp to the ballroom where we had our food tables. There were two restaurants serving food in each ballroom with two bars and a live band. Knowing we would be locked down before & during the ceremony down the street, we brought in lunch from Cielito Lindo (Olvera Street) and enjoyed our taquito plates, it’s been our Grammy tradition for 4 years and not my first rodeo. THAT and I forgot we were invited to a pre-game meal in the Biltmore Employee Cafeteria. See What Jay Eats #2 - 2 Beef Taquitos 1 Tamal w/bean and cheese from Cielito Lindo (Olvera Street) After getting a few items prepped and showing the culinary students what to do and the night’s game plan, I shared some completed dishes with the Biltmore kitchen staff, who served me w...

  The Costco Cookie... Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie at Costco The Cookie that replaced the popular Costco Churro. Served Warm All Butter Bittersweet & Semi Sweet Chocolate See What Jay Eats... First of all, it's a Huge cookie. It's just like it's advertised, served warm. After I took a bite, it broke or I should've said, it folded.  Yes, there's a lot of butter used. IMO, it's not too sweet for me, probably due to the chocolate used, "Bittersweet & Semi Sweet Chocolate" I enjoyed this cookie and would probably order it again in the future, but not every time I get food from the food court. Until we eat again...

A couple of coworkers and I had been talking about going out for Oaxacan  food and one of  them knew about  a place in South LA. We gathered up a few others after work one Friday afternoon and headed to  Poncho’s Tlayudas . Look for this sign, cause it’s “Tlayudas Friday” AND it leads to the backyard. (talk about being in the know) Head down the driveway and order at the grill. They only serve Tlayudas, a traditional Oaxacan dish, but you select the meat: (They don’t have a menu, but here are the choices) Asada - grilled beef Chorizo - Spanish sausage  Tasajo - Oaxacan-style beef steak Moronga - pork blood sausage Like any backyard party, look for the refrigerator  for drinks, help yourself. Beer, Water, Coca-Cola ($5) I love the spoon artwork on the back wall Tlayuda $10 Served on a very large crispy tortilla with a siento (a dark lard), beans,  cabbage and Oaxacan cheese. Your meat choice is served on the side. The picture doesn’t show how  lar...

I’ve driven by this David Chang restaurant many times,  majordōmo , which lies in an industrial area between Chinatown and Lincoln Heights. (Downtown Los Angeles) Opened in January 2018,  this is David Chang’s first restaurant  in Los Angeles. I waited for the crowds to die down, BUT it’s still a task to get a reservation. OR You can come early and sit at the bar. Sitting at the bar waiting for friends and perusing the bar menu. “Mule” with vodka, Japanese cucumber, Shiso and ginger. I thought it had a bit too much ginger but a good cocktail. A Mule and an Old Fashioned  walk into a bar... Friends arrived on time for our 5:45 pm reservation  and we were promptly seated. It’s more of an Asian Fusion menu. NOW, what to order... But First... An Asian Pear app or palate cleanser, not sure (wasn’t paying attention) See What Jay Eats... We started with a couple of Bings (a warm flatbread for toppings) This was the Foie Gras, Ricotta  and Jam Bing. A “Bing” is a f...

A hidden gem in Hi-Fi (Historic Filipinotown) It may not look like much on the outside... BUT, on the inside  The Food is Excellent! Rice and friends pics on the wall... BTW, this place serves rice porridge, (hence the rice on the wall) aka “congee” My first taste of Chef Minh Phan’s Porridge + Puffs at Smorgasburg LA in 2016. Since then, I’ve been to a couple of Chef Minh’s pop-ups. I couldn’t wait for her to open a brick & mortar location, dreams do come true! (for me anyway...😂) Opening Menu See What Jay Eats... Asian Slaw  With rau ram, shiso, holy basil, peanuts and sesame. A nice lunch starter... Shortrib Porridge  A slow braised short rib with jujubes and fresh five spice. Turmeric fermented mustard greens and seasonal edible flowers on top. I was too late to get a soft egg, as it was already sold out. Can’t have Porridge without Puffs! You really can’t... Poultry + Mushrooms  Sweet soy braised chicken, turkey and mushrooms with crispy shallots, celery pi...

It’s Grand Opening Day of “Hole in the Wall” at APL Restaurant. It’s Adam Perry Lang’s Chili Dog takeout window  in Hollywood. It really is a hole in the wall, actually a small window inside the door, at the North end of APL Restaurant. Adam Perry Lang’s (fairly new) steakhouse  at the corner  of Hollywood and Vine. Opening Day Menu (August 22, 2018) No, I didn’t order the $50 sandwich! See What Jay Eats... We ordered the “Hot Shot” and Double Beef Chili Dog” Double Beef Chili Dog, an APL New Mexican Hatch Chili with hand-cut prime beef chuck, sweet onions, cheddar cheese and pickled jalapeños. “Hot Shot” is a taco-like sandwich with a lightly  house cured smoked beef, pickled salad and American cheese. Both were very good, I want to try the Dry Aged Beef  Chili Dog  next time... “Hole in the Wall” is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11:30 am to 3 pm or until Sold-Out. (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays) APL Restaurant   1680 Vine Street (at Hollywood Blvd.) ...

I’ve walked by this place  a few times before for their opening. Hatch Yakitori + Bar at  The Bloc  in Downtown LA. Well, today’s the day I get to sit down and sample the menu! I started with the Coconut Matcha, which was refreshing on a warm evening. You can sit inside, but tonight was a warm summer  evening and we decided to dine alfresco. The view above from the outside tables. Hard to believe that the Aon Building  was once the tallest building this side of the Mississippi River at one time. (From 1973 to 1989) See What Jay Eats... at this modern yakitori Miso Pork Spare Ribs  Miso caramel, slow cooked pork ribs, spice blend and green onions. Soboro Rice Marinated ground chicken  and quail egg yolk over rice. What’s a Yakitori place  without having Yakitori? Yup, we had a lot... What’s a chicken place with eggs? OK, these aren’t chicken eggs... BUT, they were still good. You can’t come to Hatch without having the Chicken Meatball stick. Dip t...