MAGNUM Pops Up Again in KTown

February is quite nearly booked. I think I have maybe 2 nights free, and I'll likely use those to do laundry. Or sleep. (And we wonder why I don't date) Because my calendar is so full, I'm unable to attend MAGNUM's newest pop up, which is extremely unfortunate because I truly enjoyed the first go-round. I'm still trying to figure out if I really have to skip it, or if I can just bring my 3 year old with me. But then there's the fact that the two day pop up lands in what I have officially deemed: Food Week. Wolvesden and Relate in the same week followed by the foie gras eggs benedict at Urban Solace. Toss in Sea World and the San Diego Zoo plus a 2 nite stay in SD and you have here a girl who will be completely broke by the end of it all. I don't think my budget will stretch to MAGNUM. Sorry boys, next time. I promise.

In the meantime, here are the deets on what's going down in Ktown:

What you want (okonomi) baby I've got it

Okonomiyaki was foreign to me until one day, when I was asking Twitter where to eat, Christine of Folie a Choisauce recommended Gaja in Lomita. I trust her judgment in all things Asian, so I wandered over there with kid in tow to see what was what. Since then, I've been back to Gaja a few times after getting a hankering for the Japanese savory pancake, but that's not always possible. A few days ago, I was at the Marukai Market in Gardena and they had a small display dedicated to the wonders of Okonomiyaki. Everything I needed, okonomiyaki flour, okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, nori, and bonito flakes. I just needed to hop over to produce to pick up a head of cabbage, the noodle aisle for some chuka soba and finally the fresh fish section for some octopus sashimi. I was finally going to make this wonderful dish at home!

Big fish, little fish, swimming in the water....

 Santa Monica - Long have I heard the rumors of the Sushi Nazi in Studio City at Sushi Nozawa: you don't get to order what you think you want, he'll tell you what you want and you'll like it. Also, don't let your cell phone ring, or you're out on your ass. But in the same breathe, I've heard that the sushi is excellent, if not crazy expensive. Soon, I will have to schlep up to Nozawa and find out if the rumors are true. In the meantime, for those that aren't willing to travel, and would like to spend less than the cost of the Amazon Kindle, there is the new sugarFISH by Team Nozawa in various parts of LA County: Downtown, Marina del Rey, Brentwood and now: Santa Monica. 

Au Revoir Monsieur Marcel

Don't let the title mislead you, the french market/restaurant in Los Angeles' The Grove on Fairfax isn't going anywhere. Not technically. Though they have taken a nasty turn into 'not so great' in the 6 years since I've been last. Some things are just better in our memories. The setup remains the same, kitschy and cozy, nestled in the Farmer's Market. The food on the other hand, left much to be desired.

Monsieur Marcel is where I had my first taste of foie gras nearly 10 years ago. That first sublime bite is what set off my love of foie gras. Served then with only toasted bread, it's flavour was unfettered by additional accoutrement. Here was where I realized how sheltered my food upbringing was. This memory is one I have looked back to fondly as I've moved forward in my journeys with food.

La Crème de la Crème Fraîche

It's been over a month now since Chef Ben Bailly has taken over the helm at Fraîche in Culver City, CA. In that month, I've been bombarded by what seemed like daily food porn from various Southland bloggers, all gushing their food crushes on Chef Ben. Notably, here, here, here, here and here. I had missed out on his tenure at Petrossian, but I refused to miss out on Fraîche. What with the constant game of musical restaurants in Los Angeles, it's wise to get the jump before you miss the sushi boat.

Room with a Vū (view)

 Marina Del Rey -  The waterfront in Los Angeles' first man made harbor of Marina Del Rey is essentially a cluster of high rise condos overlooking boat slips. Spreckled here and there with the occasional hotel and restaurant, it's generally not someplace I immediately think of when going out for  a high end meal.  However, this world is a'changin, and with it, my scope of new accessible restaurants.