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A Foodie Nature Walk: Red Medicine

April 11, 2014 giselaLeave a comment

Since we’re on the topic of LA, let’s talk about the very quirky, very interesting and (mostly) very delicious restaurant scene that LA has to offer.

I’ve eaten a lot of strange things in my day and I would define myself as an “adventurous eater” but even I have my limits—I will not eat brains (ever again) or bugs, which is sad because it is my life-long dream to be on Survivor because I know I could TOTALLY win that show. Except for the food challenge–I would lose that. I’m also not really into the more violent challenges. Or the muddy challenges. Or the water challenges. Or probably any challenge that involves me holding still for any real length of time. But I’d be awesome at the puzzles! Seriously, give me a puzzle and watch me bring home that immunity idol!

But I digress.

I dragged my good friend Marina (who is an actress and was totally on Modern Family, one of my favorite shows ever and in one of my favorite episodes ever) to Red Medicine.

I tried to make her wear this veil to the restaurant to ensure VIP service but she pretended she couldn’t hear me.

Red Medicine is a very unique Vietnamese inspired restaurant with a flair for flower arrangements. On your plate. To eat. Yes, I do mean they arrange flowers on your plate to eat.

But hey, no bugs and no brains, so I’m in!

We ordered the tasting menu and threw caution to the wind. And as each dish came out, our eyes and stomachs became more and more confused. Do I eat this? Instagram it? Or put it on my shelf at work next to my Zen Garden?

Honestly, this was so beautiful we didn’t want to eat it. Nor did we know how to begin eating it. But hunger prevailed and we just sort of dug in. After a few bites Marina looked up at me and said, “Am I eating a forest? Is this what nature tastes like?” Yes, Marina, yes, you are eating a forest and yes, nature tastes kind of okay. I wanted it to be mind-blowing, but I have to say it was just okay. The flavor combinations were just a bit strange. My pallet was unsure of what to do with all the information, but it was so interesting to dissect that it kind of made up for it.

Then this came out, “a custard of Fresh Cream” and flowers and it was really really yummy. I mean, add fresh cream to anything and it’s a victory for everyone involved. I kind of moved the flowers out of the way and got right to the cream, because…flowers.

Our next entree was “Dungeness Crab from the Oregon Coast”. I didn’t realize that the Oregon Coast boasted of delicious crab, but I was happy to get a taste because this was pretty darn scrumptious…and looked more like food so my whole eye-stomach connection was feeling a bit more at ease.

Next up, Lamb’s Shoulder. The lame loser part of me thought, “ohmygodthankgod, real food.” The lame foodie me thought, “oh, how divine. the flavor profiles are spot on, cheerio, tut tut.”

And finally, dessert. Shaved Ice of Redwood Stems.

Let me repeat, “Shaved Ice Of Redwood Stems.” Now we were legitimately eating the forest. I want to say I was transported to a world of sugarplums and fairies and pixie dust, but…no…my pallet is sadly not as refined as I had hoped and I just thought this was kind of weird tasting. Of course we ate the whole thing because, you know…dessert.

The next time you’re in LA, give Red Medicine a try. But I suggest you order off the menu so that you have more control over the amount of nature you ingest. And bring a camera. Because even though you think you’re sooo not that person who instagrams every meal, in this case you’re so going to be that person.

The Time I Had The Best Beef Jerky Of My Life. In Cleveland.

March 17, 2014March 17, 2014 giselaLeave a comment

Guys, I know what you’re thinking. Who goes to Cleveland…on purpose?

Well, no one really. Despite their really awesome marketing campaign here:

And here:

So you might have some preconceived notions of what Cleveland is like…I mean, yes, both times I went it was rainy and gloomy and miserable…and cold. Very very cold. BUT! But I believe misery breeds creativity. And cold miserable weather breeds the desire to eat. So creativity + food = some seriously fine food.

And we all know how serious I am about food.

So you can credit Cleveland’s surprisingly thriving food scene to crappy weather, the desire to eat, and of course Iron Chef Michael Symon.

I mean, have you BEEN TO LOLA or LOLITA or THE B SPOT?? I have, I have been to all three and this is what I have to say about that.

Michael Symon revolutionized the food scene in Downtown Cleveland, and now between the hours of 6:00 and 9:30 on any night, you had better have a reservation somewhere or you’re not eating. Because people are serious about their eating there. And they don’t have time for your out-of-town notions of just walking in somewhere and getting seated because, “seriously, this is Cleveland, how busy can it be?” Well, it’s busy. Real busy. So plan ahead or you’ll be driving around really strange places outside that few mile radius that feels charming wondering if you should maybe drive through that red light to avoid, I don’t know, perhaps being car-jacked. (Just kidding, Cleveland! Sort of.)

So now that you have your dinner reservations for every night you’re in town, you probably want to start planning your days. There is a lot to do in Cleveland and you want to be sure to fit it all in.

But you do want to make time to go to The West Side Market. Because it is glorious. And you must go directly to J and J Meats and immediately order the beef jerky. Because its not really beef jerky, it’s more like a juicy steak that you can carry around with you and bite into anytime you feel like it.

Now, if you aren’t going to drop your vacation plans in the Bahamas to fly immediately over to Cleveland, you can actually order this beef jerky ONLINE!!.

I know, I know.

For Eats: RedFarm

March 10, 2014March 11, 2014 gisela2 Comments

Customer service is truly a lost art in America. Or, at least in Manhattan. And if you’ve ever had the misfortune of having to go to a Duane Reade, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Everyone that works at Duane Reade is all…

and you’re like…

and they’re like…

So you’re like…

To which they’re like…

Until you finally leave with your overpriced toothpaste and your hair spray feeling all…

That’s why when you stumble upon a place that actually DOES care about their customers, you treasure it and hope that no one discovers it so they can’t take it away from you, except that it’s so great that you also want to tell everyone you know.

Back in late January, my friend and I decided that it was not too late in life to take ballet classes. Adult beginner ballet classes. Because, you know, it’s never too late to become a Prima ballerina. And also, up to this point, I really believed that despite my love of eating, my short legs, and my lack of flexibility, I was always really destined to be a dancer.

Well, friends, that dream is never going to be realized because I looked a lot less like this:

And a lot more like this.

After accepting the cold, hard reality that we will never be cast in swan lake, we decided we deserved a great brunch after the utter humiliation of sadly flailing about in ballet shoes. It was about 10 degrees outside and neither of us wanted to have to go very far, so we settled on a new place that opened up on the upper west side only a few blocks down: the magical RedFarm.

We stumbled in out of the 2nd or 3rd polar vortex (I don’t know, I lost count), and were immediately greeted by the host. It was packed, and we had no reservations, yet somehow they were able to find a spot for us at the communal table pretty quickly. I should note here that we were both in gym cloths, had no make-up on, and looked pretty unfit to be eating at a nice restaurant. Yet…they still welcomed us with open arms.

As I mentioned before, it was bitterly cold and because RedFarm just opened, they hadn’t gotten their “winter door” yet which helps block a lot of the icy air from coming in every time someone enters. So my friend and I were just a little bit cold, but we were okay with it because, well, because wine.

However, the host or owner (not sure which?) noticed us looking a little rough around the edges (and also cold) and DESPITE the fact that the place was totally packed he said, “Girls, I just can’t watch you shivering over here, I’m going to move you to a warmer table.”

I mean?

I wanted to be all like…

And it didn’t stop there! The entire staff, from the hostess to the waiters to the bartender were just…awesome. Points for knowing the menu, points for knowing the wine list and points for making great recommendations–and bonus points for everyone wearing really cool t-shirts. It felt like a cozy neighborhood joint that had been there forever.

Yet, that wasn’t even the best part. The best part was the food. They take Chinese Cuisine to a whole other-worldly level.

I mean, just look at these adorable Pacman inspired dumplings!

And clearly, anything that reminds me of the 80’s is aces in my book.

Also: the mussels with eggplant & okra. ORDER IT.

Also also: this bizarre chicken stuffed with shrimp thing–I cannot figure out how they made it, but AH MAH GAWD.

When you combine excellent service with an inspired menu, it’s well worth the price of admission.

So the next time you poo-poo the Upper West Side for not being as “foodie” as other parts of Manhattan, give RedFarm a try. And then I want you to write me a note thanking me. Because you will. You will totally thank me.

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