It’s beginning to look a lot like Tacos! (just getting into the holiday spirit) Since the Tire Shop Taqueria is Closed on Tuesdays… This was from a few nights ago. My out-of-town friend invited me for tacos at this place he read about, meaning he wanted me to drive. 😂. I’ve been here before the pandemic, so I knew where we were going. Asada and Al Pastor Tacos from the Tire Shop Taqueria in South LA. This friend calls me to go eat at taco places when he’s in town, it used to be Korean BBQ and before that was Ramen places in LA. But, he’s from the East Coast and says more Korean BBQ and Ramen places are opening, but good tacos are still very hard to find. It was a good night, good conversation with a good friend, and the tacos were better than good! Happy Taco Tuesday! . #tacos #tireshoptaqueria #tacotuesday .

I’m not a fan of Autumn, cause I always forget to bring a jacket or hoodie. During my traveling days, I always looked for layovers in Louisiana. When the weather cools down, everyone brings out their Magnalite pots, cause it’s time to make Gumbo and I love Gumbo! But, since I live in Southern California, I can look forward to Pozole when the weather gets cooler. Pozole is a traditional Mexican soup, but with all of the fixins’, maybe you can call it a stew? Made with hominy and pork or chicken, the garnishes are what I look forward to customizing my dish. Garnishes can include radish, cabbage, onions, cilantro, avocado, chicharrón, tostada, lime wedges, and whatever else you like. One of the pozole places I need to try is Tamale Mama in Fresno. They have a “Tamazole,” a tamale of your choice inside their pozole soup with hominy. I would be happy with a good tamale on the side, but it sounds like something I need to try. On one of my future trips to Nor Cal, I’ll be stopping at @tamalemama__ in Fresno. I’ll be enjoying Pozole until Winter and Pozole season comes to an end. Baseball players will then report to Spring Training and soon it will be Time for Dodger Baseball! #pozole

For Sunday Dinner… How does this “Dry-Aged Whole Roasted Duck” sound? But, you won’t be able to have this tonight, but maybe in a couple of weeks, since it takes 10 days to dry age. A Whole Rohan Duck at Blue Duck Tavern in Washington D.C. . This meticulous preparation process involves a 24-hour cure, a light smoke, and then dry-aging for ten days. Finally, they slow-roast the ducks and finish them with a seasonal gastrique and spices for a perfect, shareable platter. . This Looks Amazing! "My doctor told me I had to stop throwing intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people." ~ ORSON WELLES Duck, Duck, Sunday Dinner! #roastedduck #dryagedroastedduck #duck

Cause it’s Super Burrito Saturday! Super Wet Burrito from Taqueria El Sabrosito in Bellflower. Your Choice of Meat, served with Beans, Rice, Lettuce, Onions, Cilantro, Tomatoes, Cheese, Crema, Guacamole, and topped with Red or Green Sauce or Both. This will take me awhile to eat… Happy Saturday! #superburritosaturday #superburrito

The Double-Double, my favorite burger at In-N-Out, made it’s debut on August 1, 1966. . The man who pioneered this new menu item back then, Robert Lang Sr., died this week at 87. . He had it added to the menu after customers were ordering hamburgers with double meat and cheese. Somehow the name “Double-Double” stuck and was added to the menu at the new Azusa location. With its success, @innout co-founder Harry Synder had it added to the menu at the other 5 stores. (hard to imagine there were only 6 locations in 1966). . It’s ironic that before finding out of this fast food pioneer’s passing, I did have a double cheeseburger for lunch today, it wasn’t a Double-Double tho… . So, I thank Robert Lang Sr. for having this item added to the menu and the first item I ever ordered at In-N-Out when I was in high school, 5 blocks from school on the way home. Crazy, but it’s one of the few things I vividly remember from that part of my life… 😂 #doubledouble

Rolled Taco FryDay! Chicken Taquitos from Josie’s Place in Gardena. Served with sour cream, guacamole, Pico de gallo, and cheese, they’ve been the same as long as I can remember. Known for their Chicken Tacos here, I usually get beef taquitos here, don’t ask me why I ordered chicken? Pick up a tamale while you’re here too. Happy FryDay! #taquitos #chickentaquitos

When life gives you spring rolls, Eat Them! (Duh!) Grilled Pork Spring Rolls (Nem Nuớng Cuốn) from Brodard in Garden Grove. Grilled pork wrapped in rice paper with lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, cilantro, chives, daikon and mint served with the special Brodard house sauce. “Some people call it Thursday, I like to call it Friday Eve. Happy Thursday!” ~ Unknown #grilledporkspringrolls

It’s Sandwich Saturday! . This sandwich sounds amazing! . Repost from @thewanderingkorean . Hey NYC, Poughkeepsie has a little secret (IYKYK) . When I was told that the sandwiches at @rossiandsons_rosticceria were going to be some of the best l’d ever had, I was skeptical. I’m sure it’d be great..,but the best? As someone who’s stayed in their NYC bubble I couldn’t wrap my brain around this. But, I was excited to find out. . So my final take? Let’s just say I’m glad I got out of my bubble. If you’re sandwich-obsessed like me, it’s time for you to get out of yours too. #sandwichsaturday #italianbeefsandwich

Today is National Sardines Day! Local sardines are the best, head to tail dining… Sashimi with the Fried Bones at Sushi Dragon in Sun Valley. It’s a real treat when a chef knows the balance of salt, vinegar, and marination time when curing this type of fish and today it was just perfect. Sardines are not a single species of fish and are named after the Italian island of Sardinia. Sardines are high omega-3 content is one of the many reasons they are considered a heart-healthy food. Sardines are an exceptional source of EPA and DHA, known for their numerous health benefits, particularly in supporting cardiovascular health. High levels of triglycerides, a type of fat found in the bloodstream, can increase the risk of heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower triglyceride levels, making sardines a heart-healthy food choice. I’m fortunate to live in California with a variety of great local seafood, like sardines, which are sustainable too. It’s not just fish in a can… #nationalsardinesday #sardines #foodcalendar #sashimi

It’s Taco Tuesday, and I have a Taco story… They always say you remember your 1st Lechon. Well, I don’t remember when it was… 😂 What I do remember… I was catering a wedding reception a few years ago and the happy couple wanted a Lechon Taco Bar during the cocktails. The guests really enjoyed the tacos, they kept coming back again and again. One kid asked to see the heart, I told him it was removed before cooking. Although he was disappointed, he came back about 3x.. It was a fun reception. Oops, wrong holiday protein… Question: When someone says, “they always say…” who are “they” referring to? The Kardashians??? Happy Lechon Taco Tuesday! #lechon #wholepig #roastedpig #weddingreception

Started my day with Oreos! Well, an Oreo Waffle anyway… Oreo Waffle at Old Town Caffe in Pasadena. . With powdered sugar, Oreo crumbs, and topped with house-made whip cream and nutella drizzle. Surviving the Monday Blues! #oreowaffle #waffle #breakfast

“As God is my witness.....I thought turkeys could fly.” ~ Mr. Carlson, ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ With Thanksgiving later this week, I’ve been seeing a lot of ways to cook a turkey 🦃. A few years ago, a reporter asked me what my secret ingredient for Thanksgiving will be this year? I told her, “to have someone else cook Thanksgiving.” I haven’t been asked again since that Thanksgiving. Lol The only turkey I usually cook these days are turkey patties. For Thanksgiving, my cousin usually cooks the turkey for family gatherings and he does a great job. The BEST turkey I’ve ever had was at @franklinbbq in Austin. It was very moist, able to taste the seasoning (salt & pepper) with enough smoke to make it the best Turkey I’ve ever had. I’ve had smoked turkey at other places, but it wasn’t as good as Franklin’s. When I visited Franklin Barbecue the first time, we got in line early, brought chairs, mimosas, and danishes for the wait. They opened at 11 am and everyone put away their chairs and coolers. We got to the counter before 1 pm and ordered what they had left. Brisket (of course), Beef Sausage (had some beef hearts in it, delicious), Pork Spare Ribs (👍), Cole Slaw, and Turkey. Everything was great and with all the people in line, it wasn’t hard to find an open table. We finished lunch before 1:30 pm and as we were leaving, they were Sold Out! So, which ever way you cook your turkey (or whatever) on Thanksgiving, just be thankful. I know I will be! . #smokedturkey

It’s Sandwich Saturday! I happened to see this sandwich on @thegrubfather and it looks so good! This starts out as a pizza and is made into an amazing sandwich. THE MEGA MORTAZZA (Pizza x Sandwich) from @WOODFIREDEDIBLES, a mobile artisan wood fired pizza and cookery catering company based in Brooklyn and NYC. A Sourdough pizza crust with Fresh Basil, EVOO, Hot Soppresata, Genoa Salami, Burrata, Baby San Marzano Tomatoes, Arugula, Balsamic Drizzle and Pecorino Romano. I can’t wait for my next trip to NYC! Happy Sandwich Saturday! #sandwichsaturday #sandwich #pizzaxsandwich #woodfirededibles #smorgasburg #brooklyn #foodtruck #woodfiredoven #themegamortazza

It’s Teriyaki Thursday! #tbt An out-of-town friend asked me the other day about the teriyaki place I took him to about 10 years ago. He said it was the BEST teriyaki place he’s been to and wanted to take his family next month when they visit LA. BTW, I Agree! BUT, I had to inform him that Bernie’s Teriyaki in Historic Filipinotown had closed at the end of 2018. I had been a regular here since the 7th or 8th grade. My favorite was the Beef & Chicken Combo Plate with Fried Rice, Lettuce, a slice or two of Tomato, and a dollop of Thousand Island dressing. The best part, Bernie’s was truly a family run restaurant. There were aunties and uncles cooking or packing orders, as plates were waiting for protein to come off the grill. When it wasn’t too busy, the aunties would ask me where I’ve been? Once, I forget to tell them I moved to the San Fernando Valley. Yeah, that went over well. But, I still regularly visited them until they closed 5 years ago. Bernie’s Teriyaki, have you been? #berniesteriyaki #teriyaki

If I ever open my own place, I’ll have MPW’s picture too. Marco Pierre White Is one badass chef. In 1995, at the age of 33, he became the youngest chef to achieve Michelin three stars. In 2002, this record was broken, but still impressive. He continues today as a restaurateur in the UK. MPW was interviewed and asked: “What makes a great chef? I would say that great chefs have 3 things in common. One: They accept and respect that Mother Nature is the true artist and they are the cook. Two: Everything they do is an extension of them as a person. And Three: They give you insight into a world they were born into, the world which inspires them, and they serve it on their plates.”

It’s Taco Tuesday! (actually about 11:30 pm, close enough) Al Pastor and Asada Tacos from Los California Tacos in Pasadena. I drove by after talking with some chef friends AND no line for tacos, so U-Turn! It nice to go to a place that remembers customers, I just tell them how many I want and they remember the rest of how I want it. One time, I overheard a customer behind me say, “I don’t think he ordered yet, he only said hi to them.” Happy Tuesday! #tacotuesday #tacos #alpastor #asada #tacotruck #foodtruck

Happy National Guacamole Day! Guacamole originated with the Aztecs in Mexico. On Super Bowl Sunday, 8 million pounds of guacamole is consumed. I do my part every Super Bowl! 😂 16 oz Guacamole $7.99 at Handy Market on Saturdays at their famous BBQ. #guacamole #nationalguacamoleday #foodcalendar

FB reminded me about this Beef Short Rib… . With Bone Marrow and topped with Roasted Red Peppers from Carnal at Smorgasburg Williamsburg in NY. It was tender and flavorful. October 2015, my first trip to Smorgasburg in Brooklyn, a year before before SmorgasburgLA opened. I’ve never had so much good food in one place and jealous I’m not around NYC more often. AND the view of Manhattan while at Smorgasburg Williamsburg on a sunny day was an added bonus. One of the best donuts I’ve had, some great fried anchovies, and of course, the @ramenburger were a few of my favorites that weekend at Smorgasburg Williamsburg. Happy Sunday! #beefshortrib #smorgasburgbrooklyn

Weekend Brunch is Served! Salmon Scrambled at the new @old_town_caffe in Pasadena. Scrambled Eggs and Salmon served with a Mixed Green Salad and Tomatoes topped with Chives and Avocado, not to forget the side of Capers and Lemon Wedge. I suggest a Hot Horchata Latte to go with the Salmon Scrambled for a Brunchy start to the day. Gettin’ some eggs-ercise in at brunch. 📍950 E. Colorado Blvd. 2nd Fl., Pasadena, CA 91106 #brunch #breakfast #salmonscrambled #horchatalatte

BREAKFAST BURRITO from Old Town Caffe in Pasadena. With Eggs, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Black Beans, Potatoes, and Jack Cheese (side of Chili Mayo). You can add Bacon or Chicken Sausage too ($3). A good start to a Friday! #breakfastburrito

It’s National Chicken Sandwich Day! Lots of places offering deals today, as I saw on TV this morning. But, I’m remembering the work-in-progress chicken sandwich that a chef friend made for me to try not to long ago. Although it wasn’t really about the sandwich, but he wanted my opinion on the sauces created to go on the chicken sandwich. Hopefully it will become a reality next year. Regardless, Happy National Chicken Sandwich Day! #nationalchickensandwich #foodcalendar

It’s National Cappuccino Day! Sip, sip, hooray! Speaking of coffee… I’ve never had, nor could I afford Kopi Luwak. It’s considered to be the rarest and most expensive coffee in the world. It is grown in Indonesia, and is about $50 a cup, or $400 a pound. If anyone wants to buy a pound, I’m game to brew it up… #justsayin Happy Wednesday! #nationalcappuccinoday #cappuccino #foodcalendar

It’s Taco Tuesday! If you saw my post of the 17 lb Taco in NYC, this is a follow-up. I was talking to some chef friends about the largest taco served in in LA??? Here's what I've found: Taco Poblano from TACOS SAN JUDITAS in Los Angeles. Served with Potatos, Black Beans, and Cecina on a Hand-made Tortilla and topped with Grilled Cactus & Avocado. #tacopoblano #tacotuesday

Today is National Nachos Day! Cheese Nachos with Jalapeños at Poquito Mas in WLA. Melted Jack & Cheddar cheese, Fresh Pico De Gallo, Fresh guacamole and sour cream over chips. I like the nachos here because it reminds me of the first restaurant I ever worked at in Cupertino, it was located across the street from what is now Apple Park. We used to get a lot of diners from Hewlett-Packard, the former owner of that property. The nachos are similarly made, but served with refried beans, house made salsa, and stacked higher. #nationalnachosday #nachos #foodcalendar #foodholiday

One of the BEST sushi restaurants is closing today. Sushi Hanada was a hidden gem in Port Hueneme (Oxnard) where some of LA’s top sushi chefs would drive over an hour to get to on their days off to eat here. YES, it was that good! Not because they received top notch quality seafood from Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo, but just the opposite. Sushi Hanada used a lot of local sustainable seafood and the preparation was the real secret. Chef Yuki Hanada was the master at bringing out the flavors of local ingredients. Sushi Hanada served Edomae-style sushi, made from seafood caught in Tokyo Bay. Small fish, Japanese prawns, clams, sea eel, etc. were cured or lightly cooked before serving. 200 years ago, it wasn’t about toro or uni in sushi, you needed to know what to do with what you could get your hands on and how to bring out the flavors. Chef Yuki did all of those things and more. The 3 or so times I’ve dined there, he never disappointed and each time I had different seasonal Omakase dishes. When he served local tuna, he marinated it in seaweed to give it another dimension. He wasn’t afraid of aging fish to bring out more flavor and he created his own sauces for menu items like Squid, Cherrystone Clam, and Sea Eel sushi. I’m saddened by their closing after 25 years, but grateful to have met Chef Yuki and dined at his sushi bar on a few occasions. I send my best wishes to the family.