Notes of sample: Falafel de Froma and of Amir

We needed some provisions for a picnic with the sifting of Cinespia of
the night of Suspiria Saturday of Dario Argento, thus I stopped in the
new Froma store of charcuterie/cheese on the melrose. I tested some
proscuitto of Quercia of, large the procsuitto domestic of Iowa that
L.A. Times wrote on the subject few weeks ago. It is good
substance; still better after I made with certain little bearings to
take with us with the bearings of BreadBar they carry in Froma, with
tomatos cut in sections of heritage, with a drizzle of viniagrette
aillé makes house and with shaven Parmesan. We also had an excellent
bottle of pinot black of Montanya Vineyards close to Healdsburg (a
favour of part of the publicity agent for the guide of Michelin, This
Of Montanya).That was a very good dinner, but the lunch was not too
poor either: we were in the valley thus we stopped at Falafel d'
Amir (11711 Ventura Blvd.) Amir is an Israeli model, which means that
like king de Falafel in Westwood, there is a great choice of side
salads. There is a salad nice-spiced of carrot, aubergine, two kinds
of cabbage salad, tabbouli and several others. The thought subdues its
sandwich with roasted chicken was delicious, but the falafel is the
piece of resistance: coldly transformed, soft and pillowy, stuffed in
a fresh pita with cabbage and sauce with tahini. It is not as cheap as
some places of falafel, but it could be interesting being right the
jet of a stone of the universal city and not must face Hollywood of
the major north.
Bacang
injury (naked) in waiting

Travel of road: San Diego last brews

house-cured charcuterie at the Linkery

Why does San Diego county get all the good beer, while Los Angeles suffers by comparison? This question was never answered to our satisfaction during this weekend's whirlwind San Diego beer tour, but we had some great food and beer nonetheless. We started our tour on the way down at Pizza Port in Solana Beach, a cute, artsy little town just north of ritzy Del Mar. It's the kind of place they could use a half dozen of in L.A. -- super casual with outdoor tables, decent bready pizza overloaded with toppings, plenty of games to occupy the kids while the adults taste beer, and an excellent list of house-brewed and guest beers.

a flight of beer tastings with house-made chipotle potato chips at Stone Brewing


I tried the Baja Session ale, which had a nice spicy finish and very little carbonation, while Kathy had the Belgian white ale. We detoured to Imperial Beach, where they film "John from Cincinnati," to drop off Kathy's son at surf camp, and then checked into our hotel, the historic U.S. Grant, which is now owned by a local Indian tribe. After a bit of research I decided on The Linkery for dinner. Kathy was dubious, since their Web site seemed to contain many stipulations including a mandatory 18% service fee and no reservations.

Sun Cafe, a vestige of old San Diego still open for breakfast


We found it in the quaint North Park neighborhood which had several cute cafes, bakeries and bars, and were happy to see it wasn't at all busy on a Sunday night. The menu is chock full of dishes composed of local or sustainable or organic ingredients as well as a great beer list (and nice Californian wine, too.) I had probably the best beer I've ever tasted -- a cask-conditioned Summer Yulesmith IPA from San Diego's Alesmith Brewing. The full-bodied, carmel-scented brew was sweet enough to offset the hoppy IPA flavor, and it packed a real punch. I savored it with the Linkery's house-cured saucisson sec and grass-fed bresaola, some portobello tacos and a lively herb salad. The Yardhouse was right across from the hotel -- in San Diego, even the touristy chain places have 100 beers on tap.

Carlsbad mussels and clams in beer broth at Stone Brewing


On the way home, we stopped at Stone Brewing's amazing facility in Escondido. From a distance, it looks like a warehouse, but up close, it features a beautiful sunken garden, huge open air patio and restaurant overlooking the glassed-in brewing operations. The food at the Stone World Bistro was also excellent, including local mussels and clams and a salad full of extremely flavorful greens and veggies. We peeked inside the brewery, picked up a bottle of Arrogant Bastard, and went home to the nearly beerless Eastside.
Chocolate balls
Orange cake (no mixer)