Since my other post in October, the number of new food trucks popping up has increased exponentially. While traditional roach coaches are still wide spread selling their prepackaged sandwiches, gourmet food trucks are going strong. Many use Twitter and Facebook as their main source to get word out of where they'll be located. Here's a... Continue Reading →
Quin-WOW Pt. II
As noted in my previous post, quinoa can be steamed and mixed with a variety of ingredients to create a quinoa salad. Or the quinoa can even to be incorporated into my favorite: faux fried rice. Steaming this grain is a bit of work: between the rinsing, draining and rinsing again and moving the strainer... Continue Reading →
There’s no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap
Living within walking distance of Hillcrest, I can't help but notice trends. For example there is either a hairstylist, a florist or bar on every block. If there's a combination of all three, the foot traffic increases geometrically. As for restaurants, there has been an overabundance of sushi or Thai places in the past. But... Continue Reading →
Quin-WOW
Most days, I bring my lunch to work. Last year I was really into avocados smashed onto whole wheat toast with a sprinkling of salt. The year before that was soup. For 2011, I'm into quinoa. Quinoa is an edible seed and has been identified as a superfood. It's a complete plant-based protein but without... Continue Reading →
Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover.
At the end of 2010, we decided to cut the cord with cable television. In looking at many ways to trim the fat financially, we saw that COX Cablevision was easily our largest monthly utility bill. Our regular outlay for DVR/cable box rental, expanded service, digital cable service, DVR service, franchise fee, FCC fee, taxes... Continue Reading →
And Bacon was His Name-O
Bingo conjures up images of blue-haired ladies in large church cafeterias with lucky troll dolls trying to win it big. But what if it's bingo that involves bacon? You get BACON BINGO! Every Wednesday in January, North Park's El Take It Easy holds a Bacon Bingo with a chance to win a pound of bacon... Continue Reading →
The Proof is in the (Bread) Pudding
Last year, we had this grand plan to spend Thanksgiving at Disneyland. We had it all set up. One of Paul's Cool Jerk long-time readers, Caroline "Carob Sue," generously offered up two passes to Disneyland for us to use. There were a few conditions that came with the tickets: we take a photo at Disneyland... Continue Reading →
I don’t make the same mistake four times
Full disclosure: I have eaten at Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill exactly three times in my life — and each time made me physically ill (I'll spare you the details). After the first time, I figured it must've been a fluke. After the second time, I thought it must've been a coincidence. But after the third... Continue Reading →
I’m all over it like a fat kid on a cupcake
If you haven't heard of Sprinkles Cupcakes you are either not into cupcakes, or never heard of Paris Hilton (and numerous other celebrities) proclaim their love for these little baked delights, or not following food trends... or dead*. Sprinkles Cupcakes is the Prada of cupcakes for the West Coast as Magnolia Bakery is for New... Continue Reading →
I’d stop drinking coffee, but I’m no quitter
One of my resolutions for 2011 was to start drinking coffee black. Straight up. No cream. No sugar. No flavored anything. Drink coffee like I meant it. Ever since I've been drinking coffee, my morning brew of choice is Folgers. Unfortunately, drinking Folgers sans sugar and flavored creamer has revealed some fatal flaws -- namely... Continue Reading →
My Burning Kitchen... on the road 