Missing "The Point": Culver City

Is it weird if you say the exact same thing that Mr. L.A Food Guru himself said about a place...even before you read this week's Weekly?

Well, I somehow made my way into The Point to help me out in deciding whether I really want to do this for a living (see if my intuition would match with Mr. Gold's himeself) And what happened? Well, it was a hybrid of TenderGreens and The Counter(just how i stipulated) but where you could pay $10 for a great Salad, freshly pulled from the ground or even a couple more to get your naughty way's with a burger, who would want to come here?

The greens are fresh, but not as fresh as the former salad slingers. And if you stay within their price guidelines ($7.50 for 3 additional ingredients not counting any protein; tuna, chicken, tofu=$2.50-3.25) you end up with a pretty lame salad that leaves you thinking "I could of done this at home". If you decide to "get crazy" as I did (still slap myself for getting Manchego and Seared Tuna at the same time, but I was starving!) you'll end up paying $14-$15!

And for the reputation of the chef, is it too much to ask for some sort of flair to differentiate? Maybe some marinated veggies here and there or good quality ___________ Farms produce? My supporting companion--the only reason this blog is still alive--slashed of the little Carrot checkbox and all he got were these woody, irregularly sliced orange slabs that were barely edible. The Tuna was good though, almost as soft as it's Sashimi counterparts. But that was about it, the Manchego chesse dangerously looked like the pre-grated Kraft stuff, and it was missing that profound nutiness that could only be acquired from sheep's milk, I don't knooowwwww.....

I just don't get "The Point"

The Point
8522 National Blvd
Culver City, CA
90232
ph: 310.836.8400

Almost "All You Care To Eat": Whole Foods (Arroyo Prkwy)

It's just what you expect: two floor's of guiltless--but expensive--bliss!!!

A Juice Bar, Seafood Bar, Hot Food Bar, Sandwich Bar, Salad Bar, Dessert Bar, Bread Bar, Pizza Bar, Raw Food Bar, Tapas Bar...even a Hot Nut Bar! (went back for that warm Garlic Rosemary Brazil Nut every time their was a different clerk)

I actually came with the intention to work here just so I can get the 25% discount, but to no avail.

A Flagship store indeed.

I still didn't buy anything though...

Whole Foods Market
465 S. Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena
(626) 204-2266.

Humanese and Made with 100% Certified Love

Sure, all those Raw-Vegan places in L.A claim to make their food with "100% Real Love". And I have had my infatuation's with Julianno's, Rawvolution, Leaf Cuisine and their animate delectables but more than often, that good energy is stinted thanks to that stereotypical "snobbiness" that still somewhat prevails in being "vegan" or "from West L.A". Luckily though, I found just the place where there the food's wholeness leaves you in some sort of nutritious-created euphoria and the the raw chef himself does a better job waiting tables than the actual waiters.

As soon as you step in you know you're not in L.A anymore, the words "Love" tiled on the floor and the dark, cool ambiance consoling you from a world full of stress, smog and anxiety. When you're seated, you're handed two menus: one with the vietnamese and chinese inspired cooked creations with things like Fish Clay Hot Pot Sensation and Sauteed Soy Kidneys with Basil and the other with the Raw ones, where even the dish names arouse you with names like I Love You and Imagine.

And it just isn't the usual Collard Wraps, dehydrated fruit, veggie nuggets and nutmeat thing. No, no, no there are wondrous things: Risotto's, with chewy cultured aquatic grass seeds and more sea veggies that you even knew were edible, Hot And Sour Soups brimming with tender coconut meat. And for dessert, there are astonishing things: Durianaddict smoothies with the intense, acquired taste of tropical Durian somewhere between a mango and pineapple that lingers in your mouth in the same essence that raw garlic does. But the Choconut X-Tasy was really an act of affection: a frozen raw chocolate and coconut ice cream pie doused with chocolate syrup that makes Spanish Fly look even more like a gimmick than it already is.

Be sure to show your appreciation to the curt waterboy, as he is the masterful creator of the gastronomic love you just experienced, he won't be afraid to show you his.

Namaste Chef Ito, Namaste...

Au Lac
16563 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, California
714.418.0658

A Question to Fellow Bloggers...

If you finally went to a place that you know you aren't going to go to again for a long time, and you've really been looking forward to it (not to mention saving up), and the food was...well, "not what you expected".

Would you still write about it?

Just What the Tonic Bar Guy Ordered...

Don't know what's been happening to my weekends lately. The punk/gig scene ceased to exist, don't feel (didn't ever) like "nozzing" it up at dance parties, and all my friends ever do is....well, fall deeper into the "East L.A Trap". So, I haven't really gone out, at all anymore. And staying home--whether because of 14 unit homework or because there isn't that much really to do without a car--tends to make you feel kind of bummed out. When the rest of the world is out partying and "enjoying their life", you're home "wasting" yours.

And this last Saturday, I just could'nt take it anymore and just walked out. And 2 hours and 3 busrides later, I somehow ended up at Erewhon's Tonic Bar with the bartender splitting around 6-10 different powder pills and dropping 4-5 droplets of different extracts.

"It's mostly Reishi mushroom" he advised, "it will help you".

10 minutes later I felt...good, not mad at myself, not anxious about nothing like I usually am, just good-a rarity indeed.

I was even able to meditate while my neighbors birthday party repeatedly blasted "Hey Bay Bay".

thank you tonic bar guy...

Erewhon Natural Foods
7660 Beverly Blvd # A,
Los Angeles, CA
90036