Manila Good-Ha!!!: My First Filipino Breakfast

Filipino Nostalgia

It's funny how you don't realize just how delicious some things are in life until you really think back on them and reminisce. It is only through that hazy nostalgia that the then-unappreciated grace is fully admired...and missed.

Not too long ago, I had the for granted pleasure of being introduced to my first Filipino breakfast. And since first bite, it was instant affection.


Topsilog: My Filipino Breakfast I Took For Granted

The dish was topsilog, a simple and satisfying meal revolving around the salty, vinegar-cured, spiced thin beef strips known as Tapa. The typical breakfast is served with soft-fried eggs along with a healthy amount of unseasoned garlic-fried rice. It was a breakfast unlike any other I've had before, exceeding all my self-set weird breakfast standards. The jerky-like strips were highly flavorful and the fried eggs were warm and consoling. The rice was bland but I did not care. I knew it was meant to be like that and bite after bite--I slowly learned to appreciate its acquired toasty simplicity without falling to my soy/fish sauce dousing habits. I liked it, a lot.


Dasilog

It was the little things that this little quirky Filipino breakfast eatery had that really drew me in. Things like catering to my seafood slanted cravings by also having Dasilog, almost the exact same thing but with blackened fish instead of beef. They even had some nice tofu and greens sometimes in addition to 5-6 different renditions of pork something.

I still chuckle when I think of the name of the place, "Good-Ha!!!". Its ambiance was comforting with its colorful walls and patrons of only humble Filipino elders.



I haven't experienced any breakfast like this one since then and so far, don't know if I'll find any other like it...


Manila Good-Ha!!!

231 S Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90004

(213) 387-2492

Around $5 for complete Topsilog breakfast

East L.A Meets Napa 2010 On July 9th: You're Not Down To Go...

Yeeah homie! Being born and raised in East L.A, I've been waiting for this event to come around again since last year's was PURO Pinche Pari!

Its just something about seeing other homeboys dressed in their Sunday Guayabera best sippin' on some fine Shiraz...ha ha. All for the sake of giving back to to Alta Med, an organization that I personally know has really helped around here.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a preview tasting of some of the stuff that will be featured in the event.

The tasting took place in some cool little eatery out in the underestimated city uptown Whittier
called Phlight.

Here are some of my favorites of the tasting. I was told that all the ones I highlight will be offered at the event.

From Phlight Restaurant:


Squash Blossoms stuffed w/ Mexican Cheeses and Tempura Batter, Flor De Jamaica [and Lavender] Orange Blossom Consome

This was damn good, a dish concentrated on the typical deliciousness of a typical Mexico City lunch. Oozy queso fresco went all the floral flavored crispy golden edges.


Deconstructed Posole w/ slow roasted Pork Tenderloin

This dish made me embarrassingly giggle due to its similarity in taste to one a many bowls of traditional posole I've had in every other family gathering. The mulched hominy came with a rich pork stock and tasted like pork flavored grits! Pork was a bit tough though.


Chile Guero stuffed w/ Crab Meat and Asparagus, Tequila Crab Chipotle Cream Sauce

Easily my favorite from this restaurant. Staying true to the chile relleno comfort classics of that airy fried egg batter soaked by a tasty chilito but with the added benefit of sweet crab meat.

Robert Tapia of Mission Wine And Spirits in Pasadena was kind enough to pair some exquisite wines with a lot of these courses. Although I didn't get to try much, there were a couple that made made me raise my eyebrow.



From Seta Restaurant:


Golden Gazpacho W/ Poached Shrimp, Cous-Cous

A couple of tacos were brought out by Steven Arroyo of Cobras & Matadors and Church & State. He is about to open a new taco shop called Esquela based on the philosophy that everything tastes better when wrapped with a Tortilla.


Braised Pork Chop Tacos

Handles! Can't Wait!

Eat and get effed up for a good cause!

Buy tickets here


The People That Make East L.A Meets Napa Crack!





(Taken From Press Release)



"It’s that time of year again when Latin Cuisine flirts with fine wine. Please join us for an exclusive sneak peek into AltaMed’s 5th Annual East LA Meets Napa event with a special celebration of Mexico’s Bicentennial. Enjoy bicentennial dishes prepared by some of LA’s premiere chefs and fine wine from Napa Valley and Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe. Participants at this preview event will include: Chef Daniel Salcido, Jay Arroyo and Nikomi Arroyo of Phlight, Chef Hugo Molina and Javier Jimenez of Setá, and Steven Arroyo (Cobras & Matadors, Church & State) of yet to be opened Esquela.

About the Event

AltaMed’s Fifth Annual East LA Meets Napa celebration returns better than ever on July 9th from 6-9p, with an expanded courtyard in one of Los Angeles most historic settings – Union Station. This year, the event also presents some of Baja California’s best wineries to showcase wines from the Valle de Guadalupe region in commemoration of Mexico’s Bicentennial celebration. The event will feature the diversity of Los Angeles’ Latin cuisine and fine wine from Latino-owned or –operated Napa Wineries through 60 wine and food pairing stations.

AltaMed’s East LA Meets Napa was inspired by CEO Cástulo De La Rocha’s passion for good Latin cuisine and fine wine. In that spirit and with his enduring commitment to serving communities in need, AltaMed’s East LA Meets Napa fundraiser was born.

The event will provide more than 1,400 entrepreneurs, community leaders, and food and wine enthusiasts with the opportunity to support AltaMed’s mission – increasing access to quality and culturally relevant health and human services to underserved communities in Southern California. During the past 41 years, AltaMed has been committed to providing quality care without exception. For more information on AltaMed please visit www.altamed.orghttp://www.altamed.org> .



Partial List of Participants for
AltaMed’s East LA Meets Napa 2010

Restaurants


Birrieria Chalio
Cacoa Mexicatessen
Casa de Moles “LaTia”
Cobras & Matadors
Cook’s Tortas
Dorados
El Portal
El Tepeyac Café
Esquela
Guelaguetza
Homegirl Café
La Casita Mexicana
La Parrilla Restaurant
La Serenata de Garibaldi
Phlight Restaurant
Porto’s Bakery & Café
Rivera Restaurant
Setá
Señor Fish
Taco’s Baja
Tamayo Restaurant
Teresitas
Tila’s Kitchen








Vintners
** - are Baja Californian vintners

Alex Sotelo Cellars
Ceja Vineyards
El Centauro del Norte
Elements of Sonoma
Encanto Vineyards
Gustavo Thrace Wines
J Lohr Vineyards & Wine
Karl Lawrence Cellars
Madrigal Vineyards
Maritas Vineyards
Mi Sueño
Renteria Wines
Robledo Vineyards
San Antonio Winery
Sequoia Grove Vineyards
Veramonte
Beringer
**L.A. Cetto Vineyard
**J.C. Bravo
Frias Family Vineyard
Chadeau de Vie
Maldonado Family Vineyards
Black Coyote
V. Sattui Winery
**Adobe Guadalupe


We look forward to seeing you soon. Buen Provecho!"

The World Cup At Guelaguetza: Mexican Glory And Chef Ludo

The impossible happened...all of a sudden I like sports! Well, OK, maybe just if it involves some sort of finals or championship type status, or if its your very own culture duking it out against others. Ok, ok, maybe just the last half of it too, and after a few swigs of tequila/wine/beer.

Well, I happened to get sucked in to all the enthusiastic brouhaha this year since everyone else around me made such a huge freaking deal about it. So I decided to see what was up for myself, might I add at 7:00 AM too?!


Gol!!

And I loved it! The pressure, the early morning boozing, the suspense but most importantly the feeling of unceasing good energy of millions of people around the world brought together by a soccer ball. Its pretty crazy.

This last Thursday was the coveted Mexico vs. France game. For Mexicans--poblanos--to be precise, it was not just a soccer game but a chance to show France what's up, again! There was certainly lots of tension though. And there was certainly no lack of coverage as there was at least 3-4 different T.V station wagons from KTLA to Telemundo, all parked outside.



I especially felt bad for the guest of honor for that game...Chef Ludo! In other words, the only guy in the entire restaurant that was wearing blue in front of 200+ rowdy, green-touting, prideful Mexicans.


Ludo Hoping Against Hope

But sorry Ludo, there is no denying it. Mexico was clearly a more superior team than France this time around.


Ludo Losing It

Fortunately, there was plenty of smooth Tequila to console him through the 2-0 Mexican onslaught though.


Ludo El Borrachito: Real De Mexico Of Course!

And you know what they say, if you can't beat 'em...join 'em!


In Your Face! Well, Back Really

And of course, good food a given whenever you come to Guelaguetza. This buzzed morning around, I had an intense hankering for some of their strapping Oaxacan tacos de Barbacoa De Chivo. Hand rolled, these are basically a rendition of Birria,, here, they are thick skinned and bulging with filleted meat. The kid goat here is slowly braised in a red chile broth that is heavy on spices and herbs until it becomes tender and gamy insanity in a tortilla. Served with that same superbly full bodied broth that is all the better for dunking these bad boys in as you inhale them.


Tacos De Barbacoa De Chivito: Mexican Glory

It was only a matter of time until Ludo was subject to the Oaxacan jewel of Mole Negro. Since we all know he's only had Mole Zacatecano (the best) via my mom and I a while back.


Ludo And Mom Mole Confrontation: Moment Of Truth

Nonetheless, this day was fun as hell. And will be looking forward to watching every single upcoming Mexico game coming up!!!


Ay Guey! Quien Es El Guapo De Amarillo?!

Mapo Kak Du Gee Jip: Seoul Food For The Soul

It was a lazy ass Wednesday evening and I had been in bed for the most part of it. I had gotten up in the wee hours of the morning with a throbbing fever. It had been a long day consisting of early rising farmers markets and a heavy, unpleasant lunch. But where I would of probably stayed in, only to probably fall sicker....the homie Mattatouille gives me a call. And an hour later I was up and ready to go.

A visit to this Korean spot I had seen on his blog was long overdue, and I was going to go whether I was miserable or not. Especially, since he just realized his vital Korean food credentials. It was time to respect Mattatouille's authority...


Mapo Kak Du Gee Jip

Of course, it wouldn't be a dinner with the Glutster without arriving 25 minutes late. But my failed punctuality that day was quickly forgotten as the assortment of colorful banchan started rolling out on to the table.


Banchan At Mapo

This is what I look forward to whenever I am on my way to any Korean restaurant, taste-whetting restaurant hospitality at its finest. The signature banchan (the restaurant is named after it) is kak du gee, chunks of raw daikon radish that is fermented until funky, crisp acidic joy. The rest of the sweet and spicy array included things like Mook (a bland solid jelly made out of acorns), in a vinegary dressing, sweet seaweed salad, cooked greens of both a savory, white pepper flavor variety and a sweet, sesame leaf flavor one. There was also pickled, crunchy cucumber and chewy fishcakes in red chili paste. And of course the essentials: a zippy, well aged Kimchi made out of baby napa cabbage and the L.A K-town exclusive of a miracle-whip enhanced potato salad.

Good thing we came with Matt and his innate Korean food ordering skills.


Kimchi Jjigae: Served Boiling

A bubbling hot kimchi soup was served first. In a clay bowl, its broth was deep, rich and heavy on the umami factor, suggesting of maybe beef or pork tallow used. It was brimming with tender pieces of kimchi, soft tofu and chewy oval shaped rice cakes. All the better to soak up that luscious broth.


Ee Myun Soo Gui

No one could tell what kind of fish this was but it didn't really matter as we all took the first bite. "G.B and D" in its truest sense of the word! Juicy, light and meaty. It was not hard to eat these with chopsticks like other more fragile fish.


Korean Purple Rice

An honorable mention has to go out for the bombski purple rice that complemented all this spicy Korean deliciousness. It was chewy, wholesome and satisfying.


Yook Heh Jang: I Wasn't Going To Wait Until It Got Cold!

There was no chance I was going to miss out on what was described by Matt as his "death bed" meal. Spicy beef broth, yam starch-vermicelli noodles, long roots, green onion and tender brisket all braised 'till sublimity . First taste has you with its tasty spices, a mixture of peppers and garlic for sure. Matt instructed us on how he used to eat it, scooping in some rice and letting it soak up all the juices first.

Just as I finished the last spoonful of the kimchi broth, I noticed that my fever was no longer bothering me. This was truly Seoul food that was good for the soul! ha ha.

Thanks to Kyoung Sun Lee--the proud owner of Mapo--for her generosity. She would simply not allow neither of us to pay or tip anything, she says that business has been absolutely great since her feature on Saveur Magazine and the L.A Times Review. I'm sure it didn't hurt that Matt had been here at least 8 times this month too. According to The Times piece, the part of Korea that she is from (Gyeonggi) is known for having signature banchan of a certain slightly dry, clean spiciness.

I hear another must-order item here is the black cod stew, not to mention her lunch specials that include things like hand-cut noodles or bibimbap for $5.99, and of course...all of that wonderful banchan! Damn, I'm lagging it!


Kyoung Sun Lee: Representin' Gyeonggi Right!

Mapo Kak Du Gee Jip
3611 W 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 736-6668

$12-15 Per Person (if you go all out, ha ha)