Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Hostesses with the Mostesses....
Friday, November 6, 2009
Local Flavor: Ludo and Krissy Lefebvre Talk Urasawa, Sprinkles and...KFC?
1) Favorite neighborhood joint?
Ludo: Kaya Sushi in El Segundo. When we lived in Venice we used to go to the location in Marina del Rey all the time. I love Asian food and they have a great mix of Japanese and Korean.
Krissy: I agree with Ludo on Kaya, it is definitely a favorite. I LOVE the Japchae noodles. Although it is a bit further away (closer to my old neighborhood), Typhoon is still my ultimate favorite neighborhood joint.
2) Favorite high-end restaurant?
Ludo: I have not been to a high-end restaurant since I returned from Las Vegas. I had many great high end meals in Vegas, but now back in LA I mostly focus on exploring new different cuisines. I am always looking for new inspiration. If I had to pick a high-end restaurant it would be Urasawa, and I loved my meals at Hatfield's.
Krissy: Unlike Ludo, I have a really hard time going to high end restaurants. Ludo is simply happy to have someone else cook for him, but I can't help myself and compare every meal to his cooking. I am so spoiled. I have eaten probably 100+ meals at L'Orangerie and Bastide. How do I ever enjoy anything else? My favorite high-end restaurant is definitely my own kitchen when Ludo is cooking. Nothing tops it.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
That Pork Used to be A Pig, Ya Know...
I eat meat, and I have no plans to give that up. I choose free-range, cruelty-free meat, which costs more but is ultimately better tasting, better for the environment and for the animals themselves. In my mind, an animal that’s had a happy life tastes better (I realize many vegetarians will disagree with me on this one!).
Monday, November 2, 2009
Of Gumption and Gumbo
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Bring on the Cold! Spicy Thai Curry Soup
I love cold weather, probably because it's so rare here in Los Angeles. While my friends back east and on the other side of the pond envy our near perfect, SoCal weather, I find myself craving cold, crisp breezes and, occasionally, bitter, freezing rainstorms. Do you know how depressing it is to wake up every Christmas morning to 82-degree warmth and blue, cloudless skies? Just once, I want to open my presents wrapped in a cozy, velvet robe in front of a roaring fireplace while the weather outside is frightful.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Happy 100th Birthday to my Obaachan!

My Obaachan (grandmother) was born on October 16, 1909 and is 100 years old tomorrow, which is pretty amazing. She lives in Osaka, Japan, where she’s lived the majority of her life. She was married to my Ojiisan (grandfather) for 73 years before his death at the age of 95 in 1998, and has survived two of her five children. She lived in the same rented house for about 50 years, and now lives in a home close to her old neighborhood. Though she’s quite frail and has become somewhat forgetful in her old age, she still loves to eat and still manages her chopsticks very well – especially when eating her favorite salty black seaweed condiment, which she always eats with her rice.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Best Deal in Town: Drago Centro Bar Menu
Things I love about happy hour: Catching up with friends after work. Good deals on drinks and food.
Things I don’t love about happy hour: An array of cheap, fried foods. Good deals on bad drinks. Loud crowds, with lots of “woo-hooing” going on (see the Yard House). The very small window of opportunity (5 p.m. – 7 p.m.) for the good deals.
The reasons above are why I am utterly in love with Drago Centro’s bar menu. The bar menu is pretty damn cheap, and includes some good wines for $5-$6 a glass, German beers for $4 a glass and a variety of specialty cocktails at $5. Wine choices like the Quattro Mani Montepulciano, Abruzzo, a great medium-bodied red with a hint of fruit, and cocktail selections like the Passione 5 (vodka, lychee, fresh peach) are always a hit with my friends and me, and at five bucks a pop, it’s a great deal as well.
I like Drago Centro’s bar space because it’s laid-back and elegant without being fussy or snooty. There is a plasma television for those who want to catch whatever game is on but it’s never blaring or intrusive. There are lovely cheesy breadsticks along the long, marble table of the bar area and the service, while it can be a bit slow at times (typically all orders in this area is handled by the bartender, so it’s understandable), it’s totally worth the wait.






