Vincent Vega said it best. They've got the same things overseas that we have here in America, but as a traveler you notice the little differences, like beer served in movie theaters, French fries served with mayonnaise, and funny names for fast food sandwiches like Royale with Cheese. LA Weekly must have been thinking along the same lines when they published their funny list of American fast food items that you can't get in America. ]]>
We love airplanes, you love airplanes, so let's go look at airplanes! In our Prime Plane Spotting series, we'll let you in on all the best spots to whip out your cameras and binoculars for a piece of the aviation action.
On the Pacific coast of Canada, in Vancouver, there is a jetty ideally situated for watching landing planes. On almost the other side of the North American continent in Toronto, it's a Wendy's fast food restaurant that makes for the perfect lookout. ]]>
Times Square and Central Park attract tourists to New York City in droves, but what were the most exciting sights back in the 1950s? Thanks to an old tourist brochure from 1953, we're exploring back in the day versus today, for NYC tourists.
If you visiting New York in 1953 and you weren't going out for lobster at some place like the Grand Central Oyster Bar, then you were probably licking your chops for a visit to East 52nd Street. And there, setting itself apart from $1.95 steak dinners advertised all around Times Square, was Al Schacht's Restaurant, owned by the baseball player-turned-comedian. ]]>
Times Square and Central Park attract tourists to New York City in droves, but what were the most exciting sights back in the 1950s? Thanks to an old tourist brochure from 1953, we're exploring back in the day versus today, for NYC tourists.
Walk past a Starbucks on every block and shiny Apple stores around the city, and you might believe for a second that city has change completely in the past 50+ years, but a quick visit to Grand Central Station will reveal that some things are held too sacred to ever change. ]]>
The Spicy Duck Burger at Perilla, owned by ex-contestant Harold Dieterle
The latest season of Top Chef has introduced us to a new batch of culinary hopefuls, many bearing tatted chef's sleeves which say, "I'll sous vide you into next Sunday."
Quickfire challenges, Sin City antics, and watching Padma Lakshmi sample dishes with sensual glee keep us invested in the motley Vegas crew, but what about cast members from seasons past? Where did Casey go after dropping the ball on the final challenge? Is Hung still breaking down chickens with lightning quick precision? And what about sometimes-rapper Marcel? The last time we saw him was at a taping of Top Chef Masters at Beverly Hills' SLS Hotel, sampling food and falling in line just like the other "Hollywood insiders."
You might argue that the series has yet to produce a Hubert Keller or a Rick Bayless, but we think it has the best show-to-real-life-success ratio of any reality programming. A good counter-example might be America's Next Top Model, a show whose title is a major misnomer. ]]>
Trying to find the best Mexican restaurant in San Diego is as hard as finding the perfect pizzeria in New York. But what sets Gringo's Cocina Y Cantina apart from the other Mexican eateries (aside from its awkward un-P.C. name) is its location, just a block away from the ocean. The Pacific Beach restaurant has a following among surfers and beach bums, who all retreat there after a long day of hitting the waves to warm up next to the big outdoor fire pit and get some good grub.
Gringo's is also a popular place to chillax or celebrate with friends, as it trades the schlocky overdone decor of most Mexican fast-food joints for a more upscale, warm setting. Plus, there are those big-as-your-head, 26-ounce "Gigante" margaritas that come in fun flavors like Frida Rita (Cazadores Reposado, triple sec and pomegranate juice) and Melonita (1800 Silver, melon liqueur and a splash of orange juice) that make any gathering a great time. ]]>
In Los Angeles there are delis, there are delis, and then there are the Places Where The Jews Eat. Pico Kosher Deli, which sits just a few blocks north of LA's heavily Orthodox Beverlywood district, definitely falls into that last category. It's the oldest kosher deli in the city and, unlike some other "Jewish-style" delis, you'll find nary a trace of dairy in the kitchen. Bacon, it goes without saying, is literally and metaphorically traife.
The deli is small, with an L-shaped counter in the front and a dining area to the left that you have to walk around a wall to reach. They've only got a handful of tables and booths back there, and there's no way they can accommodate more than fifty or sixty customers.
Given that PKD regularly ranks as one of the top 5 LA delis, things can get very crowded around lunchtime.]]>