Pink's is a place I have heard about my whole life being someone who loves food, celebs and kitsch.
I forgot all about Pink's though...how could I have done that?!?! But the hot dog gods were shining down on us last Friday. We were driving down La Brea and there it was a beacon of gleaming deliciousness with a line around the corner. I think I let out a little yelp and once I explained to Michael that no he had not just run over a celebrity that I was screeching for Pink's Hot Dogs it was decided we would head back for lunch after our museum visit.
We easily found meter parking across the street at around 2pm (ish) on a Friday. (You can also get free valet parking in their lot if you wish...)The line spanned around the building. Being a food geek I know that this is common for Pinks and had no problem waiting. We figured-it's hot dogs so it can't be too terribly long of a wait.
In the end the wait was around 25 minutes. People passed the pink paper menus around to each other so you could see the different dogs. I of course did not pass my menu back but kept it as a souvenir.
Ok, why is Pink's famous? It has been on the same location since 1939 starting as an original food cart and growing into the stand it is today. Celebs come here at all hours of the day and night. We are all equal at Pink's!
Why else is Pink's famous? Well it has to be those delicious dogs in so many variations I can't list them all. The dogs are made especially for them by a private company. Nobody else can get these dogs so they are pretty special before you even start topping them.
You step up to the counter and place the food order for your entire party, then you slide down to the register and order drinks and pay. Your food joins you there-the entire order put together by the same person and in less than a minute or two no matter how much you order.
The choices are pretty endless-
The Bacon Burrito Dog, Mushroom Swiss Dog, The Bacon Chili Cheese Dog...etc etc. Then the names get more Hollywood-
The Three Dog Night-3 dogs wrapped in a giant tortilla, 3 slices of cheese, 3 slices of bacon, onion and chili...you get the picture....
We decided on the following selections of goodness-a mild polish dog with mustard and chili for me, the Rosie O'Donnell and Pastrami Reuben Dog for Michael and Zoe...well she broke all the rules. A plain dog with ketchup only. Ketchup is a dirty word at a joint like Pink's. That is just not how they roll, but that IS how Zoe rolls so ketchup it was.
My dog was giant-9+inches covered in yellow mustard and chili sauce. The chili was the meaty thick stuff that you want for your dog. The bun was warm and soft. The yellow mustard was the perfect foil for the fat in the dog. It was my only lunch food and I couldn't finish it, there was just so much.
Michael LOVED the Reuben dog-pastrami, swiss, mustard and kraut on a dog. Genius idea really...He thought the pastrami itself was quality stuff-and this from an East Coast guy who knows what he is talking about. The Rosie O'Donnell was mustard, chili, onions and kraut. More traditional and he liked it but after that pastrami dog it was a let down for him.
Zoe declared her dog with ketchup delicious as was her orange crush served in a glass bottle.
The whole meal including a bag of chips and 3 drinks was $24. I would definitely wait in line again for some Pink's dog love.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Los Angeles-The Waffle A Review
The Waffle
6255 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 465-6901
www.thewaffle.us
A month or so ago I was watching "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on Food Network and saw a piece about red velvet waffles at The Waffle in Los Angeles. Not only did I take note, as I was heading to LA at least 3 of my friends told me to please try them while I was in LA. No need to ask me twice!
The Waffle is a family (and according to their website) pet friendly little gem decorated in a 60's style decor. They have a wide variety of comfort classics like tuna melts and mac n' cheese. Their namesake and specialty is waffles.
The Waffle features 10+ breakfast waffles such as smoked salmon, sticky bun and more traditional flavors like blueberry lemon. Waffles are also used as bread for sandwiches-like egg or meatloaf.
I ordered the famous Red Velvet's and was NOT disappointed. The outside was crisp, the inside was light and fluffy-exactly perfectly cooked. The flavor was a perfect red velvet-light chocolate, mild tang. The topping was a diabetic shock inducing amount of cream cheese icing. It was tasty and it melted over the hot waffles. It was also too much icing. It made the waffles a bit soggy for me, and if (when) I get to do it all again I will ask for either half the amount or icing on the side. It did not slow me down though! I ate the lot of it. The Red Velvet like most of the breakfast waffles was $10.50. The other meals at our table were a kids waffle/egg/bacon combo that was cute-petite little waffle with sprinkles and 1 scrambled egg and bacon-$6.50, and a ham and egg breakfast for my husband. He thought it was fine but feels he should not have branched out from the waffles-thought it was a little in need of seasoning-the potatoes specifically.
Our meal was $30 plus tax/tip. The service was great, parking was on the street and plentiful when we were there at 10am on a Friday. I doubt I would go for anything other than waffles but I would certainly go back for waffles any time!
6255 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 465-6901
www.thewaffle.us
A month or so ago I was watching "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on Food Network and saw a piece about red velvet waffles at The Waffle in Los Angeles. Not only did I take note, as I was heading to LA at least 3 of my friends told me to please try them while I was in LA. No need to ask me twice!
The Waffle is a family (and according to their website) pet friendly little gem decorated in a 60's style decor. They have a wide variety of comfort classics like tuna melts and mac n' cheese. Their namesake and specialty is waffles.
The Waffle features 10+ breakfast waffles such as smoked salmon, sticky bun and more traditional flavors like blueberry lemon. Waffles are also used as bread for sandwiches-like egg or meatloaf.
I ordered the famous Red Velvet's and was NOT disappointed. The outside was crisp, the inside was light and fluffy-exactly perfectly cooked. The flavor was a perfect red velvet-light chocolate, mild tang. The topping was a diabetic shock inducing amount of cream cheese icing. It was tasty and it melted over the hot waffles. It was also too much icing. It made the waffles a bit soggy for me, and if (when) I get to do it all again I will ask for either half the amount or icing on the side. It did not slow me down though! I ate the lot of it. The Red Velvet like most of the breakfast waffles was $10.50. The other meals at our table were a kids waffle/egg/bacon combo that was cute-petite little waffle with sprinkles and 1 scrambled egg and bacon-$6.50, and a ham and egg breakfast for my husband. He thought it was fine but feels he should not have branched out from the waffles-thought it was a little in need of seasoning-the potatoes specifically.
Our meal was $30 plus tax/tip. The service was great, parking was on the street and plentiful when we were there at 10am on a Friday. I doubt I would go for anything other than waffles but I would certainly go back for waffles any time!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Jennie's Diner - Amazing Fried Chicken!
Based on a recommendation from our friend Nate we decided to try out Jennie's Diner (2575 Lincoln Highway, Ronks PA 17572) when visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We were going to be nearby anyways and the online reviews talked about giant portions, delicious chicken and a fun Americana atmosphere. It sounded like a perfect ending to our visit to Pennsylvania.
First of all, if you have seen that show on Food Network "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" this place qualifies as a #1 Dive! I mean that in a good way though. The place is right off a busy county road, railcar style (long and skinny) with the kitchen in the back. When we walked in I was on sensory overload for a minute-the red white and blue garland around photos of local service men and women hung as trim around the ceiling, the waitresses in tye-dyed Jennie's t-shirts, the smell of gravy and grease and the din of the crowd.
Even though the diner was full we were seated pretty quickly as the waitresses keep things moving. The menu is 3 pages of diner fare including a handwritten specials list that has at least 35 different meals on the specials page. They serve hot opens, salads, burgers and other comfort classics like fried chicken and meatloaf.
We decided on cheeseburger and fries for Zoe, hot open turkey for me and the fried chicken for Michael. The burger was standard stuff, tasty but nothing special. To my disappointment the waitress ordered me a hot roastbeef not turkey and because she was a little on the surly side I decided to not make waves and just stick with it. The sandwich contained close to a pound of beef between 2 slices of white bread and a giant scoop of mashed potatoes. The whole thing was liberally dosed in homemade beef gravy. The gravy was peppery and had a beefy taste and a silky texture and look. The potatoes were creamy and lovely with that gravy. The beef was really dry. If there had not been a top slice of bread soaking up all that gravy it probably would have been fine, but without direct gravy contact it just wasn't doing it for me....my bad for not insisting on what I ordered (which I hear is quite good).
Michael got the famed chicken platter. It came with 2 vegetable sides, a giant scoop of mashed potatoes in chicken gravy (yum!) and at least 6 or seven pieces of chicken. The chicken was one of those smaller roasters, but given that number of pieces you don't mind at all. The chicken was hot, crisp and juicy all the way to the bone. I have had fried chicken at Hattie's in Saratoga-fabled to have some of the best in the country. I have made Emeril's amazing recipe for fried chicken and have had fried chicken in both Atlanta and Austin. None of that chicken even comes close to this chicken. The breading was simple-salt, pepper, flour and maybe something to give it a tiny touch of sweetness. I am not sure what that is though but plan to figure it out. That flavor unlike most chicken ran right through to the bone. Other reviewers have suggested that Jennie's uses shmaltz (chicken fat) in their cooking and this would make sense based on being in Pennsylvania Dutch country...I don't know what they used but I really wish Jennie and her chicken were NOT 5 hours away.
The chicken was so good that it overcame my dry beef the so-so burger and the fact that someone had recently cleaned both bathrooms with straight bleach-by the gallon. It made me tear right up, and they didn't wipe away a good portion of that bleach.
That chicken was so good that I am now on a mission to replicate it as soon as possible.
Jennie is cash only, but for your convenience has an ATM onsite. Our meal with tip was $30. Dress-super casual.
Do not pass by Jennie and her chicken!
Thanks Nate!
First of all, if you have seen that show on Food Network "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" this place qualifies as a #1 Dive! I mean that in a good way though. The place is right off a busy county road, railcar style (long and skinny) with the kitchen in the back. When we walked in I was on sensory overload for a minute-the red white and blue garland around photos of local service men and women hung as trim around the ceiling, the waitresses in tye-dyed Jennie's t-shirts, the smell of gravy and grease and the din of the crowd.
Even though the diner was full we were seated pretty quickly as the waitresses keep things moving. The menu is 3 pages of diner fare including a handwritten specials list that has at least 35 different meals on the specials page. They serve hot opens, salads, burgers and other comfort classics like fried chicken and meatloaf.
We decided on cheeseburger and fries for Zoe, hot open turkey for me and the fried chicken for Michael. The burger was standard stuff, tasty but nothing special. To my disappointment the waitress ordered me a hot roastbeef not turkey and because she was a little on the surly side I decided to not make waves and just stick with it. The sandwich contained close to a pound of beef between 2 slices of white bread and a giant scoop of mashed potatoes. The whole thing was liberally dosed in homemade beef gravy. The gravy was peppery and had a beefy taste and a silky texture and look. The potatoes were creamy and lovely with that gravy. The beef was really dry. If there had not been a top slice of bread soaking up all that gravy it probably would have been fine, but without direct gravy contact it just wasn't doing it for me....my bad for not insisting on what I ordered (which I hear is quite good).
Michael got the famed chicken platter. It came with 2 vegetable sides, a giant scoop of mashed potatoes in chicken gravy (yum!) and at least 6 or seven pieces of chicken. The chicken was one of those smaller roasters, but given that number of pieces you don't mind at all. The chicken was hot, crisp and juicy all the way to the bone. I have had fried chicken at Hattie's in Saratoga-fabled to have some of the best in the country. I have made Emeril's amazing recipe for fried chicken and have had fried chicken in both Atlanta and Austin. None of that chicken even comes close to this chicken. The breading was simple-salt, pepper, flour and maybe something to give it a tiny touch of sweetness. I am not sure what that is though but plan to figure it out. That flavor unlike most chicken ran right through to the bone. Other reviewers have suggested that Jennie's uses shmaltz (chicken fat) in their cooking and this would make sense based on being in Pennsylvania Dutch country...I don't know what they used but I really wish Jennie and her chicken were NOT 5 hours away.
The chicken was so good that it overcame my dry beef the so-so burger and the fact that someone had recently cleaned both bathrooms with straight bleach-by the gallon. It made me tear right up, and they didn't wipe away a good portion of that bleach.
That chicken was so good that I am now on a mission to replicate it as soon as possible.
Jennie is cash only, but for your convenience has an ATM onsite. Our meal with tip was $30. Dress-super casual.
Do not pass by Jennie and her chicken!
Thanks Nate!
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