Fish Fried Graffiti

South Central walking tour

TV Cafe is Closing Forever

Well it is official the old TV Cafe will be closing it's doors this Sunday at midnight. The cafe opened its doors in 1987 and maintained a very retro 1950s facade. The exterior had various hand painted signs and a giant hamburger,drink and fries on the roof. The menu had everything from hamburgers to tacos, malted shakes and slices of pie. There were  lots of old fashioned looking booths with tons of frames and memorabilia showing celebs and national events. A variety of old video game machines and ping pong machines adorned the back room.Today's this place could seem a bit cheesy, but as a history lover I enjoy these types of places. I can't say I was a regular, but I been their many times to get a drink or a late night plate. 

TV Cafe in its prime photo courtesy of their Face Book page

I stopped in last night just to say bye and eat some fries.... 

Lone interior, but it was like 2 a.m.

Can't go wrong with French fries sprinkled with pepper

Waffles with buttery love

Not sure why there is a sign for Carnitas Michoacan on their property but I am guessing the owners are either friends or the same owner???

If you want to grab a bite before they shut their doors the last day is Sunday, January 29, 2012 @ midnight. They are also selling everything in the building because it will be torn down. 






Peace,


DJ

Watts Up: A Walk Through The City of Watts

The gardens of many of the families in Watts are filled with fruitful trees, corn stalks sky high and a wonderful array of vegetables and herbs. 
Read the rest after the jump

San Diego: Chicano Park

I finally got a chance to upload these photos form a recent trip to San Diego's Chicano park; a great use of urban space. 

Lunch at this bomb fish taco spot...the micheladas were off the hook. 

Seafood Bar Mariscos La Cacho

3120 Main St, Chula Vista, CA 91911

(619) 422-2287

Happy Anniversary to Us!

For my  five year wedding anniversary I decided to make an early dinner to share with the familia. I used a recipe that my comrade Ritzy P over on LA East side gave me a while back. I added a bit of my twist to it and it came out pretty yummy. I also made a pasta recipe that my mom had gave me. Check out the recipe below


Happy anniversary to us!


Ingredients: 

• Baby Bok Choy
• Fresh Ginger (minced) 
• Red Pepper Flakes 
• Fresh Garlic (minced) 
• Sliced mushrooms
• Ground Turkey
• Garlic salt
• pepper
• Olive oil
• soy sauce (to liking) 
• fish sauce (1) tsp

The bok choy leaves are already trimmed off this steam I would have more prep pictures but I decided to do this post half-way though my cooking =) 

Mixture before the turkey...ginger smells so good


In a separate bowl season raw ground turkey with soy sauce, garlic salt, and pepper---set aside.
In a large skillet heat up olive oil and add garlic, ginger, mushrooms, red pepper flakes, bok choy. Saute for about 5 minutes or less until the bok choy is slightly withered. Mix in turkey and fish sauce-- you can also add half a cup of water  or more to get the mixture from drying out. Cover and keep mixing until turkey is cooked thoroughly. Add garlic salt or salt to your liking, or add more soy sauce. 

Mom's Cold Pasta

• Cold Spaghetti 
• Red and Green Bell Peppers sliced
• Purple onions sliced 
• Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing 
• Kraft  grated Parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning (dry) 
• Pasta  seasoning (dry)
• Shredded carrots
• olive oil tsp
• optional: sliced red bell pepper marinated in olive oil (from jar) 
• a few diced canned tomatoes (garlic, basil, olive oil flavor) 

Toss the spaghetti first with balsamic vinegar dressing and olive oil. Add then the cut up vegetables, mix and get a good coat on everything. Mix pasta seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning in small bowl. Add as much season and mix it in as desired..enjoy

Enjoy





Love,
Dona Junta

Where have I been?

Good question, well not blogging latey. As many of you may know or  maybe not know I am still an undergraduate student.  I been  very busy carrying on a full-load of classes and working full-time. I miss my dear blog and going off on new adventures, but of course I have to prioritize. I will be blogging more in the next few weeks because I will have a bit more time. For now, I am mostly reading books and not blogs! go figure.  This weekend I will be reading 5 chapters of an older book called, Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser which is a book written about the rise of the fast food industry and as he desribes "The dark side". In addition, instead of reading the fun and disgusting facts I have to somehow incorporte Schlosser's ( sort of theory) and compare it to Max Weber's theory of rationlization. As most Modern theory classes I have to seek the real meaning of what the writer is saying not just the basic premise. Anyhow I just though I would update you all a bit on my whereabouts.

Be back soon!







Dona Junta

Ceviche Jimenez

Last month I was honored to get a chance and taste this excellent homemade ceviche made by Rogelio Jimenez,  father of my dear friend Ana. She had always mentioned her dad made the best ceviche ever, so actually tasting it, her praises were confirmed. I had ceviche from many restaurants and homemade as well however, this one is def on top of that list. The fish was super fresh (shark I think)  it was just flavorful and perfect. I also ate it the style they are accustomed to on a tostada with a thin layer of mayo, topped off with avocado and fresh salsa yum yum....

Special Treat: Shrimp empanadas 

Wilmington: Tacos y Mariscos Sahuayo

It took me close to a year to finally try this place out. My homie Carlos had told me about this spot and praised the shrimp tacos. I never went mostly because this resturant is located deep in the east side of Wilmington between diesel  gas stations, dingy motels and lots of industrial traffic. I love grimy streets don't get me wrong, but sometimes when it comes to my food I get picky. I trusted my homie's opinion, but I just had not got around to hitting the place up. Last week at a Slanguage meeting, Carlos came by the studio and I asked him about the place;  a year later he still highly recommends it. I told him the reason I was leary about it but he mentioned that was a natural reaction because of location. When he first went  it was with Slanguage artist Steve De La Torre, Steve really liked the shrimp tacos and mentioned, " Only crackheads and Longshoremen know about this spot." I started laughing!

The community of Wilmington is home to the largest port on the west coast, there are also four refineries and plenty of other industrial based businesses. There is tons of traffic and movement in the area  With that also comes unwanted pollution and as every town has is,  "crackheads."  Despite the downsides the ladies and gentlemen who work hard all day need to eat, so that is where Tacos y Mariscos Sahuayo comes in. 

Tacos y Mariscos Sahuayo  is located on the corner of Pioneer and Anaheim St. Sahauayo is a city located in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Typical Sahuayan food is carnitas, birria and Tacos al pastor.

The resturant was a nice decent size. We were greeted by the senora who owns the resturant along with her husband who is the cook. Carlos knew the lady from going there often, so she was real sweet with us. We sat down and ordered, I knew I wanted the shrimp tacos so I got two with the works. This place did not offer chips and which is a downside, but I was not too concerned. Carlos also ordered an appetizer called Queso Fundido or Cheese Fondue. I have heard of this dish before, but I never knew much about it. All I knew it usually was heated up in a metal pot and set down at parties and people would dip into it kind of like nacho cheese. After some reading on cheese fondue I read it was a popular party dish back in the fifties, sixties and seventies. The origins are said to come from Switzerland because it was a way to get rid of hardened cheese. The meaning of the word is actually French  fondre, meaning "to melt."  I was surprised to eat this item in a Mexican resturant, but am glad I did . The lady explained that they used a queso popular in Michoacan. She said that they were not able to provide customers with the actual fondue pots because of certain regulations being it is an actual fuel burner in the pot. 

Since there was no pot we had to dig in the cheese quick before it hardened but oh was it so yummy!

  The cheese came with a nice Pico-de- gallo, chips and tortillas.

 The best way Carlos suggested was to spread the queso on a tortilla and top it off with pico de gallo.  The choice was excellent, it reminded me of a really good quesadilla on corn tortilla since. I usually eat quesadillas on flour so this was a great alternative.

Now to the main item! I was very well pleased with these tacos they were so on point. First of all the corn tortilla is layered with beans which as Carlos pointed out not too common in shrimp tacos, that touch  gave it an extra kick. The shrimp is sauteed with spices and topped off with cheese, lettuce, cilantro, tomatoes and onions. Add some limon and take a bite of Jalapeno your tummy feels the goodness. Two tacos were really filling and cost around $ 2.50.

Do not be intimidated by the location ( like I was) or even the clientele and no there is no crackheads hanging around outside. The reason for that saying was because in there was another location with an outdoor patio that sometimes had that problem. They shut down the other location and have been successful at this spot.  They do close early since they cater to the lunch crowd in the area. Now go and try  this place out for yourself.

Tacos y Mariscos Sahuayo
1134 E. Anaheim St
Wilmington, Ca 90744
(310) 835-3534
9 a..m.  to 6 p.m.

From Ramen to Barbecue Chicken

Ramen is one of those foods that sometimes gets a bad reputation. If you tell someone that you are going to eat ramen they might automatically think Maruchan or Top Ramen which is basically what you eat when you're broke and have nothing else. Ramen is also the token food in jails and prisons all over the country. You would not believe how creative these fellas can get making what they call " spreads" out of ramen and other basic ingredients.

Because of that reason I had never really been allured by ramen eateries or knew much about them. Within a year or so I started getting introduced to some really awesome ramen places. My first time at Daikokuya I was hooked! and have been back several times to eat their ramen.

I have waited up to an hour just to get seated, and believe me on weekends this place gets packed!

I also enjoyed ramen from Orochon which is great too because you can choose your spice level, and add extra trimmings. If you get the HOTTEST level then your photo will be put on the wall, the challenge can be unbearable though.

This week I was taken to a new ramen spot by comadre Doña Licha called, " Gardena Ramen"

I was very interested in trying the ramen here because it was somewhere outside of Little Tokyo. I have been spoiled by the regular spots and it was exciting to try something new.

The place was empty when we got there, to me that do not necessarily mean it was unpopular or not good in fact I see it as a good thing no waiting this place also still had that mom n pop mystic to it. A sweet, older Japanese women greeted us in, there is no physical menu only papers on the wall with the menu handwritten in English and Japanese. Only ramen and goyza are served here either Miso or Shoyu flavor broth.

Excuse the photos I had to take them with my cell phone because I forgot my camera.

I ordered the Miso base and you have a choice of a small bowl or large bowl,  I like that because most times I can not finish off  those huge bowls that some places have. As you wait  for your food you can check out the library of Japanese comics and books they have for all to read I never really seen that at a resturant, so that was interesting. Once we got our ramen it was time to dig in! The broth was familiar and creamy, it had lots of pork and half and egg with plenty of green onions how I like it.  The goyza were okay,  I like them a little more crisper myself. They also serve Asahi and Sapporo beer. Prices are very reasonable,ramen is about $ 6.50 for small bowl and Goyza $ 3.50. I give it four out of five in yumness! 

1840 W 182nd St
Torrance, CA 90504
Neighborhood: Torrance

(310) 324-6993

Staying at home

 Hey for those times you just can't afford to eat out why not cook at home? That is another passion I had since I was younger. I always watched Food Network looking for new recipes. My roommate and I can make some good food if we feel like it. Here is dinner this week. 

This was a recipe I got from Food Network which is Roasted Sausage and Bell Peppers I really enjoyed this one.

This was " Suny's"  BBQ Chicken" with potato wedges alongside it. 

This was Milanesa meat marinated in Worcester sauce with garlic, pepper, and onions.

Add some rice and you got s real " Man's" meal lol


Peace,


DJ

Fotos Para Ti

Sometimes I do not have time to blog about every place I go eat, or interesting photo, but here is this week in photos from food to random happenings. Check it out!

 Ceviche from Agua Verde in Wilmington 

I taste tested it, and it is a different style ceviche were it is not as lemony as the traditional version it is a dryer version.  It is just as good, but I guess I prefer mine soaked in limon. I really enjoyed their salsa and chips, the salsa is not too spicy, but for some reason it tastes like it has a hint of bean flavor, very good though.

625 W Pacific Coast Hwy
Wilmington, CA 90744
(310) 549-1033

 

 

 This Sand Chick was seen floating around sola in the industrial part of Wilmington. There was originally a nice production across the whole fence, but it got buffed mysteriously and the only thing life was this lonely, but lovely Sand Chick. 

Senku Sushi

Jalapeno poppers and eel which were both delish! $1,50 beer too!

335 E 2nd St Ste 223
Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 680-1930

Budda loves coffee and donuts too! 

They hate 18th st so much they crossed this laundromat sign out because it said 18 min wash lol hilarious! 

Sandwich Saloon a San Pedro Classic, pastrami sandwich and some really good chili topped with cheese and onions. 

813 S Gaffey St
San Pedro, CA 90731 

(310) 548-5322

That is it for today I got to run, but as always keep posted!

Peace,

DJ

People Hate These Tacos!

Yes they do! Every time I ask someone if they eat tacos de lengua ( beef tongue) they say eeewww no! or that is nasty, and so on. Even people that never tried it before say it is disgusting. I know all you vegetarians  agree, and I know  it does not sound like the most appealing part of a cow, but there is worse.I grew up eating tacos de lengua because my parents would make it a few times a year for special occasions. I used to say the same thing when I was younger, but I used to also hate nopales and lentejas now I absolutely  love them!

I never order tacos de lengua on the street though because I do find it is not as good as making them at home. The street taco meat tends to be chunkier and rubbery from my experience. At home the meat is chopped and garnished with traditional toppings and fresh salsa. 

 Meat ready to be distributed in tortillas de maiz, but first we need to make fresh salsa...

Boil tomatoes, Serrano chilies, garlic, add garlic salt or regular salt blend and you got some tasty fresh salsa

Finished product!

So tell me why you hate tacos de lengua so much? or tell me why you like them so much? I am open to listening to all valid opinions.

Alrato,

DJ