This week, Daily Candy recommended a couple of hot spots in Echo Park to take your sweetie to – El Prado and Taco Zone. While I’ve never been to a Taco Truck for a first or second date (and I’m not the adventurous type when it comes to eating cow mouth parts), you might have a different experience. Where do you go date night in Echo Park?
Spend part of our final summer days this weekend at Echo Country Outpost’s “Paradise & Lunch” even on Sunday. Here’s all the info:
Sunday, September 19th, 3:00pm
$5 at the door
$5 unlimited refreshment
$2 Burgers and Dogs
Live Music All Afternoon
Walter Spencer at 3:30 pm
Freaky Mountain at 4:20 pm
Matt Van Winkle at 5:30 pm<
Cave Country at 6:30 pm
The Driftwood Singers at 7:30 pm
RT N’ The 44s 8:30 pm
Echo Country Outpost is located at 1930 Echo Park Ave
Get some great cooking tips at the Echo Park Farmers’ Market tomorrow from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.
The Good Cooking/Buena Cocina cooking class is free, and will teach you how to prepare delicious, quick and affordable recipes.
As mentioned in my sneak peak the other week, I am in love… with Echo Park’s margaritas! A little disclaimer: I did not go to margarita school, I am just a self-proclaimed aficionado because I have had and created a lot of margaritas. There are several spots in Echo Park you can sit and enjoy my favorite mixed drink, but these are the best ways to enjoy margaritas in our small neighborhood:
Barragan's Margarita
#3: Barragan’s made the top three, but isn’t really my favorite. It’s a very, very popular spot and the best deal in town with the $2.50 margaritas served up every Wednesday night. The back patio is cozy and service is great, but the margarita snob in me keeps it from taking a number one spot. They have the necessary variety of tequila options, but the margarita mix was a stock margarita mix from a plastic, labeled bottle, so the margaritas end up being a lot sweeter while I’m more partial to enjoy a more tart mix.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t go for a margarita at Barragan’s, as one of our readers pointed out in the comments section of my first post agrees with a commenter who doesn’t like a high price tag: “I agree, $8 and waaay west of Alvarado doesn’t count. I’m all for Barrigan’s very LARGE and VERY TASTY margarita on the rocks WITH SALT at a decent price. And I can walk there…!” It’s completely true – margaritas can certainly get expensive! But it seems Wednesdays are the time to go to Barragan’s – we spent $9-10 for each margarita plus tip for mid-shelf tequila.
#2: Allston Yacht Club serves up a lot of delicious mixed drinks, wines, and recently added a couple of taps for craft beers. As an ex-bartender myself, I always sit at the bar and chat with the always friendly and well-versed bartenders.
AYC's Spicy Margarita
At AYC, order the Spicy Margarita. It’s mid-shelf tequila, fresh lime juice, agave syrup, and muddled jalapeños – but not too much. The jalapeño leaves a little heat in the back of your throat, and gets a tiny bit stronger and you drink it down. Overall, it’s refreshing and delicious, and worth the $9. But with happy hour prices Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30-7:00 pm, the $5 you’ll spend is more than worth it! Did I mention they also have a cozy back patio?
#1: El Compadre. I’m pretty sure you knew this was coming – El Compadre is a given. The ambiance is well-matched for margarita drinking, Dodger games are always on, and the bartenders are the best. At a dining table, margaritas come in their famous style (flaming), while at the bar they come sans flame (which is fine with me!). I always order a Cazadores Reposado margarita on the rocks with salt, knowing the good tequila will be more expensive, but boy is it worth every penny.
El Compadre
Cazadores Reposado is my favorite margarita tequila. Aged in oak casks, it’s certainly not a tame tequila and becomes well-balanced in margaritas. It’s particularly delicious when you have a good margarita mix, which El Compadre definitely does. They’ve had the recipe for 30 years, and try as I might I could not coax any ingredients out of the bartender.
Why pay more than a few bucks for a good margarita? Well, let’s put it this way: one margarita and you’re feeling good, two and you’re set (plus no hangover)! Why drink the several of the cheap stuff when you can have just a couple good margaritas, and enjoy it in the process?
Hopefully this helps your margarita choices in Echo Park. Remember, the bottom line is this: Good margarita mix, good margarita! And I don’t want to leave out the other guys, so the other spots you can get margaritas include the Short Stop, and, once the license goes through, even Rodeo Grill. Enjoy, and remember to walk home if you can!
Note: I pay for all of my drinks to ensure there’s no favoritism involved.
Today’s Los Angeles Groupon deal comes back to Echo Park, this time you get half off wine at our friendly neighborhood wine bar, City Sip.
This means you spend $20 and you get $40 worth of delicious wine. Great deal! Here’s a little description of the featured wines (and beers!) to tempt you to try few of their 40 wine bottle selections:
Swirl, sniff, and sip your way through potable pleasures such as an Alsatian gewürztraminer from Klipfel ($11/glass), a Felino malbec ($12/glass), or another pick from the encyclopedic selection of bubblies, whites, reds, roses, and other vine-based beauties. Like the three-fisted men who harvest the grapes, wine flights provide a one-two-three palate punch, while dessert wines such as a Landskroon morio muscat ($11/glass) gently slap tongues with sweetness. A selection of craft beers including Allagash Curieux ($8) and Eagle Rock Brewery Solidarity ($7), plus a handful of nonalcoholic options, round out the liquid luxuries.
The fine print: Limit 2 per person. Limit 1 per table. Not valid toward retail or classes. Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with other offers, including happy hour.
Click here to visit Groupon.com and purchase today’s deal. Get it soon – you have until midnight tonight!
CitySip is located at 2150 W. Sunset Blvd, click here for the website.
Check out Montana Cans tonight for an in-store book signing by well-known LA Street culture photographer Estevan Oriol.
Last year Oriol released “LA Woman,” his first book featuring iconic images of women of the city of Los Angeles. He will be signing copies of the book, which will also be for sale along with calendars, posters and more. There will also be some free Montana Store giveaways.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Montana Cans is located at 1528 1/2 Sunset Blvd
Photo from LAist
Delilah Bakery owner Genevieve Ostrander has taken home the third place ribbon for her Peanut Butter Pie with Chocolate Cookie Crust at KCRW’s 2nd Annual Good Food Pie Contest in Beverly Hills over the weekend.
Congratulations to Delilah’s Bakery!
Now go eat some pie, people!
Xoia
1801 West Sunset Blvd.
(213) 413-3232
Website
Hours (starting Tuesday, September 7):
Tuesday-Thursday: 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm
Friday: 12:00 noon to midnight
Saturday: 12:30 pm to midnight
Friday: 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Cash only!
Starters
Spring Rolls: Rice paper rolls w/ shrimp, pork, rice noodles, and fresh herbs served w/ peanut sauce. $5.75
Vegetarian Spring Rolls: Rice paper rolls w/ sautéed mushrooms, tofu, rice noodles, fresh herbs served w/ peanut sauce. $5.50
Pho Beef Tacos: Pho infused beef served on corn tortillas w/ cilantro, onions and house made red salsa. $5.75
Mi Quang Pork Tacos: Paprika and shallot spiced pork on corn tortillas w/ cilantro, onions and house made red salsa. $5.75
Read more
New restaurants and businesses:
- Ballard’s Framing and Raven-Lily held a grand opening on Saturday, August 7 and officially opened on August 14.
- International Playground opened up on August 12 in the old Mohawk Store location at 1102 Mohawk St.
- Warwick opened up its new location 1205 Sunset Blvd.
- Cookbook, the greengrocer, opened up on August 31 on Echo Park Avenue near Chicken Corner. Click here to read about the store!
- A Mac computer repair store is rumored to open up this weekend next door to Beauty Box on Sunset Blvd. More details to come!
Other news:
- Drive safe tonight! There’s a DUI checkpoint tonight on Sunset Boulevard and Sutherland Street near the Short Stop on Friday starting at 8:00 pm.
- The Park Restaurant will be closed on Saturday and Sunday for the Labor Day weekend.
- Our libraries have a lot of activities planned for September, click here.
- Learn more about raw veganism at one of the many workshops at Mooi throughout September.
- Check out some Dodger Stadium fireworks from your favorite rooftop in Echo Park on Friday night.
Ongoing/Weekly Specials
- 1/2 off Sundays at City Sip (applies to all open bottles after 9:00 pm)
- Mac n’ Cheese Mondays at Stories Books & Cafe
- Speakeasy Tuesday at The Park restaurant (3 courses for $15)
- Wicked Wednesdays at Allston Yacht Club at 5:30 pm ($5 plates), Happy Hour from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm also includes $5 plates
- $5 Burger Night, Wednesdays at The Park restaurant
- $2.50 Margarita Wednesdays at Barragan’s
- Free Yoga every Thursday at 10:30 am at 2HeadedHorse
Mooi is offering quite a few treats for us in the month of September, including a raw food seminar, speaking events, and a guest chef night. Here’s the low-down:
Tonight is the first night for a free raw food seminar by Lou Corona to be held every Thursday of September from 7-10:30 pm (we’ve heard food will be served!). Lou’s seminar is about raw food and his 38-year experience as a “raw living foodist.” He’ll be teachin the “4 principles” that have helped transformed his life. You don’t need to RSVP, and it’s free!
On Saturday, September 11, Mooi will host a guest chef with BeLive (“gourmet raw living culinary artist and visionary”).
On Friday, September 17, Mooi will host an event called “Farm of Life,” where guest speakers Brian and Jody Calvi talk about healing sickness and disease through a raw food diet, as well as their experiences on a raw vegan organic farm in Costa Rica. There will be two showings, one at 7:00 pm and one at 9:00 pm. The event is free! Go to www.farmoflifecr.com to learn more.
And, of course, every Tuesday from 3-5:00 pm Mooi is the pickup location for CSA subscribers.
Keep your eyes peeled, Mooi is also planning some film nights art shows, and more!
Mooi is located at 1700 W. Sunset Blvd.
Flickr photo by LoveByte
Support Echo Park’s own Delilah Bakery and enjoy some of LA’s best pies at the KCRW’s 2nd Annual Good Food Pie Contest this weekend!
Delilah Bakery owner Genevieve Ostrander will be submitting some of the bakery’s delicious pies to be judged at the Pie Contest during the Taste of Beverly Hills event this weekend. She’ll be submitting three pies for the competition: peanut butter with chocolate cookie crust, pumpkin bourbon, and key lime. There are five categories for the pies: Fruit, nut, cream/chiffon/mousse, savory, and interpretive. Winners of the first, second, and third place ribbons for each category, as well as a Best in Show pie and a Best Crust award, will be announced at 5:30 pm.
Plus if you’re a pie and baked goods lover, bring your favorite apron to show off for the apron fashion show. Chris Douridas will DJ the event. After the pies are judged, everyone will be invited to taste all the pies.
The event is free and takes place on Sunday, September 5 starting at 4:00 pm. Click here for more information about the event (including parking and directions).
KCRW’s 2nd Annual Good Food Pie Contest
Sunday, September 5, 4-6:00 pm
Pie contest begins at 4:00 pm
Taste of Beverly Hills event space behind the Beverly Hilton
9900 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills 90210
Cookbook, the grocery store spearheaded by our fellow Echo Park residents, opened its doors for the first time yesterday. Located along the same block of Chicken Corner and next to Mishka, the small shop is offering residents a daily selection of organic and locally grown fruits and veggies, dairy, and prepared foods that will put Whole Foods to shame.
You’ll find owners Marta Teegan, a chef, master gardener and owner of Homegrown, and Robert Stelzner behind the counter to answer your questions and ring up your goodies. Martha told us earlier this summer about what to expect behind the doors at Cookbook: “Not only will we offer delicious ingredients to cook with, but we will also have a great selection of cookbooks to choose from, along with a beautiful selection of fresh cut flowers each day… Organic herb and vegetable starts will be available each spring and fall. We will further offer a variety of events at cookbook, including classes, readings, and tastings throughout the year.”
While the cooking classes are still on the table, they aren’t offering those just yet. But we’ll let you know as soon as they do!
Farmers’ market veggies (sustainably grown and local) and fruit like hericot verts, carrots, herbs, incredible-looking heirloom tomatoes, avocados, melons and other fruit. From the gourmet pantry: Honey from California bees, teas, organic sugars, Fermin Jamon Iberico, Sightglass Coffee (from San Francisco), Cafe Fanny granola, Rustic Bakery sweets, Morning Glory Confections’ artisan brittles, and more!
In the freezer you’ll find Dr. Bob’s ice cream in a variety of flavors, along with a selection of Heirloom LA lasagnas, pasta sauces, and other fresh pastas. They looked really, really delicious – but I have to admit a little bit of sticker shock, though probably totally worth it!
It will be great to grab some free-range eggs (from Mill Road Orchard in Paso Robles) for those days I’ve skipped the Farmers’ Market, along with a really great selection of cheese that will make your mouth water.
In addition to some fresh breads behind the counter (get your fresh baguettes before they all get snatched!), they offer prepared foods by Heirloom LA to take home on those days you just don’t want to cook. When I arrived late yesterday, they had a limited selection after the day’s sales (it’s probably best to go earlier, but don’t let it stop you if you get off work late), but everything was mouth-watering. Among other dishes, I was eying the grilled corn, roasted asparagus and potatoes, and pints of tomato soup. I took home some roasted asparagus and a delicious grilled flatbread with eggplant, tomato and parmesan cheese for under $10!
Cookbook is open daily from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, and is located at 1549 Echo Park Avenue
Related articles:
- “Echo Park’s New Greengrocer: Cookbook.” Reservation for Three, August 30, 2010
- “Cookbook opens a new chapter in Echo Park food shopping.” Eastsider LA, August 21, 2010.
Mooi
Gourmet Raw Vegan
1700 W. Sunset Blvd. (in the Jensen’s Rec Center building, right on the corner)
(213) 413-1100
Hours:
Breakfast and Lunch, Monday-Saturday: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
Dinner, Wednesday-Saturday: 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sunday Brunch: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Brunch just started yesterday (Sunday, August 29), so go check it out! Click here to view the entire Mooi menu.
A birthday celebration from a couple of years ago
It seems like yesterday we had just moved into the neighborhood and Masa had just opened its doors. It’s already be six whole years, and a lot of great stuff has happened: They serve awesome beer and wine, are very involved in the community, and recently introduced vegan pizza options to the menu. Happy birthday Masa!
As part of their traditional celebration, stop by Masa and grab a piece of Devil’s food cake with buttercream frosting tomorrow (Saturday, August 28)!
Masa is located at 1800 W. Sunset Blvd.
Dinner House M
Also known as M bar by many residents.
1263 W Temple Street
213-482-3828
website
Monday – Sunday 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Young folk, check out Grown club night every Wednesday. See more events on their calendar. They offer a full bar.