Cleaning out a rather messy closet

1. Al & Bea's (East LA)-I finally made it to Al & Bea's mid-day on a Wednesday just before what I assume was a typically fluid lunch rush. And yeah, they probably deserve it. On the recommendation of countless yelpers and critics, I went with the simple choice: a bean and cheese burrito with green chile sauce. My first reaction was a bit of underwhelment, comparing the burrito most closely in my mind with the Taco Bell version I regularly devoured from middle school to college. The crucial difference lies, I think, in the delicate, flaky tortilla that houses the unstable glop of refried beans and cheese. Don't get me wrong, it's far better than Taco Bell, though I left wondering where the green chile sauce was hidden. I'll ask for extra next time.

2. My most successful cooking venture of late involved purchasing this striped bass at the Ranch 99 on the corner of Del Mar and Valley and preparing it with a mixture of garlic, onion, coriander, tumeric, cardamom, cumin, mint, lemon juice, and oil. Aside from the bone that i accidentally swallowed, it was quite tasty.

3. Pho Dinh (South El Monte)-I'll refer you to the expert for a more informed review. Suffice it to say that I would go back.

4. Birmingham, AL (and around)-We had a few objectives as far as food goes on this trip. We failed in the first, to eat really good BBQ. We had a so-so experience at a place called Lefty's in Crossville, TN, and fairly disapointing experience with overly salted ribs and generally overpriced food at Jim n Nicks in Birmingham. Tuscaloosa's Dreamland, so I had heard, had fallen off its perch (an opinion later refuted by my brother who goes to Tuscaloosa all the time). I'll always remember Ollie's (RIP) as my favorite spot, particularly for the amazing vinegar based sauce (which they actually still sell at local grocery stores). A second goal was to grab a few Publix subs. If you're unfamiliar with Publix, it's a grocery chain based in the South that makes pretty noteworthy subs. Actually, I'm not sure how noteworthy they are, and they probably don't compare to the stuff one might find at Bay Cities, or even Mario's Italian Deli, but based on informal polls conducted among friends in the South I've become more comfortable in my assertion that they're fairly amazing. The secret with a Publix sub, as I see it, is to go minimal: one or two meats, olives, bell peppers, onions, jalapenos, spicy mustard and sprinkling of olive oil and maybe a dash of vinegar. Don't go near the tomatoes and lettuce as they'll just water the sandwich down.

Somehow we managed a stop at Krystal for thin patties, mustard and a pickle packed between a somehow deliciously soggy bun, a combination that makes for undeniably welcome and sometimes indigestable late night food. Worth a trip once a year.

5. OB Bear (Koreatown)-OB Bear, dimly lit with dark wood walls, is comfortable, cozy and warm if nothing else. A part of me likes the atmosphere-30 year old non-cheesy sports bar mixed with a dark basement hangout-more than I like the food. So perhaps in the future I'll go with just a beer. The item of repute at OB is the wings which, though not nearly as spicy as the regulars on the internet claim, are fine enough, and not too heavy on the sticky sauce that coats them. The ubiquitous Korean seafood pancake is a good accompaniment, as is what I think was called a seafood salad which, among other things, features tiny bulbous sea squirts that erupt in your mouth upon contact with your teeth. Not my favorite spot for food in Koreatown by any means, but one could do far worse for a place to watch a Dodger game in September or October.

6. Highlights from a trip to San Francisco: A visit (courtesy of our friends Jill and Viks) to Burma Superstar in the Haight for Samusa Soup, Rainbow Salad, Burmese Curry (below) and a few dishes I can't quite remember.A return to Zante's Pizza in the Mission for Indian pizza. A visit to a friend's mom's place (Pier 23 cafe) on the Embarcadero.

Zante's

Pier 23 Cafe

7.

a. Cacao Mexicatessen (Eagle Rock)-Making my way around the tacos, my favorites so far being the turkey, the corn truffle (huitlacoche), and...of course, the duck. The corn on the cobb with parmesan is a better accompaniment than the rice and beans. And make sure to try the green salsa.

b. Golden State Cafe (Los Angeles)-What's a better pre-New Beverly Cinema or Silent Movie Theatre meal, the always hyped Animal (which I could say I enjoyed quite a bit but Jonathan Gold does a way better job) or the lesser-priced Golden State? I guess it just depends on your budget. Golden State makes a good burger, surrounding it with good microbrews, decent french fries, Let's Be Frank hot dogs and a selection of 6 or so flavors of Scoops ice cream (though I would recommend just driving to Scoops itself). Family bookstore, purveyor of a well curated (and upwardly priced) reading materials is up the street.