Random Picture #3: Alice's Egg Sandwich, Mayview Style

One of the local restaurants (you could say favorite for many) in Los Feliz is Fred 62. A diner, known for slightly overpriced American fare that may or may not fill you up. Consequently, it is also the place known for a few celebrity sitings. I am terrible with names and faces, but was able to recognize Glenn Fitzgerald from Dirty Sexy Money. I wasn't like, "ooh, I am stalking him and have to meet him." It was more of an, "I think I have seen him before, oh yeah, Dirty Sexy Money, have no idea what is name is, glad to see he gets out and about and eats like the rest of us."
Long story short, Fred 62 does make one delicious Alice's Egg Sandwich. Which happened to be the first thing I had when I arrived in Los Angeles my first night. Goat Cheese, Avocado, Tomato, Eggs, and Hash Brown, served on a buttery bun sounds great. It was, even though it was tiny. When the bill came at $7.85 per, The Food Monster was grumpy.A few months later, we set out to make our own. Thus, we come across Random Picture #3, from my photo archives. I remember John David made the hashbrowns, and we all helped out to make a better sandwich, for way cheaper.From the looks of things, the ingredient list included:
Tomato
Basil
Avocado
Hashbrowns
A Cheese (probably goat)
English Muffins
Scrambled Egg

Carousel Restaurant

I was looking to eat at a nicer middle-eastern restaurant than a Falafel cart, before I left Los Angeles. Von Scrumptious recommended Carousel Restaurant on Hollywood and we were not disappointed. They officially serve Middle-Eastern food, although I believe that it is also Armenian, or at least Armenian influence.Von Scrumptious, her brother Peyton, and man friend Joe, and I were all in attendance. Although I can't find exactly what we ordered on the menu (I believe it is slightly different than their Glendale location, which also has belly-dancing), I believe there were several Kebabs, including, Lamb, Sausage, Filet, and Vegetarian The food came out partially family-style. Your meat and rice were on your plate, but the feta, olives, and several other accompaniyments were all on one large platter. There ended up being much more food than the four of us could eat, every dish I tried was well seasoned and worth a second look. I would highly recommend this restaurant for an evening of delight!Carousel Restaurant

5112 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027

(323) 660-8060

www.carouselrestaurant.com

The Sun Sets on Los Angeles

Well, I finally got my computer up and running here in North Carolina and am starting to look back on some photos I have recently taken. You can look forward to a series of foods from a Christmas party my girlfriend and I hosted in NC, and one final L A eatery. I will leave you today with a few crazy sunsets I captured in my last few weeks in Los Angeles.

It is also time again to update the Food Monster banner for the New Year, if you would like to contribute a design, please email us at TheFoodMonsterBlog@gmail.com

El Tepeyac Cafe

I think El Tepeyac, is Spanish for, the journey. Let me tell you a story about a journey and a giant burrito.

Once upon a time in a busy city on the Western side of the Western world, there lived a Monster. He was a nice friendly monster with an appetite that could not be conquered. Day after day, he would search and search for enough food to fill him up.
One day, he heard that a friend who works on a TV show in Culver City, had a stage manager, who drove all the way East of Vermont (EOV), to a little Mexican joint for a burrito big enough to feed the entire Art Department. The monster, knowing he could probably consume the art department of said show, decided this burrito must be big enough for him.
So, one day, the monster and his house mate, got into a car, and drove the 7 miles down to Boyle Heights, to a place called El Tepeyac. They ordered one overpriced Manuel's Chicken Burrito ($19.50), and an overpriced pint of guacamole ($5.50).
The burrito was served in a cardboard box, that comes in a case of 24 water bottles. Granted, the box had an aluminum lining, but still, ridiculous.

The Food Monster, and friend ate and ate for 4 days, and 4 nights, and one more day, until the burrito was all gone.


Review:
Guacomole, was terrible this day. There have been great reviews about it, and I will have to try it again just to make sure, but it was really bad this one day. The burrito: It was enormous, I ate on it for about 12 meals, my friend 1. The sour cream, and guacamole inside didn't keep well after the first meal. They put a rather obscene quantity of chicken, rice, and other goodies inside what seemed like an entire pack of flour tortillas. It was smothered in cheese, a cheese sauce, and some sort of red sauce, which was not quite enchilada sauce. The burrito itself, was bigger than a large baby, twins even.

Get down to El Tepeyac, although it is in The Heights, it is well worth it, to experience that massive burrito at least once.


El Tepeyac Cafe
812 North Evergreen Ave
Boyle Heights
(213) 268-1960
and the giant burrito

Atwater Farmer's Market

Here in Los Angeles, when it comes to fresh local produce you have many options. There is the mega affair that is the Hollywood Farmer's Market. There is one at Sunset junction for your Saturday needs, and if you miss the above two, then the Atwater Farmer's Market on Sunday fills the void. Such was the case this weekend. As I was working on Saturday and I wanted some fresh veggies, I rounded up my housemates, packed into a car and set off to find some local produce.
It was a small farmer's market, no more than 25 booths total. Some were selling duplicate items. They definitely covered the basics, from Tomatoes to Apricots. I picked up some Squash, zucchini and Tomatoes for the week. They also had 4-5 food stands. One served several different types of Humus and other Middle Eastern Fair, there was a Tamale Staion, a Juice Station, the token Bread booth and even a popcorn stand. I went to the Tamale stand and got Esquite. A typical south of the US food, steamed corn, with spices, salt, mayo, and cheese. It turned out quite nicely. I had seen many people eating something similar at fairs, or on my trips to Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and Chile but have never had it in this form before. It was usually on the cob.While the corn could have been steamed a bit longer, it was a satisfying side to my main course. I really enjoyed the spices, they had great flavor and warmth without being overpowering and too hot to eat. The item I decided to pair it with came from the Pupuseria. A pupusa is an El Salvadorian treat, a corn tortilla is stuffed with a filling in this case, Beans and Cheese. You can read more about a Pupusa here. They added a slaw type salad that had a vinegar based dressing, salsa, and sour cream. I squeezed some lime from the Esquite over the dish. It had a good mix of flavors and was quite filling for one pupusa. The salsa wasn't too hot and was complemented by the sour cream.
Esquite $2.50, Pupusa $2 - $3 each. $5.50 for a filling vegetable filled meal, that supports local merchants and farmers is my cup of tea.

Wherever you are, try and get out to your local farmer's market, I would love to hear about any unique ones or specialty items you come across: thefoodmonsterblog@gmail.com

Atwater Farmer's Market
3250 Glendale Blvd. in the Wells Fargo Bank Parking Lot
Los Angeles, CA 90039

(year round)
Sundays from 10am to 2pm

On the Set, with Hollywood Caterers

As an actor, I have many jobs. I temp for offices, and get random jobs off of craigslist, and I also partake in background work. I know it isn't acting, but at least it pays the bills. For the past couple of days, I have been on set in the middle of the desert for a cell phone commercial. Luckily for me the production company hired, Hollywood Caterers.
I started off my two-day journey with a Roast Beef Croissant. Now I wasn't really in the mood for sandwich Roast Beef, so I tried to get a different meat, but Ham was another option so I just went with it. I added avocado and bacon. I don't know what they made in there but out came a gem of a sandwich. A perfectly toasted halved croissant with juicy flavorful warm Roast Beef (Not like the dry sandwich crap you find at a deli), fresh ripe avocado, (would have been tomato as well if not for the salmonilla scare), bacon egg and cheese. Delicious. I checked in and got my uniform on, and went back for another.
RB Croissant count: 2

I would also like to add they had an assortment of normally great breakfast items, with cereal, yogurt, danish, muffins, fresh fruit, etc. however, I normally pass that up when they have a hot grill and cook you something made to order. There was also a thin layer of dust forming on the food set out as we were in the middle of the desert (near Edison Air Force Base past Lancaster).
No worries, after 6 hours on the set, it was lunch time.
In those 6 hours, they were ready to serve us grilled to order New York Strip, Sliced Roast, and Salmon, with an accompanyment of an Indian Style Chicken Breast, Rice Pilaf, Pasta, Fresh Asparagus, etc. There was just too much food to eat something of everything. I was quite pleased. I didn't think they could do as well as breakfast.

Day 2
The second day brought about 200 additional extras. I arrived just in time to get another RB Croissant Sandwich.
RB Sand count: 3
The head guy knew me by this point, and how I liked my breakfast. Even with a line, the boys in the trailer were speedy, efficient, and gave each individual order the precise attention it deserved, unheard of with catering companies these days. The line oohed and ahhed at the finished product as I sat down to eat. There were many other things on their list I wanted to try from the banana pancakes to a poached egg with hollandaise sauce. From experience, I knew it would all be good.
As I was getting dressed in my costume for the day, I wasn't really hungry, but decided to go back down to the trailer and finish the last day's breakfast with another sandwich.
RB Sand count: 4

Boy am I glad I did, Yum!!!

Lunch proved to be more of the same deliciousness. This time with filet and cooked to order Tuna with a Pineapple or Mango Salsa. They also had a delicious pasta, rice, etc., three types of salad greens and Cesar salad, where did they find the time to make all this goodness?
I want to make my own movie just so I can hire them. If you are looking for a good catering truck, I suggest you hire Hollywood Caterers. I hope I am on a set with them again real soon. Like their motto says they go coast to coast and sometimes beyond!

Catering Ranking: A- (highest score given so far)

Hollywood Caterers
www.hollywood-caterers.com
7527 Reseda BLVD #B
Reseda, CA 91335
818.345.6718
f. 818.345.6719
hollywoodcaterers@yahoo.com

Fred - 62

If you know anybody who lives in Los Feliz, or frequents this East-side neighborhood in Los Angeles, they can all tell you about the diner that is open late, and serves all kinds of foods. From goat cheese egg sandwiches, to south of the boarder items, everything categorized as traditional and non-traditional diner fare can be found at Fred - 62

The above photo, shows a smattering of options, from a sandwich, to an egg sandwich with sidecake, to a burrito/wrap off of their south of the border menu. The only thing missing is a hand scooped milk shake.


As it was around brunch time, I went with a giant sandwich, known as the Tower of Babel. This vegetarian option, uses avocado, Lettuce and Tomato to make up for it's lack of meat. With Cheddar, and fried onion strings on a grilled sourdough bun, you won't be leaving hungry.
They even throw in a side kick of fries, salad, fruit or potato salad.
The things I were impressed with: The avocado, perfectly ripe. The fried onion strings, works on the sandwich without meat. The tomato, it made it on the sandwich.

A few things I was not impressed with: The lettuce, they could have used a higher quality lettuce than iceberg. The cheese, super cold, nowhere near a melting point, tasted like it was only out of the freezer for an hour or so. The sandwich itself, it needed lots of mayo, and mustard in order to get it down, very very dry. The price: $11 without a drink. I won't be getting this sandwich again.

Looking back on Fred-62's menu, all that came to mind was overpriced diner fare. Sure you can't get some of their unique creations anywhere else, and sure most of it tastes great, but I was a little underwhelmed in the price to quantity of delicious food ratio. It therefore goes into my average diner category with a C+. The sandwich wasn't amazing, but it wasn't terribly either. A little too expensive and dry for my tastes.

I think I will stay home and try to make a better sandwich next time. I will see what I can come up with that is similar yet still full of flavor.

1850 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027-4215
Phone: (323) 667-0062