We were both craving dim sum and finally woke up early enough on Sunday to do it. We trekked to Sea Empress in Gardena because that's the place I like best. We ordered way too many dishes, like we always do at chinese restaurants, and happily ate mini plates of yummy yummy goodness.Afterwards, we both needed a caffeine jolt and decided to head to Intelligentsia in Venice. Like many places, we talk about going there, but it takes awhile for both of us to get together to go there. In between our schedules, our random "not eating out" purges, and life, we make a little bit of time for our adventures.
It's cool and hip and coffees are $5, but it totally makes you want to be one of those people who just sit around in a coffee shop all day "working" on your laptop. I'm not quite sure I could afford to sit there all day, because I would just chug their drink and try every dessert in their dessert case, but maybe one day. Below is Dre's "excited to have coffee" face! Look at their cute sign in guest book and cakewiches? YUM.
When you want to keep in touch with people, it's all about "let's do lunch" or "let's grab drinks". In this case, lunch was Big Jo's. Big Jo's is a hole in the wall burger stand in Santa Monica with some of the best burgers and fries ever. It's not fancy or processed fast foody, but real grilled diner like burgers and you can put this amazing seasoning on their fries, which are so good. It's kind of like Steve's in the South Bay, but a tad bit different. But basically was an institution in Friday lunch plans when I used to work. Now it's a novelty for me. But my favorite is the bacon cheeseburger with mushrooms, french fries and a pepsi, because you know, if you're going to go down, you might as well go down in flames of glory.
With the total burst of food trucks, we've been trying to try as many as we can. That doesn't always work out so well because sometimes you aren't hungry or have time to stop when you pass by them on the street, and then when you really crave them, you're not near where they're at. And then since they're mobile, you say "oh, I can get that next time" Dre and I went to the "opening" of the Nom Nom truck - serving vietnamese sandwiches call Bahn Mi and the Fishlips Sushi truck. Both were super excellent, and although the wait was a little long, I think that's the benefit of parking at the Brig. You walk in and get a drink while you're waiting for your food, eat, get hammered, have more food. It's so simple, and so effective.
Another lunch date was set at the new cafeteria style place lemonade. There are a few other locations, but this location set on the corner of Venice & Abbot Kinney is hoppin'. There's always a line when I pass by, and I didn't get to actually try their various lemonade flavors, but I had the pot roast mac 'n cheese sandwich and it was kind of amazing. Also, the cream cheese brownie (not pictured) is to die for.
Last but not least, the Dodger game. (Go Doyers!) Friday nights in the summer, they let the crowd on to the field and shoot off fireworks. It's pretty cool and we all ran around like little kids once we got onto the grass. They cordon off the infield (of course), so I'll somehow in my lifetime find a way to play on that, but it was fun nonetheless. And you know, I pretty much love fireworks of any kind.
What's next? Likely a Halloween post, possibly a concert post, and hopefully at least some pictures from some more food trucks. And we still need to go on the Xiao Long Bao adventure. (Yes... more eating...)
