Food Nibbles: Taco Trucks, U-Pick Farms and Rotisserie Chicken

(Flickr pic by cknlomein.)

Some food tidbits via the L.A. Times:

– Tips on finding the best rotisserie chicken in Los Angeles.

Among the author’s faves:

Gourmet Grill Masters: Found at farmers markets all over.

Lola’s: 14851 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, and 230 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

Moishe’s Restaurant: In the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St.

The Oinkster: 2005 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock.

Pollo a la Brasa: 764 S. Western Ave. (at 8th Street) and 16527 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena.

Pollos El Brasero: 2281 W. Pico Blvd.

Reddi-Chick: 225 26th St., Santa Monica.

Soumarelo Fresh Mediterranean Grill: 1090 N. Allen Ave, Pasadena.

– It’s that time of year: U-Pick farms are bustling. The paper has a list of places to visit and pick those peaches, raspberries, etc.

– L.A. County taco trucks: Saved! Carne asada for everyone!

– One more, not L.A. Times related: You know that fall’s fast approaching when the seasonal drinks start appearing at the coffee chains. I noticed this morning in line at Peet’s that, yes, the pumpkin latte is back.

Maria’s Thursday Three: "Runway," Loteria and the Levitt

1. Holla Atcha Boy: “Project Runway” is back, and it’s been hard for me and Mike to pick a favorite just yet, but I’ve been impressed with what Terri‘s been doing so far. Meanwhile, thanks to Mike’s job, we just got a sneak peak of the first episode of “Top Design.” It’s gonna be good! Several designers who are already established in their own right, with some colorful personalities mixed in. Great casting, while Todd Oldham takes a back seat to become a mentor for the contestants (a la Tim Gunn) and India Hicks has joined as the new host. Plus, from what I can tell, future episodes feature past “Project Runway” contestants and Jeff Lewis.

2. Loteria Grill in Hollywood: We checked out the new space in Hollywood last weekend, and I love it. Going to the Farmer’s Market location always stressed me out, having to line up, wait for the food and score a place to sit. There’s something great about the wide-open space, the high ceilings, the attentive waiters, the jalapeño margaritas and the oversized Mexican folk art cards (all while Hollywood walks by) that make me want to come back to this place. The food seems to have the same price as the Farmer’s Market location, and the drinks are potent but expensive. (See photo gallery in the post below.)

3. Summer Concerts at The Levitt Pavillion: Wednesday nights you can find TKFKABT and I at the Levitt Pavillion with a picnic and some friends having fun on Children’s Night. It can get really crowded, but you can still score a decent spot if you get there before 6:30 pm. Plop down a blanket and enjoy the night. This week, the Kid grooved out to the music as acrobats performed some pretty cool stunts, as part of a circus-themed show. The concerts/events are always free at the Levitt.

Santa Monica, Five Years Later

The L.A. Times’ L.A. Now blog marks the five-year anniversary of the Santa Monica Farmers Market tragedy, and prints a remembrance from reader Helen K. Garber. She writes:

We live in Santa Monica and after my husband took an office near the Third Street Promenade, we made a habit of having lunch every Wednesday after shopping through the Farmers’ Market. You get to enjoy the freshest ingredients at the local restaurants on a Wednesday afternoon. It is a wonderful part of living in Los Angeles to be able to sit in outdoor cafes all year round. Farmers markets are also wonderful places to shoot photographs, and occasionally, I would shoot while my husband would shop.

I got to his office late on July 16, 2003. My husband was very hungry and and since it was also the day that Whole Foods opened in Santa Monica, he asked to go to lunch directly and for me to shop afterward at the Whole Foods. So instead of being directly in the path of Mr. Russell’s car, we heard and watched his car careen through the market from our front-row seats at the patio at Lago on Third and Arizona.

Read more at L.A. Now here. Garber notes that she bought stock in Whole Foods later, as a thank you for opening that fateful day, of all days, keeping her from the market.

L.A.’s Most Family-Friendly Farmers Market

Late sunsets and warm evenings are perfect for South Pasadena’s Thursday night farmers market. We’ve written about the weekly event plenty of times in the past, but it’s worth reminding you again.

Evan and I returned to the farmers’ market on Thursday night, and the mood was perfect. The air smelled of barbecue. A jazz ensemble performed. Kids ran around the grass as parents talked. Metro trains passed by, captivating the kids (including the Kid Formerly Known as the Blogger Toddler).

We both ate tamales, and later bought two corns on the cob — and finished all of it. (The KFKATBT was truly hungry.) We marched up and down the stalls, sampling fruit and buying a container of loose grapes for $1 (bargain time!)

If you can’t make it on Thursdays, South Pasadena is also sponsoring outdoor movies for kids at the same spot on Mission throughout the month of July on Saturday evenings, starting at 8 p.m. See you there…

L.A.’s Most Family-Friendly Farmers Market

Last Thursday Maria wrote about the South Pasadena Farmers Market, and this Thursday I’m here to back her up.

Located on Mission — right where the Metro Gold Line stops — it’s a perfect place for a market. People stroll from the restaurants to the market and back again; stores are open late; and the vibe is nice.

Plus, the food vendors are top-notch. There are a wide variety of produce, bread and baked goodies booths.

But I have to say, the South Pasadena Farmers Market is less about fruits and veggies (you can find a better selection at bigger markets like the Hollywood or Santa Monica ones), and more about the festive atmosphere. While you’d be hard-pressed to plop down and sit for a few hours at the Hollywood or Santa Monica ones, while letting your little ones run wild, that’s part of the tradition at the South Pas market. Young parents with their kids sit on blankets, scarfing down gourmet tamales while their toddlers watch and squeal with delight as the Gold Line trains race by. (OK, that was me and Blogger Toddler last week.)

But get there while it’s still light out relatively late — and it’s still warm outside. The South Pasadena Farmers Market takes place from 4 to 8 tonight. Parking’s not hard to find — or take the train in.

One reason it’s a hit with kids: The constant appearance of the Gold Line, which Blogger Toddler never tired of watching as we consumed our tamales.

The farmers market staple: Fruit samples.

Tamales that live up to their gourmet name…

… just check out their menu. I ordered the “smoked BBQ chicken, red onion, cilantro and smoked Gouda cheese” tamale, while Evan had the more benign “green corn with sweet yellow corn” (which he completely consumed). We later brought home the “pumpkin and currant Jamaica Rum flavor” tamale for Maria.

As eaten on our blanket near the Metro Gold Line stop.

The rotisserie grill flames up.

Blogger Toddler meets Rice Krispie treat.

And oh yeah, produce.

L.A.’s Most Family-Friendly Farmers Market

Last Thursday Maria wrote about the South Pasadena Farmers Market, and this Thursday I’m here to back her up.

Located on Mission — right where the Metro Gold Line stops — it’s a perfect place for a market. People stroll from the restaurants to the market and back again; stores are open late; and the vibe is nice.

Plus, the food vendors are top-notch. There are a wide variety of produce, bread and baked goodies booths.

But I have to say, the South Pasadena Farmers Market is less about fruits and veggies (you can find a better selection at bigger markets like the Hollywood or Santa Monica ones), and more about the festive atmosphere. While you’d be hard-pressed to plop down and sit for a few hours at the Hollywood or Santa Monica ones, while letting your little ones run wild, that’s part of the tradition at the South Pas market. Young parents with their kids sit on blankets, scarfing down gourmet tamales while their toddlers watch and squeal with delight as the Gold Line trains race by. (OK, that was me and Blogger Toddler last week.)

But get there while it’s still light out relatively late — and it’s still warm outside. The South Pasadena Farmers Market takes place from 4 to 8 tonight. Parking’s not hard to find — or take the train in.

One reason it’s a hit with kids: The constant appearance of the Gold Line, which Blogger Toddler never tired of watching as we consumed our tamales.

The farmers market staple: Fruit samples.

Tamales that live up to their gourmet name…

… just check out their menu. I ordered the “smoked BBQ chicken, red onion, cilantro and smoked Gouda cheese” tamale, while Evan had the more benign “green corn with sweet yellow corn” (which he completely consumed). We later brought home the “pumpkin and currant Jamaica Rum flavor” tamale for Maria.

As eaten on our blanket near the Metro Gold Line stop.

The rotisserie grill flames up.

Blogger Toddler meets Rice Krispie treat.

And oh yeah, produce.