Taco Truck Review Installment 1: KOGI Korean Mexican BBQ

I don't twitter, track things on twitter, or read tweets. I also don't wait in line. So, I thought I'd never be allowed to experience the KOGI (practically a deity, the KOGI must be in all caps). But, after some savvy internet research it became apparent that you can head to the Alibi Room in Culver City where they serve the same food everday except Sunday starting at 6 pm. Sweet.

Another benefit of the Alibi Room is that you can enjoy libations and, if you time it right, couch your behind on a seat instead of wolfing down your food standing on a street corner after waiting in line for an hour and a half (or so go the stories of the KOGI truck, but I digress). If you get there on a Saturday get there at 5:45, stake your seat at the bar and order a beer. It will be so crowded by 6:05 you won't be able to find a seat. Otherwise it's not so bad - getting there at 7:00 on a Monday night yielded plenty of seats. If all else fails you can order to go.
I've been to the Alibi Room twice thus far and this is my overall review.

The food. Oh, the food. Heaven. I've tried the following:

Kim chi quesadilla - interesting. Not bad, not great, just interesting. Certain bites yield spicy kim chi yummi-ness. Other bites yield all cheese (an orange cheddar). I think more Siracha would have made mine better. And the tortilla could have been crispier, I think, which would have ended up with a better result.

Hot Dog with Kim chi - delicious. Though the bun is a little bready, I would recommend just shedding it and chowing down on the dog and toppings. Somehow the really good quality beef frank works with the kim chi in a subtle spicy manner. At first your mouth thinks you're in a ball park and then accepts confusion when the chi hits, but it's all good.

Spicy Fries: Nirvana.
They're crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and now I know to dip my fries in sesame mayo and/or a lot of siracha. No matter what you get you must get these. They are dusted with something that looks like cayenne, but really, the dip is where it's at.

Sliders: unless you are really into bread don't bother. The filling is the same as the tacos, but it's sandwiched between a bready bready bun. I say next unless you want a tummy of spongy enriched flour.

TACOS - Ah. KOGI TACOS. Nirvana on crack. They come in a little tray of three and you can choose chicken, pork, shortrib or tofu or a combination. People, you're at a bar eating Korean BBQ. If you were that into tofu, you wouldn't be there, so stop pretending. Just say no. What's the point? Chicken tacos: too dry. Shortrib and Pork: I can't decide which is my fave. The meat is good quality, very finely diced, seasoned impeccably and then mixed with a korean slaw with kim chi, cabbage, sesame seeds, etc. and served on little tortillas. Get a set of three (I get two rib and one pork) and a side of fries. Top it off with a Shock Top ale and you are good to go. Sit back and watch the crowd.

For two people I recommend ordering two sets of tacos, fries, and, if you are hungry, one more dish to split like the dog.

The Alibi Room has dessert ice cream bars too with cool flavors like guinness and chocolate. But they're nothing spectacular. Skip dessert and have another taco. And then tell your friends in NY that yes, you went to KOGI and it rocked. Nanny nanny na! KOGI gets bonus points for trying to be green. Utensils are optional and the food comes in cardboard trays.

Stay tuned for Taco Truck Review Installment 2 coming soon.

Book Recommendation: Love or Something Like It by Deirdre Shaw

Still looking for that book with which you can wind down the last few days of summer while sipping a cool drink on your patio or burying your toes in the sand? I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel a bit guilty indulging in the typical "chick lit" books since they are sometimes so extraordinarily simple I feel my brain atrophying or they are so cloyingly sweet that my teeth actually hurt. This book, is, happily, neither. Sure, it has all of the elements of "chick lit" - the main female character telling things from her perspective while she traverses the trials and tribulations of dating and relationships with men (well, boys, really). But this book is more - it is real and substantive and raw as the main character deals with a failed marriage, a career on the rocks and the issues unique to dating and living in Los Angeles (i.e., not knowing if you are really dating someone exclusively, assuming that you aren't, and the particular uncertainty that arises when men have access to 1 million gorgeous 21 y.o. models, which population is constantly being replenished). It's sweet and sad, making you wonder if the fairy tale ending will deliver -- not to spoil the book, but it does - in a non-traditional way.

I do think that should you decide to pick this book up, give yourself and entire beach day to enjoy it and then some. Or you may find yourself hunkered behind your desk with the book hidden under cover of a 3-ring binder and your computer screensaver blacking out your "work".

Kale Salad: Healthy and Filling

The vegetable aisle is full of all kinds of things that I'm not too sure how to eat or cook and one of these things shrouding itself in mystery is kale. Kale or borecole is a form of cabbage green or purple in color, in which the central leaves do not form a head. It is considered to be closer to wild cabbage than most domesticated forms. It is super healthy, very high in beta carotene, vitamins K and C, calcium and is considered to have potent anti-cancer properties. Thanks Wikipedia!!!



In anycase, it's super dark green and leafy and therefore is ridiculously good for you. But how to make it? Well, apart from the normal steaming, stir-frying, throwing it in some soups, this kale salad is scrumptious, perfect to take to lunch, is very filling, and also relatively low calorie (if you watch the cheese and nut additions). I cannot take credit for this recipe, as it was given to me by the lovely T., but I absolutely adore it. WARNING: Be prepared to chew a lot as the kale is very sturdy.

Kale Salad

1 bunch of kale chopped and removed from the ribs
Wilt it in a pan. I use a little veggie stock or water - about 1/4 cup - heat it up and throw the kale in there for about 3 minutes or so.

In a separate bowl add lots of ingredients:
feta cheese, dried cranberries, pine nuts, a whole shredded or chopped carrot, 1 whole cucumber chopped, avocado and/or tomato if you like. You could also add garbanzo beans, chopped chicken breast, broccoli - whatever you have around. I really love the cranberries and pine nuts though and think they add so much to the salad.

Add the wilted kale, squeeze 1/2 of a fresh lemon over it, season with salt and pepper and olive oil if you like. That's it. It holds up very well for lunch and is super filling as well. Here's to superfoods (that's for you, D!)