Paru's Indian Food

Paru's Restaurant is a Hollywood gem - serving up delicious South Indian cuisine with personality and love. Anyone who is serious about Indian Food needs to make this place a regular stop.

TACO SPOT

This weekend was a celebration in laziness and eating out. From free swipes from the Sis into UCLA's dining hall (not so yummy) to Scoops (very yummy) to my new favorite Mexican eatery - Taco Spot.

I have been searching in LA for sometime for a place that is both authentic Mexican AND vegetarian friendly (hard to do as authentic usually necessitates lard and chicken broth). As much as I love Chipotle, sometimes I am craving somethign a little less California-y and a little more real - the kind of place with orange tables and plain tile floor that offers up a burrito that isnt afraid to embrace its heavy bean flavor, with plenty of the salsa that you are a little afraid of.  No frills no fuss. Just Yum. Taco Spot is the answer.

Nicolette Hahn Niman "Righteous Porkchop"

I think I am going to add Nicolette Hahn Niman's book, "Righteous Porkchop" to my food reading list.  Niman is an environmental lawyer and a cattle rancher. She has no qualms whatsoever eating - or raising - animals for food, yet she makes a very impassioned plea for humane treatment of animals along with (so I'm told) clear and concise methods of achieving that goal.
Get a taste of her by reading her New York Times article entitled
"Pig Out"










She also has an interesting article in the Huffington Post with tips and straightforward information for those who are interested in avoiding products from factory farms and want to find alternative sources for meat, dairy, and eggs.

Oysters And Vegans?

In his article, Consider the Oyster, Christopher Cox makes an argument that Vegan's should and could eat oysters while still adhering to the moral code that prompted them to become vegan initially. This is because oysters can be grown sustainably, and in a way that is arguably pain free from growth to harvest.

Eating ethically is not a purity pissing contest, and the more vegans or vegetarians pretend that it is, the more their diets start to resemble mere fashion—and thus risk being dismissed as such. Emerson wrote, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

Healthy Food In Movie Theatres?

Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Michael Lynton, speaking at ShoWest this past Monday, announced his support for healthier snacks to make their way into theatres.

You can read Variety's article on it here.

I think its a smart and overdue idea. Lynton cites a recent poll of movie goers in which a majority of parents would buy healthy snacks if they were offered, with 42% of those polled saying they would visit theater concessions more often.

Um . . . duh?

 However, this is just talk, we'll see if anyone actually gets behind their words. I am glad to see that its more popular to advocate for healthy food reform.

The Cooking Channel

The Food Network is launching a new spinoff network May 31, called the Cooking Channel, in what seems an attempt to revamp their image and snag some new viewers, the kind interested in grass roots food culture.  For a long time The Food Network (which debuted in 1993) has been top dog - they invented the concept of food entertainment, and were the only sheriff in town for some time. But lately they have been outshone by the success of shows such as Bravo's Top Chef (and upcoming spin offs), Fox's Hell's Kitchen, or more recently ABC's Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. 

Tony's Darts Away

Last week a truly remarkable bar opened up in Burbank, of all places. Its called Tony's Dart's Away. This place has something for everyone.

With over 30 local California beers on tap, no respectable beer conusour can turn this place down.  I've already been twice in their first week.