Bread Espresso & - Redondo Beach

There's been a lot of buzz about bread ever since the pandemic had people starting sourdough in their homes. Well move over, sourdough starter, it's time to make way for mou, the newest dough to hit the beach cities by storm. 

What's the hype all about? What is in these cute little cubes of coveted bread? 

They house ingredients savory and sweet, ranging from salty, savory curry beef and a fragrant, 

fatty bacon edamame to a sweet red bean

and a soft and airy custard. 

The fillings are exciting, but the original should not be missed. With nothing inside to distract from the texture, you can fully appreciate that spongy, chewy, lighter-than-air mochi-dough, and it's so good you'll just eat it plain. Just be sure to enjoy it the day you buy it. This is one of those things that ages by the hour. 

There are consolation prizes like this gorgeous chocolate melon pan with a crispy crust for when they're out of mou or for monsters who somehow hate mochi, but I think there are plenty of places that make these other pastries just as well.

Now that the hype has faded, there should still be a sensible selection at lunchtime so be sure to drop by when you can. It's just bread, but it's the only bread you'll ever need. 

Bhookhe - Artesia, CA

My first trip to Little India, to try one of LA's 101 Best. Bhookhe is an all-vegetarian, all-incredible, everything-delicious Rajasthani restaurant nestled along the main strip. 

Everything is something I've never really had, starting with the Maharaja Thali which serves as a sampler of what they have to offer. A gorgeous tray, lined in gold, is scattered with starches to accompany three soupy dals. I don't know the correct way to eat any of this, but from what I could see, you put your hand up on the rice or bread and I dip, you dip, we dip. 

The rice may be the only thing I recognize, and there are Bati as well.  These are unleavened, wheat-flour balls that have a crunchy outside and a dense, hard-dough center, a good contrast to the soupy dals they're eaten with. 

You also get an unusual selection of roti, most of which you won't often find. The wheat roti is familiar, a thin, double-layer pancake with a bit more oil than I wanted. The makka roti is made with maize flour, and the bajri roti is made with pearl millet flour. Both resemble frisbees, dense discs with a grainy and earthy finish, respectively.  

There are salty sauces to pep up the milder dals, and I would have been perfectly happy to have just those. There's a rich Churmo with a soft and pulpy texture, and a Lehsun Ki Chutney with a concentration of garlicky salt. I bravely took a bite of the Michi ke tipore and braced myself for the burn. No burn, just a bold pepper, the perfect pop of flavor. 

Three deep bowls of dal include gatte ki sabji, kadhi pakoda, and dry sabji. I don’t know which is which, but one is smooth, one is smoky, and one has delightful little flour-balls on the bottom. 

There are also a few little sweets next to the yogurt. My favorite is the little ball that tastes like it was rolled in condensed milk but they’re all good. 

Lots of apps for trying, be sure to share so you can try more. Fried delights like the Pyaz Kachori is a crunchy puff full of potato and plenty of aromatics. 

Props for the BEST Samosas I've ever had. There is something about this incredibly smooth spice mix that tastes like no one else’s. 

Pani Puri take a little work, but they're worth it. Hit a little hole into your crispy pouch and stuff it with a little bit of everything provided. Soft potato, sharp onion, sweet tomato, crunchy bits, and fragrant leaves of cilantro. Dunk and fill with cold mint water and eat immediately.

And no meal is complete without a Mango Lassi. 

This is a lot of food for two people but we didn’t waste a single drop. Some dal made it home with us but otherwise we practically licked all the plates. I’ve had my share of Indian food, and it's rare to not recognize most of the menu. At Bhookhe I got to try a lot of new eats, and it seems that a lot of these things are rare treats. I can't comment on authenticity, and I have no way to compare, but I'm pretty sure I won't find anything better for a while. 

Saffron Spot - Artesia, CA

Can you think of a single reason NOT to try Indian ice cream? I cannot. 

Saffron Silk sounds like the one to try, but it's actually my least favorite of the three. All are thick and creamy, but I'm not sure this herb works with all the sugar. Saffron is all about the subtlety, and infusing enough of that flavor to not be eclipsed by the cream and sugar makes it finish like perfume. Chikoo, on the other hand, is perfect for an ice cream. It's a tropical fruit I've never had, but if the ice cream is any indication, the fruit is pretty awesome. It's sweet and tastes like it'd be soft and buttery like a ripe pear and a hint of gooey molasses. Kulfi Cream is by far the best. It's sold separately because each scoop is more expensive than all the other and for good reason. The creaminess is unsurpassed, with sweet, milky, and nutty notes all together, and I do believe I get some aromatic notes of cardamom.

Not cheap but what good food is? They have so many flavors I've never seen, I only wish I wasn't too full to try a few more.

Carnitas Al Artista - Inglewood

So this is what carnitas can be. Pork shoulder in lard, cooked long and slow until undeniably tender with a deceptively simple savor. I never thought carnitas could have depth until I came here. 

The only mistake I made was not ordering more carnitas. A generous portion tops the Chilaquiles Rojo, with a salsa that really pops. I usually hate nachos and anything nacho-esque, but this bed of tortillas has a real crunch, but one that still stays soft and warm. Add a runny fried egg with a river of yolk, and you'll only pause when the plate is empty so you can order another plate. 

What's wrong with this picture? It's not carnitas. It's a pretty good al pastor, seasoned so the chili gives some heat, chopped so finely that every little porky bit is a crispy crust with a biting mix of spices. It's a pastor that can compete with some of the good ones in LA, but at a place like this, there should only be carnitas.

Tigres Fuego UPDATE - Redondo Beach

Barran's sister burrito is pretty good. I can’t understand the hype based on just their Cali Burrito, but I can confirm that it is a good one. Carne asada remains their best meat, beefy with a bit of char from the grill. There's a good ratio of beans to cheese to salsa, the fries add some much-needed texture, and the tortilla is tops. 

The tacos are still good, no change there, no need to improve on the carne asada anyway. Al pastor has a good seasoning, and I love the pineapple, but there is better pastor to be found in LA. I love the combination of sweet potato and mushroom, and I absolutely love the char on the sweet potato as it gets a bit caramelized. It's a substantial filling and good enough that vegetarians won't feel like they went without. It could be a lot less oily, then again, that oil is delicious. 

Still a good taco spot, one of the Beach Cities’ betters. I still prefer LA proper, but I'm grateful that the South Bay has something good. 

Donut Beach Coronado - Coronado, CA

Finally a store that reminds me we're on an island. 

A single person staffs this shop theoretically from 8-noon, but she shutters it as soon as they sell out of donuts. They don't make their own donuts either, they simply pick them up from a supplier every morning, and I wish I knew who that was.

I hate the pricing mark-up and the lack of credit to the supplier, but whoever makes them is a master at the Buttermilk. The milky flavor is spot on, and the crunchy crust is insane. The Cinnamon Roll is huge, but the crumb and the glaze are perfectly balanced. 

A curious little shop, one that I can't completely understand, but a fun one all the same. The donuts cost a lot, but the free coffee with purchase does make it more reasonable. If you find out who the original supplier is, let me know - I want more where those came from. 

Eno Market & Pizzeria - Hotel del Coronado - Coronado, CA

A second visit to Hotel Del is better than the first. A few hundred dollars upgrades to a resort-facing patio complete with comfy chairs and cozy fire pit. Mental note to bring marshmallows and long sticks next time. 

Still no room service, but all the restaurants will let you order some takeout, though I suspect the food travels with varying levels of success. 

Eno remains the default due to online ordering, deli sandwiches, and food that is more portable by nature. 

None of the food will blow your mind or change your view on life, but quality ingredients are good enough for me. I'm digging this Grilled Stone Fruit Salad - I love charred sugar, and it's a filling, satisfying salad with good greens like bitter arugula and bright sorrel as well as meaty prosciutto and creamy stracciatella cheese. 

Did you like that salad? They put it on toast as well. The Seasonal Crostino has a fluffy focaccia spread with a seasonal jam, topped with a creamy goat cheese and everything else that's in the salad.

Hearth Baked Meatballs are super tender. Nice, juicy meat with a not-too-tangy marinara and wedges of focaccia for scooping up the sauce. 

The Napoli Verde is one of their many pizzas. The chewy crust is good, but I still just can't say I love their combinations. Jury's out on the peas but I love the lardons, and I can't say I complained while I ate it. 

The market also has a mortadella sandwich and a pretty good grilled cheese with tangy tomato bisque if you're looking for lighter or easier fare. 

After a second visit in under a year, I'm developing a fondness for Eno Pizzeria...probably because it remains one of few things you can try to eat in your hotel room and not hate too much. I think it'll be a lot longer before I come back to this hotel, but whenever I do, I won't be too mad about having to eat at Eno again. 

The Sun Deck - Hotel del Coronado - Coronado, CA

A huge patio, plenty of umbrellas, open seating most of the time. Good if you're trying to eat in the open air, fine for kids but you still need to keep them somewhat quiet. 

No-fuss menu, all the bases covered for a casual meal, and the service is quite good considering you just sit wherever you want. 

We split a couple of mains, a single meal is plenty per person so no need to fuss with apps and sides. They even split everything down the middle for us, which makes life that much easier. 

The Del Double Cheeseburger is just a nice burger. Bland and boring patties, a bit dry, but nothing to truly complain about.There's supposed to be a "secret sauce" but I don't remember it, which says enough about it. 

I'm always weary of ordering fish, but their San Diego Fish Sandwich is fine. The rockfish breading is definitely crispy, though a little dark, like it spent just a minute too long in the fryer. Again, it was fine. 

For a similar price point, Eno Pizzeria has better food. The Sun Deck is where you go when you want a break from that one and don't want to break the bank. I don't have a favorite restaurant at this resort, but this one isn't it.