Far East Food Crawl - Chego! - Los Angeles

It’s a Far East food crawl! First stop: the stools at Chego. 

It’s fast casual a la Roy Choi, and this Chubby Pork Belly doesn’t fall far from the food truck. Savory cuts are painted with kochujung, with pickled radish to cut the fat and sugar. Chinese broccoli rounds out the flavors, and a fried egg yolk seeps through when it breaks.

A well-rounded bowl for sure, easy to eat, all the elements are exact. But it’s a rich and heavy bowl, and even between two people, sharing one is enough if you’re planning to eat again.

Wash it down first with some Shikhye Rice Punch. It’s sweet and light, like the liquid left from washing the rice. Shake well or all the rice stays at the bottom.

Don’t skip the Tres Leches for dessert. A tiny tin packs a potent post-prandial fusion. Devil’s food cake soaks up milk like a sponge. Tapioca and pudding concentrate the sugar, and pinches of cayenne and cinnamon add a little punch, but I’m just here for the peanut brittle. 

Get it to go - Chego isn’t a place to linger. Try some outdoor summer seating inside the plaza or nibble while you’re in line for Howlin’ Ray’s. I’m always down for a good bowl, and a bowl from Chego is one I would eat any time, any place. 

Mt Whitney Restaurant - Lone Pine, CA

It's a long drive down from Reno, but there's decent food and friendly faces along the way. Mt Whitney Restaurant is one great little car-stop, a diner full of locals and tourists sitting side by side. 

They advertise the best burger in town, which I suppose I'll have to verify. They're a bit higher on price, but the patties are juicy and thick so you do get what you pay for. The Horseshoe Meadow is a double, and I love the grill lines on these guys. 

They also make crisp fries, and the light brown implies they do change their oil. There are plenty of other sides as well if you're not feeling potatoes. If you ask nicely they'll even let you get a piece of deep-fried corn on the cob which is kind of genius. 

It's a long road trip up to Reno, but we're discovering all sorts of new stops along the way. Time to check Lone Pine's best burger off the 395 bucket list!

Bently Heritage Estate Distillery - Minden, NV

Someone put a lot of thought into this place. 

From the gorgeous copper Carlos to the sensible layout and streamlined distilling process, Bently is exactly what happens when family money goes toward a worthy cause.

One of few truly estate breweries in the country, Bently is a special place. 

The tour is worth taking more than once, and the tasting is heavy but enlightening. There's a Juniper Gin that tastes like a forest of evergreens, and the Vodka finishes like marshmallow cream. Their variation vodka is rested in sherry oak casks, and it channels the darker notes of whiskey with a much lighter ending. It tastes good, but it messes with your mind in a way that is most delightful. 

You should visit, and you kind of have to visit. Their reasonably-priced spirits make a spirited mixer and a fantastic gift, and they only sell in three states. Pick up a bottle next time you're near Minden, and try to stop by their downstairs bar. A lot of creativity is mixing with their cocktails, and my goal is to make it back for their whiskey. 

The Pink House - Genoa, NV

It’s the perfect day for the Pink House. Or is it the Pink House that makes it the perfect day? The shade of pink is sweet, and it channels Victorian charm with its intimate parlours and wrap-around porch.

It's a house that feels like home, channeling dolls and tea parties as well as adult lunches with family and friends. The ambiance is one of quiet content, the cozy warm and fuzziness you seek as the snow falls in a thin veil all around. 

Push against the cold with a steaming bowl of Cauliflower Soup. The soup is creamy, but the cauliflower is light. There's an inherent sweetness to this versatile vegetable that gives it a lighter lilt. Sip it up and slip it on like a warm coat.

Salmon Poke sticks out like a sore thumb on a menu of soups and sandwiches, and it certain doesn't fit in with the charcuterie and cheese counter either. Bite into some fresh salmon, and you'll have nothing to be sore about. The avocado mousse is thick like a spreadable creme fraiche, and the salmon is coated to make it more buttery and warm. The fresh-ground ginger adds some spunk and a pop of garlic adds the funk.

They serve a hearty Steak Sandwich if you're more hungry than poke and soup. Thick slices of medium ribeye splay across a chewy ciabatta, and veggies balance a hearty aioli and creamy cheese. 

They also have an enticing cheese counter and meat market if you can see past the apple tarts that beckon under a covering glass. The Apple Tart is fabulous. They serve it lukewarm like it cooled from the oven, and the apples are just baked enough to be soft but not too long to lose their firmness. They float in a rich creme anglaise and work well with a whippped cream that tastes like pure, fluffy sugar. 

Try some of the Flourless Chocolate Cake too, if you have room. It's decadent and moist, and the heavy sugar is the perfect offset for the fruit.

The Pink House is perfect for a small group on almost any occasion. It's a small house with close quarters so take the bottomless-brunch committee somewhere else, but if you're looking for an inviting peace or a buzzing quiet and a fantastic lunch in Genoa, look no further. 

Bistro 7 - Reno, NV

It's that time of year again, also known as whenever we can squeeze out a longer weekend. The grandparents live in Reno, and it's been a while since we've seen real snow. 

The weather outside is frightful, but the Bison Bolognese is so delightful. Fresh pappardelle is al dente, and they keep it simple with a buttery, super-savory beef-on-steroids. This bolognese is on the creamy side, but the meaty sauce stays true. 

There's a Miso Crusted Chilean Sea Bass, more of a delicacy but a comfort food all the same. There's a sweet soy glaze which is bit more congealed than I like, but I don't dislike it either. The sea bass itself is meaty and dense, and the texture of the forbidden rice is right on. They let the firm grains get a little crispy, and it contrasts well with the asparagus and the fish. 

Why Bistro 7? Why not Bistro 7? It's not my favorite place in Reno, but it's still pretty good. 

Sharetea - Torrance

Share Tea has teased us for weeks. So many signs announcing their imminent arrival, coming soon for the better part of a month. 

They finally opened their doors to share their tea with us, and it's some pretty good stuff. The classic teas are nice, and the fruity ones are a nice infusion. I prefer less sweet, and I appreciate that the options are accommodating. The classic milk tea is great, the boba are spot-on, and they even have crema, though I prefer mine with a little more salt. 

The tea is great, and it's next door to my favorite ramen. It's too good not to share. 

Pie for the People - Joshua Tree, CA

A slice of special or a slice of cheese? I choose Cheese. Piping-hot after a reheat, this is quite a New York slice. 

They do make pie for the people here, pie for all the people! Their toppings are varied, and their selection of slices shows range. There are the familiar combos like the sausage and onion, and veggie meets the non-meaters, and they even get creative with daily specials like strawberries and something green.  

Hot coffee, hot pizza. What's not to love about J Tree? Affordable options for all appetites and all of it delicious!

Joshua Tree Coffee Company - Joshua Tree, CA

I'm so freaking cold. President's Day weekend was NOT the romantic, chilly-but-not-frostbiting excursion I thought it would be. I am so taken with the desolate beauty of Joshua Tree, but I am very over the cold.

Well this is cute...I never thought I'd feel warm again, but a steaming Cappuccino from Joshua Tree Coffee Company takes the edge off.

I can finally focus my defrosting corneas and I can love nature again, all thanks to a great brew. Now I take it all in...from the comfort of my heated car.  

Garlic and Chives - Garden Grove

The menu looks amazing, and its colorful pages leave me deliriously, delightfully...confused. I'm embarrassed to admit that my knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine is limited, but this menu seems more blended than most.

Whatever it is, it is inspired, and it is its own type of delicious. Kristin Nguyen's genius comes with an eye for creativity and harmony, and in the Pomelo Salad, it shows. Juicy gulf shrimp are, for once, not the main attraction. Citrus balances seafood, sharp onion and crisp carrot sing together. Mint and peanuts make all the flavors float. The house special vinaigrette dressing uplifts all the flavors, a highlight not a flood. I hate salads, but this one is a work of art.

It takes me a moment, but it comes to me as a nubbin of Spicy Garlic Toothpick Lamb fat explodes with gamey savor. Dishes like this lamb are products of a literal melting-pot, one that blends so many cultures for a unique genre of Asian food that I can only describe as southern California, a place where we coexist and share. 

The Deep Fried Salmon Belly, for example, is a cut of salmon not commonly used that someone thought to deep fry. It's covered in a light but substantial batter. It hits like karaage, but finishes like a tempura full of buttery goo. 

My first encounter with Bo Bun Hue happens here, and this bowl of bo hits hard. There’s a satisfying mix of tender beef, meatballs, and so much soft tendon swirling around ropy rice noodles. Every sip of this multidimensional beef broth brings out a slightly different profile; the salt and the savor dance with a hint of sour and a dash of spice.

Grilled Turmeric Fish comes last but not least. Dill makes the fragrance rise, and the breading is battered and seasoned, wrapped around a fresh filet. There’s a whole side platter with a variety of ways to eat; basically it’s lettuce wraps with vermicelli and sauce. There’s no wrong way, just different types of delicious.

Split three ways with tax and tip, the check comes to $26 each. Some of the best food I've ever eaten resides at Garlic and Chives, for the cost of a couple of drinks in an LA bar. At a time when prices are rising and salaries aren't, Garlic and Chives is like a beacon of hope. It's a restaurant for the people, a place where anyone and everyone can come as they are for fantastic food that all can afford. You're awesome Garlic and Chives, never change!