Mom Please Ukrainian Food - Playa Vista

Oh god, I hate sour cream. My loathing of mayo was converted by Kewpie, age and whipped schmear have softened my cringe at cream cheese, and my avocado aversion was annihilated by a single bite of guac. But I think I will always hate sour cream. It is neither sour nor cream, and it is horrid.

Mom Please did not make me hate sour cream any less, but they did make me want Ukrainian more.

They make so many dumplings, soft-and-chewy-wrapper, plump little tortellini-shaped Pelmeni. These have a firm filling of a lean ground chicken sweetened by onion aromatics.

Flatter, wider Varenyky have a cordlike closure, a change-purse containing a viscous liquid of sour cherry and some mint to freshen the gooey fruit. 

Both are lovely, both are beautifully crafted, a credit to any culture. But they are incomplete without the sour cream. This loathsome emulsion adds fluid where there is only solid, smoothness to coat the bumps of cherries and chicken, blandness to soothe the salt and temper the tart. It's objectively delicious all together, if it didn't have to be sour cream. 

This Deruny with Salmon is so pretty but it will cost a pretty penny. A round of three stacked potato pancakes are lightly fried and topped with a rosebud of perfectly-cooked, super-tender salmon, warm fatty fish and carbs topped with a cooling tzatziki that lightens things up a bit. 

Medovik is a multi-crepe honey cake, layers separated by a sour cream frosting that I don't detest. The fruit gives it some sweet and tart notes, and I like that it's not overly sweet. 

I know I slammed the sour cream, but there's nothing wrong with this traditional pairing. The problem lies within my palate alone. A wise restaurateur once said "you send wine back because it's bad, not because you don't like it", and there is not a single thing I ate here that I didn't truly love. The food is lovely and it's a strong statement that I enjoyed it despite the sour cream.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams - Playa Vista

Today's theme is the letter J. Sitting a stone's throw from Joliet is her cold-dessert cousin Jeni, with all her scoops of the sweet stuff. 

There are the usuals and then there are the seasonals, and the Signature three scoops lets you try a few. Brown butter almond brittle has a nutty finish, and iced molasses gingerbread is a special that conjures warm fires and candy houses. I'm a sucker for anything cake-flavored, but buttercream birthday cake was a bit more doughy-dry than I prefer.

Still, they're called splendid ice creams because they are. The flavors have a whimsy congruent with the name, and every bite holds a little bit of (very sugary) magic. 

Joliet Cafe & Bar - Playa Vista

I love this complex. There's every store you want selling everything you need and don't need, and this little indoor stall-mall known as the Runway is one of the classier outfits south of LA. 

Every vendor has a well-curated collection, whether it's bespoke children's clothes or this pretty little turquoise cafe serving scrumptious sandwiches and steaming caffeinated drinks.  

Even on a deserted weekday they exude a lively vibe to offset the food coma that comes quick from this thick and meaty Pastrami sandwich. The pastrami is chewy, a little bit dried from the grilling to make it more like a smokier, thicker bacon. A bitter brown mustard and delicately sour cornichons cut through the chunky, melty cheese and thick, tear-with-teeth baguette. 

There's a Fig Serrano special here, where heat draws out the oils of a savory Spanish ham. Arugula anchors a gooey cheese on ciabatta and a gorgeous slice of fig shows its face.

The sandwiches run on the smaller side but they are filling and rich. There are pastries in the case as well if you're just looking for a croissant to go with your coffee, and I'm told the drinks are good. Highly recommend as a breakfast break, a lovely lunch, or a refueling mid-shopping snack.

Taco Tour #6 - HomeState - Los Angeles

Still chasing tacos with unending enthusiasm.

Next stop: Homestate. Uniquely Tex-Mex, love it or hate it, Homestate serves this conglomerate cuisine with subtlety and style. 

True Tex-Mex is a rare find this far from the Lone Star State, and Homestate hails straight from the source. Briana Valdez is a native Texan transplant whose Austin cuisine adds another layer to LA’s already-rich diversity. 

The ingredients are pasture-prime, often organic and ethically sourced. “You’re only as good as your ingredients,” said many a chef, and the three-ingredient Blanco is one such example. Juicy shiitakes add the savory to a melty Monterey Jack on a bed of fluffy egg whites. Slather on the salsas for sweet tomato and biting tomatillo.

Less is more when you have a thick paper-thin (no, that’s not a typo), house-made flour tortilla. That chewy texture contrasts the tender inside, especially in the Trinity, with its soft scrambled eggs and chewy bacon. Home-fry potatoes and shreds of slightly-sharp cheddar cheese break up the denser bits of egg. 

Breakfast is a gentle start, and the lunchtime proteins pack more punch. An assertive achiote marinade makes the Chicken squawk, the hotter bites cooled by cabbage slaw and guacamole.

Picadillo is salty ground beef in all its juices, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage slaw, perked up by pickled jalapenos. It's not bad but it’s a bit much, and it’s my least favorite of the bunch. 

The Potato sounds bland but it's filling and rather refreshing, best for hot, humid days. The potatoes are crunchy and crisp, jalapeños add much-needed acid, and guac is always welcome. There could be less sour cream. 

Simplicity is special at Homestate, and it really is about appreciating every part. The tortillas are as good as they get, the eggs are the eggiest of eggs, and every ingredient tastes fresh off the farm. I'd easily eat their tacos again, but I’d stick with the breakfast options for best results.

Dan Modern Chinese - Playa Vista

A highly anticipated pearl of Pasadena comes to Playa Vista. 

They're too far away for pick-up but close enough for Doordash. Unfortunately, their signature Scallion Pancake falls victim to the car time, sogging in their own steam. Keep this in mind when ordering in as I imagine they'd be amazing when they're fresh. 

The Beef Roll travels beautifully, a chewy pancake wrapped around that gooey, tender oxtail.

Short Rib Dan Mein Noodles are homemade al dente, sauteed with gorgeous garlic and greens. The short rib is super juicy, and the definitive, delightful smoke of wok char goes straight through the nose. 

Enjoy Sauteed Snow Pea Leaves with Garlic if you need your veggie fix. They have them in the noodles, but I can't get enough. 

Their signature Dungeness Crab Fried Rice is nice but not a standout. The crab flavor is underwhelming, and it's not their strongest dish. 

It's modern Chinese without losing its Chinese, a spin on tradition to the whims of the chef. I really like this version.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar - Playa Vista

Sink your teeth into the "best burger in Playa Vista". 

I hate that they're self-proclaimed, but I don't disagree. They have this LLano Poblano that's gorgeous from every angle, and the fluffy perfect-dome made-from-scratch brioche bun is a reason to boast.  They lay a flat square of flame-kissed poblano pepper across a juicy beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese, and thick, chewy strips of bacon cover all the way across. 

There's no concern for not enough topping or empty bites here. Their burgers get full coverage. The sides are strong as well - try the truffle parmesan or hot honey sweet potato fries to share. 

Wash it all down with a beer on tap - their rotating selection has craft brews for every crew. 

I haven't had any other burgers in Playa Vista, but Hopdoddy is the best so far. And they do set a pretty high bar. 

Loqui - Playa Vista

I am loco about Loqui. 

And what’s not to like? Juice-dripping, shredded beef that melts in your mouth and does the merengue with your tastebuds. Add some soft beans and sharp chopped onion, and wrap it in a handmade tortilla for the win. 

The handmade flour tortillas are what you come for. They make a spunky, spicy, staccato pork. The tortilla is so good you almost don't need the meat. 

The flour tortilla is key, but the Pork on Corn Tortilla has pineapple! Sweet with savory, and pickled onions add the acid. It'll make your whole mouth salsa.

Get a Plate if you're going home - it keeps the tortilla from getting soggy. Load on the fluffy rice, soft and savory beans, and pile on the guac. Pay extra for the flour tortilla on the side. 

The handmade tortillas are an obvious stand-out, but Loqui pays attention to detail. Fantastic combinations, perfect meat, and just the right condiments to make the flavors dance.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams - Playa Vista

A newer complex opened in Playa, and Playa wasn't playin' when they picked which shops to start. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is available in many a grocery store, but there's a big difference when you're getting fresh, seasonal flavors in a brick and mortar. 

The Sweet Cream Biscuits and Peach Jam tastes sweet and wholesome like a sunny, southern, summer day. Lady Antebellum's "American Honey" plays in my head every time I take a bite. 

Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks is a classic. It's not too sweet, but it's the right kind of sweet, and nuts and chocolate are a well-known win. 

Jeni's ice cream errs on the denser side, and it's sweet without tasting full of sugar. It's not too hard like grocery store ice creams can get, and it's nice to get a packed pint with some real weight to it. They have a mix of traditional flavors with more creative ones that don't get too weird - it can be different, but it's still unmistakably ice cream. I don't have a favorite ice cream place yet, but Jeni's is on my list of loves.