On The Road....FEED ME!!!

   First I want to congratulate Paul Qui for winning season 9 of Top Chef:Texas...Now on to business!

   I have a long history of working as a promoter within the hardcore scene. I am not talking about huge giant tour packages  trying to make fat cash but small venues, touring bands, local bands...etc. even if the shows were not mine I was connected with shows somehow. When working with bands I always had a couple of stipulations: 1)Local bands did not get paid
                                              2)Out of towns got traveling expenses 
                                              3)Will always find a place for you to sleep (hotels or homes)
                                              Last and most important....YOU WILL BE FED!!!

   Please understand, I have never ripped off a band. I have always worked my ass off for bands and oh yeah I HAVE NEVER FED A BAND PIZZA FROM LITTLE CEASERS!!! Not all touring bands have the privilege of a "rider" being told that they want or need. I have seen a habit of bands not getting fed and for me this sucks. When a band is on the road and all they eat is crappy food a good home cooked meal say a hell of a lot!!

Me feeding the masses 

    I have some of the best memories connected with food and bands....barbeques after shows so a band can eat before getting back on the road, bands coming together for a home made pasta and bread before a show, tri tip and potatoes...etc. Also if a band sleeps on your floor take the time to fix them breakfast. A stack of pancakes or waffles with some bacon or sausage goes along way for a band getting ready to drive half a day!! They guys have a budget to survive on!!!

    I have had the opportunity to feed and hang out with some great bands like Ramallah, Death Before Dishonor, The Koffin Kats, 25 Ta Life, Leaders, Swimming with Tsunamis, Fight Like Hell and others.

    All I have trying to say is that if you do shows take the time to feed a band....They like to eat and trust me in the end they will appreciate it!!!
  

24 Hours in the city of Angels

MV INK.SACK

   So Friday morning the wife and I got into Los Angeles to early to check into our hotel room and several hours before she was going to get her hair done so we got back in the car and headed straight towards Melrose Avenue so we could have lunch at INK.Sack. This is a sandwich shop that is owned by Micheal Voltaggio and it is actually on the same block as INK. The shop is open from 11 am-8 pm. Menu is simple to read so you are not left trying to figure out what you are ordering. I ordered the Spicy Tuna sandwich and a bag of Maryland Crab Chips. I look forward to going back to and try The Jose Andres.

Spicy Ahi Tuna and  Crap Chips

Around 5:30 we got on the road towards Santa Ana for dinner at The Planground in downtown Santa Ana. The Playground is owned by Jason Quinn. You may remember him from season 2 of The Great Food Truck Race with his truck The Lime Truck. For dinner Beth had the burger that was not even on the menu and I had Pork Bolognese with Crispy Polenta. They have a great beer selection that is filled with local and regional brewers. The food was really good and it is a cool restaurant. If you plan on checking it out make a reservation....Trust me!!


   Got up this morning walked down to the Starbucks down the street from the hotel, checked out and we headed to DTLA so we could go to the Farmers Market and see the Sur La Table (so rad!!). This is what a farmers market should be!! There were places to eat, meat to purchase (I counted 3 meat counters), fruits and vegetables and several specialty markets. I was blown away and plan to bring a cooler with me next time so I can get some stuff to take home with me.

Lavender Honey Biscuit

Ludo Truck

   Last stop of the day....LUNCH TIME!!! So before I left for LA I knew one thing I wanted to do was find the Ludo Truck and that is what we did!!! It was not super easy to find becuase it was tucked back off from the street. The Ludo Truck is owned by Chef Ludo Lefebvre and it kind of changed the way I view fast food chicken (screw you KFC). I ordered the Messy Po Boy and Beth had the Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich with spicy coleslaw and pickles. I got lucky because I got the last the last Po' Boy. Oh yeah and do not forget to try the Honey Lavender Biscuit...Holy crap!! For a french dude he's got a good grip on southern food.

Messy Shrimp Po' Boy

   I got the opportunity to not only spend some well needed time with my wife but got to me a couple of very talented chefs (Micheal Voltaggio and Jason Quinn) ate some good food and was a bit overwhelmed by Amoeba Records (but left with a couple of gems!).

   Next trip we take the kids!!!

First Recipe...Stuffed Quesadilla

Stuffed Quesadilla from Burrito (Fist City MX)

Ingredients:
1 lb Ground Turkey (I used a combo ground beef and chorizo)
2 Peppers
1 can of Pinto Beans
2-4 Burrito Size Flour Tortillas
1 small bag of Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese




Supplies:
frying pan
tongs

Open up can of pinto beans and place in bowl and put in the microwave for 3 minutes.
Brown your meat and 1/2 way through place in sliced peppers and cook with it.
Place meat and peppers in a separate bowl
Pour in Canola Oil in frying pan ( enough to cover the bottom of the pan )
Warm up in until it's get hot
Place tortilla in pan with oil and lay some cheese on 1st then scoop in mixture of meat and peppers and place inside of tortilla. With tongs as tortilla begins to rise fold in half (into a shape of a taco) and hold down until brown.Place on plate on top of paper towel for a few seconds .
Plate with Pinto Beans on top and garnish with cheese and your favorite Salsa

Food and your kids

So  am a dad of two daughters and today I got to thinking about the importance of not only getting your kids active in the kitchen but showing real interest in food.

The first kid to spend time in the kitchen was Daisy as she started to show interest in baking. We bought her an Ace of Cakes book a couple of off beat cookbooks and my mom had purchased her a cupcake cookbook. For my birthday one year I got a copy of Momofuku and Daisy fell in love with that book because she loves ramen. Daisy and I have now made our own dashi broth and ramen broth.

Lindsee is our oldest and I think the day I took her Ye Olde Kings head in Santa Monica I think something clicked. She crashes at my mom and dad's house during the week since she is going to City College and has started to show interest in cooking for herself. I bought her the Bitchin' Kitchen Cookbook for Christmas and today her and I made a trip to the fish market where she got stuff to make Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) and has asked me to buy her a rice cooker.

Both of the kids want me to take em to LA for a food truck meet up, which I am more then happy to do with them!!

My point is this....food is an awesome way to spend time with your kids. Teach em to cook. Teach em where there food comes from and more importantly teach them to be open and adventurous about what is out there.