Dia De Los Muertos (Day Of The Dead) - Olvera Street

Dia de Los Muertos (Day of The Dead) is a day, traditionally celebrated on 01 November every year by people of Mexican heritage, where they honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed on. It is, in fact, a celebration of life - not to mourn our loved ones, rather it is a time to remember the lives that they led and the many things that they enjoyed in that life. 

Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles is a very cultural location and had a nine day festival for Dia de Los Muertos. Many people have built shrines and alters in remembrance of their loved ones.

Many guests arrived in masks and many others had face paintings.

For more photos from the event, please visit this link!

Writers Conference 2018 - San Diego

During the weekend of 26 - 28 October 2018, I attended a Writer's Conference at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla (San Diego), CA. This year marked the tenth annual for this event. I wished I was able to attend all three days, however, I was not able to attend on Saturday, 27 October. I hemmed and hawed a great deal whether it was worth my time, commute (one and a half hours with no traffic), and money to be there. I looked over the schedule for the classes/workshops and read the description for each several times. While the conference was geared more towards novelists and book authors, I decided that some of the classes were very useful and helpful for travel writers like me. I learned a lot of great information from the classes that I was interested. I also had every intention to network with the other attendees who were there. Being an introvert that I was, I did talk with a few attendees, but I didn't make any connections like exchanging contact information. How do I make myself become more sociable and extroverted??

I'm not 100% sure yet, but I may consider going to this conference again next year. It really depends on the classes/workshops being offered (will be announced in the Spring 2019). Although Los Angeles is much closer to me than La Jolla/San Diego, I may consider going to one here (it is in June 2019). I have to see the full class schedule (not yet ready for viewing) first.

Tlayuda LA

Did you know that Oaxaca is a southern region of Mexico? Oaxacan food is based on the Mexican staples such as corn, beans, and chile peppers. Tlayuda (tlah-yoo-dah) is a large toasted tortilla, covered with spread of black bean puree, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, Oaxacan cheese and topped with meats or vegetarian.  The tlayuda can be served open face like a pizza or folded in half. Traditionally, they are smeared with asiento, unrefined pork lard, though they usually just stick with beans at Tlayuda LA! Tyaluda LA, located near Downtown Los Angeles, serves rich flavors with a contemporary twist from Oaxacan, Mexico. You are greeted by the pleasing aroma and affable, personable staff when you enter this small, yet very charming restaurant. While it has been here for three years, it is really making a name for itself and is becoming very popular with the locals in the area.

 

The space is small, but everyone still gets to enjoy their meals without feeling overcrowded. The kitchen is semi-open, so guests can somewhat see their meals being prepared.

Different sauces from very mild (left) to very spicy (left). For those who absolutely love very spicy flavors, the far left (yellow) one is for you!

Chips made in house with mole sauce

Enchiladas de Mole

Chorizo and Egg Burrito

For more information about the restaurant, please visit its website here and enjoy your meal!

Fire It Up! BBQ Competition

Fire It Up! BBQ competition had its third annual event on 20 October 2018 at the Fire Credit Union in Eagle Rock where eight teams of local Los Angeles firefighters/families came to compete for best BBQ champions. Free to attend, but guests got to taste various BBQ food from different teams by purchasing taste tickets. Anyone unable to attend also got a chance to make a donation. The Fire It Up! BBQ competition is a fundraising partnership between two nonprofits that serve and honor the firefighting community. Proceeds benefited the Fire Family Foundation and the African American Firefighter Museum.

Live band producing awesome music with the greatest hits

Winners from each category

Please visit this link for more photos from the event!

Surf City Surf Dog Event

Surf City Surf Dog event had its tenth annual event on Saturday, 29 September 2018 in Huntington Beach, CA.  Dogs and their owners from all over the world come together at the dog beach to compete for the best surf dogs.

Samson loved to surf backwards. Silly dog.

Gigi, the only white pug, also loved to surf backwards. What is it with these dogs who surf backwards?!?!

Upon arrival, I was a little disappointed at how many vendors were there, but once I figured out the best viewing spot was after the first heat of surfers competed, the beach became crowded with many spectators everywhere and all had fun.
Want to see more photos from the event? Visit this link to view more!

Horse Thief BBQ

Guy Fieri travels throughout the U.S. with his show, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" to feature many small restaurants and eateries. Horse Thief BBQ located at the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles was one of many.

Horse Thief BBQ has their own dining area (outdoors), however for those rainy days, there is seating inside the Grand Central Market.

Featured on the show were the pork belly (served on apple fennel slaw and spicy mayo) and the fried chicken sandwich. The pork belly needs to be featured on another food show called "Best Thing I Ever Ate" because it deserves to be there. The fried chicken sandwich was crunchy, crispy and juicy.

What was not featured on the show, but was a popular favorite with customers was the beef brisket. Or was it the brisket sandwich? The beef brisket was most likely used for the sandwich as well. It was juicy, tender and flavorful.

Also at the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles includes a few other restaurants and eateries that were featured on "Incredible Edible America", "Andrew Zimmern: Delicious Destinations" and "The Next Food Network Stars". Maybe "Best Thing I Ever Ate" as well, but I can't remember.

Luigi Al Teatro

Luigi Al Teatro is a new Italian restaurant in Santa Monica, CA who recently had a grand opening. It sits in a historical landmark, a 100-year-old building, that went from an Edison company to a place of worship to a dance theater production. The restaurant is located within a few minutes from the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade as well as the Venice Beach Boardwalk. You can spend a few hours at the beach or Third Street Promenade followed by a romantic meal at Luigi Al Teatro. It is a true hidden gem, off the beaten path.

The restaurant has a semi-open kitchen so the guests can be entertained by the kitchen staff while their meals are being prepared. Guests can also sit in the patio area. The roof is retractable where it can be open, so guests can enjoy the nice warm air. Also in the patio area is a fresh herb garden to which the restaurant uses for many of its dishes. The wait staff is inviting and personable. They are knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. The wine cellar is impressive and can be seen above the bar area. The menu changes often according to what is in season, so guests who are fans of the restaurants are always trying something new at each visit, but the menu always features fresh seafood and the fresh pasta is made in-house daily.

Chef Luigi Fineo started his love for cooking at a young age from accompanying his mother to local markets while growing up in Puglia, a southern region of Italy. His passion grew and his dreams were realized when he traveled to the U.S. to continue his culinary journey where he worked with many great master chefs. He is very humble and gives extreme attention to detail in many of his creations.

Chocolate Martini

Tuna Cannolo

Baked Split Pea Soup topped with Scallops

Linguini topped with Sea Urchin

Lasagna with Seafood Medley

Lemon Tart

Pastiera Nepoletana (Barley, Ricotta)

For more information about Luigi Al Teatro or for reservations, visit its website here.