Brian's Shave Ice

Shaved ice is happy to see you

Brian's Shave Ice
11301 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Open Monday-Sunday, 12-11pm

Review:
The conversation mid Brian's Shave Ice went something like this:

Sallie: I want a snow-cone machine at home so I can eat it every day. All day. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Nick: That's a lot of sugar and not so much health.
Sallie: I'll sprinkle it with protein powder and fiber powder.
Nick: We can go back, you know..
Sallie: Tomorrow! ...Tonight?

You know it's that good when you start plotting your return before you've even finished your first. And that is the unwritten step 6 on Brian's menu: how to satisfy your new addiction. But this is all foreshadow.

On the sidewalk front of Sawtelle right after you turn off Olympic and on to  "the street with all the asian fare," as I reference, Brian's is a one-stop shop for everything you can think that relates to shave ice. 

How-To Order at Brian's Shaved Ice:
1. Pick your size (kiddie, regular, large). Unless you revel in regret, go for the large ($4.50).

2. Choose your fillings: dole whip, azaki bean, mochi, ice cream. I went for half dole-whip, half vanilla ice cream. What is dole whip, you ask? It's pineapple soft-serve, basically. The kind that you can get at disneyland, apparently. Tangy and creamy, it's the stuff people will pay $90 for admission just to get a tuck.

3. Choose your flavors: The list is the length of Santa's, but don't freak. The cashier will guide you to "most popular," and/or if you pick one or two, she will advise as to "what goes with that." I selected green apple, POG (passion fruit, orange, guava), and Tiger's blood (strawberry colada). 

4. Choose your topping: condensed milk, sour spray, and a few typical sauces (chocolate, caramel) and some other available dousings that don't matter because you're always going to get condensed milk.

5. Get a stamp card (after 9, the 10th is free!)

6. Fantasize about your next flavor combo as you mercilessly suck down your creation.

7. Get parking validated (so it's free).

A blessed replacement for all those "self-serve" yogurt shops, Brian's is a welcome summer (and hopefully year-long to forever) addition to the daytime (nighttime, and every-time) list of dessert options. Slurp up!

Alphabetical Dates, A-Z: Summer Edition

Alphabetical Dates, A-Z: Summer Edition

The more you do, the more you love.

Dedicated to Priscilla, aka Small. Loved for little gifts to her boyfriend (he calls them Gooz Tricks), she's my mountaineering partner who wouldn't leave me on Mt Whitney after I told her to go ahead, a no-fail photograph/memory aficionado and die-hard chocolate fan. Small, this is for you and Cohen. Have fun this summer!

Apple Pan

   - Get the pie, warm, with ice cream
   - Fries, extra crispy
Beach Bonfires
   - Make s'mores over an open fire
California Shabu Shabu
   - Play with your food
David Minkin's Magic and Wine Show
   - Seriously, he's talented
   - Wine tasting
Eat | See | Hear
   - Outdoor concert
   - Food Trucks
   - Classic Movie
First Friday
   - Every food truck who's somebody
Gaby's Mediterranean
   - BYOB
   - Garlic sauce
Hollywood Park Summer Concerts
   - Musical summer niiiiights
I-Fly Indoor Skydiving
   - Requires a different kind of suit...
Jazz Brunch at The Charleston
   - Everyone loves mimosas, music, and morning munchies
KiteSufari
   - For the daring
LifeCrowd
   - For the social
Marina Del Rey Sports Fishing
   - For the early risers
Nawab India
   - For the Tandoori Seabass
Outdoor Dining
   - Sonoma Wine Garden
   - Back on the Beach
Paint Run
   - For those who like to get dirty
Qusqo
   - Peruvian, a rare find
Ruins/Waterfall Hike
   - For the hikers
Stand-Up Paddle
   - For the kayakers/surfers
Twilight Concerts: Santa Monica Pier
   - For the beach and music lovers
Ushuaia
   - For a great steak
Vegan Thai
   - Grab and go eat at the beach
Wine Expo
   - A different food truck every night of the week + beer/wine tastings
Xperience Days
   - For those who like to get WAY off the couch
YogaHop
   - Stretch, laugh, then go eat cake at Sweet Lady Jane
ZipLine
   - For some perspective

Bombay Cafe & Nawab of India

Fish Tikka Kabob. Best fish you'll ever eat.

Bombay Cafe  
12021 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Nawab of India
1621 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Type: Indoor
Category: Lunch, Dinner, Bar
Company: Newbies, veterans, and seekers of the authentic
Cost: $$
Quickie: For those who've had and those who need an Indian cuisine education, these are the places for both.

Review:
Last week I was spotted twice leaving two different restaurants clutching a napkin. Literally, I received an email from a reader few days ago inquiring whether that was me (yes, indeed it was) outside of two of the most long-standing Indian food establishments on the westside (in my defense, separate days).
“What’s on all the napkins,’ she asked, “The way you were carrying it, it would appear that you had a winning lottery ticket. Do tell!” In short, ten menu items that I absolutely could not forget – as each one I tried reminded me of something “so and so friend” would love because of the flavor, texture, and color. So, I wrote them all down. On napkins.

Ready to hear about two Indian restaurants where you’ll be able feed anyone and everyone?

Bombay Café:


Chutney Sampler: Three (I recommend more) of the house-made chutneys with samosas chips.  I could’ve eaten the walnut one for days – perfect for anyone who loves chips and dip.

Chutney Sampler

   Eggplant Deva: Japanese eggplant topped with fennel tomato sauce and garlic-ginger yogurt. Soft, savory, and succulent-a dream for those who like the texture of roasted vegetables and the consistency of a casserole.

 Garlic Naan: Like a soft fluffy pancake-tortilla, topped with garlic and cilantro. Think garlic bread in pita form but with little blisters from a stint in the oven.

 Malai Seekh: Minced and herbed lamb wrapped around a skewer. This is lamb sausage baked in the Tandoori oven, and anyone who likes sausage, kabobs, and Iranian Koobideh will happily tuck in to this.

Rasgulla: Fried popper-sized bites soaked in rose syrup. If you love donut holes this is the sweet for you – the secret here is that they are actually made from cheese!

Paneer Kulcha: like a quesadilla!

Nawab India:

Fish Tikka Kabob: Boneless seabass cooked in  

    the Tandoori oven on a skewer. Best fish I’ve  
   ever had, hands-down. Mouth-melting
   caramelized on the outside, soft and creamy on 

   the inside. Comes on a sizzling platter fajita- 

   style. You won’t find a better fish. Seriously.

 Sag Paneer: Spinach and cheese. Think creamed 

   spinach with more texture and flavor, dotted 

   with cubes of firm but melty “swiss-cottage 

   cheese.” Beloved for all vegetarians.

Paneer Kulcha: Naan stuffed with cheese, just 

   like a quesadilla but with an Indian spice twist.

Potato and Cauliflower Pakora: Reminds me of 

   tempura, but with less grease and more texture 

   between the crisp exteriors. Basically, fried 

   veggie-lovers delight.

Nawab Special Chicken:  Minced chicken cooked in cashew nut gravy (creamy). For those who like 

   Italian, this is your protein-packed fettuccine alfredo but without the noodles and a much lighter impact on 

   the stomach.

Who would have known that you could satisfy and feed a vegetarian, a vegan, an omnivore, a pescatarian, and even those who live on pizza all from one cuisine and one restaurateur? If you haven’t tried Indian food yet text these items in to your phone (or write it down on a napkin) and go visit today. You won’t be disappointed!

Westchester Golf Course

Westchester Golf Course
6900 W. Manchester Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90045
310.649.9173
Follow them on Facebook

Type: Outdoor
Category: Golf
Company: Golfers, airport enthusiasts
Cost: $22 weekday, $28 weekend ($10 extra for cart).  Cheaper tee times available for early bird and twilight.

Review: I'll admit, when I was told I would be golfing at Westchester Golf course, "yknow..the one right next to LAX" I was a bit skeptical. I mean, how good can a course be that has a radar tower along hole 5?  But any doubts quickly disappeared once I teed off.

Although there is only one Par-5, the rest of the course is an almost 50-50 split of Par 3's and 4's, mixing up challenging with the occasional amateur holes that give us high-handicap hackers some much needed motivation. The rate of play in the middle of a beautiful Saturday was comparable to other courses.  In fact, even with a noon tee time, we didn't have a group directly behind us, which always makes for a more enjoyable round (which means we took advantage of quite a few agreed-upon mulligans).

OTC Tip: Holes 15, 16, and 17 are the newest holes - Westchester was originally a 15 hole course.  These newest three (a Par 5, 3 and 4, respectively) are by far the best and most fun holes on the course.

While not Pebble Beach, the Westchester course is nonetheless a really fun - and well kept - course, making for a great afternoon with my buddies. Not once did any golfer in our group have to endure a ball getting stuck in a unsightly divot or pothole (a usual occurrence with cheap public courses).  Not only would I recommend this to a golfer looking for a cheap and entertaining afternoon of chasing a white ball around, but I have made Westchester Golf Course one of my primary weekend courses to play.