Lemme get that egg drank, thanks!

If I blind folded you and walked you into Copa D' Oro, I don't think you'd have any idea that the Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade was just around the corner. Consider this spot a hideaway from the otherwise busy tourist scene near the location. The underground, small-town vibe from the cocktail joint is the perfect place to be if you have the post-weekend blues because they have $5 Happy Hour specials all night on Mondays. In fact, I came in on a Monday evening and it provided me with a much needed chill atmosphere.

Copa D' Oro guarantees quality cocktails sourcing fresh organic driven produce from local farmers and premium products from around the globe. Definitely, definitely try the Pisco Sour! It's name is not entirely accurate since the drink was not that sour but actually delivered a sweet, smooth taste. Curated with pisco, fresh lime juice, and pasteurized egg white, the Pisco Sour defintely stands out among its peers. (Quite honestly, I just wanted to see how an egg white served in a cocktail would taste like.) The Moon Goddess cocktail was probably my second favorite of the night, consisting of St. Germain, Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice & Prosecco. All in all, I appreciated the fact that the drinks weren't kicking in too strong since, may I remind you, it was a Monday night.

The grilled paninis on LaBrea Bakery Sourdough were also great to snack on while I sipped on my carefully crafted drinks. The primavera panini oozed with the goodness of roasted tomatoes, basil pesto, and mozzarella. I also ordered the "House Made Lemon Artichoke Spread, Made with Straus Dairy Cream & Gorgonzola Dolce" as an appetizer. My stomache was satisfied with just the right amount of oomph to make my Monday a little bit brighter.

So if you want to just rest your body&mind at a nice little lounge after work, want to vicariously live as a New York hipster, or if you just want the chance to say "Lemme get that egg drank!" please invite me to hangout at Copa D' Oro next Monday :)

--C.H.

Tweet @Copa D'Oro and tell them you think #FooodIsGoood

Dine LA: Amazonian Fish Ribs and other Peruvian delicacies

Dine LA Week basically gives 20 something year olds an excuse to try out trendy, fancy-schmancy restaurants. Unless it's a special occasion, most of us normal folk do not splurge on meals that cost as much as a filled tank of gas. Fortunately, restaurants participating in Dine LA offer a full course meal at a flat rate. Lunch ranges from $15-25, while dinner sets are generally $45.

I had the chance to try out a "Peruvian Izakaya" (Izakaya = tapas style dining) called Paichẽ located in Marina Del Rey. Peruvian food incorporates Asian culinary styles so don't be surprised to find fusion plates on the menu along with other unique gourmet discoveries. The Dine LA dinner menu included two options of appetizers, two options of the main course, and a choice of dessert.

And now, a photo map to guide you through what you can find on Paichẽ's menu:

Albacore Ceviche
(Aji Amarillo Leche De Tigre, Rocoto Garlic Sauce, Garlic Chips)
THIS WAS MY FAVORITE, THE SAUCE IS DELICIOUS!

Ensalada Rusa
(Seared Albacore, assorted steamed veggies, Aji Amarillo Yuzu Dressing, Quail Egg)
I WOULD SKIP ORDERING THIS...

Seabass Tiradito
(Seared seabass, Amazonian Sacha Inchi Oil,
Soy Dressing, Garlic, Oba)

Yuquitas
(Stuffed Yuca Beignets, Manchego Cheese, Grated Parmesan)
THE GREEN SAUCE MAKES EVERYTHING TASTE EVEN BETTER!

Uni Shrimp Toast
(Sea urchin, shrimp paste toast, rocoto honey sauce)
The most expensive piece of toast you'll ever have!

Short Ribs
(Prime Short Rib, BBQ Sauce, Huancaina)
Huancaina = Peruvian salad of boiled yellow potatoes

Chaufa De Langosta
(Lobster, Mixed Seafood, Fried Rice)

Finally, of course, you should always save the best for last...*drum roll* ....

Pacu Ribs
(Amazonian Fish Ribs)

The Pacu is a cousin of the piranha that can be found in South American freshwater. Paiche's Pacu Ribs are drenched in Anticucho Lime Miso with Zapallo Puree on the side. Digging into this dish was pretty interesting because you're dealing with the typical fish bones yet there's the rib bone to dodge as well. Overall, the Pacu ribs were truly impressive and definitely the stand out dish at Paiche.

Just when I thought my food adventure was over, dessert was served! The Chicha Raspadilla incorporates shaved ice with flavors reminiscent of cranberry/pomegranate and a strong clove essence. The mandarin orange sorbet scoop on top really gives the extra kick to the dessert.

    

   
I guess the lesson learned here is that when the next Dine LA rolls around, definitely keep an eye out for Paiche! If Peruvian food interests you and you're on a tighter budget, I'll be posting another blog soon about another delicious restaurant :)

--C.H.


Follow @PaicheLA and mention you heard about them from @fooodisgoood
www.PaicheLA.com

What does a rattlesnake, rabbit, crocodile, and pheasant have in common?

Roughly a year ago I started this blog one day while I was daydreaming about food during a college lecture. It was a rash decision but I bought this domain name and had my blog running...for a month. Three posts and a thousand of views later I kind of put this project on the back burner.

However, the upcoming weekend marks a year after my college graduation, so what better way to commemorate this by reviving the Foood is Goood blog! From time to time I will have guest bloggers to join in on the festivities as well. Hopefully this site will bring you good food to eat in the LA/OC area.

To kick off the relaunch of this blog, I'll start off simple. Now, I love 7-Eleven hot dogs and if you've never had one from there then don't judge me. I am a big hot dog fan and I consider it to be the best- worst meal ever. But I'm not going to waste anymore of your time talking about that because you're probably thinking, "Okay why is she making me read her blog about $1 hot dogs I can find at every corner." So let's move on...

What does a rattlesnake, rabbit, crocodile, and pheasant have in common?

1.) They all can be found in the zoo.
2.) Oh, and you can find them in the middle of your buns at Wurstküche.

Wurstküche is a trendy joint operating in Downtown LA and Venice Beach. There tagline claims the place to be "a purveyor of exotic grilled sausages." Extra emphasis on the "exotic" please! Just read the exotic menu details yourself because here at Foood is Goood, we don't just spoon feed you our experiences (that's what Yelp is for), we're here to just tell you that FOOD SHOULD BE GOOD!

Seriously though don't be afraid to try the outlandish sausages Wurstküche offers. The flavors really come together in such a way that you will almost forget that you're kind of (borderline) eating roadkill. But hey live a little okay? You're 22! (Or within 5 yrs of that.)

My favorite was the rattlesnake & rabbit, and the one on top is the buffalo:

(This photo was taken with the Foto R Us app)

FYI: Apparently in February a truck crashed into the Venice location, I don't know why thats relevant but it is.

Well, please follow @fooodisgoood on Instagram/Twitter if you want to motivate me to continue this blog for longer than a month! I need inspiration, thanks :)

-C.H.


Check it out:
http://www.wurstkuche.com/
Twitter: @wurstkuche