BEST of Secret FAB Food: LA!

I've been meaning to write this post for awhile now and last week I made a list of 10 things I'm going to get done in the next month, so ... here I go crossing off one item which is PAY MORE ATTENTION TO FOOD FLIRT :)

I've lived in LA LA Land since 2003 and I've eaten my way from Downtown to the Beach and back by way of the Valley but don't just trust me on the listage below! Get out there (even though it's 100+ degrees) and flirt with food ... it's fun, bring a friend.

BEST WHITE BREAD IN LA

AL GELATO
The name says Gelato, and theirs is good, but what really shines here is the homemade loaves of bread, truly divine in texture and flavor. A fluffy, chewy, soft white sheepherders bread of sorts, it's addicting spread with Nutella or eaten naked. Sometimes, you just can't deny how satisfying, really great white bread can be. I use it for gourmet grilled cheese and MBnPJ ... that's Macadamia Butter with Pineapple Jelly. $6.50 for a HUGE loaf. Buy it in the morning when it's the warm-from-the-oven fresh!

BTW: the apple pie and red velvet cakes LOOK amazing, but they fall short of flavor pour moi ... meaning shortening, not butter.

Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
806 S Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 659-8069
CASH only (ATM inside)

BEST PLAIN TART FRO-YO

MILANO FREEZER
For me, this place kills Pink Berry (PB). Their plain tart is more tart and creamy than PB and all of their delish flavors, like peach mango and pink grapefruit maintain the creamy texture and tart flavor, while still tasting like the fruit they're supposed to. Bravo.

Neighborhood: Beverly Hills and others
9182 W Olympic Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 246-1946
www.milanofreezer.com


BEST HIDDEN JEWEL/LOCAL ITALIAN ROMANTIC DATE SPOT

PACE
This glowing nook of a restaurant is tucked under the generals store that's on your right as your drive from Hollywood Blvd over Laurel Canyon. The place has been there for a long time and focuses on organic ingredients, light Italian, and cool community. The Scampi Piccante is so rich and satisfying, I often just order that. For pizza try Neptune's Pie with salmon and creme fraiche and I adore the cedar wood grilled salmon entree. Add low ceilings, white fairy lights, candles and art ... that's Pace ... Peace in the Canyon.

Neighborhood: Hollywood
2100 Laurel Canyon Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 654-8583
www.peaceinthecanyon.com

MORE BEST of Secret FAB Food LA in weeks to come :)

XOXO- Food Flirt

Red Snapper for One (1) ... Me!

So ... if you check out my other blog karmalizedlife, you'll know why I'm cooking for one. Not going to get into that here though because this blog is all about food fabulous food. Fun food. Flirtatious food. All things food ;) I haven't posted many recipes on FoodFlirt because I go out a lot, but things change, everything is always shifting and something tells me I'll be cooking a lot more in the upcoming year! YAY!!!

I tried out for The Next Food Network Star yesterday and my "unique culinary point of view" has truly always been off the cuff cooking ... impromptu meals using whatever happens to be hanging out in your kitchen on a random Monday night. After hitting the gym, I wanted to make something healthy. This is what transpired in about thirty minutes.

Opted for a no/low carb dinner.Opened fridge/freezer - noted contents: Fish, just bought, veggies needed to be used, and plenty of condiments! Pulled out ingredients I felt would make a simply smashing meal based on flavors I was craving at the moment. Note: This ingredients list looks long but you can really add or leave out anything you like ... except the fish:) I'm all about ANYTHING GOES cooking! Use what you have on hand and don't be afraid to experiment! It's just food!

Ingredients:
FOR VEGGIE CREATION
2 tsp olive oil
1 c frozen okra, sliced
1/2 c red onion, chopped
1/2 c frozen, shelled Edamame (soy beans)
1/2 red jalapeno, finely diced (or green)
3-4 cloves garlic, diced (I use a meat hammer to smash the cloves out of their skin. Works great! )
1/3 c white wine that's too cheap or old to drink
salt
pepper
garlic powder (optional)
ginger orange marinade (or some type of Asian soy based sauce)
1/4 - 1/2 tsp tsp orange extract (optional but SUPER good)

FOR FISH
Spray Olive Oil (or any oil)
1/2 lb red snapper or any light flaky fish you luv! (Tilapia, Dover Sole, Cat Fish)
Salt
Pepper
Lemon Mayo (I like Lemonaise Light but you can just mix mayo with lemon juice)
Olive Tapenade (optional)
1/4 c white wine that's too cheap or old to drink

FOR SALAD
1/2 tomato, sliced
1 ear fresh corn, cut from cob ( I prefer white)
sesame seeds (I like black for the visual effect but toasted are tastier!)
salt
pepper
Galeos World's Best Miso Dressing (it is SERIOUSLY SO DIVINE and healthy, but use any Asian style dressing you have or whip up 1T olive oil, 1/2 tsp sesame oil, 1T soy sauce, 2tsp lime, lemon, orange juice)
DIRECTIONS:
1) Prep all veggies (including salad veggies) meaning wash, chop, cut slice, set aside.

ONIONS


GARLIC

GARLIC DICED AND JALAPENO


2) Salt and pepper both sides of fish then coat each side with Lemonaise or mayo mixed with lemon juice.
3) Spray 1 large and 1 small frying pan with oil.

4)Add olive oil to small frying pan over high heat, then add all veggies listed under "veggie creation," ending with garlic. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 3-5 minutes before adding seasonings and sauces listed. Continue to stir veggies as needed.

5) While veggies are cooking, spray large pan with oil and heat over medium high-heat. Add fish and cook 3-4 minutes on one side.

Use a nifty screen like this to keep oil from splattering on you and long spatula like this for fish!

Flip fish and spread 1T olive tapenade over each piece. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook fish for 3 more minutes or until center is just cooked.

6)While fish is cooking, put tomatoes and corn in salad bowl, sprinkle with black sesame seeds, salt, pepper (optional) and dress lightly.
7) Once fish is cooked, ladle veggies onto center of plate making a "bed" for fish to rest upon.
8) Use a spatula to place fish atop veggie mix.

9) Place large frying pan back over high heat and de-glaze with white wine by getting the pan hot, then pouring the wine in and using a spatula to scrape up the "the good bits." This makes a quick and delish little sauce to pour over the fish.

10) Pour yourself a glass of your favorite white (if you haven't already) ... I chose Pieropan, Soave Classico, 2007. Actually, the wine guy at Bristol farms chose that for me. :)

Enjoy your solo you flirtatious devil or deviless! ~xoxo~ FoodFlirt