Quest For Coffee

Laila and the not so very good coffee.

Being a professional barista constantly leaves me in the odd and sometimes uncomfortable position of not being able to share the same enthusiasm of my friends and associates for their favorite coffees and coffee places. People always ask me what I think of this coffee or that coffee shop and regardless of what I really think, I hate to disparage their favorites.

Compounding the situation is that I have the rare luxury of working with some of the finest coffees available and brewing those coffees to very specific standards to produce specific and consistent results. Which makes it personally difficult for me when friends ask my opinion on coffee.


Our Chariot to the Stars

So, after buying a coffee across the street, Laila asks me what I think of the coffee. It's bland because they didn't use enough coffee to brew and the coffee itself is over roasted because I can taste the faint carbon char. Overall, it's watery and not very good and I'm hesitant to say that to Laila until she starts describing it similar to the way I'm tasting.

Ah, relief! I hate coming off as some sort of coffee geek or coffee snob. Since her palate is sensitive enough to describe the coffee in that way, I'm comfortable talking about my interpretation. It's not very good.


Arriving at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

After a quick conference, we decide to head over to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for better coffee. At the very least, Coffee Bean will have better and consistent brewing standards - and their coffee is somewhat decent as far as the chains go.

A few minutes later, I have a coffee in hand (with cream and sugar, please) and a crispy rice square. The Colombian is decent and has a nice flavor to it. The crispy rice is sweet, soft and artificially disgusting.

At least the company is enjoyable.


Crispy Rice Square (why?) and a 12z Colombia.

Redondo Beach Brewing Company

Like father, like son.

With Michelle and Christian flying in from Tokyo, our group needed to eat someplace where we could spread out with babies - off to the Redondo Beach Brewing Company we went.

What can be said about the food? It's typical brew pub fare. Mostly frozen, mostly plain, mostly simple and casual fare. Nothing challenging or particularly exciting to please the masses. But sometimes, a plate of nachos is just what fits the bill. I mean, it's really about the company anyway, right?



Nachos



Blueberry Wheat.



Jalapeno Poppers



Chili



Garlic Bread



Calamari



Fried Mushrooms



"Steak Fries"



Fish and Chips



Baja Fish Tacos



Greek Tacos



Steak Vieja



Christian and the Dip



Laila and Greek Tacos

White Bread

Bread and Butter

There's something special about Japanese white bread. The fluffy interior crisps beautifully when toasted. Slathered with butter it's absolutely sublime. It's one of my favorite breads in the world and a source of comfort when I'm on the road.

Tommy Burger

Feels like the first time.

Since The Bob is staying at the house tonight, and he's now a committed man, I'm forced to be good tonight and go home. At least I'll get a good three hours of sleep.

On the way there, we're in the hunt for some late-night eats. The tacos al pastor place on Fletcher isn't there and we end up at the Original Tommy Burger at Beverly and Rampart.

If you've never been there, the original location is quite a scene. Actually, I've never had a Tommy Burger anywhere but here, so I don't know anything else. The last time I was here was a couple of years ago with Laila but things haven't changed.

Want to meet Latina chicks? This is the place. It's lovely but I'm still full from our spaghetti and pass on a burger. The typical Tommy Burger is two patties with cheese, chili, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce and a sauce. It's a tasty burger but I'm stuffed and can't even think of eating one.

But this is The Bob's first time at Tommy Burger and he's chowing down hard. That's when Marc finds us hanging out. Three guys, lots of Latinas, it's a recipe for hope. Of course, Marc is spoken for as well and I'm the lone bachelor in the group. So much for wingmen...

Far Bar

DJ Un-G on the Wheels of Steel.

After over ten days of non-stop going out, partying, drinking and staying up late, I'm starting to feel fatigued. But it's Saturday night in L.A. and time to continue the party. Tonight we're at Far Bar in Japantown where DJ Un-G is spinning the tracks and Fabiola is the cute Mexican makeup artist from Jalisco with a taste for tacos al pastor and the now seemingly ubiquitous penchant for Morrissey and The Smiths.


The Guys checking out The Chicks.



Christine and Fabiola

Akane Chaya

Chips and salsa

A Japanese style pasta house? Sounds kinda strange. Sounds kinda odd. Sounds kinda scary. Tastes pretty good!


Bread and balsamic.



Potato Soup



Salad



Tarako, Kinoko - cod caviar, mushrooms, squid and spaghetti.



Salmon, potato and cream sauce.







Tonkatsu, rice and salad.



Meat sauce with hamburger steak and melted cheese.



Meat sauce, hamburger steak and salad combo.


Akane Chaya
1610 West Redondo Beach Blvd.
Gardena, CA 90247
310-768-3939

Fit For A King???

A "cappuccino" at King's Road Cafe.

The other morning, Marianne was telling me about her favorite coffee spots: Intelligentsia Silver Lake and King's Road Cafe. Hmmm, never heard of the latter before but then it came up in a couple of conversations this week as we were looking at locations, so I decided that I should go and check it out.

King's Road is a cafe with a food menu that looks pretty good, but they've got a reputation for coffee so I decided to order up my usual: cappuccino. I was a brave soul.

Sadly, there's no way to relate the event without sounding disparaging. Over the years, I've discovered certain tell-tale signs that cause me to not order, or order iced tea instead. Unfortunately, King's Road has all the tell-tale signs in spades.

As I stood there waiting for the couple in front of me to order (there was only three of us), I couldn't quite process just what that high-pitched whine was that didn't stop. It sounded like an espresso grinder, but it never stopped. That's right when the barista reached over the grinder to click it off - leaving a dosing hopper full of quickly staling ground coffee.

Choice of espresso machines is also a sign of how serious a shop takes their craft and product. Brasilia espresso machines are almost a guarantee of mediocrity. Then there were the crusty 32z milk steaming pitchers which the barista refilled by adding cold milk to whatever was leftover in the pitcher.

I could go on but to what end? My 12z cappuccino was about 4z of overextracted and burnt espresso and 8z of milk foam. Disgusting. One of the worst coffees I've had in years. It was so bad I threw it out and guzzled water to cleanse my palate.

The barista was nice enough. Friendly, no attitude and even poured a little latte heart on the couple's latte. He seemed like a good person, just a person who's been led down the path of craft 1995. It's disappointing to see cafes remain mired in the mediocre methods of old.

In a way, it's kind of sad. In another way, it's textbook study of what not to do as a barista. I'd write more about the poor practices I observed, but it hurts too much.

Intelli Venice Again

Back in line like the regular people.

After too much to eat at 26 Beach, Anna wanted an affogato from Intelligentsia. It's times like these that I ponder how nice it is to have nice coffee shops to visit in your city - meaning, one that you don't own. Just cruise in, have a coffee and take off. No dealing with shop issues, customer issues, supply issues, etc. When you have your own coffee spot, you never, ever are able to come in, have a coffee and just "hang."

When traveling to coffee places, I prefer to remain incognito. I like being served like the regular customers and since I didn't notice my usual friends here today, I figured today would be a good day to remain inconspicuous.


Phil prepares our beverages.

Of course, when you're ordering three affogatos, a macchiato, cappuccino, iced mocha, a brewed coffee and taking pictures of them along the way, that kind of gives you away. Especially when our barista asked me if I was in the coffee business - what am I going to do? Lie?

How nice it is to stop in and just have a coffee.


Pouring my Serra do Bone capp.



Latte art for Kimmy and Bex.



Iced Mocha



Affogato



Nicole pours over an Escuela Vieja, Colombia



The Damage



Bob and Polly



Anna, Gerry and Christian



Baby you'll be famous, chase you down until you love me, Pappa-papparazzi.



Al and Polly

26 Beach

Gerry and the spicy bloody mary.

It's Saturday and our crew has gathered at one of our favorite restaurants, 26 Beach. The other day, another friend said he had grown "tired" of 26 Beach and urged us to try another restaurant instead. Sadly, the other restaurant proved to be pricey and bland in flavor. Maybe it's because I live on the other side of the country, but I'm hard-pressed to find a restaurant that is as eclectic, fun and adventurous as 26 Beach. The Chicken Curry Royal is killer and has been a "must eat" for years. But nothing here has disappointed - and the menu is quite large.


Chilaquiles Diablo


Bloody Mary Forest


Curry Chicken Royal - scrambled eggs with chicken, onions, snap peas, bean sprouts, coconut curry and brown rice.


Red Hot Chili Pepperzzz - scrambled eggs with ziti, chili, jalapeno, habanero and crushed red peppers, cheddar cheese and onions.


The Bob samples Chicken Curry Royal.


Panchetta & Eggs - eggs, pancetta, mozzarella, peas, tomatoes, linguini and red pepper.


Breakfast Sandwich - applewood smoked bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato, avocado and mayo, with fries.


Steak & Eggs - choice ribeye grilled with scrambled eggs and rice.


Sides of Fries and Bacon.


Mendoncino Pear Salad - caramelized pears, chicken katsu, bacon, baby mix, blue cheese, tomatoes, candied pecans and pear vinaigrette.


Ian eats fries.


Anna and the Lemon Ricotta French Toast - fresh ricotta, mascarpone, honey & lemon zest with fresh blueberries and raspberry coulis.


In the sun


Huzzah!



26 Beach
3100 Washington Blvd.
Marina del Rey, CA 90291
310-823-7526
www.26beach.com