Before we headed to Mexico on the 24th we spent a couple of days with the kids and grandbaby in LA and we visited a couple of cool food related places I wanted to share with everyone.
It all starts off with my wife Lori and I enjoying finding food places that have a bit of history to them, whether local or national, and then going and trying them out. We always are on the prowl for a good hot dog and we have eaten them in New Orleans (Lucky Dogs), New York City (Nathan's and Papaya King) and now in Los Angeles (actually in West Hollywood at Pink's)
I have tried to think of a way to describe a Pink's hot dog and have to use my wife's description here, she's the hot dog aficionado. She always has to have Coney Sauce on her dogs and I am more of a mayo/relish/mustard/ketchup/onion type of hot dogger. At Pinks I decided to have one with Coney Sauce as well. Great choice!
As Lori so succinctly puts it...they "snap" when you bite them . She taught me long ago the true sign of a great hot dog is that "snap" when you bite it. Without out that they are just another in the family of mediocre hot dogs.
Well let me tell you, Pink's hot dogs "snap" perfectly when you bite them. And the Coney Sauce is to die for (I may have become a convert to Coney Sauce after this). Their Coney Sauce is not like chili. It's not runny and wet. It is made such that is does not get the bun soggy and it doesn't leak out of the bun either. Thats' because the dress the hot dog itself with the sauce not just cover it and the bun with it. Man it was killer! The flavor was perfect too.
This place is located in the heart of West Hollywood and there is lot's happening there. It is near the corner of Melrose and La Brea and it packs a lot of Hollywood history. Many movies scenes and commercials have been filmed there and it is a great palce to people watch. It's wall's are loaded with all kinds of pictures of famous stars who have autographed pictures hanging there. Home of a great Coney Dog (plus many other types of hot dogs) it's cool to say we have been there.
Another place fast becoming popular that we visited was a Sprinkles Cupcake store in Beverly Hills on Santa Monica Blvd. not far from Rodeo Drive and all the glam and glitter that is in that part of town. If you have never heard of Sprinkles Cupcakes that's okay because thanks to Oprah everyone is just learning about them and they are fast becoming a decadent little treat that are worthy of trying at least once. You can order the mix online but to have a fresh baked cupcake you need to visit their store and that is the way to go. They have other locations in the U.S. but nothing in the Northwest. I'd put them in the same category as a Trader Joe's store or a Whole Foods Market...more of a big city type of thing.
The Red Velvet cupcake is the best but I also had a Black and White which was great too. I'm sure the frosting is not low-cal and it was yummy! The cake itself is fresh and moist and worth every penny. We were there on a Friday and were leaving for Mexico the next day. Since we were meeting some friends at LAX to fly to Mexico we bought a dozen (Yowzah!! $44 for a dozen cupcakes!) and shared them with the kids and ourselves and then took six to the airport to share with our friends.
That's what vacations are for...doing something different and splurging a little....no better way to do that than to enjoy some good food and treats! (Beside the fact that we can say we been there when someone asks have you ever been to or heard of......?
