500 Days of Whimsy
After several months of browsing due to frequent ModCloth ads popping up on my facebook, I thought I’d share this site since it’s one of the most whimsical and, in the best sense, just-plain-girly places for a female to covet and play mental dress-up with gorgeous, classic threads. If the site were a physical store, my wallet would be in trouble and I’d likely make a day out of a trip since I want to try on almost everything I see.
What connection does this have to LA? Well, every time I scroll through page after magical page of ModCloth’s dresses, I feel as if I’m journeying through what Zooey Deschanel’s closet would look like in “500 Days of Summer”. I can see her wearing so many of these feminine, retro frocks as she strolls Downtown to work, explores the Old Bank District with Tom, and sits on an Angels Knoll bench. That film helped me appreciate Downtown so much more and after wandering around for articles and Art Walk, it is very near and dear to me. Granted, Zooey has a fairly similar style in real life, which makes me appreciate her even more.
This "A Little Bit Indie Rock Dress" is music to my eyes!
I finally got to sit on the famous “500 Days…” bench and take in the view a few weeks ago (photos coming soon), and since seeing the film last summer I’ve wanted to do a “500 Days” photo shoot for fun at some of the locations. I imagined wearing a flattering, 50s-reminiscent A-line dress with polka dots or bright flowers so I could channel Summer and just enjoy wearing my favorite type of garment. This Ready to Retro Dress actually combines the two patterns!
A-line dresses are perfect for my body type–the pouffier the better–and the flamboyant colors and patterns of yesteryear put a good spring–or summer, pardon the pun–in my step. I think Summer’s style is the epitome of celebrating being a woman in a purely beautiful and vibrant way, not the modern, uber-short-tight-skirt-wearing, massive-cleavage-revealing way that usually serves to degrade as oppose to uplift.
I could wear one of these dresses everyday, and the site has hundreds–adding more each day–so it may be possible…if I had a ridiculous amount of money and closet space. I don’t usually order clothing without trying it on, so I haven’t bought anything yet. Some of the higher end prices have deterred me too, though if something were to look really fantastic and I could get a lot of wear out of it, it would be worth it. But what to get? The amount of choices is overwhelming.
Reading the garment names is almost as fun as looking at the dresses themselves. Take The Gingham and I Dress,whose title inspires me to break out into “Getting to Know You”. Speaking of which, Deborah Kerr in that film takes the cake as far as full, feminine attire goes.
Deborah Kerr is elegant, vibrant, magical ("etc., etc., etc.") in every dress she dons in "The King and I".
The Scavenger Hunt Dress is aptly named for a Downtown “500 Days” adventure and the Summer Champagne Dress is perfect for a rooftop soiree at sunset. After putting in a long day at work in the About the Author Dress, put on a ginger Soda Fountain Dress and enjoy some pancakes in a diner. The scenarios and frilly, throwback pieces could go on and on. And that’s just the dresses. ModCloth sells other quirky, lovely clothes, accessories and more so everyday can be summer!
I want to get a dress from ModCloth already, so I’ll narrow down the choices and give it a whirl. If the dress fits well, I’ll definitely have to wear it on a Downtown field trip and perhaps an Ikea excursion. I’ll keep you posted.
“He’s Got Hi-i-igh Hopes”
Check out my latest article in Pasadena Weekly about LA-based organization The Hope Chronicles, which has grown leaps and bounds since I first wrote about it in March after its launch.
What is your hope?
Follow the Yellow Brick Road…to The Edison
Local Tourist at The Edison with a bottle of pomegranate "absinthe"
It’s been quite a while since a post and I don’t even know where to begin. The Edison, Grilled Cheese Invitational, more food truck visits, another Downtown Art Walk, The Foundry on Melrose, Coupa Cafe, Yamashiro Farmers Market, and the list goes ON.
I also updated my website with more recent articles I wrote for EAT:LA, LA Downtown News, Pasadena Weekly, and Pasadena Magazine.
I’ve been busy logging enough hours on the computer to finally earn me one-armed “mild carpal tunnel” status. A finger tingles on my braced right hand as I type this on my new ergonomic keyboard, whilst sitting in my new office chair designed for intensive use, aka hours of sitting. Who needs to save for Local Tourist escapades when I can take a lavish trip to Office Depot? Sorry I have no photos to share.
It would be grand to get paid for blogging too to help support my typing habit. Anyone out there interested in helping the cause? [insert cutesy emoticon here] I’m just one of countless writers injured in the line of duty.
Another reason for my blog absence? Photos are such a big part of sharing my Local Tourist adventures, but looking through and editing the hundreds of new photographs I can take within a week or two is time-consuming to say the least. I love it, but it can be a black hole of time when I meticulously analyze whether a photo needs more color boost or antique shading. I know, it’s a travesty comparable to the BP oil spill. Kill, Baby, kill.
And, admittedly, I have yet to explore enough and figure out how to post more than one photo at a time on this blog–gradually overcoming some of my technologically-challengedness–so posting the necessary and slaved-over snapshots individually is another hourglass on its last grains of sand.
I picture the hourglass from “The Wizard of Oz” that the wicked witch puts in the room with Dorothy to count down the moments before she will be killed.
That red sand made it even more ominous, the red foreshadowing possible bloodshed. I swear, I’m not that morbid. I hate gory films. If anything, my relating of an hour glass to “The Wizard of Oz” is a testament to my pop culture junkie status. I will get theme songs to TV shows I haven’t watched in over a decade stuck in my head. Some recent tunes on the mental jukebox include the themes from “My Two Dads” and “Reading Rainbow”. Anything but the Lamb Chop theme song. And I’ll be considerate enough to not post a link to that one. Though I always found the puppets insanely adorable. I wanted Lamb Chop and Hush Puppy as pets. Okay, I still do.
Anyway, I am trying to keep in mind that even if I only have time to post something small, that is better than nothing. I like being thorough and can be a perfectionist, but a blog is meant to be updated, and I explore so much that fairly frequent updating is necessary.
I can feel conflicted about spending so much time at the computer reflecting on adventures I just had when I often want to be out having new ones. But sharing adventures is sometimes part of their excitement, even though the cyber sharing process is in itself solitary. Can you tell I tend to analyze things?
One of my favorite examples is when people proclaim on their facebook status that they are “SO busy!” yet apparently not too busy to be on facebook. Yours truly has been guilty of this from time to time. It seems there’s a special time compartment for facebook, no matter how busy you are. It’s like being full yet still having room for dessert. We’re resourceful beings.
After following that winding yellow brick road, we’ve arrived at another Local Tourist stop: The Edison. A couple months ago I was excited to go to The Edison for a friend’s birthday. I’d actually been planning to go there the week after since I’d wanted to go for about a year and a half so this was fortunate timing. At last I could travel back to the 20s in this large, underground, former power plant in the heart of Downtown.
I expected a snooty velvet rope scene, but was told to arrive early to avoid a line. It was a Friday night around 9 p.m. and I don’t know if I’d ever seen Downtown so dead. Granted, 9 p.m. is early for nightlife, but it’s still Downtown. I think I’d grown accustomed to being there around rush hour. A girlfriend and I drove through fairly vacant streets, got a spot at a nearby lot and didn’t even wait in line. Also, no cover charge, which is greatly refreshing, especially at a place that sells pricier drinks. The bouncer gave us a little attitude, asking if we were there with a party. We mentioned our friend’s name, but since there was no line, it was early, and my friend and I looked fairly fierce–I even busted out my era-appropriate sequined feathered headband–I assume he was just trying to make The Edison look uber exclusive. Whatever.
The Edison’s site emphasizes a strict, upscale dress code, yet I saw people wearing jeans and really casual outfits I wouldn’t even wear to a regular dance club, let alone one celebrating the old world glamour of the 20s. Most of the clientele were well-dressed though.
I soaked in the opulent scene. Screens playing old films, rooms decked out with comfortable vintage-y furniture and decor, jazz standards wafting through the air. It was as magical as I’d imagined it.
"The Edison" cocktail. Photo by Local Tourist
My new favorite drink just may be “The Edison”, their signature, comforting cocktail of Bourbon, pear cognac, honey, and fresh grated cinnamon.
A green fairy peddled whimsical bottles of–what else?–absinthe, flavored and regular. I tried a pomegranate bottle which must have had very little, if any, alcohol in it since I’m a lightweight and wasn’t affected at all. Thankfully, I wasn’t the one out ten dollars for a few swigs of pomegranate juice since friendly Dutch businessmen treated a couple of my friends and I to the drink of our choice. I hardly ever talk to men at a bar or club, but they had a classy, non-threatening demeanor that matched the surroundings. No harassment or attempts at bumping and grinding, thank goodness.
The Green Fairy's absinthe potions. Photo by Local Tourist
Speaking of dancing, one of my favorite activities when I’m not intensively using my office chair, the music transitioned to more modern dance songs but it was a pretty random mix of songs that were either popular and danceable, mediocre, or too slow. It felt at times like the DJ just hit shuffle and didn’t create a list intended to get people excited on the dance floor. I’ve experienced worse dance scenarios, but a popular Downtown club should have higher standards for its DJs.
Overall, I adored The Edison and would go back in a heartbeat, especially for happy hour. I love that LA has a place to embrace the 20s, not just people in their 20s who ascribe to the meat market mentality of many clubs. Granted, scantily-clad women perform at The Edison, contorting on bars or near the dance floor. But I’ll take the risk of possibly revising 20s history and say the burlesque performances were more for art sake. We’ll likely claim the same about Britney Spears when we’re lamenting society’s corruption 50 years from now.
Loft in Translation
The Continental Building, photo by Local Tourist
I had the pleasure of writing an LA Downtown News article titled What’s in My Loft?, which is on pages 12-16 of this week’s issue. I visited five lofts whose decor was as diverse as the inhabitants themselves.
I was so inspired by what people can do with a space that can otherwise seem small and sparse. Also, amazing stories came forth just from asking people about their decor! Each person had an interesting history and some items in each loft had particularly heartwarming, unique backgrounds that caught me off guard.
Downtown has really been courting me, and exploring lofts for this article deepened my love. Many of the loft dwellers emphasized the sense of community and family they feel Downtown. How they appreciate that they know their neighbors and are taken care of by their landlord. Some buildings even pitch in during Christmas time to buy the maintenance employees gifts. I’d never imagine that in the shadows of Downtown’s skyscrapers a warm, close-knit community would exist, but these lofters helped me realize that “Home is where the heart is” applies to more than just the suburbs.
Another expectation smashed for this Local Tourist. I’m looking forward to much more Downtown stories and adventures. I need to post many photos I’ve already taken of the beloved city! Some of those outings included the City Hall Farmers Market and Baby Cakes vegan bakery, amidst randomly wandering about the Old Bank District and Walt Disney Concert Hall. I’m twitterpated just thinking about it.
LA Street Food Fest Coverage Complete!
It took a while, but LA Street Food Fest coverage has been completed! Lots of colorful photos to ogle.
It’s a Marshmallow (and Rice Krispie) World
Check out my EAT:LA article about the world’s largest Rice Krispie treat being unveiled last weekend!
This Ain’t KFC
New Ludo Bites location announced! No menu up yet, but I’ve drooled over practically any Ludo menu I’ve seen. I think his fried chicken truck had a longer wait than the Grilled Cheese Truck at the LA Street Food Fest. Can’t wait to try it!
One Hope at a Time
Taken by Local Tourist in Downtown LA, Feb. 2010
This is the first entry about the revolutionary LA-based organization The Hope Chronicles, which aims to make people more aware of their neighbor, whether locally or across the globe, by asking the simple question: “What is your hope?”
I was admittedly a bit skeptical at how well this idea would work, especially in cities like LA. Is a stranger really going to tell someone his or her hope? And if so, will it make a difference?
Since The Hope Chronicles‘ recent launch, it has already documented some stirring accounts of hope around the world. It is a refreshing surprise to see people open up, and the more they do, the more it encourages me and gives me HOPE that the cynical world I assume I live in is filled with people eager to share their heart’s desires, some of which are not so different from my own.
We, especially in large cities, often shut ourselves off or substitute false communication for true connection. I think it has really been a ripple effect: We project closed body language and other indicators as a wall to keep out the person next to us at Starbucks or the Metro (yes, public transit in LA), who then does the same to keep us and others out as well, so we create a society of people who rarely think of talking to a stranger because we all assume we are hardened and closed-off. But often a whole other side exists.
Now, I understand the value of privacy and safety, especially as a woman. I also know that talking to strangers usually requires getting out of one’s comfort zone, even if you’re an extrovert. I thrive on being around people, but also enjoy working in a coffee shop alone for hours or taking a solo stroll in the sun. We all need time to reflect and just be.
But we also need to sincerely express ourselves and LISTEN to each other. Not just “like” a facebook status, or say “Hi” to that person waiting in a long line with us, but have an honest-to-goodness conversation. I realize that can’t always happen with everyone we encounter and I believe we can’t have a truly deep relationship with everyone we meet since we only have so much time and emotional capacity, but I’m over-thinking the process. START WITH HOPE.
This simple focus makes The Hope Chronicles innovative because we all have hope, whether we acknowledge it or not. Political thoughts aside, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the current U.S. President ran on a slogan of “Hope and Change”.
The term “hope” is ambiguous, but it inspires and unites people because it knows no bounds. Prosperity. Love. World Peace. There is no end to what we can hope for, regardless of our age, ethnic, social, or religious background and so forth. Maybe it’s just making next month’s rent payment.
We are not asking for something and analyzing whether it is a realistic request or what it will entail. We are hoping. The sky is the limit. And who wouldn’t want to take part in that?
Go to The Hope Chronicles site to read different hopes, see hopes documented on video and find out how to help the movement. You will discover that the face of hope is all around you. What is your hope?
I will be getting more involved with The Hope Chronicles and look forward to sharing people’s hopes as well as what this sometimes-jaded LA girl learns about the community around her.
Snap, Crackle, Help
Check out this brief I wrote in Pasadena Weekly about the world’s largest Rice Krispie treat being created and unveiled in La Canada this weekend! And it’s for a good cause!
First Annual LA Street Food Fest
I was eagerly anticipating the LA Street Food Fest ever since I first heard about it from a friend. I was actually surprised I didn’t read about it first on Eater LA, Thrillist, or the other food/culture-related sites I frequent. But they soon followed suit with updates.
The Street Food Fest ran from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on February 13th. As we walked from the Metro and arrived at LA Center Studios (below), where the fest took place, we saw a line winding around the block. It was about 11 a.m., which was when the event started, but I honestly wasn’t surprised. I had seen that over 5000 people had responded “Attending” on the facebook event, and 700 pre-sale tickets had sold out, so I expected that response to be only a fraction of the crowd that would attend.
I arrived at the Grilled Cheese Invitational early last year and luckily got a place near the front of the line, but by the time they let people in there was a line hundreds of people long, so I expected a festival revolving around multiple food trucks, not just one comfort food (which of course now has its own food truck) would be packed. My only reason for not leaving from Pasadena earlier than 10:15 a.m. is that I didn’t want to ask my friends to meet at 9 a.m. or earlier on a Saturday to stand in line before the festival began. But we waited in line for about an hour to get in anyway, so better to wake up early and get at the front of the admission line and face shorter lines once inside. Go big or go home.
Sadly, some people did go home or just went to a nearby Downtown restaurant after seeing the massive line. I spoke to a girl inside the festival that waited outside in line for two hours only to be told she couldn’t go in because they were at capacity, so she waited another half hour until they let more people in. I love food and the food truck culture but honestly wonder if I would wait that long, especially since the lines were like a walking traffic jam by the time this gal got in. She said her mother was visiting from out of state and she wanted to bring her. Talk about a cultural experience.
Once we reached the admission line, it took at least a 5 minute or so walk just to find the end of it, which wound through the entire parking lot (see below). I didn’t mind, but didn’t want my friends to get restless. They were great troopers. I also keep a supply of fruit leathers in my purse for such occasions. I had one just to tide me over. I think the food trucks that didn’t participate in the festival should have parked outside to feed the people in line. Kogi didn’t participate and would have made serious moola off those people waiting a couple hours to get in.
The lines inside eventually grew to be at least 30 minutes, if not an hour or so long. Again, that was to be somewhat expected. A line for a single Kogi truck on any given day can be at least a half hour, if not an hour, so a festival attended by thousands vastly increases the wait time. That is why you attend with multiple friends and employ the “Divide and Conquer” strategy, which worked fairly well for my group of four. If I were a celebrity I’d have a member of my entourage in each line.
The main problem is that ultimately these are trucks. They are not restaurants or catering companies with large kitchens and a huge staff. You have a handful of employees making food inside a truck for thousands of people all day. It sounds like a scenario for the Food Network Show “Dinner: Impossible”. I honestly was amazed more food trucks didn’t run out of ingredients–some did, but only one we encountered (Cool Haus)–and that the trucks had enough room to store the ingredients for hundreds or thousands of dishes. Perhaps one of the nearby buildings had space designated for this because I didn’t see any additional storage near each truck.
I am absolutely going next year and I think it is phenomenal that a first-time event got such a massive response. Sure, there are many kinks to be worked out as far as decreasing wait time for admission and food, but the attendees commenting on food blogs and sites about how livid they were because of the wait time clearly don’t understand how much food trucks have exploded in popularity and didn’t research the buzz this event was getting. I was nervous about getting to the festival at 11 a.m., and that’s when it started. I may have been a Girl Scout, but the motto “Be prepared” applies to us all.
And now, for some photos of this fine food day!
Here’s (from l-r) me, Kira, Bethany, and Janelle, my friends in food. And life in general. We’re in the parking lot line and you can see the tops of some trucks behind us. So close, but still a ways to go.
Those people waiting two hours certainly built something other than an appetite. A temper!
I went to the Get Shaved shaved ice truck first while Bethany went to a Vietnamese truck so we each got items for each other.
So many amazing flavors! I hadn't had shaved ice since a trip to Hawaii last May where I experienced Matsumoto's magical shaved ice on Oahu's North Shore. I was pretty ecstatic that Get Shaved had POG flavor, since POG (passionfruit orange guava) juice is one of my favorite things to get in Hawaii but I don't see it on the mainland. Of course I can make my own, but there's something more authentic and cultural about getting POG juice in Hawaii from a supermarket or off a menu, though it's far from a truly exotic libation. If I asked for POG on the mainland, someone would probably give me an odd look and ask, "You still play with those?" FYI, I found some childhood toys in a storage unit last summer, including my original Nintendo system--still works--and my modest POG collection. Keepers for sure.
Truck 1: Vietnamese truck that I forgot to get the name of since I quickly looked at their menu and told Bethany my order before heading to the Get Shaved truck. I just know this wasn’t the Nom Nom truck, which is the good Vietnamese truck. But I figured this baguette with lemongrass chicken and vegetables would still be quite scrumptious. Alas, ’twas not. The bread was dry, not fresh tasting at all, and had 2-3 small slivers of chicken, which were good but not enough to save the whole sandwich. I might expect this from a truck after it’s served thousands of people, but this was only an hour into the festival so there was no excuse for this sorry sandwich, which I think was $4. I can get a bigger, equally bland Subway creation with fresher bread for less than that.
Truck 2: Get Shaved
Now this is why I came to the LA Street Food Fest. The ice was shaved fine enough that it didn’t clump together and the POG (passionfruit orange guava), coconut, and pineapple flavors I got were a tropical dream. It was hot that day too so this was the perfect refreshing treat. Oddly enough, they didn’t have a long line when we went. It wasn’t as phenomenal as the North Shore shaved ice I had, but it came very close. I’d absolutely go to this truck again. A post-beach Get Shaved truck stop is on my summer to-do list.
The Grilled Cheese truck line was long, as expected. See that orange truck to the right? Ya, that’s how far away it was from the end of the line. And the line switched back a few times too. After being excited about this truck since September before it even rolled onto the streets, and being evaded quite a few heartbreaking times, I had to wait in line. Not just for grilled cheese, but for the principle. The Grilled Cheese Truck was finally in front of me–over a two-hour wait in front of me, it turned out, meaning I could have driven from my Pasadena-area home to one of its usual LA/Hollywood locations and back a few times–but this is the LA Street Food Fest. Waiting is to be expected. But a big plus was dividing the troops to other locations. Janelle and Bethany waited in line at Dogzilla’s Japanese style hot dog truck and brought Kira and I their succulent hot dogs while we waited in line.
I ordered the Dogzilla hot dog from the menu, even though I rarely eat bacon.
Getting closer to The Grilled Cheese Truck! Though we found out we had a couple switchbacks to go through first. Building that appetite!
I love butternut squash so I decided to order the Harvest Melt. And the nutella, marshmallow and banana Dessert Melt also sounded irresistible so I decided if I was going to wait in a line for two hours I might as well try that too. Mind you these are half-size portions.
Truck 3: Dogzilla
Bethany and Janelle brought us Dogzilla while we were in the GCT line! I had ordered two (sample size dogs) since I was pretty hungry and knew it would be a while before we got some grilled cheese love.
I rarely eat hot dogs but these were amazing! Fresh, juicy, and well-complemented by all the accompaniments. Avocado and teriyaki sauce added flavor and tang, not sogginess, and the crunchy small bits of bacon contributed a perfect crunch and smoky flavor. Balance is the name of the game here and Dogzilla wins.
Truck 4: Gastrobus
While in the gargantuan GCT line, a couple helpful guys told us that there was no line for the Gastrobus. This seemed impossible to me as every truck had at least a half hour wait, but we had nothing but time, so Kira held down the GCT fort while I beelined it for the Gastrobus. To my shock, they had NO line. I walked right up and ordered! That would normally be a bad sign that a truck is sans line, but the Buttermilk truck’s line curved in front of the Gastrobus and seemed to steal potential clientele. Bonus for me!
The sign below brings a smile to my face because while it’s fun to enjoy indulging from time to time (i.e., pretty much this whole post) I am grateful when I find organic and healthy options. I eat mostly organic and healthy at home, but it’s harder to find that food in restaurants, or at least in comfort food form.
The menu was quite enticing and food is an adventure so I love trying a bit of everything — the sample size idea enabled me to do just that! Well, three things. I knew the GCT was still in my future. I ordered sweet potato fries, organic beets (yes, beets. I was grateful to have something healthy in the midst of Food Truck Land), and the limon relleno, which I had eyed other festival goers eating.
And now, Gastrobus! Starring: organic beets, sweet potato fries, and limon relleno.
Organic Beets: Tangy, sweet, and refreshing!
Sweet potato fries: Crunchy with that soft sweet potato inside. I waited a little too long to eat them so they weren’t at optimal temperature. I’d love to try them again though.
Limon Relleno: I love lemon bars so this hit the spot. It had a sweet and sour lemon curd-type filling under the meringue. And how exquisite is the presentation?
Truck 5: The Sweets Truck
After the Gastrobus I quickly walked around to see if there was a short line I could get in to grab more treats to enjoy while in the GCT line. The Sweets Truck was genius and had a couple employees walking around, selling a couple items out of baskets. I got two of the “crack bars” so I could share with my cohorts. No one wanted one at the time, so I tried this later in the day after we left the fest.
It’s good, not amazing. Mostly just really sweet. I think the “crack bar” name is attributed because your blood sugar probably races through the roof (like a hyper crackhead) after a few bites. It’s like Oreo cookie crumb-covered chocolate frosting. It’s a little fudgier and thicker than frosting, but not as thick as fudge. Sweets Truck INDEED.
Truck 6: CoolHaus
After I returned to the GCT line and we finally ordered and waited for our sandwiches, food angels Janelle and Bethany brought over CoolHaus ice cream sandwiches. Bethany kept calling it the Diddy Riese truck since the ice cream was sandwiched between two cookies, like it is at Westwood/UCLA favorite Diddy Riese.
By the time they ordered at CoolHaus, the only ice cream flavor left was spicy Mexican chocolate, and the cookie flavors were chocolate chip and something else. I wanted spicy Mexican chocolate and chocolate chip anyway when I’d seen a little larger array of flavors. A chocolate peanut butter combo would have been ideal though.
Unfortunately, the cookies were pretty mediocre and didn’t have a homemade flavor and texture. The spicy Mexican chocolate ice cream lived up to its name. On first bite, it tasted like chocolate ice cream, but then a burning sensation crept along my tongue. I was hoping “spicy” meant spices like cinnamon had been added and likely a bit of a fiery kick, but the spiciness consumed the ice cream and overwhelmed the chocolate. Not uber impressed.
Truck 7: The Grilled Cheese Truck
Not long after we ended our CoolHaus session–Janelle and I couldn’t even finish our hunka hunka burning treats–my name was called at the Grilled Cheese Truck. Victory!
May I remind you that I’d waited since September to try the Grilled Cheese Truck. I’ve attended the past two Grilled Cheese Invitationals and will be in full force at this year’s event, covering it for publications as well.
The Chariots of Fire theme accompanies this photo quite well.
However…I must be honest that I was quite disappointed with the Harvest Melt. I tasted no butternut squash, but instead mostly onions (leeks) and cheese. Grilled onions are good on a burger, but not in large amounts coupled with cheese. If you’re going to scrimp on butternut squash, then just give me the cheese.
I tried a bite of Kira’s cheesy mac and rib melt (the GCT specialty) and ordered it on my second Grilled Cheese Truck visit a month later. I’ll be posting pics of that later. A much tastier experience.
This was a team victory. Well done, All! I didn’t clock the exact time it took to receive our grilled cheese sandwiches, but it was a bit over two hours. Ridiculous, you say? Well, if we had only stood there and experienced nothing else. But our divide and conquer strategy enabled us to get fare from Dogzilla, the Gastrobus, Sweets Truck and Coolhaus, all while waiting in the Grilled Cheese Truck line. Trying five trucks in a little over 2 hours makes the wait time 30 minutes or less per truck (and that’s not counting the Vietnamese truck and Get shaved truck we had at the beginning that took less time). A 30-minute wait at a food truck nowadays is a short amount of time, so I deem the day a success.
I waited a bit to eat my GCT Dessert Melt (Nutella, banana and marshmallow) so it was luke warm/room temp by the time I tried it on the walk back to the Metro. While I enjoy the shot I took below of my melt against a Downtown backdrop, the sandwich was sort of underwhelming. I like nutella, bananas and marshmallows. My favorite crepe fillings are Nutella and banana together. But combining all these things in a sandwich–between two pieces of bread that are obviously thicker than a paper-thin crepe–means that in order to really taste the filling, there should be more of it to compensate for the bread. However, the filling to bread ratio was lacking and if sweet brioche bread was used as stated in the GCT menu then I didn’t taste it. The bread was lackluster and dry for a dessert sandwich. I’d advise the GCT to put more filling in their Dessert Melt.
And here’s a gratuitous shot I took of the skyline just because I’ve fallen in love with Downtown. As you may tell I’m already quite enamored with iPhoto.
At the end of our long day it was a relief to take advantage of public transit. Plus it heightens the local tourist experience, truly making me feel transported. Nothing like a daycation near your own city.
LA Street Food Fest final thoughts:
Fave food: Tie between Get Shaved’s POG, pineapple, and coconut shaved ice and Dogzilla’s namesake hot dog.
Does the event need to be more organized next time? Yes. But as I said before, these are ultimately trucks with limited cooking space and staff. Accommodating hundreds to thousands of people will take time. A food truck line on an average day can be easily over an hour, so a festival full of people vying for the most popular trucks is bound to include some waits.
We won’t even have to wait a year for the next LA Street Food Fest since they’ll be throwing one in the spring, according to their Facebook page.
Get there early–as in, AT LEAST an hour before the fest begins (maybe two), and arrive with foodie friends and appetites in-tow. I know I will.
Local Tourist 
