The Unvegan

‘Reviews’

A New Level of Custom Burgers at BluBurger Grille

October 21st, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Nothing blue (or green) about this burger.

Making its way into the custom burger scene in Arizona is a place called the BluBurger Grille. Similar to places like the Counter in California, BluBurger gives you a list of burger styles and loads of toppings available for them. BluBurger, however, takes customization to a new level.

Rather than restricting itself to one beef burger option, BluBurger has pulled out the stops by offering Kobe Beef (which I can only assume is actually Kobe-style beef) and Bison. Since I typically love me some buffalo, I ordered that with sharp cheddar and BBQ sauce. Adding anything else would have masked the flavor of the buffalo, so I kept my burger pretty simple. Continue Reading»

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Arizona, Bison, Bluburger, Buffalo, Burgers, hamburgers, kobe-style beef, restaurants, Reviews, scottsdale, the counter, Travel

Making My Way in the World at the Cheers Bar

September 30th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Where nobody knew my name...

One of the most important places for my seemingly elderly girlfriend to visit while we were in Boston was the Cheers Bar, which is exactly what it sounds like; the bar that the TV show Cheers was based on. Never mind the fact that she wasn’t yet born when the show began, it has remained one of her favorite shows.

Upon entering, the bar looks exactly like it did in the show, except it wasn’t filled the characters we know and love. The menu wasn’t exactly groundbreaking, although I didn’t expect it to be. Continue Reading»

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Boston, Buffalo Wings, Cheers, Cheers Bar, food, massachusetts, meat, restaurants, Reviews

Curried Away at Wagamama

September 29th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

This might be the prettiest picture I've taken.

While in Boston for a long weekend, I took the opportunity to check out how people eat on the other coast. My first chance to sample the “local fare” came at Wagamama, an international Japanese food chain originally from England. Ok, so it wasn’t exactly local, but Boston is New England, so I made due with what I had.

Our waiter was a low talker, making it difficult to ascertain what he was trying to say at any given moment, but eventually we all figured out when it was time to order. After a long look at the menu, I settled upon the Chicken Katsu Curry, which is some fried chicken cutlet, rice and curry. It also came with “mixed leaves and red pickles,” which I tried to convince the low talker that I didn’t want. Continue Reading»

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Boston, Chicken, Curry, food, Japanese, meat, restaurants, Reviews, Travel, wagamama

Sampling My Way to Rotisserie Works

September 25th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

I love it when sides are bigger than the main course.

For a pre-movie dinner, I found myself at the Century City food court once again and looking for something new. Some of the competitors in the food court have found the best way to bring in new customers: sampling.

I will sample almost anything put in front of me, as long as it has no vegetable qualities. You wouldn’t buy a car without giving it a test drive, so why buy a meal without knowing how it will taste? Well obviously, this isn’t always possible, but when it is I think it’s great to take advantage.

The Rotisserie Works offered me a sample of their Hawaiian BBQ chicken and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a nice sweet BBQ taste with the hint of some pineapple-like fruit. After a few other tastes, I decided the Hawaiian chicken would be filling my belly that evening. The order of chicken came with two sides, and I looked at the menu with mild distaste. All but two of the sides had words like “squash,” and “spinach,” so I ordered their mashed potatoes and mac and cheese.
Continue Reading»

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BBQ, California, Century City, Chicken, food, hawaiian, Los Angeles, mall, meat, restaurants, Reviews, rotisserie

Going Greek at Papa Cristo’s

September 24th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Octobabies!

I had wanted to go to Papa Cristo’s for a long time, but I just didn’t realize it. You see, the outside of the restaurant/market really makes no major reference to the name of the place. Instead, it just says “Greek Food.” When my friend suggested trying it, I complied without realizing it was the place I had driven by so many times.

Inside, the place has a miniature Greek market, a counter to order food at and a big room that can double as a dining room or banquet room. My first stop was the counter to place my order. We ordered some of the Octapodakia appetizer, which is grilled baby octopus. I also ordered the Kreatopita, deliciously described on the menu as a meat pie. For my main course, I decided to get back to the Greek basics and ordered the Gyros sandwich. This came with lettuce and tomatoes, so I ordered it without. Continue Reading»

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downtown, food, Greek, gyros, Koreatown, Los Angeles, meat, mediterannean, octopus, papa cristo's, restaurants, Reviews, Seafood

Wrapping at The Tavern on Main

September 23rd, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

I had never been to The Tavern on Main for food before, as I had always thought of the place as more of a bar than a restaurant, yet I wasn’t going to turn it down when I found out some people were going.

We sat in a back room, which almost looked like a real restaurant, despite the fact that you still had to go through the bar area to get there.

I deliberated with the menu for quite a long time, since a lot of the burgers and sandwiches looked really good. Ultimately, thought, I decided I needed to add some spice to my meal, so I ordered the Buffalo Chiicken Wrap, which came with bleu cheese, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing. The lettuce and tomato would not make a good unvegan meal, so I ordered without. The wrap also came with a side order, so I asked for the mac and cheese. Continue Reading»

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Bar Food, Buffalo, California, Chicken, El Segundo, food, Los Angeles, meat, restaurants, Reviews, Sandwiches, the tavern on main, wraps

On the Water at Brophy Bros.

September 22nd, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Very bro-like

Walking into Brophy Bros. in Santa Barbara, based on the name, I expected some sort of frat house with waiters walking around with sweaters tied around their shoulders and referring to everyone as “Bro,” “Brah,” and “Brosef.” Instead, I found a seafood restaurant. Not sure which I would have preferred, as I seem to be finding myself at seafood places quite often lately, and I am not enjoying the pattern. Nonetheless, I rapidly found the most unhealthy dish on the menu, Fish ‘n’ Chips. Continue Reading»

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British, Brophy Bros., Brophy Brothers, California, fish, fish 'n' chips, food, restaurants, Reviews, Santa Barbara, Seafood

Getting Cheesy at Mad Dogs

September 18th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Nothing green here.

After a long day of drinking in Santa Barbara, I stumbled upon a little hole in the wall joint called Mad Dogs. Hot dogs were their specialty, which was perfect for me to soak up the remains of the day.

They had a variety of hot dog choices to please anyone, and I decided to do a little custom thing. I ordered a bacon and cheese dog with a side of cheese fries. Apparently I am not afraid of destroying my arteries in one sitting. Continue Reading»

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Bacon, California, Cheese, food, fries, hot dog, Hot Dogs, mad dogs, meat, restaurants, Reviews, Santa Barbara

Not Quite Sushi at Kaya Sushi

September 17th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

If it weren't for those tomatoes...

When you walk into Kaya Sushi, there is a massive glass waterfall blocking your way. Do not be deterred, though, because you can easily circumvent this waterfall by walking to the left or right. If you make it past, you’ll find yourself in the posh new sushi restaurant in El Segundo.

The place had an apparent brush with Korean as well as Japanese, since the lettering in their logo was distinctly Korean and there were even a few Korean items on the menu. Their sushi roll list was quite extensive, but I managed to find the least sushi-ish dish on the menu for myself. Continue Reading»

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California, Cheese, El Segundo, fish, Japanese, kaya sushi, Korean, Los Angeles, restaurants, Reviews, Seafood, Sushi

Getting My Goat at Ambala Dhaba

September 15th, 2009 Tweet Facebook Digg Stumble Reddit

Like naan with a kick.

Finding ourselves in Westwood without any idea where to eat, my roommates and I walked into Ambala Dhaba. None of us had looked the place up online, nor had it been recommended, but we were feeling risky.

A look at the menu revealed a whole lot of vegetarian dishes, but also some meaty Indian dishes I had never heard of and was excited to try. Tucked under the glass on the table was their beer special, Bell beer from Uganda for only $3 a glass. I wasn’t sure why Ugandan beer had found itself at an Indian restaurant, but it would definitely be something new for me. Continue Reading»

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Ambala Dhaba, California, Curry, food, goat, Indian, Los Angeles, meat, restaurants, Reviews, westwood

Rants and Raves

Cured Meats Might Need to be Renamed “Treating Meats”

July 13th, 2009

I was always under the impression that curing meats was simply a process of making meats taste better, but now it looks like curing has a double meaning. No, the meats aren’t exactly going to cure you of anything, but they just might help you treat some and prevent some diseases. The key is the nitrates and nitrites that we’ve all been taught to avoid.

According to Feedstuffs.com, “…the dietary inclusion of nitrites and nitrates may provide a rescue or protective pathway for people at risk for cardiovascular disease…[and] may also provide protection against tissue damage.”

Going Global at Plan Check

Fries of the world.

A couple of weeks ago, The Backyard Bite invited me to The Burger Culture Clash, sponsored by Stussy (which apparently still exists) and Plan Check. Plan Check, by the way, is a sort of new (since February) restaurant in West LA with Chef Ernesto Uchimura of Umami Burger fame. As my love of burgers, especially those of the umami variety, I jumped at the opportunity.

Although I arrived alone, I was not the only lone eater. Just next to where I was seated, I met e*star LA and we decided to share a meal called loneliness, because it’s better than eating alone. We made quick friends over our respective blogs and Midwestern roots, then got to work at dissecting the special menu, which Plan Check will be featuring for the next month if anything tickles your fancy.

A little stretch before eating at Don Pichon.

‘Reviews’

A New Level of Custom Burgers at BluBurger Grille

Making My Way in the World at the Cheers Bar

Curried Away at Wagamama

Sampling My Way to Rotisserie Works

Going Greek at Papa Cristo’s

Wrapping at The Tavern on Main

On the Water at Brophy Bros.

Getting Cheesy at Mad Dogs

Not Quite Sushi at Kaya Sushi

Getting My Goat at Ambala Dhaba

Rants and Raves

Cured Meats Might Need to be Renamed “Treating Meats”

Going Global at Plan Check

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