The Unvegan

7/23/2010 Events

The Crabfeast Cometh (and Goeth)

Don't struggle, you'll just make it worse.

It was a perfect day on July 18th, 2010, the kind of day on which the Manifest Destiny that led us to Southern California seemed determined to fulfill its promise, unfurling a crisp blue sky unmarred by cloud or haze. There was heat, sure, from the brilliant sun lighting every corner of the sprawling pitch, fresh and newly restored green after an early-summer blight brought on by prolonged dog-sitting, but it was tempered by a cool breeze bearing that distinctively salty sea air.

It was a day made for joy, for leisure, for flying a kite or laying out on a brightly-colored towel along with that Victorian-era novel you always meant to read but for which you could never quite find the time until now. But today was not a day for joy. It was a day for battle.

Chesapeake Clue Crabs Crabs Los Angeles Maryland Old Bay Seafood Utz Chips

7/22/2010 Reviews Los Angeles

Eating Like a Human at Animal Restaurant

On of the big perks of running a meat blog is the number of restaurants people recommend to me. I always do my best to check these places out, but no restaurant has been recommended to me quite as voraciously as Animal Restaurant. But Animal is not the kind of restaurant you visit every day. It resides in that level of restaurants deemed “For Special Occasion Only.” But last week a special occasion rolled around: my birthday. And to celebrate the fact that I have remarkably survived on this planet for 26 years, my perfect girlfriend wanted to celebrate by taking me to dinner at Animal. Like I said, perfect.

Animal Restaurant Bacon Bone Marrow Los Angeles Marrow Meat Oxtail Poutine Quail Restaurants Sandwiches Steak West Hollywood

7/21/2010 Reviews Los Angeles

Consuming Mojo at Shakey’s Pizza

unvegan shakey's 2 — Just like the olden days.

Shakey’s Pizza and I have a long history, dating all the way back to when I lived in Japan. I discovered Shakey’s in Kyoto and found it to have the best pizza in Japan, at least at that time. They had a modestly priced buffet and although they still served crazy Japanese-style pizza with mayonnaise and corn, they also had good old fashioned pepperoni and cheese. Plus they had delicious fried potatoes and Melon Fanta. Needless to say, every trip to Kyoto came with a stop at Shakey’s. Little did I know at the time that Shakey’s was not just some Japanese anomaly, but had begun in the US. At one point it was a pretty big deal in the US, but now there are more of them in Asia than in the US. Yet, it wasn’t until I moved to LA that I realized I could enjoy the Shakey’s goodness without a plane trip to Asia. Although I knew of Shakey’s in LA for awhile, I finally got the chance to check it out myself and see if it could live up to my memories.

American Buffets Italian Japan Kyoto Los Angeles Mac and Cheese Meat Mojos North Hollywood Pepperoni Pizza Restaurants Shakey's Pizza Valley Village

7/20/2010 Reviews Los Angeles

Pizza Man, Not the Best Man

Working late one night, I decided I needed some pizza to keep me going. Fortunately, there is plenty of pizza to be found around my office in North Hollywood. One place, called Pizza Man (sadly not a superhero who fights off villains with pepperoni and tomato paste), always has a sign to advertise their $5 large pizza, so I looked them up and gave them a call. A man with an indistinguishable, but quite pleasant European accent answered the phone. It turned out that the special was only for plain cheese, but they had a two-topping carry out special for $6.99. This price was comparable to Papa John’s and other fast food pizzas, so I felt good about the price.

Delivery Italian Los Angeles Meat North Hollywood Pepperoni Pizza Restaurants Sausages

7/19/2010 Reviews Los Angeles

Ignoring Fortune at P.F. Chang’s

To many people, P.F. Chang’s is just phony, mainstream, American Chinese food. And for all those things, I agree. But in truth, my last trip to P.F. Chang’s was about ten years ago and since the girlfriend and I were given some lovely little gift cards to the place, it was time to pay the Changster a visit. We walked in on a Friday night and found the place surprisingly empty. I know it’s a recession and all, but I would think that any decent restaurant in Beverly Hills should have a decent number of people on a Friday night. I guess not; we were seated immediately.

Beverly Hills Chains Chinese Los Angeles Meat P.F. Chang's Restaurants

7/16/2010 Reviews Los Angeles

Surprisingly Persian at Noho Royal Garden (CLOSED)

Heading into Noho Royal Garden in North Hollywood, I kind of expected to find myself in a typical Middle-Eastern style restaurant. But no, there were no rugs on the wall, no decorative lamps or beads. Instead, it felt like I had just walked into a Mexican cabana. Part outside, part inside, with umbrellas, trees and stones, this was a perfect place to escape from work…well as long as the food was any good.

Armenian Chicken Hummus Los Angeles Meat Middle-Eastern NoHo Royal Garden North Hollywood Persian Restaurants Schwarma Shawarma

7/15/2010 Reviews Los Angeles

One Flimsy Tortilla at Dos Burritos

On my way to see In the Heights (I’m cultured!) at LA’s Pantages Theater, I had no time to eat any food. I also had no idea what kind of food even existed on that part of town. The Hollywood Strip is quite the foreign territory for me. After parking at a failed meter (score), I whipped out my Urban Spoon to see what it would show me. After sifting through a couple of dead ends, I found Dos Burritos and walked in to see what it could offer me.

Beef Burritos Dos Burritos Hollywood Los Angeles Meat Mexican Pantages Theater Restaurants

7/14/2010 Reviews Marina del Rey

LA’s Best Burger at 26 Beach?

Recently, a Facebook burger competition (very scientific) crowned 26 Beach in Venice as the best burger in LA. Now you may be asking yourself, “What the hell is 26 Beach?” and you are not alone, because even I had no idea what the place was until contest began. Somehow this unknown burger contender topped my personal favorite, Umami Burger. I couldn’t let this stand, well at least not without trying it myself, so off I went to 26 Beach to see what sort of witchery pushed their burger to the top of the heap.

26 Beach Beef Burgers Hamburgers Los Angeles Marina Del Rey Meat Restaurants Umami Burger Venice

7/13/2010 Heroes and Villains

Bryce Dallas Howard: Unvegan Hero

Bryce Dallas Howard first hit the scene in my world when she played Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man 3. Yes, I am a nerd. No, I don’t care. But little did I know at that time that she was the daughter of Ron Howard (awesome) and a vegan (gross).

Bryce Dallas Howard Gwen Stacy Heroes and Villains Meat Spider-Man Vegans

7/13/2010 Reviews Commerce charter Township

Getting Chili on Top at Lulu’s Coney Island

With nearly every visit back to Michigan (time permitting), there is a requisite stop at a Coney Island. You can’t drive more than a few miles in the metro Detroit area without hitting a Coney, and I’m pretty sure they are all awesome. My go-to Coney growing up was Leo’s, but sometimes convenience outweighs loyalty. So last time I was back in the homeland, we went to Lulu’s Coney Island in Walled Lake.

Burgers Chili Commerce Township Coney Dog Coney Island Greek Hot Dogs Loose Burger Lulu's Coney Island Meat Michigan Restaurants Travel Walled Lake

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