The Unvegan

4/15/2013 Reviews Victoria Falls

A Bright Spot at Lola’s

Although they border each other and both speak English, South Africa and Zimbabwe couldn’t be more different. Granted, my only basis for comparison are Cape Town and the town of Victoria Falls, but you know, they seemed pretty different. Essentially, Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe are poor. Like dirt poor. As in, so poor that their own currency has no value and they use American dollars instead. So with all this poverty, we were surprised to find a tapas restaurant called Lola’s in the middle of Victoria Falls.

Africa Meat Restaurants Sandwiches Spanish Tapas Travel Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

4/12/2013 Reviews Culver City

To LYFE, To LYFE

Recently, a restaurant calling itself LYFE Kitchen threw its hat into the ring of downtown Culver City. More than just a terrible misspelling, LYFE is an acronym that stands for “Love Your Food Everyday.” It’s an acronym I can appreciate, because it’s something I strive for. I mean, who doesn’t want to love their food everyday? When I checked out their menu, or should I say menus, I found that this would be a tough place to love.

American Culver City Los Angeles LYFE Kitchen Restaurants Sandwiches

4/12/2013 Strange Eats

Strange Meats: Ostrich

The ostrich is a strange creature. A relic of a world ruled by birds, it is both flightless and the largest bird on Earth. These factors combine to make it ideal for food, and if it weren’t the fastest bird on the planet, I have a feeling its meat would be a bit more ubiquitous on the dinner plate. Ostrich is certainly not the strangest of meats, as it can be found as beef alternative in healthy burgers. Yet, it is unquestionably abnormal.

Africa Ostrich Strange Eats Strange Meat

4/9/2013 Reviews Victoria Falls

Topless at the Buffalo Bar

Typically one can expect prices to go down when traveling to a country in abject poverty, such as Zimbabwe, yet when we arrived in Victoria Falls, we were greeted by prices that rivaled fancy pants restaurants in LA. The people certainly could have used the money more than us, but I was still shocked when I sat down to eat lunch at the Buffalo Bar in the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and found myself staring at a $15 burger.

Africa Buffalo Bar Burgers Hamburgers Victoria Falls Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Zimbabwe

4/8/2013 Reviews Carson

Going Back Home in Lahaina

Just like...someone's home. — Just like…someone’s home.

I’ve been to Hawaii once. For a ten hour layover. So, while that island paradise is within the country I have spent most of my life, it is less of a home to me than China and Japan. Yet, I have always been intrigued by the Hawaiian restaurant known as Back Home in Lahaina. Maybe it’s the awesome name that evokes nostalgia for nothing I have any right to be nostalgic about. Or maybe it’s that Hawaiian food is both fascinating and delicious to me. Whatever the reason, I found myself at their Carson location for lunch.

Back Home in Lahaina Carson Hawaiian Loco Moco Los Angeles Restaurants

4/5/2013 Reviews Kempton Park

Eating a Baby at Platia

Gettin' haloumi with it. — Gettin’ haloumi with it.

Faced with the undesirable need to stay in Johannesburg for a night, my lady and I stayed at a place Emperor’s Palace nicknamed “The Vegas of Africa.” We weren’t interested in the gambling aspect, but we were happy about the fully-enclosed nature of the place in a city we had heard could be treacherous. As for the Las Vegas part, our hotel was a part of a large complex of hotels and there was a single Caesar’s Palace-esque casino in the middle of it all. It’s replete with a fountain, partly-cloudy skies painted on the ceiling, shopping and a variety of restaurants. Except that it’s tiny. Like slightly bigger than an average mall food court. Nonetheless, it has the look down and had some good-looking restaurants.

Africa Emperor's Palace Greek Johannesburg Kempton Park Platia Restaurants South Africa Travel

4/4/2013 Reviews Torrance

Heading South to Flossie’s (CLOSED)

A long, long time ago, in a valley far, far away, a coworker of mine recommended I check out Flossie’s Southern Cuisine in Torrance. I listened, because the man spent his college years in Alabama, but didn’t ever expect to make it down to Torrance for a meal. Yet, somehow I found myself employed in that strange southern part of LA and made sure to track down Flossie’s.

American Flossie's Southern Cuisine Fried Chicken Los Angeles Mac and Cheese Restaurants Southern Torrance

4/3/2013 Reviews Cape Town

Strange Slices at Meloncino

On our last night in Cape Town, we were thinking Italian and headed back to The Waterfront to find Meloncino. The restaurant might just have the greatest view of any pizza place in the world, but I must admit I have not seen every pizza view in existence. While great views are available all over Cape Town, I was more curious if great pizza existed as well.

Africa Cape Town Italian Meloncino Pizza Restaurants South Africa The Waterfront

3/29/2013 Reviews Cape Town

Slow-Braised at Sevruga

Africa kind of has a stigma attached to it regarding the people, the food and the culture. The stigma is a bit ridiculous considering it’s a whole damn continent, but it is what it is. One restaurant in Cape Town’s Waterfront blows the food stigma to smithereens. It’s called Sevruga, and it not only fancy-pants, but also tasty.

Africa Cape Town Lamb Restaurants Sevruga South Africa The Waterfront Travel

3/28/2013 Reviews Los Angeles

A Little Freddy Smalls

These devils don't look like Obama. — These devils don’t look like Obama.

We all like The Counter, that quintessential custom burger place that has spread its beefy goodness around the nation. And although it isn’t the most inspired of places, it gets things done. Well, the guy who started the place decided it was time for some more inspirational food and cooked up a gastropub-esque (no burgers!) place called Freddy Smalls in West LA.

American Eggs Freddy Smalls Los Angeles Oxtail Restaurants West LA

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