The Unvegan

6/6/2012 Reviews Los Angeles

Quite Hungary at Maximillian’s (CLOSED)

Since the US is a big mishmash of immigrants, it’s no secret that just about all of our food is “ethnic” in some way. Yet, there are some types of food that aren’t exactly easy to find. Hungarian is one of these and it’s really no surprise, considering that only .5% of the US population is Hungarian American. I’m not part of that .5%, but definitely feel a connection to Hungary through my Hungarian step-mom. So when I learned that there was a Hungarian restaurant called Maximillian’s quite literally a couple blocks from my office, I made my way there at my first opportunity.

Austrian German Hungarian Los Angeles Maximillian's North Hollywood Paprikash Restaurants

6/5/2012 Reviews Beverly Hills

Burger Meets the Sea at The Hill

For most, Burger Month ended on May 31st, but I have never claimed to be like most and feel like every month is Burger Month. This is why, despite being the first week of June, I’ve opted to tackle a burger. This particular burger comes from a little place in Beverly Hills called The Hill. By day and early night, it is a restaurant, but when night comes around is a bar in no uncertain terms.

Beverly Hills Burgers Hamburgers Lobster Restaurants Seafood Surf and Turf The Hill

6/4/2012 Heroes and Villains

William Edwards: Unvegan Hero

In this crazy mixed up world of ours, it is easy to forget about priorities. We go about our daily business thinking that making a sale, kicking back a few drinks or winning a game are the most important things in life. For some, like William Edwards, just getting through the day is a victory.

Make-A-Wish Steak The Big Texan William Edwards

6/4/2012 Reviews Los Angeles

Pigging Out at The Oinkster

While there is a lot of buzz in the food world today about The Oinkster‘s Burger Week (in which they do their own take on classic burgers from around the country), I just made it to The Oinkster myself for the first time last week to see about their real menu. It was my first time in Eagle Rock and was nothing short of an eye-opening experience. The Oinkster itself resides in a building that was once a typical LA-style fast food burger joint and still retains much of that charm. It calls itself a purveyor of “slow fast food” and I had been wanting to check it out for just about as long as I’ve been aware of its existence.

Burgers Eagle Rock Fast Food Fries Hamburgers Los Angeles Pastrami Restaurants The Oinkster

6/1/2012 Strange Eats

Strange Fruits: Kumquat

Once upon a time, I was biking through the rice paddies of Yangshuo, China, when my local friend stopped at a small tree to pick the strange, small berry-like fruits off of it. She handed a few to me to try and told me they were called kumquats. Growing up in Michigan, I had heard of kumquats before, but had never seen one with my own eyes and had no idea what one should look or taste like. This was a strange fruit, indeed.

California China Fruit Kumquat Los Angeles Strange Eats Strange Fruits

5/29/2012 Reviews Los Angeles

Two Scoops of the Westside

Not too long ago, @estarla told me I had to check out Scoops Westside. This wasn’t just some random command, but a nudge to let me know that I’d be crazy to live in Palms and not go. I heard loud and clear and made sure to check it out. While only a few minute walk from Chego, Scoops is in an old corner strip with little else around. Nonetheless, I have never judged food based on what else nearby and the lack of interest nearby only made Scoops seem even more interesting.

Dessert Ice Cream Los Angeles Palms Scoops Westside

5/25/2012 Reviews Los Angeles

Bread on Bread at Panera

With a place like Panera, I’m fortunate to not have to give much of a back story. It’s all over the place, and there’s good reason for it. They make some great breads and soups. And they make those other things that often come with breads: sandwiches. When I trekked out to Panera in North Hollywood, it was the sandwiches I was after.

Chains Los Angeles National Chains North Hollywood Panera Bread Restaurants Sandwiches Steak

5/24/2012 Reviews Detroit

Coney for the Road at National Coney Island

While the existence of Coney Dog in LA has staved off my insatiable desire to eat at Coney Islands every time I’m in Michigan, I still take advantage of Coney if it’s not too far out of the way. Case in point: National Coney Island at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. When I was there last, I was hungry and rather than blowing money on a generic sandwich, I opted for some Coney.

Airports Burgers Coney Coney Island Detroit Hamburgers Hot Dogs Loose Burger National Coney Island Restaurants

5/23/2012 Reviews Chicago

A Potbelly of Sandwich

While I was in undergrad, a sandwich shop called Potbelly made its way onto campus in Ann Arbor. I appreciated its existence, but definitely didn’t take as much advantage of it as I should have. Potbelly still hasn’t made its way out west, but on a recent layover at Midway Airport in Chicago, I found myself reacquainted with that college delight.

Airports Chains Chicago Illinois Midway Airport Potbelly Restaurants Sandwiches Travel

5/22/2012 Reviews Burbank

Sandwiched by Handy Market

LA is a huge place and just when I think I know all I need to, it hits me with a surprise. Sometimes that surprise is unwanted, like closing a lane on the highway that I take to work every day. But more often, it is a pleasant surprise like Handy Market. This local market in Burbank has all the looks of any regular, old-fashioned grocer, but if you head to the back, that all changes. Back there is one of LA’s best-kept secrets, a meaty sandwich lover’s dream.

But first, I want to say that this place reminded me on many levels of another meat paradise called Superior Meats in Wisconsin. Whether it was the grill out front that supposedly is used in full force over the weekends, the friendliness of the staff, the selection of meats or the prices, I kept seeing signs of Wisconsin and the simpler life everywhere I turned.

Burbank Cured Meats Handy Market Los Angeles Meat Salami Sandwiches

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