ATE & OOOH!
The 10 best things our Nets guy consumed out West
I’ve made it back from the semi world tour that was a five-game Nets road trip, and it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t provide some food content. I made a quick pit stop in Phoenix for Nets at Suns, then hopped on a plane to Los Angeles for an extended stay to watch the Nets take on the Lakers, then the Clippers.
You know, know, know your boy ate good on this trip. From Mexican food to chicken and waffles, sushi to sweet potatoes, I ate enough to feed a small village.
Here are my top 10 eats from my West Coast trip, including a couple spots that didn’t make the cut.
10. The Coffee Company — Los Angeles
Classic 2 Egg Breakfast with Louisiana Fried Fish
Best thing about this meal was the ambiance of the restaurant. Worst thing was the wait. In-between was a pretty decent breakfast plate, with a pretty salty piece of fried fish. The eggs were scrambled perfectly. The home fries had a lot of flavor, but I should have asked for them to be made well-done. In the end, I’ll remember the salty fish, but also the outdoor dining in the Los Angeles sunlight.
Would go back here and order something else. 9. Staples Center — Los Angeles (Lakers meal) Chili Colorado
Like Fivio Foreign says on Nas’ hit track, “Spicy: “Little advice: always add spice.”
This was easily one of the best pregame meals I’ve ever had as an NBA reporter, and would have been in the Top 5 on my West Coast had the chef added just a little bit more crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder, real chipotles — whatever. But that’s just me nitpicking.
I mean, wow. This literally blew my socks off because it was in a plastic container and the steam prevented me from actually seeing what was inside. This was one of those meals that made me want to give the chef a hug. It was like somebody knew the Nets were coming to Los Angeles and said, “You know what? This is a prime-time game, so let’s make a prime-time meal.”
8. Talking Stick Resort Arena — Phoenix (Suns meal)
Roasted Sweet Potato Sandwich
I don’t know why I chose the veggie sandwich. Who chooses the veggie sandwich?!
Apparently, everybody who gets the free food at Talking Stick Resort Arena gets the veggie sandwich, and my Spidey senses did not lead me astray.
First off: Whoever thought to make a sandwich with roasted sweet potato ought to be detained and further questioned. The sauce slapped me into 2035 (think mango chutney from any high-level Indian restaurant), the combination of roasted sweet potato, tomato and arugula was out of this world, and the bread was thick enough to hold everything together and serve as a vehicle for all the flavors.
7. El Compadre — Los Angeles
Shrimp Burrito in Green Sauce Usually you say a prayer before you start eating. This time, I said a prayer after the first bite. The flavors in this shrimp burrito were so strong, my head dropped subconsciously and I thanked the man above for blessing the hands and hearts of whoever prepared this burrito for me. It got a little salty after a few bites, but what’s a little sodium? 6. IceCreamTon — Huntington Beach, Ca. Churro + two-scoop waffle cone
I could hear the Mr. Softee ice cream truck tune reverberating off the insides of my skull. It was like my brain was extracted from my body and replaced, at least for 20-30 minutes, with a couple scoops of ice cream.
I’m not sure about you, but whenever I go to an ice cream parlor, vanilla and chocolate don’t cut it. It got a scoop of birthday cake and a scoop of cookies and cream to go with a churro.
Doesn’t get much better with a perfect view next to the beach.
5. Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles — Los Angeles
Candied Yams
I need to meet whoever grew the sweet potatoes I ate on this day. I need to ask them if they’re sure they grew this in soil, or accidentally used dark brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg as some sort of fertilizer. These yams tasted true to this, not new to this, like they were born solely to rush all things goodness and mercy across my taste buds.
The chicken and waffles were mid, but these yams? Nah, these yams were easily the star of the show.
4. Slapfish — Los Angeles International Airport
Lobster & Crab Cheese with Fries
“Anthony Davis, please report to airport security. Anthony Davis.”
Before I took a bite of this sandwich, I went into full reporter mode: Was Anthony Davis somehow breaking the law at the airport and could I have been the reporter to break that news? It wasn’t actually him, just some lucky soul who coincidentally shares the same name, but I wouldn’t have been the wiser because I chose to take a bite of this sandwich before anything.
I mean, buttery, cheesy, crabby, lobstery goodness. It was like a consortium of crustaceans floating across my taste buds. It was exactly what you’d think a lobster and crab grilled cheese would taste like, plus a special shout out to the sourdough gods who have never once missed in sandwich history. Additional shoutout to all the straight-cut fries that are crispy on the outside and steamy-soft on the inside. Elite airport eats at LAX right here.
3. Grilled Fraiche — Los
Angeles
Grilled
Garlic Herb Noodles with Shrimp (and bread pudding)
I did not actually order this for myself. Someone else ordered this, and I spent more time eating their food than I did my own.
But can you blame me? I mean, GARLIC
HERB NOODLES WITH SHRIMP? First and foremost, the shrimp were colossal. Second, those noodles were absolutely either boiled with garlic, or the flour mixture was blended with garlic before they turned it into noodles. Either way, this blew my socks off, more than the meal I ordered for myself. And to think, the man who created this recipe sold this store and created a new food truck that I now must go to next time in Los Angeles.
2. Joey DTLA — Los Angeles
Pan Fried Gyoza
Korean Fried Cauliflower
Steak & Lobster Ravioli
Hummus + Pita Chips Understand this: The Korean Fried Cauliflower tasted like Korean Fried Chicken. The Pan Fried Gyoza was crispy on the bottom, soft on the top, sitting on a river of whatever sauce flooded the plate. I was a little disappointed in the steak and lobster ravioli: I asked for medium-rare on the steak and it came out looking medium-common. The hummus and pita chips, though, were to die for.
Definitely worth the price tag, but an overcooked steak can ruin a meal. It can’t ruin the flavors of the creamy ravioli sauce or the lobster, which is why this still ranks as the second-best thing I ate all trip.
1. Barrio Cafe — Phoenix Pescado Del Mar and World Famous Barrio Cafe Guacamole
When you say something is “world famous,” I mean, you’re really setting the bar high. And to say your guacamole, of all things, is world famous — I mean, that guacamole better have some crack rocks in it or something, right? Something has to set that guac apart.
Well, Barrio Cafe rightfully skipped the crack rocks and added pomegranate seeds on top. Might as well be the same thing.
Never in my life had I seen guacamole with pomegranate on top, and now, I can’t imagine what it’s like without it. I also can’t imagine what Mexican food is like anywhere outside of Phoenix, because Barrio Cafe just set the bar on the moon.
I looked over everything on the menu and was almost resigned to a set of steak tacos when my eyes set on the Pescado del Mar. I knew I was onto something because when I ordered it, the waitress lit up, and yelled “Oh my God! That’s my favorite thing on the menu!”
Halibut. Shrimp. Scallops. Chorizo. In a white wine cream sauce with queso cabra (goat cheese). The meal reimagined what I thought was possible with Mexican cuisine and was easily the best thing I ate all trip.