Thursday, March 8, 2007

Cooler Cuisine



On the South side of Beverly blvd. in between New Hampshire and Berendo, just before Vermont if you are heading east is a sidewalk filled with some of the better tamales I've had in Los Angeles. Now you won't see any "A, B's or C's posted outside here because the women are selling treats on the sidewalk out of a cooler.

You can't be squeemish about eating their delicious Plantains, Frijoles Negro or the Arroz de Leche (Mexican Rice Pudding) or the fact that they don't wear rubber sanitation gloves to serve you food. You have to dive in, otherwise you'll be bucking the tide of a tradition that has gone back long before you carried around your anti-bacterial wipes. These women set up shop, rain or shine.

And in the rain, their Caldo de Pollo (Chicken Broth) tastes even better. Now you might not find what you're looking for if you go there because their menu is ever changing. But this is about good fast food, something we know next to nothing about in this country. They have a respect for what they have cooked you and are more than happy to serve it up. They are not making a fortune doing this ( a Tamale costs a mere $1), but are supplying people they know with food they've cooked.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Squeal Like a Pig Boy...


OINKSTER feels like it's on the border of being a corporate fast food joint when you walk in the door. Things are a little too white and clean to believe there is some good BBQ inside their walls. And even the tray your food comes on reeks of corporate chain evil. But when you sit down with your Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich and take a bite, you realize these guys know what they are doing. It's not food for the light at heart, or stomach. My meal alone of the sandwich, fries and a drink could do me fine into the evening. You just have to look at the people coming in and out of the place to know that no one is dieting here.

The food is pretty low in sheckels and there is a fairly large menu. There are healthy choices there, like Chopped Salads and Rotisserie Chicken but if you were with me I would suggest ordering something more akin to a Cardio-Vascular nightmare, like fries and a burger. A chopped salad has it's place and time and I don't think this is it.

WELL?
I like it. I would come back. It's in a section of Eagle Rock, known for food that isn't subtle -- Casa Bianca, Blue Hen... So come hungry and don't be shy.

The Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, CA
Tel: 323-255-oink