Eat In. Pesto

I try to eat whole, raw foods throughout the day. My mini fridge and desk drawer at work are stocked whole pieces of fruit, almonds, and raw cheeses. Of course, I muck it all up at night when I eat something like this, but every once in awhile I'll do pesto--the most wholesome comfort food there is--made from my out-of-control basil plant pictured above. Cheap (if you stick to getting small amounts of bulk items, like pine nuts, at Whole Foods), easy, and beautiful on a plate, pesto warmed by ravioli is a wonderful dinner and makes you feel good too.

Well, here we go, another one of Heather's its-so-simple, no-real-measurements-to-speak-of recipes! Sorry, readers, that's just how I cook.


Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh basil
• A handful toasted or raw pine nuts (2 tablespoons?)
• 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  
• Grated Parmesan (again, 2 tablespoons?)
• Olive Oil (until it looks right! 1/3 cupish)
• A pinch of coarse Salt (sea or kosher) and pepper
  

Directions:

• Using a food processor (need one? check this), chop the basil, nuts, and garlic together.
• Add the salt, pepper, and cheese.
• Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while the food processor is running.
• Pause occasionally to check the consistency and scrape the sides.
• The finished product should be rough (not a paste), but well combined.

You can improvise on this method and add other ingredients: sundried tomatoes, spinach, even replace basil with other herbs--like parsley--as a base.

-- Heather Robertson

Etc. Find ya stuff.

The video of Nick Nolte dumpster diving searching for his lost bag makes me so sad. He was wasting all his time in trash cans when he could have been here, here, or here.

Not that I have personal experience with any of those sites. Honestly, I was surprised anything even came up when I googled “lost and found.” The last thing I lost that I actually still miss is a pair of sunglasses, but I dropped those in a river in Montana two years ago, so I feel my chances of reuniting with them are slim.

However, from what I’m learning about The Found Bin. It may actually be a decent resource. It uses google maps and local lost and found listings (some from its own site, also probably many from craigslist) to virtually scour the area for your things. Of course, this process depends upon good people actually taking the time to list your used copy of “The Corrections” on the internet as a found item. There is probably the same rate of success as there is on the human lost and found, a.k.a. Missed Connections, but it’s certainly less stinky than Nolte’s drug-fueled garbage hunt in Venice.

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: Radar Online (duh)

Do It. Demetri Martin at UCB.

In two days you can catch the premiere of season 2 of comedian Demetri Martin's "Important Things with Demetri Martin," but tonight you can head over to the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre in Hollywood to see him try out new material live and in person! Advance reservations are sold out for the 11pm show, but try for the stand-by tickets. Martin for $5? Totally worth the cost of my time standing in line.


-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: Comedy Central

Etc. The Grammys.

I was originally going to write about Imogen Heap's Twitter dress and all of its implications in this Modern Age, but despite Colbert replacing the winner's envelope with an iPad, and the Black Eyed Peas announcing, "Welcome to the future," I found myself saying repeatedly during last night's Grammys ceremony, "Really? I never thought I'd see this in 2010." Some of the throw-backs were welcome, but all of them proved just how outmoded and ridiculous the Grammys really are (and probably always have been).

1. Every single nominee in the Best Rock Album category. U2, Eric Clapton, AC/DC, Green Day, and Dave Matthews. Great, over forty years of legendary talent... each more irrelevant than the last.

2. Beyonce singing "You Oughta Know." OK. This was rad. It was just this subtle, yet powerful feminist statement, from the all-girl backing band (including horn section) to Beyonce's pelvis grab in the very beginning.

3. Seal as a presenter and "A Kiss From a Rose" as his entrance music. Hahaha.

4. Pink's recycled aerial ballet, similar to last year's VMAs. It was quite good, but certainly did not warrant tears from Keith Urban.

5. The big to-do about Bon Jovi's performance debut. Maybe the fact that it hadn't already happened in the last twenty years was a sign that it never needed to.

6. All those stupid pairings of nominees and "classic" artists.
- Stevie Nicks and Taylor Swift. Fine, I get it. Keeps NARIS heads happy or whatever. But seeing a 50-something year old woman sing, "You Belong with Me"=Rock Bottom.
- Elton John and Gaga. Brilliant. I loved it on so many levels, but most of all, it just didn't feel awkward. Sir Elton and the Lady actually fit together at their shared piano.
- Jaime Foxx, T. Pain, and Slash. Could this have been anymore disastrous? Blame it on the ah-ah-ah-alcohol, I guess.

7. Neil Portnow's plea to music fans. This was the last straw for me. It's 2010 and people in the music industry still think that somehow the record label, physical music sales, and the notion of ownership are going to rise from the dead a la Thriller. Better yet, they still imagine that it's all the consumer's fault and if we'd just pay them, it'd be OK. Listen, Neil, maybe if your industry came up with a business model that worked, we'd participate in it. How dare you guilt trip me on the stage of a completely useless awards show that costs millions dollars to produce. It is beyond insulting.

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: zimbio.com

Eat Out. A good egg is hard to find in Silver Lake [Sunday Brunch].

Instead of featuring just one restaurant this week, I'm going to take you on a tour--a breakfast odyssey, if you will--of the best egg dishes in my old 'hood, Silver Lake. The fact of the matter is there are a lot of restaurants on the east side of LA that serve worse-than-greasy-diner-food (because it's not even greasy, just bad) at extraordinarily high prices. And what's worse is that they all look so trendy and delicious. I mean, they have names like, Home, Good, and Millie's that just scream hip comfort food, and yet none deliver. So, very simply, here is where you should be eating and what you should be ordering.

The Kitchen-- Herb Baked Eggs ($10). Tiny restaurant, rustic dish, delicious.

Dusty's-- Eggs Moliere ($13). Just listen to the description: poached eggs, vegetable ratatouille & olive tappenade inside tomatoes, topped with asparagus. I absolutely crave this dish.

Cliff's Edge-- Cliff's Eggs Benedict with Rosemary Potato Wedges ($15). I love a good Benedict, so I needed to feature at least one. And really, this is worth the price, both for the dish and the setting in which you eat it.

Astro's-- The Breakfast Sandwich. When you're hungover, or just need some greasy spoon eggs, don't mess around, grab an egg sandwich from Astro's. Simple. They also serve canned corned beef hash-- you know, the kind that sort of looks like dog food, but is one of my absolute favorite breakfast foods.

The Coffee Table-- Eggs From Hell. I can't stand behind anybody's Huevos Rancheros in this neighborhood, but when I want things super spicy and served with a side of beans and tortillas, this is it.

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: Yelp!

Check It. LA Gang Tours.

So the migration of "white flight" is heading south this winter--right into South Los Angeles. After tourists finish up with their double-decker buses and snapping pics of where Paris Hilton lives, they can check out LA Gang Tours, a $65 drive through those infamous places out-of-towners had only heard about on The Chronic.

OG stops include the LA County Jail and the corner of Florence Avenue that birthed the LA Riots. As ridiculous as that sounds, the creator of this tour, Alfred Lomas, is framing it as a way to give back to the community. The mission statement:

"The objective is to create jobs for the residents of South Central, Los Angeles; to give profits from the tours back to these areas for economic growth and development, provide job/entrepreneur training, micro-financing opportunities and to specialize in educating people from around the world about the Los Angeles inner city lifestyle, gang involvement and solutions. This project will create opportunities to contribute to the economic health of South Central and the tools needed to access the American market."

OK. But I still feel uneasy about it. How will exploitation ever lead to empowerment? I think this is, at its heart, still a business. A business that kind of sounds like taking middle-class jerks on safari. However, the dialogue it's creating in our local media is phenomenal. Race, class, history--all the issues that should be a part of the discussion are right there. And, yeah, that's something tourists and locals alike should experience if they really want to learn about this town.

And while I see LA Weekly's point, I have to agree with the Times that the messages are too mixed. There is value in learning about all of LA's real, breathing, working parts. Like everything in this city, our relationship with gangs is complicated and totally anomalous. Exploring it first-hand with an educated guide... well, maybe that's not such a bad idea. Taking people to "the unofficial jail to over 120,000 gang members!" for $65? That's Hollywood sensationalism aimed exclusively at wide-eyed tourists and the total opposite of what this endeavor should and could be about.

Oh, and here's a thought: if you live here and have never been to that part of LA, take your own tour--for free. Drive surface streets and go eat at my favorite BBQ place over in Inglewood. The intersection where the riots started is just a few blocks away. Seeing it is really moving.

-- Heather Robertson

Etc. Buy jeans, dummy.

For the last couple of weeks, I've been bombarded by Diesel's new ad campaign pasted up all around Hollywood. The tagline? "Be Stupid." They pretty it up with sayings like, "Smart listens to the head. Stupid listens to the heart," and have their whole philosophy outlined in this video:

They are also trying really hard to get people to engage with their campaign by making videos showcasing their own great acts of stupidity.

Ironically, I bet Diesel execs are patting themselves on the back for their sheer brilliance with this one. But really? I don't think it's ever a wise decision to tell your would-be customers that aligning themselves with your brand is stupid.

-- Heather Robertson

Eat In. Bacon-wrapped dates.

A popular item on menus these days and one of the easiest appetizers I can think of, bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese mix textures (crunchy, chewy, creamy) and tastes (sweet, salty, tangy) with each delightful little bite. You can thank me for the recipe after you impress all your friends at your next party.

Ingredients:

• 12 Medjool dates (usually a package will contain enough for two batches)
• 2 oz blue cheese
• 6 slices of bacon cut in half

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 375.
• Using a sharp knife, slice the dates lengthwise along one side and remove the pit.
• Fill the pocket you've created with about a tsp. of cheese.
• Tightly wrap the date with a piece of bacon, making sure the ends are tucked securely on the bottom.
• Arrange the dates on a cookie sheet (I usually cover it with tin foil, because it catches the majority of the grease and makes for easy clean up) and bake until the bacon crisps up and cheese is gooey.
• Place the dates on your favorite grease-absorbing material to dry them off a bit before serving.

Pro-tip: Since the three items in this recipe are pricey, you can save a bunch by getting the blue cheese from your grocery store's salad bar. Ralph's charges $5.99 for 5 oz of packaged blue cheese, but with their $6.99 per lb salad bar, you can grab enough blue cheese for this recipe for under $1. This trick also works with vegetables. They're already sliced and you'll never again have to worry about what you're going to do with the rest of that celery wilting in your fridge (I mean, really, what single girl ever needs more than a single stalk?)

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: Beyond Wonderful (I know, should be my own, but I forgot to snap picks last time I made them and I swear that is exactly what they look like)

Eat Out. Babycakes.

This week, for our Sunday 'Beat' meeting, we went to the new Los Angeles location of Babycakes NYC Vegan Bakery. It was much-anticipated, opened January 3, and has been getting a lot of press, so we thought we'd give it a try. It's teeny-tiny (just to the left of Cole's) and smells of pure deliciousness from the moment you enter the vegan paradise. The three of us (sans Lauren, who's started her Chilean adventure) all chose different items, and we were all relatively pleased.

I intended to get a red velvet cupcake, but ended up with vanilla with pink frosting (the one in the Chinese take-out container, pictured) ... Chau had a baked donut and a slice of the banana chocolate chip loaf (in the pink donut box), and Heather had a chocolate chip cookie and a chocolate chip with vanilla frosting cupcake (on the dainty plate). My cupcake was made with spelt, which I now know is an ancient "healthy grain" often used to feed livestock. It was introduced in the United States in the 1890s and is becoming a popular wheat alternative. I found it to be quite coarse for cupcake use--it was almost like a cornbread muffin. That may sound bad, but it wasn't ... just, different. One of those things you may later have a random craving for.

Heather really liked the chocolate chip cookie, but was unimpressed with her cupcake, and Chau liked her pretty baked donut but I didn't hear much about the loaf. The overall consensus was: we wouldn't not go back.

We found it funny--as you might too from the photo evidence above--that they gave us all different forms of containers for our respective desserts. The girls working at Babycakes were sweet (pun intended, ha) and had cute uniforms, which were all uniquely well-accessorized.

T-Shirts and diner-style mugs with their appealing cursive logo are sold in the shop. It's all very retro, girly, and fun. Whether it's the new-to-L.A. hype, or cravings for more (return customers?), the small spot was consistently busy for the hour or so we were holding court at the one outside table.

Babycakes is located at 130 East 6th Street in downtown Los Angeles. Closed Mondays.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Make It. Without health insurance.

Through a series of unfortunate events--even though I've paid my $2 for my DMO the last few months--I can't go to a dentist until February. Problem is, I have a dental issue NOW. I'm going to fight with Aetna until it gets resolved (I have, after all, paid them $6), but while I sit hear with a tea bag packed in my mouth, I am reminded of that time not too long ago when I didn't have health insurance at all (because Tribune is a GREAT employer and this country is AWESOME). It's rough and you feel helpless. It makes you want to karate chop Scott Brown in the face. But there are ways to get by if you're done with googling "home remedies for..."

Planned Parenthood. Thank God for this place. They offer services for all reproductive health needs for both women AND men. They charge on a sliding scale and will have no problem loading you up with free birth control. I have had nothing but pleasant experiences here. However, they are in demand. Even with an appointment you often have to wait an hour or more to be seen.

While you're in your Planned Parenthood, you may hear people talking about their "teal card." They are actually talking about "Health Access Cards" which are issued by Family PACT (usually out of PPs). If you're uninsured and low income, you qualify for one and with it, the state of California will pay for a bunch of your health needs. The website refers specifically to "family planning," but when I had the card, I was able to get antibiotics for free, so I think the definition is loose. I'm pretty sure California covers other things as well, but just like all government websites, their site is atrocious. If you are able to navigate or extract any clear information from it though, I’d love to hear about it.

And finally, Urgent Care. Yes, they are scary and will still run you $40, but at least they will take care of you. And they will do it right now. I am lucky enough to have one right in my building and if you live near the Echo Park area, I would totally reccommend Sunmoon Urgent Care. The Yelp reviews are pretty accurate. It won't be the doctor's office of your dreams, but it will be efficient and painless. I was seen immediately on a Saturday morning, had my prescription filled in-house, and was back in bed within thirty minutes. Be warned that these places are usually CASH ONLY.

Since 46 million of us don't have health insurance, I'm interested to know: how do you receive medical care?

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: Kaiser Foundation

Do It. Lissie at the Fonda.

I work at a music school where the majority of the students are long-haired teenage boys who like to shred in their black metal bands. But not all of them. Take for example Lissie. This lovely young mid-western lady graduated from our Independent Artist program. And now? She's signed to Fat Possum, hangin' out with Band of Horses, singing on NPR, and generally cranking out down-home tunes that make all the fashion hippies weep with joy. Maybe some dreams in Hollywood actually do come true.

Anyway, after trapising around the country, Lissie is back in town on Saturday, opening for City and Colour at the Fonda. Show starts at 8pm. To tide you over until then:


-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: last.fm

Do It. Sharks and stars!

This weekend is your opportunity to learn stuff--for free--all over this city. It'll be like Shark Week or Nova, but your real life!

The next installment of Shark Lagoon Nights at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach happens this Friday from 6:00pm to 9:00 pm. The program is running through May, but this is your last opportunity in January to hang with sandtigers and touch bamboo sharks. There is also the vague mention of music, but I would just as soon go (possibly sooner go) if there wasn't. Either way, there will definitely be booze available and just how many times have you been able to say that you pre-gamed with sharks? Heck yeah, Friday night!

Griffith Observatory's monthly Star Party is also happening this weekend. From 2:00pm to 9:45pm, you can scope out (haha) visible planets and stars from the Observatory's gorgeous terraces and outside areas. Use of telescopes is also free to the public, but I would expect long lines and lots of grubby little fingers earlier in the afternoon. If you need a break, you can always catch a show in the planetarium.

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: Aquarium of the Pacific

Arrivederci, Lauren!

We'd like to wish Lauren a fabulous journey to (and stay in) Santiago, Chile!

In honor of her move, here's a lead to where to find a delicious Pisco Sour in L.A.--according to LA Times Magazine, at Bar Centro at The Bazaar.

We'll miss Lauren terribly in Los Angeles, but are looking forward to continuing to feel her presence on the BEAT even from South America. We're excited for the experiences that are to come with the venture, for this very exciting phase in our blogger's life. Bon Voyage, lady!

The Bazaar (SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills) is located at 465 South La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles.

-- Leslie, Chau, and Heather

Photo credit: www.ebbcreations.com

Etc. Happy "Monday".

My favorite YouTube videos include babies eating lemons, dogs running through snow, and really bad fan videos. Also up there is kids with accents. It's a few days old now, but if you haven't seen it, here's MTV's The Jersey Shore being re-enacted by grade school kids.


By the way, did you know that Snooki pulls up to 10k for every club appearance she makes? That'll buy you one helluva tanning package.

Bonus: My all-time favorite kid with an accent. Out of the mouths of babes!


-- Heather Robertson

Do It. Help Haiti.

As a high school English tutor in Boston, I worked almost exclusively with Haitian immigrants. They were truly tremendous and, echoing the feelings of teachers everywhere, they taught me more than I ever taught them about verb tenses. I remember their pride when an assignment required them to present their favorite things about Haiti. They talked about places like the Presidential Palace—a treasure that has now been totally erased. My heart aches for the students at Hyde Park High School, so I just wanted to make quick post about what is being done locally and what you can still do to help.

George of TiGeorge’s Chicken(the most delicious Haitian food and coffee around), hosted a dinner in Echo Park last night to raise funds for the island nation and is holding another benefit on Saturday.

NBC Los Angeles is hosting drive-through fundraising events throughout greater Los Angeles over the weekend.

And finally, the newest, easiest, and most completely brilliant way to donate—and to do it RIGHT NOW—is by texting.

• To donate $10 to the Red Cross, text “HAITI” to 90999
  
• To donate $5 to Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti, "Yele” to 501501
  

Charges will reflect on your phone bill.

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: Google/GeoEye

Etc. Important Internet Activities for your work day.

In the middle of writing an important, time-sensitive e-mail at 8:00AM this morning, I spilled coffee on my keyboard. The day has only gotten more fmylife-like since.

In order to commemorate my e-mail that was missing every 'o' and 'i' at the end (t llked lke ths) and to cheer you up in the case your day is sucking like mine, here are
E-mails from Crazy People and E-mails from an Asshole. Enjoy.

P.S. I found the above image by googling "sad business." You have to cherish the little things.

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: illfm.net

Make It. Online banking [A budget].

Lauren Williams: I'm not going to lie. I have some really strong feelings about online banking, leaning toward the I-hate-it attitude. I had one bad experience, but really that's all it takes for me. I had a brief stint as an online banker, but got locked out of my account and forgot my passwords (why do we have to have so many passwords in life, anyway?). I have never used it again.

Heather, I know you are a sworn online banker. Why do you like it so much?

Heather Robertson: I guess I'm just a product of the modern age. Every aspect of my life has some internet integration--socially, professionally, academically, and it just seems natural that it would extend to my finances. I totally don't even think about it. What seems more ridiculous to me is balancing a checkbook. Just like with everything else, if I weren't able to instantly connect to my bank account, I would feel out of the loop with what was happening with my money. No matter how well I keep track of it mentally or on paper, the proof of what is actually in there is a few secure clicks away.

Eat In. Mac and Cheese.

OK, believe it or not, homemade macaroni is one of the easiest things I've ever made. And the pay-off is ridiculous. The recipe below makes 6ish servings (it makes as much in the picture above), but you could probably half the ingredients or play around with it until it feeds as many as you'd like. Also, be aware that there is--in my rough estimation--7000 calories packed in here. But hey, that's comfort food for you.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. elbow macaroni
• 3 tblsp. butter (plus a little extra to grease the baking pan)
• 3 tblsp. flour
• 2 cups cream
• 6 cups of cheese (we used cheddar and monterey jack)
• 6 slices of bacon*
• Salt, pepper, and whatever spices you like (we used a mix of cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and a bit of nutmeg)
• breadcrumbs for topping

Directions:

• Prepare the macaroni according to the package (or, you know, boil it in water with a little bit of salt and oil, duh).
• Cook the bacon in a skillet, crumble or slice it, and make sure to reserve the delicious, greasy fat.
• Melt the butter in a sauce pan.
• Once the butter is done foaming, add the flour and whisk until all the lumps are gone.
• Let the roux (aka the butter and flour) darken to a sandy blonde.
• Whisk in salt, pepper, and spices
• Add the cream slowly, whisking the whole time until it's smooth.
• Dump in the cheese and whisk until everything is melted and tasty.
• Mix the cheese sauce, bacon bites, and drained pasta in the pasta pot.
• Pour the yummy mixture into a greased glass baking pan ( 13x9, maybe?).
• Spoon a few tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat into the breadcrumbs and mix until crumbly.
• Top your casserole with extra cheese and breadcrumbs.
• Bake at 375ish for 20ish minutes-- basically until the breadcrumbs are toasty and the cheese is bubbly.

*This is totally optional. I'd imagine you could also use a veggie, like peas. However, if you do opt out of the bacon, have some melted butter on hand to toss the breadcrumbs in.

-- Heather Robertson

Make It. Decorating with wrapping paper.

I really would like my apartment to be well-designed and covered in unique art pieces, but even framing $35 prints that take up about thismuch wall space is simply not in my budget. At Kelly Green the other day though (check it out in person, the website is terrible), I found a solution. Above the cash register they had displayed some beautiful wrapping paper in a frame. Brilliant! So I bought some for myself and 3 dollars--plus a cheap-o ikea frame--later, I had a wintry birch tree scene decorating nearly 2.5 feet of bare wall. Look at this Peacock I found on Amazon:

It just goes to show how relative price is. Designer gift wrap is super expensive if you're using it only to pretty-up presents. But if you're wrapping your home with it? Well, then it's a steal. Look for high quality papers with non-repeating patterns and come in manageable sheet sizes (you don't want to measure and cut off a roll). Check out some examples I found at the Paper Studio below.

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credits: Amazon and The Paper Studio

Do It. Sexy book signings.

I just got back from Boston, land of au naturel beauties donning weather-appropriate, reasonable footwear. I watched them trudge through the ice and snow to their top-ranking universities where they crank out theses about Important Academic Topics. I listened to them talk in coffee shops about professors and studying in Italy and political issues in Latin America. I noticed how dorky their knit panda-bear hats and mismatching outfits really are*. It is certain that these young ladies will contribute great things to this country one day. I observed them, like the alien outsider I now am, and admired.

But what about that rare breed of woman who dares to follow--and successfully hikes--the fabeled, less traveled road? Well, they end up here, in Los Angeles. They bypass internships and take out loans for headshots. Their contributions to society are controversial, glossy, and visceral. But these women are also smart. They know how to market themselves, become great businesswomen. And then they write books, too. Ones that sell, suckas.

They're not rocket scientists. They're porn stars. God love them.

In the great literary tradition of Jenna Jameson (How To Make Love Like a Porn Star was the single best book I read my freshman year of college. Sorry, The Illiad), TWO of these lovely ladies have in-store appearances to promote their latest works at local book stores tonight.

Tera Patrick--who has a degree in Biology--just released her tell-all, Sinner Takes All: A Memoir of Love and Porn, on the 5th and will be hanging out for an intimate reading at Book Soup in West Hollywood.

Burlesque icon and fetish film star Dita Von Teese will be at Daily Planet on Franklin to discuss Dita: Stripteese, a trio of flip books documenting her famous acts--including the legendary Martini Glass Dance. A show-all, if you will.

Both start at 7pm, so choose wisely. My vote is for Patrick. Her title has the more clever pun.

*This is kind of cruel. But after 9 months here, the "collegiate cool" style was so glaringly ridiculous. Really? A beanie with ears? You're twenty.

-- Heather Robertson

Photo credit: booksoup.com