Drink It. Hoegaarden.

It's Friday. After a long week, a cold beer sounds pretttty good. If you're too tired to go out to a bar or club, or even to make a good mixed drink at home, you haven't picked up any Chilean wine yet, here's a convenient yet delicious beverage to exhale with.

I discovered this delicious white Belgian beer a few years ago, and it became a fast favorite. I've since turned a few others onto it and it's become the go-to choice for an evening when we're looking for some good beer. Cloudy and mildly spiced, it's tasty enough to enjoy alone, but also a perfect cold beverage to have with a hot meal. Conveniently, the 7-Eleven on Cahuenga near Village Pizzeria's Hollywood location sells it refrigerated, so in one stop I can get the best pizza in town and cold imported beer. If that's not your neck of the woods, BevMo! and Gelson's also carry Hoegaarden. (In other pizza and beer news, Silver Lake's Nicky D's has Hoegaarden on tap!)

Hoegaarden is especially fantastic served ice cold. Put the bottles in the freezer for five to ten minutes before opening. Just don't forget them in there! Set a timer--you don't want to waste good beer.

Hoegaarden costs $8.99 for a 6-pack at BevMo! - located at 7100 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. Other locations also.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.stripersonline.com

Eat Out. Pitfire Pizza Company.

Pitfire Pizza has become a reliably delicious lunch spot in downtown L.A. Affectionately known to us as "Pitfire", we're especially fond of their soups, salads, and more recently, a new addition to the menu--the House Mac & Cheese (crispy baked pasta, five cheeses, buttery bread crumbs).

A long line is the norm during the lunching hours, but calling in an order is an option and that saves some time. They also deliver (a $15 minimum order and $3 delivery fee) which can be nice if you're feeling lazy, or don't want to get drenched (this week). Honestly, even if Pitfire wasn't excellent, I'd probably patronize it occasionally anyway (note the Los Angeles Times building in the background of the photo) because it's convenient, but the quality of the food makes it a real treat. Their Grilled Steak Salad can really turn a day around. With its fresh lettuce (romaine and arugula), cherry tomatoes, Maytag blue cheese, grilled red onion, and candied walnuts it's a delightful salad experience. Vegetarian option--a Lauren Williams special--replace the grilled steak with avocado.

It's been a while since I've had a pizza from Pitfire, but they are just as good as everything else on the menu. Next time I go, if I can talk myself out of the Grilled Steak Salad, I'm going to try the Burrata Pie (Burrata cheese, tomato sauce, wild arugula, caramelized onions, hazelnut, pesto drizzle). The brick oven cooking lets the edges of the crust get a little burnt, in the best possible way. The Pitfire Sausage Pizza with sweet fennel sausage is memorable.

Speaking of sweet, they stock Auntie Em's Cupcakes. The Red Velvet is always tempting.

Pitfire currently has three locations (Downtown, North Hollywood, and West L.A.), and a new one opening ... tomorrow! Check out the Culver City Pitfire Pizza Co. news on laist.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.letsgola.com