In this class, we’ve gotten a taste of Los Angeles in what has essentially been a three-week food tour of the city with Dylan and Clay. Since we’re constantly commuting to-and-from studios, landmarks, and evening screenings, our fearless professors have had to twist our arms into agreeing to lots of pit stops for food between activities. Rough.
If you ask me, the most beautiful thing about Los Angeles isn’t the palm trees or the beach: it’s the endless array of foods from all corners of the world represented in this city. You can find top-notch cooking in the dingiest looking strip malls, and I can assure you the cuisine here goes far beyond the hipster-fusion monstrosities that clog my Facebook feed. In a town that launched an industry built on tricks and illusion, there is an underlying food culture that needs no frills. Here in Los Angeles we’ve visited establishments ranging from dirt-cheap and ubiquitous (In-N-Out) to tastefully trendy (ramen). I’ll spare you from describing every single thing I’ve eaten on this trip, but there are a few hits that are worth ruminating on.
On one particularly busy day in which we had to commute from Fox Animation Studios all the way to San Fernando Valley, the class stopped at an unassuming taco shop to grab a meal before our lighting workshop. The tacos couldn’t have been more than two dollars a piece, yet they blew everyone out of the water. In a town with a population that’s more than 50% Latinx, there are at least as many nondescript taco and quesadilla carts as there are Starbucks, an urban trait we should all be thankful for.
Another winner – at least in my book – was at Sun Cafe in Studio City. This vegan establishment has been blessed by critics and health-nuts alike. While I can’t speak for the entire class on this one, I found the food there to be innovative and divine. The entire menu was vegan, with a number of dishes being raw as well. I had a raw zucchini lasagna dish that was more like a stack of cold vegetables doused in some inexplicably delicious cashew pesto sauce. Some of the other kids in the class left the establishment with their noses to the sky so they could sniff out the nearest In-N-Out, but to each their own.
Finally, my personal favorite spot is the Original Farmer’s Market, a food court meets market stand complex featuring dozens of restaurants and vendors. The choices are certainly overwhelming – Seafood? Crepes? doughnuts? Malaysian food? I landed on a Brazilian churrascaria that serves up skewered meats by the pound, along with an amazing array of traditional sides and the most amazing cheesy bites, pão de quejio. After filling my plate a little too high, I sat and people-watched as locals and tourists browsed for artisan hot sauces and acai bowls.
As the sun begins to set on 7th block, I find myself reminiscing on all of the delicious bites I’ve had the pleasure of eating during this class. Though my pants are a little tighter, my view of Los Angeles has been pleasantly sculpted.
