Every region of the United States seems to have their own idea of what comfort food is. For Southern Californians I believe that our comfort food is Mexican food. Now I'm not talking about authentic Mexican like the kind you would find in say...Mexico. I'm talking about the greasy, cheesey, lardy, combination plates and burritos kind that you find all over Southern California. The kind that we Southern Californians were raised on.
As a kid growing up in Manhattan Beach my friends and family had two go to Mexican establishments, El Sombrero and El Tarasco. Both great and both places are full of memories and good times for me. I can't tell you how many times I came up from the beach without a shirt or shoes, covered with sand, to eat chips and salsa at El Sombrero. It's amazing that they didn't mind that salty, dirty, sun-tanned kids took over the restaurant on summer afternoons.
My wife, who is from San Juan Capistrano, was also blessed to grow up in a community with fantastic Mexican restaurants. In fact we had our wedding reception at one of these San Juan institutions, El Adobe. I can't tell you how exciting it was for me to eat enchiladas at our wedding.
On birthdays and other special occasions my family would go to Arturo's in Harbor City. Arturo's is where my mom went with her parents growing up. When my wife and I moved to Old Torrance we needed to establish new local Mexican restaurant traditions. Luckily, Arturo's is just a few miles away from the Casita. What was an old family tradition for me now has become a new family tradition for my wife and me.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Let Me Count the Ways
The neighborhood that my wife and I live in will celebrate it's 100th Birthday in 2012. I grew up about 8 miles away from where we live now but the only thing I knew about Old Torrance was that the neighborhood high school, Torrance High, was used for the outdoor shots on the original Beverly Hills 90201 tv series. Yes, West Beverly is actually Torrance High School. I "discovered" Old Torrance about 5 or 6 years ago and thought it was the one of the most unique, undiscovered parts of the South Bay.
I never intended this blog to turn into a list of our favorite things but sometimes that's just how my brain works. Blame it on my mom, she likes lists. Everything on the list that follows is either in our neighborhood or takes place in our neighborhood. With the exception of the last one, we can walk to all of the places on the list.
Old Torrance, how do I love thee...
1. The Casita(of course!)
All 701 square feet of it. Our house is small but we love it.
2. West Beverly...I mean Torrance High
They sure don't build high schools that look like this any more. Go Tartars!
3. Branch Office
A true dive bar in every way. I'm not talking about a "dive" bar like the type frequented by hipsters serving PBR and playing rare David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Belle & Sebastian on the juke box. No the Branch office is all about cheap drinks and Bob Seger. Bud-Light's are always two dollars and the music is either terrible or great depending on how you want to look at it.
4. La Capilla
I have never seen this restaurant empty. Everyday of the week the tables seem to be full. It is a typical Southern California old school Mexican place. The cool thing about La Capilla is that you can tell that it's the type of place that families keep returning to generation after generation.
5. Torrance Bakery
Fabulous cookies, cakes, and baked goods. They have these cheese scones that are awesome.
6. The Depot
We can't regularly afford this restaurant but it is very good. The Chef/owner is kind of the unofficial mayor of Old Torrance and a super nice guy. Not pretentious at all.
7. The fact that everyday school kids of all ages walk by our house on the way to and from school. Believe it!!! On foot!!!
8. Wilson Park/Farmer's Market
The park is great place to run or walk. It also seems to be a good place to play softball if that's your thing...it is not my thing. The Farmers market is on Tuesdays AND Saturdays and is very popular. During the summer it's really cool to see YMCA and other camp kids cruising the market and loading up on fruit and other healthy snacks. I know Famer's markets are all about produce but there's this cheese guy who has the BEST selection of cheeses. I like to run on on Sat. mornings at the park and then sample all the goods before heading home.
9. Antique Fair
Fair is the fourth Sunday of every month. Tons of junk for sale. We have found quite a few treasures for our house amongst the junk.
10. Alpine Village.
Ok so Alpine Village is not really in Old Torrance but as far as I'm concerned it's close enough. We go to Oktoberfest at Alpine Village every year and always have a great time. They set up a giant beer garden/tent and thousands of revelers show up. This past summer we were lucky enough to watch a few World Cup games there. I have to say, German beer and pretzels taste just as good at 7 in the morning.
I never intended this blog to turn into a list of our favorite things but sometimes that's just how my brain works. Blame it on my mom, she likes lists. Everything on the list that follows is either in our neighborhood or takes place in our neighborhood. With the exception of the last one, we can walk to all of the places on the list.
Old Torrance, how do I love thee...
1. The Casita(of course!)
2. West Beverly...I mean Torrance High
They sure don't build high schools that look like this any more. Go Tartars!
3. Branch Office
A true dive bar in every way. I'm not talking about a "dive" bar like the type frequented by hipsters serving PBR and playing rare David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Belle & Sebastian on the juke box. No the Branch office is all about cheap drinks and Bob Seger. Bud-Light's are always two dollars and the music is either terrible or great depending on how you want to look at it.
4. La Capilla
I have never seen this restaurant empty. Everyday of the week the tables seem to be full. It is a typical Southern California old school Mexican place. The cool thing about La Capilla is that you can tell that it's the type of place that families keep returning to generation after generation.
5. Torrance Bakery
Fabulous cookies, cakes, and baked goods. They have these cheese scones that are awesome.
6. The Depot
We can't regularly afford this restaurant but it is very good. The Chef/owner is kind of the unofficial mayor of Old Torrance and a super nice guy. Not pretentious at all.
7. The fact that everyday school kids of all ages walk by our house on the way to and from school. Believe it!!! On foot!!!
8. Wilson Park/Farmer's Market
The park is great place to run or walk. It also seems to be a good place to play softball if that's your thing...it is not my thing. The Farmers market is on Tuesdays AND Saturdays and is very popular. During the summer it's really cool to see YMCA and other camp kids cruising the market and loading up on fruit and other healthy snacks. I know Famer's markets are all about produce but there's this cheese guy who has the BEST selection of cheeses. I like to run on on Sat. mornings at the park and then sample all the goods before heading home.
9. Antique Fair
Fair is the fourth Sunday of every month. Tons of junk for sale. We have found quite a few treasures for our house amongst the junk.
10. Alpine Village.
Ok so Alpine Village is not really in Old Torrance but as far as I'm concerned it's close enough. We go to Oktoberfest at Alpine Village every year and always have a great time. They set up a giant beer garden/tent and thousands of revelers show up. This past summer we were lucky enough to watch a few World Cup games there. I have to say, German beer and pretzels taste just as good at 7 in the morning.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
A Mix for Alice
It's no secret that I like to make music mixes. I think that maybe it's the fact that I only caught the tail end of the generation that got to make mixed tapes. I never got to sow all my mixed tape oats. Anyway, I truly believe that every occasion can benefit from a really good mix. From road trips to house parties, music can enhance any experience. Since my wife is out of town and I miss her, I decided to put together a mix for her. Most of these songs she loves(or at least likes a lot) and a few of them just make me think of her. Just for fun, I thought I give a short description as to why I included each song.
1. California Stars-Billy Bragg and Wilco
This song is kind of a no brainer, we danced our first dance to it at our wedding. It was magical, the song came on, we danced, and the reception hall's roof opened up to...well it opened up to sunshine beating down on us. But hey the sun IS a star, right ?
2. Under My Thumb-The Rolling Stones
Don't I wish...seems like most of the time it's the other way around
3. Forever-The Beach Boys
Written by Dennis Wilson not Brian Wilson so some people poo-poo the song. But my wife loves it, so there you go.
4. Something-The Beatles
We are NOT Beatles fans. I personally believe that they are the most overrated pop/rock band ever. That's not to say that they didn't make a few great songs. And we both like George Harrison, the most underrated Beatle. Obviously, this is one of his.
5. Thirteen-Big Star
Beautiful song. RIP Alex Chilton.
6. Furr-Blitzen Trapper
A newer song that has a theme of growing up a settling down. My wife is helping me with the whole growing up thing.
7. Streets of Bakersfield-Buck Owens & Dwight Yoakam
This is going to sound crazy but my wife and I love Bakersfield. If you spend any time in Bakersfield you have to check out Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. It's a fun place to see a show. We got to see Merle Haggard play there and it was amazing.
8. Lodi-Creedence Clearwater Revival
There was a time in our relationship whenever we heard this song at a bar we would sing along making it a duet. We don't even pretend to be cool. Plus you can never have too many songs on a mix about cities along Hwy 99.
9. Help Me Make it Through the Night-John Doe & The Sadies
Actually this song was written by Kris Kristofferson but my wife loves John Doe so John Doe's version goes on this mix.
10. Sure As S**t-Kathleen Edwards
Crass title, sweet song.
11. A Song For You-Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
No mix for my wife is complete without a Gram Parsons song. We saw Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs(yes, THAT Susanna Hoffs) open for Lucinda Williams a couple years back and we were blown away.
12. Loving You Was Easier(Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)-Willie Nelson & Dyan Cannon
From the movie Honeysuckle Rose. My wife would like this movie to be her life. Not so much the story of the movie but the fashions they wear in the movie. This is another Kris Kristofferson song.
13. Spend the Night-Deer Tick
"Spend the days holdin' hands,
'cause you're my woman, and I'm your man.
And we lookin' good together honey, doin' the best we can.
And everything will be alright, till the end of our lives.
'Cause in a heartbeat I would say to you, "I do."
So spend the night. Oh, spend the night.
Everything's gonna be alright girl, spend the night."
I think that says it all.
14. I Heart California-Admiral Radley
Anyone who knows us knows how much we love California. This song captures the good and the bad.
15. Our House-Madness
Most Madness songs don't sound like this one. We love our little house and it's pretty much in the middle of our street. So Madness might as well be singing about us.
1. California Stars-Billy Bragg and Wilco
This song is kind of a no brainer, we danced our first dance to it at our wedding. It was magical, the song came on, we danced, and the reception hall's roof opened up to...well it opened up to sunshine beating down on us. But hey the sun IS a star, right ?
2. Under My Thumb-The Rolling Stones
Don't I wish...seems like most of the time it's the other way around
3. Forever-The Beach Boys
Written by Dennis Wilson not Brian Wilson so some people poo-poo the song. But my wife loves it, so there you go.
4. Something-The Beatles
We are NOT Beatles fans. I personally believe that they are the most overrated pop/rock band ever. That's not to say that they didn't make a few great songs. And we both like George Harrison, the most underrated Beatle. Obviously, this is one of his.
5. Thirteen-Big Star
Beautiful song. RIP Alex Chilton.
6. Furr-Blitzen Trapper
A newer song that has a theme of growing up a settling down. My wife is helping me with the whole growing up thing.
7. Streets of Bakersfield-Buck Owens & Dwight Yoakam
This is going to sound crazy but my wife and I love Bakersfield. If you spend any time in Bakersfield you have to check out Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. It's a fun place to see a show. We got to see Merle Haggard play there and it was amazing.
8. Lodi-Creedence Clearwater Revival
There was a time in our relationship whenever we heard this song at a bar we would sing along making it a duet. We don't even pretend to be cool. Plus you can never have too many songs on a mix about cities along Hwy 99.
9. Help Me Make it Through the Night-John Doe & The Sadies
Actually this song was written by Kris Kristofferson but my wife loves John Doe so John Doe's version goes on this mix.
10. Sure As S**t-Kathleen Edwards
Crass title, sweet song.
11. A Song For You-Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
No mix for my wife is complete without a Gram Parsons song. We saw Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs(yes, THAT Susanna Hoffs) open for Lucinda Williams a couple years back and we were blown away.
12. Loving You Was Easier(Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)-Willie Nelson & Dyan Cannon
From the movie Honeysuckle Rose. My wife would like this movie to be her life. Not so much the story of the movie but the fashions they wear in the movie. This is another Kris Kristofferson song.
13. Spend the Night-Deer Tick
"Spend the days holdin' hands,
'cause you're my woman, and I'm your man.
And we lookin' good together honey, doin' the best we can.
And everything will be alright, till the end of our lives.
'Cause in a heartbeat I would say to you, "I do."
So spend the night. Oh, spend the night.
Everything's gonna be alright girl, spend the night."
I think that says it all.
14. I Heart California-Admiral Radley
Anyone who knows us knows how much we love California. This song captures the good and the bad.
15. Our House-Madness
Most Madness songs don't sound like this one. We love our little house and it's pretty much in the middle of our street. So Madness might as well be singing about us.
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