Adventure LA: Street Sense

Long before Susan Feniger was a Top Chef Master, we've been following her tip-top cuisine for years. Although I’ve always had a wonderful experience eating a Feniger-inspired meal, her latest venture, Street, has managed to become my favorite culinary haunt of them all. At Street, Feniger has created a menu that elevates street food from around the world. The playful, graffiti-adorned walls; the mischievously assorted drink menu; and the eclectic food offerings make us continually come back for more. No matter what your mood, Street offers tasty plates that highlight the diversity of flavors that span our globe.

We've tried almost everything on the menu—from Argentine's sheep milk ricotta to Blue Ridge chicken and dumplings, but our sure favorite every time is the famous Kaya Toast: A Singapore specialty that combines house-made coconut jam, a fried egg, golden toasted bread, and a kiss of soy. Although the Kaya Toast may not jump out on a menu surrounded by so many inviting dishes, it will leave you dreaming about your next visit to LA. Bookend your meal with a creative cocktail or an out-of-the-ordinary brew and a street-wise desert, and you'll find that you've experienced the perfect trio. Whether your party's in the mood for Brazilian, Japanese, Indian, or the Bayou, there’s always something on the menu that's guaranteed to please just about everyone who sits at Street’s table. Details: www.eatatstreet.com

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Style: Righting Russel Wright Dinnerware Designs

For Mother's Day this year, I was presented with a gift from the modern master, Russel Wright. Wright's dinnerware made its first appearance in the late '30s; brought simple, unpretentious pieces to the masses; and became the most widely sold ceramic tableware of all time.

Although Wright passed away in the '70s, his ideas continue to live on. Wright's daughter has recently collaborated with Bauer Pottery in LA to recreate his dinnerware designs. Wright's water pitcher is still a beautiful example of streamlined perfection; the salt and pepper shakers, an exercise in stout playfulness; and the colors, vibrant, warm, and rich. Using these new gifts on a daily basis remind me that easy, informal living never has to be ugly. Details: www.bauerpottery.com/russelwright.php.

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Adventure LA: Down Home Comfort at Baby Blues BBQ

Recently, my sons and I had some unexpected time to kill around LAX. Since we weren’t in the mood to browse the pawn ships, peruse the triple-xxx stores, or dare to actually eat at a Jack in the Box, we decided to take a short jaunt north to Venice. Because my schedule is usually ruled by my boys’ stomachs, our little escapade was cut shorter than expected. Instead of finding our final destination, we made a quick stop at Baby Blues BBQ, an unassuming little dive on the corner of Lincoln and Rose.

I’ll be the first to admit that the idea of barbecue in LA seems a bit of an oxymoron and stopping at an untried restaurant in an unknown territory seems a bit of a gamble. But from the first moment we caught a whiff of those roasted meats, Baby Blues, coyly sitting amongst the tattoo parlors and chopper shops, seemed like the perfect stop to satisfy our hunger.

Between the three of us, we were able to try the ribs, beef brisket, and pulled pork, all of which were lathered into a tenderly succulent perfection. These meaty main events were accompanied by a variety of house-made barbecue sauces (XXX or sweet); over a dozen sides (ranging from mac n’ cheese to creamed spinach); a cheap, ice-cold beer selection (including a bucket o’ PBRs); and homemade desserts (banana pudding, anyone?). Although the three of us didn’t storm in on a Harley or sport any tat sleeves, Baby Blues and their more-than-comforting food made us feel satisfyingly right at home. Details: www.babybluesvenice.com.

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Adventure LA: Feeling Good in Silverlake

I'll be the first to admit that I once had a Woody Allen-esque LA-phobia. I'm not sure if I developed it by simply watching one-too-many films or by spending so many years in a city where I wasn't dependent on cars, stars, and bathing suits. Nonetheless, my phobia didn't subside until I moved to California and actually started to spend quality time in Los Angeles. Although an unhealthy attachment to a car is unavoidable, so are charming neighborhoods, incredible eateries, and inspired boutiques. Now, with many LA jaunts under my belt, no neighborhood offers a better way to spend a sun-kissed afternoon than combing the streets of Silverlake, LA's off-the-beaten path bohemian enclave.

Reform School: This is one of my all-time favorite shopping experiences. Reform School is full of home-spun household adornments, books, art, clothing, and personal accessories. Their website, set-up like a school office filing cabinet, is loads o' fun, too. Details: www.reformschoolrules.com.

Dean: Shop Dean for a fun assortment of purses, Unisex bags, recycled leather goods, and hand-made watches. Need I say more? Details: www.deanaccessories.com.

Yolk: The design-obsessed owner of Yolk collects Scandinavian-style children's furniture and wares and combines it with adult "free range design" amusements. The collection includes everything from the globe's hand-made textiles to home-based designer skirts. Details: www.yolk-la.com.

Lamill Coffee: For a delicious cup o' really high-quality joe or for a refreshing iced spearmint tea, plan to please all your senses in this over-the-top beauty. Details: www.lamillcoffee.com.

If you're still in the mood for more creative gifting, check out the very fun and quirky A+R (www.aplusrstore.com), play a while in Monkey House Toys (www.monkeyhousetoys.com), or try Silverlake's much-anticipated seasonally rustic dining edition, Reservoir (www.silverlakereservoir.com).

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Obsession: Servin' Up Surfas

An LA staple since the 30s, Surfas has served the restaurant community and hard-core home cooks with restaurant-quality equipment, speciality food items, and hard-to-find ingredients. Not only does their website offer all of these incredible wonders to the home shopper, it also includes recipes, gift baskets, and an over-abundance of gourmet food finds. Details: www.surfasonline.com.

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Adventure LA: The Oinkster Makes Piggies of Us All

Originally, the purpose of our Adventure food reviews was to showcase restaurants that satisfied the adult palate, but didn’t reject the company of our children. However, being a self-confessed junk food junkie of the regional-sort, I’m always on the lookout for a city’s local culinary speciality. Although not our original intent, cheap, regional cuisine often reigns supreme when trying to please the whole family.

This being said, Los Angeles offers the first entry of this sort—the hometown pastrami sandwich. And, quite frankly, it’s not just any pastrami sandwich—it’s a fantasy-feast. It’s the type of meal that you dream about for weeks after you leave and it actually makes you wonder if you should, in fact, buy real estate in the area.

As chef André Guerrero’s motto promises, The Oinkster offers “slow fast food.” This is a sandwich that comes out almost as quickly as you order it, but is made with oh-so-much love. The Oinkster pastrami delivers two-week cured meat, Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and red cabbage slaw on a succulently butter-laden roll. Accompany that bad boy with crispy Belgian fries and one of the many homemade sauces, including chipotle ketchup, roasted garlic aioli, and ancho-lime mayo! The slow roasted and smoked BBQ Pulled Pork slathered in North Carolina BBQ sauce isn’t a bad bet either.

Located in LA’s Eagle Rock neighborhood, The Oinkster is housed in a wonderfully kitschy 50s A-frame. Inside, the diner offers comfy red naugahyde booths and, outside, sit amongst the hipsters in their horsetail-adorned patio. While your kids suck down their Oinksterade, a house-concocted orange lemonade, you can sip on a pitcher of cold, draught beer. And, if you want to soak up the atmosphere a little longer, top your meal off with a slice of homemade banana cream pie or a PB&J cupcake for dessert. Details: 2005 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angles, CA, 323.255.oink, www.theoinkster.com.

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