I’m going to make a statement that I’m sure most of you will disagree with.
I believe that the best food in the country is in Los Angeles. That’s right. It ain’t San Francisco. It’s definitely not Chicago. I was hoping my trip to New York would convince me otherwise, but it’s not there either. Here’s why.
San Francisco prides itself on eating organic, locally-grown food. I think for this reason, everyone here thinks the food is divine. It’s not. Most of the new restaurants fizzle out. The ones with longevity aren’t creative. And the places I do like are few and far between–Foreign Cinema, Pesce, Nopa. I would rather have a tasty sausage straight out of Sinclair’s The Jungle than eat at an over-priced, tasteless neighborhood restaurant with rave reviews–Frances, Gitane, Farina. To its credit, I think the food options are much much better outside of the city like Berkeley and wine country. Who doesn’t love any of the ethnic restaurants on Telegraph or Shattuck. Plus Ad Hoc in Yountville is the best meal I’ve had in my life.
Now Chicago. You’d think in the city where I gained 20 pounds, there’d be a lot of restaurants I loved. Hmmm, no. Nothing comes to mind. Even when I went back for a reunion, I just wasn’t impressed with anything at all. But I do dig the cookies and cupcakes at Sweet Mandy B’s.
New York, New York! What a disappointment. Nothing stood out. Not brunch at the Parker Meridien. Not lunch at Aburiya Kinnosuke. My tempura at Bond Street wasn’t crispy. Boo-hoo! So unsatisfying.
Which leads me to the City of Angels. Ahhh, La La Land. The sushi at Izaka-Ya? Best in my life and this is coming from a girl who grew up on an island! The fast food? Perfect! Even hotel restaurants like Chateau Marmont are yummy. Besides, there are a lot more ethnic options than anywhere else. Time for a food vacation down south.
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