Cutting The Big Cheese

Cutting The Big Cheese

Much like it's now hip to be a geek, it seems that the image of another common item in Los Angeles has gotten a make over and has become the latest in thing. Food Trucks are no longer considered roach coaches and eating at one is no longer looked down upon, but because of innovators like Kogi, they've become the latest craze. Spawning people to seek them out on social media tools like Twitter and waiting in hour long lines to place your order.

Considering my career has been in the film and television industry, I am no stranger to the food trucks. In fact, I have looked to them for ages to feed me during lunch and I look to them for cheap and delicious taco cravings. I was a long time supporter of the truck scene when the city took on a strange stance on trying to limit how long they could park in the unincorporated areas of L.A. to when they were fighting with Palos Verde residents on the same issue.



Now that they are hitting the streets as royalty, I suppose it'll be a good time to announce a new truck showing up to the scene. One that from the first of hearing their intention on I have been looking forward to trying. The Grilled Cheese truck is finally hitting the streets tonight!

After teasing us for weeks with amazing twitter updates highlighting some of their amazing foods, including their Mac & Rib Grilled Cheese first seen at the Grilled Cheese invitational, they finally are pulling up to the curb near you.. That is if you're near The Brig in Venice. And if you're not than you'll just have to make the trip. It's late and traffic shouldn't be bad at all. Scroll down and see the pictures and tell me with a straight face that this is not worth the trip.



Normally the spot for the Korean/Mexican fusion Kogi, The Grilled Cheese truck will be setting up base so you can finally try this comfort food starting tonight at their Grand.. opening of their truck shutters tonight at the World Famous Brig starting from 8:30 till 10. If there is any cheese left they'll move on to somewhere else, which you can follow them on their Twitter page to see where and when they'll be grilling.

After the Grilled Cheese Truck leaves the spot Kogi will be rolling in and if you haven't had some Korean BBQ tacos yet, it would be a good chance to try them out. So not only do you get to try something new, but you get to try a now classic street scene delicious food truck item all in one night. Just bring your hunger, some extra cash and you got yourself a combination of fusion food that your stomach will thank you for.



They first announced the news of this grand opening on Twitter with a surprising "Well, THE WAIT IS OVER AND IT'S TIME TO MELT! Who's busy Tuesday evening? Meet us on the Westside....? CheesyMac&Rib w/ some tots anyone?"

And while it was only limited to 140-characters, it was still news to drop everything for and prepare your appetite for. What else can you look forward to? Since man was not meant for grilled cheese alone, you can lick your lips for some dessert in the true grilled cheese fusion method in a Marshmallows, Nutella and Banana sandwich.



So come out and welcome Chef Dave Danhi and Executive Officer Michele as they bring about a new level of cheese to the LA truck scene. You'll not only get a great meal, but you'll also be in on the ground floor on the latest food truck in the city.

I hope to have an interview with David and Michele in the future about their new Cheesy venture, so be on the look for that soon as well as the whereabouts of The Grilled Cheese Truck, Tonight after the Brig in Venice and near a parking curb near you in the future.



You can find any news and updates for the Grilled Cheese Truck on their website
thegrilledcheesetruck.com and on their updated daily twitter page
twitter.com/grlldcheesetruk

The Brig is located at 1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA 90291-3888
Official Website of The Brig

Photos via grlldcheesetruk twitpic page - All Rights Reserved

30 Dates Of Nights: 4

30 Dates Of Nights: 4

The L.A. Times released this article about eight dates under $25 in Los Angeles. While I was a bit surprised that I had already done a couple from that list without knowing it was such a normal date thing to do, I wasn't happy that they would only offer up eight ideas. So I'm making my own list. So far we've gone through 3 options of economically friendly fun dates. Some of these are things I've done and enjoyed. Some are just ideas of things that would be great date options.

Kogi And The Pier

If there's one thing I have admitted to being addicted to, it's Tacos. I love my street food like no ones business. There's something special about food being cooked right in front of you. As for health concerns, seriously, don't worry. They're there to try to make a living. Repeat customers are what they want. So while it may not look as clean, you shouldn't ask how sausage is made.



The Santa Monica Pier is a bit of a cliche date but it's cheap and has a lot of fun date potential. Parking is about $5 in the beach side parking or you could just park on Ocean somewhere and walk down the ramp onto the pier. It has been going through a lot of changes lately.

On the Pier you'll find an old style Arcade with plenty of fun games for the two of you to enjoy. Ski Ball and Air Hockey. Tickets dispense in that old fashion way after games but who's going to spend all that money for a plastic comb or fake mustache? Best to just enjoy the friendly competition with each other. Make a bet on the games. It'll add a little kick to things.



I'm a sucker for Photo Booths. They're great and their dirt cheap. $3 for a couple of silly faces. The arcade has one and it's typically forgotten by the youth today. It's really cliche, I know. But it's cute in a way. So let yourself go and you'll have a picture that captured the evening.

Also on the pier is Bubba Gumps. A really generic chain restaurant but it has a good advantage - It serves alcohol without a cover. Head on over after or before (if you want to make ski ball even more interesting) the arcade experience and you'll put a little sauce into your systems.

To round out the evening you can take advantage of what a pier is all about, extending land over ocean and walk to the end of it. Look over the edge and see nothing, then look over at the smile on your date and things will be pretty peachy.



While you're in the Santa Monica area, the second part of this date is more of a game of Where's Waldo in search of the Kogi Taco truck. Kogi is a Korean Taco truck that was so good I had to write about them. They're sweeping the scene as a new hip 2.0 taco truck. Not many taco trucks can say they have their own website and not many taco trucks offer something completely different and good all at the same time.

To sum them up, they make tacos with a Korean kick. Using short ribs and spicy chicken and pork the taste is out of the world. Finding them is also an adventure in itself as they have a few spots they go to. It's sort of like a puzzle you'll have putting together. If you want some clues you can follow their exploits on twitter to find their latest locations.



Once you do track them down, for the sake of this date, I'd advise for the Venice location most nights after 10pm at the Brig, you'll have a good time trying to come up with how you're going to tackle the meal. Get your order in, get your food and go sit by the curb, you'll be surprised how good hot food on a cool night with a beautiful date can be.

You wont even care if the breath smells of kimchee from the kimchee quesadillas. The food will hit the spot and since this is an up and coming craze, you'll both share something that will eventually be as big as, say In-N-Out. Ok, maybe in 40 years time. But hey, it's the time shared and the good food and moments treasured



A walk on the boardwalk and some new fusion tacos. Total cost comes to a low price depending on if you get the alcohol on the pier or not. Taco truck shouldn't be more than $15 and the games on the boardwalk are a couple of bucks. You'll treasure the late night moment together and have filled bellies.

Kogi - Taking Roach Coaches To New Levels

Kogi - Taking Roach Coaches To New Levels



I'm a taco maniac. I love nothing more than a street taco late at night. Unlike most, I have no problem in trusting my fellow man when it comes to slinging meat on an outdoor heated platform and serving it up to me on a warm taco. Perhaps it's because I depend craft service when it comes to feeding myself on a daily basis at work. No matter how you shake it, I'm all for allowing a little bit of dirt in my food to add to the flavor.

The bar for craft services is no longer and will never ever be the same again because I have had Kogi. What exactly is Kogi? It's a standard delicious taco truck with a Korean BBQ twist. It's like going to a K-town all you can eat without walking away smelling like you've been sitting in a campfire all night. They don't do regular Mexican meat tacos. They spice it up with cuts like spicy pork, short ribs and tofu.



It really is something truly unique and very delicious. You have a nice blend of spicy and well, more spiciness. It's Korean BBQ meats, what did you expect? They have a wide selection to choose from. Short Ribs, Spicy Pork, Korean Chicken, Tofu and then they alternate as Chef Roy likes to mix it up with things like. Tomatillo French Toast w Goat Cheese, Kogi Dog, Kimchi Quesadilla and a new pickled strawberry.

During my first experience I had a Short Rib Taco and Spicy Pork Burrito. I did sample a bit of the French toast w/ goat cheese and while the tomatillo was really subtle, it did taste really delicious. If my mouth wasn't already burning with flavor goodness I would have followed it with the kimchi quesadilla. I'm looking forward to my second, third and many more future adventures tracking down this elusive taco truck of fusion fair.



The interesting aspect here is that this taco truck uses technology to their advantage. Using Twitter to give those in the 2.0 world a constant update as to where they're going to be, what specials they have and if they're running low or out of food at a given spot. So you don't have to go mad searching for them they can be easily tracked this way.

I generally roll solo on my taco adventures. Specifically because there's not many who appreciate a good street taco. The general idea is that people don't trust anything that doesn't come out of a drive-thru window or has a health code grade in the window. Even with that, try going into Thai Town. It's a flashback to my high school years, nothing over a C grade. The rare instances when anyone wants to roll with me is always welcomed. There's a certain magic to sitting on a cold concrete slab or some provided lawn chairs and enjoy meats of various. What's better than good company while enjoying good food?


A: Short Rib Slider.

All in all, I think I'm addicted to a new food substance. Korean BBQ Tacos. Which isn't a good thing. At least with all you can eat Korean BBQ places it's such an over abundance of food that I only go once every couple of months. You know, after I'm finally able to get the smoke out of my cloths after the third wash. But if I have the ability to get Korean BBQ on a daily basis in the form of tacos... Holy hell, I don't know how fat I'm going to end up being.

I know I'm not the only one who's getting addicted to this as you can tell from the following video documenting others venture into trying to find this elusive Korean treat.