Oh I’m well aware that everyday is ‘some food day,’ and I don’t care. Craft donuts have hit the Los Angeles desserts scene in a very big way, and nothing is coming between me and my nutella banana cronut. What are you picking up this Friday?

Yes, June 3rd is the real and very official National Donut Day, which means it’s time to hit some Los Angeles donuts around the city. Of which there are plenty. From California Donuts in Koreatown, to The Donut Man in Glendora, LA has definitely got you covered (yeah, Glendora’s not really LA, but c’mon, it’s The Donut Man). Grab your favorite craft soda / coffee / beer pairing, and get fatty with us!

The Berry Best, from Donut Snob

Cinnamon glazed and topped with fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries. This is a Los Angeles donut that actually tastes as good as it looks–and it looks good enough to be framed on your wall

Salted Caramel Donut, from Donut Snob

While more plain-looking than our other Donut Snob pick, it is undoubtedly a crowd favorite. Their salted caramel donut is the best example of what a ‘salty sweet’ dessert can be.

The Lemon Weapon, from Donut Friend

Blueberry compote, lemon glaze, topped with fresh mint. The tang of the lemon glaze complements the sweetness of the donut like you wouldn’t believe.

S’Morrisey, from Donut Friend

Yep, Donut Friend is the Los Angeles donuts shop where everything’s named after an alt-rock band. But more to love than the theme is the flavor chops. This is the greatest iteration of the s’more donut, period. A chocolate cake donut, glazed with additional chocolate, topped with toasted marshmallow and graham cracker.

Matcha Green Tea Donut, from California Donuts

A warm, fluffy donut coated in a perfectly sweet, very matcha-aromatic chocolate glaze. Remember, this is a 24/7 joint (thank god this place is in the Los Angeles donuts scene), ready to serve late into the night.

Chocolate Pretzel Cronuts from California Donuts

This one is really a placeholder for all of California Donuts’ amazing cronuts. This place was on every foodie feed the second cronuts became a craze, and for good reason. This Koreatown spot boasts impressive variations like banana nutella and blueberry cream cheese

Strawberry Donuts, from The Donut Man

A bun-like donut filled with fresh glazed strawberries. Emphasis on fresh–these have never tasted canned from the times I’ve tried them. It’s a miracle that these don’t get soggy at all. Also, Donut Man is about 40 minutes out of LA, so it’s only polite to ask friends if they want anything while you’re there. The Donut Man Run is a burden we must shoulder together.

Tiger Tails, from The Donut Man

Why is a simple tiger tail on a list of exotic and beautiful donuts? It’s not wildly original. It isn’t crowned with a tiara of fruit. It isn’t filled with some holier-than-thou honeywhiskey extract. It’s here because it’s the best of its kind I’ve ever had. The consistency is a pleasant chewiness that disintegrates into a rich finish that must be tasted

Blueberry Donut, from SK Donuts and Croissant

Another example of a classic so good, it deserves to hang with its more flashy brethren. SK Donuts’ blueberry donut is basically just a round, blueberry cake with glaze all over it. Even if you’ve had a blueberry donut before, this will be your first time tasting the real thing.

Apple Pie Cronut, from SK Donuts and Croissant

Rounding out our list is a second cronut entry, SK Donuts’ Apple Pie Cronut. This baby’s sweetness is reined in, which is surprising from the looks of that glaze. Fluffy, moist, fresh, and as compliant as SK’s wonderfully polite staff. A true LA standard.

The post Los Angeles Donuts appeared first on christopherkhoitran.

Minimalism is all the rage everywhere, and cooking is no exception. On that note, we’ve got seven different 3 ingredient recipes for whatever you need, whether it’s breakfast, a power snack, or a post-dinner cocktail. 

Not everyone has the budget, time, or inclination to hunt down a dozen different items for a simple side soup, right? We’re busy people! We exercise, we work, we raise children and/or animals, we simplify whatever and whenever we can. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean cutting corners. A stool, after all, only needs 3 legs to function, and the same goes for 3 ingredient recipes. Don’t believe you can whip up a tasty dessert or a healthy vegetable side dish with just 3 items? Read on!

Breakfast: Banana Pancakes

Ah, the American breakfast staple! Pancakes are filling to eat and simple to make, but I don’t think you realize how simple. Banana, eggs, baking powder = game, set, match. Have a fantastic breakfast, sans flour or calories.

Lunch: Beef and Tomato Chili

This chili is a great example of 3 ingredient recipes that taste great with the base components, but have tons of room for add-ons. Ground beef, beans, and canned tomatoes are all you need to pull off a satisfying chili, but consider topping with: onions, jalapeno, sour cream, cheese. Instead of ground beef, how about: diced sausage, stewed meat chunks, or turkey breast for a lighter option. The formula is simple, the possibilities are endless.

Power Snack: Peanut Butter Granola Bars

The perfect snack is filling, healthy, energizing, but above all: easy to make. Enter this “non-recipe” consisting of dates, salted peanut butter, and rolled oats, that you can make with nothing more than a mixing bowl. Well, a food processor would help, but isn’t at all a necessity.The result is a salty-sweet treat perfect for a midday pick-me-up.

Side Soup: Chicken and Leek

If you thought 3 ingredient recipes are just culinary training wheels, think again. This hearty soup recipe might be light on parts, but it’s definitely heavy on technique. Following the steps listed here, you’ll learn to roast a chicken the right way, make your own soup stock from odds and ends (a gravy separator is indispensible for this), and how to carmelize without sugar. But to sweeten the pot for you, get this: its entire budget is $5.46! What.

Side Veggies: Avocado Salad

With a minimal salad recipe, we could’ve gone one of two different routes: go with a very simple dressing recipe + greens, or use ingredients that flavor themselves. This avocado salad takes option 2: cherry tomatoes for slight sweetness, avocado for creaminess, and artichokes for substance. No extras necessary.

Dinner: Root Beer Pulled Pork

A great slow cooker is the lazy cook’s secret weapon, and juicy, tender pulled pork is just one of the many dinner miracles you can pull off with it. To add some zing to the sauce, this recipe makes great use of root beer for an unexpected breed of sweetness.

Dessert: Nectarine Galette

Here’s another recipe that’s more of an archetype than a hard and fast rule. Nectarines are the fruit of choice, but you can easily substitute peaches, strawberries, whatever decadence your mouth desires.This delicious mini-pie requires almost no preparation at all, and can bake in the oven while you enjoy your dinner.

The post Seven 3 Ingredient Recipes appeared first on christopherkhoitran.

If I were to move away from Los Angeles forever, abandon its surreal night life and oddball attractions, I’d have to take a slice of its culinary delights with me. I’d have a hell of a time choosing, but somewhere on that list would be a little local gem called Galco’s Soda Pop Stop. This unassuming brown building in Highland Park boasts 700 flavors of craft soda, and as an avid customer, I can tell you that’s a conservative estimate.

Soda enthusiasts very well might die of happiness right there, first step through the door. On the right is a wall of commerce awards and community appreciation plaques. Past the register is a sight out of Costco: little forts of cardboard boxes filled with wares, arranged in rows. Except these are filled to the brim with craft soda, and only craft soda. Lemon sodas, cherry, strawberry, all the fruits are of course represented. Of course they have root beer, but sasparilla beer? Maple beer? Birch beer? Ginger beers too, but not the syrupy brand-name concoctions; I’m talking the Jamaican brands that sear like forest fires. Make a Moscow Mule out of that and never look back.

The post Craft Soda Galco Soda Pop Stop appeared first on christopherkhoitran.

The first step is to admit it: you hate vegetables. The second step is to realize: vegetables can be mouthwatering on their own. And if you don’t agree, we’ve got a culinary gimmick or two to get your chard tasting like rib roast.. There’s absolutely no shame in a little trickery, especially if it’s your health on the line!

Vegetables That’ll Prove You Don’t Really Hate Vegetables

I totally get it–hatred of vegetables is deeply ingrained. There’s a billion jokes on TV about hating veggies. You have a billion bad childhood memories of grandma’s zucchini bread. But as much as we’d all like to gorge on sweets, I’d love for you to live past 35. Here’s a list I put together compiling some guaranteed gateway veggies, whether you’re usually a strict carnivore or a candy addict. So dust off your food processor, take my hand, and learn to love the green devil!

Brussel Sprouts

If you need your vegetables tasting as close as possible to meat, then brussel sprouts might well be your new best friend. They might look like bitter green eggs from vegan hell, but these little gems can soak up tons of flavor in every bud. Minimal seasoning, a little salt, garlic, or olive oil, is all you need to turn a brussel sprout into a flavor bomb. Also, the crunch factor of brussel sprouts absolutely cannot be beat. With proper preparation, you can get your sprouts tasting like the best popcorn chicken you ever had.

Asparagus

I consider asparagus to be a close cousin to brussel sprouts, since they’re useful in such similar ways to the cook who hates vegetables. Asparagus yields a delightful snap when bitten into, with a meaty, pithy center that’ll appeal to even the most carnivorous tastes. They pair well with many of the same seasonings and ingredients as brussel sprouts: lemon, garlic, olive oil, pepper, just a touch of one or more and you’re good to go!

Beet

If you hate vegetables but love your sweets, then beets need to be your veggie of choice. There’s a reason why these beautiful crimson bulbs are called nature’s candy: they’ve got a natural, subtle, fresh-tasting sweetness that can brighten up any dish. Whether sliced and boiled or grated raw, beets can be your secret weapon against obesity and heart disease.

Onions

In their natural form, onions are probably the main reason why people hate vegetables. While raw, they’re pungent, corrosive to the tongue, and tear-inducing, but when prepared correctly, they hardly deserve to be called vegetables. Cooked onions add a unique zing and sweet spice to any dish, and when caramelized, onions add a savory pungency so powerful, you’ll think twice about calling veggies flavorless.

Animal Fats Are Your Secret Weapon

If you’ve never had a vegetable dish you’ve liked, you’ve probably never had one properly seasoned. If you don’t plan on going full vegetarian or vegan, then cooking your vegetables in animal fats is a winning trick. Don’t believe all of the bad press regarding animal fats. Natural fats from red meat contain saturated fat. This type of fat is less damaging than the trans fats contained in common cooking materials like margarine and some vegetable oils. Thus, if you regularly cook bacon, don’t throw away the pan grease! Bag that liquid goodness, fridge it, and fry your brussel sprouts in it for a crunchy treat that tastes like street food. So feel free to experiment with many types of animal fats, and as a final word, everyone owes it to themselves to try duck fat at least once. It is unbelievable.

Vegetable Dishes That Don’t Taste Like Vegetable Dishes

So we’ve learned a few tricks to make vegetables palatable, but what actual recipes are there to try? Tons.

The ultimate way to cheat cholesterol death is, of course, the handy vegetable smoothie. Smoothies are fast, delicious, portable, and it’s quite hard to do wrong. Add whatever ingredients you please, taste, and balance out the bitters with sweet fruits or honey.

A vegetable-based curry, for example, is one surefire way to incorporate greens into your diet if you hate vegetables. It’s sort of a no-brainer: what better way to hide veggie bitterness than under a ton of flavorful spices? Curry dishes often incorporate exotic flavors like coconut, turmeric, ginger, and tamarind (or if that sounds too strenuous, go with a curry powder mix). These camouflage the taste of vegetables so well that it’s almost criminal.

Why not try a traditional meat dish, converted into a healthier option? The vegetable pot pie is yet another veggie dish far more delicious than it has any right to be. The thickness added by the milk and potato soup stock is hearty enough to satisfy any palette. Side with home-baked biscuits for a complete treat.

Last but not least, chili is another traditional protein-packed dish that doesn’t necessarily need meat at all. Kidney and black beans provide a meaty texture to distract the tongue, while chili spices complete the illusion with complex flavors. Plus, chili is just too easy to refrigerate and bust out whenever you need a dip or convenient snack.

The post Deceptively Delicious Cook Hate Vegetables appeared first on christopherkhoitran.

Valentine’s Day simply wouldn’t be done right without a sweet finale, and luckily for you Angelenos, Los Angeles desserts rank among the best worldwide, with everything from build-your-own-donuts to deluxe shaved ice to $7 milkshakes (that’re worth every penny).

Southern Californians aren’t just spoiled by the eternal summer weather–we’re positively drenched, day by day, with news of the latest imported ramen shops, rising food truck dukes, and of course, the ecosystem of evolving dessert boutiques, seeking to outdo each other with the next biggest sweet-tooth teaser. We’ve got you covered with seven of SoCal’s richest, fruitiest, and best, all guaranteed to leave a mark on the tastebuds come Valentine’s Day (if you’re still floundering for V-Day date ideas, check out our guide).

MILK

For those Valentine’s Day purists looking to recreate the archetypal American date, sipping milkshakes together from across the table is absolutely requisite. And if milkshakes are in order, MILK is in order; located on a busy street corner on Fairfax, and boasting a line of dairy devotees out the door and around the corner at all times of day, MILK makes the idea of a 6-7 dollar milkshake seem credible. My personal favorite? The mint chocolate crunch shake, blended with mint chip ice cream and malted chocolate balls for a devastating crunch to go with the crisp flavor. All of their shakes are basically diabetic meals unto themselves, meaning I couldn’t even finish mine in one sitting–BUT, lo and behold, the thing was still tasty as sin the next morning, and if that isn’t testament to their confectionary master craft, I don’t know what is. Even if shakes aren’t your thing, MILK still makes foodie headlines for their unique blueberry velvet cake, and especially the grasshopper ice cream sandwich–mint ice cream between flat macarons, dipped in chocolate. Unbelievable.

Pie Hole

Nothing beats the gooey comfort and texture combo of a fantastically made pie, and Pie Hole has made such impeccable pie-dom their business. Located in the walkable and frequently bustling Arts District, Pie Hole is a fixture of Los Angeles desserts for its selection of both traditional and modern pie flavors like Earl Grey tea, Mexican chocolate, and maple custard. The Earl Grey’s a particular fan favorite, boasting a chocolate underbelly, a layer of tea cream, all topped off with whipped cream for a delightful lightness. So swing by after your V-Day dinner, grab two slices, and patronize a gallery or two while you’re in the neighborhood.

Scoops

While there’re several Scoops locations by now, I prefer the Chinatown iteration for my craft ice cream delights. Any establishment that builds a name for itself with brown bread-flavored ice cream has to be doing something miraculous–other ice cream parlors can keep their basic candy bar-injected sugarbombs to themselves. I want the Guinness chocolates, the jackfruit lemons and coconut burnt caramels and beyond, and Scoops always delivers. Additional perk: a single scoop actually nets you two mini-scoops, all the better for you, since I guarantee you’ll be torn between at least two flavors. Like I said, my favorite spot is located in the same Chinatown plaza as the Angeleno gem, Roy Choi’s Chego, as well as the up-and-coming Ramen Champ, for those looking to build a date night around their dessert spot.

La Monarca

The Los Angeles desserts landscape is littered with Mexican bakeries galore, but to put it simply, having a champurrado, sugarbread, or cafe de olla from La Monarca is like having it for the first time. Their expertise runs the gamut from coffees, to pastries, to breads, to brunch items like the suspiciously delicious soy-chorizo torta. But perhaps the most memorable menu items are the simplest: the milky-sweet cornbread is too creamy to be legal, and they manage to make even a simple wheat bolillo bun endlessly snackable. Highly recommended, and perfect for if you want variety in your Valentine’s Day indulgence.

Donut Friend

Donuts don’t exactly leap to mind when you think of Valentine’s Day Los Angeles desserts, but you’ve likely never seen donuts like this. It’s the Chipotle DIY-formula as applied to donut creations: customers pick a donut base, then embellish with toppings ranging from candy bar crumbles to fruit glazes to nutmeg and lemon zest, and finish with fillings beyond your wildest dreams: I’m talking goat cheeses, hazelnut spreads, and artisanal jams. That being said, I always go for the house creations like the Husker Blu, a cake donut injected with fresh blueberry fillings and dressed in blueberry glaze. Did I mention their creations are all named after bands? Donut Friend is your new best friend.

B Sweet

There’s a long line of desserts out there, all waiting for their time in the hyped-up foodie limelight, and if B Sweet has their way, it’s bread pudding’s time to shine. If you’re skeptical about getting excited over a dessert made out of the most basic foodstuff in the world, know that they have over forty varieties of bread pudding, including pineapple upside down cake, maple donut, and Kahlua. But most importantly, even if you strip away all the extra flavoring, their basic bread pudding formula is rich beyond belief, with a fantastic, ooze-y texture. Once they top it off with an ice cream scoop, its a straight shot to food coma heaven. If you’re somehow still unconvinced, people also come back for the ice cream-injected donuts, pies, and dressed-up brownies. In terms of a V-day date spot, B Sweet is conveniently located in the middle of bustling ‘Little Osaka’ on Sawtelle Boulevard, where foodie hotspots like Tatsuya Ramen and Hide Sushi bring the dinner crowds, with the Giant Robot store and GR2 gallery to top off the night.

Sul and Beans

A list of Los Angeles desserts simply wouldn’t be complete without a nod towards that crown prince of Asian dessert-dom: shaved ice. If you’ve never had it, know that we’re not talking about your neighborhood snowcones drizzled with Icee syrup. Asian shaved ice comes in a dozen sub-varieties, but always involves toppings of copious fruit, condensed milk, and any combination of red bean, mung bean, mochi, boba, etc etc. Now ask anyone for the best shaved ice in LA and you’ll get a million different answers, but a large chunk will say Sul & Beans in Koreatown, where they serve patbingsoo (the Korean variety of shaved ice) like no one else can. Their secret weapon? Injeolmi toast, injeolmi being traditional Korean rice cake, and injeolmi toast being gooey injeolmi between slices of toasted bread sprinkled with almonds on top, like some carb-tastic, inexplicably delicious rice version of a grilled cheese. Devotees swear by injeolmi toast as the perfect complement to the mountainous bingsoo ice-and-fruit plates, and I’m inclined to agree.

The post Los Angeles Desserts Valentines Day appeared first on christopherkhoitran.