Around Town: Summer Top Ten (redux)

Summer’s coming! Time to leave the bubble — to eat.

1. Tonight only, dine at Provecho, 800 Wilshire Blvd, L.A. 90017, and say “Cheers! To Andrew.” The owner will donate 10% of your bill to cancer research. Provecho specializes in light, airy nouvelle Mexican cuisine. Try the Provecho Cobb (tomato, avocado, grilled corn, jalapeño vinegarette) or the sopes and tacos. This food is not heavy. Tonight at the Remedy Lounge next door, there’s cocktails and appetizers at the Cheers! fundraiser.

2. Crunch. Crunch? Take the kids to a Dodger gamehttp://www.dodger.com. Even without Manny, the Dodgers are awesome. Roger Owens, the peanut guy, sells goobers from South Carolina. That’s why they taste better than the ones you sneak in.

3. Are you old enough to remember Robbie’s Rib Cage in Altadena? Try Smokin’ at 12514 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village, CA 91607. The owner, Craig, used to live in Kentucky, where he studied the ins and outs of BBQ and smoked beef. He has his own smoker. Craig is Orthodox (Jewish), so the beef is Kosher, the chicken is Kosher, the prices are higher, and he keeps limited hours. Smokin’ is open Sun-Thurs, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch) and 5 to 9 p.m. (dinner). (He cleans the smoker on Fridays.) May I suggest the BBQ pulled beef sandwich? They serve it on a slightly toasted bun, layered with homemade coleslaw. Craig sells diet root beer and the best fries in the world. Plus, Sweet Potato Pie. I mean, this guy is from Kentucky! Free parking in the rear.

4. While we’re on the subject of Kosher, try Jeff’s Gourmet Sausage Factory, 8930 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035, where everything is made from scratch, with the finest meats, fresh herbs, stocks and California wines. Jeff’s sausages include Smoked Chicken Apple Chicken Cilantro, Mergez , Turkey Italian , Veal Bratwurst , Polish, Boerewors, Jalapeño Kosher Dogs, Sweet Italian, and Cajun Chicken, all available for take-out or dine-in.

5. Closer to home, there’s Porto’s Cuban Bakery 315 N. Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA 91203, which not only sells cakes and sandwiches, plus tres leches cakes, but also makes the best café au lait in Los Angeles.

6. On the other hand, Europane, 950 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106, makes a mean latte and French style pastries.

7. The Honda Plaza in Little Tokyo houses Sushi-Gen at 422 East 2nd. Street, L.A. 90012 and a bunch of other restaurants that are busy, busy, busy, but worth it.

8. Malibu? Watch the sunset from Duke’s 21150 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265. It’s a fish joint.

9. With great regularity, there’s Saturday morning services at Adat Ari El synagogue in Valley Village. Always wonderful, inspirational discussions. Stay for lunch afterward. Bagels. Cream cheese. Coleslaw salad with ramen and sunflower seeds. Sometimes, a kugel runs through it.

10. Afterward, bring home your leftovers to La Cañada Flintridge. Take them to Music in the Park on Sundays.


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ANITA SUSAN BRENNER is a longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident and an attorney with Law Offices of Torres and Brenner in Pasadena. E-mail her at anitasusan.brenner@yahoo.com. La Cañada Valley Sun: La Cañada Flintridge, California