Simply Authentic: Simpang Asia

If you're looking for real, terrific Indonesian food, head to Simpang Asia.

You can pick up Asian groceries while you're there.

Native Indonesians and friends who have lived in Indonesia have told me that Simpang Asia's offerings are authentic. I don't have much experience with Indonesian food, but I can tell you that everything I ate made me pretty happy.

Lemper -- banana leaf-wrapped sticky rice and chicken. Tahu tempeh -- deep-fried tofu and tempeh ($4.00).

Nasi bungkus -- banana leaf rice wrap with chicken curry, beef rendang, Balinese-style egg, spiced potato, bits of chicken gizzard, and vegetable curry ($7.50).

Kwe tiau goreng sapi -- stir-fried flat rice noodle with beef, bean sprouts, and yu choy ($6.75). Chicken satay ($4.50).

Ayam kalasan -- fried chicken sweetened with coconut ($7.50).


Rendang -- tender dried beef curry ($5.50). Bubur ayam -- rice porridge with chunks of turmeric-spiced chicken, Chinese doughnut, and onion chips ($5.50).

Good stuff, people. Good stuff.

My Fave at Farmers Market: Singapore's Banana Leaf

The Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax has over 30 food stands. Stall #122 is my favorite. Yes, folks, I like Singapore's Banana Leaf more than Loteria Grill. I've eaten here many times and have yet to be disappointed by anything!

Among my faves are the rendang beef ($9.45), curry puff ($1.50), and satay chicken ($8.95).

It's not the cheapest or the fastest eatery at 3rd and Fairfax.

But it's the best.

What do you think? What's your favorite place at The Farmers Market?

Rollin' Down the Street, Eatin' Indo, Sippin' on Gin and Juice

During this blogging hiatus, everybody has been asking me, "Why?"

No particular reason. Just want to take a break. Relax. Re-charge. It's a good practice for bloggers. When you come back, you're refreshed and ready to rock.

A few tidbits to tide you over until the full return....

I rolled down to Susan Feniger's Street for lunch yesterday with my brother. The food will be blogged in due time, as I have plans to go for dinner. (If you're curious, my initial thought is that it's tasty but pricey for what it is. I want to try more dishes, though.)

BroMo recently got wind that he will be featured in a prominent industry publication, so I took some photos of him for it. This was perfect for me because my last assignment for my photography class was to do a portrait session. BroMo was a great model who took direction very well.

Which one do you like the most? We've already decided on one of these to submit, but I'm itching to know what the masses think.

Mr. Monkey and I had a lovely introduction to Indonesian food last night, coordinated by the ever-awesome mind behind gastronomy (which, if you don't read already, you really should). The feast was prepared by Ira's Gourmet, a caterer who works out of her Pasadena home (626.345.9931). We paid $10 per person for all of this.



For those not in the know, empal is sweet fried beef. Bakmi goreng is stir-fried egg noodles with chicken, shrimp, vegetables and egg. Lemper is the most amazing sticky rice filled with chicken in coconut gravy. I'm pretty sure lemper is Indonesian for "the effing bomb-diggity." We really enjoyed our meal.

Today we went on a delightful dim sum excursion with our friends The Cruisers, followed by some chillin' by the pool at the Pagoda Bar at Yamashiro, where The Cruisers' friend was deejaying.

No actual gin and juice for me. I sipped on a Bernheimer Basil-Jito with vodka, strawberries, and fresh basil. Ahhhhh.

Love that view from the Hollywood Hills. So very L.A.