"The Boat"

Tonight, dinner was at La Barca Cantina and Grill. I had chicken in mole sauce, it was quite yummy.

The patio dining was much improved over the previous outdoor setting. The experience was a little loud with a live band and roaming musicians. But for me, it is all about the food.

�One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.�
~ Luciano Pavarotti

Read More

Elep-ilable

The Elephant Bar restaurant was one of the original restaurants in Downey Landing when the shopping center opened in 2006. It recently closed, a victim of its parent company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. All that's left of its name is "ELEP," partially showing through the banner advertising the site's availability.

Here's hoping for a classy new restaurant to take its place.

Read More

Vintage aircraft and diners

Ruby's Diner, at the Promenade, is built on the site of the old Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation. Their decor, with its models and posters of vintage aircraft, pays tribute to the site's aeronautical heritage.

Read More

Tom's Jr arrives

Tom's Jr recently opened in Downey on Florence Ave. I had noticed its progress a few weeks before, but was reminded about them when I got a coupon in the mail that offered several different meals at a great price. So...part of DDP went to scout it out.

Tom's is a small, local chain, with locations in Compton, Los Angeles, Lynwood, and South Gate. They serve a variety of traditional American and Mexican food. Even without the coupon, the prices are reasonable and the serving sizes are large. The food was great�I've returned for more since that first time.

Plus, they have a lot of fun decorations on the walls. Always an important aspect of any dining experience!

Read More

Macarons and more macarons

One of the things I like about Downey is its proximity to so many places. We are freeway-close to downtown Los Angeles. In fact, it is less than 15 miles from my house to Bottega Louie Restaurant (7th & Grand). Tonight I joined some coworkers for an amazing dinner there.

What a fun evening! Great small plates to start, we ordered and devoured octopus, calamari, crab beignets and, of course, pommes frites. After seeing so many dessert choices when we first entered the restaurant, we could not leave without having dessert. So, we chose a few to sample. I'm thinking there are more trips in my future, there are still so many more goodies to taste!




�People who love to eat are always the best people.�
~ Julia Child

Read More