In addition to being on a lifelong quest to experience the perfect example of every kind of food the world has to offer, I am a big movie buff. I have worked at two video stores in my lifetime (one of them is Vidiot’s Video in Santa Monica, which is the poor man’s film school), and I consider myself to be an armchair student of the art form. I have always respected Roger Ebert as a film critic. I frequently disagree with his opinions of films (case-in-point: He seemed to totally miss the point in his review of Team America: World Police), but even when I think he’s being retarded, I still respect his opinion as a far-more-educated-than-most film lover. And every now and then he writes the most awesome review of a film available anywhere (case in point: The Tuxedo)

Thankfully, somebody brought my attention to a recent post on Roger Ebert’s blog called Nil by Mouth. Most people know that for years Ebert has been dealing with serious health problems. He recently experienced a round of surgeries that left him with the inability to eat or drink. Roger was always a big fella, so it’s not tough for anybody to tell that the man enjoyed his food. But the post isn’t about how sad it is to not be able to eat anymore. Instead it’s a celebration of the memories of food as an excuse for social gatherings.

So please forgive me for indulging in a bit of a weepy subject, but I commend Roger for his ever-elegant treatment of the English language. I frequently take eating for granted, so it’s nice to hear what it might be like to lose such a thing, eloquently written from a unique perspective.

And now, just for fun, here is an hilarious compilation of some of the funniest “At The Movies” clips I had never seen. Don’t forget to enjoy your dinner.

For most Los Angeles residents, especially those who grew up in the Southland, sushi is a given. Good sushi isn’t hard to find, and even cheap sushi can be perfectly acceptable at the right location. Therefore, I forget sometimes that in other parts of the country sushi is much harder to come by. In parts of the Midwest, where I come from, raw fish is still considered taboo by many people. It’s a shame really, since sushi is one of the world’s most perfect fast foods.

This post is intended for the sushi beginner. I recently came across a great article on another blog entitled 50 Sushi Tips for Beginners. The tips are targeted at those people who are familiar with sushi dining but might still be a bit intimidated by the protocols that come with the territory.

For one thing, sushi does not always contain raw fish. In fact, some of the best sushi around has no fish at all. This and other health tips like “never eat the purple tuna” and “never eat day old sushi” might be handy to a sushi rookie.

But the most useful parts of the article concern proper etiquette. While I don’t personally go in for the really minute (crazy) etiquette, there are certain standards that any diner should consider following, like “never stick chopsticks straight up in a rice bowl.” One of the tips is a lesser-known one that both young and grown up kids should enjoy: “chopsticks are optional.” That’s my personal favorite.

UPDATE: The truck lot was shut down just as fast as it opened. More about the closure here on LAist

Hey everyone, FRANK here. And I’m reporting from the heart of sunny Santa Monica, California. On my good days I find myself constrained to the city limits.

I’ve also picked up a habit of eating lunch almost exclusively at food trucks lately.  For lunch time grub they are perfect for being equal parts cheap, quick, light, and undeniably delicious.

If you aren’t familiar with the Twitter launched phenomenon you still may have seen traditional taco trucks cruising the city with some bizarre paint jobs.  Beyond the flashy aesthetics and web 2.0 mindset the people behind the grill of these food trucks are wholly concerned with the food.  And don’t let the traditional food truck menu fool you – these trucks are all about gourmet and experimentation.

Whether you are looking for hamburgers made with rice buns (Marked5) or burritos filled with Asian cuisine (Kogi and Calbi) you will find it on these trucks.

For the past month I’ve been making trips to some of the popular squatting spots for these trucks; T Lofts off Olympic, Wilshire and Granville, or my favorite, Pennsylvania behind the Water Gardens.  The lot on Pennsylvania has been particularly rewarding for the ample parking and prime real estate for the likes of Barbie’s, India Jones, and Fish Lips.

Outside of the SaMo city limits, from what I’ve heard, the popular 5700 block of Wilshire in downtown has been experiencing some problems with the city and their place in the sun.  And with growing concerns from local businesses and residents people started to see the writing on the wall – these trucks needed a place to park, in peace.

Enter Steve Taub who had previously run an Infiniti dealership at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and 14th Street.  With the lot sitting empty and presuming a lack of interest in future dealerships in the wake of a recession, Steve turned to Twitter.  And it was here that he found a problem that needed a solution.

Today marked the start of that solution, the Santa Monica Food Truck Lot.

I took my inaugural visit down to the lot along with a gross amount of other media outlets (there was even a news van, which from what I hear broadcasts on something called the local television).

The lot was set up with the trucks hugging the Santa Monica Blvd. side of the lot, leaving the remaining space open to parking for hungry patrons.  The trucks in attendance when I stopped by were: India Jones, Border Grill, Barbie’s Q, and Fish Lips.  The mood was festive and happy foodies were milling about sharing stories.

I went with fellow blogger, Bootsy, and we choose to eat India Jones and Border Grill.  I was trying Border Grill for the first time, and although delicious, I was a bit disappointed I didn’t go for one of my favorites – the pulled pork at Barbie’s.  Bootsy had nothing but glowing comments for her Curry dish from India Jones and a specialty drink.

We also chatted a bit with Nick Taborek from the Santa Monica Daily Press who was sharing in the festivities and masking it as an assignment (just like us!).

I’m happy to see a new home to the food trucks as they slowly transition from a mobile operation to a traditional restaurant set-up (yeah I said it).  But I won’t be mad if we still see some spillover at the Pennsylvania lot, which still holds a place in my heart for the secret atmosphere it conveys.

P.S. If you are looking for a great list of all the food trucks in Los Angeles, check out my Twitter list which seems to be one of the more complete lists I’ve seen.

The Details:

451 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, California 90266
Phone: (310) 545-0400
Lunch (Kissashi): Daily: 11:30am-3pm
Dinner: Sun-Thu: 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat: 5pm-12am

The Los Angeles Foodie Rating:

The Summary:

Manhatten Beach’s Sashi is a Sake, Sushi, and Robata lounge headed by Chef Makoto Okuwa. Much can be said for Makoto’s impressive resume and the warm staff, but the unique Japanese style food takes the spotlight at this popular South Bay restaurant. Although the sign on the door claims Sushi and Sake, an open mind and an eager tongue are more appropriate to bring rather than your Sake bombing trucker hat.

The Place:

Sashi is on Manhatten Beach Blvd. However, they are really located a bit North down Morningside Drive – adjacent to an underground parking structure that usually has plenty of spots open.

The restaurant is quite large with a bright pink lounge area greeting you as you walk in the door. Here you will find some comfy couches, and further in a swanky bar with a wide selection of drinks handled by an informed and friendly bar staff.

Take a left and you will be in the main dining area along with the 60 foot long Sushi bar. Hugging both sides of the building are two separate areas for outside dining. I was there on a weekday and the place was full. But with so much seating I didn’t notice anyone having to wait. And with the wide range of food types and scenery changes you will be sure to find something that suits you.

The Food:

There is so much to eat at Sashi that it may be a bit overwhelming at first. But the wide range of options definitely presents an opportunity to return until you’ve tried everything.

First, if you are big on sushi, they have plenty. They have a lot of sushi, and with a name like Sashi, I would imagine many of the clientele make their first visits with the original fast food on their minds. And I don’t want to sell the sushi short here, their sushi is delicious, but in a town like Los Angeles where you can find sushi on practically every corner, you owe it to yourself to think outside the bento box.

Okay, let’s get into the heart of Sashi. I’ll give you a second to take a peek at the dinner menu. And after your finger is tired from scrolling and your eyes are getting dry from not blinking for a few minutes, let me give you a sample of what you can expect to eat.

I had the opportunity to try a LOT of their dishes, and everything was not only delicious but unique and interesting. Had I not been on assignment, I would have brought a camera anyway to show my friends the wild food I was eating. And that is probably the highest compliment I can give Sashi – each dish will leave you with a feeling of enlightenment. You feel privileged to be eating these unique, thought-out dishes.

My favorite dish was the Toro Tartar which is first served as a closed caviar tin on a bed of ice. Once placed at your table, the lid is removed to reveal a huge portion of toro. The waitress will then fill the bottom of the tin with soy sauce, hand you an abalone spoon, and you are off to the races. This dish may look small, but I assure you it is a generous helping and you will be savoring every bite.

The Kobe Steak Toban Yaki is impressive. It is a filet with with teriyaki truffle butter sauce. I don’t think I have to do much convincing to let you know it was ridiculously tasty. Adding to the visual appeal of the dish is a vegetable branded with the name of the restaurant. Anyone who brands vegetables is cool in my book. I would definitely add this to your must-try list.

I am a big fan of Robata, and at Sashi I had the opportunity to try the Ton Toro, which is pork and sweet onion. I live on the west side, so I have my personal Robata favorites in Santa Monica, but if I am ever down south, Sashi is my new go-to spot for Robata. Robata is a fairly simple food – skewer some meat and stick it on a grill. But there must be something going on at Sashi, because this was some stand-out Robata. Maybe it was the dipping sauce.

The final dish I will share with you is the Lobster Fried Rice. The lobster was delicious and the Indian influence on the dish were clear. I highly recommend it.

Did I mention that I also got to try nine different Sakes while I was there? Sake doesn’t have the universal acceptance of wine or beer, so it isn’t too often that I’m treated to some delicious sake – but I try not to pass up an opportunity.

I’ve never been able to go to a restaurant and dive into their sake selection like I did at Sashi who does a great job of keeping their sake inventory full of delicious and unique brands. And if you’d like to know what Sake goes well with the food you have ordered, just ask the staff.

The Service:

Everyone was very helpful and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. Being on assignment for LA Foodie, I had the opportunity to chat with the chef. Some of the food language was over my head, but I understood enough to know that Sashi offers a unique array of choices.

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