Chef brings Caribbean flavors to South LA



By Diana Lee

Stuart Eubanks takes his post at the farmers market. | Who's Hungry Instagram

Stuart Eubanks takes his post at the farmers market. | Who’s Hungry Instagram

Every farmers’ market has its share of fresh produce and a selection of gourmet cheese, but chances are, you haven’t encountered Caribbean cuisine. A local chef is now making waves in South L.A. with his interpretation of many flavors in the islands.

Chef Stuart Eubanks has never been to the Caribbean, but is on a mission to bring the diverse flavors to Los Angeles after stumbling on a Jamaican restaurant years ago. Eubanks says his company, Who’s Hungry Food Solutions, is unique because it incorporates flavors from Jamaica, Cuba and Trinidad among other islands. [Read more…]

Trader Joe’s scouting out first South LA store



Trader Joe's | Rebecca

Trader Joe’s | Rebecca

In 1967, the first Trader Joe’s opened in Pasadena. The supermarket chain began selling its organic pretzels and “Two Buck-Chuck” wine among other groceries outside of California in the 1990s and grew to operate more than 400 stores nationwide.

Now, for the first time, Trader Joe’s is coming to South L.A.

The store has committed to opening a location at the forthcoming USC Village, located on Hoover and 31st streets near the Figueroa Corridor, according to USC University Communications.

Many residents who live in the area are rejoicing. [Read more…]

Northgate Market and Jamie Oliver program boost South LA food landscape



After nine years of planning, the Northgate Gonzalez Market opened in South Los Angeles in April, becoming one of the area’s few full-service supermarkets committed to offering healthy options such as fresh produce at affordable rates.

“We wanted to prove with sales that we can bring quality to low income families here,” said Victor Gonzalez of Northgate’s marketing team. “We’re having a great response on all the items on the healthy side.”

In South L.A., according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, an estimated 39 percent of adults and 55 percent of teens are considered overweight or obese. UCLA’s report also says 39 percent of South Los Angeles children eat fast food three or more times in a typical week, compared to 18 percent across California. [Read more…]

South LA corner stores turn full-service



Nelson Garcia welcomes visitors into his "converted" corner store. | Sinduja Rangarajan

Nelson Garcia welcomes visitors into his “converted” corner store. | Sinduja Rangarajan

When more than 100 children, teenagers and adults gathered on the corner of Vermont and 60th streets last March to enjoy a four-hour block party complete with face painting, booths offering food coupons and a live disc jockey encouraging people of all ages to dance by blasting R&B, rap and Latino music, onlookers may have assumed the occasion was a national holiday or neighborhood fundraiser. Instead, the festivities were meant to mark the re-opening of Alba Snacks & Services, one of South L.A.’s few grocery stores.

The approximately 51 square mile area of South Los Angeles is largely considered a “food desert” — a space where finding food that is both affordable and high-quality is difficult.

See also on Intersections: South LA creates healthy food options

The Alba re-opening was part of the Healthy Neighborhood Market Network and the Community Market Conversion Program, an initiative run by Los Angeles’s Food Policy Council, an independent multi-stakeholder entity of the Mayor’s Office. These dual programs, said Director of Policy and Innovation Clare Fox, aim to transform convenience stores in neighborhoods with limited food access to full-service grocery stores. [Read more…]

South LA creates healthy food options



South L.A. residents are growing vegetables in their backyards. They are converting their corner stores into healthy groceries. They are not waiting anymore for healthy options to come to them.

Click play for the stories of a South L.A. vegan and a corner store transformer:

Arriving at a recent community development meeting in a recreation center in South L.A., Agyei Graham peeked at the breakfast spread of bagels, yogurt and coffee, quietly found a standing room spot in a corner, pulled a red apple from the back pocket of his jeans and bit into it.

The 21-year-old has been a vegan for five months, which means he couldn’t have the yogurt. He could eat the bagels, but he’d have to forgo cream cheese. And he could only have coffee if he wanted it black.

He came prepared with an apple because he didn’t expect a small community meeting to offer vegan options. But he isn’t always prepared with contingency plans. There are days when Graham, who works as a locker room attendant at a swimming stadium, doesn’t have time to pack a meal. There are days when he comes home to an empty fridge because he didn’t find time to go to his favorite grocery store, Sprouts, which is six miles away in Culver City. [Read more…]

South LA gets a taste of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution



The wellness and diabetes group from the Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center has climbed on board to take part in celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s food revolution.

The lesson today, “Fish Made Easy,” included a basic red sauce sautéed with garlic, olives, and basil baked over a white fish and served with what the cooks called “brilliant broccoli.”

Caroline Snow, one of the instructors giving free lessons to community members out of the Big Rig Mobile Teaching Kitchen parked on East 120th Street in front of the medical center, offered simple directions: “We’re using the canned tomatoes sauce here on the rig, but you can use fresh tomatoes and with the summer season coming and growing new gardens its great to pick your own tomatoes, puree them, and use that. Then we’re making the sauce, putting the fish with it and baking it for a few minutes.” [Read more…]

South LA street cooks could soon go legit



Felipa Mayo cooks tacos each weekend outside her home on Compton Boulevard. | Daina Beth Solomon

Felipa Mayo cooks tacos each weekend outside her home on Compton Boulevard. Scroll down for a photo slideshow featuring other street cooks and street foods. | Daina Beth Solomon

Felipa Mayo starts her job the same way each weekend. She heads out to the sidewalk of her stucco bungalow on Compton Boulevard and checks to make sure there are no cops around.

Then she pulls a white toque over her brown hair bun, sets up a few folding tables in the driveway and unpacks the contraband she’s so worried about getting busted for selling: Tacos.

The corn tortillas served with chicken, beef or goat could get Mayo in trouble with the law.

The hundred other weekend vendors on this bustling stretch of Compton Boulevard in South Los Angeles -– some selling quesadillas, burritos and pupusas, others hawking merchandise ranging from electronics to underwear – operate with caution too. [Read more…]

Green Grounds brings edible gardens to South LA



Team members & recipients (Hyder, Neon Tommy)

Green Grounds team and gardeners | Tahsin Hyder

Katie Guevara and David Guevara Rosillo loved the idea of growing their own food but never had the budget or knowhow. Now, having spent hours a day knuckle-deep in soil, those times of uncertainty are long behind them.

“This is the last strawberry plant going in, and we’re all really exhausted, and we just can’t wait to eat it, and eat everything else we planted,” said Guevara.

South Los Angeles is known for its lack of  fresh, organic produce. Upmarket grocers like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s don’t have South L.A. locations, and while the number of farmers markets has increased near Downtown Los Angeles, South L.A. still has just a few.

Locals also struggle for access to fresh food for other reasons, said Florence Nishida, founder of LA Green Grounds. Her organization aims to bring people together around the common cause of healthy eating through edible gardening.

“Our mission is… to produce a garden and build something that’s beautiful but also yields bounty that is healthy, fresh and pesticide-free,” said Nishida. [Read more…]

23rd Street Cafe is a fusion experience



By Tanaya Ghosh

Listen to an audio story from Annenberg Radio News.

Ever craved Indian food and Mexican food at the same time, and couldn’t decide where to go? Why not take both cuisines and roll them up into a burrito? That’s what 23rd Street Cafe does, and it does it well.

imageInside 23rd Street Cafe. (Photo by Tanaya Ghosh)

This place blends cuisines together seamlessly. If you’ve ever wondered what a samosa sandwich or a chicken curry taco tastes like, here’s your chance to taste for yourself.

23rd Street Café is on the corner of Portland Street and 23rd Street, just south of Downtown LA. It’s decorated in USC colors and memorabilia, and its close proximity to USC makes this humble yet spacious
eatery a popular destination for students. But the eclectic menu that combines Indian, Mexican and American fare appeals to local residents as well.

The breakfast burrito and chicken tikka masala burrito are some of the most popular items on the menu. The breakfast burrito’s fluffy egg contrasts nicely with the crispy strips of bacon. Hash browns blanket
the interior, and give the burrito more body and bite.

imageThe chicken tikka masala burrito combines the popular Indian dish with traditional burrito fillings. Chicken tikka masala consists of roasted chicken chunks, called tikka. The chicken is covered in a spicy,
or masala, sauce often made with tomato puree, cream and spices. If that’s not spicy enough for you, try adding the tangy house salsa verde to your burrito of choice.

Being of Indian heritage, I can tell you that although tikka masala is not a household staple, it is a popular dish with Indians and non-Indians alike. It’s perfect for eating out, or for special occasions.

The tikka masala burrito was a bit messier to eat than its breakfast counterpart, so I wouldn’t recommend ordering it on a first date!

For more information on 23rd Street Cafe, you can visit their website here.

Fish shack in Crenshaw a hidden gem



By Tanaya Ghosh
Listen to an audio story by Annenberg Radio News


Some of the best hidden gems in L.A. are tiny, unassuming eateries — and Mel’s Fish Shack is a prime example. If you’re a fan of delicious Cajun-style seafood fried up in a “homey,” friendly atmosphere, Mel’s is the spot for you.

The best part? Mel’s won’t force you to break the bank. Nearly everything on the menu is under $12. image

Mel’s Fish Shack is located in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. The fish is served fresh from their market — which you can visit just a few blocks away.

Once the staff discovered we were first timers, we couldn’t stop the flow of free samples. “This is your first time here,” the cook insisted, “And we’re gonna take good care of you.”

One of the best samples? The creamy, dreamy crab soup. The soup is available only on Mondays when Mel’s gets their fresh crab. The shells are cooked right in the pot, infusing a richer taste into the soup.

I ordered the grilled red snapper with grilled vegetables. We also ordered a fillet of sole, fried in a light Southern-style cornmeal batter.

The warm side of hush puppies are crunchy, springy soft bites of heaven in a deep fried ball. Dip them into Mel’s signature garlic-dill tartar sauce or hot sauce and they’re even more delicious.

Now, I’m picky with seafood. But Mel’s totally won me over. The grilled fish is amazingly fresh, and has no fishy taste. Each cut is firm and subtly seasoned with Cajun spices that give it a slightly spicy kick. The flavor of the fish really shines through.

Mel’s Fish Shack is a hole-in-the-wall adventure that’s totally worth it. You might come for the fresh seafood, but you’ll keep coming back for the excellent hospitality.

If you want to check it out for yourself, visit melsfishshack.com.