M Street Kitchen

M Street Kitchen is my favorite restaurant in Santa Monica. Now I'm not from the there but this is my favorite restaurant if I am in the area. 

To start with there is a parking lot underneath the building and there is street parking if necessary. That right there is a plus for me because I hate looking for parking or the lack thereof. 

The ambiance is perfect on the few occasions that I have visited. The staff have all been very friendly and helpful. You can enjoy sitting inside and outside. Outside they are sure to sit you near a heating lamp which creates the perfect environment for a romantic night or an evening with friends.

Next there was the menu I have gone in the evening for happy hour and in the morning for brunch and breakfast; both menus offer a variety of food without overwhelming you. They offer your basic items but don't be fooled there is nothing basic about the taste. Each and every single item taste fresh and especially made just for you. The wait time for our food was appropriate with the meals. 

As we sat down water was brought to us which was perfect because it gives you time to think of a drink you may want without feeling so thirsty and rushing to decide what you want. You get your own glass bottle for your table and more if necessary.

Now to start we had the Nachos, which were topped with chicken, cheese, guacamole, cilantro,  and a tomato sauce. They were everyone's favorite right out of the gate. 

Pulled Chicken Nachitos 

 For all those like me who love California roll but don't always have it readily available, theirs was pretty good. 

California Roll

 Next was the Organic tomato gazpacho, which is a treat to say. This was a tomato based soup served cold. Now I think it would have gone perfect with a grilled cheese but it was good anyways. 

Organic Tomato Gazpacho

The cheeseburger was the star of the show for some. It was the best thing many had eaten, the meat was tender, juicy and tasted fresh. Now a burger for me can be tricky because a lot of restaurants overcook the meat, but they got it just right. With plenty of cheese and just big enough to fit into my mouth. It is worth ordering this delectable little morsel. 

The Cheeseburger

 For me however my Pièce de résistance  was the fried chicken. Now some of you may be thinking why would you go with the fried chicken of all things on the menu. I  will tell you why because so many people get it wrong. Friend chicken can be dry, it can be oily, it can be all together wrong. But not at M Street. I mean the chicken was perfectly hot, moist all around, perfectly crispy. It was fried chicken done right.  The cole slaw was a good side dish but the biscuit was heaven on a plate. Now on the side you get honey and a poblano honey butter and that my friend was perfect on anything. You know what I mean that one sauce that goes great with everything. Well the Paula Deen in me came out and I wanted butter on everything. 

Country-fried chicken

 They also offer a wide variety of drink but if you love Sangria like my wife does I recommend the white one. I didn't try red but I like the white and I don't like Sangria so that says a lot. 

White Sangria

 Needless to say if I am in the area rest assured that I will be eating at M Street Kitchen. Happy Eating to everyone.

M Street Kitchen 

200 Main Street Santa Monica, CA

(310) 396-9145

Christmas 2012

Christmas Dinner was a family affair. You have food and you have presents what more could you want. Peace and happiness in the world? I'm asking too much, yeah I know.

Growing up Christmas Eve was the big day. I don't know if it's the same for others, but for our family Christmas wasn't a big deal. You see for us we spend Christmas Eve making this big meal and eat in the afternoon with any family that comes over to exchange presents.

I remember going to other houses and getting dressed up when I was younger. We would walk in with presents and hand them out and then people would offer us a meal and of course you say yes. Unless, now here's the kicker, unless you have made plans to eat at someone else's house. As a kid I hated that part because you're hungry all day you can't eat and then you have to drive around to people's houses that smell like heaven, torture.

Finally when you arrive at the house which your parents have agreed to eat at you feel like you can inhale and breath in all the wonderful smells. You exchange presents and then bam plates are handed to you. You don't even have to sit at a table because there are so many people and not enough seats. I would just find a nice spot on a couch where my drink was easily accessible. That was awesome for me. Once we were done eating you would hang out with the kid closest to you in age and wait to either go home or for midnight to open presents.

Once morning came along it was time for opening presents and that was Christmas for me. Now that I'm older and cook the meals and we no longer visit anyone its all about the meals. My parents have stopped trying to guess what I want so a few days before they ask what I want and I usually order it online or drag them with me to the store so they hand the nice person their credit card.

Now for the rundown of our wonderful meal. For dinner I went non-traditional, because I just hate being predictable and I like trying new things.

Every holiday everyone whines for the last couple of hours before the meal that they're hungry and when will the food be ready. So this time I made nachos as an appetizer. Using festive red and green chips a layer of beans, a layer of cheese, another of chips, a layer of beans, cheese, chicken and more cheese. Lastly was the sour cream and guacamole.


Next was a blue cheese, pecan salad with a red wine vinegrette.

Along with Caprese. 

Then came the main course, potato salad, chorizo with a pesto sauce, forbidden rice, honey glazed ham and garlic bread.

Potato Salad

Forbidden Rice

Garlic Bread

Unfortunately, the family was so hungry that a few items were unavailable for pictures.  

Honey glazed ham

So until I see you again in a few days when the next meal is served, enjoy your left overs. 

LACMA

Museums are made to be enjoyed. When I was growing up I remember going and never understanding what was so exciting. Then again for some reason in High School they thought that we should go to the Museum of Tolerance. Now if you have never been or don't know what it is let me explain. It is a museum where they challenge the visitor to understand the Holocaust as it was then and how it affects us now. It is very difficult to go through the whole museum and not question what is wrong with humanity.

As I am older and have a better understanding of life I have tried museums again with new eyes. I recently went to LACMA and I am glad that my wife wanted to go. 

There are several buildings with different forms of art. My favorite part is the fact that you are in the presence of what our society reveres as greatness. They have a few pieces from Andy Warhol, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Now I am not an art enthusiast but I can appreciate history. These artist have influenced art for years now.  

Seeing the beauty in art is in the eye of the beholder. Now I do not have a preference for any artist in particular but that is because my knowledge of art is very minuscule, but growing. Although I personally prefer Picasso's earlier work, I'm not really clear on what was going on in his later cubism work. They also have several sculptures by him and Matisse. Picasso's work was said to be influenced by Matisse and together they revolutionized  the arts.

Later work

Early work

They have a Ken Price exhibition, with pieces which are made of clay and finely painted. These sculptures are very abstract and up for interpretation as to what they look like. It is beautiful to see the intricacy with which these items are made. Try doing a psychology experiment of your own to see what comes to mind when you look at each object. 

My favorite was a section of art from the 1950's which was more to my liking. They have a few pieces by Andy Warhol, which are the ones I recognized. Especially the Campbell's soup can.

The last item on the agenda was the Levitated Mass. A lot of people have heard about this piece of rock because of the cost, the time and the journey of this rock. 

Cost: $10,000,000 (YES, $10 Million) 

Time: 1969-2012 (43 years)

Journey: 105 Miles 

Levitated Mass


I am not a fan of the work but I respect that some may see beauty in it.

Urban Lights



202 Cast Iron lamps that once graced the beautiful city of Los Angeles. They look symmetrical but from different vantage points they form different angles and perspectives.

Lastly we have a few pictures of art I found interesting or relevant to my life. I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did. If you're wondering why I didn't have more pictures of the more famous artists well FYI not all galleries allow pictures.

Alice in Wonderland 

This was my view in their huge elevator.  It fits a lot of people. 

This piece is the crossing of main streets in LA; Santa Monica, Melrose and La Brea. When you live in LA knowing where these streets are is pretty relevant. 

This was a tree my wife took a picture that she really liked but now can't remember anything about it.   Oops

Walter de Maria's: The 2000 Sculpture.  It's a play on the positions of each item and some rows have different shaped items. I don't really understand it but apparently they are separated by very specific measurements. 

Jobs

I'm relatively young especially in this economic market. I mean I'm allowed to still live with my parents because of the recession. I did already graduate from college and life isn't all peaches and cream sometimes.

Anyway, I know the economy is tough for so many. I remember growing up with the idea that you go to college get a degree and then BAM! you have this great job and that wasn't the case. I come from an immigrant family and I wasn't the first to go to college. I have 2 cousins who have Bachelors and one who is a Pharmacy Technician as well as a brother with and Engineering degree. We are all kind of smart, but none of that means anything in this economy.

I graduated and was making more money at my part-time job, per hour than I would have as a Behavioral Therapist full time. Doesn't that suck, I mean how many of us haven't been in that position. I read somewhere that getting a job nowadays is like being in a lesbian relationship. You either do it over the internet or you have to know someone for a referral.

Point of all this is that we are al in the same boat. It isn't easy and it isn't just you. I have friends who sometimes say my parents ask about getting married and having kids and all this other stuff and I'm not in a situation where I'm financially stable. I agree. I mean I want kids but not under such unstable conditions. During our parents times you could get two jobs anywhere. Nowadays it seems like you have to be unqualified and uneducated to get a mediocre job because or else they think your just expecting too much.

Sometimes I have encountered hiring managers who have said that when they see resumes of people who are overqualified I don't hire them because I think they can do better. But then I think if someone is applying it's because they need it. As I said earlier don't give up the right job will find you. Just keep trying don't give up and in the mean time find something you love to do and enjoy it. Once that perfect job comes around you won't have time for what you love. Although a word advice find what you love and do that for a living.

Holidays

The Holidays are here and for those who have family, they know how annoying it can be. The 20 question game where everyone wants to know what is going on in your personal life. You also have the family who only comes around once a year and wants to catch up on all the gossip.

Its funny how your aunts and uncles will try to use their kids, your cousins, to divulge information from you. Sneaky bastards I tell you, but stay on your toes and trust nobody. At these family gatherings it's every man for themself. I mean when you get cornered you try your hardest to throw it somewhere else. For example, So Johnny who was that girl I saw you with at the movies. The conversation gets the hell away from you and now you are safe.

Then there are always the, so are you seeing anyone or when are the kids coming? But see here is where I am still in the clear I have an older cousin who is neither married nor with children. Although many have lost hope for her because she is in her late 30's and still living at home. I pray for her to find happiness. Personally I think she's gay because a few years ago she moved in with her female Dr. "Friend" and then moved out a year later saying she didn't really like it.  My assumption is she liked it panicked and ran away when shit got real. Then there is my older brother who is also neither married nor with children. Leaving me and 2 younger ones in the clear because hell we're at least still young.

My mother thinks she is the most clever with her questions. 'So my co-worker asked about you. He was saying oh so does your daughter have a boyfriend and she leaves it up in the air like so do you?' No mom I have a wife who I have been with for 7 years and who spends every Holiday with us and whose family I spend every holiday with. I mean seriously how can she not know. My grandmother on the other hand is fine with whatever I do, at the moment I can do no wrong in her eyes. Even when I cut my hair she was totally for it, unlike every other female in the family, who swore it made me gay but didn't say it out loud. Yeah right, me eating pussy makes me gay, me cutting my hair short just makes me even more attractive. I know it sounds conceited, but your are mistaken, its just confidence take my word for it.

I only look to the holidays for one reason and that is the cooking. As you may have previously read in Thanksgiving dinner 2012, I love to cook and I truly enjoy it. I usually plan the menu weeks in advance and since I it takes place at my parents house my father provides the groceries. We stay away from traditional meals mainly because we feel turkey is dry and we tend to crave our ethnic traditional food throughout the year and so it's not as special since we may have just had it a few weeks prior.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to these last two holidays because pretty soon the wedding will be official and the cat will be out of the bag and you never know how anyone will react. My mother has grown a lot over the years so I hope she will at least try to understand but my dad worries me. I think and I'm sure he knows but once you say it out loud shit hits the fan.

So, for everyone out there enjoy your holidays with whoever you have by your side. This is the time we remember the good and forget the bad to enjoy the present. Remember you're still alive and kicking. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.

Innocent Lives Lost

We are all saddened by the loss of so many innocent lives. Many are angry and many are distraught. We all want to know how this could happen? How could God allow for such a tragedy to occur? The lives of innocent people and children were taken. However, it wasn't just those who lost their lives. Think about all those who will have to live with the fact of what they witnessed.

Tragedy and loss are at the forefront. Death is something that each of their parents will have to explain to them. To all these children who watched a life being taken, an innocent soul lost for them I pray. Many parents have lost their children and I don't just mean the little ones. Six women sacrificed their lives to protect others.

I know we want to know why, but knowing why won't solve anything. It won't bring all these children back, it won't ease the pain. Don't worry why it happened, because nothing they say will make it better or easier. I know we all want to hate this person who did this. You see he wasn't an adult he was a kid with a monster inside that was fed pure evil. We can't say he was like the rest of us. I think that his soul was gone. Only a monster within could have caused him to kill so many innocent lives. To look into the eyes of another human being and kill them with no regard is heartless. Hate that monster that made him do it, not God.

A beautiful wise woman once said to me, it isn't that God isn't there it is that they lack God in their life.

My personal view is Love God. For he is the one that was in each adult that sacrificed their lives to save so many children. God was in the heart of all those children who saved a friend that day and led them to safety. Lives were lost, but lives were also saved. Thanks to the humanity within each of those teachers that saved their students lives. So many other lives were sacrificed for these children to make it out. This isn't  a lesson to all of us but an experience for us to live by. It is a loss of innocence and lives being taken but mourn for the lives lost and rejoice for the peace in which they are now in. We are living with pain and hurt and they are now with their maker looking down on us protecting us.

I know that many of us feel that religion isn't exactly on our side and many of us myself included haven't made peace with God. But this is just my thought especially when faced with such a tragedy.      

Being Sick

 I'm sorry I have been away but I have been sick. With wonderful infections such as swollen tonsils, coughing, aches, fevers, runny nose well you get the point. It started on Monday and refuses to give up but I had no choice but to push on since I had to work all day. Finally after a few days I spoke to my mother and she heard I was sick and she reminded me of why I don't tell her I am sick.

I figured I would give you insight into a few home made remedies. Also a few not so home made but trustworthy amongst Hispanic families.

1- Gargle with a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide 3% and water 50/50 and don't swallow. (Tonsil
infection)

2- Gargle with salt water just some salt in water. (Tonsil infection, sore throat, coughing)

3- Ginger tea- 2 Cups of water, 1/2 cup of ginger root sliced, a cinnamon stick and the juice of one lemon.  Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 10 minutes. It will be spicy because of the ginger so if you're not a fan put less. When you drink a cup you can add honey according to your sweet tooth.

 

 4- Vick's Vapo Rub- You can rub it anywhere and everywhere in their opinion. Main places to rub chest, back, arm pits, soles of your feet and nose. Any where else is at your own risk. It will also help with acne for some people. All this is at your own risk, read the label for appropriate uses.

5- When taking a shower add rubbing alcohol to the water. You can fill a bucket if you have one and just use some sort of object to pour it on yourself. Keep away from eyes or open wounds. Remember all at your own risk.

6- Lastly and the most recently added is Thera-flu. Self explanatory just follow the label on the box.

A Day at The Museum

Every first weekend of the month, Bank of America cardholders can attend many different museums for free, just by presenting their card. If I am free I like to go exploring this vast city and what it has to offer that I won't find anywhere else.

On Sunday I spent a few hours at The Gene Autry Museum. This museum is dedicated to Western History and culture, it also combines various Native American perspectives. 

It is actually the first major American museum to recognize the support of the LGBT community to the American West. It started when a curator brought in the exhibit of shirts worn in Brokeback Mountain. They also have a section on the influence of the LGBT community in the West which has been very understated over the years by media. 

As you walk in there is a California's Designing Women Exhibit spanning from 1896-1986. It  displays different creations by women of the west specifically California. It includes, bathing suits, barbies, surf boards, glass designing, clothes and much more. Women in our society are still not seen as equals and this exhibit brings to the forefront so many local women who have been a great influence in design. Unfortunately, no photography was allowed in this section.

There is also an exhibit of Community, which interprets the West from a racial, ethnic and religious point of view. The saloon or bar was the center of many western communities. A classic saloon is displayed in the center of this exhibit. There is also a Billy the Kid Riffle for anyone who is interested. 

They have a cinema section called Imagination, where you can see many of the costumes worn by cowboys in Hollywood. Included are Gene Autry, John Wayne, Roy Rogers, James Arness and Duncan Renaldo. As for women there is Patsy Montana, Betty Hutton, and Katherine Hepburn.  They also have artifacts from Thelma and Louise and Brokeback Mountain. 

Their is a Colt gallery which is dedicated to the Colt Revolver and its influence on the West. It explores the different revolvers over time. They also have one especially made for their museum for the 175th Anniversary of the Colt.

Outdoors there is a beautiful waterfall for all those who love pictures. It is a great background for you and a "friend."

Needless to say I enjoyed myself and the exploration of the West. Try it out sometime when you have nothing to do and your in LA. It's across from the LA Zoo, also a great place to check out. Have fun and enjoy.