Book Signing at SIPA
The main reason I was down in LA was to be at The Undeniable’s book launch party.
But before the event, I headed down to Orange County to visit a friend and, of course, to eat! Felt like ages since I’ve been in the area. So many things have popped up since I lived down there over five years ago. Still influenced from my last trip, I found out about a Taiwanese place called 85°C Bakery that’s taken the area by storm. I even saw it on the Food Network. Pretty busy place. But on a Saturday before lunch, it wasn’t too bad. Didn’t get to try out the squid ink bun though. It was okay, we just stopped by there before lunch which has to be in Little Saigon. I was in the mood to pig out and we went for steam fish wraps. Oh what a large meal. I know it’s a dinner thing but I can’t find these places up in SF. However, it wasn’t that good and I had eater’s remorse after stuffing myself. No not remorse on how fat I’ll get, but remorse that I should have had smaller meals to hit all the other places I wanted to go. Ugh, I need to make sure I spend more time in Little Saigon next time.
Because before I knew it, it was time for the event. It was held at SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans) and catered by Curbside Cravings, a food truck. Cool eating outside listening to the DJ spin some classic tracks. Luckily I was there early to beat the lines for food and get situated before the audience came. This was a book reading where actors and actresses played out excerpts from the book. They nailed it. Well, except for mine. The actor that read the bulk of my work was struggling with the long descriptives. Ouch, I’ll pick more dialog next time. It’s all a learning process.
After the show we hit up Japan town, which was surprisingly alive. The bars were packed and people were out on the sidewalks looking for a venue. Why wasn’t it like this when I lived in LA. Can’t complain. I was heading to eat at Suehiro Cafe to prep for a night of drinking at Nirvana. Good times.
People coming in and getting situated while the authors sit in the back. Not sure why, but I’d rather be back here then up front.
This burger was topped with a mango-pepper slaw that adds just enough sweetness to a savory burger. It was a bit sloppy, but made up in taste. $6USD
It’s like the hook to a new song. Sign me up, I’ll sing it!
A bit surreal eating a Japanese western style dish in America within a town dedicated to a foreign culture. I’m making it more than it actually is ain’t I? Maybe, but I love this dish. And yes, you must have it with the egg. How else are you going to balance the slow cooked chunks of beef. $9.50USD
You can get this at about any food to go place in Little Saigon. Very sweet and natural, but what makes it so unique is that you have to have it with a squze of kumquat. Seriously. $4USD
You actually wrap this in rice paper to eat. I was actually thinking of the baked version, but this was still good. The place wasn’t a specialty shop for this stuff, but at least everyone else in the restaurant was eating this stuff. Usually a dinner thing, but this is how I roll. It’s dinner somewhere in the world.
At first I thought the drink was okay. That was mainly because I was drinking it to-go. That was, the straw was right down in the coffee. Once I pumped the straw and got some sea salt, it was totally different. Okay became awesome! $3.25USD