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Rodeo Mexican Grill - Los Angeles

It's no secret that my new home in Virginia is chock full of horrible Mexican food. Locals try to point me in the proper direction, but I'm disappointed time and time again. Those who have ever spent an appreciable amount of time in California, especially Southern, know the difference.

Needless to say when our plane landed at LAX, all I wanted was Mexican. Thankfully, my quest helped discover a hidden gem in the middle of LA.

My soon-to-be in-laws hipped me to Rodeo Mexican Grill in the Pico Union area. To be honest, I have no idea how long it's been on the unsuspecting corner of Olympic and Union but it looked fairly new. Apparently my fiance's grandmother unearthed this spot, introduced it to his parents who then turned us on. What a treat!

This edition of Rodeo was impressive to start as it had a dedicated parking lot, something you don't see too often for an inexpensive spot other than In-N-Out or McDonald's. The restaurant itself was on the small side, but boy did they pack 'em in. Meander through the switchback velvet rope dividers to place your order as you look at the amateur food photography. (Kind of like my iPhone shot. Lighting was dark and I wasn't prepared to like this place so much.)

Ciudad Turns 10 - Los Angeles, CA

I have a special fondness for Ciudad. Not only does it have incredible pan-Latin food and was literally a stones throw away from where I worked in Downtown LA, but I had the pleasure of staging there (fancy French word for intern) for a month while in culinary school. What an amazing experience.

(Pay close attention to the flatbread dusted in various seeds and spices on the table before you order. I earned one gnarly burn balancing three scalding hot sheetpans making those bad boys. A Ciudad scar I wear proudly.)

I got this once in a lifetime opportunity from Chef Beni Velasquez when he was Executive Chef there. Not only that, I was fortunate enough to meet co-owner Susan Feniger while staging there, one half of the infamous "Too Hot Tamales". Only in LA...