Author Archives: Kiki Maraschino

About Kiki Maraschino

I like catfish. Sure, we all like catfish, but I think for me it is somehow deeper.

Saturday in SF

Posted on August 23, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

Tommy’s Joynt Saturday my brother and nephews picked me up for a day of sightseeing and to sample the kind of local dives they know I love. We started out with lunch at a disappearing San Francisco institution, a hofbrau. … Continue reading →

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San Francisco 1

Posted on August 20, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

As timing would have it, my trip to San Francisco last week came right on the heels of Michael Bauer’s controversial article, The Dish on Los Angeles. Unlike many Angelinos, I did not get the impression that his article was … Continue reading →

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The mysteries of Dinah’s

Posted on August 3, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

The Mysteries of Dinah’s Fried Chicken When Alan Arkin freaks out in the beginning of Little Miss Sunshine, shouting, “Again with the fucking chicken! It’s always with the goddamn fucking chicken!” all I could do was stare at the instantly … Continue reading →

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Dressing up at La Scala

Posted on July 26, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

When I was a little girl, my dad didn’t have the means for fancy restaurants, but his boss sure did. Every once in awhile, he would take my parents out for a special dinner in Beverly Hills. My mom would … Continue reading →

Posted in Los Angeles | 2 Comments

Cheese is the new Wine

Posted on July 17, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

I love food. I love talking about food. I can spend hours discussing the merits of different mustards, or trying to figure out the mystery flavor in a pasta sauce. But I think food should be accessible. It should not … Continue reading →

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Throw a vegan-friendly BBQ!

Posted on July 5, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

Like most people, I have gone through my vegetarian phases, my vegan phases and the worst of all – my low-carb phase. So my cooking is pretty versatile. I have a lot of vegan friends who love barbecues, and it … Continue reading →

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Cajun 3-way Cafe Boogaloo

Posted on June 30, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

Cafe Boogaloo arrived on the scene in Hermosa Beach in 1995, around the same time I moved back to my hometown. It was the perfect place to meet up with old friends or to have a drink with first dates. … Continue reading →

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A Cajun 3-Way: New Orleans

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

Just a block down from Ragin Cajun, New Orleans occupies a space that used to be a 50s cafe, and you can still see traces of that design. The interior is a long diner counter, with tables lining the wall. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cajun, New Orleans | 1 Comment

Cajun 3-way Rajin Cajun

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

Hermosa Beach is one lucky town. Not only do they have the beautiful beach and the ocean breezes, but they have lucked out in the restaurant department. They are home to not one, but three New Orleans-inspired eateries: Ragin Cajun, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cajun, catfish | 3 Comments

Vitello’s

Posted on June 12, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

After flirting with local hipsters Aroma and Alcove, I thought maybe what I needed was someone older, more distinguished. A real gentleman. Someone who would pay for my valet parking and make sure my glass was never empty. Someone who … Continue reading →

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And There’s the Rub

Posted on June 10, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

A rub is simply a mixture of herbs and spices that can be rubbed into the meat before grilling or smoking. The longer the rub is on, the more the flavors will permeate the meat. But it can also be … Continue reading →

Posted in Recipes | 5 Comments

What Have You Been Smoking?

Posted on June 7, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

It is officially barbeque season! If you’ve already mastered grilling, and are ready to move up to the next level, welcome to the world of smoking. Just remember, grilling is like a one-night stand and smoking is like a marriage. … Continue reading →

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Alcove – on the Rebound

Posted on June 3, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

While I was deciding whether or not to break things off with Aroma, I thought I might go check out the sister restaurant, Alcove. I mean, it was right there on the way to Wacko. It would almost be rude … Continue reading →

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Has Aroma Called Back Yet?

Posted on May 22, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

Have you ever gone out with someone who was so attractive that you were never really sure if you were good enough for them? And sometimes they treated you like shit because they knew they could get away with it? … Continue reading →

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Attention Customers! Do You Know What You Want?

Posted on May 17, 2007 by Kiki Maraschino

It seems like good restaurants tend to cluster together. Maybe it is an ancient herding instinct. One neighborhood that is happening of late is Crenshaw and Adams. To see it today, you would never know that this corner has an … Continue reading →

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