#gnawsh

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The 12 Days of Christmas

About four years ago, my husband and I put our heads together and decided the “12 Days of Christmas” should be more than just a song; rather, it should be free license to unapologetically consume unlimited food and drink on twelve occasions preceding Christmas. Yeah, we like it.

One place we always make our way to is the Red Lion Tavern in Silverlake- a German-inspired beer garden complete with fräuleins in the traditional garb. The environment is cute and kitschy and cozy, and you just never know who’s going to be manning the piano. We used to go here more often for the “hang” despite the fact that with every subsequent visit we realized the food isn’t very good at all, but rather is an accessory to the beers. 

Regardless, I still have to recommend this place around the holidays, even if you just stop by for a scalded cup of gluewein and a walnut cake so hard you could build your house with it. It’s fun and silly and you can’t help but have a good time.

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Food for Thought~The Mediterranean Diet

I'm a bona fide Hellenophile; not by birthright, but as a true admirer of a people and culture that just charm the pants off me. Had it been a different heritage I married into, I might not have taken so well to, say, 

Dancing around a whole lamb on a rotisserie to celebrate Christ 

Spitting three times to ward off the "evil eye" 

Agreeing to an Orthodox baptism at 27 years old so I could have a traditional Greek wedding 

I did it willingly and enthusiastically because I feel a deep connection to the all things Hellenic.

I had the luxury of visiting Greece in June of this year and, unsurprisingly, it reinforced the love I feel for the country and the identification I increasingly adopt as a part of who I am. 

The Greeks are the warmest and most welcoming people I’ve come across in Europe. Even amidst the economic turmoil, they keep a tight grip on their outlets for pleasure and relaxation. Chief among these are cigarettes (boo), however, their cuisine remains the fullest expression of one of the oldest and proudest cultures. 

And, while we ate incredibly well, I did notice something surprising. People were heavy---like American heavy. Now, I certainly don't have the data to deduce that this is a reflection of the country as a whole, but, I came across a really troubling article today. It is being reported that a staggering 75% of Greece's adult population is overweight or obese. Apparently, traditional Greek food, which is regarded as nutritionally optimal, is being threatened by American eating trends, and a new wave of convenience eating has swooped in. This BUMS me out. 

[gnawsh-blog]

$4.99 for 16 oz of customized, freshly-squeezed juice at Farm Boy in Sherman Oaks. #score!!!!

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A note on the tone of Gnawsh Blog~

Those who know me well will tell you I hardly show ladylike restraint when called upon to give my two cents about restaurants. A year’s worth of culinary schooling, working in some top kitchens, and stuffing my face around the globe for the better part of a decade, serve as my point of reference when evaluating quality, authenticity, and flavor. I’m not an “authority” on the subject per se, but I do believe I have sufficient experience to draw on.

I try to always put things into perspective, focusing primarily on what the establishment is going for. What are they trying to be? While one might show preference with respect to taste factor, you really can’t compare polarized concepts and varying quality, which stems from cost, which stems from resources, which ultimately speaks to what the eatery is “going for.” It’s culinary relativity. 

Los Angeles is making sizable improvements in the food arena. However, I think it’s just the nature of the beast that for every great spot, there are several duds. And while it would make for a juicier blog, I have made a decision to focus my time and energy highlighting the good. As tempting as it is for me to slam a terrible meal I’ve wasted money on, I’d rather shift toward the progressions. Are you impressed yet?

Of course………I am still me. So, if you want it right between the eyes, I’d be more than happy to recalibrate my moral compass and rage with you about restaurant catastrophes. However, for the sake of my more grown-up blog, I’ll leave that to the private messaging medium.

xx

Gnawsh