Olé! Spain Delishop is open in Santa Ana

When a friend in Orange County alerted me that Olé! Spain Delishop had opened in Santa Ana, I made a note to check it out next time I was nearby. Over the weekend, I had the chance to visit the spare, simple cafe and shop.

Shelves are lined with hard-to-find products imported from Spain — nyora peppers (essential for an authentic romanesco sauce), olives, anchovies, olive oils, vinegars, saffron, paprika, paella rice, beans, nougat, cookies and more. There’s a case of imported cheeses carefully marked, Spanish soft drinks, bottled sangría and at the very back of the space, a refrigerated case stuffed with all sorts of Spanish charcuterie, most from La Espagnola Meats in Harbor City. You can pick up jamon serrano, butifarra, Vic sausage, Pamplona chorizo and many more examples of Spain's extensive sausage and chorizo repertoire.

A board lists bocatas (Spanish-style sandwiches) — and they’re terrific. Made on a perfect crusty loaf, “La Española” features jamon serrano, dry-cured sausage, Manchego cheese and velvety piquillo peppers, while the "Catalana" loads on Vic sausage, Pamplona chorizo and butifarra sausage. All of the five sandwiches on offer come with olives and capers. 

Owners Sarah and Javier Bañuelos also have a few tapas and make a traditional tortilla, the Spanish omelet laced with potato, to order. 

All in all, a fine spot for a quick lunch or to pick up Spanish ingredients for a recipe. 

Olé! Spain Delishop, 136 W. MacArthur Blvd. (at Main Street), Santa Ana; (714) 966-1087; www.olespaindelishop.com. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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-- S. Irene Virbila
Twitter.com/sirenevirbila

Photos: Scanned menu. Courtesy Olé! Spain Delishop.

Mendocino Farms set to open in West Hollywood on Thursday

Mendocino Farms plans to open its newest location on Thursday in the West Hollywood Gate complex at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. It's the fourth location for the growing "sandwich market" mini-empire in as many years, with two Mendocino Farms downtown and one in Marina del Rey. Another is planned for 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue, across the street from the Original Farmers Market/Grove.

Meanwhile, Mendocino Farms owners Ellen Chen and Mario del Pero announce they will open Blue Cow Kitchen & Bar, a "sandwich think tank," in the restaurant that is currently Casa. Blue Cow, in the California Plaza on Grand Street, will feature sandwiches from Mendocino Farms chef Judy Han as well as guest chefs such as Jason Travi, who is creating the restaurant's "new school burger." Blue Cow's kitchen, which also will turn out dishes such as tofu tater tots with sweet red chile sauce and porchetta seasoned with wild fennel, will be helmed by Joshua Smith, formerly of Church & State. 

Mendocino Farms West Hollywood, 7100 Santa Monica Blvd., www.mendocinofarms.com.  

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-- Betty Hallock

Photo: Mendocino Farms West Hollywood by Betty Hallock/Los Angeles Times

Pack or pick up a picnic this summer

Whether you’re heading to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl (or the Ford or the Greek…), a star-gazing party at the Griffith Observatory or out to one of Southern California’s many beaches, summer promises warmer, longer-lasting days and is reason enough to pack a picnic to enjoy the season-to-be-spent-outdoors.

And if you’re too busy to pack your own, there are plenty of local eateries happy to do it for you -- for a price, of course:

The Larder at Tavern: The shop offers many worldly (or locally, ahem) themed picnic boxes including “The Matador,” “The Brentwood,” “The All-American” and “The Young Frenchman.” The All-American picnic box comes with fried chicken with buttermilk dressing, an avocado, cilantro and lime corn salad, a watermelon salad with tomato, mint and feta, a baguette, a lemon shortbread bar for dessert and a Chardonnay wine pairing. Picnics are $28 per box. 11648 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, (310) 806-6466, tavernla.com.

Joan’s on Third: The picnic box at Joan’s is filled with a bounty of items from their picnic menu, available only during the summer months; entrees include the chicken Milanese, grilled maple rosemary chicken breast and poached salmon, salads, cheese and salami plates, desserts such as the rustic apple pie and mini lemon bundt cake. There are wine suggestions to go with it. 8350 West 3rd St., L.A., (323) 655-2285, joansonthird.com.

Porta Via: The Italian eatery packs a picnic box for Pasadena Symphony and POPS goers. Traditional picnic boxes are $16 per person and contain an orzo pasta salad with feta and spinach, one of their signature sandwiches, like the Fra Mani artisan salami and fresh mozzarella with balsamic reduction on a baguette, and a house-made cookie. 1 W. California Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 793-9000, portaviafoods.com.

Susan Feniger’s Street: For a different take on a picnic, there's Street’s Bento Box. Filled with dishes from around the world, the box includes a tasting of a Thai eggplant salad, a Japanese potato salad, an Egyptian macaroni kushary with lentil and rice, heirloom tomatoes with coarse salt and black garlic aioli, one entrée like the Syrian lamb meatballs or the Tunisian chicken skewers and a sweet such as bourbon chocolate cherry cookies. The Bento boxes are $25 per box. 742 N. Highland Ave., L.A., (323) 203-0500, eatatstreet.com.  

Clementine: This neighborhood bakery-café offers a Hollywood Bowl picnic (not exclusively for those going to the venue but you get the idea), available at the end of this week. Buy a picnic-in-a-box or build your own with items from their early summer menu. For a night outing, bring in a thermos and they’ll fill 'er up with hot chocolate or chai. 1751 Ensley Ave., L.A., (310) 552-1080, clementineonline.com.

Olive & Thyme: The recently opened Toluca Lake cafe offers old-fashioned wire picnic baskets filled with salads, sandwiches, charcuterie, cheese, wine and desserts. 4013 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, (818) 557-1560, oliveandthyme.com.

Julienne: “Le Pique-Nique” menu at Julienne boasts a long list of savory and sweet picnic eats. A few worthy mentions are the Southwest chicken tenders with a spicy apricot sauce and the petite terrine with crackers, a platter of assorted spreads, cheese, dried fruit and nuts to share and nibble on in between sips of one of the gourmet market's chilled summer wines. 2649 Mission St., San Marino, (626) 441-2299, juliennetogo.com.

Know of any other L.A. eateries making picnics-to-go this summer? Comment on this post and let us know!

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Top photo: Joan's on Third picnic. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Bottom photo: Susan Feniger's Street bento box. Credit: Lesley Balla

Grilled cheese as far as the eye could see

 
What a cheesy event. That's a compliment, of course, to the Second Eighth Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational, held Saturday near downtown L.A. (as the name suggests, the contest doesn't take itself too seriously). Thousands were in attendance to enjoy music, culinary showdowns, food trucks, and wash it all down in a beer and wine garden. And then there was the grilled cheese competition, featuring more than 200 sandwiches. I lucked out and was asked to help judge, and award a trophy to my favorite grilled cheese 'wich.

I wish I could have given everyone an award just for the sheer creativity of the variety of fillings. 

Small Bites: Drago Centro's panini bar; red velvet goes vegan at Sprinkles

It's good to be vegan: Babycakes isn't the only vegan-cupcake game in town. Sprinkles has announced that "after months of testing, trials and research," it is unveiling new vegan and gluten-free versions of its signature red velvet cupcake. They'll be available at all Sprinkles starting Monday. The vegan red velvet cupcake is made with soy milk, tofu-based cream cheese and pure coconut oil. Gluten-free red velvet is made with gluten-free flour and topped with Sprinkles' original cream cheese frosting. See www.sprinkles.com for locations. 

Call me Dagwood: Downtown's sandwich options keep expanding: There are now two branches of Mendocino Farms; the Lazy Ox, now open for lunch, is serving oyster po' boys and shrimp rolls along with grilled cheese and its signature burger; and now Drago Centro introduces its panini bar. Made-to-order sandwiches can be eaten at the restaurant bar or ordered to go, such as fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil ($9); pork sausage with onions, peppers and garlic aioli ($9.50); Kobe meatballs with arrabiata sauce ($9.50); and porchetta with Gorgonzola dolce, fig mustard and arugula ($9.50). Cookies (pistachio and orange biscotti) are $2. Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 525 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, (213) 228-8998, www.dragocentro.com.

-- Betty Hallock

Photo: Sprinkles' red velvet cupcakes. Credit: Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times

L.A.'s best New York-style delis

If reading today's Food section story about David Sax and his hunt for the perfect pastrami sandwich made you hungry, here's a wildly subjective list of the best New York or Jewish-style delicatessens in Los Angeles -- with a certain deli missing from the list. Feel free to comment.

Calling all fressers! You can meet Sax next week, when he hosts a discussion, "Save the Deli" book-signing and nosh at Langer's. It happens Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 2:30 p.m., but registration for the event end Saturday.

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: A pastrami on rye is served up at Langer's Deli in Los Angeles, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2007. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Grilled Cheese Truck hosts 'pre-melt' at Farmer's Kitchen in Hollywood

The Grilled Cheese Truck hosted what was, hands-down, the cheesiest event in all of Hollywood this weekend -- and in the vicinity of the Cahuenga Corridor, that's no mean feat. Hype has been building to an almost deafening roar since chef Dave Danhi announced in mid-September that he would roll out the Grilled Cheese Truck. On Sunday night, he hosted a "pre-melt" at the Farmer's Kitchen in Hollywood. When Danhi quietly announced the event Thursday morning on his Twitter feed, the sign-up list filled up in less than two hours. But last night,  Danhi opened the event to the public.

On the menu: the plain and simple melt with either American or cheddar cheese; the cheesy mac and rib melt with mac 'n cheese, barbecued pork and caramelized onions; the caprese melt with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil; and a dessert sandwich of marshmallows, Nutella and bananas.

In attendance: chef Roy Choi from Kogi; Tim Walker, the mayor of the Grilled Cheese Invitational; cookbook author and tasting tour guide Robert Danhi (who happens to be Dave Danhi's brother); and anyone who likes hot, gooey cheese between two pieces of grilled, buttery bread.

[Pictures after the jump.]

Grilled Cheese Truck to host 'pre-melt' at Farmer's Kitchen at Hollywood Farmers Market

[UPDATE 12:36 p.m.: sign-ups for the "pre melt" are full, but there is a waiting list in case of cancellations.]

While readying the Grilled Cheese Truck to roll out, chef Dave Danhi quietly announced via Twitter this morning that he'll be hosting a pre-melt this Sunday, Oct. 11 at the Farmer's Kitchen at the Hollywood Farmers Market. Danhi will be dishing out sandwiches from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Those who want to attend should sign up for the event via the website. Expect a line.

Danhi's been testing a slew of recipes including a traditional cheddar and tomato melt with bacon bits sprinkled into the crust; the Caprese Melt made with heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, balsamic syrup and fresh basil; and the Sweet Sammy (pictured at right) made with King's Hawaiian bread, roasted banana puree and Nutella

--Elina Shatkin

Photo: The Sweet Sammy dessert sandwich from the Grilled Cheese Truck. Credit: Robert Danhi.

Sampler Platter: Vendy Awards, giant burrito eat-off, America's best burgers, Costco comes to New York City (sort of)

A burrito bigger than a baby, the truth about Thousand Island dressing, Korean barbecue in Koreatown and more in today's food news roundup.

-- Street food gets the red-carpet treatment at New York's Vendy Awards. Gourmet
-- Govind Armstrong, executive chef of 8 Oz. Burger Bar, shows you how to make his grilled cheese and short ribs sandwich. Epicurious
-- Essex parts with chef Chris Ennis, trims menu, will expand. Food Fair by Diego opens in Mid-City West. Eater LA
- -Binary Tastebuds and Choisauce compete to see who can eat more of the massive Special Burrito at Manuel's El Tepeyac. L.A. & OC Foodventures
-- America's best burgers. (No L.A. joints on the list.) Travel & Leisure
-- Man starts business delivering low-cost Costco items to New York City residents. New York Times
-- Quarrygirl lists L.A.'s top five omnivorous restaurants for vegans.
-- Where Thousand Island salad dressing and six other condiments get their names. Mental Floss
-- Eating LA checks out the $16.99 all-you-can-eat meal at Hae Jang Chon.
-- Hungry Kat noshes on pork belly, spareribs and stew at Ham Ji Park.
-- Just four days after announcing that its new Vegemite spread would be called iSnack2.0, Kraft says it will axe the name because so many people hate it. News.com.au
--The Boston Globe has a beef with reality cooking shows.
-- Bangladesh rewards farmer who killed more than 83,000 rats in an effort to protect crops. AP
-- First Lady Michelle Obama approaches diet and exercise with moderation and sanity. NY Daily News (On Nov. 10, she'll kick off "Sesame Street's" 40th anniversary season with an appearance that focuses on health and nutrition.)

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Pushcart vendor Lourdes Sanchez of Santa Ana. Credit: Karen Tapia-Anderson / Los Angeles Times

Sampler Platter: Find L.A. food trucks, pet-friendly restaurants and win 52 free dinners

Finally, an easy way to keep up with all of Los Angeles' fancy new food trucks. Plus, a cooking lesson from Christopher Walken.

-- Finding it difficult to keep up with L.A.'s burgeoning nouveau food truck scene? Ever wish someone would collect their locations into a handy website? Now some mad genius has! Find LA Food Trucks
-- Christopher Walken cooks a chicken. YouTube
-- The 50 best things to eat in the world, and where to eat them. L.A.'s one mention: Fosselman's Ice Cream in Alhambra. Guardian
-- Pittsburgh welcomes world leaders with open-faced sandwiches. And pirogi and spaetzle. Los Angeles Times
-- BLD's chef de cuisine Diana Stavaridis is now Tweeting about her nightly plat du jour at @BLDchefD.
-- The Virginia Avenue Project, an after-school program that provides one-on-one mentoring to help kids, is sponsoring a sweepstakes in which the winner receives 52 free meals at a variety of L.A. restaurants: Fig, La Grande Orange, Mastro's Steakhouse and more.
-- OpenTable releases a list of the top top 10 most pet-friendly restaurants in the U.S. including the Farm of Beverly Hills.

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: DeAnna Pappas of "The Bachelorette" and then-fiance Jesse Csincsak enjoy a meal with their pet. Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times