The Buffalo Wild Weiner from S'Links

The Buffalo Wild Weiner from S'Links, originally uploaded by ~db~.

From my second visit to S'Links, the Buffalo Wild Weiner (their spelling) is their natural casing 8" frank topped with blue cheese, chopped celery, and both buffalo ranch and wing sauce. This all inside a puffy Monrovia Bakery bun.

It was very good, though like my first dog there was a bit too much bread left over. Since this was taken, they've changed the bun, making it a bit longer and more narrow. Also they are now making it with cheddar or Swiss cheese, which is unfortunate since it worked so well with the blue cheese. Hot dog, about $6.

S'Links Memphis Dog

S'Links Memphis Dog, originally uploaded by ~db~.

S'Links is a new gourmet hot dog place which opened down the street from my home a couple months ago. This Memphis Dog is from its first or second night of being officially opened.

It's an 8" beef frank, with two bacon slices, a Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce, sliced green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese. That's all set into a custom bun made by the local Monrovia Bakery. It's a good dog. The slightly obscene frank is nice and beefy, if a bit bigger than I'm used to (I think they've since slimmed it down a bit), and the toppings are all good. The natural casing provides an terrific snap. The bun is excellent in taste, though it's size meant there was a lot of extra bread in the middle, and not so much on the ends. They've also since adjusted this so the bun is a bit longer and thinner.

It wasn't perfect. I wished the cheese was melted. I wished there was more sauce on the dog. I wish there wasn't so much bread left over. But all in all it was a good start for a new local restaurant and worth a return visit, or two. Hot dog, about $6.

3pm Meatballs & Charred Asparagus

3pm Meatballs & Charred Asparagus, originally uploaded by ~db~.

My go-to meal at Chego during the Summer.

Umami Slashburger

Umami Slashburger, originally uploaded by ~db~.

For my latest trek to Umami Burger in Toluca Lake I had been intending on finally trying out their Original Burger. But when I sat down I was reminded about their special Slashburger, named for the former Guns 'n Roses guitarist. It's a couple of dollars more expensive than their other burgers, but at least one of those dollars is to be sent to the Los Angeles Youth Network, so there's that. The burger starts with the standard Umami Portuguese bun and house-ground beef burger, with braised shiitake mushrooms, caramelized onions, house American cheese, avocado spread, wasabi aioli. It's then topped a Parmesan crisp, which looks a bit more Kommunity FK than GnR, but still a nice touch.

The burger was pretty fantastic. The wasabi aioli especially opened up the flavor. And it's a great example of why that big puffy bun is the perfect way to sop up all the juicy juice. And as with other times I've enjoyed an Umami burger, I ate every bit of it, which is not something I can say about most burgers I order. Definitely worth it. Burger, about $15.

Dirty Laundry

Dirty Laundry, originally uploaded by ~db~.

It was Sunday and time to clean clothes. Fortunately one of the local laundromats is next door to Baja Mar Fish Taco, a favorite of mine. Rather than going with my usual order of fish tacos, I went with the menudo.

It's a fine menudo. Nothing bad about it, it's pretty much the same bowl I can get at any number of good Mexican places around the Southland. It's not the transcendent menudo of the now-closed Sahuayo, but it's surely something I'll order again while waiting for my raiment to dry. Menudo, under $10.