I’m feeling a little rusty in my restaurant blogging game, as it’s been several weeks since I’ve ventured out beyond the cheap and (semi) healthy confines of my kitchen. Maybe there’s been a few stops at fast casual joints; some Coffee Bean and some Starbucks. But nothing brand new. So I was psyched to take a late Saturday afternoon visit to that big city to the north, Las Anjeleeze, for a bit of an adventure. Heavy on my mind had been a place I learned about from a few coworkers – Blue Cow Kitchen, a sit-down culinary cousin of Mendocino Farms, my favorite place to pick up a sandwich.
In tow were key members of the fam, both biological and work; a good thing as that meant more plates to share. I like a little variety with new spots but it’s hard to sample more than a couple things without company (unless you’s a ballah – give me one of e’rthang in this piece!).
Blue Cow is somewhat hidden, tucked down from the business that is DTLA’s Grand Avenue as part of the shops and eateries at Two California Plaza. It’s several steps down from the sidewalk on Grand (park around the block at the California Plaza Underground Garage, entrance on Olive) but still outdoors, so you get the skyscraper skyline without the downtown haste, a soothing and relaxing vibe once you arrive. We did so first; meaning we were right on time when Blue Cow’s door’s opened at 4:00 on a Saturday (a thing of luck as I’d assumed they were a lunchtime kind of place; dance classes and errands kept us from arriving sooner. Though we got there about 20 minutes before Blue Cow opened, we kept busy watching a Kia commercial being filmed just out front on Grand). Being first has its privileges, as we were able to be seated quickly in a cush spot on the patio despite our lack of a reservation. Ambience here definitely gets a couple of emoji thumbs up from me for its summer chill vibe.
And an emoji super smiley face for my drink, a spicy sweet mixture of agave, lime, mescal, and orgeat. And jalapeño – a nice concoction to clear the nasal passages.
My entree was pretty nifty as well, the tangy and delectable chicken sliders. My only complaint was that there were only three of them instead of 19. I might have eaten several more if I were that ballah I mentioned earlier. But I’m just dianderthal. And dianderthal has a limited budget. And limited stomach space. So dessert was certainly out of the question.
That’s why you keep the kids at home for these types of outings. Whereas you might find the deep will, the guts to say no when the wait staff asks if the table is interested in dessert, the child you bring blurts out “yes!”, causing the wait staff to describe something like what our Blue Cow Kitchen waitress told our party about – the Gooey Butter Cake, a dense slice of flavoriness topped with creme fraiche and strawberries.
Yes. (abashed smiley face)
And yes, it was one of the most marvelous examples of food I’ve been fortunate enough to eat. I’m always searching for those bites that I’m willing to go back for. And with the Gooey Cake, I’ve added another to my list. Ballah me will someday purchase an entire Gooey Cake and eat it until i become Gooey dianderthal, where I’ll be able to slither and slide my way home south to the LBC. It was more than good. It proved indulgent, concentrated with vanilla bean-y flavor soothed by the creme fraiche. Me liked. No. Me loved.
Blue Cow Kitchen
350 S. Grand Avenue in Los Angeles
Southwest Chipotle Artichoke Queso Dip
BBQ Spiced Steak Fries
Picnic Country Fired Chicken Sliders
Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi
Soy Glazed Pork Belly Tacos
Gooey Butter Cake