Midtown Lunch

As is customary on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we’ll profile a random reader to get their recommendations for the best spots to lunch near their work. This week it’s Kat, the food writer who introduced us to the craziness of Syrian pizza at Sham, in Santa Monica.

Name: Kat

Age: Turned 27 last month!

Occupation: Food Editor AND Cook!

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Eater LA and Good Bite…..Santa Monica

Favorite Kind of Food: Dumplings, fresh pasta, anything pickled, cheese (especially in melted form)…in general a big fan of Asian eats, Italian, and market-driven edibles. Sorry, that wasn’t very specific.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Fishy fish, mayonnaise, tuna in a can.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: I am a huge fan of random hole-in-the-wall spots so I really love Sham (716 Santa Monica Blvd.) I usually get the cheese fattayer, tabbouleh, falafel, and one of the grilled meat options which comes with fantastic pickled turnips and this zingy garlic sauce. Their pomegranate pizza is pretty serious as well. Umami also just opened near me (500 Broadway) and I happen to be addicted to their Truffle Burger and Umami Burger so sometimes I land there for lunch. Oh, also, sometimes I pop by Rockenwagner (311 Arizona Avenue) and just grab two of their mini sandwiches: salumi on pretzel bread, those are pretty good. Oh, I LOVE Earth Bar (8365 Santa Monica Blvd.) Great fresh juices (I go for the liver cleanse, ughh my liver needs cleansing) and fresh soups and such. Also, really great chocolate froyo which is made from just cocoa, dates, coconut water, and almonds as I recall. One more top pick, definitely Huckleberry (1014 Wilshire Blvd). Zoe makes some of the best baguettes I’ve had outside of France. Every time I walk in there I want to eat everything I see. Oh, and Cora’s Coffee Shop! (1802 Ocean Ave.) That’s another great spot owned by Capo next door. The rigatoni….

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Sham, Rockenwagner, Earth Bar.

The farthest place you’ll drive for lunch on a normal day? I’ll drive anywhere for good food so that’s a bad question to ask me. Even for lunch, although my days are pretty busy. Want to do lunch in San Gabriel? I’m down.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? No specific location. Pull an Anthony Bourdain and just travel to eat.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers in L.A.? Sure. Where can I find the best dumplings in/around LA??

Got a dumpling recommendation for Kat? Put it in the comments. And, as always, if you want to be next week’s Profiled: L.A. Lunch’er (or know somebody you’d like to nominate), email me- zach@midtownlunch.com.