Midtown Lunch

As is customary on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we profile a random reader to get their recommendations for the best spots to lunch near their work. This week we’re excited to welcome Josh Lurie, the guy behind the blog Food GPS. He is responsible for sending us to a lot of great lunches, but today we get his official faves…

Name: Josh

Age: 34

Occupation: Food and Drink Writer

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Assorted coffeehouses

Favorite Kind of Food: Middle Eastern and Asian

Least Favorite Kind of Food: There isn’t much I won’t eat and enjoy, as long as it’s prepared well, but so far, my stomach has hit three walls. Water beetles, which look suspiciously like roaches, appeared at Typhoon as part of a Halloween insect menu and just the sight of them stopped me cold. Also, pickled pig’s feet. Pork is by far my favorite animal to devour, but it was hard to get past the ghastly pink flesh, which had the texture of something that was embalmed in a morgue. Finally, braised chicken feet. Limp, soggy skin on bony knuckles doesn’t exactly ignite my hunger. If they fried the feet, maybe it would be more appetizing.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: My job involves tracking down the latest and greatest food and drink, or interviewing people who may very well produce food and drink that good when they finally open for business. I often combine meals with in-person interviews or coffeehouse writing shifts, but there are some repeats. One of my favorite stops on the Eastside is El Mar Azul, a sea-blue truck that parks next to Sycamore Grove Park in Highland Park (4700 Figueroa St). They make terrific shrimp tostadas, which are slathered with creamy slaw, topped with fresh-shucked avocado and hot sauce, and cost only $2 apiece. Not far from the 10, Dino’s Burgers #2 (2575 W. Pico Blvd) is a Greek-Mexican-ish place that serves one of L.A.’s great value plates, pollo maniaco. The flame red half-chicken is grilled, plated on French fries, doused with more lip stinging red sauce, and “plated” with cole slaw and tortillas for only about $5.50. The price has gone up a couple bucks since I first started going there, but seriously, no complaints. If I’ve got to eat in an instant, a savory Middle Eastern flatbread (or two) is normally my go-to, either from Sasoun Bakery (5114 Santa Monica Blvd), Mush Bakery (5224 W. Sunset Blvd), Arax Bakery (4871 Santa Monica Blvd), Old Sassoon Bakery (1132 N. Allen Ave, Pasadena) or A. Partamian Bakery (5410 W. Adams Blvd).

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? There’s no such thing as too often. The only downside of my job is that since so much of my time is devoted to finding what’s new, favorite places are revisited infrequently.

The farthest place you’ll drive for lunch on a normal day? No limits, but sometimes, if a lot of assignments are pending, there isn’t enough time to venture too far or sit for too long.

Places you have discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? I ate at Samosa House (in Culver City) as a result of Midtown Lunch, and that’s now my favorite Indian restaurant in Culver City, though it was impossible to bring myself to order veggie chicken. Attari Grill (in Westwood) is currently on my to-try list as a result of the site.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Singapore. My experience there in 2005 was pretty startling, in a good way. They have dozens of hawker centres, each with dozens of low- cost, hyper-specialized dining options. It would take months just to burn through a single centre.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers in L.A.? So many Italian restaurants in L.A. are boring, expensive or both. What’s your favorite inexpensive Italian restaurant in L.A.?

Got an answer for Josh?  Put it in the comments. Plus if any of his recs look good, I’m guessing you’ll be able to find reviews of all of them on his site Food GPS.   And s always if you want to be next week’s Profiled: L.A. Lunch’er (or know somebody you’d want to nominate), email me- zach@midtownlunch.com.