Los Angeles is a big city that is serious about their food, but the best food is outside the city.
Andrew Zimmern goes into the nitty gritty of bizarre foods that can be found in our own back yards (if we’re unlucky enough).
The food focused on the less glamorous communities in the big city that are nowhere close to the tourist trail.
Venice Beach - one of America’s first boardwalk towns and today it supports all lifestyles. So it’s only natural that Zimmern would start with fish, even in the dead of night, with your hands and nothing else.
But why not try some pickled ox tongue with a sweet and sour relish right before some good, ole’ night fishing of the Grunion who like to come up to shore.
Zimmern fights off the eager birds for the Grunion. This time, it’s bird vs. Zimmern. But in the end, man wins and gets a total of five fish. They’re breaded, deep fried and eaten whole.
Next we’re in the city of Compton, which is often viewed as the most dangerous city in America. But at Richland Farms, there is no danger, only farm animals.
But one rule: Don’t eat the livestock. They’re food!
Zimmern gets to experience a full feast with fresh eggs, tacos and other county food that makes my mouth water. Nothing is too extreme, only delicious.
The farm breaks down family traditions and showing that Compton is more than a place mentioned in a rap song, it’s a place of agriculture and tradition.
Zimmern then travels to San Gabriel valley where you can eat your way around China. The journey starts with the food of Taiwan for breakfast where there is lots of dough and "thousand year" eggs that are turned black and mixed in with rice.
Interesting note: Pig intestine is apparently good for morning sickness. Who would have thought?
Zimmern travels to the different Chinese regions through the restaurants where stir-fry and pork is devoured and stinky tofu is a usual dish.
He then goes on to try a delicious burger in the most unexpected flavor, soy based products that are not what they seem and street corner tamales.
Excuse me while I go book my ticket to California.
Picture Courtesy of tvlisting.com