Just want to let you all know what we at Split Bean Coffee are running a special on all traditional alfajores order.  Order any two boxes and we will give you a free box of our Dulce de Lech Alfajores for free.
While you are shopping, check-out our Watermelon Flavor Alfajores. A summer favorite of our customers.
Orders can be placed at www.splitbeancoffee.com -

Los Angeles Grand Central Market is an institution in
the Downtown Historic Core of the city.  As a kid, I remember my mother taking us there on the weekend to do our  grocery shopping.  It was the place  to get deals on everything from meat to veggies, and anything in  between.

Throughout my adult life, I've visited the market when in the  Downtown area, not just to take a trip down memory lane, when having a couple of  tacos at one of the stands was a treat, but also to indulge my culinary curiosity.


Today the Grand Central Market is in transition.  I am sure it is not the first of many
incarnations, but for someone who loves the nostalgia of the market, it is abitter sweet era the market lives these days. In every corner you are starting to see  the gentrification of the food stalls.  Sprouting amongst my favorite taqueria and produce stands are new  pretentious eateries serving "gourmet pastas", "gluten free goods", fancy burger  joints, and seat down eateries with silverware.  I know that things must change, and as  good as these new places are, I can't help it but think that the old, time  tested eateries and stand will soon give way to fancier new business because the  rent will go up.  No longer will  the Central Market be a place to find bargains, but another gentrified place in  Los Angeles.


If you want to catch a glimpse at some of the classic places, I  suggest you take a drive, or metro ride to the Central Market on Fourth Street  and Hill before changes rip it off the old charm and converted to the likes of  the Los Angeles Farmer's Market or Granville Island Market Place of Vancouver,  BC .


I recommend walking around and sampling the food the  catches your attention.  It is best if you go in a group, this way you can all get different foods and share. My  favorite Place is the Roast To Go, a great place to get a Monster burrito that will feed two hungry guys.  Believe me, one burrito is good for two.

Another notable place is Sarita's Pupuseria, where you can find  delicious pupusas, and other Central American Fair.  Go ahead....be adventurous and take a trip downtown.

Grand
Central Market
 
317  South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA

Vida Flamenca Presents
 
NUESTRO TIEMPO

Sunday, July 29, 2012, 8 pm



Vida Flamenca has the privilege of anouncing the attendance of the Honorable Enrique Ruiz Molero, Consulate General of Spain who will be giving a short introduction to our "Nuestro Tiempo" flamencoshow on Sunday, July 29 at 8 pm at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Hollywood. 
 
The show features direct from Jerez de la Frontera dancer/choreographer Domingo
Ortega in his first Los Angeles performance in 8 years; the debut
of Madrileña cantaora Sonia Berbel; along with Catalonian guitarist and
dancer Paco and Yolanda Arroyo, and special featured artists.



Ticket Purchases -- $46.00: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/e/255822


Reserved  Seating; Free Parking

Barnsdall  Gallery Theatre
4800  Hollywood Blvd.
Los  Angeles, Ca 90027

Every year for 40 days after easter, the Brotherhood of The Americas Our Lady of Rocio recreates the pilgrimage of El Rocio, Spain.  This year we have the honor of being the official caterers and will be cooking up many tapas, paella and other Latin American and Spanish dishes. 
The fun part, is that the menu will be improvised as it is in Chopped based on the donations received from different business partners in the Los Angeles area. This year we will be assited by a cadre of chefs from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Pasadena.

We Hope you can all join us.  All profits from the event will be donated to the Sisters Servants of Mary, Los Angeles.
May 27th, 2012 at 10:30 am - St. Victor's Catholic Church

Several of you have asked when, how and why we sell Alfajores at Split Bean Coffee.  What follows is a short buy informative history of these South American Shortbread cookies.  You can order them from our sister site www.splitbeancoffee.com 



“Y una vieja pregonando, Triana, pestiños y Alfajore..s” (And an old lady,
peddling Triana, pestiños and Alfajores)
from an old Spanish song about the beauty of Seville


Alfajores (Al-fa-ho-res) are a South American type of Shortbread
Cookies.  These delicious cookies can trace their origin back to the
Moorish occupation of Andalusia, Spain and the great culinary traditions of the
Mediterranean Basin.  As per some Spanish culinary experts, the cookies
were first composed of dried fruit preserves rolled in carefully prepared dough
then rolled in an assortment of nuts or sugar.

With the Spanish conquest of the Americas came one of the greatest culinary exchanges in history.  The Spaniards brought with them their foods and traditions, and it was just a matter of time before each region the American Continent developed their own style of cooking, taking a little from both the native and conquering cultures and a great deal of improvisation to create what we now known as Mexican, Peruvian, Argentinean, Chilean, Nicaraguan, Californian, or Cuban Cuisine to name just a  few. 

With time each region of the Americas adapted the Spanish Alfajor and made it
their own.  For example, in Argentina and Peru alone, there are over 15
varieties of the same basic cookie.  In Nicaragua, the Alfajor is made with
corn meal, molasses, and cocoa resembling a brownie or fluffy energy bar. 

No matter where you go in Latin America, you will find a local version of an
Alfajor, and everyone will tell you they have the “Original Alfajor”.   Little do they know the history of this cookie stretches back hundreds of years across continents.Through family research, we have been able to trac our family recipe to the late 1800’s to what is now Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Hopefully some day old recipe book will surface pushing the date even further back in time.


Our Thanks to our aunt Tita for preserving the recipe for present and future generations. For teaching us to make Alfajores the way her mother made them, and for all the stories told while time passed by in the kitchen.  Each cookie
we make is a tribute to all those people who have for centuries made their version of the “Original Alfajor”, to all to all the members of our family that have maintain our traditions alive by sharing with each new generation, and for  those that improvised for the sake of preserving tradition.


We at Split Bean Coffee are happy to share this time honored tradition by
offering “Alfajores la Misión” to all of our customers. Each cookie is still
carefully made by hand just like our Tia Tita made them.  Our commitment to
quality and tradition has earned us both a great following as well as honorable
mentions by culinary experts such as Specialty Foods Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Miami Herald, The Dallas Star-Telegram,
and The Los Angeles Times Food Section critics. 


As our reputation grows, we not only have taken the necessary steps to preserve the Traditional Dulce de Leche recipe, but also adapted our cookie by incorporating new flavors like, Guava, Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Raspberry Preserve.  Always taking care of using only fresh ingredients available, and keeping our recipes free of preservatives and dangerous additives and 100% Vegetarian.  We hope you enjoy our offerings.  Buen Provecho!


www.SplitBeanCoffee.com

The Best Little Know Secret in Van Nuys


 


OK, so it is not so much a secret, because sometimes you have to wait sometimes up to 45 minutes to an hour to be seated.  But the first time we went to Salsa & Beer it sure seemed like a secret. 
I grew up in Van Nuys, and have lived here on an off for over 15 years
and it was by accident that we stumble upon this open little secrets locals keep
to themselves. Now, I may upset
quite a few people for writing about one of my family's favorite Mexican
Restaurant, but I just can't keep a secret people. Five years is too long, and I
have to come clean.

 About five or six years ago, we were on our way to Reseda to eat at Las Fuentes (subject for future review).  Well we made it as far as the parking lot, but couldn't find anywhere to park.   It was a madhouse. So I mentioned to my family that I had seen another place on the way a few times before and we should just try it out. 
Paul screamed and kicked the entire drive to Salsa and Beer. He is not one to try new places without first sending a search party and getting a report.....Well, Salsa and Beer was a mad house as well, people out the door, but unlike the other place, they have table service.

 The decor of this place isbeautiful.  Mexican "arte primitivo" in bright colors transport you back to the small villages of Zacatecas.  The Bean Dip is out of
this world.  One of my culinary  instructor's from Le Cordon Bleu calls it "Bean Crack" because it is addictive,cheesy, spicy and hot.  
 
By the time, you are done browsing their extensive menu, you are ready to steal your neighbor's food because it just smells so sinful.  The Fajita plates at Salsa and Beer put El Torito Grill and Chevy's to SHAME!!!!  At Salsa and Beer you get a sizzling
plate of Fajitas (your choice of beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, or a mixture), a
plate of rice, beans, and salad.  This plate feeds to healthy adults, all for a price of about $12.00. The food is always fresh and hot.  The service is very friendly, and the wait is worth it.

Our Favorite plates here are thecrispy tacos, and the Chile rellenos. 
Their shrimp cocktail isn't bad, and try their steak ranchero, or chicken with cheese sauce on top.  You will need to run laps around Balboa Park for the rest of the week to burn off the delicious calories.  Needless do you say, you have to arrive with a big appetite, but take it easy on the chips, or you won't eat half your meal!!!!



Van Nuys
6740 White Oak Ave.Van Nuys, CA 91406
818.609.8877



North Nollywood
11619 Sherman Way North Hollywood
 818.503.1220