Fresh & Easy's Sad Farewell Letter

Sad sight tonight at the Glassell Park location of Fresh & Easy. With discounts between 10% and 30%, items are already flying off shelves. The employee I talked to said the store will probably be open for a week or two more, but the good stuff is going away now.

Back in 2007, we wrote about the arrival of Fresh & Easy markets. We were particularly excited about the opening of a nearby location in Glassell Park:

Wasn't too impressed with the food sample booth -- pieces of lettuce with blue cheese dressing (really? On day one, that's your only sample in the entire store? Shouldn't F&E be offering samples of just about everything?) Like TJ's, the produce selection is relatively small (actually, if possible, it's smaller than Trader Joe's). But in other ways -- the sheer variety of both F&E brand and national brand ice creams, for example -- F&E offers much more than TJs.

I was impressed, for the most part, by the prices. And let's face it, another grocery option so close by is a good thing -- and a welcome addition to the working-class Glassell Park neighborhood.

The store is big, but not too big, and simply designed. (The wall that separates F&E from whatever will move in next door is empty and stark.) Majority of the check outs are do-it-youself, although on opening day plenty of F&E employees were on hand to help ring people up.

Ultimately, I think the real draw for F&E will indeed be its ready-to-cook entrees. For dinner, I picked up a Green Curry Thai Chicken rice bowl for $3.99. Good price, good flavor (although I'm still tasting the garlic) -- and there's plenty more to try.

Fresh & Easy could never crack the code with consumers, who I think were confused by the fact that it was a hybrid of Trader Joe's and Ralphs. And maybe the self checkout thing really turned people off. It was impersonal and cold -- the direct opposite of TJ's friendly staff.

I liked having F&E as an option, however, and they still carried some decent ready-to-cook items. But alas, it's all over. A message from the company:

Over the last two years, we have been working hard to build a new Fresh & Easy. We thank you for shopping with us and bringing our products into your home.

As you may have heard, all our stores will be closing over the coming weeks. You may still convert any points you have over 500 and redeem your rewards. However, we will no longer be awarding Friends points on purchases made after 12:00:00am Pacific time on Friday October 23, 2015. Please see our updated Terms and Conditions.

We encourage you to come in and get some of your fresh&easy favorites for the last time.

Thank you for being a loyal friend.

The fresh&easy Team

See our full Fresh & Easy coverage from the past decade here.

Fresh, Easy and Finally Open

I wanted to hit the brand spankin' new Fresh & Easy in Glassell Park early on Thursday (the store is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.), but work duties interfered. So Blogger Toddler and I made it there around 7 p.m. last night to finally get our first taste of U.S. Tesco.

The parking lot was still packed, and by the looks of the inside, it was a successful first day. The ready-to-cook meals were fairly picked over, and the aisles were still bumper-to-bumper with carts, making it tough to navigate. But we did, and got a good idea of what F&E is all about.

First off, there are things that are Trader Joe's-esque (a reliance on store brands, a food sample booth, pizza dough) and things that aren't (there's still a wide selection of national brands, and more traditional grocery items -- like bug spray, or even diapers -- than TJ's).

Wasn't too impressed with the food sample booth -- pieces of lettuce with blue cheese dressing (really? On day one, that's your only sample in the entire store? Shouldn't F&E be offering samples of just about everything?) Like TJ's, the produce selection is relatively small (actually, if possible, it's smaller than Trader Joe's). But in other ways -- the sheer variety of both F&E brand and national brand ice creams, for example -- F&E offers much more than TJs.

I was impressed, for the most part, by the prices. And let's face it, another grocery option so close by is a good thing -- and a welcome addition to the working-class Glassell Park neighborhood.

The store is big, but not too big, and simply designed. (The wall that separates F&E from whatever will move in next door is empty and stark.) Majority of the check outs are do-it-youself, although on opening day plenty of F&E employees were on hand to help ring people up.

Ultimately, I think the real draw for F&E will indeed be its ready-to-cook entrees. For dinner, I picked up a Green Curry Thai Chicken rice bowl for $3.99. Good price, good flavor (although I'm still tasting the garlic) -- and there's plenty more to try.

As for the store brands, like TJs, F&E sells a number of offbeat products -- and interesting flavor combos, such as a blue corn and lime cracker. I think TJs easily still beats F&E for the sheer variety of budget gourmet choices. Disappointed to see that Tesco didn't import any British items -- particularly, candy -- for its F&E stores.

Stay tuned for pics of the store, as well as our initial purchases.

The L.A. Times was out at several F&E stores, and filed this report:

The Fresh & Easy model is simple: The markets are relatively small, at about 10,000 square feet per store, and the advertising campaign includes references to environmentally friendly packaging and food free of artificial colors, flavors and trans fats. Stores are stocked with big names and in-house brands and offer more prepared entrees and side dishes than typical supermarkets.

Some industry watchers have said that Fresh & Easy might change the Southland's grocery-shopping landscape, if only because Tesco plans to open dozens more markets in the region by next year. (The six stores that debuted Thursday are in Anaheim, Arcadia, Hemet, Glassell Park, Upland and West Covina.)

The paper brought "Good Food" host Evan Kleiman to the Glassell Park location; she was quite impressed, and said she'd be back.

What's Eating Fresh and Easy?

As one of the people who gave Fresh and Easy a positive review when the supermarket chain opened here last fall, I can nonetheless also understand why they're not doing as well as they'd hoped.

The stores, for starters, are way too industrial and not inviting in the least. They're also, quite simply, an odd size -- bigger than specialty stores like Trader Joe's, but smaller than a typical supermarket. It leaves people wondering, What is this place?

Now that the Tesco-owned chain has halted its ambitious store opening campaign for now, LABizObserved has its own theories. Also, via LABizObserved, here's what the U.K.'s TimesOnline says:

Jim Prevor, one of the most influential commentators on the supermarket sector in the US, added that Tesco's Fresh & Easy chain needed a major strategic overhaul if it was ever going to be a hit with American shoppers. He told The Times: "They are doing horribly. There's no question they have made some mistakes and they are still making them."

Mr Prevor said that Fresh & Easy needed to give far more space to popular American brands rather than use its own brand on most products. He added that packaging had to be cut back and more staff should be American. "Americans are different from Brits and the stores will be more successful if Americans make the decisions," he said. "Besides, Tesco could use the British team back in the UK."

I'm not sure I agree; it's the original products that standout; otherwise, I might as well hit Ralphs or Vons for the usual stuff. They need to play up the original products as an alternative to Trader Joe's: Their chicken tortilla soup is delicious and inexpensive; I also like their blue corn jalapeno crackers. I'm thinking store location, the inside appearance, and a lack of awareness among consumers -- not to mention an identity problem -- are the real culprits. The American brand issue, less so -- it's not a problem, after all, for Trader Joe's.

Fresh and Easy Finds Its Inner Brit

The discount grocer Fresh & Easy is owned by Britain's Tesco chain, so it makes sense that they would have imported some items from their native land. This is welcome news: When F&E first opened, we bemoaned the lack of British products -- in our eyes, that was part of the original draw of seeing Tesco come to the U.S.

Of course, more imported products (F&E also carries more Mexican, Asian and Indian products as well) is far from the answer to Fresh & Easy's woes. The grocer appears to still be struggling to figure out just what it is, and who it serves. We occasionally shop there, but more as a supplement to our Trader Joe's runs than as a primary market. Once there, I appreciate their mix of in-house and major label items. Its pre-packaged dinner fare is also decent, and something that TJ's doesn't offer. But ultimately there's something missing.

Scouting Tesco's Future Glassell Park Home

Thanks to Curbed L.A.'s breathless coverage of all things Tesco, I'm getting excited about the British grocery chain's impending Southern California blitz.

I'm also intrigued because Tesco gets name checked by Lily Allen on one of my fave 2006 tracks, "LDN." And even more importantly, one of the first Tescos in Southern California will be opening in Glassell Park, right around the corner from our Adams Hill home.

Above, no sign of Tesco yet at the abandoned Albertson's. By the way, as Curbed and others have noted, Tesco won't be called "Tesco" in the U.S., despite that catchy name. Here, it will be known by the more generic moniker "Fresh and Easy."



Meanwhile, the Glassell Park Improvement Association notes that only about half of this Albertson's store will actually be used for the Tesco/Fresh and Easy outpost. Apparently the company is looking to sublease the other half. That's because the Fresh and Easy stores will be smaller than your average supermarket -- more in line with a Trader Joe's. They write:

Tesco stores will typically be the size of a Trader Joes -- about 15,000 square feet with roughly 75% of that space devoted to the actual shopping area for customers. This jibes with Tesco's applications with the City Planning department for the former Albertson's store. They have applied to use only 15,000 square feet of the property on Eagle Rock Blvd. at El Paso, and one would speculate they are looking for a sub-tenant. The GPIA has written a letter to Tim Mason, Tesco's U.S. Chief Executive, asking him or representatives, to meet with the Community, to hear from us about the kind of sub-tenant (a nice, sit-down restaurant, perhaps?) we would like to see on that site, as well as what product mix we would like to see in their stores.

The association also references a December piece in the L.A. Times about Tesco's move here:

It seems like Tesco is trying to roll out a boiler-plate prototype that would not deviate from location to location. But we won't know for sure until we get the opportunity to start a dialogue with the retailer. According to The Times' article, "The company plans to push into underserved urban areas that need to be re-energized." USA C.E.O. Tim Mason describes the Tesco stores as smaller, simpler grocery stores that would allow shoppers to quickly pick up what they need without having to make multiple trips to a variety of stores, including packaged goods and packaged prepared meals...Tesco plans to emphasize the freshness of its food by building...a speedy, efficient distribution system.

A Night at the Fresh & Easy: The Recap

The Glassell Park Fresh & Easy at night; the underwhelming inside.


Burgers... and baked goods.


Chicken tortilla soup ($2.99); their version of Pirates Booty: "White Cheddar Pirate's Treasure" ($1.68)


Fat-free milk ($1.78); 7 petite chocolate chip cookies ($1.49)


Pomegranate & blueberry sorbet ($1.98); blue corn & chile lime crackers ($2)


Green Thai-style chicken curry ($3.99); seedless red grapes ($2.43)


Chicken salad ($2.99); whole wheat pizza dough ($0.99).

Great review here on the experience by Rose, who must've been there right around the same time we were. She hits most of the points right -- a nice new grocery alternative, but still somewhat disappointing, particularly given all the build up.

And by the way, this annoys me: Rose writes as a plus: "They mailed out $10 coupons to the neighborhood, which brought in more customers. And after my purchase I received a $6 coupon (on my next purchase over $30)."

Dude, we (a) didn't get those coupons, even though we live just a mile away, and (b) I didn't get a $6 coupon when I checked out. Boo, Fresh & Easy, maybe I was too positive in that last post... I'm getting less and less enthused about the place.

Rate-A-Restaurant, #81 in a series

Restaurant: Grub L.A.

Location: 911 Seward St. (Hollywood)

Type of restaurant: Brunch

We stipulated: Meeting some good friends for a long-overdue brunch, we needed a place close (ish) to everyone, and the request from another party came in: No breakfast at Alcove. It was time to try something new... ish.

They stipulated: Street parking is necessary, while brunch can be crowded -- prepare to wait for a table. (Then again, what brunch place isn't a wait on the weekends?)

What we ordered: egg white omelet with tomato, mushroom and turkey sausage (Mike); fresh spinach and greens with warm goat cheese (Maria)

High point: Grub's the kind of bright, cheery Saturday or Sunday morning spot that makes it a perfect meeting place. It's in a not-so-busy section of Hollywood, which makes getting there easy. The menu offers a wide variety as well, and the spot is kid-friendly.

Low point: The restaurant was out of spinach, which meant I couldn't add any to my omelet, while Maria's fresh spinach and greens became just fresh greens.

Overall impression: Grub's lunch menu is more interesting than its rather pedestrian breakfast fare; the food wasn't out of the ordinary, but service was top-notch and the waitresses fell in love with Blogger Baby.

Chance we will go back: Sure, although next time I'll order from the lunch menu.

For a complete archive of our Rate-A-Restaurant reviews, check out our newly revised companion ratearestaurant.blogspot.com website.

Rate-A-Restaurant, #77 in a series

Restaurant: Lotus of Siam

Location: 953 E. Sahara Ave. (Las Vegas)

Type of restaurant: Thai

We stipulated: With Maria's sister taking care of Blogger Baby, it was our one night on the town in Vegas. We also needed to finally celebrate our anniversary. Good food was a must. Romantic environment would be nice too, as would a menu that wouldn't break the bank. Both Kathy and Eating L.A.'s Pat suggested Lotus of Siam -- and two out of three (the decor, they warned, wouldn't impress) worked for us.

They stipulated: The best Thai food in the country, as proclaimed by Jonathan Gold in Gourmet mag, isn't easy to find. You've gotta scour Sahara Blvd. closely for a non-descript strip mall.


What we ordered: Appetizer: NAM KAO TOD (Minced sour sausage mixed with green onion, fresh chili, ginger, peanuts, crispy rice and lime juice; $7.95).


Salad: SPICY SLICED BEEF (Charbroiled steak-sliced, Thai green round eggplant, fresh chili, lemon grass, fresh herbs and spices; $7.95).


Noodle: RAD NA (Stir-fried flat rice noodle topped with ground beef cooked with curry powder, tomato onion and celery; $7.95).


Special: KANG OMM ("Influenced by Lao's cooking this is another unique curry that combines local vegetables, chicken and rice powder in red curry base, also without coconut milk; $7.95).

High point: Kathy recommended nom kao tod -- and she was right. It was like nothing else we've ever tasted. Interestingly crispy in places, with a fantastic spiciness and a slightly salty flavor, we loved it.

Low point: The location itself. We went at night, and the strip mall gets a bit creepy. Park close as you can to the restaurant.

Overall impression: Perhaps a tad overhyped, but excellent Thai food nonetheless. Service was also decent and the portions a good value. I'm thrilled we had a huge dinner, including wine, for under $50. In Vegas.

Chance we will go back: I'd venture that we might make a return appearance next time we hit Vegas, perhaps for lunch.

For a complete archive of our Rate-A-Restaurant reviews, check out our newly revised companion ratearestaurant.blogspot.com website.

One Day to Fresh & Easy

A sneak preview of what the new Fresh & Easy grocery chain -- which opens tomorrow in several spots, including Glassell Park (just around the bend from Franklin Avenue H.Q.).

It's looking more and more like, sadly, there won't be any imported British items from parent Tesco. But nonetheless, we're still excited to see what sort of ready-to-heat food options (apparently a specialty) F&E will be offering. See you there on Thursday! (Nope, we didn't get an invite to the big grand opening party Wednesday.)

Fifteen Years in Los Angeles: I'm An Angelino

"Where are you from?" It's an easy question for most, but as the years tick by, it's become increasingly complicated for me.

I went to high school in Hawaii, and for years that was my easy answer. After all, it's where I spent my critical formative years. Where I had my first real journalism job, a paid internship at Hawaii Business magazine. It's where I learned to drive. Where I first got to DJ on the radio. Where my modern music tastes were formed (thanks, Radio Free Hawaii). Where I had my first kiss. Where I found my voice.

When I arrived in Los Angeles in 1996, straight from college in Chicago (and a quick five-month stint in Washington, DC), high school -- and Hawaii -- still seemed fresh. I was just 22, after all, and hadn't been an adult long enough to have put down any roots.

My first few years in Los Angeles seem like a blur now. Actually, whenever I hear Bran Van 3000's track "Drinking In LA" (above), it brings me back to living in L.A. in my mid-20s, in the mid-1990s.

But then I got older. And became more aware of my surroundings. I met someone, and she happened to live in Los Feliz (on Franklin Avenue, natch). Together, we began taking advantage this big, wonderful city. We spent time downtown. We explored via public transportation. We went to festivals, visited hole-in-the-wall restaurants and attended events big and small. We started this blog. We threw two races around Los Angeles. We chronicled the demise of landmarks like the Ambassador Hotel (and helped throw a wake in its honor). We started an annual walk that traversed the city. We got married, bought a house, had kids.

Hawaii seems so long ago now. And hell, so does drinking in L.A. at 26. But as I age and put down all of those roots, I feel closer to Los Angeles than any other place I've lived in my life. (Granted, I've lived in Los Angeles three times longer than any other place in my life.) It's been an amazing, transformative 15 years, Los Angeles. I'll keep laying down those roots, if you don't mind, as an Angelino. (By the way, according to D.J. Waldie, that should actually be Angeleño. But I honestly feel like I'm still working toward earning such a title. Maybe in another fifteen.)

Previously on Franklin Avenue:

Decade in Los Angeles: Go East, Young Man (June 2006)

OK, Bob Marley Estate, Maybe You've Gone Too Far

Spotted the other day at Fresh and Easy: Marley Coffee. "Get Up, Stand Up" for your right to three little... cups of coffee. "Waiting in Vain" for a fresh brew? You'll be "Jamming" to the taste and demanding to "Stir It Up" with another batch. You'll want to satisfy your soul... with Marley Coffee.

Rate-A-Restaurant #204: Cook's Tortas

Restaurant: Cook's Tortas

Location: 1944 S. Atlantic Blvd. (Monterey Park)

Type of restaurant: Latin Sandwiches



We stipulated: Hungry for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, we decided to try some place new. I'd been curious about Cook's Tortas since Pat raved about it on her site, and decided we'd make a trek out to Monterey Park.




They stipulated: Certain sandwiches are always on the menu, while others rotate. They're all made fresh to order. Oh, and you've got to drive out to Monterey Park to satisfy your craving.



What we ordered: Cucumber-lime aqua fresca; Mole verde sandwich (Pepita tomatillo, Chicken breast, Onion, Avocado); Bacalao sandwich (Spanish style cod, Roasted red peppers, Olive, Garlic, Parsley, Potato). On our second visit (!) we brought sandwiches over to a friend's house, so we bought four. In addition to the Bacalao (easily our favorite from the first round), we got the La Diabla sandwich (Chicken breast, Jalapeno, Chile de arbol, Habanero, Guacamole); Chicken basil sandwich (Chicken breast, Lettuce, Tomato, Basil pesto, Fresh cucumber); Cochinita sandwich (Achiote pork, Onion escabeche, Black beans, Cilantro). We also got a pineapple-celery aqua fresca. All sandwiches are $6.98 come with a side, such as red fries, potato salad, macaroni salad, caprese cucumber salad, among others.



High point: Oh, that soft, easy-to-eat bread! Not only are the sandwiches great, but the sheer variety of choices (see the blackboard photo above) is amazing. And the price makes the drive worth it. Even Evan liked the bacalao (and, the second time around, the Chicken basil). The La Diabla was super spicy, even for me, yet I'm still glad I tried it.

Low point: At one point, someone cleaned the tables with Windex right next to us... which left an unfortunate odor as we ate our sandwiches. The fries are also just OK; I'd recommend one of the salads instead (like the cucumber one, below).



Overall impression: Like Pat mentions on her blog, Cook's Tortas is the kind of place that I wished popped up all over L.A. -- or at least, closer to home. If we had one of these close to the office, it might be a little dangerous -- I'd probably eat there every day.



Chance we'll go back: Well, we've already been back once, and we'll probably continue to head down the 5-to-the-60-to-Atlantic-Blvd. in order to eventually try every sandwich!

For a complete list of our more than 200 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Quarantine Cocktails: Smoky Old Fashioned Edition

To help promote the launch of its new TV adaptation of the Bong Joon Ho film "Snowpiercer," TNT held a "virtual premiere party" this week — and what's a premiere party without beverages? The network sent along a kit from Cocktail Courier, along with a recipe by Laila Grainawi (yes, "Grain" is actually in her name!):

2 oz. bourbon, 0.25 oz. simple syrup, 2 dashes of aromatic bitters, and a rinse of orange liqueur — topped off with a smoking rosemary sprig.

It's a easy, 3 minute prep. You need jigger, mixing beaker, bar spoon, julep strainer, double old fashioned glass, lighter. (You can improvise with most of these.)

Instructions:

1. Chill double old fashioned glass by placing in fridge/freezer or by filling with ice water and setting aside for 5 minutes.

2. Remove glass from fridge/freezer or if using ice water, empty the glass.

3. Pour one quarter-ounce of orange liqueur into the glass. Swirl around and discard.

4. Fill mixing beaker about two thirds full with fresh ice.

5. Measure and add bourbon, simple syrup and bitters to mixing beaker with ice and stir for about 30 seconds.

6. Strain contents of mixing beaker using a julep strainer into rinsed glass and top with fresh ice.

7. Use lighter to ignite one end of each rosemary spring, releasing the toasted aroma. Extinguish before placing in each cocktail.

Rate-A-Restaurant, #103 in a series

Restaurant: Indochine Vien

Location: 3110 Glendale Blvd. (Atwater Village)

Type of restaurant: Vietnamese

We stipulated: We were looking to go out for a quick dinner... but with Evan in tow -- and his bedtime right around the corner -- we needed to find a place that was (a) close by, (b) kid-friendly and (c) fast.

They stipulated: Park in the back... and look past the fact that you're dining in a strip mall. This is L.A. -- great restaurants sometimes exist in strip malls. Get over it.



What we ordered: Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls: Grilled chicken, steamed shrimp, vermicelli rice noodles, shredded lettuce, mint, green onion and bean sprouts wrapped in Vietnamese rice paper. Served with Vietnamese peanut sauce; $4.50); Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe w/ Chicken and Shrimp: Mung bean and coconut milk batter, chicken and shrimp, sauteed with onions, delicately wrapped around steamed bean sprouts. Served with fresh mint, green leaf lettuce and Vietnamese sweet and sour dipping sauce; $6.75); Bun Tom Thit Nuong (Vermicelli rice noodles with strips of grilled marinated chicken breast and grilled marinated shrimps; $7.50)



High point: The Banh Xeo (the Vietnamese crepe appetizer) was a nice surprise. It's something neither of us had ever tried. It's messy (reminiscent of chicken lettuce cups, but with pieces of this crepe placed in lettuce leaves instead) but ultimately rewarding. The cold Vermicelli noodles were also excellent (including the meat) and while the spring rolls were less exciting, they still did the trick.

Low point: The menu isn't huge, and several of the selections that are there are just slight variations on each other. Granted, that makes ordering easy -- either you want noodles, Pho or rice, with either chicken, shrimp or tofu... but hopefully as the restaurant grows it will add a bit more to the mix.



Overall impression: Light and healthy food, priced right, in a smartly designed space... and it's incredibly close by. The service was even decent, as the waitress understood our limitations with the Bomb-Ass-Baby. I had read mixed reviews of Indochine, so I was pleasantly surprised by the overall good experience.

Chance we will go back: It's on the way home... I predict I'll be picking up food to bring home within the next few weeks.

(For a full roster of Franklin Avenue's restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.)

Late Night with Trader Joe's

Just three months after Trader Joe's Silver Lake location extended its hours to 9:30 p.m., the store is at it again.

As of now, the Silver Lake location is now open until 10 p.m.. Timing is probably not by accident: With the new Fresh & Easy store in Glassell Park set to open on Nov. 8, the competition is on.

But the 10 p.m. close is also a no-brainer: If you've ever been to that location during closing time, you know it's a madhouse. The only other Trader Joe's location open that late in Southern California is the Santa Monica store on Pico.

Rate-A-Restaurant #213: Bool BBQ

Restaurant: Bool BBQ

Location: Mobile Truck; 5750 Wilshire Blvd. for this review (Miracle Mile)

Type of restaurant: Korean tacos

We stipulated: The new Variety offices on the 30th floor of the newly dubbed Miracle Mile "Variety Building" offer up great views -- but on the down side, our eating options are even worse than they were in our old digs. And they weren't great then either. With more mobile food trucks stopping in the area, it's getting a little better -- and with that in mind, I decided to visit the copycat Korean taco truck "Bool BBQ" on Monday.

They stipulated: You know the drill: Wait in line, order, and then wait some more.



What I ordered: Two chicken tacos, one pork taco ($1.99 each).



High point: The spice is great -- and despite the kim chee, I didn't suffer any aftertaste throughout the afternoon. (Can't vouch for what the people I spoke to might have noticed.) he chicken, in particular, was also cooked well.

Low point: The Bool BBQ menu is very limited; and somewhat confusingly, isn't only Korean and Mexican. The truck also sells Brazilian pastels.




Overall impression: It's easy to just dismiss the Korean taco trucks that have popped up in the wake of Kogi's success... but there's definitely room for Bool, which offers up tasty Korean-inspired tacos at -- and this is the important part -- a fraction of the time in line. I waited only about five minutes for my food -- not a bad advantage of the always-packed Kogi.




Chance we'll go back: Absolutely; it's a nice change of pace from the same mix of Koo Koo Roo/Johnny's/Baja Fresh/O to Go in that part of the Miracle Mile.

For a complete list of our more than 200 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant website.

Rate-A-Restaurant #388: Gino's East (Sherman Oaks)

Restaurant: Gino's East

Location: 12924 Riverside Dr (Sherman Oaks)

Type of restaurant: Chicago-style deep dish pizza

We stipulated: We've been eager to try Gino's East since they arrived in Los Angeles, in order to get a taste of Chicago without having to order a frozen pizza. The lines have been too long, however, and then the restaurant shut down entirely at the start of the pandemic. Now that they've instituted carry out, we were ready to try it.

They stipulated: Pizzas take around 45 minutes to bake. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, they are offering carryout and delivery from 12pm-9pm every day. Call (818) 788-5050!

What we ordered: Deep dish 12" build your own pizza ($24) with pepperoni (+$3.25); Deep dish 12" supreme pizza -- Italian sausage with onions, green peppers, mushrooms ($33). Bonus pizza: We bought during a buy two large, get a small 9" pizza for free special, and we chose Spinach Margherita -- spinach, cherry tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella, basil (normally $26).

High point:   Loved that free pizza deal. Also, with no traffic, we got to Sherman Oaks in 11 minutes! Pizzas were ready and it was easy to pick up.

Overall impression: Here's an important point: Even that short trip home, followed by a bit of a wait before eating, cooled off the pizzas a bit. Chicago style pizzas are best when they're hot, and the cheese is melting. And the crust needs to be crunchy. When you get home, stick the pizza in the oven at 400 degrees for another 15 minutes. You'll be glad you did. Otherwise, you may be disappointed -- initially I had a "ugh, this isn't as good as Chicago" taste. But when I heated the pizzas up, it improved dramatically. Also, with all that pizza, we managed three meals out of it! Buy more. You won't be disappointed with the leftovers.

Will we return:  Absolutely. Yes, the price appears steep, but don't forget, these are deep dish slices. You'll make more than one meal out of it. Probably.

The Secret World of Trader Joe's

How is Trader Joe's so awesome, and why aren't more stores like it? That's the premise of a Fortune magazine piece that attempts to look inside the top-secret corporation.

Fortune doesn't really find out much: The privately-held Trader Joe's, owned by Germany's Albrecht family, doesn't give interviews. But it does offer up a few interesting tidbits:

-- As we've long suspected, those Trader Joe's private label items are often produced by big-name companies like Frito-Lay. And the story mentions that TJ's microwavable Indian meals come from Tasty Bites -- not a surprise, as TJ used to sell Tasty Bite-brand food until one day, when it the box was suddenly branded as a Trader Joe's product, yet the inside packaging remained the same.

-- The Albrechts generally stay out of the business: "They visit the U.S. operation about once a year, and word around the office spreads that "the Germans" are coming."

-- TJ's can make for a pretty good career: "Store managers, "captains" in Trader Joe's parlance — the nautical titles are a holdover from Coulombe (newly promoted captains are commanders; assistant store managers are first mates) — can make in the low six figures, and full-time crew members can start in the $40,000 to $60,000 range. But on top of the pay, Trader Joe's annually contributes 15.4% of employees' gross income to tax-deferred retirement accounts."

-- Trader Joe's had sales of $8 billion last year, "the same size as Whole Foods' and bigger than those of Bed Bath & Beyond, No. 314 on the Fortune 500 list."

I'm surprised the story didn't mention at all the difficulty that the U.K.'s Tesco has had in going after the Trader Joe's crowd with its Fresh & Easy chain. When F&E first started out, it too relied heavily on its private label... but eventually began stocking much more brand-name merchandise. At this point, F&E feels much more like a Ralph's than like a TJ's. Meanwhile, Henry's Farmers Market (owned by Smart & Final) seems to be finding a niche as a cross between Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

(Above: The infamous unauthorized Trader Joe's commercial produced by Carl's Fine Films.)

Rate-A-Restaurant, #156 in a series

(Flickr pic by Jek-in-the-Box.)

Restaurant: Maria's Fresh Seafood

Location: 317 S Broadway (Grand Central Market, Downtown)

Type of restaurant: Seafood, Mexican

We stipulated: We were downtown with our friend Lizzy (just back from her world travels!) to see the Murakami exhibit, and wanted to take her to Grand Central Market for some cheap grinds. I was also jonesing to try Maria's after reading some good reviews on Chowhound.

What we ordered: Fish tacos, scallop tacos, all around $2 each

High point: Ahh, the scallop tacos. Lightly breaded and damn near perfect. Plus, we got a table at Grand Central (not always an easy proposition on a weekend afternoon) quickly.

Low point: Maria didn't care much for the fish taco -- I think she thought it was too fishy. I liked it, although I preferred the scallop. Also, it's always confusing where to stand and order at Grand Central Market, especially during the lunch time frenzy... but just follow others, and it won't be a problem.

Maria notes: The fish taco was not too fishy, there was something about the flaky tasteless nature to it I did not like.

Overall impression: One Chowhounder writes: "It's important to stress that in addition to being a taco stand, they're also a fishmonger. So you know the stuff is good enough to sell by itself, let alone put into a taco." Indeed, nothing like biting into a fish taco and tasting the freshness. Also, another Chowhounder suggested asking for sauces on the side, and I'm glad I did.

Chance we will go back: Next time we're at Grand Central Market -- which probably won't be too long from now. I want more scallop tacos!