Lookie, a Cookie!

Big thanks to justjenn for the fabulous cookie she sent Franklin Avenue -- we were one of the winners commemorating her "three years of blogging" contest. It was boobielicious!

Happy Valentines Day, justjenn. And Happy V Day to all!

From Coffee Table to Condo

Traffic's about to get a little hairier on Rowena in Silver Lake, where plans are afoot to build a big condo development where The Coffee Table now stands. EatingLA's Pat has the details:

Just a few days after hearing that Silver Lake's Coffee Table lost its lease, Eating L.A. received this alert for the huge condo project proposed for the Coffee Table site. Developer Paul Pagnone says the Coffee Table will lease back a new space in the development, which makes sense since it's on a commercial block, and he says there will be plenty of parking. But this 64-unit planned development clearly seems way too big for that incredibly busy and cramped stretch of Rowena.

Concerns about the new three-story structure and its impact on the neighborhood? A community meeting has been scheduled for Wed., Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. (at Ivanhoe School).

More details at Rowena Community Vision, which suggests you write or call councilmember Ton LaBonge (Tom.Labonge@lacity.org) and Chief Planning Deputy Renee Weitzer (renee.weltzer@lacity.org).

Mr. T's Be Somebody, Or Be Somebody's Fool

Back in our overnight DJ days at WNUR, Tony and I would spin tracks from that now-classic album by the one and only Mr. T.

Well, one track in particular: "Treat Your Mama Right." The lyrics went like this:

Mother/ There is no other/ Like Mother/ So treat Her right
Mother/ I always Love Her/ My Mother/ So treat Her right, treat Her right

M is for the moan, and the miserable groan from the pain that She felt when I was born

O is for the oven with it's burnin' heat where She stood makin' sure I had something to eat

T is for the time that She stayed up at night and took my temperature when I wasn't feelin' right

H is for the hard earned money She spent to keep clothes on my back and try to pay da' rent

E is every wrinkle I put on Her face and every worry that I caused when I stayed out late

The last letter R is that She taught me Respect/ and for the room up in Heaven that I know she'll get

Genius stuff. We'd play it along side tracks by Wesley Willis and Senator Sam Ervin. Yeah, it was your typical goof-off college radio show.

Imagine my joy today when Hank in New York passed along this link to YouTube:



This is why God invented the Internet.

Rate-A-Restaurant, #88 in a series

Restaurant: Chado Tea Room

Location: 79 N. Raymond (Pasadena)

Type of restaurant: Tea house

What we ordered: We both got the two-sandwich plate, which also included a salad. Maria ordered the Punjab sandwich (eggs marinated in smoked tea , then combined with mayonaisse and chives); and our favorie, the Souchong Chicken (chicken breast meat combined with mayonaisse and cranberry lingonberry sauce. I got the Souchong chicken and the Limerick sandwich (English cucumber sandwiches with cream cheese and chives). For tea, I ordered the Reena's Chai (Black Assam Tea, Ginger root, Cinnamon chips, Green Cardamom & Ginger, Cinnamon and Vanilla flavoring), while Maria ordered an Iced Vitalitea (Gunpowder Green Tea with Hibiscus, Berries and citrus).

We stipulated: It was our friend Irene's birthday, and she opted to hold it at an old standby: The Pasadena branch of Chado Tea Room (which still operates its original 3rd St. location in L.A. as well). We're very familiar with this spot: most recently, Blogger Baby and I took Maria out to Chado for Mother's Day last year.

They stipulated: As you might expect, the tea list is huge and daunting. Ask for advice, or simply order what sounds tasty. There are also several different ways of ordering food: Tea only. Sandwiches and tea. Tea and scones (with clotted cream). Tea, sandwiches and scones for the extra hungry.

High point: Most people are drawn to the tea or the environment (you regularly see it mentioned as everyone's fave tea shop -- I believe it), but I'm sold thanks to the sandwiches. The crusts are cut off, the bread toasted to a nice, warm gold hue and the sandwiches themselves are extra tasty. We're both partial to the Souchong Chicken, but I'm also a big Limerick fan.

Low point: Chado wasn't extra busy, but we had to pretty much beg for our check. With Blogger Baby in tow, every second counts -- and Evan was definitely ready to go.

Overall impression: We used to frequent the Chado's 3rd Street location (near the Beverly Center) but found that it was frequently closed for bridal or baby showers. Thankfully, the Pasadena spot is much larger and always available to just walk in and sit down. If you haven't done tea, Chado's a cheap and casual way to do it.

Chance we will go back: Yes -- after all, Mother's Day is around the corner.

The Franklin Avenue Kitchen: Chicken Adobo Pizza

Pizza shouldn't be hard. If you're struggling while making one at home, maybe you're best off ordering carryout. Or, if you haven't already, you ought to run over to Trader Joe's and pick up their bagged pizza dough.

Ready-made pizza dough is one of the reasons Trader Joe's exists. And at this point I'd say it's the No.1 Trader Joes Item We Couldn't Live Without. The dough comes in regular, wheat, rosemary/herb and cornmeal; we're presently a big fan of the cornmeal.

Our fridge usually boasts at least one package of pizza dough. That's why it didn't take long for us to figure out what to do with the leftover chicken adobo we brought home from Maria's mom's house.

It's too easy: Roll out the dough. Brush some olive oil on it. Sprinkle some cheese (the secret: keep it simple. Don't overdue the cheese.) Tear off pieces of the chicken and place it throughout the pizza. Cover the pie with baby spinach. Add a few more dabs of cheese. Bake for 10 minutes.

Told you: Easy. (Maria and I also regularly stick chicken sausage or other ingredients on the pizza.) And you know what? Chicken adobo pizza is pretty damn good.