0:09

Hello. And welcome to another

0:11

installment of living in the sprawl.

0:14

So there California's most adventurous

0:16

podcast. I am as always

0:18

your humble host and correspondent.

0:21

My name is John Steinberg. Joined

0:23

as always by my lovely

0:25

and immensely talented producer slash

0:28

my wife. Her name is Lisa

0:30

Steinberg. We are the team here at

0:32

sprawl enterprises. Ready to bring

0:34

you yet another exciting foray

0:37

into the vast expansive. Terrain

0:40

that we have lovingly

0:42

dub. The sprawl.

0:44

On today's show. We follow.

0:47

In the footsteps of a man. You've

0:50

heard the adage, the man, the myth, the legend.

0:52

I couldn't think of a better candidate.

0:55

Then one Anthony

0:58

Bordain. Bordain

1:00

1956 to

1:02

2018. Showed the world,

1:04

what it meant to truly be an

1:07

adventurer. Raised

1:09

in New Jersey. Buy a fridge

1:11

father and American mother. The

1:13

culinary icon. Taught the world.

1:16

How to explore with purpose.

1:19

Whether he was. Sampling

1:22

Montreal style bagels

1:25

in Quebec. Or chatting

1:27

it up with president Barack

1:29

Obama. Over Vietnamese

1:31

food. In Southeast Asia.

1:34

This globe trotting trend

1:36

center. Had a spirit, like no

1:39

other. On my better days.

1:41

I'd like to think. That Mr.

1:43

Bordain. Has influenced.

1:45

This program in many

1:47

particular ways, you could

1:49

never script any of the episodes

1:52

that Bordain brought to the public.

1:55

He approached each and every

1:57

adventure with the kind of zest

1:59

and zeal. Typically reserved

2:02

for, teenagers

2:04

and people in their mid

2:07

to late twenties. Eternally

2:09

young at heart. Bordain cemented.

2:12

An incomparable legacy. Wall

2:15

presiding over immensely

2:17

successful television programs.

2:19

Parts of known no reservations.

2:22

The layover. He also

2:25

served as a guest judge

2:27

on multiple episodes

2:29

over the course of multiple seasons. Of

2:32

living in the sprawls favorite reality

2:34

program, top chef. Additionally,

2:37

he was a New York times bestselling

2:39

author responsible. For

2:41

putting one of the better. Culinary

2:44

memoirs out into the world.

2:46

And that would be two thousands.

2:48

Landmark kitchen confidential.

2:51

Though Mr. Bordain had occasion

2:54

to travel and visit

2:56

every corner and crevice.

2:58

Of the known world. He did

3:00

in fact, make time. For

3:03

us lowly mortals

3:05

here in these Southern California sprawl.

3:08

Over the course of his illustrious career.

3:11

He. Visited. A plethora

3:13

of different spots around

3:16

the greater south land. So

3:18

now as we reflect

3:20

on the impressive.

3:23

Career of Anthony Bordain.

3:25

We examine his relationship

3:28

with Southern California through

3:30

the lens of 10. Restaurants

3:32

that the man, the myth,

3:35

the legend. Anthony Bordain

3:37

endorsed him self.

3:41

And let's begin in. A truly

3:43

unlikely place. At number

3:46

10. Ski in,

3:48

this is in me, Linde,

3:51

California. Now.

3:53

I would not completely blame

3:55

any of you for wondering

3:57

out loud or silently to yourselves,

3:59

where in the world is that.

4:02

Well, I'll tell you it's a small,

4:05

odd. Completely singular.

4:07

Spec. In the desert, just

4:10

outside. The bounds of the salt and

4:12

sea. Now the ski in.

4:14

Is not a normal restaurant.

4:16

And by no means. It does it

4:19

merit inclusion on the list like this?

4:21

Because of its food. When

4:23

Anthony Bordain and Josh

4:25

home. Of Queens of the stone age visit.

4:28

The quirky diner.

4:30

During an episode of no reservations.

4:33

They both remark upon. The

4:36

oddity that really is the salt

4:38

and sea. Now we've discussed

4:40

the salt and sea on a prior episode

4:42

of the show. But when you

4:44

get. The perspective of someone

4:46

as enlightened as Bordain? Well,

4:49

You know, you're in good company. So

4:51

it's here. That Josh and Tony.

4:54

Dined on. Less

4:56

than stellar cuisine. While

4:58

all the while marveling. At

5:00

the weirdness. The fact

5:03

that they were sitting in a place

5:05

that decidedly should have never really

5:07

existed in the first place. It's all

5:10

quite a bit of fun and definitely

5:12

worth your time and worth

5:14

your patronage at number

5:16

10. Ski in.

5:20

I number nine. Bierria

5:22

Chileo in both east

5:24

LA and Whittier from

5:27

an episode of no reservations.

5:30

Now Tony Bourdain was

5:32

world famous. For approaching

5:35

life. With an accepting spirit.

5:37

And a desire to sample.

5:40

From every culture that

5:42

he could wrap his arms around.

5:44

Here. He Dines. On

5:47

one of the local stalwarts

5:49

from the area. Indeed.

5:52

Uh, place indicative. Of Eastern

5:54

Los Angeles, none other

5:56

than a hole in the wall.

5:59

Place specializing

6:01

in Barea. He chats

6:03

it up with locals. Reflects

6:06

on some of the city's history.

6:09

And all the while. Sits

6:11

in a completely nondescript.

6:13

Building an east LA. Showing

6:16

all of us, the proverbial

6:18

way to truly get the most

6:20

out of life. I

6:22

number nine. Tony endorsed

6:25

Bierria celeo Uh,

6:28

number eight. Shanghai

6:30

reds. This is in Palm Springs.

6:33

And he visited the Cantina

6:36

slash fish taco in

6:38

Purium. On an episode of

6:41

parts, unknown. This is

6:43

one of the most unlikely places that

6:45

you're likely to check

6:48

out. In the desert. It's

6:50

in a funky strip mall.

6:53

The entrance is not

6:55

immediately obvious. The

6:57

hours are, um, a

6:59

little bit off. And yet

7:02

it says it right there, smack

7:04

down on the front of their menu. One

7:07

of the world's best fish tacos.

7:09

A quote from none other than

7:11

Anthony Bordain. Places like

7:14

this. Make us all realize.

7:16

How fun life can really be.

7:19

Again, this is a place that really

7:21

shouldn't exist. We are.

7:24

135

7:26

miles away from the Pacific ocean.

7:29

This place has no business.

7:31

Selling a fish taco as

7:33

delightful as the one they stock

7:36

regularly. And yet it very

7:38

much exists. And leave

7:40

it. To Mr. Bordain to shine

7:43

a justifiable spotlight. Upon

7:46

this establishment. Very

7:48

cool. Very strange

7:51

altogether. Awesome. As

7:53

only Anthony Bordain. Could

7:55

have scripted it. And

7:58

number seven crazy

8:00

coyote tacos. This

8:02

was seen on an episode of

8:04

Bourdain's program. No reservations.

8:08

The roadside taco stand

8:11

is a Southern California tradition.

8:13

Don't forget, this is the

8:15

locale. Where taco bell was

8:17

invented. Work Del taco

8:20

was invented. And where the car culture.

8:23

Really cemented it's spot.

8:25

In the solar plexus.

8:28

Of the greater American culture. Again,

8:31

we find ourselves in a

8:33

rather unlikely spot. About

8:36

two miles or so from

8:38

the Morongo hotel and

8:40

casino, maybe.

8:42

Twenty-five to 30 miles outside

8:44

of Palm Springs. And yet these

8:47

tacos are phenomenal.

8:50

Only locals. Would even

8:53

hear about a spot such as

8:55

this, if not for the work

8:57

of someone. Who's got their ear

8:59

to the street. In their hand on the pulse.

9:02

As no one did quite

9:04

like Anthony Bordain. Number

9:07

seven. In Cabazon.

9:09

It's crazy. Coyote

9:11

tacos. At

9:14

number six. Tony

9:16

visited animal on

9:18

Fairfax. In Los Angeles

9:21

on an episode of the layover. So

9:24

it bears mentioning. That this was.

9:27

The second restaurant opened.

9:29

Bye noted Los Angeles.

9:32

Impresarios John shook and

9:34

Vinnie to Tolo their first being

9:36

son of a gun. They would later go

9:38

on to found the Uber

9:40

successful Jon and Vinny's

9:42

franchise. And.

9:45

Then they'd actually go on to.

9:47

Implement their vision. On

9:49

behalf of Los Angeles. That

9:51

would. Exist within the bounds

9:54

of so fi stadium in

9:56

Inglewood. At animal. The

9:58

focus is on. Well, um,

10:01

animals. Lots of sweet

10:03

breads. Meats. You

10:05

never thought you'd actually see on a menu.

10:08

Stuff. You've never even really seen

10:10

prepared in person. This was

10:12

also a favorite of the late Jonathan gold.

10:15

It would routinely. Appear on

10:17

his annual list of the. 101

10:20

best restaurants in greater Los Angeles.

10:23

And Tony being Tony, of course.

10:26

He had his hand on the pulse again.

10:29

Dining out. At

10:31

one of the. Real

10:33

beacons of modern Fairfax,

10:36

John shook and Vinnie. Solos

10:38

animal. Get yourself some

10:40

sweetbreads. Nope. They're

10:43

not bred. I assure you. Check

10:45

it out for yourselves. I

10:48

remember five. Tacos.

10:50

That Corona. In Atwater

10:52

village from an episode

10:54

of no reservations. Again,

10:57

we find ourselves at a

10:59

somewhat bizarre. Hold on the wall.

11:02

Taco window in this case, not

11:04

a taco stand. But a window on

11:07

Glendale Boulevard. This

11:09

is one of the best breakfast burritos

11:11

that you'll find throughout the city.

11:13

Lines routinely snake

11:16

around the block. In the tacos

11:18

here rival anything that you're likely

11:20

to find. In east Los Angeles.

11:23

And the taco truck corridor.

11:26

That exists along Olympic Boulevard

11:28

in Boyle Heights. Tacos

11:31

or the Corona as not only

11:33

been. Appreciated

11:36

by Mr. Bordain, but it also

11:38

was a favorite of the late Jonathan gold.

11:41

It has received much

11:44

attention from other distinguished.

11:46

Food publications. The infatuation

11:49

love it. As this eater,

11:51

timeout, and they've mentioned it and

11:54

now we will add our voice

11:56

to the chorus of folks.

11:58

Saluting the fine work

12:00

done in the kitchen at tacos,

12:03

Villa Corona. And

12:05

number four, Tony visited

12:08

Pappy, and Harriet's

12:10

in Pioneertown just

12:12

outside Joshua tree. On

12:15

an episode of no reservations

12:18

for those unfamiliar, with what pioneer

12:20

town is. It's a town.

12:22

Yes, but not a town in the

12:24

conventional sense of the word.

12:27

It's more like an elaborate movie

12:29

set that exists far

12:31

from the Warner brothers

12:34

lot in Burbank. It's

12:36

an old west themed. Town,

12:38

which. In this sense, town

12:41

equates to. Really a single

12:43

street. And on the street.

12:46

You can visit. An old timey saloon.

12:49

Out of this world general store.

12:51

Pretend. You're following in the footsteps

12:54

of Wyatt Earp. By

12:56

getting your hands on some authentic cowboy

12:58

garb. For someone.

13:00

Obsessed with westerns. That

13:03

never got to experience them in

13:05

their heyday. This is paradise.

13:08

At Pappy and Harriet's. Is a real

13:10

diamond. In the crown.

13:13

Of pioneer town. Paul

13:15

McCartney has played here. Who

13:17

can get bigger than Paul McCartney? He's

13:20

not the only one. Throughout the history

13:22

of Pappy and Harriet's lots

13:24

and lots of recognizable names.

13:26

Have. Performed in front.

13:28

Of rabbit audiences.

13:31

At this Western themed

13:33

throwback. Get your hands

13:35

on some stiff drinks. Some

13:37

hot Buffalo wings. And

13:40

some kitschy. Only in this

13:42

part of the world charm. As

13:44

you plunk down. For

13:46

a veritable experience.

13:48

At pioneer towns pappy and

13:51

harriet's And

13:53

number three. Tony visits, Dan

13:57

In Koreatown. On an episode

13:59

of the layover. Tony

14:01

dedicated an entire episode.

14:04

Of this program. To the greater

14:06

Koreatown experience. It

14:09

was here that. He guzzled down.

14:11

Korean liquor. Eight they're

14:13

delicious. Pub inspired

14:16

food. And sampled all

14:18

things. K-Town. Blending

14:20

in like a locals local.

14:23

Dancing. Uh, Is yet

14:25

another weird place.

14:27

And that is basically the point.

14:30

I've never actually been to Korea.

14:32

But after dining here, Lisa

14:34

and I both felt like we

14:37

had a. Pretty reasonable

14:39

brush. With the sole

14:41

S E O U L experience.

14:45

The place is loud. The seats are uncomfortable.

14:48

The air conditioning is nowhere to be found.

14:51

It's dancing saw in

14:53

K-Town. And

14:55

number two, Tony visited

14:58

seeing your fish. In

15:00

downtown Los Angeles on an

15:02

episode of the layover. Now

15:04

there are multiple outlets of Senor

15:06

fish. And normally

15:09

we don't love endorsing

15:11

kind of quote unquote chain restaurants.

15:13

On this podcast, but here we will

15:15

make a. D two or like exception.

15:19

The fish tacos here are the real deal.

15:22

The place is nestled in the heart of

15:24

the bank district. There's

15:26

definitely a strange vibe going

15:28

on. And up to collection.

15:31

Of characters. Ranging

15:33

from transients.

15:36

Two. Businessmen in

15:38

Beamers wearing Berets.

15:40

Senior fish. Seems like it was airlifted

15:43

from. Part of, I R to and.

15:46

Set down on main street

15:48

in DT LA. Except

15:50

that again, the clientele.

15:53

Shall we say. Is a bit

15:55

on the. Especial side.

15:57

For yet another singular

16:00

experience. We turn

16:02

to the man, the myth, the legend, Anthony

16:04

Bordain, this time setting

16:06

our gaze upon the fine folks.

16:09

Huddled. Gathered and standing

16:11

in line at senor fish

16:15

And that means we have arrived at our number

16:17

one spot. It's gotta

16:19

be a place from Koreatown. As

16:22

mentioned before Tony Bordain dedicated

16:25

an entire episode of his show

16:27

to this one specific region of

16:29

Los Angeles. This is a guy who

16:32

would. Film episodes.

16:34

In places like Uzbekistan.

16:36

Turkey. Finland. And.

16:39

What we would see on the episode would encompass

16:42

an entire country east to west,

16:44

north to south. And yet when

16:46

he cast his gaze upon K-Town,

16:49

he thought the place was so interesting.

16:52

That it merited and entire episode.

16:54

Onto itself. Hey, Andrew

16:56

Park is a special place.

16:59

Some of the best soup that you'll find

17:01

this side. Uh, The actual

17:04

country, Korea. It's

17:06

been a mainstay in

17:08

K-Town. For going on two decades.

17:11

You'll find. Not only

17:13

the heaven sent soup. But

17:16

also. Your classic. Well, gogi.

17:19

Kimchi fried rice, seafood,

17:21

pancakes, and everything else.

17:23

That bong Joon, ho director

17:25

of parasite. Would embrace

17:28

and endorse himself. At

17:30

number one, as we pay on Manoj.

17:33

To the man, the myth, the legend, Anthony Bordain,

17:36

it's ham G park in Korea

17:38

town. And that's

17:40

going to do it for a, another episode

17:43

of the show. We'd like to thank everyone for their

17:45

continued support of the podcast. It

17:47

does mean the world to us, a couple of easy

17:50

ways to demonstrate your support.

17:52

Hop on apple I do is wherever

17:54

you happen to be listening to the show, leave

17:56

us a five star review or a

17:59

kind rating. That stuff really helps

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us out. Also follow us

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18:05

in the sprawl podcast.

18:08

Drop us a line. We love corresponding

18:10

with you. Our dear wonderful listeners.

18:12

The email address is living in the sprawl@gmail.com.

18:17

And we'd also like to direct you to our terrific

18:20

snazzy website, where you

18:22

can get your hands on living in the sprawl merchandise,

18:25

as well as the living in the sprawl

18:28

guide. So on behalf

18:30

of one half of the team. I

18:32

am as always your humble

18:35

hosted correspondent. My name is John Steinberg.

18:38

Joined in life love

18:40

and this podcast by my.

18:42

Amazing. And immensely talented

18:45

producer slash my wife. Her

18:47

name is Lisa Steinberg thinking you

18:49

from the bottom of our hearts for listening

18:52

to another episode of

18:54

living in the sprawl. Southern California's

18:57

most adventurous podcast. We

18:59

will chat again very

19:01

soon.