I can easily say Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one of the greatest movies of all time. I mean whats more amazing than animated characters mingling with real life people? I went crazy for it when I was a kid. I still get pretty pumped when I see animation fuse with real life objects.
Artist Alex Solis does amazing illustrations that are unique, fun and playful.
This series is called Stealing My Food
He also is doing a series called Famous Chunkies. He illustrates recognizable pop culture figures as little fatties. I like the consistency of this series but it also has a strong message.
Usually when unhealthy eating is discussed it tends to come off as preachy and a little annoying. I think Alex Solis raises awareness without it being too much to digest….(see what I did there?)
Even though they are simply adorable, it gives you a little food for thought. Some of these drawings make me think about cheeseburgers a little more than usual. Then it immediately makes me rethink eating that cheeseburger.
Ariel/Flounder/Sebastian from Little Mermaid Link from Legend of Zelda Ryu from Street Fighter Darth Vader from Star Wars
The cool thing is that he experiments with different art styles and its never the same thing over and over. He constantly posts super entertaining stuff on Instagram @alexmdc
The Ruler Real life Fruit Ninja Pencil Death: A little morbid and a little cutie
I grew up playing Nintendo games. Some games were ridiculously hard to pass. I remember I used to get so mad trying to beat King Koopa. Even as an innocent little girl I would day dream of making koopa in a delectable turtle soup. And Ganon from Legend of Zelda…..that awful awful pig. These were the villains of my childhood.
Illustrator Jude Buffum created these 8bit butcher diagrams. These hilarious infographic charts satisfies the carnivore and nerdy side of me. Plus who hasent thought of seeing these monsters hacked up into bits…..8 BITS……
King Koopa aka Bowser-Mario Brothers Where’s all your fire breathing abilities now?! Huh, jerk?
Ganon-The Legend of Zelda
Ganon’s lust for power can never be satisfied. Just as my love of Ocarina Steak can never be satisfied. Ganon was a jerk and should totally be eaten. I’m certain he would taste like pig or possibly like wild boar. This is what he gets for harming my beloved Link and Zelda.
Two little swimming foes-Mario Brothers
I would gladly eat them because I love sashimi and they were always little annoying punks anyway.
Chocobos- Final Fantasy
These are fast little birds that get you from place to place, which leads me to believe the meat would be a little on the tough side. This one is kinda sad because they were usually pretty cute and friendly little critters. But hey, I’m a sucker for chocobo nuggets.
Yoshi-Mario Brothers
Awww…poor poor Yoshi. But you know, he does eat some delicious fruits so that “tongue stew” must taste delightful. An adorable dino delicacy. Maybe you shouldn’t have run off a cliff. Stupid…adorable Yoshi.
Jude recently was the illustrator for a cookbook called “Ultimate Dining Hall Hacks” where he created exploded diagrams for various recipes. I recently ordered this book and am excited to see it, especially because I’m a big fan of unique food art and also am a fan of cooking.
Check out his other work, most are in the 8bit style too which is super fun. I’m a sucker for anything nerdy like infographics, diagrams and charts. Jude really did some creative work here. Buy some of his stuff he is super nice and totally deserves some revenue. So get on it nerds!
Burritos may be the most delicious meal on earth. All your favorite foods all wrapped up in a big warm tortilla. Sometimes big enough to hold like a little baby or big enough to have a romantic moment with. Except it wont cry for a bottle or break your heart and most importantly it wont let you freeze in the Atlantic ocean.
“There will always be space on my raft for you burrito.”
The ingredients vary from place to place.
Meat, beans, rice, onion/cilantro and salsa.
Some have guacamole, sour cream, cheese lettuce and other veggies.
this one is from Boca Del Rio
The California burrito has fries in it. Yes friends, fries. This one is from Alberts Mexican Food
All of them have their own charm and endearing qualities.
I’ve been contemplating my love/hate relationship with rice in my burritos. I think rice may be the evil that breaks your burrito into a exploded mess.
One side of the tortilla flaps open to dump all the rice right on your lap. When a burrito explodes we all know it wasn’t a random event. Sure, we can all blame it on Sauron but I’m sure even his beautiful blazoned eye would shed a single tear. Truly a sad event. I suppose thats why forks exist. But still, the “fun” in a burrito has now become defeat.
Of course I’m not going to be the asshole that tells you the rice is the evil (even though it kinda is).
Lets think about the ingredients.
Sometimes its the beans-too much bean water that makes everything soggy.
The greasy meat– that not only saturate your arteries but also the tortilla
or sometimes its the guacamole and sour cream that makes the whole thing turn into a handheld slip and slide.
RICE!!-piece-y. Usually greasy. Soft and hard to control.
Let’s not play the blame game. Every burrito has a different personality and should all be treated with respect.
What if YOU are the one to blame for the explosion?
There are many different ways to eat a burrito.
I like to unwrap and assess the situation (which side looks more stable) I wrap the foil/paper around the less crazy bulgy side and immediatly consume the precarious side. The stable side is what will save you.
this burrito from Chipotle was bulgy on both sides. “choose wisely.”
At a certain point you will be able to sit your burrito down on its own little fat ass. here’s the burrito sitting down in front me. my date, the burrito. This ones from Taco Del Rio.
But when you get to this section of the burrito you know you’re in the clear and you’re beyond the exploded burrito.
And this is the way way you feel.
So even if you’re the worst burrito eater that immediately goes for the fork and knife (only ok for a wet burrito). Although I would be mildly entertained by the person that tries to eat a wet burrito with their hands.
Illustrator and character designer Jerrod Maruyama is creating some pretty amazing work. He’s drawing stuff in the style of kawaii (all things cute and adorable).
like this little TV Dinner or this breakfast scene
Most pop culture icons are subject to his cute-ification. Breaking Bad, Hellboy, Star Wars and his most popular series, Disney characters. I know most of my art postings have been “food illustrations”, but my inner geek is dying to post my nerdy loves. You have been warned….
I am a HUGE Legend of Zelda fan.
Pharrell
Totoro
Louie CK (fellow Hungarian BTW)
These Disney characters are cute enough for any adult but would be totally adorable in a nursery.
Dumbo
Chip and Dale
Because I cannot post all of his wonderful work you’ll have to take a look at his website yourself. The little geek inside me gets super giddy when I see his work. He really captures the spirit of Disney characters very well. I feel like all of his illustrations has a sweet kawaii feel that I like so very much but also maintains a minimalist vibe. All of his character design is very consistent. Something an obsessive collector (such as myself) goes crazy for. I mean who could say no to this little smiling spam. Awww….
Little Spam
(i have contacted the artist to use these photos, hes super nice so please buy his stuff!)
Bento boxes are like cartoon foods come to life. All those adorable little characters, pops of color all placed in tiny little boxes. Any boring meal could become a work of art.
As I get older it seems as though I am becoming more and more obsessed with everything “cute”.
Kawaii, means “cute” “adorable” and “loveable”. Seems as though Japanese culture is littered with everything kawaii. I think if I went to Japan my head would explode from all things adorable. I could hardly contain myself when I go into a Sanrio store and am bombarded with pink and miniature everything. Too much cute.
Bento boxes that are in the style of kawaii is almost too amazing. Trying to make food cute? Yes. Yes please. Its like food styling jumped into a big pool of adorable.
I really respect those moms (and pops) that make little bento meals for their children. For them to add so much whimsy and creativity into preparing food. Its really very beautiful. I really do think this gesture goes deep into the little ones soul more than the parent knows.
Eating a fun and playful meal that also happens to be nutritious is an amazing gift a parent can give to their child.
Imagination is such an underused muscle. Especially if everyone is rushing around this crazy world. Sometimes its the fine details in life that seep into our subconscious.
I really respect the art of bento making. Bento boxes are a sign of care and love. Lots of thought went into the presentation.
Because we all know we eat with our eyes first. My kawaii loving eyeballs are already feasting from just looking at these photos. If I had a meal like this I’m sure I would enjoy it a million times more if its a little sandwich that looks like Hello Kitty or a rice ball in the shape of Toroto. S-O D-A-M-N C-U-T-E ! ! !
-i contacted all bento artists for permission to use these photos. you can find them all on instagram or on these sites
A couple of years ago I worked as a server at a “semi fancy hipster” Chinese food restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles. (Now, what I mean by “semi fancy hipster” I mean each noodle dish costed $15, the decor was clean/modern and it was in the hipster-y arts district neighborhood). I remember coming home smelling like noodles and spices. Before I worked there I rarely craved Chinese food. I think those smells implanted themselves into my brain. Thats when the hunt for Chinese food began.
I roamed and ate my way through Chinatown. Found some wonderful contenders. Most of them are still on my radar, but I’m always on the prowl. “The heart wants what the heart wants” or as I say “the mouth wants want my mouth wants”.
Most real Chinese food restaurants are crazy cheap and the decor looks pretty dingy and sketchy. The really good ones are in strip malls with a giant “B” grading emblazoned in the window.
I’ve been hearing tale of Alhambra, San Gabriel and Rowland Heights being great pockets to find hole-in-the-walls.
So go ahead. Drive down Valley blvd in Alhambra. You’ll pass about a hundred tiny little places. Play a little roulette.
Close your eyes spin around in a circle a few time with your finger pointing outward and just choose. Chances are you’ll choose a good one. But most normal folks generally don’t play love games with thy own tummy, they’ll just go on Yelp or ask a friend.
I’m the friend that will tell you about Sam Woo BBQ.
Upon entering this wonderful divey establishment you will see a case of ducks hanging by their nooses. Crispy red and delicious Peking ducks. I heard you can even order a full roast BBQ pig for events. Any true friend of mine will now know where to get my birthday present.
You can get take out or sit in the dining room. The menu is huge but if you have all the old memories in place like me, you’ll go directly to your jam.
Fried Rice Vermicelli Singapore Style.
Beef Chow Fun with Black Bean Sauce
Fried Rice with BBQ Pork
All three of these are great shared family style. But if you’re a small gal with a big appetite like me and my friend Desiree, then well lets get three huge dishes and share a meal thats probably meant for a family of five. It took some will power to NOT order more. The price point is generally in the $6 range, but if you get lobster or shrimp it may be up to $13. Such the deal!
The Singapore style noodles have a delicious curried dry-ish type of noodle. Whereas the Chow fun noodle is a wide and flat noodle with an amazing black bean sauce. The fried rice is what surprised me the most. The BBQ pork is spot on. Some of the best I’ve ever had. This was such a great food coma inducing meal.
This meal got me drunk on food. We only paid $24 for all three dishes and still both walked out with a take out box. The food tasted almost better later on as a leftover because all the delicious essential oils had collected on the side of the take out box.
mmmmmm essential oils….
So don’t let the sketchy exterior (and interior) bum you out. Get a few items to-go and take them home to put on your solid gold plates.
Sam Woo BBQ 514 W Valley Blvd Alhambra, CA 91803 (626) 281-0038
Pizza and parties go hand in hand. Crazy fun to eat and as far as food goes its pretty damn interesting to look at. Basic shapes, colorful toppings and of course drippy melty cheese. Pizza could be an illustrators dream come true . Doodling little pizzas sound like a good time to me.
Japanese artist Kimiaki Yaegashi a.k.a. Okimi, created a series featuring pizza. These paintings also have a hot chick wearing a bikini, a naked baby, a cat, a bird/turtle/fish man and a Tengu. In Japanese folk culture the Tengu is a legendary mountain goblin that often represents vanity and pride. There’s a Japanese expression, ‘Tengu ni naru,’ which means, ‘He’s turning into a Tengu,’ used when describing a person who is arrogant, proud or conceited.
Now, the meaning of all these characters (including the pizza) on each of these drawings is up to you. These make me so happy, I cant help but giggle. They are abstract, wacky and beautiful.
A slice of pizza in your underpants? On your boobies? Over your eyes? What about putting your head through it?
Genius.
Check out his website and buy some of his stuff. I most certainly will.
There are certain types of foods that merely exist to destroy your mouth.
There are the evil foods that cut the roof of your mouth and there are the bastards that burn the shit out of your tongue.
Both classes of foods are equally as demonic and delicious.
Sometimes you forget how much damage these foods do because but we partake anyway.
I’m sure we CAN wait a few minutes to let things cool down, but I’m hungry NOW!
Plus, I’m sure its fine, right?
Are we masochists? Cocky? Idiots?
As a seasoned eater of foods and drinker of hot beverages I think I have a technique for all food and drinks. But my eagerness and hunger always proves to be my demise.
Burning your tongue via Pizza is an easy road to pain. Pizza looks so innocent, but underneath that delicious cheese sheet lies a hot steamy devil.
Cutting the roof of your mouth really sucks because if you get it good enough you can taste a hint of blood. Mmmm. Yuck.
Thanks Captain Crunch!
Crispy bread can be a sonofabitch. Please proceed with caution when eating a ciabatta sandwich. These sandwiches are quite treacherous.
Right when you get your hands on a crispy sandwich you know what you’re in for.
Get ready to go for a ride!
There’s no right way to bite into it and NOT injure yourself.
You gotta dedicate. Think of it as “extreme” eating.
So relax and take a moment to think about the next few days.
Do you need your taste buds?
Are you comfortable having a tore up mouth?
More than likely you can practice a bit of patience or try not to order the crunchiest piece of bread. Sip your coffee or blow on your soup. Lets all try and be responsible adults.
About 20 miles East of Downtown Los Angeles, nestled in the San Gabriel Valley is a small city called La Puente. If you visit my hometown of La Puente you’ll see lots of concrete, industry, strip malls and strip clubs. Aside from all this majestic beauty we have an old school Drive-In theater and the most crazy delicious hole in the wall Mexican food dives.
Colonia Taco Lounge is not one of these dives. I’ll discuss delicious street La Puente meat another time.
This restaurant is right off the 605 freeway off of exit Valley Blvd. It’s right next to a motel that rents its rooms for a mere $29 an hour and its across the street from a tittie bar called ‘Satin Gentlemen’s Club’. I’m still waiting to see a man wearing a top hat and monocle come out of one of these infamous “gentlemen’s clubs”.
These tacos are well crafted and have distinctively unique flavors. I can only dream of eating a taco with seared queso fresco, bacon and avocado (The Campeon). Here, this dream is a reality. Bacon is finally in a taco, BACON!
Plus I want to mention they have great cocktails and delicious craft brews. Tuesdays here are a magical day because ALL tacos are only $2.50. This may be the best time to sample everything on the menu.
When I get tacos I usually order all the meat ones before even think about the vegetarian options. Because lets face it, USUALLY the vegetarian option is sub-par. Throw a few veggies on a tortilla, or fry up a quick potato taco. Not here. At Colonia the vegetarian tacos may be some of the best tacos in all of Los Angeles. Here are a few of my favorite vegetarian vibes.
-Battered Cauliflower (Coliflor)
-Mushroom with a Bourbon Cilantro Sauce (Huitlacoche)
-Squash Succotash (Chayote)
-Potato with a bit of fried lemon wedge (Papa)
Some of my favorite meat options here are all Guisados style stewed meats
-Pork and Pumpkin
-Beef/Beer which is beef braised in stout beer
-Duck Confit
Below (Campeon)
Below (Beef and Beer)
Below (Coliflor)
Below (Papa)
Below (Bunelos)
So ridiculously good. Borderline upsetting.
As a representative of the La Puente board of tourism, I urge you all to go eat some tacos and drink some cocktails at Colonia then go watch a double feature at the Vineland Drive-In theater.
-(side note: I’m not from the board of tourism)
I have a deep love of food illustrations and Hungarian food. Sometimes I wander into the scary world of the inter-webs looking for the perfect marriage of my two loves. Instagram led me to artist named Nick Hilditch. (On Instagram he goes by the name @pockless.)
He has a whimsical look at traditional Hungarian dishes. These drawings left me laughing, nostalgic and hungry. He traveled to Hungary in 1996, recorded his food travels not with photographs like most of us common fools, but with art.
I love these.
I love everything about these.
Well done Mr. Hilditch. I’d like to explore other parts of the world with you.
HUNGRY HUNGARIAN 