Author: Petra

Eye In Eye With The Dragon

In August the Los Angeles Zoo proudly announced the hatching of 22 Komodo dragons. While adult animals can measure up to a length of 2 to 3 metres (6.6 to 9.8 ft) and weigh in at around 70 kilograms (150 lb), the youngsters are naturally much smaller and just out of this world cute.

While most of them just hang out in little groups in their enclosure, one was much more enterprising and definitely interested in some close up shots.

Was he posing for the lead in the next dragon movie? After all, this is Los Angeles, where film stars are being discovered in the most unlikely places…

I Can Eat That

There we were, out and about to look at some art, which is always a wonderful way to spend a warm Friday evening. After having feasted our eyes, it was time for a nibble. While debating where to go we passed “Unami Burger” – according to food lore THE place to go for burgers.

I had to debate with myself, because – quite frankly – I am not into burgers. Flat, dry pieces of meat clamped between bath sponge-textured buns, dribbling with overly sweet ketchup splashed over limp salad leaves, tasteless tomato slices and the horror of horror, a slice of plastic cheese… no, I am not into burgers at all. On the other hand, “Unami Burger” was being praised for being different – okay, let’ give it a try, we said.

I am glad we did!

I have to admit, this is not the very best photo of the signature Unami Burger, but I’ll try to make up for it by describing the experience: First of all, the meat was cooked medium to perfection, the also ordered “Port & Stilton Burger” was impeccably cooked too. The cheese was not some plastic looking and tasting piece of molten rubber, but a baked lacy Parmesan slice. The tomato – roasted; mushrooms – sauteed. Just looking at it I thought: Hey, I can eat that!

And eat it I did. Nothing dribbled, nothing fell off, even the bun tasted good. Paired with some sweet potato fries with homemade tomato ketchup, which we shared, it was a very pleasant and good meal. I wouldn’t know about the much touted “5th Taste Experience” – let’s just say, this is a burger I would have again if I happened to pass by the place.

And that is high praise for something I am normally not into at all.

Learning For Life

This was the first time that I saw one of these fabled, very American, lemonade stands in action. What a marvelous teaching tool for children!

These three young girls learned about patience, money matters, how to be nice to customers, how to advertise and how to withstand the heat, because they were selling lemonade for a good cause.

It’s like a course in Business Economics and customer service in the front yard – but much more fun.

Yummy!

Freshly picked

unto the plate.

Amongst simple but delicious dishes a Caprese Salad ranks high. Prepared with freshly picked tomatoes it turns into goodness on a plate.

To get hold of something that yummy one only needs: A few feet of ground, some tomato plants and a neighbor with very greens thumbs and a love for sharing.

Thank you, Collin!