Miguel R.
Yelp
Have you ever known something to be true, yet you are still surprised when it happens? And I don't mean that you are surprised by the standard that is expected. You are surprised by a twist in the known tale. I am talking about the discoveries that we know are coming yet when they arrive we are still left in wonder and warm-awe because in some way they are different in a distinct way. Like, when we walk a scary maze we know we will be horrified by a creepy or crawler or knife wielder. But then we get spooked, in a super new way, by a ghoul- perhaps a Popeye mutated by toxic and radio-active Spinach- and we know new jolting fear because Popeyes eye is open and it is colored pus green and his tattoo anchor is now a quasi-cleaver, perfect for gut harvesting. I wrote about a maze and went deep into the metaphor, hopefully, dear reader, you can follow me in and out because all I was trying to say was that Los Angeles is my city, and I know it has wonders I yet have to discover, and I did discover a new wonder- Hanks's Organic Supermarket- and I was happy that I did. I tried to draw a parallel to finding a new haunt in a maze that delights. The parallel was probably not good since I had to explain it. And as you know, a joke is not funny, if you have to explain a punchline, and thus a parellel does not offer insight if the moral has to be brought to the forefront of consciounness.
I was in a nearby Sound-bath and I was too in the Zen, to drive,. My knees were in quiet space so I forced them to walk a few feet to this supermarket. I wanted some food and I had seen, as I was driving, that this place offered a prepared food section. I have had mixed experiences with prepared food sections. The food from Whole Foods, especially their chicken salad, one of them is a joy. But other prepared food sections from major chains, have food that is heaped on cafeteria style, and offers basics for consumption but not joy. I also experienced something akin when I was in college in the dorms cafeteria. But you know not all dining can be an epiphany in every spoonful.
As I approached the counter I felt the potential ick of food that was not going to fill me with joy. I ended up ordering Brussels (a staple in most of my composed dishes) cilantro rices, chicken meatballs, and mash. Everything seemed to be cooked on the premises with care and was displayed in medium serving plates or other vessels that held their contents with dignity. I also ordered a tres leches to make the meal composed
I sat outside their patio. The patio- as many places in the Arts district- was an industrial garden. THE structure was sleek and aluminum, maybe steel, maybe something else, with green accents all around. It was a mix of modern and old, of earth-given, and human made, it was the ying and yang of our world-- what is natural and was is made, and together it was a proverbial oasis from city noise and pace. I sat and enjoyed my meal thoroughly.
The chicken meatballs had a sweet glazed and a crispy exterior that was gentle in its crisp, no crunch was heard, but taste was there. The rice was cilantro, and the mash had lumps with some cheese and when you encountered those mash bites, I was thankful that I was surprised, a new by my city of promise. The brussels were sweet and crispy. It was the best food I got, from a market that sells premade food. So good in fact that I would describe it as restaurant quality, with the restaurant being a decent place worth praise.
It is weird to imagine that I had a nice sit down lunch in an industrial garden that was made possible by the space and fare of a supermarket. But when you remember that this place is in the lux blocks of LA's Art District the surprise becomes a bit for understanding, and frankly, familiar.