Not all that long ago, watery diner swill was the only form of coffee one could get outside the home in the U.S. Though Starbucks has since mainstreamed the concept of bespoke java drinks, there’s a back-to-basics movement brewing in the face of coffee corporatization. Indeed, serious coffee drinkers are seeking out local cafés whose main point of pride is merely roasting their own beans. Here are three that are poised to be the next Stumptown.
Handsome Coffee Roasters: Despite the omnipresence of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, L.A. is actually home to one of the most ascendant coffee scenes in the country. Buzzing its way to the front of the caffeine rush is Handsome Coffee Roasters, a boutique brand that’s elevating the elegance of a simple quality brew through thoughtfully roasted beans and a purposefully succinct menu. Established just last year by a trio of expert coffee bar veterans (all earned their stripes with Intelligentsia), Handsome just opened a gorgeous new HQ in LA’s downtown Arts District this past Saturday. The airy, predominantly glass-and-wood space serves as a fitting complement to its coffee’s craftsman appeal.
Though the animal-friendly lifestyle has undoubtedly become a slow-growing but solid mainstay, veganism is making its grand entrance into popular culture decisively. Once viewed as extremist outsiders, vegans are pampering their taste buds with an array of grocery stores, bars and gourmet restaurants as well as fast food eateries, celebrity chefs and viral videos.
Plant Food For People: Residents of LA’s Highland Park are gearing up their appetites for this recently announced vegan fast food drive-thru. At its soft opening last month, PFFP wowed diners with its use of jackfruit to create a vegan adaptation of “carnitas” tacos. (Jackfruit closely resembles the texture of poultry when cooked.) Although PFFP is new to the drive-thru restaurant model, the company has been supplying vegan deli sausages to its neighbor, Figueroa Produce Market, for some time now. Far from LA but feeling famished? Fear not, as plenty of fast food joints are adding vegan dishes to their menus daily—and if drive-thru isn’t an option, there’s always delivery.
In keeping with current foodie tendencies toward simple eats, diners are discovering a newfound love of currywurst. This popular German street food consists of sliced pork sausage doused in curry ketchup, a humble preparation that has nonetheless risen to museum-level standing in Berlin. Now restaurants are popping up from coast to coast (and across the pond) to prepare the street staple in all of its unrefined glory.
Berlin Currywurst: This husband-and-wife-owned enterprise opened in LA in February to such a strong showing that a second location is rumored to be in the works—and a competitor has already emerged. The snack-stand-inspired space boasts a minimalist design and a simple mix-and-match menu: customers choose one of eight sausage varieties, and can opt to flavor their curry sauce with additional spices, including chipotle, garlic, and ginger-orange. Brave curry-lovers also have the option to amp up the heat, choosing levels of intensity that range from 1 (Berlin Calling) to 4 (Break the Wall). Levels 3 and 4 are deemed dangerously spicy, so eat at your own risk.
In the wake of so many recent tragedies, the moment to be grateful for the little things is ripe. Indeed, explicitly expressing gratitude for things that most may take for granted is developing into a profound theme—and a sort of ad-hoc philosophical movement—among documentarians, writers and restaurateurs alike.
365 Grateful: A forthcoming documentary from Australian mother/daughter filmmakers Toni Powell and Hailey Bartholomew, 365 Grateful is an “exploration of the power of gratitude.” In 2008, Bartholomew embarked on a personal journey of gratitude by taking a Polaroid photo of one thing for which she was grateful every day. This experiment in positive psychology proved astoundingly effective in helping her ease feelings of depression. Upon sharing her first Polaroid project on Flickr, the exercise became a viral sensation, inspiring others to do the same. 365 Grateful will profile these people, their tales of thankfulness, and how this positive energy can spread to improve lives.
Encyclopedia of Gratitude: Penned by graphic novelist Erich Origen (The Adventures of Unemployed Man), the Encyclopedia of Gratitude blog is a swiftly growing collection of ephemera—“from ABBA to Zamboni”—for which the author is grateful. He is currently raising funds, via Kickstarter, to transform the blog into a coffee table book of 365 entries. Those who donate $100 to the project will be invited to honor a person for whom they are grateful by adding their name to the “Eternal Gratitude” credits of the book. In the crowdsourced spirit of Kickstarter, he is also accepting the occasional reader-submitted item; contributions thus far include “a hot shower after camping” and “the inspirational Lenten rose.”
Not since John Cage didn’t play his piano has sound been so highly regarded as an art form all its own (or so worthy of scientific attention). As the creation and manipulation of sound gradually gains footing as an accepted craft, artists, musicians and writers alike are exploring new ways to connect with audiences at ear level.
NPR at MOCA: Artist-run radio collective Neighborhood Public Radio recently teamed up with the Museum of Contemporary Art, LA for a three-part series of “interactive sound projects.” Part One saw NPR hijacking the airwaves around the museum to create radio sound out of visitor interviews, performances, and even real-time conversations. In Part Two, sounds emerging from museumgoers’ cars were layered and looped to compose a symphony. The final installment will feature guitar-made drone sounds, meant to create a shifting “fuzz-tone” that will vary depending on a visitor’s location. The series has struck a chord with audiences despite its experimental nature, using crowdsourcing as a point of entry to the unconventional concept of hearing art.
