FoundTrack - Culture Blog, Events & Music Compilations

FoundTrack is now bi-coastal

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:59:00 +0000

Hello friends - I want to give you a heads up that I've moved to NY and I am planning on sharing my new discoveries and adventures with you on this here blog. Thanks for your continued support. If you know anyone in NY who may be interested in checking out the blog, please pass along.

sincerely,
Nass

Foodie Fridays: KTCHN 105

noreply@blogger.com ($hevin) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:35:00 +0000

Given KTCHN 105’s obscure location behind a nondescript, gated parking lot in downtown LA’s produce district, it should come as no surprise that the unique eatery is completely off the radar. Visiting the reservations-only spot does take a bit of planning, as it operates on very limited hours, only being open for weekend brunch, and dinner on Thursday and Friday nights. But don't let that discourage you from trying it out...

Make your way down the landscaped walkway and pass the tranquil outdoor patio, and you’ll enter the main dining room, a large, airy loft. According to KTCHN 105’s website, the space “was designed for learning, entertaining, and coming together for the appreciation of food.” As such, the open studio kitchen also plays host to private events and various specialty cooking classes throughout each month.

Love it or hate it, you’ll be taking part in communal style dining, using large banquet tables and benches. Abundant natural light illuminates the restaurant and puts a spotlight on the mouthwatering dishes and refreshing cocktails served.

If the bathroom—complete with bathtub—and open kitchen make you feel as though you’re in someone’s home, it’s because you are— you can even find a bed hidden in one corner! At KTCHN 105, you truly are being served a comforting home-cooked meal.

My brother Viranda (aka the Don Corleone of the FoundTrack empire) and I visited upon the wise suggestion of our friends and downtown dwellers Mike Cruz and Kara Marks, who you might recognize as the savvy team behind the delightful Savor Los Angeles series.

I went for the light, yet delectable house citrus cured salmon lox, which elevated the standard brunch offering to a whole new level. Served atop toasted, yet still chewy baguette slices, the thin slivers of fish were sprinkled with chopped egg and chives. The dish was really brought alive with two robust spreads, red onion-honey mustard and pesto remoulade.

V ordered the cornmeal waffle pear BLT. This was one hell of a sandwich. In addition to the standard BLT ingredients, this indulgent monster was housed in a corn waffle and contained smoked gouda, roasted corn mayo, caramelized onions, and pear maple syrup. In short, it was a sweet and well-crafted take on a typically generic sandwich.

Mike opted for the “Best Part About a Fried Egg,” which was served with home fries, while Kara went for a classic sun-dried tomato scramble. Everyone seemed pleased with their selections.

The gratis chocolate chip cookies which came with the check were a nice touch. Nothing like freshly baked cookies to ease the pain of paying your bill!

Despite serving fantastic innovative cuisine, KTCHN 105 hasn’t received tons of press like other hot brunch spots around town, and remains a hidden gem. So venture downtown and discover one of the city’s best kept secrets—you’re in for a treat!

KTCHN 105, 1250 Long Beach Ave., Los Angeles 90021; 714.720.2260; theivgroup.com/ktchn105, MAP.

NEXT TIME on Foodie Fridays: Our last post together from LA! We'll be revisiting the iconic Pacific Dining Car.

Suggestions? Mail to: foodiefridays at foundtrack dot com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @FoodieFridays

Ceravelo - Re-inspiring The Modern Gentleman

noreply@blogger.com (E-man) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Hey FoundTrackee's!!! Eman from the FoundTrack Creative Crew here, sharing our newest project with all of you! I've been M.I.A. for a minute working on some other projects but am very happy to report back with a little personal news. The project below is a little special sauce I've been working on (with 2 other amazing individuals) for sometime now and is gaining momentum - Check It Out!

Who says chivalry is dead and men aren't quite the gentlemen of yester-years? Ceravelo is standing up and revoluting against that idea. They are re-inspiring today's Bloc to open doors for ladies, remove hats at the table and put on a coat when you go out to dinner! Ceravelo is an online, clothing accessory boutique based out of San Francisco, California. They specialize in creating custom, contemporary and originally designed ascots made from both re-purposed and new materials. In a time were people are more conscious of where they spend their "Dolla Dolla Bill," Ceravelo, keeps production locally within San Francisco. Not to be confused with Cervélo, the racing bike company, Ceravelo spawned from a combination of two names: Emmanuel Cervantes and Steven Arevalo. They came up with the concept and were inspired by a blog posting from this very site, Foundtrack.

Re-purposed material. What is it? Material that was once used for some other purpose and to which is given another life. Essentially, this means that the materials are rare and the ascots designs are one of a kind. The company guarantee's that the majority of the material they procure and use to design their ascots is re-purposed. The remainder comes by way of local distributors. The use of re-purposed material is not a substitute for perfection. Ceravelo’s mission is to prove that environmentally conscious design can be synonymous with sartorial fashion. Co-Founder - Steven Arevalo (pictured above) describes the collection, " Our style is timeless, classic and relevant. When you feel our product you will experience the quality and understand the care we take to precisely craft each ascot."

Ceravelo will be featuring their entire line of original, hand-made made ascots on December 1, 2011 at the Nordstrom in Hillsdale, Ca. Ceravelo will be featuring their entire line of original, hand-made made ascots on December 1, 2011 at the Nordstrom in Hillsdale, Ca. Make sure to say to our friends, The Ceravelo Team - Jackie Lopez (pictured below), Steven Arevalo and Emmanuel Cervantes. You can also check them out @ www.Ceravelo.com

Foodie Fridays: Casting for a Food Network Show

noreply@blogger.com (Abby) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:23:00 +0000

A new Food Network series is looking for FOOD ENTREPRENEURS. Specifically, people who have left their previous career and have no professional food experience, but are taking a risk to launch their own food business. You must be planning to open a brick-and-mortar space (restaurant or singular food ideas welcome) before the end of 2011. Those chosen will receive culinary & business coaching from a major celebrity chef and restaurateur, as well as invaluable national publicity. foodtvshow@gmail.com

Foodie Fridays: Upper West

noreply@blogger.com ($hevin) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:09:00 +0000

Attention, Westside! We finally returned to your stomping grounds. Where exactly were we headed this time? A hosted dinner at Upper West in Santa Monica, by Pico and the 10. The large, open venue draws its name as it's reminiscent of lofts in Manhattan, and because it is literally the last option on Pico before crossing Centinela, what some consider to be the border of the Westside.

One of the restaurant's co-owners, Elad Benisti, ran nightclubs and lounges in Miami before moving to LA and opening Upper West last spring. His sociable nature is easily apparent, as on any given night, he can be seen running about welcoming new patrons, catching up with regulars, and interacting with his staff.

The modern aesthetic—and even the food to a degree—reminded me of one of my old favorites, 3rd Street's now-defunct Food Court LA. The main dining room and bar are separated from a beautiful patio area by floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Although the projected classic film concept is nothing new in LA, this is the icing on Upper West's already well-crafted cake.

This chic space plays host to monthly pairing events. In the past, special tastings have been created around wines, tequila, and even Jameson. Upper West also keeps things interesting by changing its eye-catching art displays every three months.

George Bernard Shaw's famous quote "there is no sincerer love than the love of food" is painted across the patio's lintel, and serves as a reminder that although the restaurant's interior is gorgeous, the focus here is on the grub. The idea is modern American comfort food, and with options like corn on the cob, burgers, and ribs on the menu, the owners want you to make yourself at home and just dive in using your hands.

Upper West has concocted a fantastic list of unique cocktails. We went for a watermelon mojito, which turned out super sweet, and a calm, cool, and collected cucumber martini made with mint leaves, gin, and sweet and sour, which was more up my alley.

We hold high standards for burrata salad, having enjoyed Cube's virtually unbeatable offering. Upper West's take is praiseworthy as well, and quite robust with its use of apple-blackberry panzanella, tomatoes, chamomile salt, and dill-mustard vinaigrette. Finishing off every last bite of a cheesy cloud of burrata is always such an indulgent, yet delicious, challenge.

The standout dish of the evening came early and unexpectedly. The whole roasted sweet corn brushed with avocado butter and cotija cheese was hands-down the best corn on the cob I've eaten in my life. This flavorful summery treat makes it fully worth having chunks of corn wedged in between your teeth afterward—just remember to bring floss.

Upper West's veggie burger has received a great deal of praise, having recently been described as possessing the power to "make a convert out of the most ardent meat lover" by the LA Times. In all honesty, I haven't sampled enough veggie burgers to be a qualified judge, but my vegetarian dining companion Aurora did greatly enjoy it, noting the burger's subtle Asian hints, particularly with its use of pineapple relish.

I've never seen meat from char-grilled baby back ribs fall so easily off the bone. Served atop a bed of Asian slaw and crowned with radish peach salsa, this dish proved to be a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

Although I rarely indulge in bread pudding, it is in fact one of my favorite desserts. Sweet, soft, and rich, Upper West's brioche offering swam in a whiskey caramel and creme Anglaise sauce, and was topped with strawberries. This decadent treat was most definitely a comforting end to our very satisfying meal.

We visited on a Monday evening and were surprised by how bustling the restaurant was for a weeknight. But with its impressive menu and lively atmosphere, it's no surprise that Upper West has certainly been a welcome addition to Santa Monica's sometimes lackluster dining scene.

3121 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90045; 310.586.1111; www.theupperwest.com; MAP.

Photos by Aurora Tang.

COMING SOON on Foodie Fridays: We'll be checking out the recently-opened Black Cat Bakery on Fairfax and revisiting a classic, Pacific Dining Car.

Foodie Fridays: Mother Dough Pizza

noreply@blogger.com (Abby) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:40:00 +0000

There are a few topics of conversation I tend to avoid when I would prefer a quiet evening over impassioned and frenzied debate. Those topics include: politics, religion, and where to get the best pizza.

Everyone can offer up an opinion on his or her favorite pizza pie, but such a subjective discussion tends to end with “agreeing to disagree.” However, it’s hard to refute what the Italians have to say. The Italians are the innovators and architects of the pizza so it only seems fair that their opinion should weigh just a bit more than the rest of us, no?

I proceeded to ask a few of my Italian friends, “where can one find the most transcendental, life changing, extraordinary pizza pie in Italy?” And rather than harsh debate, the Italians all quickly agreed (which is not common for Italians) that the best pizza comes from Napoli.

Pizza has never been an underrepresented food group in the Los Feliz/Silver Lake neighborhood where I live. We’ve got a plethora of non-chain options to choose from, but the abundance of pizza parlors did not stop Bez Compani from confidently opening up just one more in the neighborhood. His new venture into the restaurant scene, Mother Dough, serves up his favorite kind of pie, the same variety my Italian friends claim is the most delizioso: Neapoloitan pizza.

Bez, an Iranian-born Angeleno who arrived in LA via London and Italy, is the driving force behind Mother Dough, and I’ve yet to see a restaurateur more hands on than this guy. He works the dough with his own two hands, stares down the heat emanating from his 900 degree wood burning oven, and even built the wooden tabletops himself – from a fallen oak tree. He ships in his olive oil from Naples and has no tolerance for anything less than the finest buffalo mozzarella

So what about the pizza? First of all, it’s important that you don’t walk in here expecting NY style pizza. These pies are baked for only sixty to ninety seconds in a very special, very hot oven. (Most pizza cooks for about ten minutes at half the heat.)

The dough is chewier and softer than what you’re used to. The flavors, just like all good Italian food, are exquisite in their simplicity. It’s all about letting the natural flavors of the high quality ingredients speak for themselves. When was the last time you can remember tasting the bold flavor of olive oil in your pizza? At Mother Dough you can.

The beautiful combination of a house-made red sauce, buffalo mozzarella and basil are served on a barely baked, chewy, but just crisp enough dough. The ingredients are anything but the sum of their parts. The bold yet simple flavors sing in harmony. I think the tune goes something like “You found me! The best pizza!”

Mother Dough Pizza, 4648 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027. 323.644.2885, www.motherdoughpizza.com, MAP.

NEXT TIME on Foodie Fridays: We're finally returning to the Westside, to sample the modern American comfort food at Upper West in Santa Monica.

Suggestions? Mail to: foodiefridays at foundtrack dot com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @FoodieFridays

Found in London - LED Festival feat. Deadmau5

noreply@blogger.com (Jini) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:54:00 +0000

Festival season is well under way, with the biggest of them all, Glastonbury just around the corner...but for those who don't fancy using baby wipes for 4 days straight, London has some of the best day festivals that cater for all tastes, whether it be Tom Jones at Kenwood House or Snoop Dogg at Lovebox.

A couple of weekends ago, I decided to risk the London weather (which paid off nicely) to go to LED Festival in Victoria Park, with Deadmau5 performing at his first ever headliner outdoor event. They had strong support from DJ's like Skrillex, Zane Lowe and Calvin Harris but let's just say I wasn't willing to leave the comforts of the VIP area until the mouse came out to play. With vocal support from Sofi, the appearance of Deadmau5 on his giant light cube was an awesome sight to see as the sun began to set over Victoria Park. Check out the legendary "Ghosts n Stuff" below:

Special thanks to the Welsh DJ & producer who shared the deadmau5 love by giving us free glow stick mouse ears which we in turn paid forward and gave to the random blokes who kept trying to steal them.

No thanks to the boys behind us who kept referring to the headliner as Deadmau five - was funny at first until I couldn't help but say it too...

Can't get enough of Deadmau5?
You can download the Deadmau5 remix iPhone app here
The new mix album 4x4=12 is available to buy here
Deadmau5 Miawington Hax Tour (N America) tickets are now on sale

Foodie Fridays: Pairings by Savor Los Angeles

noreply@blogger.com ($hevin) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:55:00 +0000

Creative collective Parallel Lines was kind enough to invite us to the latest incarnation of their Savor Los Angeles series, held earlier this month. With Abby out of town, I knew that all the sampling would be on my plate, literally. Tough job, but someone's gotta do it!

This time, Savor pulled together about a dozen participants under the theme of pairings: "foods made for each other, fusion, nostalgic specialties and unexpected flavor combinations," the invite read. While the theme was more apparent with some participants than others, Savor curated a brilliantly diverse group of eateries, ranging from long-standing LA restaurants (like The Farm of Beverly Hills) to the up-and-coming (like Auntie Fruf's Aahsome Fudge). The evening benefited CoachArt, a nonprofit which offers free arts and sports programs to children with chronic illnesses.

Parallel Lines once again selected a beautiful blank space, Hollywood's Siren Studios, which made the culinary displays stand out like works of art. While the city's young, stylish foodie set convened here, what was great about this event was that unlike other tastings, it wasn't overcrowded. Having to elbow your way through throngs of hungry people just to snag a microscopic bite of cheese is never fun.

Upon entering the event, attendees were treated to cocktails by Veev ("the world's first açaí spirit") just past the check-in desk—no better way to get a party started. They had an interactive come-up-with-your-own-creation setup, using one of two different concoctions and a handful of fruits and veggies. I ended up with a blackberry mint lemonade, which turned out sweet and refreshing. The cocktail was served in a fun little mason jar.

With our drinks in hand, we entered the main tasting room. Bacon seemed to be a major player this time around, appearing first in Pure Cheesecakes' blue cheese and tomato creation. I'm generally not a huge fan of cheesecakes—probably due to how heavy and rich they are—but these savory varieties of the typically sweet dessert were a delightful new experience.

Bacon was also found in caramelized form in Cast Iron Gourmet's incredibly addictive trail mix. The crunchy snack also consisted of dried fruit, chocolate, and nuts.

Also participating were Silver Lake's Malo Restaurant and its new downtown offshoot, Mas Malo, which I recently had the pleasure of trying. Unfortunately they didn't bring any of their very unique chewy tortilla chips or the super spicy habanero creme dip, but we were introduced to a new dish: the aguachile shrimp. The robust green lime and chile salsa definitely made the plump raw shrimp go *KABOOM* in your mouth.

Our old buddy Nguyen Tran of Starry Kitchen was present as well, and as you can tell by this photo, lively as ever!

His intern offered us plate after plate of the restaurant's mouthwatering pandan chicken (chunks of chicken wrapped in pandan leaves which are then fried). The savory dish's pairing counterpart was pandan flan, which was equal parts sweet, rich and smooth.

Bangers & Smashed made me nostalgic for London with their take on classic English pub grub. Two varieties of bite-sized bangers and mash were offered: Hungarian smoked pork sausage with "Loaded & Smashed" potatoes, and a smoked apple sage variation with goat cheese and sage mashed potatoes for the vegetarians amongst us.

The Farm showcased a beautiful flower arrangement made of raw veggies. Apparently we were standing in the right place at the right time, as we overheard a simultaneously hilarious and unfortunate conversation which went something along the lines of "so what flavor is this flower?" "...uhh... radish?"

Although desserts were the main focus of Savor's last tasting, sweets were certainly easy to find this time around as well. The Farm tempted attendees with platefuls of their simple, yet well-executed powdered brownie bites, and Auntie Fruf's offered a wide array of sugary treats. My favorite was a chewy chunk of fudge, encased in a vanilla macaron. Supposedly they were also serving fudge-filled fried ravioli—too bad this wasn't sitting out when I swung by!

The imbibers amongst us flocked to the bar upstairs, to score more drinks from Veev as well as one of my favorite classic Belgian beers, Duvel.

While we were busy sipping away, the raffle began. I've never won anything in a raffle before, but OF COURSE the first time I do it was for a little black dress! As great as this cute number (made by local designer Nuj Novakhett) might look on me, it will likely be finding itself on eBay soon. Other lucky winners scored items including a barbecue set and a pizza stone.

On our way out, we were treated to gift bags courtesy of Yelp, which included goodies like a Skoy eco-friendly dishrag, Wonderful pistachios, and an espresso cup. I've also been able to try the Zhena's Gypsy Tea coconut chai blend which I picked up at the event, and I must say this truly is a magical combination. Trust 'em or not, apparently gypsies really know what they're doing when it comes to tea! Refreshing cocktails, delicious "BFF" bites, and a free dress—all in all, a successful night. Great work, Parallel Lines!

Savor Los Angeles, www.parallellines.info.

Photos by Aurora Tang.

NEXT TIME on Foodie Fridays: We'll be giving you our thoughts on Los Feliz's recently opened Mother Dough, and let you know where it ranks in LA's sorely lacking pizza scene...

Suggestions? Mail to: foodiefridays at foundtrack dot com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @FoodieFridays

Found in London - Ellie Goulding

noreply@blogger.com (Jini) — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:52:00 +0000

Found in London made a trip to FoundTrack HQ a few weeks ago and despite all good intentions of keeping up my posts, LA sucked me in and have been playing catch up ever since! Anyway, I'm back and you can all breathe a sigh of relief - better late than never I say...

So committed am I to experiencing live music, I found myself at Music Box in Hollywood a few hours after landing, just in time to catch the talented British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. Having gained popularity in the UK with her album Lights (Polydor) last year, it was re-released as Bright Lights with extra bonus tracks including a cover of Elton John's "Your Song" which featured on a popular UK TV commercial over Christmas.

Having spent 11 hours on a plane, of course I hit the bar first and so only showed up at the gig at the tail end of her support act, The Knocks. The NY electronic music duo who have made a name for themselves as producers and remix extraordinaires, but knocked (!) it out the park with their original songs like "Make it Better" and "Something I Can Dance To". Free downloads available here.

Once Ellie came on stage, my Red Bull had kicked in and the high school audience were ready to go. She worked the stage well, engaged the audience with decent chat and came across as a genuine talent enjoying herself on stage. Due to technical difficulties (i.e. jetlag) I wasn't able to record the performance but check out another set of performances in LA filmed for T-mobile's Live Rising gigs.

Soundtrack aficionados will recognise this from the Kick Ass OST, "Starry Eyed":

My personal favourite, "Every Time You Go":

Lights and Bright Lights are available to buy now.

FoundTrack - April - May '11 MixTape

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:17:00 +0000

FoundTrack - April - May '11 MixTape (Zip File)

1. Peter Gabriel - Mercy Street
So (Purchase)
Real World Records
http://www.petergabriel.com/

2. Grimes - Crystal Ball
Darkbloom (Purchase)
Hippos In Tanks
http://www.myspace.com/boucherville

3. Bibio - Take Off Your Shirt
Mind Bokeh (Purchase)
Warp
http://www.myspace.com/mrbibio

4. Kurt Vile - In My Time
Smoke Ring For My Halo (Purchase)
Matador
http://www.myspace.com/kurtvileofphilly

5. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - How Can U Luv Me
How Can U Luv Me - Single (Purchase)
Fat Possum
http://www.unknownmortalorchestra.com/

6. Cornershop - Natch
Cornershop & The Double 'O' Groove Of (Purchase)
Ample Play
http://www.cornershop.com/

7. Timber Timbre - Black Water
Creep On Creepin' On (Purchase)
Arts & Crafts
http://www.myspace.com/timbertimbre

8. Papercuts - White Are the Waves
Fading Parade (Purchase)
Sub Pop
http://www.myspace.com/thepapercuts

9. Apparat - Ash/Black Veil
Ash/Black Veil (Single) (Purchase)
Mute
http://www.apparat.net/

10. Galapaghost - Never Heard Nothin'
Demo
Self Release
http://www.myspace.com/galapaghostcasey

11. Beach Fossils - Calyer
What A Pleasure (Purchase)
Captured Tracks
http://www.myspace.com/beachfossils

12. Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here (Smog)
I'm New Here (Purchase)
XL
http://gilscottheron.net/

13. Starfucker - Hungry Ghost
Reptilians (Purchase)
Polyvinyl
http://www.myspace.com/strfkrmusic

14. Tune-Yards - Powa
W H O K I L L (Purchase)
Marriage/4ad
http://www.myspace.com/tuneyards

15. Eric Burdon & The Animals - Good Times
Ceremony - Soundtrack (Purchase)
Lakeshore
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1341341/

16. Bass Drum of Death - Get Found
GB City (Purchase)
Fat Possum
http://www.myspace.com/johnbarrettmusic

17. Lyle Workman - New Hope
Win Win - Soundtrack (Purchase)
Mom + Pop
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606392/

18. Arcade Fire - Suburban War
The Suburbs (Purchase)
Merge
http://www.myspace.com/heyrosetta

19. Explosions in the Sky - Last Known Surroundings
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (Purchase)
Temporary Residence
http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/

FoundTrack - April - May '11 MixTape (Zip File)

Foodie Fridays: Berlin Currywurst

noreply@blogger.com (Abby) — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:15:00 +0000

"Don't forget to get a photo of the empty plate," said co-owner Hardeep Manak, of Berlin Currywurst in Silver Lake. I was about to walk away with my DSLR in hand, but turned back for one last shot.

I wasn't surprised when I learned that Hardeep was rising in the ranks of the marketing world in Berlin not long before he and his wife, Lena, quit their 9-5 jobs to pursue their dream of owning a restaurant in Los Angeles.

Today their vison has been realized in the form of a hip, new Sunset Junction dining spot, currently introducing Angelenos to the Berliner street food favorite, currywurst.

The original currywurst was created sixty years ago by a German housewife who used curry and other newly imported spices to concoct a thick, savory sauce. She smothered the chopped traditional German wursts with the spicy ketchup-based curry sauce and served it up with a side of fresh baked bread for soaking up the drippings.

The menu at Berlin Currywurst—which opened in February—pays respect to the storied national dish while also offering more modern interpretations sure to please the sophisticated palates of Angelenos.

Tofuwurst, anyone? Or how about infusing your curry sauce with fruit, garlic, or chipotle flavors? The degree of spiciness can be tailored as well, from 1 ("Berlin Calling") to 4 ("Break the Wall").

On our visit, Shevin and I indulged in two varieties: the paprikawurst and the veal and pork wurst. The former was spicy with a punch of garlic and a hint of smokiness. Both varieties were grilled to perfection, with a snappy crunch with each bite into the casing.

Topped with minced onions and a sprinkling of spices, the golden hand-cut fries pair nicely with the spicy currywurst.

According to Hardeep and Lena, not only do their "hearts beat for currywurst," but also for sunny California. If the quality, flavors, and friendly service are any indication, I think they'll be enjoying the LA sunshine for years to come.

Dining at Berlin Currywurst and meeting this couple will certainly inspire you to search for airfare to Berlin when you return to your laptop. Perhaps you'll even entertain the idea of following in their brave footsteps by opening up a fusion taco truck in one of Berlin's arts districts. Both Hardeep and Lena think German appetites would gladly welcome the exchange.

Berlin Currywurst, 3827 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026. 323.663.1989, www.berlincurrywurst.com, MAP.

COMING SOON on Foodie Fridays: We'll be going on a Latin spice food tour!

Suggestions? Mail to: foodiefridays at foundtrack dot com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @FoodieFridays

Mean Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:11:00 +0000

According to Myspace, Mean Lady are two kids from Delaware who would like to play Bonarroo. I don't doubt they will. Adele, please allow me to introduce you to friends Yeasayer and Passion Pit.

Mean Lady - Indian Sun

Here is the official video for "Far Away".

Holy Ghost - Wait and See (music video feat. their Dads)

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 01:47:00 +0000

I thought i was pretty cool for inviting my parents to my bday party but having them star in my music video, that's sort of stupendous. That's the idea behind NY disco-duo Holy Ghost's new video for their single "Wait and See". Nick Millhiser and Alex Frankel asked their dads to act like father like son and show what it's like living the good life as trendy hip dudes making music in NYC. I had to watch it twice. I hope my eventual brethren will have similar impulses vs asking me to drop them off way before the entrance to the mall/movie theater.

Holy Ghost! - Wait & See from DFA Records on Vimeo.

Now Now

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Minneapolis trio Now Now will release their Neighbors Remix EP May 3rd via No Sleep Records. The EP was remixed by their drummer/multi-instrumentalist Brad Hale. Download the Jesus Camp remix below exclusively at Filter.

Now, Now - Jesus Camp (Remix) by nownowmusic

Dirty Beaches

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:27:00 +0000

I've noticed recently that Taiwanese singer Alex Zhang Hungtai aka Dirty Beaches has been on emusic's most downloaded albums of late. A quick 30 second sample of the tracks left me a little unimpressed but i'm a bit more intrigued by the track "Lord Knows Best", in particular the piano loop. He's coming to the echo this Thursday 4/28. The video below is from his booking agent to give you an idea of what to expect.

Dirty Beaches - Lord Knows Best

DIRTY BEACHES / SWEET 17 / GLASSLANDS from Giovanni P Autran on Vimeo.

Found in London - Katy B

noreply@blogger.com (Jini) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:00:00 +0000

As the beautiful weather seems to be taking a break over here in London (but seems to have found its way back to LA), I find myself back at my computer and looking for the best and brightest of British music to share with you fine folks. Having played the part of iPod DJ this past weekend, I'm looking at an artist that definitely set the crowd going (except maybe that one person who requested Fleetwood Mac!).

Katy B, a pure bred Londoner, has just released her debut album in the UK, On a Mission (Sony/Rinse), and with a few chart-topping tracks under her belt, she's already a regular presence in the UK club scene. A female vocalist in the dance genre producing a solid album is not the easiest of tasks but Miss B pulls it off effortlessly. With hits such as "Katy on a Mission" (see below) and the recently released "Broken Record", this talented lady has already flown into the UK charts at #2 (just behind Adele).

For those who remember the explosion of the garage scene in the UK charts almost a decade ago (boy, I suddenly feel old), you may remember Ms. Dynamite who features on the single "Lights Out", check out the video below:

Next week: am off to LA, and will report back from the Ellie Goulding gig at Music Box LA.

Vamos A La Playa

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:54:00 +0000

It's a beautiful day here in LA....we earned it with a long winter but it seems spring is here and with that it's time to get ready to go to the beach..Heard this jam at nomerica's weekly at el cid about a month ago but it seemed like a good fit for today. If you're reading this and the sun is out, get out there and soak it up. Righeira is totally new to me but their dance moves must predate The Carlton from Fresh Prince. Enjoy.

BTW - Vamos a la playa = Let's Go to the Beach

Globe Posters

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Great piece about the history Globe Poster company on NPR's Morning Edition today. As someone whose so impressed by the creations of many of the music fliers created on photoshop, it was so fascinating to hear a company that was able to pioneer the poster biz for artists such as James Brown, Solomon Burke, Otis Redding and others with such a analog system of printing.
Check out more of their posters here

Found in London - Fenech-Soler

noreply@blogger.com (Jini) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:54:00 +0000

My music tip of the week comes in the form of a Northampton "synth-pop" band called Fenech-Soler. Although not quite new to the scene, featuring on one of my most visited new music sites back in 2008, they've only really taken off in the last year, and released their début self-titled album (on the B-Unique label) at the end of 2010.

To put it simply, listening to their songs makes me want to dance around like a crazy person (kind of like this) and I would have found it difficult to pick which tracks to release as singles - good thing it's not my job then! Instead here's the video for one they did release, "Demons", which happens to be my favourite track to watch the sunrise to on a Thai beach after partying all night long (that story is for another time...)

And how's this for symmetry, they also did a beautiful acoustic cover of former Found in London featured artist Jessie J's "Do it Like a Dude"

As I'm feeling extra generous today (and guilty for missing last week's post) I'm going to point you to the "Kiss of Life" video of a band that released one of my favourite albums of 2008 and would also fit in the "synth-pop" section of my music library - Friendly Fires.

If you're wondering what those St. Albans boys have been up to, listen to their new track here, from the upcoming album Pala (to be released May 24th on XL Recordings).

And yes, this week's post was brought to you by the letter F.

Foodie Fridays: Help Japan

noreply@blogger.com ($hevin) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:30:00 +0000

It's been over a week since tragedy hit Japan, but we all still want to help, even from afar. If you're looking for some unique ways to support the relief process, here are some great, food-related options we've found around town:Image: www.chariandconyc.net

-One of our favorite restaurants, Cube Cafe, has put together a special wine fundraiser called Red for Red, which will be available for the next week. 100% of proceeds from three select red wines ("and one white for good measure") will be sent to the American Red Cross. 615 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323.939.1148, www.cubemarketplace.com.

-Toranoko is hosting a special dinner from 5-11:30PM on Tuesday (3/22), from which they plan to donate 30% of food and drink revenue. 243 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. 213.621.9500, www.toranokola.com.

-Also on Tuesday, Sprinkles will be offering a special Red Cross Red Velvet cupcake; 100% of proceeds will be donated to relief efforts. 9635 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210. 310.274.8765, www.sprinkles.com.

-Our friends at Yuko Kitchen are taking donations, as well as sending 5% of this month's total profits to the Japanese Red Cross. 5484 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323.933.4020, www.yukokitchen.com.

-Black Cat Bakery is hosting an upscale bake sale on April 2, from 10AM-2PM. If you want to do more than just indulge, volunteers for the event and decadent donated treats are both welcome. 519 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323.932.1500. More info available at bitesofsugar.blogspot.com.

-Chef Eric Ripert of NYC's Le Bernardin will be donating 100% of the restaurant's four cookbooks to Save the Children and Direct Relief International for the next month. Email books@le-beranardin to order.

COMING SOON on Foodie Fridays: Night + Market.

FoundTrack - March '11 MixTape

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:35:00 +0000

FoundTrack - March '11 MixTape (Zip File)

Nasslisting

1. Caught A Ghost - Sleeping At Night
Cag Mixtape
Self Release
http://www.caughtaghost.com/caughtaghost.com/Home.html

2. LESANDS - Restless Lover
Sweet Skin
Self Release
http://lesands.bandcamp.com/

3. Scotch Howard - Hit the Wall
Mandara
Self Release
http://scotchhoward.bandcamp.com/album/mandara

4. Generationals - Trust
Trust EP
Park the Van
http://www.generationals.com/

5. Sam Means - Yeah Yeah
The Sinking of Santa Isabel Soundtrack
Self Release
http://means.bandcamp.com/

6. Jessica Lea Mayfield - Tell Me
Tell Me
Nonesuch
http://www.myspace.com/jlmayfield

7. Absinthe & The Dirty Floors - Black Ice
Friday Night Live at Transistor: 2010
Self Release
http://transistorsound.bandcamp.com/track/black-ice

8. Ghost Heart - Wilderness
The Tunnel
Self Release
http://www.ghostheart.com/

9. Wolf Gang - Dancing With the Devil
Dancing with the Devil EP
Warner Music UK
http://www.myspace.com/thisiswolfgang

10. The Shutes - Electric Witch
Demo
Self Release
http://www.myspace.com/theshutes

11. PJ Harvey - On Battleship Hill
Let England Shake
Vagrant/Island Def Jam
http://www.pjharvey.net/

12. James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream
James Blake
R+S/A&M
http://www.myspace.com/jamesblakeproduction

13. Solar Bears - Cub (Keep Shelly in Athens remix)
Promo
http://www.myspace.com/solarbears
http://www.myspace.com/keepshellyinathens

14. The Go! Team - Apollo Throwdown (Star Slinger RMX)
Promo
http://www.thegoteam.co.uk/
http://www.starslinger.net/home.html

15. Richard and Linda Thompson - The End Of The Rainbow
Mojo Presents Island Folk
Mojo
http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/04/island_folk_the_greatest_flick.html

16. Ravens & Chimes - Division Street
Holiday Life
Better Looking
http://www.ravensandchimes.com/blog/

17. Wye Oak - Civilian
Civilian
Merge
http://www.wyeoakmusic.com/

18. Hey Rosetta! - Yer Spring
Seeds
Sonic Records
http://www.myspace.com/heyrosetta

19. Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers
Wounded Rhymes
Atlantic/LL
http://www.lykkeli.com/

20. Radiohead - Codex
King of Limbs
TBD
http://www.radiohead.com/

FoundTrack - March '11 MixTape (Zip File)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

KnewJack - March 2011 MixTape (Rt-click to download)

KnewJacklisting

Adele - Rolling In The Deep (Jamie XX Shuffle)

Toy Selectah - Half Mex Half Colombian Bandit

Sabo - Mexclaton

LeSale - Timeaftertimeaftertime

De La Soul - Keepin The Faith (Touchsoul Edit)

Hi Voltage - Smile (SuperBreak Disco Edit)

The Bar-Kays - Sexomatic (LeSale's Guaranteed Edit)

Hotel Motel - Feel So Young

Little Jinder - Youth Blood (Thomas Anderson Remix) (Prince Klassen Edit)

Neurotic Drum Band - U Got Me Dancin (Piano Free Mix)

Juan Atkins - Dayshift (Oliver's Nightshift Remix)

Funkatarium - Jump (Fingerman's Old Skool Edit)

KnewJack - March 2011 MixTape (Rt-click to download)

Found in London - Purl Bar

noreply@blogger.com (Jini) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:47:00 +0000

Taking a break from my otherwise awesome music posts, every now and again I'm going to share with you some local hangouts in London that, as the late MJ once said, rock my world.

First up is Purl Bar in Marylebone - tucked away in the basement of an unassuming cafe, this cocktail bar is inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies (which are, like, so in right now!) You can book an area, even if it's just you and your date, in their dimly-lit alcoves, which in a city where people spill onto the streets just to enjoy a drink, is a true luxury. With room to breathe, and just the quiet sounds of old Americana style music playing in the background, this is the perfect place to catch up with friends without having to shout over each other or fight through the crowds to get a drink.

The minimalistic cocktail menu focuses on a "bitters" inspired selection with favourites such as Mr Hyde's No. 2, described as "a devlish elixir of Ron Zacapa 23, Cola reduction and Orange Bitters served in a smoke injected wax sealed potion bottle". Having tried this concoction myself I have to say it was a little strong for my tastes (a little different from my usual g&t) but half the fun was being warned of the dangers of touching the dry ice and pretending like I was in Harry Potter's potions class! All in all a cosy atmosphere, elaborate cocktails and great service makes this a worthwhile stop if you're ever in London.

Purl is open Monday to Thursday from 5pm - 11.30pm and until midnight on Friday - Saturday.

Foodie Fridays: Aburiya Toranoko

noreply@blogger.com (Abby) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:18:00 +0000

First order of business is to send thoughts and prayers out to those affected by the devastating tsunami today. This post is dedicated to Japan.

I started salivating immediately when I first got wind that Michael Cardenas, head chef of the Lazy Ox Canteen, one of my favorite L.A. dining spots, was opening a new restaurant. I discovered that it was to be called Aburiya Toranoko, and it would serve Japanese izikaya-style cuisine, as well as sushi. To top it off, I learned that it was located conveniently right next door to the Lazy Ox. This meant there would be no time or effort necessary to Google-map the new location—time and effort that could be much better spent studying the menu on the restaurant's website and drooling some more.

In the age of the celebrity chef, the name of a restaurateur or executive chef/taste-maker has become increasingly important information when making the difficult decision of where to dine. It often guides diners’ stomachs and wallets more powerfully than the type of cuisine, the location, or even the atmosphere. (Who wouldn’t prefer dinner from a truck named Ludo over an overpriced and oversalted dish on a white table cloth?) Point being, the Cardenas name carries a lot of weight with my palate, and so I embarked with an empty stomach and high expectations down to his latest culinary establishment in Little Tokyo.

So what did I think? Was I as impressed as I was the first time I sat down to eat at his flagship restaurant next door? The short answer is, yes—absolutely! The décor is hip and fits in with the downtown LA scene. It’s welcomes you with a sheik industrial design complete exposed brick, colorful graffiti and a lively bar. The combination of the minimalist wooden communal table and the extravagant chandelier indicates this is a choose-your-own dress code kind of place.

The most exciting thing to spot, however, was the chalkboard menu listing the several LIVE dishes for the day. The evening we visited, the offerings were octopus and eel: fresh, delicious, and still squirming.

Our entire party ordered shots of the live eel. Our waiter carefully instructed us to pour some of our sake inside each shot glass, squeeze in some lemon juice, and proceed to chug. For some of you this may sound absolutely repulsive, but for the adventurous eaters out there, it’s a must. It’s sweet, light, and packed with a punch of flavor. Of course it's not the kind of shot you want to do rounds of—but you should definitely try it once.

.
As for the white fish and pomegranate, I haven’t always been the biggest fan of fish and fruit, but the sweet pomegranate juice and the texture of the seeds was a bright compliment to the buttery white fish. The flavor of the white fish was still the star of the dish and the pomegranate did not overpower.

If Cardenas was my private chef or roommate, I’d probably ask him to make the seared tuna for me everyday. It set the bar for how to prepare this type of dish. Savory and served warm, the fish melts in your mouth. It was paired with delicate pieces of fried spinach leaves. A wispy and delightful texture, not at all short on salt or flavor. I’d take a bag of these over potato chips any day.

Next was the Japanese style Jidori fried chicken, lightly salted and served with a couple of lemon wedges. No need for more description than that; pretty much the best chicken nuggets you'll ever eat. :)

The braised Colorado black pork was a standout dish. Braised for hours, it almost falls apart when you put it in your mouth—it’s that tender. I imagine this is what Japanese comfort food would be like but I can’t say I have much experience with that myself. It felt classic and simple but the flavors, true to Cardenas' style were layered, complex, and elevated. I wish I had the recipe.

In regards to the sushi, a picture says a thousand words, so check out these beauties:

And for desert, we tried the green tea pudding, which we had heard a lot about. Although this was my first time eating this sweet and rich custard-like dessert, I wouldn't be surprised if pudding made like this becomes an alternative to cupcakes and frozen yogurt.

Toranoko not only boasts quality traditional Japanese food, but is innovative and contemporary in a way that only Cardenas could pull off. I suggest we all spend some more time eating well in Little Tokyo. We're lucky to have such a wonderful culinary mecca right in our own backyard.

Aburiya Toranoko, 243 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. 213.621.9500, www.toranokola.com, MAP.

Photos by Aurora Tang.

NEXT TIME on Foodie Fridays: We'll be sampling glammed up Thai street food at Night + Market, the latest venture from Talésai's Kris Yenbamroong.

Suggestions?
Mail to: foodiefridays at foundtrack dot com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @FoodieFridays

Found in London - Chase and Status

noreply@blogger.com (Jini) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:38:00 +0000

This week my post has been inspired by the fact that some of my friends from across the pond have never heard of some of the biggest and brightest bands in my fair city and I feel that it is my duty to share with you these hidden gems.

Today I'm featuring one of my favourite drum & bass bands, Chase and Status (now signed to Vertigo), who have only released two albums but are one of my favourite live acts ever and have a huge following here in the UK. The duo, Saul Milton and Will Kennard, met at Manchester University in the mid 90s and have been steadily producing and DJ'ing until they released their début album, More than a Lot, on Ram Records in 2008. With fans in high places, Pharrell Williams called them "the most exciting producers in the UK" and Rihanna was quoted saying that they were "the backbone" of her Rated R record.

I saw them when they headlined the MTV Brand New gigs at Koko in Camden recently and let's just say I was not disappointed. Performing many of their tracks from their new album No More Idols, it didn't matter that a lot of it was new material, I was happy to embrace the mosh pit, jumping up and down everytime the MC told me to jump (which was pretty much every 2 seconds)! Let's just say I ended up pretty sweaty and had a shoe thrown at my head...all in good fun of course!

I can't get over how much I love these guys and I want you to love them too! So check out one of my favourite tracks "Hypest Hype" feat. Tempa T below (which was a difficult choice since they have so many awesome songs - check out End Credits, Blind Faith and Let Me Go also)

For those of you in the U.S. they'll be touring in April, with dates at Coachella and at Music Box in LA on April 23rd...I promise that you will not be disappointed!

As you know I love giving you guys a little bonus, so here's a track off their debut album which is something a little bit different - check out "Eastern Promises" below.

Caught A Ghost - First Show - TONIGHT

noreply@blogger.com (Nassir) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 05:08:00 +0000

A week ago i ran into Jesse Nolan, lead man of one of FoundTrack's favorite live acts, Red Arrow Messenger. He told me about his new project, Caught A Ghost. Although it's only a few months young, the new brand is carrying a lot of momentum going into their debut performance tonight at the unknown Son of Semele theather in Echo Park. Apparently, the intimate affair will feature a three part horn section, home-made projection videos from found footage (like below) for every song and lasers.... yes, lasers. All three songs on their CAG mixtape sound very promising. Defly a band on the rise and not a ghost for long.

Here is a homemade video for what should be their single, "Sleeping At Night", shot on Jesse's iphone

Also be sure to catch the new video for the C.A.G. RADIOHEAD, Beatles, and Nicki Minaj mashup here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDiiO1-dHrI