Editor's Guild Magazine

What kind of food do you like ?

A friend of mine knew he'd met his soul mate on their first date when he asked, "What kind of food do you like?" and she said, "Food that goes clunk." She meant comfort food, stuff that'll stick to your ribs on a cold winter day, warm the body and spirit like a cup of Mom's home-made soup, and melt on your tongue like the oozing inside of a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie. So when the gray days come -- and they do, even here in Our City Of Perpetual Sunshine -- here's where to go for a dose of down-home satisfaction.

MARMALADE CAFE (L.A. Farmer's Market, 6333 West 3rd St. #E17, L.A., 323-954-0088, and other locations including Sherman Oaks and Santa Monica). Marmalade's newest branch is a few steps from the Farmer's Market food stalls, just across from the Grove's FAO Schwarz. So don't sit outside unless you can handle the toy store's endlessly repeated theme song. Though the chain has a reputation for catering to ladies-who-eat-nothing-but-salad, there's a younger, hipper crowd here. Sure, you can get a Cobb, but you can also tuck into chicken fried steak, smothered in white gravy and served with a heap of mashed potatoes. There's a very grown-up tuna melt, spiced with red and yellow peppers and red onion and a big selection of soups. I opted for French onion, a rich, steamy, brown broth topped with gooey cheese over French bread croutons. Breakfast's available till 3 p.m. The Harbor Island Eggs are piping hot and filling, perfectly poached, sitting atop a potato skin filled with asparagus tips and Canadian bacon, but get the too-thick hollandaise on the side. While the café is a bit pricey (expect to spend ten to thirteen dollars an entree), portions are huge, and you'll likely get two meals out of one. That's if you don't mind leftovers, but there's something awfully comforting about leftovers this good.

Story analyst Holly Sklar never once ate mac n' cheese growing up...
but now she can't get enough.

 Reprinted from
The Editors Guild Magazine
Vol. 23, No. 6 - November/December 2002