EPISODE 2

The cultural diversity of Los Angeles doesn't just mean we have more than 100 languages spoken here--it also means that there are more than 100 ways to fry an egg or serve up a rack of lamb. On "Flavors of L.A." we taste the foods of the City of Los Angeles, council district by council district.

In the newest "Flavors of L.A." host Eric Garcetti, City Council member representing the 13th district (Hollywood and adjacent communities) goes on a tour of neighborhood restaurants with his guide, Council Member Jan Perry, who represents the 9th district (which consists of downtown and South Los Angeles).

Although it's impossible to visit all of the restaurants in the downtown area, Council Member Perry chose three which represent a wide diversity of cultures and cuisines. The first stop is Lady Effie's Tea Parlor, a labor of love on East Adams which is so unique it almost defies description! At Lady Effie's, a proper sit-down tea is served with love and devotion by the proprietor, Vonnie Gipson, and her husband, Melvin, with your choice of scores of unusual teas and finger foods! It is located in a historic house which was left to Vonnie by her aunt, Effie Mae Miles, in 1993. The house has been restored to its full glory and filled with antiques, family heirlooms, and photographs. When you visit you feel like you've been transported back in time fifty years or more! You can call Vonnie for reservations for two to fifty guests, at (213) 749-2204.

After tea, it's off to Mercado la Paloma, a community project located in a renovated factory building at 3655 S. Grand Avenue, just east of USC. Inside the Mercado you can sample all types of Latin American foods, including homemade Oaxacan ice cream, smoked milk and cactus fruit, huevos rancheros, shrimp cocktails, and as well as several types of tamales, tacos and seafood dishes, all at very reasonable prices! There's also a Thai stand, a burger grill, and a Mexican bakery, plus all kinds of arts and crafts to browse and buy. At Chichen Itza, the Yucatan restaurant, Council Members Garcetti and Perry venture into the kitchen to find out how to make one of their most popular dishes, the Tamal Colado, a moist and soft tamale with chicken-achiote sauce, steamed in a banana leaf. Hot sauce is strictly optional! The Mercado is open every day from 8 am to 6:30 pm. and it has a free parking lot.

Although by this time they certainly weren't hungry, duty called the council members to move on! They ended the day at Roy's, the "Hawaiian fusion" chain which has recently opened a very popular location at the corner of Figuroa and 8th St. At Roy's, our the sampling menu consisted of beef short ribs and three kinds of fish, plus a platter of delicious desserts. All in all, it was a very full-filling day! Roy's downtown phone number is 488-4994.

Join us to sample this culinary tour of downtown Los Angeles on "Flavors of L.A."