Day 122 - Phone Camera

There hasn't been a whole lot to take pictures of lately, so I sorted through all the photos I've taken with my phone. Here's my good friend and colleague Steve at Wurstkuche in downtown L.A., taken with the FX Camera app.

Sausages & Cars

I admit it - I'm not a car guy. Never have been, never will be. I know, I know, I should have 10W-30 and 92 octane as part of the testosterone coursing through my body, but cars just don't do anything for me . . . they're a means to get from Point A to Point B. That's it.

So given that I work exclusively on automotive sales and dealership training materials, I'm required to attend the annual Southern California auto shows, first the smaller Orange County edition in Anaheim, and then this week, the much larger Los Angeles one. And I was fortunate enough to to have three other friends and colleagues with me - Steve, H-Mac, and A.P. Since cars don't impress me, and I had a laundry list of vehicles I needed to see and photograph, the only car I'm including here was a cleverly displayed Lincoln (and if I actually cared about the car, I could tell you the model, but I don't, so I can't). And since most automakers have scaled back their displays and presentations, there was very little swag to be found, with the exception of the cappuccinos found at Porsche.

But being in downtown L.A. does have its benefits, as we were able to have a late lunch at Wurstküche, or, as A.P. called it, "Worst Cookie." (Give her a break; that umlaut is tricky). Known for their gourmet sausages, Belgian frites and draft beer . . . well, quite frankly that's ALL they serve there. You pick your sausage from the case, order your fries and beverage, and grab a table. Steve got a British soda made from Dandelion leaves and Burdock root while I opted for the more traditional Spaten Pils. Once the sausages and fries are ready, they're brought right to the table with dipping sauces.

It was nice not having to sit elbow to elbow at the table; nights and weekends the place is packed with USC students. H-Mac and I both had room to take our respective photographs, and learning a lesson from my last visit, moderation was my friend.

Burgers & Dogs

Well, sausages to be more precise.

There's a cool new restaurant in downtown L.A. that I wish were closer to work, 'cause it'd be the kind of place I'd walk into and everyone would yell,"Tom!" And then someone would ask, "What's goin' on, Tom?" And I'd reply, "Let's talk about what's goin' in Tom."

Wurstküche is a great place, with gourmet sausages and fries, plus an amazing variety of German and Belgian beers on tap. A couple of weeks ago I met up with a couple of friends there who were in town for the Grammys and they were duly impressed.

As for the burgers, for lunch today I finally tried the lone West Coast representative of the legendary DC-based chain Five Guys. While the burgers were par for the course, the fries were (A) rather limp and (B) a smaller portion than what I've had back East. And since it's been almost two months since I last had Five Guys (with Dad over Christmas) I think it may be a little longer before I can indulge again.

I'm not as young as I used to be . . .