So last week, the CGP and I took a little trip out to the Left Coast. The first few days were spent in LA watching the World’s Strongest Man 2014 qualifiers, then a little side trip to Las Vegas (aka Adult Disneyland), and then back to La La Land for the WSM finals. Ended with a not-too-brutal red-eye back to the East Coast. It was a busy busy trip but loads of fun.

By far, the best meal of the entire trip was at Sergio’s Tacos at 2216 S. Atlantic Blvd in Commerce. We ate here on our last trip to LA about 18 months ago (also for WSM) and I swooned for it then too. You might not stop in if you were just driving by. It’s a bit of a dump. And the neighborhood is iffy (honestly, all of Commerce looks a little iffy to this East Coast suburbanite). The food is insane. And cheap. Tacos and tamales are $1.30 each (you will be hard pressed to spend $20 for two). The tacos are authentic Mexi-Cali street-style: two palm-sized corn tortillas with a juicy pile of hand-chopped meat in the center, dressed with an onion-jalepeno “relish” and hot sauce (riojo o verde, I vote for riojo). We started with four tacos: carne asada, al carbon, carnitas, and pollo — none should be missed. Just as we polished these off (politely sharing each one), our beef tamale and pork tamale were handed over the cash register. Each was huge, hot, and well-seasoned. Wrapped in corn husk and then in waxed paper, it looked like someone’s grandma had made them that morning. When we were finished, the CGP announced he’d like one more of everything LOL! So we ordered another two carne asada and another two al carbon. I actually muttered a profanity of extreme pleasure under my breath when I bit into this carne asada — another customer overheard me and smirked. He understood.

I have no pictures of this meal (or, really any meal on the trip). As I handed the first styrofoam plate of tacos to my husband I turned back to the counter to grab forks — and by the time I turned back around, he had polished off half of one taco and started on the next!! So here’s a consolation picture of me with Svend Karlsen and Bill Kazmaier, legends in the field of Strongman.

Another memorable eatery was Tid Lom Thai Cuisine at 4809 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles. Another hole-in-the-wall you might drive by — but truly worth a visit if you are in the mood for Thai. We stopped there on our way back to the Commerce Casino and Hotel (WSM sponsor!) after a long day of WSM filming at Paramount Studios. To my delight, they serve Issan Sausage! Issan Sausage is a fermented sausage from the northeast of Thailand — it’s sour and not terribly spicy — and not commonly found on Thai menus. I don’t recall seeing it in any of my East Coast haunts, only in Vegas and now in LA. The CGP ordered his usual, Green Curry, while I ordered Spicy Mint Noodles, only to find out they were Drunken Noodles. Deliciously spicy (they call that “medium” ???) but I was a little disappointed I hadn’t tried something new. Consolation Photo: Me and “Thor” Björnsson on the Paramount lot.

Next post: Vegas Eats!