la.foodblogging

When I first started working in downtown LA, my friends took me to 7th and Fig, the plaza located at, well… 7th and Figueroa. 7th and Fig houses various retailers (Robinsons May) and service providers (optometrists and shoe repair). You can also find a Gold’s Gym there. This plaza is really a convenient one-stop-for-all. Although I, too, have done my fair share of shopping here, for me, 7th and Fig is all about the food court. With all the choices in cuisine (Greek, Japanese, American, etc.), it is the perfect place to go when everyone in your group wants to eat something different. For those who actually want to dine in a sit-down restaurant, there’s California Pizza Kitchen and pricy Arnie Morton’s Steakhouse. 7th and Fig suits busy employees who only have time for a quick bite, those who want a nice break from the office, and those who have big business clients to impress.

Another reason why I like 7th and Fig is the mini Farmers’ Market on Thursdays and Fridays. Even though this is a certified Farmers’ Market, I call this a mini market because there are only about 5 or 6 vendors, but I can’t see how 7th and Fig can add more vendors to the small quad. Vendors I have seen set up in the outdoor courtyard include Corn Maiden (tamales), Crepes, Kettle Korn, fresh flowers, dried fruits, and seasonal fresh fruits (cherries today). I believe that the Farmers Market at 7th and Fig used to be only on Thursdays from 11am-3pm, but due to its success have expanded to Fridays as well. I’m assuming the Friday market is also 11am-3pm, but since I have yet to see any signs or advertisement confirming this, it’s just a guess.

This image above is of hungry people lining up for the tamales at Corn Maiden. As you can see, fresh cut flowers are available today.

Typically, my friends and I just disperse to get our own food and meet up again in the quad. Today, I was in the mood for bibimbap thanks to some people (Rene & Sarah) who keep writing about it. I headed over to Han’s Grill, where I usually just pick up some udon and sushi or tofu soup. I tried their chicken bibimbap, which was unimpressive but was more than filling. My order came with some kimchi, too. The total cost after tax was $6.48. My friends went for the stromboli over at Sbarro’s, and one person even picked up a cheesecake. We just enjoyed sitting under the sun on yet another beautiful day in Los Angeles.

By Pauline (see more of her posts).