Note: My inaugural post for WFMU’s Beware Of The Blog will be published tomorrow night, Thursday March 12th, 2009 at 9:00pm EST. Please be sure to check it out (all my posts for WFMU will be unique from Swan Fungus posts) and leave positive comments to balance out the scores of negative feedback I will receive from all the people who don’t know me.
I’ve mentioned Aroma Cafe in Studio City several times since my move to Los Angeles, but I’ve never really discussed the food there. I’m usually more interested in the steady stream of douche chills provided by the regular clientele as they sip tea and coffee and munch on sandwiches or cake either while between auditions or before returning to their stupid “industry” jobs.
Pretty much the only redeeming qualities of The Valley are a couple record stores and Aroma Cafe. That’s just my opinion, but as I stated once before, the neighborhood surrounding the coffeeshop looks like suburban New Jersey, what with it’s big houses and small strips of commercial shops and spas and high-end boutiques. They might as well call it Short Hills, California.
That said, I’ve never had a dissatisfying experience at Aroma. The first time I ate there was with Nicci and my sister on a cool January evening. I ate a kobe burger that was very well prepared. The next time I went there, I tried the turkey pesto panini, and I was instantly addicted. If I’m not feeling adventurous (and I rarely feel adventurous), that’s what I’ll order. In fact I had one last week when I was driving home from Freakbeat Records. I had just enough time to eat the sandwich and side of curly fries while sitting in traffic on the 101-South.
I’ve since tried the chicken and prosciutto panini (sun dried tomatoes = good, too much sage = bad), the brie and apple panini (too bad the caramelized onions kill the flavor), and I think one time they had brie and apple quesadillas as their daily special. I think. Those were good.
Today I was feeling a bit adventurous (plus Nicci told me I couldn’t get the same thing two weeks in a row, so no turkey pesto panini) so tried the aroma wrap, which is carolina smoked turkey breast, applewood smoked bacon, Gorgonzola, avocado, romaine, tomatoes, and green goddess dressing wrapped in a flour tortilla and pressed. I substituted the Gorgonzola with goat cheese at the suggestion of Nicci, and it turned out to be amazing. It was very flavorful and rich and delicious. The goat cheese was creamy and gross and heavenly all at the same time. They should make that the default recipe for the wrap. But hey, what do I know? I can only really taste hot, cold, sweet and sour. I don’t “get” flavors. That’s why it’s always hilarious when I write about food! Also, I’m kind of manorexic.
The outdoor seating is pleasant. Even though there are tons of tables strewn about the property, you never feel like you’re seated right on top of the people eating next to you. Sure it’s annoying (in a hilarious way) when the table next to you is loudly talking about the pilots they’re working on or the websites that want to interview them, but it’s hard not to feel at peace tucked away in the outdoor garden.
Once your huge portion has been successfully tucked away in your food bag, you can either spring for dessert (people rave about the red velvet cake and the German chocolate cake, but I don’t usually eat sweets), or you can get up and leave. I could give a shit what you do with your time. Today Nicci and I skipped the desserts at Aroma and instead drove to Jerry’s deli for a black & white cookie. Nicci found a hamantashen and became really giddy. She’s such a wannabe Jew.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, if what you are looking for is a relaxing, cozy meal on a sunny day in a nice, serene setting, you could do a lot worse than eating at Aroma Cafe. I recommend you go there. I think you’ll like it. Or don’t, and be a distended rectum, pulled inside-out and left hanging between the chubby, stubbly thighs of a fat fuck retard!
