Eating In on a Budget in Los Angeles, a Moody Foodie’s Guide to More

Written By: Emily Henry on August 22, 2009 No Comment

spaghettibolognese1 You might say I’m a moody foodie.

I love eating out, and I love eating in. It all depends on what’s happening inside the bowl of spaghetti that is my brain. Sometimes I’m in stale, frustrated knots and need to get out of the house, sip a frou-frou cocktail and eat warm chips with fresh pico-de-gallo while I peruse a menu. Other times, fresh and spiced, I want to pour my good mood into a home-cooked meal and share my dining table with friends. Then there are the nights, over-cooked and mushy, when I just want a stranger to show up and feed me.

Luckily, the options in Los Angeles are endless for culinary schizophrenics. Stop at a taco truck on the way home from work, rustle up a pot of vegetable chili in your own kitchen, or make a quick call and have chicken tikka masala delivered within the hour. Most of the time, it’s easier to pick a country than find a random restaurant. Mexico or Ethiopia? Spain or Jamaica? Korea or Japan?

And then you look at your bank statement at the end of the week and realize that… oh my. Slightly more than 70 percent of your disposable income is being spent on food. It’s time to start scaling back, which is no easy feat for those of us who reward or console ourselves with delicious meals. In many cases, there isn’t even much of a financial incentive. It’s pretty easy to grab a meal for two in the city for under $15. Take for example, Thai food. Two curries and rice from Palms Thai Restaurant in Hollywood will set you back $14.50 plus tax. Try to cook it yourself at home? The cost is about the same, not including labor or time. Chicken, bamboo shoots, coconut milk, peppers, onion, peanut oil, basil, curry paste and fish sauce all add up to a pretty penny at Vons, Ralphs or Trader Joes.

It can also be pretty difficult to eat healthily when you’re watching the pennies. Junk food is cheap, easy, and everywhere, from the fast food restaurant on the corner to the microwavable burritos in the frozen food section at Ralphs. Buying lean meat inevitably costs more, as do whole grains and many organic or fresh foods.

There are, of course, ways to sideline the expense of the traditional American supermarket. Shopping at an ethnic foods mall, like the Thai Market at Hollywood and Western down the street from Palms, could save money and add a few degrees of tastiness. Swapping your club card for a bigger shopping cart and buying in bulk at Foods4Less or CostCo could also curb the cost of groceries. But what if you live in a black hole when it comes to cheap food shopping? (For example, the West Side…) What if you still want the variety of LA’s diverse restaurant scene, but without the bill? What if you want a fresh and healthy meal that won’t leave you owing two sessions to the gym? Well, there are still a few recipes that will never be beaten by the local restaurateurs and don’t take a degree in culinary arts to master…

1. Good Ole’ Throw-Everything-In-There Chilli: $1.75 Per Person

Good for: Quick-fix hunger, impromptu dinner parties and tomorrow’s lunch

Ingredients (for 4):

2 Cans of Beans - Kidney, Black, Pinto, or a mixture

1 Can Diced Tomatoes

1 Onion - Red, White or Yellow (N.B.: White onions are usually cheaper than red or yellow.)

Half a Pack of Fresh Ground Turkey, a.k.a “Happiness Meat” (N.B.: Turkey is cheaper than chicken, contains fewer calories and also releases endorphins.)

Chilli Powder (to taste)

Peas (optional)

The Kitchen Sink (optional)*

1. Chop and fry onion. Add frozen peas. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add meat. Cook until brown.

3. Add beans. Allow 4-5 minutes to soften.

4. Add tomatoes (and maybe a dash of ketchup, if handy.)

5. Season with chilli powder.

6. Cook until thick, about 10 minutes.

*Chilli is an amazing dish because it’s extremely flexible. You can add as many types of beans or vegetables as you desire. Corn is particularly delicious. Top with cheese, chives or sour cream, and red pepper flakes if you want a mouthful of adventure. Another great variation is to cut out the meat altogether, and bring the total per-person consumption cost to around $1. Extra hungry? Serve with rice. Long day? Add a few coronas and a wedge of lime.

N.B.: The 8th wonder of the world is the increased level of deliciousness that chilli obtains the morning after. It probably has something to do with the flavors being allowed time to marinate. Either way, fill up your tupperware and zap it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes at lunchtime tomorrow.

2. Cultured and Classic, Spaghetti Bolognaise with Garlic Bread: $3 per person

Good for: Impressing dates, nurturing the taste buds and complementing wine

Ingredients (for 2):

Spaghetti (although, you can use any kind of pasta you like)

1 Can of Diced Tomatoes

Garlic (fresh or crushed)

Mixed Italian Herbs or Basil

The Other Half of the Packet of Fresh Ground Turkey

1 Onion

2 Slices of Bread or a French Roll

1. Chop and fry onion with a teaspoon (or 1 chopped clove) of garlic.

2. Add the turkey and cook until brown.

3. Add the tomatoes.

4. Season with herbs.

5. Bring a pan of water to the boil and add the spaghetti. For two people, the amount of spaghetti should be about the same size as the neck of a bottle of beer. Cook for 5 - 7 minutes or until soft. Perfectly cooked pasta shouldn’t be mushy, but still have a little bite to it.

6. Mix a teaspoon or diced clove of garlic with about a tablespoon of margarine and spread over two slices of toast. For a low-calorie or quick-fix option, simply rub a clove of garlic over warm toast. Sprinkle with herbs.

N.B.: Although “Spag-Bol” is also a great day-after lunch option, it is important to note that pasta does not keep well by itself. If you want to set aside a follow-up meal for yourself, make sure you combine the spaghetti with the bolognaise and that the pasta is well coated. Otherwise, the result will be stodge.

Make-It-At-Home, Infinite Salsa: $3 a Tub

Good for: Dipping, topping and keeping in a jar in the fridge

1 Onion

Red Pepper Flakes (to taste)

1 Large Can of Diced Tomatoes

Salt (to taste)

2 Teaspoons of Crushed Garlic (or 2 Cloves)

1 Cup of Chopped Jalepenos (De-Seed for a Less Spicy Option)

1. Dice and saute the onion.

2. Add everything else and simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Allow to cool, or serve hot, and refrigerate in an accessible jar or Tupperware bowl with lid.