Ask any Angelenos about the Grand Central Market (note, not Grand Central Station) and most people will have some type of fond memory of frequenting GCM.
Having been in LA for over 20 years, I have to say that the GCM is to LA what Street Food vendors are to Singapore. The Grand Central Market is a vital part of LA, a link to the past as well as a view of the future.
For those who are not familiar with the Grand Central Market, it's in the heart of downtown LA and are filled with produce and food vendors of all ethnicity. I think in simpler times, it served a lot of the community with it's produce and food, but recently as downtown as gentrified, some has part of the market as also gentrified. Whether that's good or bad, that's not for me to say, there are different points of view for that. That is a discussion for another time.
The GCM, still have a mix of old time food vendors as well as food vendors gears more toward foodies. There are some delicious food that are available and cater to all ethnicity groups.
If you live in LA, this book is for you. There is a good recap of history of the Grand Central Market, from it's beginning to where it is today. It's a great read of one man's vision, Ira Yellin for GCM and how his widow wife has the great foresight that in order for GCM, it must adapt to the changes in it's environment. Great pictures, past and present. And most of all, recipes from some of the current food vendors.
I like how they broke the book out into different sections:
Breakfast
Tacocs, Etc
Carbs
Happy Hour
Meat & Fish
Veg
Sweets
Plus an index of recipes based on the vendors. I like how the recipes have been adapted to be used for home cooks.
| I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review." |
