Feast w/ Susan Feniger
My afternoon at Street was a feast for the senses, once walking in to meet Susan Feniger, owner/chef extraordinaire, and her partner, writer, director Liz Lachman for lunch.
Growing up in Chicago, Feniger had the makings of a Chef from an early age. Observing her mothers cooking techniques was the inspiration Susan utilized to carve her path. A French educated chef, Susan got her start in Los Angeles working with Wolfgang Puck, which lead her to open her widely successful restaurant City Cafe, with partner and chef Mary Sue Milliken, followed by the acclaimed success of Border Grill on Melrose and Santa Monica locations, Ciudad in Downtown, and a triumphant run on television, with the famed food network show Too Hot Tamales.
Susan’s most recent restaurant to date is Street, on Highland Avenue in Los Angeles. The inspiration for this concept was in concoction 18 years ago after a visit to India, when noticing quite the long line of both affluent and underprivileged people, patiently waiting in long lines to take pleasure in food that was not only inexpensive, but a delight to the senses.
As I walked in, I greeted both Susan and Liz, Susan’s partner for 10 years, who is not only a talented award winning film maker, but the driving force behind much of Susan’s success. Liz documented the entire development of Street, through every step of its progression in webisode form. The webisodes can be seen on Street’s website at www.eatatstreet.com
One delectable dish arrived after another, and Susan guided me through the assortments. The true stand-outs were Paani Puri, small tastes of spiced potato, chutney, in crispy puffs of dough dipped in yogurt cilantro water. Chilled Borscht and Pampushki hot breads, filled with horseradish and farmers cheese, and Shio ramen noodles, ramen soup with clear spicy broth, sliced roasted pork, shrimp, and assorted garnishes, with a yuzu kosho hot sauce.
By the end of our lunch, I was in a very satisfied food coma.
For more information on Street please visit: www.eatatstreet.com
For more information on Liz Lachman please visit: www.verybaddog.com
