Rustoleum, Neglect, Polish and Reformation

Well, it seems I've spent the last month and a half making campaign promises as to the future of Gastrologica and the relative inactivity of both outlets. While my tepid reassurances that "We'll be back, and nastier than ever!" or "I promise to write more" in the intervening weeks have resonated as false as Donald Rumsfeld retiring to 'spend more time with his family,' the fact is, we do intend to crank up the food-o-meter and re-invigorate the site (now that I've missed out on the revolution).

I'd like to say a lot has happened. New developments, insurmountable projects ram-rodded to fruition, a wild and challenging new work environment that has made me question my passion for food, and what was I was wasting my time on this fool's errand in the first place.

Surprisingly, I can't. If I sound like a whiney blogger it's because I've turned into one. I've devoted so much energy the last month and a half to a job that has monopolized so much of my time, that I found myself astonished at my palpable dissatisfaction.

I'm hoping the challenges pay off in the long run, and I mean that in all the popular ways you'd think. Actually, the new crew is very cool. With limited, but notable exceptions, for the most part, I have found the challenge to be mitigated by some good and helpful people.

Now, this may seem it has little to do with food, but I've eaten out almost every day, and I get home so late I order out every night. It has given me an opportunity to get reacquainted with the disappointingly narrow choices the Greater Torrance Area doesn't have to offer.

In fact, for an industrial ghetto, there are a pretty decent variety of choices if you know where to look. You can't be afraid of running the gamut of ethnic food, including Chili's. There is German, Japanese, Chinese, Peruvian, Seafood, Burger Joints, even a Quiznos. Ok, so its not a culinary mecca, but it'll do for now.

I've got a cool couple of lunch buddies, Jenn and Whitney, who have been good enough to indulge my itinerant tastebuds. I think the only prohibition is the Spearmint Rhino two industrial parks down. Personally, I think it should be illegal to serve food within 10 miles of a strip club. Other than that, they've been good sports about my oddball tastes.

There is a whole Korean/Vietnamese strip I've only scratched down Rosecrans Avenue in Gardena. Another lunch crew, Ellen & Co., have exposed me to some of the better Asian joints I may have driven by a couple of thousand times before.

So, while I hope the monopolization of my time will be limited, it has given me a watershed of lunches to write about. For those of you who think I'm posting periodic bullshit to keep you on the hook, I'm not. Dan and I intend on planning out several shows and getting them on mp3. I have a whole new slew of places to write about, and I'm just now making time to start cooking again.

Hang in there....I know I am.