Canoga Park Art Walk

Wake and Bake Wagon Pulled Pork Sandwich

Amanda's Bakery Maple Crumble Cupcake 

     Coming back to California from New York City seemed at first to be some what of a culinary tragedy. In NYC I felt that I was surrounded by funky restaurants with exotic twists on ordinary cuisines. I'm not saying that California isn't a culinary mecca in its own right, it just has a different feeling than the fast pace lifestyle of New York City. Once I came back to California I began looking for foods that reminded me of the big apple, but soon realized that despite the resemblance on the outside, ingredients and presentation are what make food unique to a certain place. So even though New York City is the love of my life California is where I grew up and the care free attitude that so many of its natives emit is instilled in the food and definitely what makes the food shine. 

     My first culinary exploration back in California began at the Canaga Park Art Walk where I discovered the Wake and Bake Wagon and Amanda's Bakery. At the 'Wake and Bake Wagon' I chose to try their Pulled Pork Sandwich, which I was told people have waited hours in line for in the past. Therefore, with high expectations I was pleasantly delighted by the sweet tangy sauce that complimented the tenderness of the pork. The sauce was in perfect ratio with the pork giving the sandwich a nice, solid consistency that prevented it from dripping out of the bun all over your face and shirt. The Maple Crumble Cupcake at 'Amanda's Bakery' was good, but the cake was a little dry and tended to crumble as the the cupcake was bit into. However, the frosting was phenomenal, it was not too sweet or heavy and the brown sugar crumbles helped meld the frosting together with the cake. All in all the flavors of the cupcake could have been more consistent throughout, giving it a more homogeneous texture and taste. 

     I am happy to be back in California and will continue to search for foods that help make this state one of a kind.