Brad A. Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact
Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact

Critic’s Notebook: Baco Mercat, Los Angeles

  • December 13, 2011
  • Brad A. Johnson

This is the best sandwich I’ve eaten all year. In fact, this is now my favorite new L.A. restaurant (in the bargain category, at least). The sandwich is not exactly a sandwich. It’s a bäco, which is a cross between a taco and a flatbread, an invention of one of my favorite chefs, Josef Centeno (formerly of Lazy Ox) at his new Bäco Mercat ( 408 S. Main St., L.A., 213.687.8808) downtown.

Just look at that sandwich! Now imagine the juices dripping down your chin, a big fat smile on your face. The original is stuffed with pork belly and beef “carnitas” with smoked aïoli and mixed greens. That one’s definitely my favorite, but the stuffed with thinly sliced homemade porchetta, eggplant and apple is almost equally, insanely addictive. Centeno is also serving some pretty damn good flatbreads (my favorite is the one with merguez (lamb) sausage, spicy Tunisian-style hot sauce and artisanal chevré) and his very own custom-bottled sodas (that remind me of Mexico’s popular Jarritos or Sidral Mundet). 

For more travel inspiration and photos, I invite you to follow me and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Share
Tweet
Brad A. Johnson

Brad A. Johnson is a writer and photographer specializing in food and travel. His work has been honored by the James Beard Awards, Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, World Food Media Awards, pdn Food Photography Awards and others. Based in Southern California, Brad currently serves as restaurant critic for the Orange County Register.

Previous Article

Exclusive Sneak Peek: Las Ventanas’ Menu Revamp (All Mexican! No More Baja-Med)

  • November 30, 2011
  • Brad A. Johnson
View Post
Next Article

Quick Review: NoMi, Chicago

  • December 15, 2011
  • Brad A. Johnson
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • California Hotels
  • California Restaurants

Headfirst into the Dawn, Los Angeles to San Francisco on $700 a Day (a Memoir)

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • December 26, 2020
View Post
  • California Hotels
  • California Restaurants

Hotel Review: Cara, Los Angeles

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • November 7, 2020
View Post
  • California Restaurants

OC’s Best Places to Eat 2020

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • October 9, 2020
View Post
  • California Restaurants
  • Travel: Culinary
  • Travel: United States

Quick Look: Niner Wine Estates, Paso Robles

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • August 15, 2020
View Post
  • California Restaurants

Dish of the Week: Kohada from Sushi Ii, Newport Beach

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • July 27, 2020
View Post
  • California Restaurants
  • Travel: United States

Quick Look: Presqu’ile Winery, Santa Maria

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • July 18, 2020
View Post
  • California Restaurants
  • Travel: United States

Photo Diary: Eating and Drinking During the 2020 Quarantine

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • June 14, 2020
View Post
  • California Restaurants

Memories of a Mentor, and the Perfect Caesar Salad

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • April 15, 2020
There have been too many to list them all, but these are some of my favorite margaritas to-go during this never-ending pandemic. Story in today's @ocregister⁠⠀ 168 9
Modern Italian(ish) cooking in Westminster. Story in today's @ocregister⁠⠀ 109 1
Sticky toffee pudding really is "the best pudding." I could eat this stuff all day long. ⁠⠀ 135 8
This might be the best cassoulet you ever eat, delivered to your door from an old French bistro that no longer exists. Story in tomorrow's OC Register (online now at ocregister.com). Bonus: cheese! 134 8
How it started vs how it's going: The most extraordinary bites of a tumultuous year. ⁠⠀ 177 7
Cocktail of the Year: La Niña at @perla.dtsa⁠⠀ 165 3
Brad A. Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact
Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.