The Brief

In a region full of celebrity chefs, Michelin-star restaurants and fancy menus, LA Try Guy aka Alex Cottrell opts to highlight the moms and pops of Los Angeles.

“There were no influencers going down to South L.A. and Compton and all these different places,” says Cottrell, who moved here a few years ago and is originally from Arkansas. “But I didn't even know where I was. I was just going to get some good food.”

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We're teaming up with someone who loves LA's food scene as much as we do: Alex Cottrell, better known as LA Try Guy. In this new segment, Down To Feast, Brian and Alex show each other their favorite meal in the neighborhood.

Down To Feast, with LA Try Guy: Westchester

We're teaming up with someone who loves LA's food scene as much as we do: Alex Cottrell, better known as LA Try Guy. In this new segment, Down To Feast, Brian and Alex show each other their favorite meal in the neighborhood.

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If you’re an Angeleno and you’ve searched for local food options on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok, there’s a big chance his content has come up. (That’s how I came across his channel.)

Background on LA Try Guy

Cottrell, a food enthusiast, has been documenting all sorts of L.A. food establishments since last year. Scroll through his feeds and you’ll find vegan food, tacos and oxtail, and also celebrities who’ve joined him on his food exploration — Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, rapper Jay Rock, actor Robert Ri’chard, and the list goes on.

He moved to L.A. in 2020 and was working in tech sales and restaurants when he decided to start a side hustle for extra cash. He began posting food reviews on YouTube, and later other social media platforms. Part of the charm of his channel is that he asks for recommendations and he sometimes highlights what people message him.

Cottrell says he began monetizing his content when he reached 5,000 followers. Since then, he’s grown to over 510,000 subscribers on YouTube and close to 175,000 on Instagram — that’s no small feat for an entrepreneur.

The hard work of filming, editing and posting paid off. He now devotes himself to his channel full time — no more corporate job.

Trying a spicy sausage sandwich

On a recent weekday, we went to The Coffee Company in Westchester. I had to show Cottrell a bit of my L.A., since he’s the Try Guy.

This diner is 5-8 minutes away from LAX (without traffic) on La Tijera and is close to that famous In-N-Out. The family-style restaurant is a nice staple of this area, and is different from the nearby fast food chains.

My favorite things are at the to-go counter, not necessarily in the diner menu: a spicy sausage egg sandwich on a brioche bun, with a side of Cholula hot sauce, and a latte with hazelnut sweetener. It’s a perfect pairing to repair a late night out or just some yummy breakfast food.

The spicy chicken sausage won my special guest over.

“That chicken sausage is special,” Cottrell says. “That's a game changer, dawg.”

He also praised the melty scrambled egg with cheese that oozed over the bread.

Trying Jamaican oxtail

Cottrell has become a bit of an L.A. food expert, too, so we had to go to one of his favorite spots not too far away in Inglewood, Hungry Joe’s. It’s a small Jamaican/Caribbean counter with outdoor tables, right off La Brea Boulevard, and tucked away in a shopping center.

Right away, Cottrell knew exactly what to order for us: the beef Jamaican patty and a plate of oxtail with sides.

I’m not an oxtail pro, but I’ve had it several times and this was by far the most tender and juiciest I’ve had — no shade to my friends who’ve invited me over for dinner. The portions are big and with plenty left over to keep for lunch the next day.

But you gotta try the Jamaican patty. That’s what stole the show for me as a pastry guy. The savory and sweet mix were top notch and perfect for a snack on the road … maybe even on the way to LAX?

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena and Pasadena’s music community have really shown up to support fire survivors, especially fellow musicians who lost instruments and record collections.

That effort continues this weekend with a special donation concert at a Pasadena record store, with the aim of getting vinyl records back in the hands of survivors who lost their collections.

“You know, our name is Healing Force of the Universe, and I think that gives me a pretty clear direction… especially after the fires,” said Austin Manuel, founder of Pasadena record store, where Sunday’s show will be held.

The record donation effort is the brainchild of musician Brandon Jay, who founded the nonprofit Altadena Musicians after losing his home and almost all of his family’s instruments in the Eaton Fire. Through Altadena Musicians’s donation and registry platform, Jay said he and his partners have helped some 1,200 fire survivors get their music instruments back.

Brandon Jay.

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Robert Garrova

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LAist

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Now, that effort has fanned out to restoring vinyl record collections.

“All of that stuff evaporated for thousands of people,” Jay said. “Look at your own record collection and be like, ‘Wow, what if that whole thing disappeared?’”

You might know Jay from several bands over the years, including Lutefisk, a 1990s alt-rock band based in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Gwendolyn Sanford, composed music for TV shows, including Orange is the New Black and Weeds.

Jay plans to play some holiday tunes at Sunday's record donation show (which LAist is the media sponsor), along with fellow musician Daniel Brummel of Sanglorians. Brummel, who was also a founding member of Pasadena’s indie-rock sensation Ozma, said he was grateful to Jay for his fire recovery work and to Manuel for making Healing Force available for shows like this.

Brummel, who came close to losing his own home in the Eaton Fire, recalled a show he played at Healing Force back in March.

Ryen Slegr (left) and Daniel Brummel perform with their band, Ozma, on the 2014 Weezer Cruise.

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Even Keel Imagery

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“The trauma of the fires was still really fresh,” Brummel said. After playing a cover of Rufus Wainwright’s “Going to a Town,” that night — which includes the lyrics “I’m going to a town that has already been burnt down” — Brummel said his neighbors in the audience told him the rendition hit them hard. “It felt really powerful. And without that space, it just wouldn’t have occurred.”

Details

Healing Force of the Universe Record Donation Show
Featuring: Quasar (aka Brandon Jay), Sanglorians (Daniel Brummel) and The Acrylic.
Sunday, Dec. 14; 2 to 5 p.m.
1200 E. Walnut St., Pasadena
Tickets are $15 or you can donate 5 or more records at the door. More info here.

Topline:

The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.

The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.

What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."

What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."

Every year in Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe that draws hundreds of visitors.

Along the front of the house, the multi-colored altar is filled with lights, flowers and a stained-glass tapestry behind a sculpture of the Lady of Guadalupe. Cantabrana’s roof also is lit up with the green, white and red lights that spell out “Virgen de Guadalupe” and a cross.

Visitors are welcomed with music and the smell of roses as they celebrate the saint, but this year’s gathering comes after a dark year for immigrant communities.

Luis Cantabrana stands in front of the stunning altar he built in front of his home in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Every year, his display draws hundreds of visitors.

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Destiny Torres

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LAist

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Why do they celebrate? 

In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego between Dec. 9 and Dec. 12, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman wearing a green veil with her hands together in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak.

To celebrate in Santa Ana, worshippers gathered late-night Wednesday and in the very early hours Dec. 12 to pray the rosary, sing hymns and celebrate the saint.

Cantabrana has hosted worshippers at his home for 27 years — 17 in Santa Ana.

The altar started out small, he said, and over the years, he added a fabric background, more lights and flowers (lots and lots of flowers).

“It started with me making a promise to la Virgen de Guadalupe that while I had life and a home to build an altar, that I would do it,” Cantabrana said. “Everything you see in photos and videos is pretty, but when you come and see it live, it's more than pretty. It's beautiful.”

The Santa Ana home's elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe draws hundreds of visitors each year.

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Destiny Torres

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LAist

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Gathering in a time of turmoil 

Many also look to the Lady of Guadalupe for protection, especially at a time when federal enforcement has rattled immigrant communities.

“People don’t want to go to work, they don’t want to take their kids to school, but the love we have for our Virgen de Guadalupe,” Cantabrana said. “We see that la Virgen de Guadalupe has a lot of power, and so we know immigration [enforcement] won’t come here.”

Margarita Lopez of Garden Grove has been visiting the altar for three years with her husband. She’s been celebrating the Virgencita since she was a young girl. Honoring the saint is as important now as ever, she said.

“We ask, and she performs miracles,” Lopez said.

Claudia Tapia, a lifelong Santa Ana resident, said the Virgin Mary represents strength.

“Right now, with everything going on, a lot of our families [have] turned and prayed to the Virgen for strength during these times,” Tapia said. “She's a very strong symbol of Mexican culture, of unity, of faith and of resilience.”

See it for yourself

The shrine will stay up into the new year on the corner of Broadway and Camile Street.