Southwest, Tex-Mex, Santa Fe, all describe the super hot food at the Authentic Cafe. Very spicy, very new, very much at the forefront of local cuisine which, in LA, is saying something. Like the food, this restaurant is right out there, all windows as it curves around a corner of Beverly Boulevard. Driving by, its right in your face, as are those sitting up front along the edge of the windows.

I forget the long-winded name, but my meal was fettucine with chopped chicken and southwest vegtables (bell peppers and corn) mixed up with a spicy red pepper cream sauce. I ate every drop. Price, $12.00.

My friend, who is a local, had what seemed to be the "in" thing to get there, the Santa Fe Salad and yes, there was alot going on there on his plate and, yes, it all looked good. Even better, I thought, was the Tortilla Soup he had before that. It was really, really spicy and thick, coming in a large flat bowl, enough for a meal if you're a light eater, priced at $6.95.

Anyway, my friend is not a light eater and before his soup and entree, he ordered an appetizer. If you've read some of my other journals, you know I hate tomatoes. Sure enough, the quesidilla was chalked full of them. Disgusted, I took all the tomato chunks out, not expecting much, but found the quesidilla to be one of the best I've ever had. Soft, yet butter-crisped on the outside, with spicy cheeses and special salsa sauce. Yum!