'Hood #5: Playa del Rey & a "Top Chef" Restaurant

Even though I'm not a "foodie"—that is to say, I like food, but I have a pretty pedestrian palate—I am a big fan of the Bravo TV reality show Top Chef.  I've always wanted to go to a restaurant run by a judge or contestant of the show, and it so happens Season 11 alum Brooke Williamson (one of my favorite contestants) owns two restaurant/pubs in the Los Angeles area.  Tonight I went to The Tripel in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Playa del Rey.

Playa del Rey (or "Beach of the King") is a primarily residential area near LAX airport. A friend of mine used to call it "Playa del Nothing" because it's tiny and a bit on the sleepy side —just a few restaurants, shops and office buildings.  In its defense, it is uncrowded and right there at the beach.

The Tripel (which, fyi, is a term for a type of ale) is small —as in, about six tables (some communal-style).  It was nearly full by the time I arrived at 6 p.m. on a Sunday, and I bellied up to the bar to wait for my friend, Kirsten.  In the meantime, I met a man whom I dubbed The Mayor of Playa del Rey* a Tripel regular who has lived in Playa del Rey for most of his life and had plenty of info to share about the area—a lucky break when one is trying to learn about LA 'hoods.

As for the food... delicious!  I ate way too many of the Sweet Potato Tots (yes, tots!), and Kirsten and I shared Chicken Waterzooi and a plate of the Roasted Fall Veggies (an AMAZINGLY delicious dish of fall veggies and "fried brussels spout leaves, toasted pepitas chimay cheese fonduta, romesco and pickeled raisins").

For the veggies alone, I'd definitely go back.  Also, for it being a Top Chef contestant-owned venue, the prices were very reasonable.  Brooke Williamson and her husband's other restaurant is Hudson House in Redondo Beach—and rumor has it (per The Mayor*) they'll be opening another place in Playa del Rey called the King Beach Snack Shack as early as February.

Have any ideas for great things to do/see in neighborhoods in City of LA?  Please let me know!

*There is no mayor of Playa del Rey - as part of Los Angeles, it falls under LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.