While the rest of America was grappling with the national healthcare debate, Billy and Jen were coaxing a relationship during the culinary "gourmet food truck" revolution that exploded in Los Angeles at the end of 2009. (
See http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/10-of-the-remarkable-food-trucks-taking-over-the-u-s-2392644#photoViewer=1 and
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/food-drink/gourmet-taco-truck-invasion-article-huib.html) For many, including Jen and BIlly there really are few things better in LA than a Kogi taco! (
http://kogibbq.com/) Regardless of time or location, these babies are GOOD!
Jennifer's first introduction to Kogi was at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 2010--the night that Billy planned an "LA Experience" for her 38th birthday. (Yes, for those of you keeping track, this was BEFORE we started dating.) After seeing "The Blind Side," the pair headed to Santa Monica only to learn that the gathering site of food trucks had moved to another part of town. When they hit Abbott Kinney, the sight was amazing--there were about 10-12 different food trucks parked along two blocks with about 6 more in the parking lot of the Brig (a local watering hole). Hundreds of people were wandering the streets window shopping and moving in and out of the local hot spots while enjoying the eats at the food trucks.
While the other trucks had 2-6 people stragglers each, Kogi had about 45-50 loyal fans waiting patiently in line. To kill time, Jen and Billy tested two tacos from the Border Grill truck that were novel but not exactly inspiring. After 30 minutes in line, Jennifer learned why these babies were worth every minute of the wait--why Billy was so animated and effusive in singing their praises.
Whether your choice is short rib (Billy's #1; Jen's #2), spicy pork (Billy's #2), or chicken (Jen's #1), the kimchi-topped goodness is a flavor-packed treat. (For the record, neither like kimchi in any other form.) To quote chef Roy Choi from the Kogi website, these deceptive little tacos capture "The “holy moly! what the hell did I just eat?” sensation. These bad boys started it all....These suckers are delicious and are the reason why people keep coming back. All we do is take the flavors of Korean barbeque and mix it up with the flavor of our esses, and there you have our Korean taco." After this introduction, Jen was sold...on the tacos...it'd take a few more months to be sold on Billy.
Nonetheless, Kogi tacos were there on the night that sealed the deal.
Easter weekend 2010, Jen was craving Kogi so she checked out online where the Kogi trucks were going to that night. To her delight and surprise, one of the trucks was going to station itself at the Yogurtland on LaBrea @ Third Street - just up the street from her house. So, Jen texted Billy to see if he wanted to grab a few tacos and yogurt that night. Billy was in Pasadena working on an all-day handyman project for a friend. Kogi seemed the right night cap to a long day of work. Jen sent a text to a few other friends to join them. They all "declined the offer" because they were out of town for Easter.
To this day, Billy doubts that any other texts were sent. He thinks the grand planner--Jennifer--had hatched a plan and he walked into . . . but, we digress.
At 10 p.m., Billy showed up at Jen's house and off they went to La Brea and Third. Conversation flowed particularly easily that night; and, as they sat on the curb eating their tasty tacos, it seemed like another fun friendly evening.
Billy joked in jest about Jen's past spurning of his overtures and how he felt at ease that night, as friends, because he knew that she would never seriously consider his offer. To his surprise, Jen laughed but did not explicitly state that she intended to continue to resist.
Suddenly, Billy realized that unexpected possibility (after 6 months of "no's" and "nay's") that the red light had turned green. For the first time, Jen was open to the idea of dating him!! When Billy vocalized his epiphany that Jen was ready to date, she responded "maybe." Suddenly, the "sexual tension" that Billy had joked about that evening became palpable. The two began dancing around the unspoken, but obvious, mutual attraction. While keeping appearances that this was just another casual evening together, the dance circle grew tighter.
Not yet ready to part each other's company, what with all these new possibilities in the air, they picked up some yogurt from Yogurtland and drove off to see the sights in LA. At her request, the car wandered up to Mulholland Drive because Jen had never driven the loop or seen the view from the various makeout points. BUT, NOTHING HAPPENED. . . yet.
Wandering down off the Hollywood Hills, the two found themselves at the office building where Billy works--just above Hollywood and Highland. Billy showed Jen the spectacular view of Hollywood and LA from the roof before adjourning to the glass-walled conference room that looks out on the Hollywood sign.
Conversation never skipped a beat that night. Both were quick on their feet, trading barbs and flirtatious overtures with skill and ease. Finally realizing that the time was right, Billy leaned in and asked Jen (nose-to-nose) what she would do if he kissed her; and, she replied, "I'd let you." Mesmerized by the Hollywood lights, weakened by the effects of Kogi tacos and Yogurtland, and worn down by his persistence, Jen surrendered to Billy's first kiss after months of steadfast abstinence. Finding that first kiss to be not all bad, there was a second, a third . . . .
So, thanks, in part, to those tasty Kogi taco treats, Jen and Billy shared their first kiss and began a dating adventure that has them headed to the temple in less than 3 weeks!
We recommend that you try those enchanting Kogi tacos...you might just like them. And, if you are single, perhaps those babies will bring you the same dating luck they've brought to Jen and Billy!
