Pouring down rain, street gutters overflowing, traffic one big snarl—but wait, it's 72 degrees! Where are we? It's LA, baby. Here we are—back in the land of sunshine. S Sierra Bonita is still as quiet as a mouse, only the drip of the rain and the occasional yip of the deranged dachsund down the street. So this week I'm dedicated to a pupusa hunt. I've read on Chowhound that the best pupusas in LA are to be found downtown at Serita's in the Grand Central Market but there are many other choices.

Aside from canned tamales, my first introduction to Mexican food was in Sioux CIty IA at the Blue Moon Tavern, a pool and beer place a few miles outside town. Children were allowed at the Blue Moon (we didn't even think to wonder why) so Dick and I (with Bridget & Jon), Suzy & Fitz,  and Diane, Dewey (and little Dewey) were regulars there. We'd order cheese and onion enchiladas with a pitcher of beer, play pool, and listen to country western songs from the jukebox while the little ones played in the sawdust and peanut shells.

My introduction to pupusas took place not far from Sioux City in Des Moines IA at a weekend farmer's market. That market is one of the best I've ever been to—Eugene's Saturday Market  doesn't count, it's in a world of its own. We were on our way home to Washington from Eau Claire WI and stayed overnight in an old downtown hotel. Bob came home from his morning walk enthused about the weekend market happening just down the block. We went hungry and took a place at the end of the longest food line (the best food booths always have the longest line). When it was finally our turn, we chose a jalapeno cheese pupusa and sat on the curb to eat. It was one of those revelatory best-of-food moments and ever since, I've been on the prowl for more. I found a bag of frozen ones at Costco, but they weren't worth the calories.

I forgot about pupusa until watching "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and Mary Sue MIlliken , my old boss, named pupsas as her food of choice, specifically those at Serita's  in LA's Grand Central Market. Well here's my chance—I love the Grand Central Market so the combination is too good to pass up. Stay tuned for the results.

Waiting for pupusas in Des Moines




Won't be long now




The reward



LA's Grand Central Market