Lola's First Bite Video - Eating Artichoke, Taco & Pomegranate Seeds

Who's feeding who? That's the question you will ask after viewing The 99 Cent Chef's latest video of Lola's First Bite. Lola is starting to take more control of the dining situation -- just watch the video at the end of this post to see what I'm talking about.

And as usual I've hand-picked quite an eclectic selection of West Coast delectables to tantalize the taste buds of  this newbie nosher, including: Steamed Artichoke, a Homemade Carnitas Taco, and juicy, colorful Pomegranate Seeds.

At almost 3 years old (when this video was shot) little Lola is on the way to being the cutest cherub gourmand around. It was a sunny morning when I invited Lori, Bob and Lola over for a homemade Carnitas Tacos and Mimosa Sunday Brunch. I also had an Artichoke steaming and had my fingers stained red, seeding a messy Pomegranate. It was all coming together for more culinary hijinks on another Lola's First Bite!

First up was a Steamed Artichoke (click here to see my clever stop motion animated video recipe.) I selected the tenderest leaves and separated and cleaned the luscious Artichoke Heart. I also made a sweet Mayonnaise Dip (with just a sprinkle of sugar in the mayo) to help it go down easier, because I knew it would be a tough sell for this tot's fast developing and discerning palate.

I've learned by now to first start with what is the most questionable eatable. Lola liked the Mayo Dip better than the Cultivated Thistle. She is game to try almost anything, or at least give it a single bite. Let's just say she gave it a go, and fortunately her Mom was there to catch the masticated heart.

 
If you live in or are visiting Los Angeles then you will sample real Mexican cuisine. And Lola's second bite was a succulent Carnitas Taco homemade cheaply by yours truly. (And be sure to click here for my recipe video and throw your own Taco Brunch!)

My recipe is delicious enough to please carnivores from two and three quarters years old to eighty. Don't take my word for it, just watch Lola make past tense of it in no time. Now if only she can learn how to fold a tortilla!

And the last First Bite is what I thought would go down the easiest, sweet and plump Pomegranate Seeds. Well, Lola turned the tables and had everyone literally eating from the palm of her tiny hand.

Pomegranate Seeds have a mildly sweet and tart citrus flavor. While not as inviting as a plump strawberry, I figured the bright color would entice Lola, but looks are deceiving.

Well, I've learned to roll with the situation and managed to get a great back-and-forth between Lola's parents, Bob and Lori, using every trick in the book to get her to try them. I'm sure every baby sitter of a toddler will  recognize Lola's intransigent mealtime antics.

 My latest Lola's First Bite video is fun and entertaining. So play it below, smiles are guaranteed! And for all my visitors who are Moms, Happy Mother's Day -- this video is dedicated to you!

Lola's First Bite - VIDEO

Play it here, video runs 4 minutes, 8 seconds. 

To view or embed from YouTube, click here. 

And if you can't get enough adorableness, I have 4
ola's First Bite videos (just click on a title): Lola's First Bite 1.0, Lola's First Bite 2.0,  Lola's First Birthday Party, and Lola's First Bite 4.0.

 99 thanks to Bob, Lori & Lola.

Lola's First Bite 4.0 - Video

Lola speaks! Like Greta Garbo's first anticipated "talkie" after Hollywood's silent movie era, two-and-a-half-year-old Lola's vocal prowess will fascinate and surprise my blog visitors as she name checks the tasty tidbits offered by The 99 Cent Chef.

And do I have an eclectic selection of West Coast cuisine for her to nosh on! In Lola's First Bite 4.0, she samples Steamed Edamame, a California Sushi Roll, and finally, fresh squeezed Wheatgrass juice-- courtesy of Deb, my filmmaker friend and nutritionally inclined neighbor.

First up is steamed and tender Edamame. As Lola's mother says "I've been trying to get Lola to eat more greens," and boy does she ever. It takes a couple of tries figuring how to pry them out, but in no time the green pellets are shooting from their pods!

She even munches them Japanese style: dipped in soy sauce, with a side of pickled ginger. (And her expression when first tasting sour ginger is priceless.) I sometimes find bags of cooked frozen edamame in the deli case of my local 99c only Store, but in this case I got a bag for about $1.29 from Trader Joe's.

Next up Lola takes apart (literally), the California Roll -- this sushi classic was invented here in the 1970's. But don't worry, I'm not feeding her raw fish. A California Roll is typically composed of sesame seeds, rice, dried seaweed, avocado, a crunchy vegetable slice (carrot and/or cucumber) and cooked crab (or, in this case, imitation krab.)

I have made California Rolls at home with fake crab for way below $1 each. (It's really easy to make and it's in my blog recipe bucket list.) But this time, I got a pre-made sliced sushi roll, again from Trader Joe's for about $4 -- way over my budget, but for Lola, no expense will be spared. Plus, their California Roll was made with nutritious brown rice.

Finally, Lola gets "green nectar of the goddess," a shot glass of  Wheatgrass juice, a favorite of health food enthusiasts everywhere. The touted benefits of this elixir, including detoxification and improved digestion, are  especially needed after Lola has finished off a bag of Edamame beans and torn apart a California Roll with questionable imitation krab!

The Wheatgrass didn't cost a nickle, since my filmmaker neighbor Deb grows flats of the stuff as part of her healthy eating regime. It was freshly squeezed in a hand-cranked juicer, so no heat was generated, and the juice is as raw and nutritious as possible for Lola's developing immune system.

Of course all these beneficial maneuvers could be for naught, if this temperamental tot won't bite. Well, you will have to play The 99 Cent Chef's latest video, Lola's First Bite 4.0, to see the delicious denouement to this tale.

photo by Bob McGuinness

An extra 99 thanks go to Lola's parents Bob and Lori for allowing the cheapest cinematographer to record Lola's eating exploits. So click below for Lola's latest and cutest video yet!

Lola's First Bite 4.0 - VIDEO

 Play it here. Video runs 4 minutes, 7 seconds.

To view or embed from YouTube, click here. 

And if you can't get enough adorableness, I have 3 more Lola's First Bite videos (just click on a title): Lola's First Bite 1.0, Lola's First Bite 2.0, and Lola's First Birthday Party.

Lola's First Bite - Video

How cute is too cute? Just watch The Chef's adorable video to find out!

 My neighbors Bob and Lori have a recent addition to their family and her name is Lola. In my newest video series, I will track her First Bites. Almost a year old, Lola is getting her baby teeth in and she is ready to chow down! I plan on filming her first culinary experiences.

First up are red potatoes, avocado and organic plain yogurt. I've never seen so many reactions to a simple bite of bland boiled red potato, or realized the difficulty in eating slippery sliced avocado. And be sure to hang around to watch the funny expressions when Lola reacts to a healthy taste of plain, but sour, yogurt.

Now I can't say the food items were bought at our local dollar store, but I've easily found all three for less than a dollar each or per pound.

I've put Lori and Bob on notice to contact me when peanut butter, lemons and spaghetti are on her menu for the first time. You'll not see a cuter video anytime soon -- until my next Lola's First Bite video! So do check back.

Lola's First Bite - Video

Play it here. The video runs 2 minutes, 9 seconds.

To view or embed from Youtube, click here.

99 thanks to Lori, Bob & Lola.

More Lola!  First Bite 2.0 & First Bite 3.0 (1st Birthday Party) - just click on a name to see them!