The Asian fusion eatery ediBOL is NOW open in the Arts District, offering an artisanal array of what owner/chef Andrea Uyeda calls “BOLs” = seasonally inspired, colorful food combinations in a bowl that, as promised, are “bursting with flavor” … big “composed” BOLs and small “mix n match” BOLs. There are Morning BOLs, Brunch BOLs, BOLbites, Hot/Cold BOLs, AddictaBOLs, CrumBOLs, drinkaBOLs, and even RefreshaBOLs.
The inspiration for ediBOL stems from Uyeda’s love of cooking, baking, design, architecture, exploration, and building true connections topped with her deep desire to create something special with others who also want to share and live their passions.
Located within the One Santa Fe complex, the 1,500-sq.-ft. contemporary casual café seats 50 inside with outside seating for 20 or more with its 1,200-sq.-ft. patio. Another patio is in the works, which will expand seating capacity by another 60 or 70 seats.
She says, “My earliest memories revolve around home-cooked Sunday dinners at my grandparents’ house in Boyle Heights where the entire extended family would gather to feast and share the week’s happenings.” (Her 99-year-old grandmother still lives in that same house.)
Uyeda is no newcomer to DTLA. Her café is just down the block from where she and her brother Jaret used to practice and perform taiko drums, and across the street where he later spent many sleepless nights as a student at SCI-Arc. Before it was built, she volunteered at the Japanese American National Museum to help transcribe wartime camp stories. Her grandmother still attends St. Francis Xavier Japanese Catholic Center located in the Arts District on Hewitt St., which was founded in 1912 and is the only parish in Los Angeles dedicated to Japanese Catholics. Her grandparents were the first couple to get married at the church when it was known as Maryknoll. Her dad’s side of the family (over 100 of them!) also attended grammar school at Maryknoll. In short, while ediBOL is new to the neighborhood, Uyeda has long been involved in Downtown and in what is now known as the Arts District.
Uyeda is no newcomer to the restaurant business, either. Every job she’s had since she was 13 years old has been in the hospitality industry. Most recently, she spent the past 18 years playing an integral role in the development, diversification, and growth of Border Grill. Prior to that, between completing a thesis on American Cultural Identity, attending classes taught by Toni Morrison, studying Netherlandish art, and building furniture in woodworking class at Princeton University, she worked at a neighborhood bakery/café and made time for her own cooking and baking while juggling a full-time academic schedule.
After a mind-blowing tastebud experience sampling just three of Uyeda’s multi-layered BOLs, I will definitely come back, especially after taking a glance at ediBOL’s brunch menu and spotting the cheddar buttermilk biscuit with soft scrambled eggs. GO! Uyeda offers a seasonally inspired menu as colorful as her rainbow-hued hair and as varied as her rich life experiences. ~ Melissa Richardson Banks
HOURS OF OPERATION
Breakfast: Mon-Fri 8-11am
Brunch: Sat-Sun 10am to 3pm
Lunch & Dinner: lunch 11am to 5pm daily and dinner Sun-Thu 5-9pm and Fri-Sat 5-11pm
ediBOL
300 S. Santa Fe Ave., Ste. Q
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 292-6466 • info@ediBOL.com
www.ediBOL.com
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