One of the treasures of food-loving is sharing it with fellow appreciators, and, (maybe most fun of all), with a new generation of potential aficionados. And as much fun as it is to introduce my 12-year-old great-nephew Levi to tastes he might not otherwise experience, I find it equally satisfying sometimes to discover how heavenly every day kid-friendly dishes can be.

Case in point: Lucky Bird at Grand Central Market. It’s not just the outrageously fabulous fact that they sell fried skin on its own that makes this worth the trip downtown. The simultaneously juiciest AND crispiest chicken breast in memory, subtly enhanced by the herb and citrus brining, is served piping hot at the counter, and every bite elicited a greasy groan of approval from both of us. It’s no accident that Lucky Bird is the brainchild of an elite chef with A + cred from some of the top restaurants in town, Chris Dane.

Similarly, Gorilla Pies in a strip mall on Burbank Blvd. is the love child of Nobu veteran Ben Osher who takes pizza to new heights. His impressive wood-fire oven disgorged an exquisitely-charred crust, topped by an organic, locally-sourced tomato sauce, richer and sweeter than the average pizza topper and crowned by bright green basil leaves. Simple, but elevated. That crust!! P.S. the voluminous arugula salad was addictive!

Rounding out the Easy Food From Restaurant Heavy Weights Tour was a visit to legendary restaurateur Danny Meyers’ Shake Shack; not new to the scene, but new to the neighborhood. I mean…..I will never grow tired of that Avocado Burger or stop craving the vanilla shake. I’m sure no one needs my encouragement to check out this joint, but in case you aren’t down with beef, rest assured the crispy chicken and portobello mushroom versions look just as mouth-watering.

So, as much fun as it was to watch Levi tear into his first lobster at The Albright in Santa Monica and lick his buttery fingers in approval, I have to tip my hat to him for steering me backward to the simpler, deliciously satisfying faster food we shared on his last visit. I might even go back without kid cover.