Cutie came to the United States as a young girl, and while she doesn't make a fuss about it, she has strong feelings about what it means to be an American. Let's visit with her at the neighborhood park on the Fourth of July, as she waits for darkness to fall and the fireworks to start flying, for her message to America on its birthday.

I haven't had much experience with Japanese food, because the only fish you'll catch me eating is fried shrimp-- and lox, of course. Or a tuna sandwich, at the Hollenbeck Palms Bistro.

But my grandchildren assured me that there's more to Japanese food than sushi, and that I'd like their version of home cooking. So we came out to give it a try, to a cosy little place upstairs in the Little Tokyo mall where I get my cream puff fix. I liked it from the start, but I like everything that is close to the house.

The decor was nice, lots of old fashioned wooden chests and hanging cloth. I would bring someone on a date here, especially if they like Japanese food or if they are more adventurous, like my husband.

Now the truth is that I ate Japanese food for the first time in restaurants in Los Angeles many years ago, but I haven't kept up the habit. I mostly had the shrimp tempura. It was good. It really had to do with all the sauces. That is the secret of good cooking, no matter what part of the world you're cooking in.

Overall, I was very impressed. We ordered a little of this and a little of that, and I tried all the things that didn't look too strange. One thing that did look too strange was a shredded white snowy radish covered with hundreds of tiny dried fishes. Apparently it's one of the girls' favorites, but not only didn't I taste it, I did my best to pretend it wasn't on the table!

But most of what we ordered, I liked. The miso soup was bland, but very good. The lightly fried tofu chunks in salty sauce were wonderful -- well, I don't know whether I liked the soy sauce or the tofu, but together they make a wonderful dish. I felt similarly about the eggplant, which also had a delicious sauce--whichever the best part was, together they make a wonderful dish.

It's not easy to find a classic French cream puff. The American version is often too sweet and needlessly complicated. Here's what goes in a cream puff: unsweetened choux pastry, a rich cream filling, and a dash of powdered sugar. That's it! It was good enough for Catherine de Medici and it should be good enough for you.

My grandchildren introduced me to this Japanese chain with a funny name, and wanted to know if their cream puffs tasted like France to me. Since the closest store is only five minutes from my apartment, in Little Tokyo, I'd say they're better than France. Plus it's the perfect treat for your grandchildren after they play Dance Dance Revolution at the arcade upstairs, and I get hungry just watching.

What a delicious cream puff. What more is there to say? It is just as it should be, with no funny business. Apparently they do offer other novelty flavors to suit American tastes, but the classic, original cream puff is always on the menu, and it's what I'll order.

I liked the shop. This place is understated and clean. I thought there should be more people standing in line. As we waited for our order, I noticed the unusual logo, a cartoon of a little old man with a big beard. He doesn't make me think of a cream puff, but I don't need a picture to like a cream puff.

You will need plenty of napkins. You might say "I only want half" but if you're like me you will power through. If you bring your family, definitely get a box, it is a better deal.

People who want to satisfy their sweet tooth come here. Families with their chilren. Young men and their girls. Boys and girls who have a dollar in their pocket. If you are younger than me, you can have two.

How have I lived in Boyle Heights for two years without knowing about this place? I like a restaurant where the manager meets you at the door twirling a bottle of Grand Marnier in one hand and you can chat a little en Francais. French was my first language, and their cuisine is my second comfort food (Jewish delicatessen comes first). The Basques are very interesting, they're a cross between French and Spanish, but they lean towards the French in their cooking.

Anyhow, about this restaurant: I loved it. It is elegant, with good decor and nice ambiance. I liked the white tablecloths and red cloth napkins, the beautiful wooden fretwork panels and the copper chandeliers, the bowl filled with cut flowers and fern fronds on my table and the authentic French rolls. At first I didn't even notice all the fashionable young men in the tables around me (what used to be a hog butcher's diner now caters to the fashion trade), but once I did, I liked it!

Of course once I saw it on the menu I had to order my signature dish, French Onion Soup. My grandchildren pointed out that I could have a cup of soup with a half a grilled cheese sandwich as one of the $5 lunch specials, so I did. This isn't a proper French meal with many courses, but it's a good deal if you don't have a big appetitie.

My sandwich was fine, buttery and crisp from the grill with lots of cheese. But I wasn't prepared for the best French Onion Soup I have ever had in my life--yes, better than Paris. It made me feel like a little girl again, and I wasn't ashamed to ask the waitress for a little more broth, which she was happy to get for me, after recommending other traditional French dishes from the menu for next time (I smiled politely, knowing I will not be ordering anything other than this wonderful soup).

In this episode, Cutie attends the LAVA Sunday Salon, a monthly gathering of artists and innovators held at her favorite downtown L.A. dining destination, historic Clifton's Cafeteria.

When LAVA Visionary A. Laura Brody calls for a volunteer to have a custom piece of clothing created live on their body from recycled movie industry scraps, lifelong fashionista Cutie jumps at the chance to see what curious garment will emerge.

SEE! actual pleats secured with a staple gun!
THRILL! at the snip of giant shears quite close to Cutie!
MARVEL! at flattering couture created in moments!
PLAN! to attend a LAVA Sunday Salon yourself!

LAVA - The Los Angeles Visionaries Association
Sunday Salon, last Sunday of the month, noon-2pm, Clifton's Cafeteria at 7th & Broadway in Downtown L.A., Free.

Info http://www.lavatransforms.org

In this episode, Cutie and granddaughter Chinta take in a Friday matinee of the well-received Joan Rivers documentary "A Piece of Work." While Cutie likes Joan's personality and pep, she's underwhelmed by the film, and takes the opportunity to teach Chinta the grandmotherly art of walking out on a movie just late enough that a reasonable amount of time gets killed, but the theater manager will still give you vouchers to come back another day.

In April 1937, Barbara went to Poinsettia Park in Hollywood and noticed a nice looking young man leaning against the tennis court fence. She liked his curly brown hair and his legs, so she brought him home to her parents' house, and 72 years later, Barbara and Harry Cooper are The OGs, America's favorite internet grandparents.

Here they are with their granddaughters Kim and Chinta, and Kim's husband Richard, on a return visit to the park where all the magic began.

The OGs recently discovered a Southern California culinary landmark, Alhambra's beloved Twoheys, home of the Little Stinko burger.

Let's drop in on them at the end of their first visit, as an ice cream concoction called a Red Car arrives at the table. What will Cutie, who doesn't usually like chocolate ice cream and always watches her waistline, think of this cornucopia of sweetness that's bigger than her head? Will PopPop share? Can you stand the suspense?

This episode features a special bonus, as Cutie makes the Angry Grandma face after the grandchildren beg and plead. (Don't worry, she isn't really angry.)

For more of Cutie's no-holds-barred restaurant reviews, follow her on Yelp: http://barbaracooper.yelp.com/

It can be scary going to see the dentist, even for a routine check up, but with grandma along for the ride, grandchild Chinta discovers it can be an adventure and bonding experience.

Along the way, Cutie offers some oral health wisdom obtained over nine decades, and records a couple of Public Service Announcements. Grandpa Harry proves to be less encouraging, though his obsessive tooth brushing is a habit to be emulated -- at 98 years old, he still has most of his own teeth.

So join us as we head out to the dentist's office, with our favorite sassy sidekick, Cutie!

The OGs are L.A.'s oldest bloggers, and they just got a little older as PopPop turned a spry 98-years-young with a swinging, music-filled party at his favorite Boyle Heights restaurant, La Parrilla.

When Harry Cooper was born in Philadelphia on April 5, 1912, it was a different world. Arizona and New Mexico had just been admitted to the union, the Girl Scouts of America were newly formed, the first parachutist had recently jumped out of an airplane, the gardeners of Washington DC were tending a gift of 3000 young cherry trees from Japan, supplies were being laid in for the maiden voyage of the Titanic.... and Boyle Heights was a Jewish neighborhood!

Who could have predicted that the wee baby of 1912 would be a star on the internet in the 21st Century?

Here's to Harry Cooper, and his loving wife Barbara who keeps him young and happy, on the occasion of his 98th birthday (give or take a few hours)!