If WD-50 is Chef Wylie Dufresne's elite laboratory of modern American cooking, Alder is his new off-campus lounge, where molecular gastronomes can kick back with a drink and a bite—"stuff you can ... graze and nibble," as Dufresne told the New York Times. READ MORE
There's a rule that steam-table food is mediocre, but the vegetarian and vegan dishes at Culver City Indian place Samosa House (there are two locations) is an exception. And at Samosa House West, at 11510 W. Washington, there's an unusual new addition to the regional menu: thalipeeth, a savory pancake from the western Indian state of Maharashtra. It's rare in Los Angeles restaurants. READ MORE
Since Christmas 2011, fatbob has experienced the death of three coffee grinders, each worth approximately $50. Frustrated, fatbob wants to know if there's a good, durable coffee grinder out there for a reasonable price.
It turns out that $50 is the entry-level price for an electric burr machine, which uses two abrasive surfaces to grind the beans (grinders with whirling metal blades are much cheaper). If you use it every day, a blade grinder can last three years, ThanksVille says on Chowhound. But some object to the way a blade grinder transfers heat to the beans. And compared to burr grinders, blades produce an uneven grind. That's important if you need a fine grind for espresso; less so if you steep in a French press. READ MORE
With the opening of The Olde Depot, a vegan pub next to Beer Revolution and within spitting distance of Souley Vegan, downtown Oakland is becoming a destination for those who abstain from animals, Pius Avocado III says on Chowhound. Commenters aren't yet sold on Olde Depot's vegan sausages, but self-described "on-and-off vegetarian" hungree says that the food at Souley Vegan (pictured) is good enough to keep carnivores interested. Other meat-free winners downtown are Golden Lotus and Shangri-La Vegan, where the food is organic. READ MORE
Mighty Quinn's Barbeque opened late last year to promising but mixed reports from Chowhounds, who've been burned many times before by underachieving New York 'cue. A few months later, the place is a runaway hit and 'hounds have come around, embracing the Texas–North Carolina hybrid style that pitmaster Hugh Mangum calls Texalina. READ MORE
San Francisco's no steak town. While cheaper cuts like hanger steak regularly appear on restaurant menus, steakhouse stars like rib-eyes and porterhouses are less common. On Chowhound, xanadude points out that the high cost of operating a restaurant in San Francisco, combined with rising beef prices, means that luxury cuts can be prohibitively expensive. But Chowhounds say the greater Bay Area does have some solid steak options: READ MORE
Grilled bratwurst served on crusty rolls is a cookout favorite. A common way to go is to start by simmering the brats in beer with sliced onions, then finishing on the grill. But on Chowhound, knucklesandwich wonders: Why simmer a sausage that's destined to be cooked again on the grill? And why use beer in the first place? READ MORE
A little research into the spiciest foods in Los Angeles uncovers dishes like the Special 2 at Orochon Ramen. On Chowhound, jdwdeville nominates a new contender: cochinita pibil tacos at Guisados in East LA. READ MORE
There’s a time and place for a pricey brunch, but for classic American breakfasts you can't top LA’s diners. The menus may be sticky with syrup, the vinyl banquettes ratty, but the food is great, the prices fair, and the air has the whiff of nostalgia. Here in alphabetical order are 10 places Chowhounds in the Los Angeles area like to go to start the day.
1. HARBOR HOUSE
16341 Pacific Coast Highway, Sunset Beach
562-592-5404
This seaside diner with a spin-off in Dana Point never closes, and since 1939, surfers, South Bay locals, and travelers on the PCH have been showing up at all hours to order from the huge menu. Save room for a slice of pie or a piece of cake.
2. HUGE TREE PASTRY
423 North Atlantic Boulevard, Suite 106, Monterey Park
626-458-8689
Neither as old or as well known as LA's iconic diners, Huge Tree is the place to go for Taiwanese breakfast staples like you tiao (fried donuts), sweet peanut rice milk, and baked sesame buns. A few dim sum items are available too, including fried turnip cake and xiao long bao. READ MORE
There are big differences between a forged-iron wok and its cast-iron cousin. Is one better than the other? Home cooks on Chowhound recently took up the question. READ MORE
