whycook's Profile
new choices in arcadia / san gabriels
never tried this - sounds like i should put this on my list. thanks so much.
new choices in arcadia / san gabriels
any NEW recommendations in arcadia / san gabriels. what are your breakfast and dinner favorites?
Best place to eat in Santa Monica? Will travel for great food!
i just went to bar pinxto - while its not a bad place - I wouldn't go out of my way. Gjelina on the other.... #1- its wonderful.
Wilshire also a great call. and if you are looking for a comfy french style bistro for breakfast - annisette on santa monica was pleasant.
best BAGEL in LA
Brooklyn Bagel - closest thing to a proper NY bagel. everything else is a roll with a hole instead of the dense, well textured, crusty, chewy, bagel ex-nyers smuggle home in our bags.
Taiwanese Pineapple Pastries
I just had fresh, fluffy, taiwanese pineapple pastry at JJ Bakery in Arcadia (in same shopping center as the illustrious Din Tain Fung) My taiwanese friend was thrilled with the texture and consistency of this. there was a coffee cheese bread that was fantastic.
jjbakeryusa.com will tell you were all their locations are
I have to lose some pounds what's a foodie to do?
i try to go to places that serve fresh wholesome food and only eat 1/2 the portion (take the rest home for tomorrows lunch)
Seed in Venice - really healthy, huge portions, a lot flavor belies the fact that it's all pretty low in calories.
Chaya M Cafe - not exactly diet food - but healthy and most dishes are low in fat
Real Food Daily - not one of my personal favorites but know lots of people people who adore it
and no matter where you go --- tell them not to put the bread basket on your table --- no matter how wonderful it looks.... you can always ask them to leave you a slice and take the rest away.
dia de los muertos bread - where to buy in Santa Monica
Venice Bakery on Venice
El Gallo on cesar chavez - but maybe too far to drive
hope you find some you like
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Venice Bakery
10943 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
El Gallo Restaurant
4421 Las Posas Rd Ste C, Camarillo, CA 93010
NYC Hounds Visiting, Please Advise!
I was pleasantly surprised by Cholada Thai on PCH in Malibu - so unexpected and far cheaper than most of the beachside places. Skip Palms unless you want LA Kitsch - Jitlada is down the street with superior food.
I'd rather eat at Jones on 3rd or the Farmers Market than Breadbar - where the food is mediocre. Little Next Door Cafe is good - but pricey.
I'd 2nd any recommendations healthy fare at M Cafe and excessive plates of meat at Parks Korean BBQ. Palate in Glendale deserves all the hype for a wine and cheese centric menu - 50% of the menu includes pork.
Enjoy
Where do you shop?
Thank you everyone - I cant wait for the weekend and chance to go to shop. I was just told that Pinocchio Restaurant/Monte Carlo Deli has a tiny market on Magnolia in Burbank selling great pizza dough and jars of fresh tomato puree from Italy - they say well worth a detour.
This sunday is Taste of the Nation / Share our Strength fundraiser in Culver City. Tickets are kind of pricey - they may still need volunteers.
Where do you shop?
Hello dedicated chowhounders -
When you aren't eating out - where do you shop?
I'm always in search for the most flavor and lowest prices in vicinity of Glendale/Silver Lake/Hollywood, but I'd rather not drive farther for quality and reasonable prices.
In search of the best seafood, meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables, cheese, breads, cakes & cookies?
Is it Whole Foods, Hollywood Farmers Market, Trader Joe's, markets in Thai town & K-Town?
Thanks so much & I can't wait to hear where everyone shops.
BEST STEAK IN LA? OTHER THAN CUT
Mastro's won't disappoint. I took my boyfriend and he loved it. The service was flawless and there were affordable wines to compliment steak which melted in your mouth. SIdes verged on too much butter & salt for my tastes - but my boyfriend thought it was just right.
Place to eat near 134 / 5 Intersection?
Mambos cuban style cafe in a renovated garage is reliable and tasty - it's an easy place to hang out with friends and chat - no one rushing you off your table. it is on the corner of western and victory. only a few blocks away from the freeway and way better than a chain, I'm not veg but I always get this plate of tofu veg dish (wiht name I can't recall) it is great with plantains.
Cafe Bravo is a little further from the 5 and not as good a place for sitting to chat with a friend - but anything chicken, hummus and grape leaves are all excellent.
the new palate isn't far from the freeways but near the new americana at brand mall and is sure to be wall-to-wall people.
enjoy
Vegetarian Restaurants
I could eat a Big Macro from Chaya M Cafe on Melrose and now the new Chaya M cafe in Culver City -- they also have a vegan chocolate cake that I rarely have room for but it is decadent and delicious. the bim bim bop is lite healthy and perfect before the cake
Table 8?
4 of us had dinner 2 weeks ago and concurred that the flavors all merged together with no standouts ... other than the grilled cheese with short rib app which we all agreed was worth a return visit. except this time we'd each get our our grilled cheese a drink and move on for the entree.
Eat like a King pay like a Pauper
not wasted at all --- i couldn't figure out what i wanted or where to go tonight - "Fantabulous" sounds ideal when not in the mood to drive to artesia
thank you
Crumbs cupcakes--worth $5
I find Crumbs simply too big and so sweet they are flavorless, unimpressed by Sprinkles and find Auntie Em's are oily.
While I haven't tried Hansen's (yet) I really enjoy light (kind of springy) red velvet (with really cream cheesy frosting, coconut and salted caramel cups at Lark Cake Shop (3337 West Sunset Blvd (at Micheltorena St). Chocolate is their weakest flavor - rather non-descript.
Why don't I live next door to Bashan in Glendale?
Ditto - thanks to tips on board and your review - i choose Bashan for my birthday dinner last night. We arrived a few minutes before out 7:30 reservation and were offered choice of tables by 8:00 every table was filled, in spite of the rain.
The service was gracious, the room lively but my boyfriend and i could still speak comfortably.
Creamy Burrata delicately wrapped in Bresaola plated next to Parsnips, Dates, Endive & Pistachios salad was delicious - and knowing there was dessert to come we shared the ample for one, but small for two app.
My duck was juicy (mouthwatering as described above) , the chicken on sweet potato with quail egg was perfectly prepared and not "just another' safe chicken dish.
Praxis Pinot offered by the glass for $10 or bottle for $33 was an ideal compliment and far superior most bottles in this price range.
we were having my favorite LARK Bakery cupcakes (in silverlake) - so I'll have to try Bashans desserts next time -- and this is absolutely one restaurant I'll be recommending and returning to again soon.
try it you'll -love- it
best veggie burger? astro?
I don't see any mention of my absolute favorite Big Macro whole grain brown rice & veggie burger served on wholewheat bun with lettuce, tofu, sauce and I can never resist the sweet potatoes fries at Chaya M at 7119 Melrose in Hollywood. It doesn't taste like an imitation meat burger - but even non-veg people like it.
Who has the best hummus?
BRAVO at 1135 w. Glenoaks in Glendale has worth a detour hummus - not too oily and smooth - this place is no frills (and the prices reflect that) who needs ambiance with such moist and perfectly seasoned (chicken) kabobs.
MAROUCH on 4905 Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood has Hommas and Fool Maddamas (seasoned fava beans) - that never fails!
Mastro's Steakhouse-Bev. Hills
The steaks were melt in your mouth delicate and still stand as the best steak I have eaten in LA (note: I still haven't been to Cut yet). Sides were traditional old steak house fare, too much butter and cream didn't keep us from enjoying creamed spinach and mastros mashed potatoes -- the portions were so large we couldn't even finish.
I was so impressed with the scope of well-priced wines and wish I could remember the name of the california cab which blew me away for around $50.
If I ate more red meat I'd want to go back again soon.
Best place for dessert in LA?
Lark Silver Lake Cake Shop Shop on Sunset is simply delicious - just like homemade. you can actually taste the cream cheese frosting on the red velvet cake instead of just tasting the butter.
Boule is equally wonderful but far from everyday homemade -more of a jewel box ad just as costly - go for the macaroons but try the marshmallows.
Not sure it's one of the best - or worth the long lines on weekend mornings - but the scones (and cakes) at Alcove in Los Feliz but deserve a nod and a taste test so you can vote for yourself
After two consecutive visits to Sweet Lady Jane - where the service was poor, the restaurant outright dirty and insipid flavors - I won't return.
makes me want to go grab a mexican wedding cookie from lark nake shop
Going to Pizzeria Mozza for first time! Any recommendations and/or places for dessert?
by the time you have finished your pizza (the mushroom pizza is rich and amazingly delicious) an appetizer of aranacini (rice balls) a salad for the table (make sure someone orders the fennel sausage pizza you may want a change of scenery - but you'd be missing out on the fragrant olive oil gelato - it is unusually delicious - best to get one scoop of it with a couple other flavors (the caramel is smoky and not too sweet) everyone around the table dug into those 2 flavors and left the chocolate behind.
scoops gets my vote for ice cream...beware ...it is closed on sunday except for special occasions.
what ever you eat. ENJOY.
by the time you have finsihed
Sona 9-Course Spontanée Tasting Menu, in Photos
Sona is without a doubt the #1 best meal I have had since moving from NYC. Each dish reawakened my palate, standing apart from the preceeding course, making the entire meal a sensation. The setting is comfortable, quiet and romantic if you want it to be. I don't think wylies brilliance can be touched by anyone in LA - but david comes close.
Best Steak in Los Angeles?
I was really impressed with melt in my mouth meat at Mastro's but more importantly - I was a first time guest and they treated me like a frequent customer. The side dishes were a little to buttery but excellent none the less. I thought all the wines would be overpriced - but was pleasantly surprised to find quite a few in And ''well-priced' (for a restaurant of this caliber) but still not cheap - a few of good bottles in the $50 range
This was many cuts above my less then my bland and leathery steak at Taylors where the food and service was a huge disappointment.
Time to try some of the other suggestions on the board.
sweet lady jane- incredibly rude!
relatively new to LA and was underwhelmed by SLJ - inspite of too many favorable recommendations. Everything at Boule is prepared with care and top-shelf ingredients- even if at times it is a bit precious - I haven't been dissappinted yet.
