Soul Folks Café

"finally" would be an understatement... i have been hearing rumors of the old Soul Folks team opening up a place in hollywood since 2007, i think... i'll believe it when i see it and look forward to it...

though i fear that the rumored location (hollywood) will demand price points that will not match the homey neighborhood joint value that you got back it the old downtown/warehouse district days....

-----
Soul Folks Cafe
613 Imperial St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

the best SANDWICH in (Los Angeles) period.

I would disagree that Mario's in Glendale holds a candle to the Godmother created at Bay Cities. since i live in silverlake i do go to Mario's out of convenience/geographical necessity and they do make an above average sub/sandwich, but the freshness and quality of their bread doesn't approach Bay Cities in my book. not a bad compromise deli, but Bay Cities is in a class by itself.

have not tried Italia, but looks worth a visit...

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

where to buy rabbit

Mcall's Meat and Fish in Los Feliz advertised that they have fresh rabbit in stock by twitter on 3/27/10. i happen to follow their twitter feed. it is a relatively new "neighborhood butcher" that has good product. you might want to investigate this option.

http://www.mccallsmeatandfish.com/
McCall's Meat & Fish Co.
2117 Hillhurst Avenue (between Avocado Street and Ambrose)

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Soul Folks Café

thanks for this update Mrsshankly... if you ever run across any contact info for their catering operation please post it. would like to look them up as caterers if there isn't a brick and mortar location at this time....

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Best Hot Dogs

I think let's be frank is okay but not as good as the hype. also overpriced for what you get. not a bad dog, but not the best value in town. also think pink's is overrated and not worth waiting in line, but i like to take friends there that are visiting from out of town b/c it is somewhat of a "landmark". in hollywood, though, i prefer Skooby's, but parking can be a drag. also a fan of Fab Hot Dogs, but giving where i live it is a bit too far of a drive to go there more than a few times a year....

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Cassell's Burgers on 8th and Western

used to live in the hancock park/koreatown area back in the mid/late 90's and this was my go-to place for a good burger. that said, i believe sometime during that time they changed management (someone corect me if i'm wrong), and my feeling is that they are still above average, but the place is no where near as good as it once was. definitely on the decline. each time i've been since it seems to bear less and less resemblance to the place i fell in love with.

the signature "spicy" mashed-style potato salad is still a winner, though.

overall, no longer a destination burger joint for me, but i will stop by on occasion if i'm driving by and hungry.

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Soul Folks Café

I'm guessing this place never opened. shame. but still hoping against hope that the folks behind the old Soul Folks on Traction are up to something somewhere. if anyone knows anything, do let chowhound know! with mediocre places like Larkin's in Eagle Rock doing so well, you gotta think that a better place (like Soul Folks was) could make a go of it in So. Cal... *sigh*

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

CSA Farm weekly home delivery in LA?

update on my experience with South Central Farmers' CSA. got it last week and it was a great mix of winter veggies for a great price ($15). The plus side about using this CSA is that this operation doesn't lock you in to a regular advance purchase or commitment and you can pay as you go so long as you order by wednesday if you are picking for the following weekend. the downside, however, is that i think that calling themselves "South Central Farmers" is a bit of a misnomer given that they were evicted from LA several years ago and now farm outside of bakersfield. i think there should be a little bit more "truth in advertising" here and they should re-brand themselves so that consumers in the los angeles area know that they are getting "relatively" local items, but not truly local... just rubbed me the wrong way a little...

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Need Denver Burger Recommendations

Hello Denver chowhounders... i'm based in LA but will be in Denver later this week. I'm a big burger lover and would love any and all recommendations that you locals might have for me for good, reasonably priced burgers in the downtown area. though i am a fan of the so-called "gourmet burgers" (re: expensive), for this trip i'm more interested in the diner or pub style offerings that are in the less than $10 category.

any suggestions/recommendations are most welcomed. thanks in advance.

HerbyN in Mountain States

CSA Farm weekly home delivery in LA?

My wife and i just signed up for a CSA that sources from a 14 acre organic urban farming operation in South Central LA. the place is called South Central Farmers (http://scfcoop.southcentralfarmers.com/). my wife also heard of another operation the sources from California's central valley called Abundant Harvest Organics (http://www.abundantharvestorganics.com/). we are planning to try a few different ones and then decide which one works for us. the concept is very interesting. you pick up an assortment of seasonal, organic, recently harvested produce (usually each week for pick up at a local farmers market) for a set price (usually $15 to $30 for a small bushel-sized box). however they vary with regard to payment options and how long you have to commit to the service. some require at least a 3 month commitment, others allow you to "pay as you go"... i'm hoping that this particular conversation string gets some decent activity so i can learn about some of the different CSA options in the LA area...

any additional recommendations would be most welcome.

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Big Mista's BBQ at your local farmer's markets

but they are still at the Atwater farmers market, i take it? yes? no?

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Best enameled cast iron cookware?

any recommendations for the best retail and the best online sources for enameled cast iron casseroles? best selections and best value?

HerbyN in Cookware

Best Po' Boy Sandwich in LA?

any suggestions for a good po' boy sandwich? i think i've become disenchanted with the mediocre offering from the Gumbo Pot at the Farmers Market/Grove, and i'm looking to try a different place. especially interested in any suggestions located on the Northeast side of town.

Thanks in advance fellow Chowhounders.

-----
Gumbo Pot
6333 W 3rd St Ste 312, Los Angeles, CA 90036

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Best Brunch Places -- Silver Lake/Los Feliz

i'm a fan of The Alcove. personally, i think square one is overrated. have yet to have a decent order of hash brown potatoes there. to be fair, though, they do make a mean french toast.

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Favourite lunch spots for Jury Duty downtown (by Disney Concert Hall)

I had a 17 day case on jury duty last october so i pretty much tried everything in that area. Philippe's should be tried at least once, but i'm not a huge fan. more of a culiary "historical landmark" than it is a superior sandwich place in my opinion (but i find i'm in the minority). also, the lines can get long at lunchtime so you might not be able to get you meal, eat it and get back in time.

my suggestion. walk over to the grand central market. there are a variety of mexican places, a south american seafood place, some chinese... you can go there 5 days in a row and never eat at the same place (unless you want to).

also, chinatown is not too far away. just walk down broadway, new high, ord or alpine streets in chinatown and you are bound to find a place with a "lunch special" and you can get in and out pretty quickly. i'm not suggesting any one place in particular b/c i have never really found that one is that much superior to another in chinatown. pretty much the same level of food wherever you go.

you can also try the Olvera St. Market near union station. lots of people like this location for mexican food, but i found it to more pricey and not much better than you can get at one of the booths at the Grand Central Market.

hope this helps.

-----
Grand Central Market
317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Best Gyros in L.A.

I'm a big fan of the gyro sandwich at Elena's Greek and Armenian Cuisine in Glendale (1000 S Glendale Ave). great flavor, relatively inexpensive (just under $5, i think), and a portion size that rivals any place you'll find in southern california.

http://www.elenasgreek.com/

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

I need The Hottest Hot Wings in LA!

I have to agree with Justanotherpenguin on this one... you can't go wrong with Ye Rustic for big, flavorful wings at a good price. just be on notice, the place, for all its other charms, is pretty much a neighborhood dive-ish bar. nice atmosphere if you like that. Personally, when i have a jones for some wings this place is my first choice.

good luck.

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Best Sandwich at Mario's Deli in Glendale?

Okay fellow Chowhounders... i thought i'd celebrate National Sandwich Day (Nov. 3rd and birthday of Lord John Montagu (The Earl of Sandwich) by trying a Glendale institution that i have not yet had occassion to try.

So... my question to those of you that have been there, what should i get?

"The Combo" Cold Cut Sub
or
The Pastrami "Bad Boy" toasted sandwich

i'm open to suggestions and thanks in advance...

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Dodger Stadium - Food Recommendations for a day game

going to the day game today at Noon. we will not be able to stop off beforehand and get food outside the stadium so i was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for the onsite food vendors at the stadium?

also, i was unable to "google" a list of vendors at the stadium or a "vendor map". if anyone knows where i can find one of those online that would help a great deal too.

thanks in advance for the help chowhounders...

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

retail saffron???

i wonder what the sourcing is for the TJ's saffron. where do they get it? i'm guessing i might pay more at india sweets and spices, but i reckon it might be better quality...

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

best non-gourmet burger in philly?

as far as i'm aware the Five Guys in So. Cal are not yet in "Los Angeles" proper, unfortunately for me. i think there is one in Carson and Cerritos. both can be a good 30min to hour drive each way from downtown LA depending on traffic, more if you are driving from the valley...

HerbyN in Pennsylvania

retail saffron???

where can a guy get some good saffron at a decent price within a 5 mile radius of where the 5 and the glendale freeway meet?

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

best non-gourmet burger in philly?

thanks barryg. this helps a lot. keep the suggestions coming chowhounders...

HerbyN in Pennsylvania

best non-gourmet burger in philly?

will be staying at the Loews Hotel on Market. i suppose that's downtown, but you are asking a question to a visitor. don't know all of the neighborhoods.

HerbyN in Pennsylvania

the best SANDWICH in (Los Angeles) period.

the roasted pork sandwich at Porto's in Glendale blows me away... great sandwich and under $5... are you freakin' kidding me? best sandwich value (taste and price) in LA (their fried mashed potato sandwich isn't too shabby either).

also... i gotta agree with several other posts here that the godmother in SM at bay cities is about as good as deli sandwiches get. the bread sets it apart.

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

best non-gourmet burger in philly?

hey philly chowhounders... i'm from LA and will be in Philly for a friend's wedding in august. i know philly is the home of the cheesesteak, but i also want to get my burger on as well while i'm there... any recommendations from philly natives for a great under $10 burger? not interested in any fancified $16 "Rouge" burgers, thank you, so don't recommend that place. though i'm sure they serve a great burger, but i'm on a recession budget....

thanks in advance...

HerbyN in Pennsylvania

Burgers on Westside

In no particular order:

Big Jo's (on Broadway and 20th) - greasy diner. cheap. old school californian.
The Counter
Marty's - a burger shack just a few blocks east of Apple Pan and a way better value
Fraiche

Note: I'm in the camp that thinks the Apple Pan may be a "historically significant" burger joint, but is grossly overrated and overpriced considering its "diner/counter" food category....

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Mini Bites Doesn't

i'm interested to hear what others think if this new place. the serious eats site has posted a review of the place in its hamburger today page that was less that rave:

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2009/06/mini-bites-mini-burgers-los-angeles-caifornia.html

at first blush, i'm wary of the "value" you get at a place where 2 "mini-burgers/sliders" are $2 a piece, $2.25 for cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches even more than that, but i could be wrong (would love to be wrong). looking forward to hearing some more chowhounder first impressions.

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area

Excellent Take Out Chinese Near Silver Lake?

i have to agree with "carter"... Coral Reef is a true menace. just shocked that the place is still open. also agree that if you don't want to hoof it to chinatown or MP, then Chi Dynasty and Palace are certainly passable, if not over-priced for what you get.

HerbyN in Los Angeles Area