chica's Profile
good THAI eats
Thank you, Curt, Mary, and Cee, for your help and advice. I had so much fun in Thailand, and the food was a definite integral part of that experience. Hot and spicy soup, mangosteens, fried banana, coconut ice cream, green papaya salad, just to name a few! Thank you again!
REVIEW: Providence St. Joseph Hospital Cafeteria, Burbank
Actually, the salad bar at UCLA's Medical Center isn't half bad.
Congratulations, Das!! :D
Baby Shower Worthy
http://www.hotelbelair.com/plan_an_event/
Hotel Bel Air - tea, excellent service, gorgeous garden (including falls, ponds, bridge, swans..)
California Pizza Kitchen? (Opening in San Francisco)
I love their salads, though I often see little distinction between the half and full orders.
The vanilla bean that drenches the tiramisu is heavenly.
I like the spring roll appetizer, especialy the slaw that comes on the side.
One thing I don't like...the bread that first comes to the table. It's very uninspiring.
Ice Cream "blasts," "blizzards"...which chain has the best?
I actually like the cookies n' cream at El Pollo Loco.
Utz' Chips [Split from New Ortleans board]
I saw these at the local drugstore when I visited DC a couple months ago. I was going to get them, but then I took a double-take when I saw the lard ingredient. The SoCal-health-conscious-paranoia part got the better of me. :P
Help me choose a cold cereal!
Another vote for Kashi Heart to Heart or Wheat flakes - added blueberries, and I find it quite filling.
I also like Barbara's Grainshop - the mix of different flakes and grains makes a good medley when I'm too lazy to mix cereals like I usually do.
TJ's Muesli is good, too, though I noticed that they recently upped the sugar content.
TJ's also has its version of honey bunches of oats (it goes by another name), but it's less expensive than the other brand and doesn't have the high fructose.
I used to eat all-bran..until I found it too filling. It also gets soggy fast.
SEARED AHI, Graduation lunch/dinner
I'd go first for Roy's. Let them know it's a special occasion. :)
Congratulations!
The Standard Hotel Area??
For an upscale standout (and seafood), Water Grill - you can sit at the bar, too. The bartender's really nice. :)
I also recommend you head to the Standard rooftop - love the vibe, drinks, pool area, spaceship poolbed..
You might also want to head to Little Tokyo if you like sushi. Sushi Gen is a great standby for lunch, but head there early, as in 11:30, or before.
Chinese chicken salad near Pasadena
I third the Dianne...and that addictive zucchini bread. We like to buy the dressing there, too. In fact, I recommend all of Greenstreet's salads, especially the Cornocopia.
eastside healthy/vegetarian lunch options
Union Bakery on Fair Oaks has lunch specials, like a spinach and cheese quiche w/ salad, for around $5.
Also try Europane, LoveBirds Bakery, and Famima! They all have vegetarian versions of salads/sandwiches, and above all, delicious baked goods.
Taiwan sun cakes (tai yang bing)
I see them all the time. I've been able to get singles, too. Most Asian bakeries will sell them to you per "bing"...if it's not on the shelf, ask. Places like Taipan bakery will sell them.
Milk..and Light?
lol..yes, but the door opens and closes frequently. :) Plus, it's also the fact that the milk is sold under fluorescent light.
Birthday Dinner in Los Angeles
You could try the family-style dinner at Maggiano's. It's about $25/person and the 2 per category food items are continuously refilled.
Bars/Food
Whist at the Viceroy - fits all your criteria, and for dessert, I suggest the dessert sampler, or even just the hot, fresh chocolate chip cookies. :)
Saddle Ranch Chop House (I find if you go up to the bar, eye contact might get you a better, special addition to the drink but in any event, the drinks are (tall) and good and food portions are huge. A plus: riding the bull you have to be over a certain age for)
I didn't find Bodega very interesting...food wasn't appealing to me, and the place was too small. But, it's a nice place to meet for after-work drinks.
The bar at Josie.
Sidebar at CUT.
Upstairs at Mastro's.
If given a $200 gift certificate...
It depends on what kind of food you like. The ones you list are very diverse from each other. For example, my first choice would be CUT...but then, I doubt that unless you don't get the steaks, you will not get out under 200 (plus drinks) there for two people. Plus, it would be considered an "in" place...
But, if you love Italian, Angelini Osteria is by far my first choice there for delicious food, generous portions, wonderful staff & manager, and general convivial ambiance with other diners.
If you like game or have never tried it before, then head to Saddle Peak Lodge for a taste of elk, buffalo, quail, cornish game hen, etc..in a unique LA hunting lodge setting.
For something really romantic, then The Little Door will suit you - dine under the stars in dim lighting, but the tables are really close to each other. Service, however, is friendly. Food isn't outstanding, but the setting makes up for it.
If you really want to bring three people along, of your list, I think Angelini would best fit the bill. Another Italian place that has the same sincere staff and generous portions of delicious food is Vincenti in Brentwood, as well as ICugini.
Or, you could use the certificate toward three (or four) prixe-fixe dinners at Roy's, and have an ample number of drinks!
Milk..and Light?
I once heard that refridgerator lights can affect the taste of milk, so it's better to buy them in the non-see through cartons instead. But out in LA, milk can get pretty expensive, and the carton ones I find are more so. Has anyone experienced the taste of milk affected by light, as per the article below?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18576564/
good THAI eats
Great link! I notice that a lot of the foods focus on rice/noodles and meat, and either in soup or sauces poured over them, or a medley of foods cooked together.
I have a question - what is suki? It looks like Chinese hot pot! :)
And I was surprised to see a Mexican restaurant from your list..and above all, it's label is "from Los Angeles." I'm from LA, so that was kinda funny...
It seems to me the sweets focus on ice cream? Are there any others to look for? And, are there any snacks I should buy to take back to the States?
Thanks so much, Curt!
Christopher’s Big Cherry – Who has them or something close?
I've seen (and bought one of) them at the little Korean-owned Japanese market, Sierra Produce, on Baldwin in Arcadia.
There are lots of cherry filled chocolates..chain stores like See's has a version w/ a hint of cherry, there are the ubiquitous cherry cordials, Godiva sometimes has seasonal ones. Of course, there are also the chocolate-covered cherries you can find most anywhere now - a drugstore, TJ's, Whole Foods, Starbucks.
red bean mochi ice cream?
Your best bet is probably Mikawaya and Asian supermarkets, like 99 Ranch, which will always carry it. However, I have also seen it at that little Japanese(?)/Korean(?) market on Sawtelle on the lower level in the plaza that houses Curry House.
good THAI eats
Hello! I'll be visiting Thailand in a couple weeks, and I was wondering what your take on the essential Thai foods are -- items you would suggest I get at carts and in sit-down restaurants. I saw a link below about food in Bangkok (where we'll be visiting, too), but I was hoping for a more general take on great not-to-missed sorts of Thai treats and dishes to be had in the area.
A caveat..no red meat (family doesn't eat it), and nothing we would be able to get in the States (ie. pad thai). But other than that, we love all sorts of foods, including sweets!
One more thing --- are there any dried foods, candies or the sorts that you suggest I buy to bring back??
Thanks in advance!
Where do I find the best Croque Monsieur in LA
I agree. The chef's one of the nicest chefs around and will make rounds at the tables. Haven't dealt with any 'celeb' attitude there at all.
ISO - Post- Graduation Drinks For This Friday
Try the Bonaventure Revolving Lounge (Not the steakhouse). It's open til 1am, but more importantly, offers a fabulous view of downtown. IMO, better than the Standard's, because you get a 360 degree view without moving. :) Congrats!
Oh, and to keep this food oriented -- they have a delicious delicious tiramisu and an assortment of appetizers, entrees, etc. You also get to keep the glasses your drinks (alcoholic or not) come in.
MONROVIA ???
You're right next to Arcadia, so you can get dim sum at Din Tai Fung. (no soup dumplings on weekday lunches..) You should probably get there early to avoid the lines. Afterwards, you can hop on over to JJ Bakery, or get shaved ice at Sin Ba La. As a matter of fact, you could eat at Sin Ba La, too.
A lot closer to Monrovia, on Restaurant Row, is Matt Denny's Ale House..not many people on the board know of the place, but there are a lot of regulars there. They have a fantastic chinese chicken salad.
There's Sesame Grill, which have been mostly misses for me...Mako is a sushi restaurant next door. I ate there once and recall a fabulous baby lobster handroll using lettuce.
Within downtown Monrovia itself, I find the place pretty dismally lacking. There are a couple of places I only drop into when say, I'm at the Kirkorian. Peach Cafe makes chocolate waffles, good size omelets, and lots of baked goods -- everything's 'homemade', and I especially love this multi-berry pie and the lemon bar.
