Jack Flash's Profile
Steakhouses In Los Angeles County near the beach
I haven't been there in a decade, but I do remember having a good steak (and excellent fries, cooked in beef fat I believe) at James' Beach.
Where Can I find a great Selection of Balsamic Vinegars in Orange County/LA
Hmm. I know they have a nice selection of true Balsamic vinegars at Cube marketplace on La Brea. Yeah, it's up in L.A., but that's what I know. We're talking super high-end, $250-$300/bottle stuff (up to 100 years old!) I don't know if they offer balsamic tastings, but you could certainly give them a call. It's also a great place to eat.
http://www.cubemarketplace.com/
Cool/romantic dinner and hotel combo in LA?
My wife & I dined at the Royce in April of last year. It was certainly a positive experience, but it was not the best food I'd ever had. It was not even the best food I'd ever had in that room (we had eaten there the year before, when it was still The Dining Room and Michael Voltaggio was at the helm). Nevertheless, I have no complaints about what we had, and felt that we got good value for our money in terms of the food, the service and the overall experience. The hotel is also quite nice, and certainly makes for a great romantic overnight.
For what it's worth, I would be wary of trusting Yelp reviews on a place like The Royce (or just about anywhere else you'd be considering). That doesn't mean they're wrong, though.
RFD Pasadena
I noticed that. Sort of the antithesis of Bob's Big Boy, I suppose. I'd rather have Bob's.
Where can I find just plain chicken stock?
Confirmed: the chicken stock sold by Dey Dey's Best Beef Ever is precisely what you seek: chicken & water, that's all. No salt. No vegetables. Just pure, unadulterated chicken stock (made from pasture-raised chickens).
They appear at various area farmers' markets.
http://www.bestbeefever.com/
Sushi Nozawa Closing!
When he first started, he didn't have a helper/assistant behind the bar; it was just Nozawa. It was a much slower paced experience, too, with a lot more interaction. Although it was "trust me," he'd still give one an opportunity to reject something, ask for something else, etc. I really wish everyone could have experienced it back then. The place wasn't mobbed, either. I can remember going with my dad, and we wouldn't have to wait for a seat because the restaurant was only half-full. The experience has changed a lot over the years. But I still intend to go back once more for old time's sake.
Sushi Nozawa Closing!
I discovered Nozawa back when he first opened in the mid-80s when I was still in high school and just getting over my fear of raw fish. It was a revelatory experience back then. I have only been a couple of times in the last 10-15 years or so, but sounds like it's time to get over there one more time.
Where can I find just plain chicken stock?
I'll ask the folks at Dey Dey's what goes into their stock besides chicken and water. I have to assume that some combination of carrots, onion & celery is involved, but the flavor is pretty much pure chicken, and it is a very light-colored stock (indicating an absence of too many additional ingredients).
Where can I find just plain chicken stock?
I'm curious as to what constitutes "several other ingredients." Kitchen Basics makes a decent stock (I buy the unsalted one). Ingredients in addition to chicken stock are chicken flavor, honey, vegetable stocks (carrot, onion, mushroom, celery), bay, thyme, pepper. Those certainly are "other ingredients," but nothing chemical or artificial, it would seem.
Dey Dey's Best Beef Ever, which sells its grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chickens at various farmers' markets, also sells frozen stock made from said chickens. I've never seen an ingredient list; however, having tried the product, I can't imagine that it contains anything other than chicken stock.
http://www.bestbeefever.com/product/005
Business Dinner - Pasadena - Suggestions please...
Perhaps McCormick & Schmick's; not the greatest, but amenable to client dinners.
Best Philly (style) Cheese Steak in LA?
It's an issue of nomenclature. A cheesesteak doesn't have peppers. That's a pepper steak. A cheesesteak doesn't have marinara. That's a pizza steak.
Peppers and mushrooms (and even marinara) have long been available toppings on a steak sandwich in Philadelphia sandwich shops, but the menu item called a "cheesesteak" is supposed to be just that: cheese and steak, either "wit" or "wit-out."
Best Philly (style) Cheese Steak in LA?
As you can see looking at the menu, that's a pepper cheesesteak "wit."
A standard cheesesteak is just that: cheese & steak. Either "wit" [onions] or "wit-out."
It's DineLA Time Again: 1/22-27/12; 1/29-2/3/12
We're going to Craft and Drago Centro for sure. I had Drago Centro's DineLA menu last time, and it was a really good deal. The portions seemed normal sized (they're not known for gargantuan servings to begin with), and very well-executed.
It's DineLA Time Again: 1/22-27/12; 1/29-2/3/12
We just made our reservation at Craft (one of, if not the only, restaurant that has its DineLA menu available on Saturdays). We've gone there in the past for DineLA (and other times, too), and have not been disappointed at all. They do not skimp at all on the portions, either.
It's worth emphasizing that although the appetizers, sides and desserts are served family style, each person ordering the menu gets to pick a main course of his or her own choosing. Everyone gets all of the apps and desserts (or at least gets to fight over them!); you don't have to choose.
Looking for a great Whiskey Sour
My go-to cocktail. Best one I've had is at Houston's. They make their own sour mix from a variety of fresh-squeezed citrus, plus a little bit of egg white so that it gets a nice foam when shaken.
Any good eats in northern Pasadena (Washington Blvd area)?
Sandwiches by Connal is a good spot for burgers, shakes and (yes) sandwiches. On Washington, just east of Hill.
Any good boucheries, fromageries, or boulangeries in Los Angeles?
I'm partial to Marconda's Meats in Farmers Market. There's also McCall's in Los Feliz.
For cheese, there are many options: Cheese Store of Beverly Hills; Cheese Store of Silver Lake; Cheese Store of Pasadena. There are other places that are not exclusively cheese shops but which nevertheless carry a nice selection, including Cube marketplace and Monsieur Marcel in Farmers Market.
If you're in the San Gabriel Valley, Alexander's Meats (inside Howie's Ranch Market in San Gabriel) is the place to go. Going farther east, there's the Corner Butcher in La Verne, and Wolfe's Market in Claremont.
Bob's Big Boy - in PASADENA???!!!
The parking is one thing I thought it had going for it, what with the large Shoppers' Lane parking area directly adjacent. But otherwise, yeah...nothing at all landmark-ish about it. Bob's Big Boy restaurants should be at least somewhat iconic.
Bob's Big Boy - in PASADENA???!!!
The closing seemed to happen rather suddenly. I had dinner there on 12/15, and it was closed by 12/22.
Best Philly (style) Cheese Steak in LA?
The point is more than there are other places also using Amoroso rolls, and yet they still manage to charge a couple bucks less than the truck.
Best Philly (style) Cheese Steak in LA?
Sounds like a delicious sandwich regardless of what they call it.
Best Philly (style) Cheese Steak in LA?
Meh. They park down the street from my work regularly. I tried it once. Not worth the outrageous price they charge. It's a freakin' truck; it should cost a couple of bucks less than a sit-down place; instead, a sandwich only costs a whopping $8.50.
The same sandwich at L.O.'s or South Street - places where you can sit down and enjoy your meal, have a beer, etc., is under $7.
Best Philly (style) Cheese Steak in LA?
I still cast my vote for Luigi Ortega's in Pasadena (Amoroso Roll; Cheez Whiz). I liked Philly's Best, too, but the Pasadena location is no more (it's now a high-end sushi joint).
Middle-Brow, Non-Ethnic in Arcadia
Arcadia is pretty much chain city when it comes to "non-ethnic," once you exclude the Derby.
You might be better off going just a bit west into Pasadena. Robin's BBQ is pretty good, non-threatening and has a full-bar. And it's the sort of place you could go to in the physical state you're anticipating. Or maybe Clearman's - either the Galley or North Woods Inn (the Galley is better if you have a losing day at the track).
911! Surprise guests coming in on the train: where to eat close-ish to Union Station?
Well, there's always Traxx right there IN Union Station. Otherwise, maybe Nick & Stef's steakhouse? It definitely isn't cheap, but it fits the bill re: atmosphere & service. And definitely not Asian.
Cafe Pinot or maybe even Drago Centro.
There's always Taix on Sunset, not too far away.
Italian in Old Town Pasadena
The Gold Class Cinemas are what, not even a year old, and now they're something else already? Damn!
Sorry, no good Italian to be had in Old Town. As someone else suggested, Settebello Pizza (just a few blocks east) for a more casual meal, or Celestino on Lake. Sadly, that's it.
I'm a fan of AKA Bistro right next to the theater, but it's not Italian.
Best Sandwich in Pasadena?
Sorry I didn't see this earlier; I would have suggested Elements Cafe, just on the other side of the park. They have some really nice sandwiches. The suggestion for Porta Via was also spot on (that's where we got our sandwiches today). I'm also quite partial to Lee's Hoagie House, but the other two are much more convenient to your shopping destination. Hope you found something tasty.
