Non-LA style sushi, oysters in Sherman Oaks, Studio City Area?

By non-LA style, I mean nothing creative, no ponzu, no shiso etc. Just straight up fish.
Requirements:
Fresh fish
Larger cuts preferred (as opposed to traditional Japanese dainty sensibilities)
Sashimi preferred
Fresh wasabi- the real deal
Otokoyama
Favorites: otoro, chutoro, fresh uni in shell, wild salmon, albacore, hamachi, kampachi...
Bonus if it is on the more moderate side of pricing. I realize that with what I like to eat and the amount I like to eat and drink, I'm looking at 3 figures but I would prefer to spend closer to $100 rather than 2 or $300.

Also looking for a good, reasonably priced fresh oyster place. I recently ate at a seafood store in manhattan that had a counter and a few bar stools where they served expertly shucked oysters (maximum liquor, minimal shell pieces) with a perfect mignonette at very low prices- happy hour had $1 blue points.

Thanks

Agordo in Los Angeles Area

Momofuku with a nut allergy

Is it possible to take full advantage of a meal at any or all of the Momofukus with a severe nut allergy? I am painfully aware that high-end places use peanut oil to roast their meats (pork belly, duck etc.) and stya away from most of the places in Chinatown for this reason. Just wondering if I should pass on David Changs places- I do not enjoy going to restaurants and passing on the highlights due to my allergies.

Thanks.

Agordo in Manhattan

Hong Kong Times Square (across the street): Sashimi

Last time I was in HK, I was wandering around Times Square and I remember crossing the street and walking under an underpass and running into a little shop that sold amazing, delicious sashimi. I think they had (white) albacore, uni, and maguro. Sold out out of disposable standard plastic containers with little packets of shoyu and wasabi.
I think they do wholesale too- probably their primary business. There was one high table but no seats and the second time i went in there, I had to wait for my albacore to defrost.

Anyone know what I am talking about? Name? Address? I am trying to tell a friend about it- he will be passing through HK.

Already told him about the amazing Canadian UNI trays they had for sale at City Super! I miss HK :(

Agordo in China & Southeast Asia

Shenzhen - One dinner

Have a long layover in Shenzhen, 6 hours. Thinking of grabbing a dinner. There will be 4 of us. We need a bit of everything: I want seafood, they dont eat seafood, they love roasted meats, i dont eat too much roasted meat, etc. etc. Excellent Cantonese?

Thanks.

Agordo in China & Southeast Asia

Oat Groats: Minutes or Hours?

Thanks paulj, Ill try that this weekend. Good advice to keep it simple!

Agordo in Home Cooking

Bangkok: best middle eastern around Suk?

I seem to remember an entire area by Soi 1, maybe, populated by middle eastern restaurants. Any recommendations for some great food in that area? We will be staying in the Sukhumvit area.

Thanks.

Agordo in China & Southeast Asia

Oat Groats: Minutes or Hours?

I found some oat groats for sale- not sure of their freshness but they are dated for next January so I am holding out hope. Theyre from an organic farm co. and I found them at a farmers market; the salesperson had no idea what they were nor how to cook them (I live in China).

I searched online for the best way to cook them and I am leaning towards pressure cooking. My plan is to rinse them 2-3 times (using bottled water), let them soak in bottled water overnight, then pressure cook the next day with 3:1 water: groats. I plan on cooking enough for 4-5 breakfasts.
In the mornings- I will nuke a portion of the cooked groats together with some mixed muesli for a few minutes. Then add a chopped banana and voila. Im using the dreaded microwave since i have about 3 minutes every morning to eat my breakfast after the gym and before leaving for work.

My question is: googling on the web, i have found recipes for pressure-cooking groats calling for anywhere between 15 minutes and 1 hour. 1 hour in the pressure cooker seems extreme but a few pages recommend this adding "the groats will be pleasantly caramelized".

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any advice on making these?

Thanks!

Agordo in Home Cooking

Somboon Seafood Vs. Rut & Lek In Bangkok

Is there any way I can get an address for Krua Apsorn? What BTS is close to?

THANKS!

Agordo in China & Southeast Asia

BANGKOK- good intro to BKK restaurant

Youre a saint, man. Thanks a lot!

Agordo in China & Southeast Asia

BANGKOK- good intro to BKK restaurant

Howdy,

I will be taking 3 of my friends to Bangkok for their first time and Im looking for a good place to take them for their first real Thai dinner. Requirements:

-Casual
-Cold Beer
-1 person does not eat seafood (the other two love it!)
-1 person is allergic to nuts, very allergic to peanuts, but is still adventurous. Not deathly allergic but will react immediately.
-Must be clean
-A sit down restaurant centrally located
-As "authentic" as possible, (no fusion, nouveau-thai)

Everyone enjoys Thai food where we all live.

Question 2 is: How about some good food court recommendations for lunch?

THANKS!

Agordo in China & Southeast Asia

Wine Storage Question

THANKS EVERYONE.

I am looking at a small (18-24 bottle) cheapish wine fridge and in the meantime, I have stored the bottles in the fridge.

Agordo in Wine

Storing Dried PORCINIS

Hi All,

I received some beautiful bags of dried porcini mushrooms from Italy as a gift. The problem is I live in a very hot and humid environment- high nineties for both with no AC in the daytime while I am at work. Should I store the porcinis in the fridge?

Thanks.

Agordo in Home Cooking

Wine Storage Question

Hi all,

I received an expensive (by my standards!) 6 bottles of red wine. It will probably take me a few months to drink all 6- I will save them for special occasions. My problem is that I live in a very hot and humid climate- high 90s daily (and my house does not have AC in the daytime while I am at work) and 90% humidity.

Is it smarter to store the wine in the fridge or leave it out in the heat and humidity?

Thanks!

Agordo in Wine

Lounge/Bar bites midtown and below.

Wow thanks both of you for the insight!

Agordo in Manhattan

Lounge/Bar bites midtown and below.

Hi I need to entertain a few different groups of friends coming for the summer over the next few weeks. One group consists of old college buddys- male, 30s, some meat and potatoes guys but also a few adventurous foodies..
The next are two girls visiting from Europe (already requesting aperitivo, etc.)
Last is a mixed group of diverse tastes also mostly foodies.

Everyone in these 3 groups appreciates a well-made cocktail and/or craft beer.
-----------------------------
What are your favorite spots (preferably midtown and below- anywhere west, east, and south really) for small plates, great beers, good wine by the glass, and a loungy (no sports bars, loud tunes) vibe?

Focus would be on great, delicious, small plates.

THANKS

Agordo in Manhattan

ISO BBQ sauce recipe. 2 musts: not too sweet, no liquid smoke

Hey all,

Does anyone have a good BBQ sauce recipe that is not sickly sweet (hunts, jack daniels, etc.) and does not contain liquid smoke which i find too chemically tasting? Tis the season and I have not a good recipe (yet!)

I will be using it for ribs - off the grill and low and slow in the oven if its raining but I would prefer a BBQ sauce versatile enough to use with chicken.

Bonus if it does not have any exotic ingredients- although I have access to a decent selection of groceries, I do not live in USA.

Many thanks!

Agordo in Home Cooking

Arezzo recommendations

Hi Everyone!

I am off to Florence (actually, a place called "Laterina") in a few weeks and I am already armed with a number of recommendations for Florence. I am told that Arezzo is actually a lot closer and more convenient to where my family will be staying. Accordingly, are there any recommendations for:

1) Casual places (to take 10 adults, 2 teens and a toddler)

2) A special meal (that wont break the bank) for our group- one of the teens will be celebrating her birthday.

Will everything be open at this time (we will be there August 5-15)?

Any other recommendations for the area are would gladly be accepted too!

Grazie Mille

Agordo in Italy

Florence in a month...family meals and buying wine

Meeting my family for 10 days in Firenze. Any recs for good, reasonably priced, casual family meals (we will be 9 adults, 2 teens, 1 toddler.) We will be staying about 10K out of town in an agritourismo and have cars lined up.

Would also appreciate a recommendation for a good place to buy wine (selection and price). Is it smarter to buy at duty-free on the way out if I plan on bringing a few bottles home?

Thx

Agordo in Italy

Celebrating the 4th in Shanghai

Boxing Cat Brewery (2 locations) would probably have the most yanks in a celebratory mood. Check www.smartshanghai for locations- they are about 15 minutes from each other on the same street so if one is dead, go ahead and check out the other. Have fun!

Agordo in China & Southeast Asia

Please dont hate: Tomoe or alternative, (big portions, decent quality)

It has been about 5 years since I have been to NYC. In a few weeks, I will be meeting up with some out-of-town friends over a weekend stay and we all have a craving for sushi and sashimi. I will save the required visits to Yasuda and 15 East for a solo meal, this group will be 4 big eating college buddies. If memory serves me correctly, Tomoe would fit the bill: big slices of decent otoro, albacore (white) tuna, etc. for around 50 bucks per person. Does anyone have any recent experience there or are there any other recommendations?

-----
15 East
15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003

Agordo in Manhattan

Good cheescake crust- not graham cracker

Perfect. Digestives it is! They are everywhere here.

Agordo in Home Cooking

Good cheescake crust- not graham cracker

Hello!

Unfortunately I cannot find graham crackers where I am (China) so are there any good substitutes that you can recommend for the crust?

Thanks!

Agordo in Home Cooking

Baking a Pumpkin Cheesecake in a bad oven

Great I will check to see if i can fit a 9" AND a water bath.
Thanks for the youtube link but unfortunately you tube is blocked by the Great Chinese Firewall. Will search around for another video site.

Agordo in Home Cooking

Baking a Pumpkin Cheesecake in a bad oven

Thanks for the tips. I can find all of the right ingredients locally (Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Libbys packed pumpkin etc.) so I am not too worried about that aspect. I will definitely look up the Gourmet recipe.
The oven does retain heat it is just uneven....it gets very hot, then cools down, then reheats etc. And the heating elements may sear/brown the top so I will try and build some kind of tent in between the top of the cake and the elements (rather than cover the cake with foil as I was thinking of doing).

Thanks again!

Agordo in Home Cooking

Baking a Pumpkin Cheesecake in a bad oven

I love to cook but Im afraid Im not much of a baker. Unfortunately I shot my mouth off last week and told my friends that I will be [trying to bake] a pumpkin cheescake with a maple bourbon glaze for our annual Thanksgiving get-together.
I live in China and I do not have a proper oven. It is large enough for a 9 or 10 inch springform but it is not that tall. It is one of those stand-alone electric ovens one can buy in any appliance store for around $75. It does not keep a very good constant temperature and it can be drafty by the oven door (and hot in the back).
Any tips on trying to make this cheescake in that oven? Lower temperature- longer time? Rotating the cake a few times? I was thinking of adding a few sheets of tin foil over the cake to dissipate the heat from the (close) heating elements.

Tips are appreciated as is a great pumpkin-cheescake recipe! I have not settled on any particular recipe yet.

Thanks

Agordo

Agordo in Home Cooking

Cooking with Thai Spices?

Hello all!

A friend of mine just returned from a trip to BKK and brought me some thai spices to play with in the kitchen; i am an amateur cook who loves to experiment. So far I have been less than fortunate eith these- nothing has turned out great, let alone good. If there are any novice (or pro) cooks that can give me some pointers as to how to use these, it would be much appreciated. Kudos for recipes too! I love to cook and I love Thai food!

Written on the small jar, they are:

Spicy Horseshoe Crab Paste
Flaked Fish and Tamarind Paste
Chili Paste (Pla Yang)
Chili Paste (Na Rog)
Chili Paste Shrimp
Chili Paste Na-Rok Meang-Da
Grilled Fish Chili Paste
Shrimp Flavor Crushed Chili.

Here is what they look like:

[IMG]http://i30.tinypic.com/t04xli.jpg[/IMG]
"http://tinypic.com/r/t04xli/3"

[IMG]http://i32.tinypic.com/2kge3n.jpg[/IMG]
"http://tinypic.com/r/2kge3n/3"

[IMG]http://i27.tinypic.com/2lc7awy.jpg[/IMG]
"http://tinypic.com/r/2lc7awy/3"

[IMG]http://i28.tinypic.com/118hv9g.jpg[/IMG]
"http://tinypic.com/r/118hv9g/3"

Thanks again!
BC

Agordo in Home Cooking

Yasuda - wow

1) How early does one have to book for a lunch at the bar? 2) Could someone give me a price range for the (lunch) omakase? Thanks.

Agordo in Manhattan

Around 56th & 1st. Early dinner for 6 for tom.

im looking for recs in a 10 block radius of 56th & 1st (walking distance). my bro and italian wife are visiting from bologna so no italian. i work in china so absolutely no chinese food. either solid bistro fare or something ethnic. hoping to spend about $40-45/pp. my dad suggested mama mexicano but if memory serves me correct, its pretty expensive for what it is and also too sceney- it will be a friday.

one other thing- im picking up my girlfriend at jfk (8pm arrival) and i figure i have to leave by 730 so we should start eating by 6 (recommended resto should be serving at 6)

any suggestions?

thanks.

Agordo in Manhattan

Venice: Dinner for 35

Hi all. I am looking for a spot to host an informal rehearsal dinner. Ideally, it would be a casual-not-too-touristy and delicious option serving local favorites. Budget is around 25 euros per person.

Thanks!

Agordo in Italy