davinagr's Profile
Best place you ate at this week?
LA Buckeye ...I'm in your zone which place is your fave in SC?
Brisket--Brent's Deli or?
I concur about Big Mista's for BBQ Brisket. I read all the raves about them and gave them a call to cater a lunch at work. They were the biggest hit ever. Also on a sidebar the absolute BEST homemade Red Velvet Cupcakes. Nice people too.
Camping Recipes
When I camp seal-a-meal is my best friend. I cook killer meals ahead of time, freeze or not....boil a pot of water at the camp-site re-heat and have scrumptious meals. Just a thought. Gives you more play time and definately little clean up too. If you want to cook on-site....I've also brought one of those bbq fish baskets and bbq'd salmon. Really tasty.
Help! Need to Cater in Lunches for a Month
Are there any small joints (mexican, italian, thai, grills, burgers etc) that will deliver lunch to a group of 25. Not really thrilled about traditional caterers. Any ideas? I'm in Van Nuys.
Taco truck style food for catering
Not sure where you're located. If in the SFV area there is a little taqueria place called Pico Pica Rico in Sherman Oaks and they have killer food. I've got a month of catering that I need to deal with at work and they've been bringing in chicken and carne asada street tacos pre-prepared with all the fixin's on the side, sort of like a taco bar with all the sauces, beans, rice, chips etc. It's been the best lunch yet.
Good place for great beers and good food for beer geek's birthday (definitely NOT Father's Office, please!!)
I really like the Yard House, great beer selection and if you go to the Long Beach location, sit outside on the deck right on the water with a view of the yacht harbor, really pleasant. Large menu with great appetizers, get the Ahi Poke Stack....yum!
99 Cents Only stores that carry wine?
I know you asked about the .99's in your hood, but don't forget about Big Lots, have a huge assortment of wines for $1-3. Some killer stuff.
Camping Recipes
When I camp it's all about convenience, but one of the items I've made in the past that was a hit was chicken or skirt steak marinated on skewers. Works great on a grill, serve with roasted veggies or fire roasted baked potatoes. I also use seal a meal big time when I camp. I've pre-cooked beef stroganoff, sealed and then reheated in a pot of hot water, served over noodles. Super decadent camping food! Have fun!
Seeking Custom Fortune Cookies for Baby Shower
I second the reco for good fortunes, I've worked with them for years, they have a small location in an industrial space in Canoga Park where you can go in and see samples of different color schemes, dips and themes. Very nice people.
Woodland Hills & Vicinity Eats
Here are the places that I like in the area:
Red Dragon Chinese - Ventura Bl. Woodland Hills. Really goood sweet and pungent chicken.
California Sushi and Roll - Promenade Mall...Go alone for the sashimi salad, excellent carrot/ginger dressing, tons of fresh fish and beautiful presentation.
Weilers Deli - Victory Bl, between Desoto and Canoga. Great soups, brisket is out of this world, solid jewish style deli.
Cavaretta's Italian Deli - West Hills. Others have mentioned it already, try the meatball sub....you won't believe how good it is.
Mission Burrito - I love both the Roscoe and Vanowen locations. The crunchy gringo tacos are fantastic as is the grilled chicken salad with tomatillo dressing and the bean and cheese burrito served wet with a homemade enchilada style sauce covered in cheese. Everything is good.
Coffee Shop at Canoga Bowl - Now a greek restaurant with very good food. Try the gyro special plate which is fantastic, big gyro served with a side salad or fries I think. The retro ambience and crazy clientele is worth the trip alone.
Pastries by Edie - French Bakery on Sherman Way southeast of Owensmouth in Canoga Park. Go for lunch and try one of the many panini sandwiches, my favorite is the grilled vegetables with fresh mozzarella. Sometimes they serve it on a delicious onion bread which is amazing, go for the israeli salad on the side, not the pasta salad. You won't believe how good it is, then get one of the gorgeous little pastries for dessert or a gelato.
Follow Your Heart: Sherman Way in Canoga Park. Although it's a vegetarian restaurant,they serve really great mexican dishes, very inventive, homemade soups and the best red zinger iced tea. Sit outside on the patio, the restaurant inside is a little cramped and 70's crunchy granola. The dressings for the salads are also really good.
Brent's Deli - 'Nuff Said
Woodland Hills & Vicinity Eats
Thai n I in Encino (One block South of White Oak on Ventura Blvd)right next to Nicolosi Bakery. Incredible Thai BBQ, and a garlicky rich won ton soup that is uncomparable to anything I've had elsewhere!
Spicy sushi rolls getting too....spicy
I agree with you Tatsuki has the best spicy tuna rolls, that chili oil is fabulous. Oh and I love the Gorgeous Albacore roll as well, it's amazing. Was there just a few weeks ago, I think it's a little bit south east of Topanga on Ventura Blvd if I remember correctly. It's not in a strip mall, it's a small restaurant right on a corner.
Mongolian BBQ in Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys area
If I'm going for mongolian bbq, I'll make the drive to Thousand Oaks and go to Wok n South. Best mongolian stuff I've ever had, they have a few locations all in the ventura county area but the place is quite good. Lots of meat and veggie choices, awesome SOBA style noodles and tasty sauces with friendly service. I love it!
http://www.mongolianbbq.net/tour.html
Sandwich rolls in Los Angeles area
I love the onion pockets at Canters in Hollywood. Very good!
Carney's (our inside the train experience)
Get the frozen, obscene banana on a stick dipped in chocolate. OMG delish!!
Fromin's Matzo Ball Soup
I think traditional matzo ball soup is primarily broth with a few veggies if any, but that's not my preference. I love the chicken pieces and soft vegetables and herbs. My favorite deli which serves their chicken soup loaded is Weilers which I've touted on here prior. Would love to hear other hounds opinion about this deli. There are three locations, only one I will eat at is the deli on Victory in Woodland Hills, the others pale in comparison.
Uncle Mikes-Canoga park
Simi...it's a shame that you didn't discover Uncle Mikes three years ago when Mike was still there, since then he's sold the place and they've changed the sauce and the cheese they use on the pizza, it's not the same. I asked Mike once where he got his cheese because it was the real NY style stuff with the real oil drip when you folded a slice just amazing and he told me he had it flown in. The new ingredients taste west coast to me. This place used to be amazing, went twice after he sold it but it's not as good. Just MHO though. Stellar dishes used to be the baked ziti, pizza, fettucini alfredo, meatball subs and the salads which had a homemade italian with fresh herbs.
Starbuck's cranberry bliss bars are back!!
I think you're nuts Gerry. They're just as decadent (unfortunately) as always. I bought a box of them for $14 and brought them to the office potluck yesterday, everyone went nuts. I landed out printing out about 25 copies of your recipe, next to the cookie tray and they were ALL gone. Going to make some this weekend for my neighbors, wish me luck!
How to remove yellow curry (tumeric?) stain from kitchen countertop??
I second soft scrub. It's a miracle worker. I get the version with bleach...shake it well.
The Lingering Odor of Latkes Frying
Sometimes it is helpful to open the doors and windows if only for 10 minutes or so. Makes a huge difference to let in some fresh air. I use my oil burner to freshen the air as well, right now I have a cranberry/vanilla oil going.
Requesting opinions on delis
Here are some others that I like:
Weiler's Deli - Victory Blvd. Woodland Hills. Jewish Style Deli. Killer brisket, soups, great corned beef reubens.
Marv's Deli - Nothing fancy, simple tables but really good solid deli. Magnolia Blvd,Sherman Oaks
Labels Table - Valley Circle, Woodland Hills/Calabasas
One More.... Chatsworth Country Deli - Great Corned Beef
I usually can't stand Maria's Italian Kitchen
It's the one on Valley Circle, on the cusp of West Hills and Calabasas.
Late Night Coffeeshops on the Westside?
If you like ice cream they have killer banana splits :-)
Good bakeries in SFV for birthday cake
Pastries by Edie in Canoga Park on Sherman Way/Remmet
Breakfast Burritos in the Valley/Santa Monica
Jinkys in Sherman Oaks has really good breakfast burritos. Ventura Blvd, 1/4 mile east of Van Nuys Blvd.
End of the Great NY Eggroll Debate. And the winner is.......................
I posted about this awhile back, but Plum Tree Inn in China Town that recently moved has what I consider to be killer new york style eggrolls. Has anyone tried them?
How many fellow Chowhounders are or have been in the biz?
Busgirl, cocktail waitress, server, pizza chef, ice cream cake maker.
What is the most useless thing in your kitchen you won't get rid of?
My blender, it sits gathering dust, never use it, but won't get rid of it for some reason.
best weekend cheap food in the valley
Here are my Valley cheap eats reco's:
Panos Grill - Victory/Woodley for $6.35 you can have the best Gyro of your life with an overflowing bowl of incredible golden, crisp fries, and a soda. The cucumber sauce is fantastic.
Kyoto Sushi - Van Nuys, one block north of Ventura Blvd. Lunch on Saturday and Sunday for $16.95, all you can eat, fresh fish, tons of appetizers, excellent sushi, great special rolls.
Pita Kitchen - Everything is good, I like the beef kabob plate that comes with two sides...tasty marinated filet mignon, good babaganoush, second pick is usually greek salad full of delicious feta. Ask for a plate of pickles to go with it. Yum. With a drink you're under $10. Van Nuys Blvd, one block south of Ventura Bl.
Wons Coffee Shop: Mentioned by other posters already, but really good coffee. Stick with the chinese food. I love the beef and broccoli here, and always have them add black mushrooms which is just the BOMB. The gravy is succulent and very tasty.
Weiner Factory: Love the chili dogs and kraut dogs, the chedder that they put on the chili dogs is really good, and I love the special grate pattern, melts just right and in abundance. Be prepared for messy fingers. Craving one now. Ventura Blvd, one block west of kester.
Tacos Kenia: Sepulveda, south of Saticoy. Go for the Caldo de Pollo, best in the Valley. Huge bowl brimming with tasty veggies,tons of chicken, rich broth, homemade tortillas and a very different orangy salsa which is unusually good. With a drink you're out of there for $7. Very nice family run joint.
Ameci Pizza: Sherman Way, one block east of the 405. I know , I know you say it's a chain, but they have a great lunch deal at this place, like 25 choices of pastas, sandwiches etc with a really, really good, fresh salad bar, get a drink and you're at $7.
Gourmet on the Go: Sepulveda one block southeast of Magnolia, Incredible pizza, really good salads. Get the Magic Mushroom OMG, amazing.
MOM's Barbeque House: Love her beef ribs and mac and cheese, 14062 Vanowen in Van Nuys. Call your order in ahead, otherwise you're waiting forever. 4-5 large, meaty beef ribs, two sides for less than $10
Thai n I BBQ - Great dinner specials, known for their thai bbq, incredible spare ribs and chicken. Get the chicken/rib combo, with two sides for $10. Ventura Blvd, one block east of White Oak.
Sandwiches in Hollywood
I like Canters personally on Fairfax. Jewish deli, solid corned beef, great pickles. Not a chain.
