foodiemahoodie's Profile
chinese in los angeles robertson-olympic area
Hop Li - mediocre and acceptable is about right. The one on Santa Monica Blvd. has such disgustingly dirty flithy greasy gray carpets that I have a hard imagining the health dept. going in there and not being disgusted by it. It just creeps me out. On the westside I often find myself going to the very in-authentic Chin Chin - the food is fresh and often very good. I get the Szechuan dumplings and the steamed white fish with ginger soy. I can recommend both without any embarassment.
I used to like Hu's - but that was, oh, around 35 years ago. Tried it fairly recently and was pretty disappointed. (just the Kung Pao chicken).
Is the Apple Pan Worth a Visit
The place certainly has a retro nostalgic charm to it - as do a lot of places that are weirdly revered in L.A. that entering feels like a time travel episode from The Twilight Zone - The Pantry, Philippes, Pinks, El Cholo. (fun places for pot-smokers - you get transported). And some of them have one or two good things (Dan Tana's steak or lamb chops, Langer's Pastrami). Every town has a few places like this - (often promoted in Diners Drive-ins and Dives). Interesting if you were a food anthropologist and wanted to know restaurant food that was popular 1/2 a century ag or so.
Pizza Mozza, Patina, Gjelina and Spago reserved. Where else should I eat?
Really? Not even with the new chef there? Have you actually been there with the new chef?
new sushi italian joint?
Uni risotto? Didn't see that on the menu. Is it a reliable offering?
Crave-able dishes!
Egg caviar at Melisse.
Uni pasta at Angelini Osteria
The sweetbreads at Animal (before they changed the recipe, so I haven't been in a year).
The charred octopus at Mozza.
The sweetbreads at Mozza
Sweetbreads at Prune (okay, always get them in N.Y.)
White asparagus risotto at 3 Square.
Truffle risotto (when they have it) at Maison Giraud
Uni (Japanese and Santa Barbara) at Mori Sushi
Barracuda (slightly charred at Mori's. The tofu and soy sauce at Mori's (go figure!)
Lobster bolognese at Melisse
Prime rib and yorkshire pudding at Lawry's
Buttermilk donuts at Primo's or Dk's.
Chocolate chip cookies at Farmshop
Fresh and warm bread at Bay Cities (but once it is not warm, just okay)
(I've only had it once - but some kind of mussel soup at Jitlada with a bowl of something you add to the broth - and if you add it all - just great. But you have to let it cool down around 15 minutes or so before you can eat it)
Sweet potato fries at Josie's
Sam Wood roast duck in Van Nuys next to 99 Ranch
Cupid's Chili dogs (it's a youth memory thing. Not offended if you don't get it.)
I'm getting tired. And hungry.
Langer's vs. Katz's and One Other LA vs NY Observation
A few months ago it was Fred's. I know it used to be Bea's. (that's what Bea's told me, and Langer's told me). Unless you've heard something new.
Langer's vs. Katz's and One Other LA vs NY Observation
FYI - They (Langers) get their rye bread from Fred's Bakery on Robertson Blvd. . "Rye with seeds." Double size is 8.50, singles 4.29.
There is also information online that says they get it from Bea's. They used to. But Bea's makes pretty much the same thing. I think they call it "double rye".
halibut
99 Ranch Market in Van Nuys has live fish. I know Shun Phat markets do - the one in El Monte has the most and is worth a trip if you're serious about such stuff. Big jazucci-sized tanks with whirling water and live fish. And a variety of crabs and lobster, etc. Wish there was one on the westside.
Downtown L.A. also has some - I'm pretty sure LAX-C does (I've bought live lobster there a few times, but that's about all I remember).
Italy Meets Japan: The inspiring fusion cuisine of Yojisan Sushi [Review + Photos]
Thanks J.L. - looks great.
Red O worth checking out?
I agree with you on the food, but the service was not an issue. Neither haughty or attitude. I thought that the now defunct Rebecca's (Bruce Marder's place) shot at find Mexican food was better.
DRAGO'S NEW SUSHI CONCEPT YOJISAN SUSHI IN BH
I like the idea of a crudo,carpaccio bar - raw fish with Italian condiments can be pretty great stuff. Olive oil, pomegranate seeds, yuzu, soy, sea salt, sesame seeds, etc. - Il Grano does it very well. Culina at the Four Seasons does it too. I've had it in Italy at Assunta Madre.
Nice departure from sushi.
I've done it for dinner parties - always goes over well and it's pretty simple stuff. Chicks dig it.
But I don't know if that's what this is. J.L. - a trusted source when it comes to such things - will reveal all.
California Foie Gras Ban
Although I agree with the bias agreement on general principle, whether a proveable fact came from a chef or a monkey taught sign language - is irrevelent. If it can be proven - that is - if a fish is in fact ten times the size of the tube used for the feeding - then bias doesn't come into play. I merely pointed it out because I didn't want to take credit for it.
But I think this thread has proven to be very interesting and informative. I know Josiah Citrin was on TV the other night defending foie against the PETA protests last Monday night. He could have used some debate coaching.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/foie-gras-fight-gets-loca_n_1518230.html?ref=los-angeles
Be sure to scroll down to the Reason.tv piece on the the same subject with Anthony Bourdain being pretty articulate and entertaining.
California Foie Gras Ban
FYI - in a conversation with some chefs it was pointed out that ducks and geese eat fish that are much larger than the tube that goes down their throats. Probably 10 times the size. Those throats are very elastic to accommodate that fish.
The argument that is cruel might simply be overstated. Is the bird actually in pain? Or is just momentarily uncomfortable?
California Foie Gras Ban
It's the force feeding it part. If one could find a way to turn off the duck/goose's ability to know it's full - and continue eating - if would circument the force feed part, and still get the enlarged liver.
Maybe get them stoned...
Saturday night dinner: Providence vs. Mozza
Providence is a more serious dining experience. And that can be a lot of fun. Depends on you to some degree.
Mozza is great, one of my top local favs in Italian cooking, but Providence is more formal and more of an event. It is compelling intellectually, visually and molto deliciozo.
But you should make a point to go to both. Also, if someone in your group love sweets - Providence has a 7 course (more or less) dessert tasting menu.
A “Short” Omakase Lunch at Mori Sushi
Two things. You can set a limit of how much you want to spend at Mori's. Just tell them that you have X amount of money to spend. Not that I've tried that - but I'm pretty sure they would accomodate you. (I thought I remember a menu with an $85 omakase, but I could be wrong, or that could be a dated memory. I generally go in, get the omakase and when the bill comes - it's always a surprise!
Also - Mori isn't moving to South America. He will have a place there and here. But he will have a farm down in Uruguay. He is coming up with a new kind of rice.
Looking for 1 or 2 great foie gras dishes FOR TAKEOUT
This one isn't easy! A challenge. Maybe Jiraffe?
If you're asking for more than a few orders - you could probably get Maison Giraud to do a little menu customization to accomodate you. (and they have take-out).
dinner near the Troubadour
I was close to there this evening (Satuday) and of all the places that were available - and there are plenty, I decided to give Red O a try. My date was a former chef and said it was good. We went - had the triple ceviche, the duck taquitos, lobster and lamb tacos which were "grilled, seared and braised". I thought that was a weird idea - braising lamb in a chili based liquid, but this is a name chef who should know what he's doing. Except I was right; braising lamb takes the sweetness and game out of it, and you end up with something vaguely lamb-y, but really not all that interesting. With black beans. Really, it made me crave El Cholo - and El Cholo kinda sucks. Lobster was cooked right - perfectly in fact - in some kind of a mild red sauce - it was good, but I don't really crave to return to that? But if I have to go - I might get it again.(too many misses here to try anything else). No. Ceviches were good, but much prefer Mo-Chica (sweet, more complex, more astringent too - just popped). Room was fun, young and happening, but the food (we both agreed) just wasn't all that special. Duck taquitos - hm - my imagination went to Rebeccas of the '80's where they had duck rellenos - delicious. Oh I'm going to have to into the kitchen to cook up a snack....
dinner near the Troubadour
Amici - caddy corner from The Trob - and very good Italian. Otherwise, Dan Tana's - but stick to steak or lambchops. The Italian food there generally sucks.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi - the movie.
Andy Hayler clearly had a nasty experience. But I'm always a little suspect of this. It's quite possible Jiro is the height of dickiness, but since I've joined CH (and experience on other internet lists/forums) I realize I've had stellar experience at restaurants where a select few have had (reportedly) terrible and rude experiences. And when you know restauranteurs - you get to hear their side of the story (which is hilarious stuff - especially when you get a few of these people around swapping horror stories). I've even heard a few nasty stories about some C-Hounders. In this case? I wonder if Hayler wasn't dressed right. Or was wearing tennis shoes, or something that just rubbed the old guy the wrong way. (Old people - men especially, can be rubbed wrong rather easily!). I've only had two genuinely bad experiences in my many decades of eating in restaurants. One was in Paris where a waiter brought a raspberry tort that had - no kidding - aphids on it. And when I pointed it out, he acted like I was complaining. He replaced the tart with one that had fewer aphids. He shrugged and took it away. And still charged me for the tart! (And I was wearing tennis shoes - but then this wasn't a formal restaurant). The second time was this year with the bald GM at The Little Door.
Best Cioppino in LA?
Unless there's something new I don't know about, I think Sam serves a bouillabaisse not a cioppino.
Maison Giraud in Pacific Palisades has the greatest croissant in the world
Are they still making caneles in the morning?
Alternative to Sushi Zo - warmer atmosphere?
Mori - definitely warmer - (friendly sushi chefs who are willing to talk). I think the food is better - more interesting appetizers than Zo. Zo is very good. Zo tends to sauce up their fish a little more.
And I don't get barracuda at Zo. Or two kinds of uni. Or the needlefish. But I do enjoy Zo more than Kiriko, which I find spotty.
FRESH SEAFOOD MARKET IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY - SPECIFICALLY CRABS!!!!
Shun Fat Superstore in El Monte is worth the trip just to see the hot tub sized (actually bigger than a hot tub) tubs of cold water with a variety of live fish, lobster and likely more than one kind of crab to choose from. They're usually cheaper than 99 Ranch.
20th Wedding Anniversary - Need recs for something truly special.
You might put together a list of your favorite foods (I for the decadent stuff - like sea urchin, foie, lobster) and ask n/naka or Capo if they could make a special 20th anniversary menu with those ingredients. And ask what the up-charge would be.
Restaurant NOMA rated "Best Restaurant in the World" 3 times in a row!
If you're a fan of his cooking, Redzepi will be in town this Monday and speaking at UCLA's Food & Science series. Nathan Myrvold was there last week and I gotta say - it was a pretty great show - informative and entertaining. He's a very good speaker. The Redzepi is sold out however, but if you show up, you might be able to grab a seat when they tally up the no-shows.
And FWIW Hammer19 - I don't think you said anything wrong. You just wanted to try a local version of Redzepi's style.
Pommes Frites at sunday purdue's farmer's market.
Montanga at the Little Nell in Aspen. A good five years ago. Incredible crunch on the outside, a creamy potato inside. Almost like a pastry.
I've come close with roasted potatoes, but haven't tried it with the fry-shaped tubers.
Pommes Frites at sunday purdue's farmer's market.
Thanks for the heads up. I was curious to try them - seeing that some thought they were insanely great (or is that only applicable to new Apple gear?) - but I might have to pass.
I'm thinking the best fries I've ever had may not have been fried at all - but par boiled, drenched in olive olive, rosemary and salt - and then roasted. They not only get very crispy, they hold their crisp. Not easy to make for a fast food joint, or a market stall though.
Best Fries on Westside?
I give very high marks to the sweet potato frieds at F.O. - that really should be in it's own category. Their regular fries are very good, but I think there are better around town.
I'm not sure who has the better sweet potato frieds - F.O. or Josie's. But last time I was at Josie's they just so nailed it I might - just might have to give them the nod.
