ristretto's Profile
Dean Sin World
In my case, that would be Taiwan, and thus the mushrooms, but similar enough in my book. Heck, some are made out with red bean paste. Evaluated on its own merits, the ones I had at DSW were different than what you described. Again, maybe just a fluke, or Mrs. Lu didn't make them that day :)
TonyC, just realized yellow crabshells = those sweet or savory flaky pastries
Dean Sin World
In fact, there are many regional variations of zongzi - methods of prep and cooking, fillings, shapes etc. One only needs to look on wiki to see. So in saying "best out there", I mean compared to zongzis with similar fillings. The best I've had were homemade versions made by a grandma from the old country - the texture of the glutinous rice, the stewed meat, the shiitake mushrooms, and how the fillings just melded with the rice. The ones I had just did not have these flavors sufficiently infused into the rice. Maybe it was just a fluke. However, not being well-versed in all the subtleties in the art of zongzi, I will grant that it might just be the way they prepare them. Indeed, fodder for another thread!
p.s. a friend recommends DSW's frozen lions head meatballs.
Dean Sin World
It's been well established on these boards that they've got great dumplings and xlb. I've had the frozen dumplings, frozen xlb (a tad sweeter than what I'm accustomed to, but at least no gamy flavor to the meat). The wontons are also good. I've also tried both the ready-made vegetarian and meat-filled baozi sold in bags on the counter, and the scallion and daikon pastries were excellent.
The only miss for me was the zong zi. A bit overzealous with the soy sauce made it darker than what I'm accustomed to, and the flavors did not stand out when compared to the best out there. And at $2.50 per, a bit pricey.
I'm thinking of sitting in to try their noodles or rice dishes next time. Any recs? How's their beef noodle soup?
Best Coffee in LA
Looking back at that post, times sure have changed in 6 years. I've never tried Klatch beans - I was merely mentioning it as one of the premier sources. However, I did post on more recent coffee threads.
I did try Caffe Vita's Del Sol espresso blend. Nices as a straight shot, but I personally prefer a little more kick...but at $14 for a 12oz bag, I won't be partaking in it often.
Best Coffee in LA
Months-old Two Guns Espresso in Manhattan Beach uses and sells Caffe Vita beans. They, along with Neighborhood Grinds, are easily the top two "third wavers" in the South Bay. Two Guns serves a triple ristretto shot (!). On Wed-Fri afternoons, they have the Rebel Bar setup...a choice of pourover drip, the Aeropress (!) and possibly siphon brew in the near future.
North Beach Italian, or casual French near Union Square
Seeking dinner recs for a party of 6 with two pre-teens for one night,
Union Square area - Cafe Claude is likely my top choice, or something on Belden Place could work, despite being a bit more grown-up. Love the atmosphere there. Anything kid-friendly on Belden Place?
Thanks!
Champong..or .. Chow Ma Mein?
In the South Bay, Wang's across from El Camino College used to be my favorite until they closed up. I now head to Little China in Gardena for my fix.
Vietnamese in the South Bay
"all white meat chicken" - that reminds me, although somewhat off-topic - anywhere with soup noodles similar to TK Noodle in the Bay Area?
Vietnamese in the South Bay
We've been several times and it hasn't changed much other than some rearrangement of the fish tanks. Same glass dining sets and plants :). I'm no expert either, but the pho is decent and they currently offer a free drink with a meal. The banh mi is respectable and costs more than those in OC or SGV, but it's the only place around in the Torrance area that I know of. Not sure if it's still rated a C, but we've never had any problems with the food.
Also yes to Blue Lotus in Carson.
LA coffee scene: are we at the start of a revolution?
Bear in mind that the roaster is likely following a canned roast profile. Thus the idea of a custom roast is intriguing, but if you can specify a certain roast profile you probably already have your own roaster.
The main advantage of WF is that you can try a variety of beans in any quantity you want since you bag your own. And for those WFs that roast onsite, they post roast dates.
Montreal foodie looking for reco's in San Diego
Yes, I was thinking more in terms of pointing out the lack of grilled options. I've read many posts in the past mentioning Pt Loma and Blue Water as top picks that I assumed they would have grilled seafood on the regular menu.
And the clam chowder was quite good.
Montreal foodie looking for reco's in San Diego
Was at Pt Loma last month for lunch. They were not offering fish tacos and they only had fried seafood. It was alright, but I prefer Blue Water.
Chinese rice cakes (aka white sugar cake) in SGV?
Went to Yum Cha Cafe. Had the white and brown sugar cakes, har gow, steamed veg buns, chicken feet and sesame balls. All solid and a good deal.
Chinese rice cakes (aka white sugar cake) in SGV?
I'm talking about bai tang gao, the Chinese spongy, sticky type you'd find at a dim sum parlor or a bakery in Chinatown. I guess the question is more, Where can I find a HK bakery in SGV?
The closer to Temple City the better. TIA.
LA coffee scene: are we at the start of a revolution?
I'd consider Catalina more of a neighborhood hangout than "third wave" , though I do buy beans from them in a pinch since they roast their own.
Neighborhood Grinds in North Redondo would definitely fit the bill, however. Siphon brewing (not sure if they still do that), pourovers, latte art, etc. By far the best in the South Bay.
Green Roast Coffee in So. Redondo opened up a few months ago. Roasts their own organic beans, V60 pourovers. Still getting to know their way around, hope they succeed.
Chinese in Torrance?
Nice China Cafe (around the corner from Trader Joe's in RH Plaza) and Seashore (Calle Mayor@PCH) are solid.
Funnel Mill: Coffee and Tea Double Happiness Santa Monica
I think their specialty is coffee brewing rather than espresso-based drinks. But what they really excel in is the tea, especially the Taiwan high mountain teas that you can't get at many tea shops.
Home Barista Training in LA
Ahh, didn't realize you were that far ahead. If you're producing microfoam with a velvety smooth consistency resembling latex paint, then it's really a matter of mechanics and the machine is out of the equation.
There are probably thousands of posts on technique. What exactly is happening when you pour?
BTW, some cafes that do latte art will let you pour the milk they've steamed (not Intelly, though). They might be able to critique your method.
Home Barista Training in LA
Latte art is all about how you steam the milk, and each machine could have a different approach; a commercial machine takes mere seconds to create microfoam, while the Silvia takes 30sec or more. That's why I don't necessarily think a training program would help you unless the barista were familiar with the machine.
The quickest way would be to have a Silvia owner come over and teach you.
Meanwhile, you can peruse coffeegeek's latte art boards: http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/latteart
There are plenty of posts on steaming with the Silvia. Many videos on youtube as well.
The Current State of Dumplings in SGV
First time visit for lunch today. In addition to the dumpling we tried the beef noodle and the seafood noodle soups. Stick with the dumplings and steamed buns.
They also have frozen dumplings, 50 per bag, $15-$20 depending on fillings.
Need help on first visit to SF on a budget
It might just be me, but the salt and pepper crab I had last month at R&G seemed a bit wanting. While the gradual increase in price over the years is to be expected, the crab seemed smaller and a bit underseasoned compared to versions I've had over the years.
It's still good for a first time visit to try it out, but surely there must be something similar, perhaps somewhere in the Richmond or Sunset, for a bit less? Any alternative recs out there?
Eatalian - new and exciting Italian in the South Bay
I saw wheels upon wheels of cheese stacked up but no activity so, no, I don't think the mozzarella was being made.
Look forward to hearing your comments on the cannolis. I'm no cannoli expert, but I think the salt helped bring out the flavors a bit. I saw a few other pastries that seemed worthy of trying.
Re: prices, you give your written order to the cashier. The order doesn't have pricing (just the menu number of the item), and the receipt you receive only shows the prices but not the corresponding item names or number. Hopefully they'll update their menus and cash registers to print clearer receipts.
Eatalian - new and exciting Italian in the South Bay
Went for lunch today. I won't contribute much by saying the pizza and gelato were top notch, but I do have a few other comments to share:
"Thanks" to a post on yelp, I ordered the lasagna. It turned out to be a bit dry and lacked heartiness. Server agreed that it was probably the weakest entree in their menu. Skip it, especially for $13.
The espresso machine is a gleaming showpiece that screams for a talented barista at the helm. One who could steam milk properly and pour latte art would go a long way towards bringing the coffee presentation up to par with the pizza and gelato. I could imagine a coffee station with additional coffee prep methods such as at Intelligentsia's Venice location. I did order a regular cup of drip coffee and it was actually quite good. They use Miscela D'Oro beans.
From the pastry case I tried the cream puff and cannolini (sp?), a smaller version of a cannoli. The $1.50 puff definitely trails behind Chantilly or Beard Papa. However, I was impressed with the cannoli. Now if they could produce focaccia like SF's Liguria Bakery or Stella Pastry's sacrapantina...
Perhaps due to their overwhelming popularity, prices have increased. I was charged a dollar or two more than the prices listed on the menu for some of the entrees and coffee. It would be wise to double check your bill against the prices listed on the menu, at least until the menu is revamped.
Where can I get the Tastykake PIES?
Thanks, I didn't even know this store existed. I saw about 10 varieties of TastyKakes and tried the Butterscotch Krimpet and the apple pie. The pie had a soft crust and crispy apples. Other than that, I didn't detect anything special about it...maybe it's a nostalgia thing?
Also have sandwiches made on Amoroso rolls with Boars Head meats. Didn't partake but will soon.
Best Doughnuts in Vegas
What's the name and/or location of that place in RB? I'm close by...thanks
Craving for great coffee after NYC trip: Where can I go?
I've haven't been to either, but I've been to Manhattan's Gimme! Coffee on Mott St. The cappuccino was excellent, but I didn't feel blown away when compared to the usual LA spots. While I'm sure there are numerous great cafes in NY, I don't believe that it is way ahead in the coffee scene in terms of pushing the envelope...the Bay Area, maybe.
Best pizza in Vegas!!!
Went to Grimaldi's for lunch yesterday after finding out Settebello was closed. Last year I passed by the Brooklyn Grimaldi's and gave up after noticing the very long line outside, so I looked forward to checking this location, the closest to L.A..
I ordered a large with single sausage topping. Crust was thin and slightly crispy as expected, charred blisters, not overly sauced. Sausage was nicely seasoned. Server told me many felt it was just as good as the original Grimaldi's, but of course there are arguments whether or not Grimaldi's belongs in the pantheon of NY pizza. I will say I liked it a lot better than the soggy pie I had at Arturo's in Manhattan, another coal oven pizzeria (great jazz, though!).
Unrelated side note to Angelenos: Found out there were a few Dunkin Donuts scattered about the Vegas/Henderson area. Made my day!
Best Bread in Los angles: discuss
Costco's baguettes are likely par-baked as well.
Have you tried the baguettes from Spoon House in Gardena? They bake their own (the wider kind) and serve them along with their Japanese-Italian pastas as well as sell the loaves individually out front. Crunchy crust, soft and spongy interior. Admittedly not saying much, but it's probably one of the best baguettes in the South Bay.
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Spoon House
1601 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247
Silky, Light and Airy - The Cream Puff (Choux a la Creme) Showdown! Patisserie Chantilly Vs. Bonjour French Pastry [Review] w/ Pics!
I was also there today after a nice lunch at Gaja next door. $60 seems in line with the $4 for a single serving or $29 for an 8 (9?) inch round. I don't know if it's worth the price premium compared to similar cakes at your typical Asian bakery but it sure seems more delicate and refined.
The macaroons in the case were tempting, but I couldn't quite bear to pay $1.25 for a 1.5" diameter-sized cookie.
I ended up getting a box of assorted cream puffs. They ran out of the creme choux, so they substituted the sesame-topped choux with a la creme filling. No biggie - sometimes, you gotta be flexible!
