kchangambrose's Profile
Paseo Cantina, Pasadena (a review)
Hey WildSwede,
I have been following this thread since your initial review last December, and b/c review had been mixed I hadn't been until this last weekend. I'm sorry to say, but my experience was terrible. We went with a large group (13 of us) for a last-minute surprise 30th bday for my brother. The plan was to go play broom ball at the ice rink across the street after, so we wanted someplace at the Paseo b/c of it's proximity to the ice rink and easy parking. The Yard House was completely rude when we even asked about the possibility of such a large party, and we chose Paseo Cantina largely because they were nice to us and could accommodate us.
Our server was very nice and accommodating, but I ordered several appetizers for the table and we never received any kind of plating for any of it. So sour cream and guacamole were dropped all along the table as people tried to pass it around, with nothing to put their food on. The guacamole was made tableside and looked beautiful, but was near tasteless, even though we had asked for it "medium". It had no spice, no flavor, nothing. Just mushy avocado. Then, as we had just started in on the guacamole, all our food arrived. More table shuffling of chips and salsa and guacamole and still half full taquito plates. The food proved to be as tasteless as the guacamole. My steak fajitas were cooked well enough and the vegetables were good, but the steak was super thinly cut and over cooked. The steak was also skimpy, but I had plenty of onions and bell pepper to hide that. It came with refried beans and rice - both also bland, in flavor and appearance. My husband had the combo plate with an enchillada and a chile relleno. The enchillada was again - BLAND - and strangely enough, the chile relleno was scorchingly spicy. It was, apparently, the only thing on the table anything close to spicy. Before my brother's girlfriend had even finished her meal and before most of our plates had been cleared, the waitress all of a sudden showed up with two members of the mariachi band and a desert of flan with a lit candle for my brother. They sang the LONGEST SONG EVER in Spanish, then launched into the happy birthday song. The flan was sad looking. I swear, it was the smallest flan I have ever seen. It was maybe.... the size of my palm (and I'm only 5'3"). Four bites, max.
I wish I could say we all drank margaritas and got pleasantly toasty and didn't mind the poor food and the EXTREMELY LOUD mariachi band being piped in. I would be able to say that if any of the drinks tasted like they had alcohol in them. My brother ordered a Bushmills and coke at the bar, and less than a fingers worth of whiskey was poured in the glass. Our bill was close to $500 and we weren't even buzzed.
Forget about Paseo Cantina. There's better Mexican at the roach coach on the corner.
Camarillo/Oxnard Area Dinner Recs
Restaurant Brooks is a little far from the Camarrillo/Oxnard area originally started in this thread, but if you are in Ventura or don't mind a little drive (as you said, it's stunning) Restaurant Brooks is worth it. They offer a great tasting menu (w/ or w/o wine), and everything on their menu is yummy, esp. the foie gras and the Lobster Sope. It's a classy little joint with a laid back atmosphere and a good bar, definitely worth it.
Help with Smothered Chicken?
Sounds yummy, thanks! I will have to try, but quick ? - if u use breasts, bone-in or out? I'm always worried about overcooked chicken.
The Peach Cafe, Monrovia - Great find!!
wildswede, thanks for the report back, i'll tell my husband, and i bet we're back there this sunday.... ;)
The Peach Cafe, Monrovia - Great find!!
Glad to hear you found the Peach Cafe, I first saw it on a Daily Candy site a few years ago. We went for the first time probably 2 years ago, and loved it. My husband loves the panini with Italian sausage, and I really enjoy the turkey wrap with all the veggies. Oh, and we love the onion rings. The owner - at least that's who I think she is, she's always there - is the sweetest thing, but it has become quite a busy spot on the weekends, and our last few times there, we were disappointed by poor service, and my husband by a soggy panini that had obviously been sitting too long waiting to be delivered. The staff is all quite nice as well, they just seem a bit inexperienced and inefficient. We haven't been since early last summer, but I'm hoping others can report that the service is better than I remember it to be?
Help! Suggestions for Sunday Brunch in Pasadena???
Sarahpet is completely right, Marstons is not only overrated, it's awful. That cornflake french toast everyone raves about LOOKS amazing, and tastes like nothing. Marston's used to be good roughly 10 years ago, but I don't understand how it keeps getting good reviews, when the food is so blatantly bland.
Twin Palms is pretty good - we had my engagement brunch there - and decently priced for what you get. It's definitely better than Villa Sorisso, where I had a horrible brunch last year. I was literally afraid of some of the food. However, Twin Palms is busy and noisy, but that's pretty much par for a buffet type brunch anywhere.
Freezing meatloaf?
Thank you! That's what I thought, I just needed someone who had tried it to tell me it was fine!
Freezing meatloaf?
Sorry if this question is already answered somewhere deep in these boards, but I have spent the last hour searching the "meatloaf" boards and now found an answer so....
Anyone have any experience freezing uncooked meatloaf? Does it even work? I want to make small batches and tiny loaves (serving 2 or so) that would be quick to cook on a weeknight. I realize it might need the day to defrost/thaw in the refrigerator, but the idea is that I could come home, turn on the oven and throw it in for 30 or 40 minutes, or whatever it takes.
Also - I like the idea of making free-form loaves and then cooking them on a rack, which is what I usually do, but what about putting them in small aluminum bread loaf pans? What I've done in the past then is to poke 4 holes in each corner of the bottom of the pan and set a drip tray on the oven rack underneath. It drains the fat while cooking and makes for easy clean up.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Help with Smothered Chicken?
Thanks to all for your suggestions! I will definitely try this again, I like the suggestion of the bacon fat for the roux, and also read somewhere that deglazing my pan/vegetables with a little cognac might also help boost flavor. Thanks again!
Help with Smothered Chicken?
I made a Smothered Chicken tonight which had great elements - onions, carrots, mushrooms, a smooth sauce, and the method of cooking the chicken (searing to brown, then adding to vegetables and sauce and covering to cook for 10 minutes) rendered it perfectly tender and juicy. The only problem is that the sauce was made with the sauteed vegetables, chicken broth, fresh thyme and thickened with flour. Great consistency, but somewhat lacking in flavor. Anyone have any suggestions to punch up the flavor?
Basically, I browned the chicken, then removed to a pan. Added olive oil and sauteed onion, carrots and garlic, then added sliced mushrooms. When they began to expel their liquid, added some flour to incorporate, then added chicken broth & fresh thyme to boil. Put the chicken back in, covered and simmered for 10 minutes.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!! THANKS!
Pho Hut - New Vietnamese in Glendale
We love pho and went to check it out this rainy afternoon. We usually go to Pho 79 in SGV, and the selection/variations at Pho Hut are smaller. The menu is only 1 page, as opposed to the book at Pho 79. Only 2 of the meat bowls come without tripe or tendon, which really limits the selection, but my husband ordered the one pho with eye of round and brisket and asked that flank be added, and they seemed happy to do that. You know how some places are, no changes, no subs. They're a little more expensive than Pho 79 ($6.50/reg bowl), but we did feel that the broth was better and the meat was of higher quality.
However, anyone going should know that this is a cash only place. Hence why we didn't try the egg rolls - I didn't realize it was cash only until we were inside, and we only had a $20. Still, I'd recommend it if you're in that part of the valley and looking for pho. Esp. if its cold, rainy, or you're hungover!
"Grinder" sandwiches?
Not only is Delia's still there, it's STILL PACKED. No offense intended to any IE'ers. My uncle used to be a physics prof @ UCR (tho not in the 60's) and my brother went there, and actually, my cousin had a lovely wedding at the Mission Inn, so you are quite right. I rescind my last statement. My uncle would have said that Delia's wasn't as good as it used to be - as a kid we would have picnics on the UCR campus - but we ate there about 3 months ago, and I still loved the turkey sandwiches. My husband liked the cheeseburger hoagie, tho the guy behind the counter did say he was the only person who had ever ordered a large one. It was 2 meals large.
"Grinder" sandwiches?
My husband is from Philly and we have the same problem. He is always trying to find a sandwich shop that will let him use their grill and show them how its done, but no takers yet (he used to work a grill in PA). Based on wutzizname's advice, we're going to try Grillin-n-Chillin in Eagle Rock, we're close, so we'll probably get to that soon. But the closest we've found to good sandwiches and hoaiges is not at all close - is Delia's in Riverside, near the UCR campus. Its been there forever and unless you go to UCR, there's really no other reason to go to Riverside.
Paseo Cantina, Pasadena (a review)
I don't mind La Fiesta Grande, but does anyone else think it's a little too Americanized?
pasadena discovery
Thanks for the review, wish I had seen it before i made lunch today! Unfortunately, most of what is said about Pasadena being lacking in food is somewhat true, but there are a few places. Sounds like you might have found one. My husband loves pho and we usually go to Pho 79 in Alhambra, but I have yet to find a good Korean BBQ place around w/o having to go to K-town.
What are L.A. Hounds' fave places to dine solo?
I really don't understand non-hounds. I just don't get it.
Craft menu- what's a 'can't miss'?
Everyone's spot on with the roasted mushrooms. Our other faves are the Arugula Salad and the Roasted Beets as starters, The pureed potatoes are luxurious and silky. If you're not much of a beef eater, I like the Diver Scallops, but if your bf likes meat and doesn't want such a huge hunk of meat (20 oz?!?!), the Waygu flatiron is superb. Craftsteak in Vegas also offers an elderflower champagne cocktail - have one of those for me!
A grown up place in Los Feliz/Silverlake
How about the Edendale Grill on Rowena? I haven't been there in a while, but I love the bar and I don't remember it being too noisy for conversation. You can always get a small table in the restaurant, which is quieter, or they have a nice back patio area, if you can get in b4 the rain tonite!
Inexpensive places to eat lunch in Pasadena along 210?
I live at the top of Lake Ave, so I know what you mean, it can seem like slim pickings around here.
I'd second the Euro Pane rec. Their sandwiches are great as are their desserts, and the 'wiches and a drink will run you about $10. Only downside (to me anyway) is that you're usually just getting the sandwich and a piece of fruit, I wish they maybe did some mixed greens, but the soup is good too.
Not too far off Lake and Colorado (west of Lake, south side of the street) is Yahaira's, which I really love. The fish tacos are great, and all their food is fresh and not overly drowning in sauce. Even tho the fish tacos are fried, it's a good chunk of fish with the fresh salsa and cabbage and it feels healthy.
Lovebirds Cafe (Colorado, just east of Lake, on the north side) is good too. My friends love their chicken salad.
I have to disagree with everyone on Fredo's Philly. My husband is from Philly, and we have eaten there a few times since it opened, and it seems to be getting worse each time. We feel like the meat is sketchy - not unsafe - but just not the cut (or maybe the way it should be cut) for a Philly cheesesteak. South Street in Burbank is better.
