cant talk...eating's Profile
Any good restaurants for moms & babies in Pasadena?
Most non-chain restaurants will be limited by high chair # (unless people bring their own seats). I really like Porta Via's patio (and food!), but you do have to wait to order at the counter which could be a pain w/ babies. The patio at Saladang Song is nice, and the lunch (and weekend) crowd won't mind some noise. Depending on where you are in Pasadena, Pizza Place California in north San Gabriel near the mission has decent pizza, good wine, and a usually-deserted patio. Drawing a blank on other places - what works for you guys in other parts of L.A.? (assuming you're from here).
Mama Joan's Soul Food (San Pedro)
Known simply as "food" in cafes/diners across the South, it's a rare species out here. So I was thrilled to find this place along that dismal stretch of Gaffey south of the 110 Fwy. on/off-ramp. I had short ribs last week, served with a choice of two sides (had yams and greens). Comes with two small corn muffins (no hush puppies, unf.) for around $10. Also had 'real' sweet tea. All the standards are on offer, fried chicken, oxtail, meatloaf. This isn't a place to order a salad, and (of course), it's not bbq though they had it on the menu. I'm not sure I've had as good a "Southern" meal in L.A. before, and I hope this place lasts. Also, if it matters, the place was super clean, with a very friendly staff. Unlike at a few BBQ joints, I definitely didn't get that "what are you doing here?" vibe. They've been open around 2 years. Go and enjoy.
(Sorry if there's an existing thread - couldn't find one)
Last tacos 'til TO?
Maybe someone - even you - can help. I now find myself driving north along the 101 from L.A. through the SF Valley regularly, and have tried a couple exits for a decent taco/burrito shop before the Agoura/Thousand Oaks area, w/o much success. So, where would be the last exit for non-chain Mexican food in the Valley along the 101, heading west?
strange soup at vietmanese restaurants
There could be a whole thread of odd, complimentary dessert soups at L.A. Asian restaurants - the varieties of Chinese bean soups, one at Thai Paradise in San Gabriel. I agree - I've tried to refuse it and they just don't take it back, but usually just laugh and say "free!" (like that's a good thing)
Food Scars - Things you will never eat again.
I'm the same way with spaghetti, and this jolted a memory of elementary school spaghetti. Sort of a paste. Very awful. Mystery solved.
Two more random ones for me: Black beans (lived with Adventists in Costa Rica for a month, ate them 3x/day)
Whole wheat pita (ran low on food during a backpacking trip).
Need help! Rehearsal dinner for 30 in Pasadena?
Vertical Wine Bistro? I've seen rehearsal dinners on the enclosed patio at Briganti in South Pas.
Funniest thing you seen in a restaurant?
There is nothing funny about a large rat running out of a kitchen and under the table of a large party of surprised diners, who all raised their feet in unison, right? (Richmond Distr., San Francisco)
In rural Kern Co. we asked for more chips and a semi-Mexican place. The very young server came back with one of those industrial-sized plastic bags, maybe a 20-lb. bag of chips, and attempted to fill each individual (small) chip bowl. Some hit, a lot missed. : )
What to get at Red Medicine
Yikes - my mistake! I read a213b's description and just wrote that. Right - piping hot. To clarify, it's a good dish, just not, I dunno, memorable?
What to get at Red Medicine
Nice review! Yeah, so I'm too late for your request, but also too lazy to find the proper thread to respond to. And, sounds like we were in the same situation as you (been away, invited by friends). I really loved our dinner. Not everything was out of the park, but a truly creative yet accessible menu, good service, fun space. Looking at the menu to cheat, I remember spring peas, amberjack, rice porridge (w/o uni), the Wagyu beef brisket, chicken dumplings, spring rolls, and brussels sprouts, with two desserts, the pear thing and the bitter chocolate thing. We had some of the fancy cocktails too.
Overall, everything was either very good or outstanding. The brussels were just about the best thing I've had in the past year, whatever the heck they're doing with them - sort of this smoky/candied effect. Not to be a drag, but the porridge was probably my least favorite, since in the end (for me) it was still cold rissoto with some varied bits thrown in. The brisket was just as it should be - pleasantly fatty but with enough meat, and so tender. I'm trying to remember if it was the dumplings you sort of do a lettuce-wrap with, but whatever that setup was, I really could have had a whole meal of that.
The desserts really didn't blow me away - the combo of chocolate and sweet soy sauce was not one I need to try again (though I admittedly don't have an open mind about such things). The cocktails were up there with the best bars in town.
And finally, though it isn't cheap, I've spent a lot more for a lot less. This place is a gem.
SoCal Indigenous Ingredients
Good info. Those journal accounts are great. The "islay" was almost certainly Prunus ilicifolia, the holly-leaved cherry, which is pretty common in hilly/foothill areas (Santa Clarita, Hollywood Hills), with a related species on the Channel Islands (not that they would have differentiated).
Re: above comments, as far as term term "native" goes there's sort of a strict ecological definition and then many interpretations from this that are constructs used to interpret the landscape people observe (as people have always done); an example is the familiar "if I see it growing 'wild', then it must be native" approach, which just causes confusion when trying to figure this stuff out.
As for things like corn, beans, prickly-pear (the "Indian fig" kind that is/was cultivated), they "spread" in the sense that Native Americans traded seeds up and down the Americas, but the distinction between this and, say pinion nuts, which were both traded *and* clearly indigenous to parts of CA is an important one. Of course, exceptions are out there, such as various weedy things like squash relatives which could either have been brought up by people or spread on their own.
SoCal Indigenous Ingredients
Lloydsk - not sure where you got the above list; most of the info is inaccurate or so mis-spelled it's pretty useless.
SoCal Indigenous Ingredients
"Los Angeles sunflower" (the common name for a wetland plant that once grew in the sag ponds on the Raymond Fault and a couple other areas) is probably extinct, but there are/were several native sunflowers that are still common, including Helianthus annuus, which grows everywhere (flowers late summer), even along freeways. Drive through El Sereno in September and you can't miss it.
Great places to grab lunch/dinner on the road from LAX to Palm Springs on I-10
Funny - I was going to recommend the Farmhouse too! (for what it is, it's good) But, I agree, given the time frame, I'd think seriously local to LAX, wait til at least 7:30 PM, and then venture out.
Italian Bakery In San Pedro
Just to chime in - they stock fresh Italian bread from two different local bakeries at A-1. Just discovered this place while working in the area. Definitely going back.
Best Little Armenia Eatery?
Do any of the above places (Taron's, Mush, Haykazumi) have seating? I ask b/c this thread referred to an "eatery" rather than a market - lots of Armenian markets around but few (that I've been to - please, someone correct me) have seating and "act" like what we'd consider a normal eatery. I don't mean to disparage here - I just think they're two different things. I've been to Arax for falafel/shwarma, but would love to find a similar little place with parking, tables, and more variety (if such a thing exists). Carosel and Marouch are great, but anything more cafe-like??
Hound-worthy Mexican with good margaritas and ambience?
Had to update to say that Margaritas has landed on my "never again" list due to their sticking chicken fajita strips in jarred mole sauce and passing it off as "mole poblano" when I was there a few nights ago. And, looks like I just lucked into handmade tortillas that last time. And, their "carne asada" plate was just an $18, un-seasoned strip steak (guess it's self-asada there). Ugh.
LA search
What about Urbano Pizza Bar? I think that would be ideal for what you describe. It's a newer artisanal pizza place with a great beer/wine selection. It's right in the middle of downtown, so maybe walk there and cab it back? They have a very long table in the middle that would accommodate your group well (but call at least a few hrs ahead of time, obviously).
I can't see a Cantonese place (Yang Chow) as appealing to vegetarians - most of the dishes have bits of pork at least, and soups would be chicken broth-based. Ditto for Oaxacan; outside maybe cheese enchiladas or a no-meat tlayuda, you're limited to rice and beans, but even those may have some stock or other non-veggie ingredient (I guess it depends how strict they are). Can't think of any great Indian/Mid-Eastern spot downtown.
If you can get out there early-ish Papa Christo's closes at 8, but that might do well too (Greek, long tables). Just down Pico from you.
Any foodie worthy restaurants in this region?
Dmoutsop - I think you hit the nail on the head: you live in West Hollywood. Our views on "local restaurants" are deeply colored by what local means to us. After living all over the place in this area (Riverside to Beverly Hills, Highland Park, etc.), I can say that what you can grab on a weekday night varies tremendously depending on what 1-mile radius you're dealing with. And yeah, WeHo up by Sunset was seriously depressing for foodie-type places, at least when I've lived there. The restaurants up there are basically networking spots, not places where food has any primacy, on any level. It starts with the vision of the owner, and trickles down to the server-models. Here where I live now (San Gabriel), I'm continuously amazed at the variety of dishes on offer within 15-20 minutes of home. So yeah, if you're craving Vietnamese or Mexican where you are, it's really a "can't get there from here" scenario. But don't paint all of L.A. with the same brush - take every Sunday you can to head east or south and explore (or move! ; )
URGENT HELP REQUIRED: Lunch in Upland
If ambiance is no concern (and I do mean *none*), there's a decent taqueria inside the Shell station at the SW corner of Baseline and Miliken Ave. in Rancho Cucamonga. Google Maps has it labeled as a Del Taco but it's not (at least as of a couple months ago). Some of the best carnitas I've have in a long time.
Sapp's Coffee Shoppe, on sunset.
Love it. I either get a noodle soup or they also have this spicy duck stir-fry which is pretty excellent. Really nice people too. It should win some award for longevity in goodness and price.
Guerrero-an food, DTLA
I don't know if anyone's been to or posted on this place before:
Restaurante "Iguala, Gro." (quotes not mine)
330 W. 8th St. (between Broadway and Hill)
This isn't "Tacos Guerrero" that is/was on the corner of Broadway and 8th that a few folks have posted on. It's basically a hot food counter with a high turnover that I figure ensures some level of quality. It also got an A.
Anyway, had pretty great homemade red mole with equally good homemade horchata and hand-made tortillas for $5.50. I will return soon and often.
They also had some good looking beef caldo, various other stews, fried chicken, and lots of big pots cooking. I'm not sure they do tacos/burritos - I didn't see any. NB: it was stiflingly warm inside (mid-70s outside) so in the summer, the interior should faithfully replicate the climate of coastal southern Mexico for anyone homesick.
Did this place really need its own thread? I dunno. Any other Guerreroan places hiding out in L.A.?
Vertical Wine Bistro Pasadena - Laurent Quenioux Exec Chef - anyone been lately?
I really want to like this place more. Was there last night, and shared some small plates (didn't go for the burgers, but if I read the sign right, burger night extends for most nights of the week.)
We had 4 dishes, arugula salad, corn fritters with smoked salmon, hamachi tartar, and a caramelized onion/goat cheese pizza.
The salad was fine, generous portion, nice roasted pine nuts (crazy expensive right now so good to see), reasonably dressed. The corn fritters were nicely crunchy but the salmon was completely flavorless, and wasn't helped by the drizzle of creme fraiche atop. I really didn't know what to expect out of this dish, but it was basically a little deep-fried, latke-like nugget with a slice of salmon on top. I'm not sure it did either component a favor.
The hamachi was not the slices I'd imagined, but was basically albacore ceviche, served in a large mound, with thinly-sliced cucumbers arranged around it. I love ceviche, but it's hard to eat with cucumbers. I need chips. I'm not sure how one would eat this. But it's not their fault - it was just sort of an odd dish to serve.
The pizza really a disappointment - way too many onions, none of which were that well-caramelized, unfortunately. The goat cheese was in scattered little clumps. Flatbread was not crispy, but sort of chewy.
Like I said, I want to like/love this place. I probably ordered all wrong. Had the server checked back or come by on her own, she might have helped us out more. Bread appeared to be of the Ralphs baguette variety.
Liked my beer though (Craft black ale of some kind).
Help me out - what's good around there to try next time?!
Best Mandarin restaurant in Chinatown???
Mandarin is a language, no? If you're just looking for a good Chinese restaurant, here's one recent thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/770796
Let us know what type of food - generic "American" Chinese, something more regional, dim sum or bbq, your various food issues, hole-in-the-wall or not, etc. It's *very* easy to be disappointed in Chinatown (like, being a vegetarian out for dim sum), but it's also possible to have an outstanding meal. But, just know that no restaurant does everything well - most places have just one or two types of foods/cuisines they can pull off, despite the size of those long menus.
Orleans Corner, Arcadia... anyone been?
Whoa Bradbury - you forgot Mimi's! Has anyone actually tried Jamaican Me Crazy (in lobby of hotel on Second and Huntington)? Just curious, not to hijack thread.
What's In A Name? Denmark Gefion Steakhouse Opens in San Gabriel
Ok, so this isn't a steakhouse and isn't Danish. So, are we talking a HK-cafe-like place, with approximations of Anglo-American cuisine?
Chans Paris N(o), Bamboo House, si!
I stand corrected (and late to the party)! Thanks Bradbury - I was going by memory off what the menu said. The signage outside still proclaims "Chans Paris N", but I can't imagine anyone's going by the English at this point.
Chans Paris N(o), Bamboo House, si!
Reporting from Arcadia and vic., the evocatively-named Chans Paris N is no more, replaced by "Tofu House", a Taiwanese lunch place specializing in stinky tofu. I opted for the chicken and rice combo ($5.99), which was fine, but included a side of Bird's-eye corn and peas. Once the plastic bag ban passes, hopefully that item is next.
Down Duarte (just inside Monrovia), the Shanghai Bamboo House has been face-lifted to appear less auto-shop-like, and now looks like every other Arcadia strip mall. Cook smoking out front said they were re-opening for business tomorrow (12/22).
Non-spicy chinese rec in SGV
What about Tasty Noodle House on Las Tunas/Mission, same mini-mall as Golden Deli and Southern Mini-town? It's a small place, but sort of elegant, and a very different feel from the banquet-hall type Cantonese places. Someone with more knowledge can say what region it's from, but it strikes me as sort of "pan-Chinese", but not Americanized. Btw, it's not a noodle house. Have no idea how it got that name.
Address: 827 West Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776
Falafel arax, shawrama???
I'm not sure - maybe lamb fat? Anyway, I agree w/ above, it's not that great. Not terrible, though, so I go back. I'm sure there is a lot better in that area (Little Armenia) but I've been too lazy to check. Maybe that Zankou is good, but I can't really recommend the product at the Pasadena or Van Nuys branches (but I like the chicken ok)
