beantowntitletown's Profile
Town House in Chilhowie, Va. closing
Update on the Shieldses from last week:
http://philly.eater.com/archives/2012/05/09/chef-john-shields-working-on-restaurant-concept-in-philly.php
Looks like they've put down roots in Philly.
BEST RESTAURANTS IN PALM SPRINGS
Maybe Cheeky's staff's attitude toward kids depends on when you go and how crowded they are. We were there a year ago in March with our (then) two year old granddaughter and her parents, and the server and hostess couldn't have been nicer, getting us a table in the corner away from heavy traffic and setting her up with a booster seat. But we went on a weekday, and it was after noon, and there weren't a ton of people waiting for tables.
Feeling Doubts About Going to Alan Wong Tomorrow
Without a doubt, Joebob, the feedback here was valuable. Unless there was an overwhelmingly negative response from the fine dining posters here, we weren’t gonna pass up dinner at AWR. Dinner wasn’t perfect, but yeah, Hunt, that coconut was a knockout. Our subsequent meals there must end with the coconut.
Honolulu Report - 3 Night Visit
Photos by Alicia's customers on yelp are absolutely mouthwatering. So much food, so little time.
Honolulu Report - 3 Night Visit
Wife and I just spent 3 nights in Honolulu, staying in Waikiki. We followed a well-worn chow path in our short trip, but wanted to jot down some thoughts to help someone else plan a future visit.
Nico’s Pier 38 – stopped here on our way from the airport to Outrigger Waikiki. Saw the old space on TV only, but new space is large and very attractive. Had fried ahi belly, wife had fish n chips. Fish n chips were fish n chips, but fish tasted great, and fries nicely crispy. Two pieces of fish in ahi belly plate, smaller piece was very tender but had a fair amount of cartilage. Larger piece had the firm texture of ahi from elsewhere on the fish. Tomato salsa was very good, mac salad was very bland with too much mayo. A little disappointing.
HWAK – had a mai tai at sunset here before going to dinner. The setting was magical, and the mai tai was one of the best we’ve had.
Alan Wong’s – report on this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/847211
Helena’s Hawaiian Food – I think my favorite meal. Got there at about 2:30, only waited about 10 mnutes. We had:
opihi – the best; tastes like the ocean, perfectly toothy
luau squid – taro leaves and squid cooked in coconut milk; I could eat this 3 times a week
fried butterfish collar – worth the trip by itself; crispy skin and tender, luscious meat
kalua & cabbage – deep smoky flavor from an imu; cabbage sautéed to just the right crunch
pipikaula – just like on TV. I thought they were a little tough, but I need to do more research
Mai Tai Bar – met a friend who moved from Kaua’i last year at Ala Moana Center after lunch, just in time for happy hour. A big and popular covered, open-air bar at the top of Ala Moana Center with a terrific happy hour. We just drank and talked, but the pupus going by looked and smelled great.
Roy’s Waikiki – we followed manomin’s recommendation and went for a late dinner. We were still a little full from lunch and happy hour so we opted for pupus at the bar. Randomly picked a malbec by the glass, and it paired really well with our food.
chicken spring rolls – crispy and flavorful like a spring roll should be; nice dipping sauce
tomato salad – local peeled tomatoes, cucumber, onion, radish, goat cheese, goat cheese panna cotta, wasabi vinaigrette. Wonderfully composed, beautifully plated, bright flavors.
manila clams – I’ve always preferred soft shell clams as steamers, but these wok-fired clams in a black bean soy nage were succulent, and the nage was addictive. Three sticky rice balls that brought back memories of Thai street food were perched on the rim of the bowl for sopping up sauce. After they were gone, I started drinking the sauce out of empty shells.
Alicia’s Market – another local friend picked up plate lunches there and we had lunch in Kapiolani Park. Roast beef, shoyu poke, smoked brisket, potato salad, and kimchi. Beautiful smoke ring on the brisket. It would hold its own against some of the best Texas brisket. Excellent roast beef, poke, kimchi, and potato salad. I’d like to sample a lot of their other meats.
Top of Waikiki – after a post-lunch hike up Diamondhead, we did happy hour here on our last night. My wife’s charm scored us a table in the bar, and it was in perfect position to catch the full panorama of the Waikiki strip in the setting sunlight and for us to see the sky turn color as the sun dipped to the horizon. I’d been talking up Side Street on Kapahulu for the last week but the hike up Diamondhead made her tired instead of hungry, so we elected to have happy hour pupus here. The only memorable pupus were the calamari and the bbq pork sliders. Calamari included rings and tentacles, which is my favorite part; light, crunchy batter, perfectly fried, a nice sweetish remoulade; delicious. Slider had a terrific warm, slightly toasty bun, nice smoky shredded pork, and a great creamy coleslaw. Furikake fries were soggy.
Ono Hawaiian Food – we had a few hours to kill after checking out of the hotel, so we got laulau, sweet potato, and haupia to go and ate it in the hotel lobby area. I liked that Ono left the laulau bundled in the ti leaf so it could steep until we were ready to eat. Best laulau I’ve had so far.
Turns out our friend who got us lunch at Alicia’s is a food nut, so he’s volunteered to do a food tour for us next visit, which, with any luck, will happen next year.
Feeling Doubts About Going to Alan Wong Tomorrow
We showed up at AWR a half hour before our reservation after a sunset mai tai at HWAK, but hostesses didn’t miss a beat and we were at our lanai table after a 10 minute wait. Had 5 course tasting with wine pairings. The pairings were among the best I’ve had (champagne, French rose, Kabinett Riesling, Beaujolais, Sauternes), really enhancing each dish. To borrow from KaimukiMan, AWR didn’t bat a thousand, but we enjoyed it a lot. Service was superb (Yuki was our server) and platings (except 1 course) were gorgeous. I don’t think the 5 course menu has changed in quite some time, so I’ll just hit highlights.
Warm, crusty and airy roll required a lot of self-control not to inhale.
1st: Ahi tartare was a little overpowered by the rice chip it sat in; mango ceviche delightful, tomato soup and kalua/foie gras/mozz sandwich outstanding, especially the tomato soup which was the star of the night. Kitchen very gracious about wife’s dislike of raw ahi and subbed seafood cake.
2nd: Seafood lasagna full of clean flavors. Minor quibble with pasta being chewy near the edges.
3rd: Onaga perfectly cooked, corn and mushrooms ideal complement. Miso sesame vinaigrette very harmonious and was lick-your-plate good. Onaga a little salty, just enough to be noticeable.
4th: The one whiff of the night. All elements extremely well-prepared except overdone zucchini spears. Wife’s short rib had large vein of fat running through it. The disparate elements on the plate---a gorgeous shrimp on top of a kalbi-style boneless short rib, one broccoli floret, one cauliflower floret, and two zucchini spears---with a little bowl of white rice on the side, had no cohesiveness, and the dish was a letdown as the final savory.
5th: presentation of mini-coconut was fabulous and we ate it all even though we were full.
All in all, a lovely dinner and a nice introduction to AWR. We need to return to Honolulu soon.
Feeling Doubts About Going to Alan Wong Tomorrow
Call the Grand Wailea and they'll direct you to AMASIA. Found out tonight that the soft opening started a week ago. The menu is supposed to be tapas oriented. Chef Wong is in NY right now for a James Beard Foundation event and will go to Maui when he leaves NY to prep for the grand opening of AMASIA in about 4 weeks.
Feeling Doubts About Going to Alan Wong Tomorrow
Thanks, manomin. The hostess tonight said he was on Maui indefinitely so I got worried. We're taking a little side trip from Kaua'i cuz we haven't been to Honolulu in 15 years. Got an open dinner on Thur or Fri, so Roy's Waikiki might fit the bill, especially if it includes items not found at the restaurants outside Honolulu. Was also thinking about 3660 on the Rise and 12th Ave Grill.
Feeling Doubts About Going to Alan Wong Tomorrow
We'll be in Honolulu for 3 nights starting tomorrow and have a reservation at Alan Wong tomorrow night. We've learned that he and his main staff are in Maui for the new restaurant opening. Wanted to ask the regular diners at Alan Wong if they've been there when he wasn't in the kitchen and if there was a dropoff in execution on that visit. Just read a blog post about a recent disappointing meal by a longtime diner there, who was told that Chef Wong was in Maui. Maybe I'm needlessly anxious, but it'll be our first visit and I want to reduce chances of disappointment. Thanks.
Going to Kauai for 11 days in November
From what I 've read, it looks like Fred Atkins, who with partners has run Kilohana for 25 years, bought the restaurant with other investors from the Wallace family effective 1/1/12 and reopened it as Gaylord's on 1/9/12. Couple of links:
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2012/01/06/new-owners-give-kauai-restaurant-its.html
http://www.midweekkauai.com/2012/01/gaylords-reopens-at-kilohana/
We ate at 22 North a couple of times in 2010 and loved it. When we last ate at Gaylord's in 2009, the menu was uninteresting, the dishes we had were poorly executed, and our server was smarmy. We're gonna be on island in about a month, so we'll probably give the new incarnation a try.
Town House in Chilhowie, Va. closing
Charlie told me he was leaving Town House after 12/31 to head to DC & study at FCI in NY while based in DC. He was a bit vague about what his DC plans were, only that he was getting into restaurant management.
Town House in Chilhowie, Va. closing
Just opened the same email. Very sad to hear. Son in law and I ate there the weekend before their winter break. John was also making desserts (and doing a pretty darn good job) while Karen was on leave with their 9 month old daughter. He talked to us about his plans for winter break and for a change in approach after break was over. Guess it was a pretty big change. Hope to visit both the new Town House and wherever the Shields's end up in the not too distant future.
Coop's BBQ (Lemon Grove)?
The sauce is a little too sweet, and not smoky or spicy enough, for my tastes. But that's academic, because you're right, you don't need sauce.
Coop's BBQ (Lemon Grove)?
Definitely worth braving the trek to the eastern territories. These pics are from one of our visits in June (full rack o ribs w beans & potato salad. Ribs were as good as they look). The food wasn't quite as good on our last visit in July, but still worth repeat visits. Wish I'd browsed this board when you posted info on the coupon.
Providence - Anniversary Roll-back Pricing for Tasting Menu (Again)?
Just to heap more praise on the service at Providence --- we were stopped dead in traffic on the 5 in Anaheim at 6 pm this past Friday night, a half hour before our reservation. We decided to call the restaurant, let them know our situation, and then turn around and have dinner in San Diego. When I called and explained what was happening, I was asked to hold for a little bit. He came back on the line and told me to drive safely and not to worry about the reservation --- Providence would accommodate us. We were both pleasantly stunned and speechless. We didn’t arrive until 7:40, but we were seated immediately, and had the 5 course tasting with wine pairings, easily our best meal in several months. Two outstanding amuses, a delicious kampachi sashimi, a perfectly seared scallop, one of the best pieces of halibut I’ve had, the best veal dish I can remember, a delightful chocolate cremeux, and a wonderful trio of mignardises to finish. Probably won’t go on a Friday for our next visit.
1/2 price wine nights?
Not a board favorite, but Pacifica Del Mar's wine list is 1/2 price on Thursdays. Slightly different approach, but Avenue 5 still has no corkage fee on Sundays.
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Pacifica Del Mar
1555 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
Avenue 5
2760 5th Ave Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92103
Providence - Anniversary Roll-back Pricing for Tasting Menu (Again)?
Thanks for the info. Just made a reservation.
Anxious about 1st trip and looking for advice
Agree with Honkman re: Roy’s as a chain (corporate menu; Roy won’t be there), but like Beach Chick said, they prepare things you won’t find back in Boston, and it’s good (although I’ve never eaten at the Roy’s downtown), just not exceptional or localized to San Diego. Btw butterfish is oily, but in a good way, like black cod (silky with delicate flavor). It’s not overpowering, like bluefish is.
Blue Water Seafood on India St. is a possibility for fresh fish with a local flavor. Simple preparations, and it’s very casual. No view, possible long line (unfortunately, it’s been featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives). Short trolley ride on orange and blue lines to Washington St. station from your hotel, and a short walk up the hill to India St., or reasonably short cab ride.
Speakin’ of the Padres, your visit might coincide with a block party in the East Village neighborhood (right next to Petco Park), if the Pads are in town on the Friday you’re here (they’re only out of town on 9/9), which could mean several food trucks (not necessarily seafood) and good local beer in the same location. There was a party there last September and a rockin’ one on home opening day this year. Check online before your visit to see if there’ll be a party.
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Blue Water Seafood
3667 India St, San Diego, CA 92103
Opening Day at Petco Park..Where to eat?
Plan was to just hit up McCormick and Schmick's, then take the easy walk to our seats, but we could get off the trolley one stop later and check out the party first.
Fried Ipswich clams @ Bite of Boston
Thanks for the tip. Will definitely drive up there this coming weekend.
San Diego to La Quinta & Palm Springs
We just got back from Palm Desert this week (we've been going for about 10 years). On this visit, our favorite places in the valley were Cheeky’s and Grind Brgr Bar in Palm Springs. Cheeky’s serves breakfast and lunch only and has a menu that changes weekly. On the day we were there, the execution of the breakfasts equalled the promise of the menu descriptions (can’t remember what we had…son-in-law picked up the check), except the banana bread we shared at the end, which was a little dry. Grind serves a variety of burgers, including beef (grass fed Tasmanian), buffalo, game, lamb, crab cake, and turkey. Fries were okay, but burgers, onion rings, and drinks were very good. Cheeky’s is on North Palm Canyon Drive across from Copley’s, and Grind is directly above the Chop House (same owners) on South Palm Canyon Drive. The one place I really wanted to try on this trip was 3rd Corner, especially after reading Ed Moore’s blog about the birthing process of the restaurant, but for various reasons we didn’t make it.
Like Beach Chick, we usually take the Palm to Pines Highway to get to Palm Desert, because it’s about 30 miles shorter than taking the freeways (15, 215, 60, and 10). Also it usually takes us less than 2 1/2 hours from Bonita, even if there’s slow traffic in the mountains, so we don’t stop along the way.
As an aside, since the closure of Blend in La Quinta, we haven’t found another restaurant in the valley that we like as much. We also can't find Mexican food in the valley that is as good as the places within a 10 mile radius of where we live in Bonita.
Cheeky’s: http://www.cheekysps.com/
Grind: http://www.restaurantsofpalmsprings.com/topchop.php
Who's familiar with 'old' San Diego restaurants?
Although I haven't lived in the area nearly that long, I'd add two places in National City --- McDini's, which has been open since 1890 (not always in National City), and Cafe La Maze, which has been in business since around 1940.
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Cafe La Maze
1441 Highland Ave, National City, CA 91950
Definitive list of Mariscos German locations
yeah, my son in law, who just visited from north carolina, ordered 2 gobernadors plus a tostada mixto and had to share the mixto 'cause he was too full. score for me.
Kauai questions
Don’t know if you’ve already left for Kaua’i, but one place we get lunch at regularly on our visits to Kaua’i is Mark’s Place in Puhi. There’s no seating inside (they run their catering operation there), and just a few picnic tables outside overlooking an industrial park, but the food is good and well-priced. There are always good daily specials, too. Dishes come with mac and rice, but you can skip the mac and get brown rice.
Also, friends were telling us about a trailer in the parking lot at Hanalei Pier called Pat’s Taqueria. We didn’t make it on our last visit, but mahi tacos, carne asada tacos, and kalua pork tacos are all supposed to be really good. Expensive at $4 a taco, and very limited hours, 12pm – 3pm.
Hong Kong: Just Left, Want To Go Back
Yeah, our first Michelin 3*! Dim sum likely had nothing to do with the 3* rating, but it was of superb quality. Now I wish we'd gone back for dinner.
Hong Kong: Just Left, Want To Go Back
I like it! :). We were on top of Victoria Peak Tower at dusk and needed a cocktail and snack, so Bubba Gump was right there. I was just surprised that the shrimp were good.
Hong Kong: Just Left, Want To Go Back
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I got back from our first trip to China, 3 weeks in total ending with 5 nights in Hong Kong. As I’m looking for something to eat for breakfast at home now, I can’t stop thinking how I’d rather be looking for breakfast in Hong Kong. Didn’t do much research before leaving home, but using this board and openrice (which this board led us to) during our trip we found lots of good eating within a few of blocks of our hotel on Wellington St. and elsewhere. As has been noted on this board and from personal experience, two people can’t create too varied a meal at a Chinese restaurant, but we made do. We didn’t do a Michelin tour or do exotic foods, just really enjoyed ourselves. Nothing to add to what’s been covered on other threads, but here’s a list of where we ate:
Night 1
Dinner – Treasure Lake Sea Food: lobster w. noodles, 1/2 crispy fried chicken, stir fried choi sum. Ate most of the lobster myself. Very good chicken, loved the choi sum.
Day 2
Lunch – dim sum at City Hall Maxim’s Palace
Dinner – Island Tang: wagyu short rib and leek casserole, 1/2 roast crispy chicken, stir fried choi sum. Leeks in the casserole were fantastic, excellent chicken. Expensive.
Day 3
Lunch – dim sum at Sun Tung Lok. Hairy crab dumplings, baked abalone puffs, cha siu bao, har gau, spring rolls, and daan taat; all excellent.
Snack – Bubba Gump Shrimp: popcorn shrimp. 1st visit to a Bubba Gump. Very good, much bigger than typical popcorn shrimp in US.
Dinner – Manor Sea Food: 1/2 roast suckling pig, gold coin chicken, braised lettuce. On the short list for next visit. A lot of food, but so good.
Day 4
Breakfast – daan taat from bakery on Gage St. next to mid-level escalator
Lunch – BLT Burger at Harbour City: BLT burger; cooked medium, very good.
Dinner – takeout from Tsui Wah: seafood pan fried noodles with fish, mussels, shrimp, whole scallop, and choi sum. Pretty good deal for $7.50 US.
Day 5
Breakfast – daan taat from bakery on Gage St.
Lunch – Mak’s Noodles: won ton soup, sui gau. Rich, flavorful broth in both dishes, not too salty. Excellent won ton and noodles. Great sui gau.
Dinner – Jumbo Floating Restaurant (because it’s a landmark): steamed fresh abalone, broccoli in crab cream sauce, sweet and sour pork. Very good abalone, good sweet and sour.
Day 6
Breakfast – daan taat from same bakery
Lunch – Yat Lok on Stanley: roast goose leg in noodle soup. Another place for the short list.
We just scratched the surface, but this board really helped us find good food.
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing
If you're talking about Yang's on Wujiang Leisure Road, that is no frills. A small, narrow dining area, cashier on the left, line to pick up the fried xiaolongbao on the right.
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing
My wife and I just returned from our first trip to China and found the duck to be average at the Jinbao Place location of Da Dong about three weeks ago. There was an intoxicating smokiness coming from the show firepits when we first walked in. And, the carving of the duck was very ostentatious with the slicing of the back skin into squares and the meat into thin slices arranged in a spiral on the serving plate. However, the skin, while crisp, had a noticeable layer of fat attached, and the meat, while smoky, was pretty dry. We also ordered sautéed bean sprouts (these were greens, so there may have been something lost in translation on the menu) that were some of the best vegetables we’ve ever had. We ordered them again a couple of nights later and they were just as good. We wanted to try Duck de Chine, too, for Beijing duck but never made it.
We were in Shanghai before that and ate at Din Tai Fung in Shanghai Centre on our last night. The crab xiaolongbao were very good with a delicate, thin skin, although the tops were dry and chewy. We also got sucked up in hairy crab fever and had a male and female for a cost of RMB228 per for a 228g male and a 175g female. They were average at best. Our hotel wanted to set us up with Wang Bao He for hairy crabs, but they didn’t think we could do that and the Shanghai Acrobats at Shanghai Centre on the same night, hence, our visit to Din Tai Fung.
Kauai - Rehearsal Dinner - Fun and Casual
Roy's Tavern at Princeville (at the Prince golf course clubhouse) is pretty roomy and casual. There's also a function room upstairs at the clubhouse which might be run by the St. Regis. But, on our two visits in September the food wasn't very good. Maybe that's changed by now. They'd only been open a couple of weeks when we were there.
