Hi - My wife and I are coming up from Los Angeles for her 40th birthday celebration and she is crazy for French food. Any recomendations would be welcome. High end is fine but also a good Brasserie or Bistro works too. We are big into funky wine lists and good oysters are an added bonus in our book!

Any sugestions for a local LA source for bacon ribs..........dying to try a few recipes. Thanks

I am dying to try a few dishes that use bacon ribs....any suggestions for an online source? Thanks - Steve

Last night at my local sushi bar I overheard the chef remarking to one of the patrons that he was surprised to see them at the fish market where he gets much of his fish. It was very busy and I did not have a chance to ask him or the patron where this market was. Anyone know of such a mrket and is it open to the public or just wholesale?

Looking for for a good authentic Chinese Restaurant for dinner in Chinatown......any region but love Schezuan. Thanks

I can't take anymore grocery store bread....any suggestions for fresh baked bread on the westside? A Panera opened up near me and I am not very impressed.....any help much appreciated.

Okay so we are booked at Carlitos Gardel for Saturday - thanks everyone for your suggestions - will let you know what I think.

Cheers

sorry for not being clear but i am looking for a place on saturday night - good heads up on El Compadre - I am leaning toward 25 degrees or possibly Gardles on Melrose - it looks pretty good.

good to know - thanks. Figure we will be walking (gasp!) or cabbing it. I like the sound of 25 degrees and El Compadre but I assume they don't take res's?

What about Yamashiro??? Anyone been there?

A buddy of mine is getting married on Sunday and I need some suggestions where 8 guys can go for dinner on or near the Strip. We have a suite at the Standard so something close by would be great. Not looking for the 20 something hollywood poser crowd but something more ethnic i.e. Argentinian, Japanese, Thai, Italian etc........ Any suggestions welcome.....
Cheers -

I am with you I really like Shershah. The people are nice and while the atmosphere could use some work the food is good and they will make it as spicy as you can handle it. Plus they have a decent selection of India Beer as well. One other place to try is Anapurna on Venice in Culver City. South Indian food (veggie) but they make one killer dosa!

Okay here is the dilema. Birthday outing for 10 sushi lovers but need to stay in Santa Monica or at least West LA (Sawtelle?). Prefer more traditional than cali-sushi but any suggestions are welcome.

I have been to this sushi place next to Trader Joe's in Culver a couple of times and have been amazed at the fantastic and fresh sushi selections here. Where did this place come from - anyone know who the head sushi chef is? Anyway it is a great place and not too outrageous on the pricing either.

I agree that the sushi is not top notch but the Korean dishes are pretty good. I agree Tsuji No Hana is great - try to get one of the 2 younger chefs as they are much more into their craft than the older guy.

Royal Thai is decent and if you are in the mood for sushi try Taka - I think it rivals most sushi places in LA. Also for a really nice small plates meal try Le Gran Tapa on B sreet (very close to the Opera House).

Okay this is a long shot but i would go to either Kaya Sushi on Washington (actually a Korean place). The atmosphere is nice and the sushi is decent enough. The other place is in a strip mall in Marina Del Rey (can't recall the name) and is between Sav-On and Von's on Glencoe (Mindinao is the cross street just off Lincoln). The reason I like this place is because you sit on the floor and everyone takes their shoes off.......kinda funky! The sushi is good and the prices are just right.

Thanks - the label merely says "dried octopus" it is an entire octopus in a bag.......weighs about 6 oz and on the back it says cooking instruction: cook product until the internal temperature reaches 160 f or above. ingredients listing is octopus and salt. Steve

I recently went to an Asian market and picked up a number of ingredients that I am unsure of how to use. One of the more exotic was an entire dried octopus. It's a Chinese ingredient but I am not sure how to use it. Any help or any recipes would be much appreciated.

I had this dish in Yemen and I know it contains fenugreek and other spices but does anyone have a recipe?
Thanks - Steve