banjoboy's Profile
Nongla - Delicious Westside Vietnamese - Hurray!
I think it was around six dollars. The pork was excellent, and I'm pretty sure the mayo spread was homemade. Obviously not SGV prices, but worth it to me.
Nongla - Delicious Westside Vietnamese - Hurray!
Right in the heart of Sawtelle is a lovely new "cafe" that serves fresh, tasty, reasonably priced Vietnamese food. As someone who has been driving to Van Nuys (and the SGV) for pho and/or bahn mi fixes, this place is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Portions might be a bit smaller than some of the other Vietnamese places I've been to, but the quality of the food and ingredients is at another level. Didn't try the pho, but the bun dishes were very good. Got a bahn mi to go and it was also very good.
Looking forward to exploring the menu further on my next visit.
Lunch on 12/26 -- Kid Friendly, Near Echo Park
We're a group of 6 adults and 3 kids (ages 2-5). Adventurous eaters going to see a kids play near Echo Park tomorrow morning.
I've been tasked with finding a good place for lunch. Chinatown recs? Other places in the area? I'm a westsider and out of my comfort zone. Suggestions greatly appreciated. I'd be inclined to head east to the SGV but it might be a bit too far for our group.
Thanks.
Cheese Request -- Vacherin Fribourgeois
I'm finding a few places on-line to buy it, but wondering if I could find it anywhere in Los Angeles. Thanks.
Looking for Raclette (Cheese)
I'm on the westside but willing to travel. A friend is having a fondue party and I'm on the hunt for him. He saw some at the Beverly Hills Cheese Shop and was floored by the price.
Samosa House in Culver City
You recall correctly, Westsidegal. I love both places (as well as the owners of both locations.) It's always a drag for me to have to choose one over the other.
Mexican Style Cheescake
I'm trying to find a recipe that corresponds to the wonderful Mexican-style cheesecake I had this morning. (I'm actually assuming it's Mexican-style, given that the bakery was Mexican.)
The recipes I've found on line didn't seem to include flour. Could they possibly be right?
Attaching an image below that looks more or less like what I ate.
Thanks.
Coconut samosa
They have them at Samosa House (on Washington Blvd, near the 405).
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Samosa House
11510 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA
What's this on my tofu gan/savory baked tofu?
Whenever I buy tofu gan at my local chinese market, if I leave it in my fridge for more than a few weeks, a viscous sort of goo forms around it in the plastic wrap. It has no smell, washes off the tofu easily, and as far as I can tell, has no taste either (at least once I've cooked it.)
Anyone know what it is? Should I toss the tofu gan and replace with a "fresher" supply?
Westside Chinese?
It's a pretty dreary place if you are eating from the steam trays, but if you order off the menu, San Hing on Palms and Sepulveda can get the job done. Their salt-and-pepper specials (they do chicken wings, shrimp-with-heads-on, and pork spareribs) are all very good.
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San Hing
11136 Palms Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Western Flavors That Complement Sichuan Peppercorns
This is a bit indirect, but what about salt-and-sichuan-pepper dusted edamame as an appetizer, just to get them ready for the experience?
There's lots of ways to make them. Here's one recipe. (I don't usually bother with the pink peppercorns. Just salt and sichuan peppercorns)
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Salt-and-Pepper-Edamame-Soybeans-in-the-Pod-102723
Pho- is it .. good for you??
When my wife was pregnant, pho was the food she craved the most.
Cafe near Pico & Crenshaw
I have to have my car repaired at a place on Pico, just a few blocks west of Crenshaw. The whole thing might take up to 4 hours.
Any good cafes in the area where I might get some work done?
ISO Taiwanese Braised Oxtail Recipe
Had a delicious plate of braised oxtail at Liang's Kitchen in Monterey Park, CA. The version we had was without noodles, and the sauce was browner and thicker, but the picture I'm linking will give you a pretty good idea of what it looks like. (It's the second image).
http://insatiablegirl.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/san-gabriel-liangs-kitchen/
A few recipes on line include tomatoes, but I'm pretty sure there weren't any.
Anyone have any ideas on a recipe?
Thanks!
Hunanese Recommendation For SGV
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. We ended getting food from Xiang Wei Lou (take away). My guests (and I) were very happy. We had the steamed fish (excellent), green beans and smoked bacon, tofu gan with celery (very good for the non-spicy eating kids), lamb with cumin, mapo tofu, smoked delicacies, and a few other dishes. My friends from Hunan decided they didn't want to try the intestines until they had verified the quality of the other items. Happy to report that on our next visits, the intestines will be on the menu.
Thanks again, CH'ers.
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Xiang Wei Lou Restaurant
227 W Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
Hunanese Recommendation For SGV
I have friends visiting from Houston, who originally come from Hunan province (50 years ago). I took them to Hunan Seafood a few years back, which they enjoyed, but I was hoping to try a new place. Suggestions?
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Hunan Seafood Restaurant
8772 E Valley Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770
AAA Thai Market (Venice and Sepulveda)
Replying to my own post, but wondering if anyone has any news. Are they open again?
Salt & Pepper Shrimp in LA's west side
San Hing, on Palms and Sepulveda. The steam tray food is to be avoided, but food to order can be surprisingly good. They do salt and pepper shrimp (on the specials menu).
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San Hing
11136 Palms Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
AAA Thai Market (Venice and Sepulveda)
Thanks, Jtea. Really looking forward to a speedy re-opening.
AAA Thai Market (Venice and Sepulveda)
That's a shame. Keep us posted if you hear anything about a re-opening.
Pigs head on westside?
Not exactly westside, but you might try the Koreatown Galleria or 99 Ranch in Van Nuys.
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99 Ranch
17713 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA
Secret to not brown omelettes??
Have a look at Jacques Pepin's methods for making what he calls a classic omelet (as opposed to country style) in this video. Hope it helps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57afEWn-QDg
SGV for lunch today with my four-year-old
Thanks for the recommendation, Ipsedixit. Wound up going to Yunnan Garden today (instead of last weekend) and had a great meal there. They even proposed a mild version of dan dan mien which proved to be a hit with my son.
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Yunnan Garden
545 W Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776
SGV for lunch today with my four-year-old
Looking for a little adventure in the SGV with my son, and we (I?) need to try somewhere new.
Our usual places include Chung King, New Chongqing, Din Tai Fung, Hunan Seafood, and Yu Garden. A bit all over the map, but can anyone give me a place to try for lunch? The little one is especially into tofu dishes and some of the milder, slow cook meats.
Thanks.
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Din Tai Fung Restaurant
1108 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
Chung King Restaurant
1000 S San Gabriel Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
Hunan Seafood Restaurant
8772 E Valley Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770
AAA Thai Market (Venice and Sepulveda)
I headed in there yesterday as well, and bulavinaka pretty much has it the way I saw it too. They did have big plastic containers set out with thai iced tea and coffee. I was with my four-year-old son, and the very friendly owner insisted that he try a small iced-tea. He loved it (uh-oh!) Really hoping that once they get settled in, it will be sort of like a smaller, Thai version of Samosa House (mostly market, but with good steam-tray food.)
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Samosa House
11510 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA
AAA Thai Market (Venice and Sepulveda)
Has anyone been there yet? Sounds like a nice addition to the west side.
http://losangeles.grubstreet.com/2010/09/aaa_thai_market_opens_in_palms.html#photo=1x63475
Cemitas Rolls for Cemitas Poblano
Have you tried El Camaguey?
10925 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Any good cookbooks on pressure cooking?
I've recently been enjoying using a pressure cooker, but a few recipes via web searches have been misses more than hits.
Does anyone know of a good cookbook on the topic?
Korean Meat
I really like the butcher counter at the Galleria Grocery Store, on the basement level of the Galleria. It's on the SE corner of Western and Olympic.
