Dlish's Profile
Local, pastured, humanely-raised eggs, chicken and milk
I'm coming a little late to this, but I thought that Whole Foods' eggs were from Vital Farms which is supposedly organic, pastured, humanely-raised eggs.
Can you let me know which of these criteria they do not meet?
Rambutan and Mangosteen
I just bought some mangosteens at Hoa Binh Garden Grove Supermarket for $3.99 a pound.
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Hoa Binh Garden Grove Supermarket
13922 Brookhurst St Garden, Grove, CA
LA hound hitting SF for 7 hours...
I arrive on Monday at 11:30 am and leave on a 8pm flight. I'm not checking bags and I'll already be checked in for my return flight so I think I can take it to the very last minute.
I'm looking to have Italian as one of my meals...even just a good pizza. The other meal is open to suggestions. I will have a car. The only places that I have to go to are the Ferry Bldg and Cocoa Bella (whichever location logistically works out).
I had in mind, after doing a bit of searching on here, A16 or Delfina for lunch...however neither of them are open on Monday for lunch. Can I get out of either one of these establishments with a light dinner at around 5 or so and still make my flight? Wherever I end up, I'd like to keep dinner under $25-30 per person before tax, tip and drinks.
Any suggestions will be appreciated. TIA!
Late night dining near Wilshire and La Brea recs
I'll be at the El Rey Theater this evening and will need to eat after the show. I'm not familiar with too many things around there and I did a quick search on here, but maybe I'm not putting in the right search words as I wasn't getting what I needed.
Canter's came to mind but I also wanted to add a bit more to my list so we would have several to choose from. I'm not crazy about Dupar's.
Any Ktown faves? I've never dined in Ktown so that would be a welcome addition.
I'm willing to drive 15 min or so in any direction and any type of cuisine is fine but we are trying to stay cheap hole in the wall to mid priced dining.
TIA
Plz identify Shin Sen Gumi Yakitori master (Fountain Valley)
Can someone identify this Shin Sen Gumi Yakitori master? I forgot to ask and I just called but no one is answering.
Thought this might be faster.
TIA
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g239/xxaeon99xx/P1010403.jpg
From great to bad to great again. A new Oki Doki
I was just there a few weeks ago late night since the wait at Honda-ya was too long and I didn't feel like waiting.
As far as I can remember the menu is the same as the Costa Mesa location. We had spicy tuna roll, gyoza, spring rolls and won ton soup. All for around $20. Everything was solid, the service friendly.
Tokyo Table grand opening - Irvine
This place hasn't gotten the greatest reviews, but for those of you in OC who want to see for yourselves, the grand opening is tonight.
From Wed., Sept. 17th through Fri., Sept. 19th, anyone who dines at Tokyo Table will receive a gift certificate for 100% of your total check, excluding tax and tip, to use on a future visit.
details here:
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/stickaforkinit/OC_ad.jpg
menu here:
http://www.tokyotable.com/
Tokyo Table
2710 Alton Parkway
Irvine
949-263-0000
YAKITORI BINCHO owns all. BEST in LA!!! Yea, this may sound super-hype but I stand by what I like. Werd. (Maxi-Review w/ pics)
Thank you! That totally clears things up. Crossing my fingers hoping they will reopen very soon!
Japonica in Redondo Beach - a quick review
I ended up at Japonica Sunday night at around 8:45 after walking around trying to figure out where Yakitori Bincho was. I am presuming they are still closed.
Anywho...right down PCH is Japonica. First time there and I did a quick pick for the nearest place out of the Japan Up! magazine I happened to have with me. I was afraid it was going to close at 9 but it turned out that they are open until 10 with last orders at 9:30. I was with the bf.
The place itself is fairly small and very intimate. Not an rowdy izakaya, drinking, wai wai place. Low lighting, dark furnishings, nice ambiance. Great for a date. You walk into a corridor like area and on each side there are seating areas separated by hanging dividers. If memory serves me correctly there were 8 seating areas. At the end of the corridor is a small bar area.
Their menu is mostly small share plates and we ordered:
Albarcore tataki. $9.80. The bf loves albacore and really wanted to get this so I relented. I wasn't crazy about ordering tataki late on a Sunday night. This came sauced on a bed of field greens. The sauce was a garlic butter sauce. They were way too heavy with the sauce. You couldn't even see the slices of the albacore. We scraped almost all of the sauce off to the side. The slices of albacore had a lot of visible suji..I can't remember in English...err..tendon? connective tissue..? in most if not all of the pieces. I think this is why they sauced it so heavily, so we couldn't see that. I think this might be an ok dish with a good piece of albacore and only a slight drizzling of the sauce.
Yakionigiri. $4.50. 2 pieces. This was delicious. Nicely browned on each side with black sesame seeds and a brush of a, if memory serves, a ginger-soy sauce. Just enough chewiness without it being annoying.
Agedashi tofu. $5.80. 4 pieces. This was also very good. Nicely fried with a delicate crispy outside and with sliced green onion. The dashi was not overpowering but was a tad sweeter than I usually like.
Shrimp cream corokke. $8.80. Fairly pricey but you get two pieces and it was surrounded by a light, chunky fresh tomato sauce. It was deep fried (as all corokke is) and not greasy at all. The inside had a nice smooth consistency. Not too thin of a cream so the insides didn't spill all out when you cut into it. There was only one really small piece of shrimp in each one though and I felt that the shrimp taste didn't permeate the cream enough.
Grilled porkloin. $7.80. This came sliced on a bed of field greens and had grated daikon mixed with ponzu on top. The daikon and pork paired very well together but the pork was a tad over cooked. I don't think this was grilled as in a bbq grill, like I thought it was going to be, but rather in a pan.
All in all it was a nice meal in a nice setting. The dishes came out in that order with the last two coming out at the same time. The servers were nice and friendly and I didn't feel like they were trying to rush us out of there. When we were leaving there were still 2 people at the bar and 4 tables filled. I would try this again, but probably not on a Sunday at almost 9pm.
Japonica Dining
1304 1/2 S PCH
Redondo Beach 90277
310-316-9477
http://www.japonicadining.com/top.html
Cheers!
YAKITORI BINCHO owns all. BEST in LA!!! Yea, this may sound super-hype but I stand by what I like. Werd. (Maxi-Review w/ pics)
ok, I'm a bit confused. I was there last Sunday on the 31st. I called them but no one answered but since I was in the area and hadn't been to that pier in ages, decided to take a chance and check it out anyway. Walked around in circles for a while. lol. Finally gave up and ate at a nearby place and headed home.
Checked on here and in re-reading rameniac's review realized that it was in Oriental Breeze's old spot. I told the bf that we passed by Yakitori Bincho 3 times and didn't realize it! But then reading further confusion set in.
So now looking at this map...
http://www.redondo.org/depts/hbt/harbor/HarborMap.pdf
Is Yakitori Bincho along the area where is says Avenue of Arts and Crafts? There was one place there that was closed and could have been Yakitori Bincho.
There is also a place across from Tony's (on the map) that had a tiny Oriental Breeze sign on the door that was open (which I initially thought might have been YB when I got home and checked on here).
Now, did Oriental Breeze move from a different area to across from Tony's or was the place that had the Oriental Breeze sign on the door indeed Yakitori Bincho and they just haven't gotten around to taking the little sign off the door?
I had also tried calling on Monday as I was willing to drive back down there that day if they were going to be open and I could get a reservation. No one answered.
Gosh, I hope I this made sense and if anyone can clear up my confusion it would be appreciated!
Upcoming LA Greek Fest - comments?
The LA Greek Fest is coming up in September and I seriously haven't had Greek food since I've moved here back at the end of 2005!
I'm always looking for a good excuse to get over to LA...can anyone who has been to previous ones comment on whether this is a go or no go?
www.lagreekfest.com
LaRocco's Pizzeria - A Quick Hit
I've always dined in at the one in HB and the crust has always had a wonderful slight crisp to it. If you do delivery or take out they suggest sticking in the oven for a few to re-crisp it.
LaRocco's Pizzeria - A Quick Hit
Update: I was just in San Clemente yesterday and went to the LaRocco's there. In talking with the guys I have found out that the Huntington Beach, San Clemente and Culver City ones are all related.
Love their specials: choose between any 2 slices and bottomless drink or 1 slice, house salad, and bottomless drink for $5.50.
Also try their calzone....delicious and definitely big enough for two.
LaRocco's Pizzeria - A Quick Hit
Do you know if this one has any relation to the one on Main St in Huntington Beach? The one in HB also has garlic knots...can't recall about the salad though. I love that place~!
Christopher Michael Chocolates in NB
This tiny shop on Newport Blvd opened up recently and I stopped in for the first time about 2 weeks ago. Since then I have been back twice. I am in love.
I've tried his Blood Orange Caramel, Lemongrass, Passion Fruit Caramel, Fleur De Sel Caramel, Rosemary Caramel and Dark Truffle and uh... a few others I can't remember. I should have posted this right after I had them! All are delicious and fresh. They are made on site by Chef Michael. I haven't been this excited about chocolate in a very long time.
Flavors change according to what he feels like making, but there are ones he makes every time. He uses Venezuelan chocolate and each piece is $1.50.
The Blood Orange and Passion Fruit Caramel had a liquidy caramel center infused with the flavor of the fruit. A bit on the sweeter side and they both had a tart note to them.
The Fleur De Sel Caramel and Rosemary Caramel had what he called a "hard" caramel center but it turned out to be very smooth, soft and silky. Both were just outstanding and I usually do not like rosemary.
The Lemongrass, oh the Lemongrass....this is right up there with the Fleur De Sel and Rosemary Caramel. The notes of the lemograss comes a few seconds after the taste of the luscious dark chocolate. Simply divine.
There are other flavor pairings which I am sure I will be trying in the near future and as there are always flavor changes I'll be returning to his shop more often than not.
Chef Michael is a totally cool, laid back guy and I've enjoyed talking with him every time I've gone in there.
His website looks like it's still a work in progress but does show some of his offerings.
http://www.cmconfections.com/
Christopher Michael Chocolates
3305 Newport Blvd. Ste D
Newport Beach
949-566-9810
Thai sticky sweet rice - need to rinse?
Have you had good results witht the Thai sweet rice without soaking? When I use Japanese mochi-gome I soak that overnight.
Thai sticky sweet rice - need to rinse?
That's exactly what I'm making! All the recipes for it said to soak it. Glad to know it came out perfectly without rinsing.
Thai sticky sweet rice - need to rinse?
I just bought some Thai sweet rice and it is soaking right now....do I need to rinse it before I steam it? I rinse Japanese rice, unless it's musenmai, but all of the Thai recipes I have looked at never mention whether I need to take this step or not. TIA!
Songkran (Thai New Year) 4/13 in Thai Town
What are the big differences between the Wat Thai Festival and the Songkran on Hollywood Blvd? I have just discovered Wat Thai through this board but have not been there as there seems to be some confusion about Wat Thai being closed or not. Will they Wat Thai only be open for the festival...or can I hit it any weekend for food..?
After 11pm dining near City Hall?
I did a quick search of the board and found a short list but would like a few more options. I am going to a concert this evening at City Hall and it ends at 11. As things are going right now, looks like dinner will have to be afterwards. Any suggestions? I've already been to Canter's and DuPar's....any kind of cuisine is fine and if its a bit out of the way that's ok too. Don't mind driving for good food! TIA!
Chicago type pizza - Westside
Very, very poor rendition of Chicago style IMHO. Better off at Domino's.
Chicago type pizza - Westside
If you have only eaten stuff you made at home, then you MUST wait until you actually go to Chicago to have your first taste of real Chicago pizza. And make sure you dine in... ; )
I also have little tips and tricks for making the frozen one if you ever order from there.
Chicago type pizza - Westside
Most people don't eat their take out pizza in their car, parked right across the street from where they bought it. Usually there is a car ride involved. If it's being delivered, most likely you are not the first on their route and the pizza ends up sitting in the box for a good 15 minutes before it reaches your mouth...and by then the crust is not what it was. RSMBob was not implying that restaurants make their food to go orders differently than dine in ones. Now that amused me. I really don't see that he was attacking your writing abilities.
BTW, I am from Chicago and feel that ordering from Lou Mal's and having it shipped is a good idea. A pricey one, but still grood. Why? The sauce and sausage is dead on. Of course the crust will not be the same as if you were there and eating it. I always have friends pick me up some when they come to visit. The frozen ones they sell at their restaraunts are only like $8.
Inexpensive Sushi In OC?
Yes, that was my original post. It's the same stuff you might have in your pantry for use when you bake cakes or muffins..etc. I just looked at their website and didn't see the exact can they were using. They probably use the industrial...err..restaurant sized/labeled product.
The ingredients listed on the general consumer can (blue): canola oil, soy lecithin, dimethyl silicone (for anti-foaming) and propellant.
It might matter to some and not make a lick of difference to others.
Inexpensive Sushi In OC?
If you don't like Crisco pan release on your nigiri, then stay away from there.
What do you think of Rachael Ray's picks?
Did I hear Rachel correctly...? Did she say that Gyu Kaku was shabu shabu?!
I went to the Gyu Kaku in HB last week. I think you can get a better value for your money elsewhere plus we had some pretty horrendous service.
Kura Sushi....and Crisco??
I was at Kura Sushi in Costa Mesa last week and happened to be seated at the counter in the corner closest to the waiting area. Now I like this place for cheap, fast sushi....esp since they have the toro at such a cheap price. I had a clear view of them making the nigiri and was quite surprised when they sprayed onto their gloved hands some Crisco pan release!
Ummm...is this normal for kaiten-zushi out here?
Now I know how their sushi always had that nice sheen to them.
Long shot but...Grandma's Tortillas out of NM?
DOH! Correction..that's 43.99 for 12 pkgs including shipping. I could justify that price...but not the quantity. It would take us FOREVER to get through 12 pkgs. LOL.
Long shot but...Grandma's Tortillas out of NM?
I don't think those are the ones I am looking for. According to their website, Grandma's are the "hearty" type.
