trvlcrzy's Profile
Last Meal in LA? Leaving after 20 Years
Anything Asian..being in LA means having the some of the best Asian cuisines due to proximity. So I'd do Japanese, Thai, Korean or Chinese. You will definitely miss these in Chicago (based on my personal experience).
Etxebarri and Barcelona questions
For Extebarri, given the diet restrictions, it's best to order ala carte. I posted a menu photo some time ago if you'd like to check it out. We ordered ala carte and we actually liked it more than the tasting menu...since there's some items that we wanted to try not on the tasting menu. We spent about $200+ for 3 people.
La Paella Restaurant - the real deal
La Espanola's paella is made with "dehydrated" rice grains or the one that's in a blue box with the words "no se pasa" on it...meaning won't pass into the soggy stage of the rice. You can buy that rice in their store. When in Spain, authentic (not touristy) Spanish restaurants' servers actually get agitated when they announce that "the paella is ready" and you don't allow them to serve it..as it can get to the soggy stage and ruin their reputation.
La Espanola plays safe and uses the dehydrated rice as they only cook a batch on Saturdays..even if the paella waits, it won't get soggy. Still pretty good though IMHO.
food trucks
Kogi, Vizzi (great flavors with truffle fries), Komodo (fish and grapes!). Butter milk and Ludo kinda slow when we tried them. Maybe it was just overwhelmed? Shave Ice truck...might take some time too?
Best place you ate at this week?
Not as good as the ones in Belem (Portugal). I don't know, maybe it's that fresh out of the 100 year old oven thing in Lisbon...but it's decent.
Versailles
I second La Carretta in MIA. Actually look forward to our MIA stops because of this. As for the Versailles in Redondo, the one by Culver City is way better IMO than the Manhattan Beach branch.
Where to find authentic Spanish chorizo?
You need to go to La Espanola and determine which kind you need for your recipe. Although Surfas, Whole Foods, and many places carry authentic Spanish chorizo, you may need a cooking type chorizo like Cantipalitos or Bilbao. Most of those I've seen at these other places are the non-cooking types. Yes, there are as many types of chorizo as there are cheese. Perhaps if you describe your recipe, we can help you determine the type needed.
A rave for the ... Cheesecake Factory [moved from Boston]
I shunned CF long ago..gave them 3 chances and thought to myself "why do I keep beating myself with a stick?" It got so bad I had to call their legal department...
Top Chef Just Desserts 10/19 episode (spoiler!)
I think by just the fact of everyone in this board debating the true origins of Beef Wellington shows doubt of it being an "iconic" French dish. I mean get serious, you don't go to France or a French restaurant and order Beef Wellington. And I can translate every dish in French too from other countries and label it as French. Like what you said "the French claim they invented everything...specially in cooking techniques".
Top Chef Just Desserts Finale
While I think the best chef won, I really think for the finale that Sally did the most ingenious "out of the box" entrement. She may not have spent a lot of time making the showpiece but this is not Top Chef Dessert Showpiece. It's all a matter of who made the better dessert.
Just for thought: I think there could be a different outcome if Chris was eliminated in the previous challenge in making a creative dessert based on the "country classic" food. He picked France, and no matter what the origins...Beef Wellington is British (and embraced by British) not classic French in any way.
As for judging her as "mean girl". I don't see it that way. I think she is just not much of a talker and it may come across as "mean". But look at the previous contestant Morgan, whom a lot of people thought as a loving father to his son..BTW, just got indicted for child pornography.
What to do with 4 cans of evaporated milk?
I usually use it to make flan or pumpkin pie, custard pie. Really easy too.
Arzak, Akelarre, or Etxebarri?
With car, do squeeze in Etxebarri for a more rustic experience. It's the opposite of Akelarre/Mugaritz but very interesting. He even makes his own charcoal and is so unique in his craft.
Arzak, Akelarre, or Etxebarri?
Aleta,
How lucky for you guys! No Spain for me this year...attending a wedding in Tuscany though this fall (any tips on that?). Rabo=Yum! Also love the classic Lhardy tea room in Madrid where you can serve yourself their trademark consomme with sherry. Very old school, turn of the century.
Als, still looking for that "churros con chocolate" here in the US to no success....sigh..
Arzak, Akelarre, or Etxebarri?
Hi Aleta!
Yes, my 9 year old (now 10) feels very lucky and has been a foodie....loves to try all sorts of foods. She actually ate at Celler de Can Roca with us at age 7. Very well behaved and they cooked a special pasta and croquettas for her...but the dessert and chocolate tray came from the tasting menu. She enjoyed the "lactic dessert" and chef Joan Roca also gave us a tour of his kitchen and cellar! In France, at Michelin starred Maison Jaune in St. Remy, they cooked a lamb dish for her (cooked medium) although she was eating bits and pieces from our tasting menu.
She then moved on to eating off the regular menu at age 9..she loved the beef in bone at Etxebarri (medium rare!) but didn't eat the heads of the Palamos prawns...so I did! Hurray more for me! They also made her a "kiddie cocktail" to drink made with some soda and fruit juice.
Other items she liked:
-the "gilda" tapa made with piquillo peppers, an olive, and anchovy (at various tapas joints in San Se)
-foie gras with apples at Cuchara de San Telmo
-the "camouflage bonbon box" amuse bouches at Akelarre..made with shrimp, ham, squid.
-callos ala gallego (she LOVES tripe).
-any dessert
I'm sure your kids will take to eating different foods as they grow older. We have our kid try it first, then decide. Plus, it doesn't hurt that she sees us eating it too and not making a fuss of whether we like it or not.
Arzak, Akelarre, or Etxebarri?
Been to both Akelarre and Extebarri with our 9 year old. Akelarre has georgeous views and more of the molecular "fun" foods. Our kid loved the "fruit roll-up" covering the chocolate truffles in the bowl.
Etxebarri though is a beautiful trip to explore the Basque countryside. We took the old road (and yes, though a bit worrisome and wondering if you're lost)...it was neat to see the cows, sheep on the fields. It is also location in a small town square next to an elementary school. Food is more rustic but such an eye opener on what could be grilled.
Best tiramisu in LA from a restaurant (no chains)?
Funny you mentioned Depot. The original recipe I think was from Cafe Misto in Torrance when it was still owned by Michael Franks. It was so good I bought the entire tray for a staff birthday lunch. And yes, that was the best I ever tried...after that, nothing else compares.
Best Dishes to Order at Jaleo (non paella)
Sangria 's very good..not watered down. Cod empanadas are yummy..and of course..the jabugo ham!
EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA or ALKIMIA
Celler de Can Roca is fantastic! The service is so unbelievably good...to my dismay at their US counterparts. I still can't get their tricks on how the gelatos or iced desserts don't melt! Try to get an inside visit to their wine cellar (50,000 bottles w/flat screen TVs)...and their spanking clean kitchen. Just unreal!
a week in Chicago, bar & coffee questions
Went to Xoco recently...Wait was ridiculously long. Service was the worst among all the Chicago restaurants we tried (we also hit Girl and the Goat and Publican which were excellent). It was a big letdown for us at Xoco. Food was also not as imaginative as I thought it would be. The churros and chocolate were both too sweet.
-----
XOCO
449 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
Girl and the Goat
809 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
Guilty Pleasures - Foods you shouldn't eat, but eat them anyways
Bacon cheddar cheese waffle and Potatoes Stroganoff (fried hash browns tossed with bacon, melted american cheese and sour cream) at Uncle Bill's Pancake House in Manhattan Beach. Yes, with a side of Lipitor please!
-----
Uncle Bill's Pancake House
1305 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
European Style Hot Chocolate
Sorry but I find Xoco's hot chocolates way too sweet. I did try the Azteca, the classic and the Champurrado (thick)...none of which came close to European style hot chocolate...whether it be Spanish, French or Italian style.
-----
XOCO
449 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
Just "Buy It," Don't Think about the price
TJs has some globe artichokes at 0.99c just checked today.
Charged For Things In Restaurants That Other Restaurants Give You Gratis
Thanks for the additional advise. Been a while since our last Italian vacay....I remember ordering wrongly and getting charged $10 for a gelato (single scoop on sugar cone). Of course, I'm sure the same rule follows: eat on the counter as it's way less than sitting down.
Secret to good eating in Spain - Chinese!
Don't know what you're talking about Mark. Are you sure you visited Spain? Never had a bad meal there ever. And yes, the Chinese restaurants are very mediocre. Spain has the BEST and well priced meals in all of Europe that I have visited IMHO...plus, I am Asian.
