I went there last week - and it was mobbed at 6pm by alot of regulars and LAT readers! I got take out thinking it would be faster - boy I was wrong! - 45 minutes later I got my order. Plus a Chinese TV Crew was there filming a news segment - so they got priority treatment. Just be prepared to wait - and service is typical of a Chinese restaurant - there isn't any - so just go with that expectation and you'll be fine. I got the same 2 dishes mentioned in LAT review, #2 beef/ carrot baozi and # 5 pork/ squash baozi, and also #11? steamed fish dumpling. It was good. But I prefer the pan fried and steamed dumplings from Luscious Dumplings (in the same shopping center). Luscious has a thinner skin. That being said, I will go back to Michelle's to try soem other dishes, but just not during peak hours.

Saban Free Clinic held their 12th annual food and wine event at Fox Studios. Great evening all around. Started at 6pm for VIPs and 7pm for general admission. A good variety of restaurants and wineries and cocktails, but mostly on the lower end, no big chefs.

Here's what I can remember and my favs:
Best Food - Foundry on Melrose - grilled cheese (taleggio / raisin bread / apricot-caper puree)!

2nd best (it was very close) - Ivan Kane's Cafe Was - bacon wrapped fig with cheese (Medjool Dates/ roquefort / smoked bacon / 12-year balsamic) Their pot roast with potato puree was OK - but I've had better.

Best dessert (Hands down) - MILK - 3 different types of mini ice cream sandwiches (grasshopper, de leche, coffee), 2 types of "drumstick" cones (strawberry shortcake, vanilla) and bon bons - yum!

So over it - I think at least 3 separate tables had Tuna tartare. The best, of course, was Chaya Venice, but I'm so over this dish.

Not worth trying - I didn't even want to bother with the fried rice, long green beans from Buddha's Belly or tomato/ mozzarella from Louise's Trattoria - sorry, not worth it to me.

Others:
Bombay Cafe - breaded chicken and potato cake - it was better without the sauces.
Breadbar - lots of bread and mini almonds cakes - yum.
Corn Maiden Food - 4 types of tamales - good
Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop - very nice mixed salad with strawberries, grapes and blue cheese.
Hansens Cakes - lots of mini cupcakes - carrot, vanilla, marble etc - but there was a guava mini cupcake from another vendor (I forgot who) which blew Hansen's away.
Lawrys - can't go wrong with prime rib on a mini roll.
Mr. Cecil's California Ribs - really good meaty rib and also a slow cooked beef.

I forgot who/ what? - I was in a food coma by now - so apologies but there was a great tri-tip on a bed of Israeli couscous, jumbo coconut shrimp on a bed of coleslaw, refreshing cucumber soup with creme fraiche, calamari ceviche - not bad (they also served a mushroom tart and cantalope with proscuitto - no flavor, I've had better )and I think Upstairs 2 - had the lobster roll? - it was very tasty.

Other notables- Wine -lots of wine!, Dr Bob's handcrafted ice cream, Great DJ, plenty of tables to stand up and eat, nice auction items and Food Network had 3 of the finalists from the "Next Food Network Star" doing demos. Xooro was listed in the program guide - but I didn't see them.

GA Tickets was only $100. VIP $225 was definitely not worth it. Got an extra hour of entry and valet parking but the separate area with seating only had 3 vendors you couldn't get outside - Coke, Ococoa chocolates and Citizen Smith restaurant (bread pudding, tuna tartare on a cucumber, jalapeno mac and cheese - I didn't like it).

Cons - Only thing I can complain about is the bathrooms - port-a-pottys - really? Yuk.

Love to hear from others who attended and had a better memory than me!

I love the moule frites at Church & State in Downtown LA!
I got moule frites at Anissette once - and haven't been back since - they were tiny and sandy!

Thanks - I went last night (didn't get to order as much as you did) but I really enjoyed it! And I'm disappointed in Tony C crictical review of the place in another post. Considering the area, Open Door is a good little place to grab a bite to eat. I'll be going back!

Wow - too harsh in my opinion. Totally agree with other posters - MP is known for Chinese food (cheap but not all of it good) so to finally have some else is a big relief.

If you live in the San Gabriel area or OC - the Vietnamese Bakeries offer very good quality french bread. Since Vietnam was heavily influenced by the French. In Rosemead, Mr Baguette received official approval letter from France on quality of bread (posted on their wall).

If you are into the latest food fads - then yes it's worth trying. Tacos are good esp when they are hot (I prefer the short rib and pork, I don't care for the chicken) but the atmosphere definitely helps - it's that anticipation and exclusivity. Kogi has done a great job marketing themselves.

If you like small plates - Bar Celona in Old Town serves pretty decent tapas. The mussel and clams dish was $13 - it was buttery and rich and served with toasted garlic bread - yum. I suggest Pop Champagne and Dessert Bar too - I haven't tried it yet but menu looks pretty good.

I've been to Anisette twice and I was very dissapointed with moule frites. Frites were fine but moules were small, sandy and wine sauce was a bit off? - bitter. I really like Church & State downtown. Their moules frites are fantastic!

Is this the menu for both lunch and dinner?

http://www.churchandstatebistro.com

I went with girlfriends on Sat night - great place to hangout, relax and talk. Since they haven't officially opened yet - it was very mellow. We had the thin pizzzas (mushroom and the goat cheese/ pear) both delicious. And the charcutterie plate - not alot of quantity but also very good. Service was wonderful, again b/c it wasn't too busy. Attentive and pretty knowledgeable. We asked alot of questions! So anything our server didn't know, she asked about for us. I was the only one of my group to do the tasting and it was alot of fun. But can be dangerous! - so easy to keep pushing that button for more wine.

Oh no! Jazz Cat in Alhambra has posted a sign saying they are no longer allowing table side hot pots with an open flame. Instead they cook the meat, veggies for you and serve it in the hot pot kettle. I'm so dissappointed. That totally changes the experience. The sign says they changed b/c people complained it was too hot - but I doubt that - I think the health dept probably shut the open flame thing down b/c they don't have enough sprinklers (think about other shabu places, they are rigged with major sprinkler systems). Jazz also posted a sign saying they are opening another location - but I didn't see a date or address. So they must be looking for a new address pronto to get back the business they are losing from this no flame policy. I hope they open this new location soon whereever it is!

Sorry I had to chuckly when I read about the service of the entree before anything else. I went for lunch on Thursday and while my app/ entree arrived in order and on time. The table next to me did not! As they were eating their soup, the waiters came with 1entree, then realized his gaffe and went back to the kitchen. Then the seafood tower arrived (looked really good) they were enjoying that when I saw them come back with 2 other entrees! After a discussion among waiters, they sent those back too. The kitchen and waiters don't seem to have good pace/ timing with each other.

I had the moules frites for lunch this past Thursday. Not sure if mussels are in season right now b/c the dish I had was not too good. Small mussels and a bit chewy. The sauce was a bit too "white winey" for my taste - I'd prefer just garlic and white wine instead. I had the salted meats Charcuterie appetizer- the pate was bland but loved the parma(?) ham. Service was great - very attentive. I went off hours btw lunch and dinner so it was very easy to walk in and get a table.

NBC is not as good anymore either. They have been slipping. I warn you not to order the rice noodles with shrimp, rice noodles with beef etc. - very mushy gummy. And the lotus buns have been a hit and miss lately. Last month the lotus paste seemed to be mixed with filler so it wasn't as tasty. But then I ordered again 2 weeks ago and they were back to normal (yummy). And the shui mai seems alittle more fatty to me. I miss the good old days!

Anyone going to the American Wine and Food Festival at Universal Studios on Sept 27? Is it worth the $300 per ticket? (I know it goes to charity but it's still steep!) Any insight is appreciated. Thanks.

Great day - next year I will go way earlier - long line for will call. I loved the Napa Valley Grille short rib too (mine was perfectly braised, falling apart) and the shrimp with mango colis at Bottle Rock (sweet and big). Fois Gras ice cream was a gimmick that didn't win me over (basically chocolate and peanut butter ice cream). Very dissappointed at Foxtail - all they had was a spicy chocolate cup? Desserts at Dolce Forno (fig cheesecake and lemon cake) were dabomb!
Does anyone have the program? I was so busy eating I forgot to pick one up - so I don't remember exactly which restaurants served what.

Nubi is on Valley in Focus Plaza - lot sof kids hanging out in front. But be careful, parking is aweful - so crowded.

140 W. Valley Blvd, Suite 118G
San Gabriel, CA 91776
T (626) 573-9988
11:00 am - 11:00 pm Sun-Thurs 11:00 am - 11:00 pm Fri-Sat

I went to the Dave's in Ontario (I was stuck in the IE with no other food options and it's was grand opening so I thought why not?) Dave's is a chain just like Lucille's - so it's gonna be the best BBQ you are gonna get in LA (that's not saying much). But never order the single meat lunch combo - I was so mad! It came with 3 little ribs (- kind of fatty too), corn muffin (boring and bland), and choice of 1 side = $8.99. I felt so ripped off.

Say it ain't so - I know they only open for certain # of hours and when they run out of dumplings that's it for the day. What time did you go? No signs?

I finally got around to trying Bollini's - amazing! I ordered P&S which is basic pepperoni and sausage - it was so good. Crust was thin and crispy. I can't wait to go back and try the other versions. I'm so happy he decided to set up shop in MP. Pizza has always been lacking in this area - the old Red Devil was like Dominos and Petrillos is too heavy and those canned mushrooms (like several have mentioned on the boards) are aweful! I'm just upset that Bollini's is closed btw 2-5pm (probably to prep for dinner) and closed on Sunday. I need my fix!

No Pinkberry around here in San Gabriel but there is Cefiore (skimpy portion) and a Pinkberry knockoff (Pingo - which charges alot more than Pinkberry and can also be skimpy on the portions depending on who is serving). But all my prayers have been answered by Nubi Yogurt! It's self serve, 16 different flavors!! and you pay by weight! The Taro flavor is weird but pretty cool.