What are you using your sambal for?

Having traveled throughout SE Asia, I can tell you there are so many different types of sambal even within Indo, SL, and Malaysia.

For Indo, the base of most sambals is the oelek (ulek), so you may want to start there.

For Malaysian sambal, belacan (with toasted shrimp) is very common.

For Sri Lankan sambal, sini (seeni) sambal is made with fish and onion.

LAX-C has a decent selection, but if you're in South Pas/Pas, a quick trip out to Duarte will yield the best selection of Indos.

Good luck!

Agree. Jason Travi gets it. Wish he'd fry some clammies.

Love State Road in West Tis. The Bite is the shit.

Afraid to try Connie & Ted's. Michael would totally get it, though. Even if the quality is great in LA, there's a magic to having it there. Maybe it's the air.

We actually work that fundraiser sometimes and donated scales for dolling out the meat. For community vibe, it's the best and it is a solid roll.

But I'm not getting in the way of those church ladies with the Hellmann's.

Can't wait to get back in few weeks.

For breakfast, Sidecar Donuts on 17th street in Costa Mesa, but not around the corner from the Hilton is some of the best donuts we've had in the country...yes, the country. Also, some of the best coffee in OC.

Though their sometimes on the menu Green Eggs and Ham Donut (poached farm egg, green sauce, and Nueske/Niman Ham) is savory, there is also Pie-Not for more savory breakfast fare next store.

This way you don't have to call around. Randy @ SLW & Everson may have it as I've bought Prad from him before, but it's about $24 @ Wine Club and $27 everywhere else.

A great rose.

WineSearcher Pro only comes up with John&Pete's on La Cienega, K&L and The Wine House in L.A. and Wine Club in Santa Ana.

Good luck!

Salumeria Rosi NY via mail order. Not on their site, but call them. ; )

We were only four, so we ordered the crab with Shanghai Rice Cake Belly Bombs. The lobsters left Sunday night were quite large. Funny, my dad commented he read something on Yelp that someone felt all the parts of their lobster were not on the platter. My mom made the same comment about the crab...but I counted two claws! Oh well. It did sort of seem like something was missing.

Just had the leftovers recreated: couple of pieces of cold cracked crab with sauteed watercress (great!) and Shanghai Rice Cake from the crab mixed with the meat leftover from the Peking Duck pulled from the bone and sauteed together with a little bit of wine and duck fat. Excellent leftovers dinner.

The flounder two ways was the table fave. No leftovers there.

Thanks again for a great tip, Porthos. Outstanding.

Though white burgs are fab with cantonese food, our food the other night lent nicely to a slightly cooled Brouilly (`$25, if you choose wisely), '10 Thevenet Morgon ($35), and then a Chevillion "Les Perrieres" which is more expensive. Loire whites are also a good pairing which can be had at a very nice price. Look for importers like Rosenthal, Dressner, and Kermit Lynch and you have a good chance of scoring a nice bottle that won't break the bank.

I have never met Bill Esparza, but I once emailed him a question and he responded quickly (not his day job, I guess) and was super nice and humble about it.

Made me an instant fan.

First of all, if there were morels to forage in SoCal, the first rule would be not to talk about morel foraging in SoCal.

There have been scarce citings especially of the black morel, but generally you shouldn't try to forage for mushrooms unless you know what you're doing. Foraging field trips are sometimes available through LA Mycological Society with priority given to LAMS members.

Other than that, for purchase, LA Funghi is hopefully at a farmer's market near you. Dirk also has terrific fresh maitake, porcini and truffles. The season is coming to a close and the best morels have already been realized, but he might still have more.

http://www.lafunghi.com/locations

Good luck!

Have been having great meals at the Chop House, though would say, depending on everyone's palate, it's standard high-quality steakhouse fare. It's not very unique to California.

Parkway Grill is pricey to me and their menu prices are published. Any resto with $30+ filet with yukon mash feels steep. The menu is a little more of a global tint.

I think Vertical WIne Bistro is pushing out some of the better food in PAS. AKA nothing special, IMHO.

The other special stuff to hit, again depending on what folks like to eat, is Europane on Colorado (the one across from Paseo is prettier) for breakfast. Sushi Kimagure. And Din Tai Fung in Arcadia.

Happy Anniversary to the in-laws!

Definitely don't order lobster because it's bland. My standard for the Lobster Roll is Larsen's, Martha's Vineyard. Not bland, though I prefer Asian lobster preparations.

Or carter, make a trek to Pearson's Port in September for the spiny's, through 'em on the grill. It'll blow your mind.

All in all, agree on most these comments on H&B.

Red Medicine, The Parish and Chi Spacca. Add lipitor, rinse, repeat.

Good meal tonight on another reliable Porthos tip. Four peeps, two bottles, $75pp, no cork (didn't even ask).

The only thing I would suggest to others dining in the future is though we allowed the manager to order for us, they dumped all the dishes almost at once on the table.

We had wrongly assumed they would course it appropriately. So it was a little stressful trying to finish the shrimp while still hot while attempting to get to the flounder bones before they lost their deep fried crispy goodness, and the duck and lobster before going cold.

Other than that, stellar meal.

Wisteria is very mediocre, however, it seems there is sentimental value. Pass on dessert there and cross the street to Mother Moo's for Karen's excellent ice cream. Some of the best in the Southland.

Cafe Bizou has seen better days.

Great report. Thanks, Porthos!

I too have seen it at WF. Also, try Mario's Deli in Glendale. Call first.

Great for groups. Lovely outdoor atmospheric patio on a warm night. Very average Americanized Thai food. Service can be a little aloof.

Anyone know what corkage is at ET?

I would definitely go with Luggage Room Pizzeria then. It has something for everyone. They even have a serviceable gluten free pizza. It's good for meat eaters and vegans alike. Priced well.

it's actually IN the train station, so you get off the train and it's less than 20 steps to Luggage Room Pizzeria and there's a fun ambiance about it being in the train station as it's located in the old luggage room of the station. Could also do it's big brother, Le Grande Orange, a little pricier. I actually like the food less there.

Stone is fun across the way, but it's hard to secure a table for 10 with its limited seating. Call ahead and see if you can reserve a large table on the patio. Sangria, beer (including Stone sometimes), and well drinks.

I'll bet you'll have a beautiful day.

And it won't be so much like herding cats several blocks to another restaurant.

Have fun!

Okay, fine. I'll pick up the juice. ;-)

If you are eligible for Ath membership, the club, in the past, has offered 30-day trial memberships if sponsored by another member in good standing, usually only in the summer months.

We're passionate about Southeast Asian food and cook and eat it quite often. We think both Saladangs are barely passable. Last meal there, I had to retrieve my pocket-sized bottle of Red Boat in the glove compartment to make the meal edible.

The food at the California Club is much better than the Ath. Perhaps because there is more competition in the immediate area.

At both clubs, the catering kitchens are separate from the restaurant kitchens, so you almost have to eval them as separate restaurants. At both the Ath and CC, the restaurant food is always better than the catered food. Wine list better at CC and the CC lobster salad in the summertime rocks.

Agree with ipse. As someone who has to eat at both places on a regular basis, I find myself wanting to eat better food for the same QPR.

Never, ever had a good meal at Club 33. Overrated IMHO.

Yup, I think it depends on your timing. They'll sell 'em not alive too...for the same price.

I heard Spicy BBQ uses non-dairy creamer instead of coconut milk. Not trying to spread rumors as I love the place, but does anyone know if this is true?

Wonder if that's why it's sweeter too.

What day of the week are you planning on doing this?

By box, if you mean case, 2nd recc by john for L.A. Fish Co. (call first and make sure they're in stock). You'll have to get there early (before 8am), but they'll still be moving in the hay unlike the retail markets and you'll have to trim them (easy). Just make sure they're alive and not blowing bubbles. You can choose from jumbos (18) or prime (24)

Never bought one at retail that's been alive (maybe SM Seafood, but they're mostly dead). They usually kill them to dress them and put them on ice. The meat goes pretty mushy quickly at that point.

If a case, then LA Fish. If one or two WF or maybe McCall's.

Good luck!