yangster's Profile
Next - El Bulli? You can keep it. For my money, EL Ideas was far better (and 1/3 the price.)
This will be my second trip to Alinea, so I'm positive we won't be disappointed. I have been eagerly anticipating El Ideas for a couple months now, and yours is probably the first extensive review I've seen that wasn't just a bunch of pictures and captions (which is why I was looking forward to it :P).
Next - El Bulli? You can keep it. For my money, EL Ideas was far better (and 1/3 the price.)
Awesome. I had been looking forward to this review since you mentioned it last month. My sister and I will be there in a few days, and my anticipation for it is almost greater than Alinea (which we'll be at the following night).
1st Wedding Anniversary - Dinner in OC
I would second JAB's suggestion of Marche Moderne (located in South Coast Plaza), but the main question is how would you define 'memorable and special?'
Restaurant NOMA rated "Best Restaurant in the World" 3 times in a row!
Those types of lists should really be re-named "The Best Haute Restaurants (Western Cuisine)" since they are biased heavily towards the French/Euro side of cooking.
Redzepi trained/worked at El Bulli and The French Laundry (among others), but since his focus at NOMA is mainly on Scandinavian food, you won't get much in the way of similar flavors here in LA. Technique-wise, any of the Keller/Adria/Andres/etc. disciples would offer up the next closest thing you can get in LA (i.e. Red Medicine, Le Comptoir, etc.).
Speaking of Le Comptoir, J.Gold mentioned that Chef Menes worked at TFL at the same time that Achatz and Redzepi were cooking there.
http://www.laweekly.com/2011-11-17/eat-drink/jonathan-gold-reviews-le-comptoir/
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/837731
Chicago Visit
If you're still interested in trying Boka's food, their executive chef also runs GT Fish and Oyster, and they're open for lunch. GT Fish has been getting positive reviews, though I won't be able to speak from personal experience until next month.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/818651#6985883
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/819888
If you still have a lunch slot open on your trip, you can consider GT Fish and Oyster and still keep Tru for one of your dinners.
http://gtoyster.com/
Chicago Visit
Just by looking at the sheer number of threads all asking the same "where should I go question," it's clear that most people do NOT do research. But when making recommendations to out-of-towners who may only have a few dinner slots to work with, I feel it's common courtesy to make sure they understand the good and the bad that may come from risking Schwa. If our being informative is hurting Schwa's business end, I would say it's their fault for not trying to improve their reputation by cutting down on this practice (common or uncommon as it may be).
That said, I'll stop driving this thread further off track and allow it to focus back on recommendations for the OP.
Chicago Visit
I agree with kathryn. My meal at Girl and the Goat (GATG) was one of the more memorable meals from my trip to Chicago last year. My sister and I will actually be visiting Chicago again the week before you. We liked GATG so much that instead of cancelling in lieu of our reservation at El Ideas, I just moved up the reservation to make it a pre-dinner meal. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but a majority of the reviews for GATG have been very positive.
Also, if you are planning on Purple Pig, be warned that they don't take reservations. So, if you don't get there at an early hour, you'll most likely have a long wait ahead of you.
uhockey has a bunch of reviews from his frequent trips to Chicago, so you can browse through that for more ideas: http://endoedibles.com/?cat=96
Chicago Visit
It's exactly BECAUSE it can happen anytime that everyone is careful to include the disclaimer. Scrambling around to find a last minute backup because Schwa cancelled at the 11th hour is not an agreeable way to spend a vacation.
Visiting Chicago and need a foodie related gift!!
Fox & Obel is a little over 1/2 mile from your hotel.
http://www.fox-obel.com/
RESTAURANTS NEAR N WATER ST CHICAGO SHERATON
One omission from nsxtasy's list would be Purple Pig which is only a few blocks from the Sheraton. Also, keep in mind that thread was from May 2010. There are undoubtedly new restaurants, and there are definitely restaurants that are just a quick bus/taxi ride away from her hotel (i.e. GT Fish & Oyster, Spiaggia, etc.).
It might be worthwhile for her to get a CTA pass (3day = $14, 7day = $23) which allows unlimited bus/train rides. That would open up her options to the not so close places on the other side of the river such as Girl and the Goat, Blackbird, Publican, etc.
A quick browse through the rest of the Chicago board should yield a solid list of recommendations that will far exceed your wife's five day stay. :)
RESTAURANTS NEAR N WATER ST CHICAGO SHERATON
Will she have a car? If not, the CTA system should make most recommendations accessible that aren't within walking distance.
What kind of food/price range is she looking for?
Edit: Fox & Obel is just around the corner from the Sheraton. Great prepared foods if she needs a quick breakfast or lunch. Or, just read this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/707224
Feedback on Dining Agenda
Dang it. Have a trip to Chicago coming up in May, and El Ideas was one of the places I was tossing around but ultimately decided against it. Oh well, hopefully there's a next time.
Focus Plaza changes (San Gabriel): Wang Xing Ji opens in former Happy Eating
As mentioned already, it's from Wuxi, so the food tends towards the sweeter side than Shanghinese.
Their main draw would be the giant soup dumpling (straw provided and all), but they also have a couple different versions of XLB (i.e. crab, fish, etc.).
Citrus Lovers Unite! The Refreshing, Handmade Sudachi Udon Noodles of Ichimian [Review] w/ Pics!
The main menu has English, but several items posted on the walls or counter seem to be Japanese only, the sudachi udon being among them. I've always wondered if those are actual menu items that I'm missing, or something else entirely.
That said, the sudachi udon is amazing...sometimes there are benefits to working 5min away from Ichimian. Thanks for the find, EK.
Noodle House Re-appears!!!
Many Chinese restaurants tend to offer the normal, thin-ish noodles AND a wide-cut noodle. It's just a matter of your preference. Usually the waiter/waitress will ask, but they probably just forgot. Next time, don't hesitate to ask for the wide noodles if you want to try them.
If they kept to the same recipe as the original Noodle House, as exilekiss noted, the noodles are handmade. I haven't ordered the beef noodle soup at the new location, so I can't make a comparison.
As for the menu errors, that's one thing about Chinese restaurants that my sister and I love...finding the craziest translation mistakes/typos on the menu.
Just as a warning to anyone planning on going to the new Noodle House in the near future, they appeared in a review in a Chinese newspaper this past week, so business has been insane this weekend. Either go early, or wait a few weeks for the initial rush to die down.
Noodle House Re-appears!!!
Yes, the original location is a far cry from what we all experienced a year ago.
The new restaurant in Rowland Heights is staffed by some of the original cooks and waitstaff from the original Noodle House, but they are not affiliated with the current Monterey Park Noodle House.
Noodle House Re-appears!!!
Be sure to report back after your visit. I want to make sure I'm not imagining things because of my happiness that the Noodle House is back.
Noodle House Re-appears!!!
A few months ago, it was noted with much sadness, that the famous Noodle House in SGV had been sold, and the quality of the food had dropped off precipitously following the change in ownership. (See exilekiss' original post: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/536676)
For those longing for the wonderful, made-to-order bao zis and dumplings we all loved, it seems that the Noodle House has re-appeared in Rowland Heights (NW corner of Gale and Fullerton Rd., next to IHOP and Cocary). My family and I ate lunch here today, and the food was every bit as good as we remembered. As well it should...we recognized a couple of the cooks working in the kitchen.
Just to make things clear, the Chinese name is different from the original location, probably to avoid potential lawsuits, but the English name (and menu) is the same. And, for those who remember the tiny size and long wait of the original location will be happy to know that the new location is about 3-4 times larger and boasts a big windowed-view into the kitchen.
Today's lunch rush was slightly less than average, but that's understandable as they have only been open for about two weeks. Hopefully business will pick-up as more people find out that the Noodle House is back.
Noodle House
18219 E. Gale Ave., #A
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
Hours:
Mon - Fri, 11:00am - 3:00pm; 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Sat - Sun, 11:00am - 3:30pm; 5:00pm - 10:00pm
The Birth of a New Era? Delicious and Healthy California-style Ramen using Seasonal, Local Vegetables at Ramen California [Review] w/ Pics!
We had the Californian, grilled chicken, reggiano, and tomato flavors. I can't speak for the rest of my family, but the tomato was my favorite.
The Birth of a New Era? Delicious and Healthy California-style Ramen using Seasonal, Local Vegetables at Ramen California [Review] w/ Pics!
Thanks for the review. My family and I really enjoyed everything we tried. Although, at least for the soft opening, they've pushed back the opening time to 6:00pm.
Also, the bread they use for the meal starter is often fried, in Chinese cuisine, so the only twist is the salt and rosemary. But a brilliant twist it is (just like everything we tried).
The Return of the Japanese Food Fair! The 2009 Mitsuwa Umaimono Gourmet Fair! (Torrance and Costa Mesa) [Report] w/ Pics!
I am amazed you had time to go to both the Torrance Mitsuwa AND the Costa Mesa Mitsuwa.
The beef tongue was the best I've had (though that's not saying much). I'll definitely be going back, tomorrow, for the Chibakiya ramen.
The Carnivore's Haven - Tsuruhashi Japanese BBQ (or, Are You In The Mood for Silky Beef Liver Sashimi?) [Review] w/ Pics!
I don't know how the outside skirt compares to the Kobe Ro-su, but it is pretty good. It has a slightly stronger flavor than some of the other cuts of beef, at least for me. Of course, it's not as tender as the Wagyu, but that's to be expected.
The Carnivore's Haven - Tsuruhashi Japanese BBQ (or, Are You In The Mood for Silky Beef Liver Sashimi?) [Review] w/ Pics!
You're lucky. The 6+ times I've been there, the Kobe Ro-su and Jobara have always been sold out. What day of the week did you go when they actually had it in stock?
Did you ever happen to try their outside skirt during one of your visits?
REVIEW: Mariscos Puerto Esperanza, Orange
Third trip.
Pic1 - Salsa (similar to trip2, but darker and spicier)
Pic2 - Vegetable Soup (came with lunch special, the white stuff is cheese, not cream)
Pic3 - Tampiquena (lunch special | grilled flap meat w/ veggies and cheese)
Pic4 - Salmon Yucatan (achiote marinated salmon w/ roasted corn and cactus relish)
Hopefully MPE is here to stay, but at the rate things are going, it'll be gone before you know it. So, follow your tongues and stomachs...you won't regret it.
REVIEW: Mariscos Puerto Esperanza, Orange
Second trip. Each time we've gone, we've had a different type of salsa to go with the chips...each good in their own right.
Pic1 - Salsa (more typical with the tomatoes instead of cilantro...mild)
Pic2 - Jicama Salad (came with lunch special)
Pic3 - Dos Sopes (lunch special | masa tortillas w/ grilled beef)
Pic4 - Langostinos Zarandeados (I was given five instead of the OP's six, but I felt it was still worth the price)
REVIEW: Mariscos Puerto Esperanza, Orange
My sister and I have gone here a few times in the past couple of months, and each time, we've had nightmares that we'd see a 'CLOSED' sign upon pulling into the parking lot. For the amount of good reviews it's gotten, it's sad to see MPE completely empty every time we've gone.
Although many of the menu items are a bit pricey, understandable since this is seafood, the lunch specials are a STEAL. Soup/salad + entree = $7.99!!!
Since no one's posted pictures from their respective trips, here are some of mine...hopefully they're enough to entice more people to head on over...
Pic1 - Cilantro Salsa
Pic2 - Tortilla Soup (came with lunch special)
Pic3 - Pasta Playera (lunch special | for some reason, we were given the seafood version at no additional cost)
Pic4 - Camarones del Puerto (bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp)
