grinninggourmand's Profile
What's The One Thing You Can't Eat, even for money.
@mojoeater, @CoryKatherine, I agree. Then again, I grew up in a bicultural household. Kimchi is, to me, a glorious comfort food, best when made by a patient aunt around the holidays. Foie gras, paté, raw uni (never had it cooked): superb delicacies. With a Japanese friend recently, had surf clam sashimi so fresh that the ends of a piece would wave slowly in the air if you poked it with chopsticks.
My boyfriend cannot eat fresh tomatoes, only cooked. He used to work in the produce department of an organic co-op, and will never forget the experience of handling spoiled raw tomatoes.
I'm a card-carrying chile head, but I may have to draw the line at eating, say, a whole raw habañero. I think that can be classified as cruel and unusual punishment.
Best chocolates in LA?
Oh, and Lake Champlain chocolates (available at Bristol Farms) are really good.
Best chocolates in LA?
I third the Compartes. Pink peppercorn, ginger, etc., decorated with peppercorns/candied ginger/screened patterns as appropriate. A lovely visual.
A rundown of multiple options: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/48208.
For something different (and spendy!), Valerie Confections offers a "Death By Chocolate" box (http://www.valerieconfections.com/product_info.php?products_id=39) of three chocolate skulls. I haven't tried Valerie's offerings, so you may want to try a little first.
Best Beer
One thing: Black Butte Porter is a product of Deschutes Brewery (Bend/Portland, Oregon).
California can boast many fine craft beers, but as an Angeleno recently moved to Portland: fresh-out-of-tap Pacific Northwest beer is plentiful, and amazing! (I miss LA., but the beer here helps.) Most important is to patronize local breweries, for the best beer supply, and support of the local crafters. If the alcohol ordinances support refillable growlers (which I'm not sure happens in L.A), that's a great way to take home a supply of fresh beer.
