Native New Yorker moving to LA - hancock park/larchmont village area and need some recs in the hood!

I suggest you try Tere's Mexican Kitchen on Melrose. The fish tostada and the huevos rancheros are terrific.

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Mexican Kitchen
17030 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA 92504

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Viet Noodle Bar, Atwater Village

Wat Dong Moon Lek is terrific and makes a more flavorful pho than Viet Noodle Bar which seems on the bland side.

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Viet Noodle Bar
3133 1 2 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Wat Dong Moon Lek
4356 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA

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Granola weather issues

I make granola twice a week, rain or shine and it comes out great every time. I use a recipe by Deborah Madison in "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone."

6 cups flaked or rolled grains ( I use a combo of rye flakes, oat flakes and steel cut oats)
1 cup chopped nutes
1 cup wheat germ
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp cinnamon
salt to taste
1 cup raisins ( I mix it up with some raisins, dried apple, apricot, cranberries etc)
1/2 cup canola oil (which she says you can omit if you like)
3/4 cup honey, golden syrup, or maple syrup (I use brown rice malt syrup as it is lower GI)

Mix it all up and bake in a 300 degree oven on cookie sheets stirring a few times so it toasts evenly.

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Best Breakfast Burritos

Senor Fish in Eagle Rock has a great breakfast menu on weekends. (My husband discovered this when the line at Auntie Em's was too long.) Their breakfast burritos and Mexican caramel pancakes are amazing.

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Best chocolates in LA?

I have three favorite chocolate stores:

A Beverly Hills store with great, old fashioned, American-style chocolates.
http://www.edelweisschocolates.com

Li Lac Chocolates in New York:
http://www.li-lacchocolates.com/

A New Hampshire chocolate shop that makes stunningly delicious and beautiful artisan bars:
http://www.byrneandcarlson.com/

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Looking for good store-bought kimchi

I agree with everyone who recommends Cosmos kimchi. I first bought it at the Beachwood Market and have seen it at the Korean grocery stores as well. It has a very fresh taste and is made here in LA.
http://www.cosmosfood.com/company.html

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Wil Wright's macaroons

Here's a recipe I got from a friend of a friend and it's really close to what I remember getting with coffee ice cream at the Wil Wights in Beverly Hills. The recipe from "handletaper" also looks good. In fact it might be better. The ones I made seemed a bit too sweet.

8 oz almond paste
2 egg whites
1 1/4 cup superfine sugar

Beat until blended in the Cuisineart. Spoon onto parchment paper and bake a 275 degrees. They will increase two times.

Here's a great description of the place and coffee ice cream by Candice Bergen:
http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/candice-bergen-wil-wrights-ice-cream-parlour-3482

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Deal on a kitchen island in LA?

I second Charlie's Fixtures. I've purchased a couple of stainless steel work tables there. Charlie's delivers and has reasonable prices. (I've also purchased from Metro though a broker, but that's a more expensive option.)

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Im looking for a good baby shower cake.....any suggestions?

A colleague of mine recommended Martino's Bakery in Burbank and after purchasing a few cakes there, I have to say it's now my favorite place for cakes. The tea cakes are beautiful, delicious and reasonably priced as are their sheet cakes. Everyone seems to love them. They've been in business since 1926 including a period where they were owned by Pepperidge Farm.
http://www.martinosbakery.com/M-Bakery/Cakes/Cake_Menu.html

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Where do you go grocery shop?

Q Market whenever I'm in Van Nuys. They have an incredible collection of nuts and dried fruits, a very good butcher, and incredible bargains on things like Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Narek Market on Hollywood Blvd. for excellent Gavina coffee at 5.99/lb and their grinder is better than at most Trader Joe's Markets for espresso grind coffee.Sweet butter at 1.69 per pound.
The Hollywood Farmers Market every Sunday for produce, honey, pasta, Linder Bison
H K Market in Glendale for amazing Korean BBQ fixings
Jons, Ralphs, Smart& Final, Gelsons, and Whole Foods when things aren't available at the others.

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Best place for take out korean banchan for a DIY Korean BBQ?

H K Market is great. Very clean, not crowded and with an amazing banchan bar.
831 N Pacific Ave # A
Glendale, CA 91203-3670
(818) 247-4949‎
(818) 547-5932‎

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Does anyone enjoy shopping at Gelsons market as much as I do?

Gelsons is doing better these days with their prices, but I still make the rounds to a few markets because Gelsons charges ridiculous prices for some produce (like red, yellow or orange peppers) even when they are in season. When Gelson's is charging over $5 per pound for an orange pepper, I can get them for less than $1 per pound at Jons. Also, the produce buyers don't seem to taste as part of their buying process. The produce always looks beautiful but is often bland and without flavor.

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Pristine fresh fish, where art thou?

I tried going to IMP, but the guy in the lot told me they will only sell to commercial accounts and sent me to Pacific Fresh Seafood. I was able to get into Pacific Fresh Seafood and everything looked good. Prices were closer to retail though.

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HATCH CHILE ROASTING 2009 Please add dates

I bought a pound of the Hatch Chilis for less than $2 at Bristol Farms and roasted them at home. They were delicious on french bread with mayo!

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cheapest grass fed beef?

Lindner Bison makes a terrific hamburger! (I buy the bulk ground meat, not the preformed patties.) My brother-in-law always eats his rare and says its the best burger he's ever had.

Kathy is at the Hollywood Farmers Market on Sundays.
http://www.lindnerbison.com/

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Best Fish and Chips?

For a great fish and chips excursion, I suggest taking the ferry to Two Harbors in Catalina and having fish and chips at the one restaurant which is located right on the beach. Their fish and chips are good! Or you can go to Avalon and have fish and chips at Armstrong's Seafood Restaurant and Fish Market which also has a very nice harbor view, but you have to sit outside!

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Best mexican for an east coaster

Tere's Mexican Kitchen on Melrose near Cahuenga in Hollywood (not far from West Hollywood) has excellent food. Their fish dishes are terrific.
5870 Melrose Ave # 101 Los Angeles, CA 90038-3700 - (323) 468-9345

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Need to buy uncooked ravioli for a party

A charming Italian man from a company called Mangi Con Amore sells excellent ravioli and grated parmesan cheese at the Sunday Hollywood Farmer's Market. (I've tried many kinds because my husband is a ravioli nut, and this guy's are incredible.) Luckily I have a container of their Parmesan Cheese handy and have the label to refer to. They are based in Irvine and you may contact them at 969 338 7487.
http://mangiconamore.com/pasta.html

I love their asparagus and spinach ravioli and their mushroom ravioli -- and feel confident the cheese ones will be great too. These ravioli don't require sauce. They are excellent with just a little olive oil or butter (when I have sage, I add that to the butter) and some cheese.

When I don't make it to the market to buy pasta, we sometimes get Monterey ravioli (available at Ralphs and Gelson's). They make very good whole wheat ravioli (the red pepper one is good. The basil, tomato and mozzarella is also a favorite) and excellent pesto.
http://www.montereygourmetfoods.com/company/monterey_pasta_company/

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OPDC HUB Raw Milk Store

I buy Organic Pastures milk at the Hollywood Farmers Market and have found it to be excellent. I was skeptical about the advantage of raw milk versus processed and found that I can enjoy milk again after trying this particular kind. I think it's the fact that their cows are grass-fed that makes the difference for me. (When I use processed milk or even organic raw milk from other makers, I get a bubbly stomach.) It's less expensive and fresher if you purchase it at a farmers' market.

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Small farm for grass-fed/pastured, organic meat, eggs, dairy?

Kathy Lindner is at the Hollywood Farmers market every Sunday selling delicious grassfed bison. I started out by trying the ground bison and it beat any beef I've had in years by a long shot! The ground bison is packed with flavor! I also tried making one of their roasts at Christmas and it was very good as well. Friends of mine make the bison tongue regularly and love it. http://www.lindnerbison.com/
You can also get great local eggs, cheeses, and raw milk at this market. The fresh fish truck at this market is also exceptional!

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Guilt-Free Donut Alternative at Zoltan's Transylvania Bakery in Hollywood

This morning I came across a new stand at the Hollywood Farmers' Market that’s selling a delicious, healthier, alternative to donuts. The chewy bread is baked rotisserie style. It’s shaped like a large juice can with a hollow interior and a sweet, caramelized, exterior that comes plain or with various toppings. I got walnut, but there's also almond, coconut, plain caramel and other toppings. These sell for around $3.00 each. They also have delicious Hungarian poppy seed and walnut rolled strudels that sell for $7.00 each.

They are giving out samples of the chewy bread and the rolls and seem to be getting a great response. You can also get these items at their bakery in Hollywood. They opened just a couple of months ago. Zoltan Imre (the owner) says that if you are interested in the Hungarian rolled strudels, you should call ahead so he can hold one for you.

Zoltan’s Transylvania Bakery
5615 Hollywood Blvd. (East of Wilton near Gramercy Place)
Los Angeles, CA 90029
213 713 4010

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Oinkster Burger

My husband and I go to the Oinkster frequently. He always get the pulled pork combo with fries and loves it. I've tried a few other things. The burger was great once -- thick, juicy, and perfectly medium-rare as requested! But the last time I went there, they gave me a thin, well-done burger even though I'd requested medium rare. When I complained, they cooked me a new burger, but it was well done again! When I gave that one back to them, they tried a third time, only to make another well-done burger! At that point I sadly ate the sad, thin, dry burger. (My friends had already finished their dinners!) And, I figured that they didn''t really train the cooks who were working that night to deliver the kind of burger they'd become known for. More recently, I tried their Chinese Chicken salad which was fresh and exceptional. However, I'd love to be able to get the old-style burger again! This sort of thing is hard to come by these days!

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Red Velvet cake please...

You can get very good red velvet cake at Auntie Em's in Eagle Rock or cupcakes at Sprinkles in Beverly Hills. The Blue Velvet Cake at Milk is an eye-popper but stains teeth blue and, when I tried it, seemed a bit stale (maybe because they keep it in a cold case).

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Fresh Hot Croissants at New Italian Bakery in Hollywood

I just returned from picking up hot, fresh from the oven, croissants from a new Italian bakery on Hollywood Blvd. (a couple of doors west of Sabor y Cultura Cafe). I got three kinds of croissants (chocolate, plain and cream filled) and my husband Nick declared they are among the very best he's eaten! They were still hot when I got home.

The bakery is run by a very friendly couple. It's called I Panini Di Ambra Bakery. They are open seven days a week. The croissants come out of the oven at 9:30 on weekdays and 10:30 on weekends. They also sell, pizza al taglio, focaccia, panini, cookies, tiramisu, cappuccino, espresso and Italian sodas. They have tables in the cafe and outside, so you can eat there or take out.

Here are their details:
I Panini Di Ambra Bakery
5633 Hollywood Blvd. (north side of the street, between Wilton and Grammercy)
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323 463 1200

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West Hollywood = Chowhound Wasteland?

Galanga Thai Fusion offers a 5.95 lunch special that includes an entrée, rice (brown or white), and salad (I like the peanut dressing). I go here with colleagues and we often get chicken and broccoli, cashew nut chicken, spicy eggplant with steamed tofu, or yellow curry. These are good lunches that hit the spot for a reasonable price. They have a nice garden area in the back.
7440 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 851-4355‎

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where to buy fish in hollywood area

At the Hollywood Farmers Market on Sunday mornings on Ivar St., there's a truck where a couple of women sell fresh fish. The lines are sometimes long, but I've been very happy with the quality.

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Sushi Nishi-ya in Glendale

Thank you to all of you for recommending Sushi Nishi-Ya! My husband and I had dinner there last night and loved it! The fish was some of the freshest and most delicious I've tasted. The server introduced each new item by telling us where the fish came from. This place is very friendly and relaxed. Parking is easy, there's no line of hungry diners extending out the door like at some of the more popular places. We'd called for a reservation and they took it though when we got there we saw that this wasn't needed. They serve beer and sake. We will return!

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Favorite Green Vege to serve with TG Dinner

Green beans steamed then sauted in anchovy butter.

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Single Best Cocktail in LA?

Buddha's Belly has a gingerita, made with shochu. I believe they make a strong tea with fresh ginger, mix in plenty of sugar while it's hot, cool it down and then serve mixed with shochu over ice.

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