weegeebee's Profile
Visiting DC/Fredericksburg Area
thanks for the tips. These sound great. I'm staying on Jefferson Davis so I think I'll be pretty close. Probably spending my days on the battlefields, so I'll be in and around old town.
Visiting DC/Fredericksburg Area
thanks, all, for the tips.
in my attempt to keep the post short, I didn't want to post my full itinerary. Rest assured I'm not cramming all that activity into one day. More like 2 days and nights and I've been to most of the sites multiple times except the Marine Museum already, so it's more of just a fly by to refresh my memory. And I'm definitely spending some time on the battlefields (Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, and Wilderness) for an additional 1.5 days.
But sounds like there weren't many food tips. Is Fredericksburg just one of those tourist trap areas? Definitely don't want chain food. Would love to have a go to neighborhood place (diner, bistro, bar & grill, etc.)
I did find some highly recommended joints in Arlington so I'm hoping on a couple decent meals. I guess I'll just roll the dice on the others.
Visiting DC/Fredericksburg Area
Hi all. Spending a few days in the area. Don't want anything fancy. Just some good old fashioned food. Anything from Hot Dogs, Pizza, sandwiches, fried chicken, for lunch, maybe a little bistro, BBQ or ethnic for a sit down dinner.
I'll mostly be in Fredericksburg, but plan on spending a full day around Arlington National Cemetary, The Mall, Marine's museum, etc. Don't mind taking a little drive to Georgetown, etc. if it's worth the haul.
Favorite Asian Sauce Disappearance & Strange Grocery Mystery
don't think that's sriracha. That looks like Sambal (might say "Chili/Garlic Sauce") on label as well.
Sriracha has similar packaging--red coming through see through bottle with green top, but sriracha is more of a squeeze bottle type sauce, essentially being blended into a ketchup type consistency.
Boquerones in LA
well, I was looking for the marinated/preserved kind. although, damn, if I could find them fresh, wow.
shucks, was just at Seafood Harbor yesterday, could've stopped into Claros real quick. Oh well, next time.
I'll have to check out Mario's as well. Not too far away from there. Depending on how they're frozen, might still be fine. Most seafood we buy nowadays is previously frozen anyway.
Boquerones in LA
where can I buy at decent price? Whole paycheck has them for $25/lb. and they didn't taste all that great.
SFV, Glendale, Pasadena preferred, but I'll venture out if it's a good deal.
Sake Sediment
freaking delicious. tasty stuff. Drank a few pours. Very fruity and smooth. Don't know if it lost a step over the 2 years, but it's damn good.
Sake Sediment
Good call. I looked at the label and it is in fact a nigorizake. regardless, it's getting opened very soon. Enough waitinig around. thanks for the info.
Sake Sediment
I was storing a good bottle of sake in a wine fridge, maybe around 62 degrees. It was at least a couple years, bottle on its side.
Just went to move around some stuff today and noticed quite a bit of creamy white "sediment" Not sure what it is. Almost kind of like rice milkish.
Is that normal or should I throw it out?
It's a rare brand out of japan. Should have drank it earlier. Always wait for a special occasion.
Meat for Argentine Asado
no luck. no problems finding sausage or chorizo, but the kind I'm looking for I think is called chorizo criollo. It has the texture of a polish sausage, very finely ground and is spiced with garlic, almost kind of sweet. I went to Rincon Argentino, fun place, pack a lot of items in small space, but they got the usual more italian style sausage.
celery mayo
I had some unbelievable bread dip while traveling through Salta, Argentina.
From what I could gather it was a basic mayo with hard boiled egg, garlic and celery ground in. It has a pale green color. Really sublime and tasty.
Anybody got a recipe? Not sure if I'm missing an ingredient or two.
Drinks and bar food east SFV
thanks, everyone. good suggestions. Now I might need to go bar hopping : )
Drinks and bar food east SFV
What's a good place in Studio City/Sherman Oaks area.
I know of Casa Vega, but gets crowded if not there early. I also like Blue Dog Tavern, but no spirits.
Anything else with a good bar scene and something to nosh on before dinner.
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Casa Vega Restaurant
13301 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Meat for Argentine Asado
thanks, I think I went in there once. And I remember the chorizo being more of the fine ground kind, but I didn't like the place overall. DIdn't seem very fresh. BUt maybe I'll make a special stop just for the chori
Meat for Argentine Asado
Where's a good place to buy argentine style chorizo in SFV/Glendale/Burbank area to prepare at home?
Not a big fan of the one at Mercado Buenos Aires. It doesn't have the right texture or sweetness of the traditional kind. Their morcilla is ok, but not great, and their sweetbreads are kind of skimpy.
The skirt steak is pretty good over there, even have the kind with the flap still on it. And of course the grocery and deli is pretty good for empanadas, cheese, mate, etc.
But is there anything else nearby?
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Mercado Buenos Aires
7540 Sepulveda Blvd, Van Nuys, CA
O'Sulloc Tea [Moved from L.A. board, apparently no local sources in L.A.]
thanks for the comments all.
I did find the O'Sulloc mall. I sent an email. Curious about shipping charges because the tea ain't cheap. About $15 for 30 grams for the loose. So some international shipping might get heavy duty.
I received a 4 pack sampler. In each box is about 4 or 5 sealed envelopes with 1 tea bag. Unfortunately it doesn't note which each tea it is. Each has a different color though. I've tried 2 and they are amazing. The sampler is their "best selling tea" sampler, and so far the 2 have been green tea. I think one was just a simple green tea while the other definitely has some sort of floral thread in it.
O'Sulloc Tea [Moved from L.A. board, apparently no local sources in L.A.]
Anybody know where I can buy O'Sulloc brand tea or similar in LA area (preferably SFV) or even online.
A S. Korean client just sent me some. Wow, this stuff is great.
where to buy pappy van winkle bourbon in LA?
i'm getting thirsty and its just barely lunch time : )
what's the going price on the 15 year?
where to buy pappy van winkle bourbon in LA?
I heard the 15 year wasn't too bad, like $40ish. I'll save the 20 year for my Christmas list : )
where to buy pappy van winkle bourbon in LA?
thanks. Wine and Liquor Depot sounds perfect.
Curious to try it. Been hearing lots of good things for a while. finally finished my bottle of Knob so looking to refill with something new.
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Wine and Liquor Depot
16938 Saticoy St, Van Nuys, CA
where to buy pappy van winkle bourbon in LA?
preferably SFV, glendale, burbank, pasadena area.
ISO Short Rib
Sepulveda and Saticoy, just south.
They had a tasty short rib, but lacked that fat cap which takes it to another level.
ISO Short Rib
no worries. Glad you mentioned HG. Probably will make a call regardless as I've seen the name mentioned here and there.
Does he have any minimum size order and what does a "typical" steak price run, say for instance a bone in NY or bone in Ribeye?
ISO Short Rib
thanks. I tried Jim's. Really helpful, but didn't have it. They're the ones that told me that most butchers nowadays are getting semi processed cuts.
I'll keep Harvey Guss in my back pocket for now. Going to try Carniceria Argentina Alex Meat Market in NoHo later on today.
ISO Short Rib
Need to find a butcher in LA area, perferably SFV, that sells short rib (not flanken cut, but the longer piece with the bone) with the fat on the meat side.
It's pretty easy to find the rib with it stripped down or with just a thin layer of fat, or of course the flanken cut, but I haven't seen it with a thick piece of fat on top. This is the way it's prepared/served in a traditional Argentine or Uruguayan asado.
I thought for sure Mercado Buenos Aires would have it, but they don't. And from visiting a couple butchers in my area, i.e. Jim's, Whole Foods, etc. most of them are getting their meat semi broken down from the supplier, so they can't get to the rib before the fat is pulled off. Vallarta was close, but not fully there. I had the butcher pick through the pile and was able to get 3 1lb pieces that had about a 1/4 to 1/2 of fat. The ones I saw in Buenos Aires had at least a full inch+ of fat, and I'm telling you, there is nothing more delicious than that crisped up fat on piece of rib meat.
Anyone got any ideas? I'll go down to the famous butchers in LA Farmer's Market off Fairfax if I need to, but was hoping I could get lucky on the 101 area, anywhere from Woodland Hills to Glendale.
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Mercado Buenos Aires
7540 Sepulveda Blvd, Van Nuys, CA
Where do you go grocery shop?
Replying to another question about Henry's got me thinking. Where do I grocery shop?
20-25% farmers market, Whole Foods, Bristol Farms and other speciality stores (i.e. Schriners, Vallarta, 99 Ranch, Cavarettas, etc.) and online speciality items
15-20% Costco for meat and fish and some pantry items
10% Trader Joes. Mostly dairy, wine, cheese, frozen items, oils, canned items and bread. This used to be my biggest percentage, but prices have gone up big time and a lot of quality issues lately.
15-20% Super King. Great prices on produce and nuts and some hard to find ethnic items.
35% Henrys. Mostly because it's close, but a lot of times I get good, fresh buys here. I'm in there a few times a week and can usually get out with less than $25. Mostly chicken, sometimes fish and meat if it looks fresh, good prices on melons and herbs, and a few choice deli items.
5% Cost Plus and Bev Mo for wine, beer, and couple random buys.
1-2% Big chain super markets. I've pretty much stopped going. Only for certain brand name items or when totally desparate.
Has anyone been to the new Henreys market in Woodland Hills?
yes. Good place. Kind of a cross between TJs and Whole Foods.
Best thing is to go on Weds because they have double ads, previous week ending and new week starting.
Produce is fairly priced and "touchable" unlike a lot of TJs stuff. Much better priced than the regular market (i.e. two bunches of cilantro for $1 vs one for $1.50). Quality not as good as WFs, but close enough.
Meats and fish are above average. You got to check what's fresh. I've had some Alaskan Halibut for $7.99 (wild and fresh) that was outstanding. But I've seen some cuts of salmon and snapper that did not look too appetizing. They've got grass fed beef too, reasonable priced, and some decent Angus steaks in the butcher window. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts regularly go on sale for $1.89 a pound which is pretty dang cheap. But I've seen varying degrees of quality (i.e. lots of fat and connective attached vs. pretty cleaned up).
Lastly, they don't have a big selection, but have several Boars Heads meats much cheaper than market and delis around town.
It's one of the markets in my rotation. I probably do about 35-40% of my shopping there. Look out for specials because those items are well worth it and make sure they pass the sight test. The rest of the stuff you have to be selective on.
Trader Joe's Wine Recs?
A couple times a year they get this wine called "Chariot". It's a red blend, about $4.99 a bottle. Very good stuff considering the price, and makes a nice table wine or cooking wine.
I also like their CDR by Perrin, I think $6.99.
One of their sparkling wines is a great bang for the buck, I think St. Michelle, about $7
I've had some good luck with various SBs and Voigniers. Don't recall any specific names, but if you stay in the $7-10 range, you usually get pretty good value. Kim Crawford is solid but is probably closer to $12.
Italian bakery?
Cavaretta in Canoga Park. Sheman Way and couple blocks west of Topanga. Not the very best, but pretty good if you want something closer. Good cookie selection, the cannoli are above average, and they've got some other treats. They have fresh baked sfogliatelle every Saturday, call and reserve some, or you can buy them frozen and warm them up which is even better.
