pink cadillac's Profile
OK OK I Give
So fine, I get it, Park 50s & 60s is a Chowhound Desert, and all of the good stuff is far to the south. But there I will be with Little Mother. I told her we will be in New York City, and it is Food Central, and we will have no trouble finding lovely spots. She does not require deluxe, and I suppose I can push her into a taxi and head out, but our time is a little crunchy. How about bakeries and cafes and tea spots?
Pink Cadillac
Park & 50s-60s
Esteemed Hounds
Can you offer guidance for an unrepentant returning native, in town for a visit next weekend?
Our hotel is 56 and Park-ish, and we will be spending lunch and dinner times at the Armory at 66 and Park. Little Mother and I would like to chart a course between the deluxe we cannot afford, and true Chowhound stands and hole in the wall treasures. Pleasant, small, delish, lady-Little Mother appropriate.
Many thanks,
Pink Cadillac
Cupcake Odyssey in the Northeast
Esteemed Hounds:
My fellow cupcake searcher and I tried the cupcakes at Little Flower in Pasadena. He declared his good, but not brilliant. I only eat croissants at Little Flower, as I am afraid to miss the opportunity by deviation, so I only had a bite. I agreed. Not bad, nothing special. I was pleased to go back to my croissant.
Anyone on a cupcake hunt knows about Auntie Em’s in Eagle Rock. When you have eaten one of the large bountiful cupcakes there, you know from the first bite you have found the perfect balance of sweet and butter. They are tender, crumbly, but coherent. Cocoanut is my ticket to heaven. I am often unable to speak until the first few bites have gone down. I took my fellow searcher there for his first time, and after that first bite, he smiled radiantly, and with sparkling eyes said only “Yes.”
Next we tried Dots, a recent Westside émigré. We were miserable, looking at each other amazed at how bad a cupcake could be. Dense, to the point of gummy, icing almost crunchy with sugar, and with a raw taste. We were further annoyed to be told they had no tea, only coffee. I don’t drink coffee, and my companion, suspicious to see only pumps with no evidence of actual brewing, did without. And no plates. The unpleasant clerk gave us a pretty box and cute wooden almost forks. We were forced to go across the street to Whole Foods for pizza to get those things out of our mouths.
Next: Glendale
Exile reply
Couldn't get the repy to work, so I am trying this method.
Thank you Mighty SF Hounds. The suggestions were very helpful.
Unadventurous Scaredy Cat has expressed interest in Absinthe in the evening as she has been there before, there are plenty of vegetarian dishes, and it is near the Herbst where we will be seeing Philharmonia.
Are we missing something? I tried to talk her into the dark night at Indigo. Much horror.
Exile for a day
Esteemed Hounds
I am leaving LA for a day to see the Chihuly at the de Young. I am leaving dear Monterey Park behind and thinking fondly of the Yank Sing of my very long ago youth. It seems to have risen in a de luxe sort of way, and I am intimidated. I was, however, impressed with their vegetarian claims as I will be with a strict veggie - no fish, but not vegan. Some 'hound searching has turned up references to Ton Kiang and Koi Palace, and in the non dim sum department Green's was mentioned. In that same department Angkor Borei and Slanted Door seem to have emerged. My other fellow traveller is a parking and traffic phobe. She panics easily. I will be driving and am not afraid, If you can spare some advice for a humble LA Hound, I would appreciate any guidance.
Gardena lunchie
I will be trapped in the Gardena vicinity with a girlfriend tomorrow. We plan to get to a local mall for a little shopping, but subsequently we will be hunting for a non-chain lady lunchie locale. West of Gardena even unto the ocean would be more than ok. Many thanks, LA Chowhounds, I am out of my purview.
Pasadena -- Mission Impossible?
Cafe Atlantic. A Cuban cafe, the less expensive sibling to the fabulous and fabulously expensive Xiomara a few door south of Cafe Bizou on Raymond in Old Town. Enter through Xiomara. They share the same kitchen. I am told they also share the same knockout mojitos if the ladies are inclined. Not for dainty vegetarians. Delicious. Pleasant brick courtyard, perfect for a lady lunch. Mi Piace, however is hard to beat and may be more familiar as it is very Italian.
