Nukedli's Profile
Best place in WLA to buy tomatoes? (other than farmer's markets)
Baron,
Thanks for the tip. I found two large heirloom beauties - one red, one green - at the Pavillions in Brentwood, at the $1.99 you mentioned. I sliced some of the red for a turkey sandwich and ate the rest of it in hand. Geez, it was so superior to regular grocery tomatoes it made me angry at how much the public has been under-served by the produce growers and chains.
Best place in WLA to buy tomatoes? (other than farmer's markets)
Any suggestions in WLA where to find heirlooms or other quality tomatoes? Farmer's markets are a given, and Marina Farms is good, but I'm still looking for a more convenient and better selection.
Where can I find some Frozen Custard?
Waferthin: There really isn't anything in Southern California to compare with this regional treat. I'd say great frozen custard is to ice cream as great BBQ ribs are to diner meatloaf. Its richer (with higher butterfat and added egg yolk), its tastier (creamier and smoother on the tongue), and It tastes fresher than ice cream.
Check out Kopps or Leon's in Milwaukee or search for some frozen custard shop reviews. Even on those coldest days of winter on the frozen tundra, there are long lines for Milwaukee's frozen custard.
Where can I find some Frozen Custard?
Along with you other transplanted Milwaukeans, I too miss the outstanding frozen custard. My first stop when visiting family is always Kopps.
A number of people over the years have tried to make a go of frozen custard in Southern California. No go. Different culture, I guess. Can't really get great pizza here either. Or great BBQ. Or a cat puppet that delivers the weather forecast. (sigh)
Do you buy seasonal produce?
Just curious: why would anyone reopen a thread that has been dead for 8-years?
Favorite all time candies
Turkish Taffy (banana)
The flat gum that came with 1950s era baseball cards
Candy Raisins (not made from raisins, its a Wisconsin regional candy)
Cotton Candy
Most unhealthy thing you have seen or eaten
Gribenes: chicken skin fried until crisp in chicken fat and/or butter, salted, often mixed with fried onions.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Schmaltz-and-Gribenes-108013
All from Costco
In reply to Brendastarlet:
1. Costco's produce is consistently better - often much better - than any of the local markets.
2.Same as #1.
3. Costco's processed foods are consistently better at a better price than any of the local markets. Their processed sliced turkey at $4.00/lb, for instance, is half the price of the local markets sliced turkey and much better quality.
4. Like most people, I'm interested in the best quality at the best price. That's Costco. Local markets haven't earned my loyalty and don't offer better shopping. Local farmers -- there is no such thing in big city markets - it's almost all institutionally produced.
5.Costco's taste quality beats the local markets time after time.
6. Fuller freezer means a higher electric bill? I think not.
None of your assertions against Costco jibe with my experience.
Best national brand butter?
I find all Land o' Lakes dairy products better tasting than the other national brands and often the best value for price, too. Their butters are first class and their cottage cheese better than all others I've tried.
Analysts: "Cheesecake Factory food is a bargain! Get it cheap while you can!"
Horrid? Judging by the popularity, the locals seem to radically disagree with your assessment of the Cheesecake Factory. I've had many meals at different Cheesecake Factorys and I've never had a bad meal. The appetizers have been first rate and the main dishes have been better than I get at most restaurants. The various cheesecakes have been just fine. The service has always been very good and the price is right.
Analysts: "Cheesecake Factory food is a bargain! Get it cheap while you can!"
This talk of oversized portions is exaggerated and misleading. The portions at CK are at most moderately larger than many restaurants, but the portions at many restaurants, especially new cuisine types, are often absurdly sparse. Schatzi once served me a portion of mashed potatoes that was less than two ounces. I prefer Cheesecake Factory portions, and after dozens of meals I've never seen anyone take home enough food from CK to last three meals - perhaps, at most, enough for a next day snack. The food is good at CK and the portions are more than satisfying -- GET OVER IT.
Am I the only one who thinks Cheesecake Factory is overrated?
After dozens of meals at various Cheesecake Factory locations in Los Angeles, I applaud this chain for consistently good food and service.
Kosher Coke now in stores
Just bought yellow-top Kosher Coca-Cola at Albertson's in Mar Vista.
Missing from Costco
I was once mistakenly double charged for an item and I missed the error at the register. The checker at the door caught it and saved me a considerable amount of money. I don't object a whit to having my receipt checked at the door, and your fuming because it makes you feel like you're being treated like a shoplifter says more about your psyche than Costco's policies IMO.
Land o' Lakes cottage cheese
I much prefer Land o' Lakes cottage cheese to any of the local brands, but rarely find it. Occasionally Costco carries it, but not very often. Anyone know of a local grocer who sells it?
Why all the anti-Cheesecake Factory vitriol???
To answer Hooda: The common issue that connects Chowhounders is the chow -- not who owns the property. What the OP wondered was about all the hate directed at a restaurant chain whose dining experience clearly satisfies it's customers. Bad food - poor service - substandard sanitation, etc. are valid criticisms of interest to everyone. Silly criticism, to me, is about non-chowhound issues - like your personal preference of where you want to spend your dining dollars.
LA Deli's
After 35-years of eating in L.A. delis I'd rank Izzy's as a solid B or B+, depending on what you order. My family had brunch there Christmas morning and all seven of us thought the food and service was just fine. Nate 'n' Al's, Brent's, and Langer's are probably better, I'm not so sure about Cantors, but if you're in the mood for deli food you're not going to be disappointed at Izzy's.
Great Chinese Food on the Westside
I took visiting relatives to Changs two nights ago and the food and service were both first rate. We shared wonton soup, various appetizers, three different chicken dishes, and bbq pork with snow peas: everyone remarked how good everything was. My sister provided the one criticism - she didn't care for the orange segments given with the almond cookies. Everyone also complimented the waitress, Linda (I think), who provided an exemplary standard for helpful advice, efficient service, and personal attention.
Why all the anti-Cheesecake Factory vitriol???
Completely agree - very good restaurant chain, foolish complainers. A long time ago I read a published letter from a woman complaining about her husband: "He burns the hair out of his nose with a lit match and he thinks I'm crazy because I voted for Nixon." Lesson learned: everyone's got an opinion and some are sillier than others.
Chow Challenge: $5 lunch on the Westside => Cent. City, Culv City, WLA, SM, Brntwd, Wstwd, MDR and Venice
The often mentioned Bay Cities Italian Deli in Santa Monica has a Poor Boy sandwich for $4.35, bologna, cotto salami,swiss cheese with the works; mayo, mustard (yellow, honey or dijon), onions, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, Italian dressing & mild or hot pepper salad. For $5.75 you can get their best sandwich, the Godmother: genoa salami, mortadella
coppacola, ham, prosciutto, provolone with the works. Their bread is baked on the premises, several times a day, and is terrific.
http://www.baycitiesitaliandeli.com
World's Best Mustard? Please stake your claim.
A friend brought me some German mustard from Europe that is absolutely a grade better than any American mustard I've ever had, and better than 99% of any French mustards, too. It's Hengstenberg Medium Hot Mustard (not really terribly hot at all), also available as a sweet mustard. It's about $5 for 250 grams and comes in a small ceramic crock. A true treat on anything you like with mustard.
http://www.germandeli.com/hepr.html
The search for the best soda???
Micro-brewed Sprechers Root Beer from Milwaukee is made with real vanilla and honey. I found a case at BevMo in Culver City, but it was a bit dusty and tasted a bit old. It was still much better than any of the supermarket sodas. When fresh, it's the best soda I ever tasted.
http://www.sprecherbrewery.com/soda.php
Lunch in Ojai
Bocalli's Pizza and Pasta restaurant is a five-minute ride out in the country, on the main road, the only business out among the orange/avocado groves. It's one of those places that's a regular hangout for many of the local residents and regular visitors. Seating inside or outside under the big old Oak trees. Food is good - not great, but if you want to experience the non-tourist side of the Ojai experience at an old-fashioned family run home-style Italian place - try it. Really good strawberry shortcake, too. Following link has photos and a menu.
http://www.boccalis.com/
Root Beer Recommendations?
I found all the big name root beers to be comparable to a McDonalds burger, when what I thirsted for was something better. I really like Sprechers - a small brewery that adds honey and real vanilla.The BevNet review says it has, "...rich, root flavor and thick, creamy head."
http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/sprechers/
Langer's Pastrami supplier Burbank???
My .02 cents worth: There are a handful of delis across the country that make truly great pastrami and corned beef. I've experienced this at the Rascal House and Wolfie's in Miami, at Jake Levine's in Milwaukee, and at Langers. I'm sure there are others, but what all these had in common was that they used only the highest quality, fresh beef and then steamed their meat and cut it by hand.
Fried Chicken with a difference?
While living in France many years ago, I visited a family that lived in the country. The wife was American and the first thing she asked me was what food I missed -- my favorite: Fried chicken. She went outside, caught a backyard chicken, took it to her farmer neighbor for dispatch, and I helped her pluck it. She cooked it in vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet with a very basic recipe. It was by far the best fried chicken I ever tasted. You don't realize the difference between real fresh and not-fresh until you've tasted it.
Frugal meals
I lived on "mashed potuna" once upon a time:
instant mashed potato made with a bit of milk and butter -
mix in a can of tuna and cup of peas.
it was filling, and cost very, very little per serving.
it tasted good and was comfort food - I still make it occasionally on cold winter days.
Calendar's - Howard Hughes Center
to update - I got hornswagled into a family get-together at this restaurant last night and can report that the service was unacceptable and food was maybe one step up from an institutional cafeteria. We had to ask five times to get water, they failed to bring some of the dishes ordered, requests for hot tea by three diners were ignored until someone finally got indignant about it, and two of the three mugs dripped and one of them had an inch long crack down the side (discovered too late). The diverse entrees were not enjoyable, merely edible. Ribs not very meaty, bbq sauce tasted like cheap supermarket sauce. Meatloaf - bland and didn't look remotely fresh. The pasta dishes were just what you'd get if you bought their frozen dinners and made them at home. The breaded fish went half uneaten. The cornbread with honeybutter was fresh and good. The appetizers - spinach dip and quesadellas were both fine. The price - maybe $160 for seven people.
Your favorite sandwich. Ones you make at home.
Mini-club sandwichs:
soft Hawaiian roll, split
smear of Alfredo sauce on each surface
turkey (or chicken) cut to fit roll
lettuce & tomato cut to fit
ham slice (or bacon) cut to fit
press lightly to flatten
