ktm's Profile
Grown-up goodie bags: what would you make?
Chocolate dipped dried fruits like apricots, mission figs, candied orange peel.
Best simple recipes?
I love to cook but cook almost exclusively "simple recipes". If your ingredients are fresh seasonal and local, they don't need much help to be delicious. My favorite is a vegetable soup made with chicken stock and any single vegetable then pureed. Asparagus has so much flavor it needs nothing else except some salt and pepper and a little butter stirred in at the end for richness. Tomatoes make an amazing soup if you slow roast them first then puree with stock and add some fresh basil. With carrots or beets or squash (roast for added richness) I will add some grated ginger and maybe squeeze in some orange or tangerine juice and a little grated rind. Another delicious one is avocado which isn't even cooked, just puree the stock and avocados with some lime and cilantro and jalapeno if desired. Serve cold / room temp with a dollop of sour cream on top.
Ideas for Beet Greens, Please?
I like to fry up some pancetta in olive oil, then take out the crispy bits and saute the greens in the remaining oil / fat. Boil some pasta and toss it in using some of the reserved pasta water to thin the "sauce" if necessary. Serve with the crispy pancetta sprinkled over the top along with some grated parmesan. Yum.
I also make a delicious vegetable lasagna alternating layers of roasted butternut squash (mashed with butter, roasted garlic, and sage) and sauteed greens (chard or beet greens saueed with garlic in olive oil and butter). You can also layer ricotta cheese (mix with an egg and seasoned with salt & pepper). Then top with a bechamel sauce and bake. Or don't bake it at all (skip the ricotta cheese) and assemble layers of the vegetables & pasta on a plate and top with a sauce of butter in which you have fried fresh sage leaves until crispy. The butter will lightly brown and you can sprinkle the sage leaves on top. Something happens when you fry them in the butter and they become delicious and not overwhelmingly sagey.
Fun weird restaurants in LA?
Palm Thai in Hollywood on Hollywood & Gower? or near there. The food is great authentic Thai and you sit at banquet tables listening to alternating sets of a Thai Elvis impersonator, Folk Singer and R&B singer. Also, there is or was a very campy Italian restaurant on Culver in Playa del Rey. Haven't been in 10 years so I'm not sure of it's still there, but the interior was layered with decades of every different kind of holiday decoration and lights & mechanized dolls. Totally wacky and over the top. A basic Italian American spaghetti & meatballs type of menu. Decent.
Fresh Apple Cider in LA?
But what about the fresh unpasteurized unfiltered apple juice you can get at the farmers markets? That's the stuff I always buy hoping for a cider taste, and they are delicious, but they just don't taste the same.
Fresh Apple Cider in LA?
Can someone please explain the difference between "cider" and "juice"? I grew up in MA drinking "cider" and have only found "juice" here. It just doesn't taste the same, doesn't have the same intensity or bite. Is it just that the apples used are a different variety. I think the "cider" I remember was from MacIntosh or Cortland apples. (I am not referring to hard (alcoholic) cider.)
ISO Great fresh Italian sausage in L.A. area
Try the homemade sausage at Victors meat market on Palms / National just W. of the 10fwy underpass. It is very cleanly and simply spiced with fennel like what my Italian grandfather cooked when I was a kid in Boston. Much better than Whole Foods and other grocery store sausage. I haven't tried the Bay Cities one. I tried making my own for while, then realized I could just buy it there for less money & effort. You usually have to buy it from their freezer since they don't seem to make it every day / week.
Rec. in Culver City
If you want Japanese / Asian inspired then do go to Beacon. It may be overrated, but it is still very good. It has suffered from an amazing amount of hype that has raised expectations to an unreasonable level. I have had many very good meals there if not life-changingly memorable ones. It just depends what you are in the mood for, but I don't think you can go wrong with a meal there.
Marina Del Rey & nearby faves?
If you are still thinking tapas, my favorite is Cobras & Matadors on Beverly in W. Hollywood. Great food with a really nice dark , textured & fun atmosphere. You buy wine at their wine store next door and they will uncork it for you.
Marina Del Rey & nearby faves?
The closest Farmers Market is the Venice one on Friday am 7-11 on Venice Blvd @ Ocean. It's a manageable (small) size with mostly organic produce and some local meat & seafood.
Real food needed on tight schedule- help!
One of my favorite super simple delicious things to make is a quick vegetable soup. I start with a boxed premade chicken stock which I always keep on hand. Then use whatever vegetable is good in season. My favorite is asparagus. Just boil it in the stock, puree, add salt & pepper and a little butter if you like. It's so delicious and takes no time or effort. (I use a stick blender so I don't even have to take it out of the pan.) If I want a more substantial dinner, I roast a chicken with it (stuff a little garlic under the skin, rub it with olive oil and and season it with salt & pepper) or pick one up at the market already cooked.
I also like to make simple, flavorful pasta inspired by what I ate in Rome. Boil some pasta. In a saute pan add some olive oil and fry up some pancetta cut into small chunks. When it's crispy take it out and put it aside, but keep leave the fat in the pan. Then you can quickly saute up some leafy green vegetable like chard in the fat and toss the pasta in it with a little of the reserved pasta water. Add some parmesan cheese and you have a very flavorful quick meal.
Where to find loquats in LA?
I would suggest posting in loquat season. She would likely get some invitations to pick. I live in that area, have a huge loquat tree and would happily give away as many as anyone wanted to pick when it was fruiting...
The Hump-LA
Yep, they keep some items live until you order them. You can eat a prawns tail while it watches you, antennae wiggling. I think when you take into account the great sushi and great atmosphere, it's the best sushi choice in town.
father's office
I would never have thought of suggesting a reservation system, but how about just a list so the seats are first come, first served. I won't go anymore because the stress of jostling for a seat isn't worth it. I want to hang out and chat with my friends while I wait for a seat, not feel like I need to watch over the other diners like a hawk to ensure I don't miss my chance. It's no fun. No burger is that good.
Japanese BBQ? Grill at table?
Manpuku on Sawtelle is one of my favorite places to eat PERIOD. Get the "seasoned" meats which come with a delicious marinade on them. I love the rib-eye. short rib and the pork. When you order they will bring a bunch of little bowls of condiments. After you grill your meat you can wrap it in a lettuce leaf and dip it in your sauce bowl and eat it with your hands. Their side dishes are great too. Try the watercress green apple salad or the spicy shredded carrot salad. Get the rice with green onions which is a delicious alternative to plain steamed rice. For dessert try the litchi sorbet. Yum! And the atmosphere is casual, but kind of cool. Make a reservation or plan to wait unless you get there at 6pm. I've been to Gyu Kaku. I found it very corporate feeling and felt like the food paled in comparison.
New to CTwith two questions: Where can I find Bananas Foster? Who has the best doughnut near New Haven?
You can make Bananas Foster at home sooo easily. It's my lazy dessert. Just melt some butter (4-5 tbsp.) in a saute pan, add the juice of an orange, a little grated orange rind, some brown sugar (3-4 tbsp.), stir it until the sugar is combined and it starts to bubble then add a couple of sliced bananas. Saute until the bananas are cooked and darken. That's it. It only takes 5 minutes. Serve it over ice cream. Oh, and you can add rum to flambe it if you want. Yummm.
Craving Italian S Cookies-Need Recipe!
Since I moved to LA, I have been missing the Italian bakeries of the North End and Lawrence (Tripoli Bakery). Tonight I am desperate for some of those simple doughy Italian cookies my family always just called "s" cookies. The kind they usually sell in a bag that's sitting on the counter. Not the fancy ones from in the case. I have to bake some as soon as possible. Tonight, ideally. Does anyone have a recipe? Please? Thanks!
Suggestions please for unique,local dessert
My favorite dessert is super simple and is always a big hit. Put out a big bowl of delicious farmers market strawberries. Let people dip them into a bowl of sour cream and then roll them in brown sugar. It is a fresh dessert take on the chip & dip and is amazingly delicious.
Venice Beach
Hmmm. I wouldn't describe Tito's tacos as Mexican. It's more "Mexican American" or something I can't even describe. I think it's the kind of place you need to have gone to as a child to love. I would recommend Tortilla Grill on Abbott Kinney for good burritos, tacos & tortas. Try the watermelon or cantaloupe agua fresca. The Figtree Cafe on Ocean Front Walk is good for a healthy / organic breakfast, brunch or lunch and it's nice to sit outside and people watch. Also I haven't been, but I hear Piccolo Ristorante on Dudley right at the beach is great Italian food (dinner), but tiny and doesn't take reservations so get there early or prepare to wait. For pizza you have to go to Abbott's Pizza on Abott Kinney. Great stuff by the slice.
Who makes the best Smoothies in the west LA area?
Also the honeydew melon juice at Simpang Asia is kind of like a smoothie since its frozen & slushy. It's delicious.
Watermelon available on Westside yet? If not, when?!
I think Tortilla Grill on Abbot Kinney in Venice always has watermelon agua fresca. Also cantaloupe. Yum.
Best smoothie place?
I had a great unexpected taste treat today that might qualify. I ordered a "honeydew melon juice" at the Indonesian cafe / grocery at the corner of National / Motor (where National curves) and it turned out to be a smooth frozen slushy glass of pure honeydew. Yum!
Looking for good (healthy) sandwich ideas
Sauteed spinach w/olive oil & slices of brie cheese
Sauteed escarole with thin slices of prosciutto
Tuna salad (easy on the mayo) with mango or apricot chutney
Asparagus frittata (cook asparagus, add breadcrumbs & eggs and fry into patties)
As for the breads, I keep my baguettes in the freezer too. Just cut it into a sandwich size then wrap in foil and freeze. You can quickly defrost it in the oven or microwave when you need it.
All'Angelo better than Valentino?
Since you are a large group, I would suggest the private balcony table at Via Veneto which also ranks as one of the best Italian restaurants in LA. The advantage is that is is in Santa Monica so very close to Marina Del Rey. In the same league as Osteria Angelini. Great atmosphere, fantastic food and while they couldn't seat you on the main floor which is too small, they have an amazing private balcony room lined with wine bottles and with one large table in the center. It is very intimate and romantic. You have to call to reserve it in advance and I think they only do a "family style" service there. It won't be cheap, but it would be very special. I have been wanting to have a special party there for a long time.
anyone tried dessert tasting menu?
I was there having dinner a couple of weeks ago and there was a couple next to us who came it and sat down and had only the dessert tasting menu. It looked amazing and I want to go do that some time. I would maybe have a light early meal somewhere else first or maybe just have cocktails and some appetizers there and then move right into it. It looked to me like you should probably be at least somewhat hungry to do it. There was a lot of dessert and I can't imagine having it after a full meal there.
LA to SF road trip... [moved from L.A. board]
Driving to SF tonight. Any recommendations on where to pull off the 5 and eat maybe 2-3 hours out? I'm thinking Harris Ranch unless anyone has any other suggestions...
Need recommendations for the area that I am moving to. National Blvd/overland area.
and Versailles on Venice blvd for Cuban food.
Good pho' in Marina Del Rey/Culver City area?
I have been to this place. I think it is called Little Saigon, but I may be inventing that. They have good pho in a flavorful broth. I often go to Red Moon on National just E of Sawtelle, but only because it is more convenient for me. Their broth doesn't have enough flavor. They serve Vietnamese & Chinese food. I think their Chinese food is better. Nice and light and fresh maybe because of the vietnamese influence. But it's worth trying if it's close. There is also a place at Venice Beach called China Beach on the corner or Venice Blvd. & Pacific. I haven't had pho there ( I am assuming it is on the menu since it is a Vietnamese restaurant), but I have had some other things that have been pretty good. Those three are the only places I know of in the area.
Pop the question in Rome and then eat where?
Hosteria del Pesce on Via Monserrato near Campo dei Fiori is great. Nice casual comfortable romantic atmosphere. Fantastic fish. A favorite of many Roman celebs. Pricey, but worth it. My favorite restaurant in Rome after living and eating there for 8 months. A good special occasion place.
