I'd pay to see pix of you swirling around with one of their noodle masters...

I find the vast majority of hoppy beers that I've tried far too harsh for my palate. Off the top of my head, the only one that I have found memorable was Pliney the Elder - incredible nose - still bitter but tolerable given the complexity of flavors and aromas. This does me little good since it's so limited in availability. What would be a list of "worthy" beers that do justice to the hops-component?

I enjoyed Pitfire when they opened up on Washington in Mar Vista. But the last time I got their food it was for takeout. The portions for their salads and pastas were miniature. I don't know if this is their standard now for their dine-in, but I haven't been back since.

Their pork/egg/cheese okonomiyaki is my favorite. The yakisoba and the omu-soba is first rate. The squid or shrimp in garlic butter are good. I've heard about their chorizo on potatoes but have yet to see or try it. If going, check for their hours, and take full advantage of their condiments.

Dang that looks incredible.

Doya Doya Okonomiyaki on Artesia in Torrance.

I didn't get MOS Burger. Tried them in Kyoto - the service was great - maybe too great - but the burger didn't impress me. Maybe it's from my perspective as an Angeleno?

Now I did really like Mister Donut. The quality for a chain or otherwise was excellent. Their cake-style donuts have this mochi-like chew that I've never experienced in anything cake-looking before. Their flavors were also unique and did taste good. Yomogi totally worked.

We almost always stick with their Portuguese specialties. Their various natas, pasteis de coco, morgado, bolo abacaxi, queijada, and the pyramid. Anything that is typically not found in most other bakeries is game. Getting their malasadas has been iffy. The seem to only make so much and I often get there after they've sold out. Their lunch and supper menu items are quite good as well.

PANCAKES & WAFFLES (AS ONE CATEGORY WOULD BE GOOD)
TACOS
SQUID/CEPHALOPODS
STRAWBERRIES
BUNS
SALADS

Ditto on Servorg's question. "Traditional" can mean many things. I don't consider Porto's traditional in my sense of the word, and I only find some of their offerings to be worthy of a drive - their Cuban specialties which are mostly deep-fried.

I live in the Westside and do find Natas to be worth the drive through the pass. Some question LPQ but I find their baked goods to be quite good. I've only been to Belwood in Brentwood - they're good and the service is good as well. Zankezur in Van Nuys has probably the next best lahmajune I've tried next to Partamian's in Midtown.

Thank you. It's amazing how a well-meaning comfort-oriented thread can devolve.

I'll have to revisit Bob's as well. I used to stop by there back in my SMC days, but that was decades ago. The tables outside are always full with folks eating (what I'm assuming is) Bob's food.

I usually get the salads and sandwiches from their cold case. The large dishes of lasagne would feed a lot of mouths (or one post-ride Servorg equiv.), but I've yet to try those. Will report back if I do. That would make for an easy meal at home for my family.

From the chef info on their website, I have to hope they are making pastries and desserts in-house. If so, I'd gives those goods a try for certain.

Thyme is practically an unknown quantity on this board - aside from my one or two mentions, I recall one or two others mentioning them as well. Their selection and quality reminds me of Huckleberry but without the crowds, noise and hassle.

If you search "Langer's" in LA or "Katz's" in NY, you can't go wrong...

Popular throughout parts of SoPac where Kiwis and Aussies spend time.

Supplements in most of East Asia are a hot commodity. I mentioned upthread about how many in Asia practically build their lifestyle around hedging against illness. "Western" supplements have become more popular in Asia Costco-like quantities and prices there are unheard of. I know a Costco is opening in Hiroshima (this tells me more should be opening/opened elsewhere) so this dynamic may be changing. Otherwise, the choices are limited, the quantities tend to be very small and the prices high.

Because disposable income in much of East Asia has been climbing for decades, spending on supplements has been increasing . Because of the current status of the retail supplement market there, companies like Amway and NuSkin have done well. The sales/marketing system lends well to the entreprenuerial spirit there, the quality is guaranteed, and the selection is far more dynamic than even our standards at the basic retail level, and nonexistent at the basic retail level in Asia. Those that can afford products at this level may or may not take to Costco supplements. Supplements are also very personal - almost like meds - so unless the gifter knows the recipient well, or unless it's some well-accepted supplement (think gensing), gifting supplements can be a bit awkward unless you are known as a provider of such things, i.e., a NuSkin rep.

Serf and turf

Thyme Cafe on Ocean Park

I think it's all dependent on the source. I look forward to lists like Jim's - great source. They're very handy for areas and cuisines that I need to learn more about (which is many for me).

That location will be open Memorial Day for take out only.

Not of the Twelve Tribes - an admirer though - but no love for pastrami? :)

I don't know how popular amaretto is nowadays, but I recall it being quite so in the 70s-80s. I agree with your assessment on Lazzaroni. With that said, I still have the bottle I picked up - in the 80s. What to do?

St Germaine is one of my favorite liqueurs. I use it a lot in prosecco but mostly in fruit salads and light desserts.

Dumpling House is a great addition to Gardena and the South Bay. From where I live, Monterey Park and Alhambra are about 30-35 minutes away, driving sane on a good day. Dumpling House is about 15-20 minutes with good traffic. Both drives can be variable, but I find the 405 South to be far more consistent and less prone to congestion; thus, it's a great Plan B from my perspective.

We didn't try the onion pancake (as well as so many other things from that gynormous menu), but we will try to sample that and other things outside of what we already ordered.

Agree with both the idea as well as the caviat. I think acceptance of cheese is heavily weighted on which generation/what age as well as knowing the recipient's tastes.

Sorry - I usually order a quick noodle dish at Kam Hong while waiting for my to-go order at Beijing Pie House.

You probably know enough about much of East Asian culture where label helps substantiate status. Bordeaux in wines is tantamount to designer labels in women's bags. Petrus roughly equals Prada or any other label in women's boutique fashion. Hong Kong has more than its share of rich folks, so products implying wealth and status are well in stock. $600+ for a bottle of wine seems outrageous to me at least - >>So outlaying tons of money for a world-reknown wine may or may not be in the cards.<<

Because Chinese cuisine can be all of the flavor map, it's a potential minefield for wine pairing. Sweetness at varying levels is commonly found - this can work against wines that have any tannic structure - they will taste bitter, unless there's a residual sugar level that can match up to the sweetness of the dish. It seems that while the Chinese palate appreciates bitter, bitter must be a known component in the dish (like bitter melon with pork). It's kind of strange, since Western wine typically consumed in Asia is red - go figure. The complexity of heat also is difficult to match up since heat is often accompanied by so many different flavors as well (sweet, savory, funk). Sweeter white wines like a medium- dry reisling seem to not compete with many of the flavors. But my go-to wine when I just can't figure out what will work best is a sparkling rose. I really like the wine on it's own, and I think like other carbonated beverages, it acts more like a palate cleanser. The blush is easy on the eyes, and the slight contact from the skins gives it a little more body and character than a typical sparkling wine in my book.

As for whiskey, yeah, that's a tough nut to crack. There are so many types and the prices are all over the map. Prices for the good stuff have soared over the past few years as whiskey has become popular among younger generations, and there's obviously only so much that can come out for sale each year. The impetus is to bring something, as gift-giving is almost a ritual in East Asia, so if I were bringing any alcohol, I'd set my budget, get something decent and go from there?

"The Wire," was a DRAMA series - never said it was 100% gospel. Season Five was an interesting take on the changing culture and status of a city's paper that seems to be emblematic of so much of the media in the US. You might find this NPR interview of David Folkenflik who worked at The Sun with David Simon:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

I know liquids can be iffy - feels like one is courting disaster. you can get relatively inexpensive carriers from wine shops that will fit most bottles. Alternatively, if you do get towels, they would make good insulators/packing material.

I am sure nice towels are available in Hong Kong - usually it is the price that is prohibitive in Asia, and as I mentioned above, the care may or may not be difficult. Washers in Asia can be quite small, depending on the country and the city. Some folks have dryers, many hang their stuff to dry. Washer/dryer all-in-one machines are becoming popular for their space-saving but are inferior to having a washer and a dryer. We used one for a week in a home we rented in Kyoto last year and it was nominal in effectiveness. Furthermore, one could probably load one or two bath towels at best for one load. I don't know your friends' situation in Hong Kong, but that city-state in general is quite dense, so what I mention above many be worth considering.

I only bring up the olive oil idea because someone else did and my in-laws in Malaysia like the health benefits angle. The olive oils I saw in stores over there was either sludge or small expensive bottles in the specialty foods area of department stores. I'd keep it lower on the list as far as liquids go.

Wines are great as long as you have an idea of what types of wine your friends would like. I know Hong kong has access to some very serious wines, but I'm certain your choices will far outweigh their's on any given day. I think as a gesture of gift-giving in general in Asia, name recognition is probably key. So outlaying tons of money for a world-reknown wine may or may not be in the cards. At the same time, many dishes in the Chinese cuisines can be difficult to pair with wines in general.

IMHO, liquor goes a lot longer of a way as long as they do drink - it's a matter of getting what you think they might like. IMHO, cognac cannot fail in the Chinese culture. It's the king and poured at banquets and times of celebration. Scotch is probably next in line but is dwarfed by cognac. Germain Robin is a California brandy that is world class. They offer an XO that is quite good - supposedly rivals some of the best cognacs. I picked up my last bottle last year for around $110. I don't know how far it is distributed, but it may be worth looking into. Assuming it is rare of nil in Hong Kong, this may be a worthy gift.

I think as long as you pack your chocolates in the center of your baggage as much as possible, you should be okay. It will be fine in the baggage hold of the jet. The time between baggage claim and arriving at your hotel or friend's place is the main concern - shouldn't be very long in Hong Kong? I don't know the weather pattern for Hong Kong in June, but it's monsoon season in Japan. I know Japan can get serious amounts of rain in June, along with relatively humid weather in the upper 70s to mid 80s.