ciaoxtina's Profile
Best of LA: Order-and-sit-down spots
Yes I second that. Mmmm crab cake benedicts are always excellent there.
Noah's Ark on Burbank Blvd - review
Holy...that's less than a block from me, why did I not know about this place!!! Will go and check it out, thanks for the review!!!
ISO Fresh Figs
OK, bizarre enough, I went to Costco with a friend today, and lo and behold - huge flats of fresh figs! So I had to buy a pack - not the best flavor, not as sweet and juicy and fragrant as those that you'd find elsewhere (say, even a Jons) but what the heck. It's holding me over since I can't devote my life to looking for them.
I actually looked for the figs at that Whole Foods two days ago and they didn't have them!!! Off day, I suppose. Probably didn't help I went at 9:30 at night, but thanks for the heads up. They are probably about 100x better than the ones in my kitchen!
ISO Fresh Figs
Good lord, I have been looking EVERYWHERE for fresh figs. Seriously, Jon's? In the Valley? That sounds so damn unlikely that I think I'll go hit one up anyway.
Opus
I found the service there to be the warmest I've encountered in LA, as well. Why can't every restaurant do that?! From the reception to the tasting service, it was really friendly and cheerful without being cloying. And yeah, I thought the food was also really fantastic.
Providence question
Hilarious. I'll see you there. I'm taking my best friend for his birthday. I'm trying to figure out the five or nine course deal too...might do the five with wine pairings. I remember doing the three courses at Opus (which, a few months ago, was actually something like six courses) and being completely stuffed by the end.
Courthouse-By-Courthouse Chowing?
For San Fernando Valley Courthouse: Tres Hermanos is great for Mexican (clearly), Courthouse Sushi was surprisingly decent and I also like the Brewhouse for their wrapped sandwiches. All three are on McClay, I believe.
Amazing Pho in LA?
Huh, never did the Pho So 1 although I go to the 99 Ranch there all the time, BUT I do go across the street for Pho 99 (also on Victory/Sepulveda in Van Nuys, but across the street, near an El Pollo Loco) on a regular basis and I love it.
For AMAZING pho, chances are you need to go to Westminster/Garden Grove - although I'm blanking on the names. Sorry.
Katsu-ya in encino
Good lord. That place is a mess - the crowd that goes there is incredibly annoying - but I like the spicy tuna rice nugget thingy, admittedly.
Spicy sushi rolls getting too....spicy
Oh, I meant maybe first using the chili oil, and then because it was too expensive switching to the Sriracha?
Everyone has been so super helpful and informative...but I'm starting to wonder if maybe my tastebuds are off!?!? Actually, that would mean the same for all my dining companions. I'm sticking to a "spicier (tuna) roll" conspiracy for now. Heh heh.
Is it wrong for a grown man to crave crunchy cheetos? What junkfood do you crave?
I hate to say it, but the baked cheetos are super addictive.
Spicy sushi rolls getting too....spicy
Hmm, thanks for the tip on the chili oil. I definitely don't go anywhere that has crappy, or less than fresh fish, and for the most part I order the basic sushi and not rolls. But every so often, the spicy scallop hand roll entices me over, and it's a bit of a crapshoot. I wonder if the difference is from sushi bars using the chili oil first and then the Sriracha? I'll be asking from now on!
SFV Fun Party Location?
For great, basic brunch foods in a pretty adorable setting, I'd think Marmalade Cafe in Sherman Oaks on Ventura would be a good bet - it's all country-chic and quite affordable for a large crowd. It feels like you're having brunch at your hip grandma's place.
Spicy sushi rolls getting too....spicy
I've had this bizarre and re-occuring incident recently when visiting sushi restaurants, in that the spiciness of the sushi rolls have been getting increasingly, well, spicy.
Previously, spicy rolls and their "sauce" of Sriracha (sp) and mayo were a nice light orange, but they are getting redder and redder. And it's not just at one sushi joint, but at many! I've been eating sushi at a whole variety of places, all over LA and the Valley, and having to leave my precious tuna rolls behind. :( This is from a sushi lover of many, many years, and only recently has this become an issue.
Has anyone else noticed? Any idea behind this phenomenon? Spicy tuna, spicy scallop, whatever - is it just me and my fellow diners or is anyone else experiencing increasing mouth burn?
