ivankrueger's Profile
Where can I buy ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE???
The BEST, BEST andouille sausage can be purchased at WURSTKUTCHE (SP?) -- Downtown. Hewitt Street. They will sell you uncooked ones. (It is a restaurant.) Alligator and pork andouille. The BEST.
Gumbo recipe
The Chowhound Team split this tangent from a discussion of gumbo in Los Angeles.
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Since there is no good gumbo, here's a foolproof recipe:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cut flour
Cook. Low heat. NOT NON-STICK PAN. Stainless steel or cast iron. Cook until dark red/brown. It might take 45 minutes. Your patience will be rewarded.
Dutch Oven.
A big one. Add roux (butter & flour) and saute 1 large onion, 1 cup red peppers, 1 cup celery. Then add about two to three cloves of garlic.
In separate pan, brown 2 lbs chicken (i prefer breasts) Add to dutch oven. Add one drained can (14.5 oz) of tomatoes.
Cover with stock (homemade is best; seafood stock from Whole Foods is amazing)
Add two bay leaves, two teaspoons of fresh thyme, teaspoon of cayenne, few shakes of red pepper flakes, fresh cracked pepper, some fresh parsley. And a pinch of sugar or honey. High heat.
While coming to boil, in same pan you cooked chicken, brown 2 andouille sausages. (Go to Wurstkutche downtown...they have the best). When nice and brown, add to dutch oven. Bring to boil.
Cook for 45 minutes. Add 1 1/3 cups (thereabouts) of FROZEN OKRA. It works much better than fresh. Cook ten more minutes. Take off heat. Cool for several hours. Then put in the fridge (after removing bay leaves) and chill overnight. Sounds nuts but the flavors will grow exponentially.
When ready to serve, heat up to simmer. Add 1 pound de-veined shrimp and just barely cook them -- like 2 minutes.
Serve over rice. File is an absolute must (It's not Gumbo without file in my mind) Go get some and sprinkle over.
Works every time...
Where is the "real" cajun/Creole in LA county?
Not a NO native, but a huge fan. Just went and miss the food terribly. I've scoured this town up and down, and always find myself disappointed. Here's where I think it's lacking:
1) Gumbo Pot -- not real gumbo.
2) Harold & Belles -- okay, but uber-expensive.
3) Uncle Darrows -- something you'd find at an airport in NO and laugh at
And so on and so on. Where is the real deal? I want to feel like I'm in the quarter, Abita in my hand, wishing I could live here forever...
Nasty, guilty pleasures
Aside from being a foodie, I occasionally enjoy some of this town's lesser delights. Fast food, drunk food, late night food, and all around general crap.
In no particular order:
1) Ultimate Cheeseburger at Jack In The Box: Just what it says it is. Burgers and cheese. No condiments. (Perhaps no meat, either. Just 'meat like' substance that they call meat at fast food.) No cares, it's good and it's bad for you. Why not?
2) Veggie works burrito at Del Taco. Healthy, right? Just has cheese and sour cream. But not meat. (Or 'meat like' substance.)
3) Entenmann's donuts. Just like Nana used to buy for me. Disgusting. And with those rabbit pellets on top -- what the hell are those things? Tastes good, though. Hard to find but lesser Vons are known to carry them.
4) Casa Vega. Food is terrible but the lighting is great for a first date. And look at those porn stars. Wonder what they're ordering...
PERFECT pizza
LA Pizza:
1) Vito's is great. Been going there since they were on Vermont. (And caught them once closed at 7pm to host a 'sit-down' between some middle-aged men with pinky rings and a COP acting as security. Killer.
2) Two Boots. Cornmeal crust might not be for everyone, but it makes for a crunch experience. While they're not as close to true NY Pizza as Vito's, I have to give them props for creativity. Signature slices are pretty fun. Crawfish on pizza, who knew?
3) Casa Bianca. For years, people have commuted to Eaglerock and waiting an hour for their pizza. Personally, I didn't think it was all that great but...yes, the sausage is made in house and is great. Not a meat guy, so I don't know... It has great atmo but if you require a slice and little more, go to one of the above.
4) Joe's in Santa Monica. Great pizza, when they do it right. I've had a couple of iffy pies from them, albeit takeout. I'd go in and pick out a slice.
But who just want to laud the best? What about the WORST pizza is LA? (And I don't mean Pizza Hut or other offenders of the palate...) What place should you avoid at all costs?
Domianos? Greasy, floppy, nasty.
Others?
Where is the best turkey burger in LA?
Just consumed a "California Rosemary Turkey Burger" from Novel Cafe in Santa Monica. Very tasty indeed. Great fries, too. On Ocean Avenue. Near The Counter.
Disappointment at Canele
Had a so-so meal there two or so months ago. The Paella was just not good. Bland and overcooked. I was looking for salt and pepper. And I never salt or pepper anything. I thought the design of the space was somewhat stirring and brave, but the food was such a letdown. I live two blocks away and haven't been back since.
Does anyone know if they've closed down? I driven past recently and not seen them open.
Not that I want to go back. Just curious.
I need a new burrito in my life. Any suggestions?
El Tepeyac -- it's in East L.A. and worth the gas money to get out there. The Hollenbeck Burrito is the size of a Duraflame log. Huge does not describe it. Awesome and delicious.
http://losangeles.citysearch.com/review/59599
