mandelabra's Profile
Good soup?
Silverlaker -- this is my pet gripe about our hood, too!!! NO GOOD SOUP!!!
Victor's on Franklin and Bronson makes a good chicken soup. If you can stand to hop on the 101 and get off at Gower or brave the side street traffic, it does the trick. I like to add some dill to mine and just a pinch of salt.
But seriously, this is a real problem, the lack of decent soup.
Oaks Gourmet Market letdown
Yes, a total letdown after a buildup that lasted for months!
There is nothing there that you don't see in everywhere else.
Blah, blah and blah.
Vegetarian restaurants near Silverlake/Los Feliz
I hope it is still there, but I like Elf Cafe, on Sunset in Echo Park. Haven't been for a while, but here is link:
-----
Elf Cafe
2135 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Purveyors of great vinegar
Try Monsieur Marcel in the Farmer's Market, The Cheese Store of Silverlake and, of course, Surfas.
Mangosteen - where are they grown?
Not Hawaii for mangosteens. Supposedly the only place hot enough to grow them domestically is South Florida; though apparently the trees that have been planted there are still too young to bear enough fruit to be sold commercially.
Somewhere new/good around Arclight for tonight?
For something not too far away, but also not just a block away, try Lou on Vine. Really tasty small plates, kind of dark/romantic atmo and about 30 well-curated wines by the glass!
-----
Lou on Vine
724 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Palate, Glendale...needs some flavor
Anita, I totally agree with your assessment of the decor. And they take themselves way too seriously there.....!
Osso Buco - Where can I find the best in LA?
I was with someone who had one at Angelini Osteria and seemed to enjoy it immensely.
bLamb! bLamb! Where is the best?
mmm.... lamb! There is a curry at Jitlada with lamb that is scrumptious; I think I've mentioned it before on this board. Pampas Grill in the Farmer's Market has a grilled lamb that is really tasty. And a guilty pleasure that I often find myself eating is the Lamb Gyro Plate at El Greco in Los Feliz. The meat (there may be some beef in there as well) is grilled crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Ask for the rice as an accompanying side dish -- it has cloves in it -- and the tzatziki, which complement the lamb quite well.
3rd and Fairfax Farmer's Market--Best Lunch?
I really love the Banana Leaf. I know "the food is better in Singapore," but the food here is really good enough and at fair prices with such a sweet and friendly staff! I also like Loteria and Pampas Grill; the Alcatra and the lamb at Pampas are especially worth trying -- succulent and full of flavor.
Lastly, I think the Gumbo Pot leaves a lot to be desired!
It's It Ice Cream Sandwiches - Westside
FYI.... It's It Vanilla (only vanilla, no mint) spotted at Los Feliz Albertson's today. It's at the corner of Hillhurst and Ambrose.
When is Jitlada the *least* busy?
hmm.... the least busy times I've been there have been early weeknight dinners, but perhaps an early Sunday dinner might work?? And if you don't feel like going home yet after dinner because it's too early or you're killing time to avoid traffic, try going to the Thai dessert shop, Bhan Kanom Thai, for a really fun and unique experience. Get the little sphere-shaped coconut cakes that are made behind the counter or the little sugar egg pancakes that are folded up and look like a tiny taco. This coupled with dinner at Jitlada -- heaven!
-----
Bhan Kanom Thai
5271 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
PROBLEMS AT PALATE FOOD + WINE "REVIEW" W/ PICS
Was your bad waiter a lanky Frenchman? I had him the last time I was there and the service was SO over-solicitous to the point where my companion and I became really annoyed!
cheapish dinner? - culver city to ktown
Ruen Pair for Thai. Cheap and SO yummy! There are other inexpensive Thais in Thaitown, but I don't think any of them are as good as Ruen Pair.
-----
Ruen Pair Restaurant
5257 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Dessert in Silverlake and Environs
yes, the cakes at Alcove are good. That's because they don't make them! They get them from a few different sources, one of which is supposedly Susina.
Dessert in Silverlake and Environs
Not sure what time they close, but I find the desserts at LA Mill to be quite delicious.
-----
LA MILL Coffee
1636 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
fast, cheap, and *healthy* in hollywood/silverlake?
Viet Soy Cafe on Hyperion is quick and healthy.
-----
Viet Soy Café
1997 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
looking for korean grapes
Jeesh, for some reason I was led to believe that they were the only ones who grew them here! I guess you can't believe anything, right?!
looking for korean grapes
Yes, the only Kyoho grapes grown in this country are those grown by the above-mentioned Temecula folks. The farmer told me that she brings the seeds with her by hand from Japan! She is also at the Sunday Hollywood Farmer's Market.
Cinnamon Rolls- Stat
I have not tried them, but I did see some beautiful ones the other day at King's Hawaiian Bakery in Torrance. No nuts.
Stews: Who serves 'em?
For the most part, every Whole Foods has a stew / chili section very close to the meat department. The chili isn't bad and I like the lamb stew as well.
Salicornia, aka Sea Beans, where to buy?
Hmm.... disappointed that no-one has seen this anywhere. Normally you guys are like Johnny-on-the-spot! Perhaps these links might help, for anyone who needs more info?
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2007/06/salicornia.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicornia
Toque [split from LA]
(Note: This thread was split from the LA board at: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/550404#3976785 -- The Chowhound Team).
Estufarian, that is disappointing news that you used to love Toque, but now you don't. I haven't been there in at least a year and a half and now I'm afraid to go back for fear of shattering the very fond memories I have of the place.... Why did you do such a 180 in your opinion of the place?
Salicornia, aka Sea Beans, where to buy?
Salicornia is a tasty little succulent plant that grows in salt marshes. Its flavor is reminiscent of a salty asparagus with maybe a little spinach thrown in. It's also known as picklewort, glasswort, sea beans or samphire. I had it in one of the most amazing and memorable salads I've ever had -- it was paired with quail eggs, mache and mulberries, if I'm remembering correctly. Has anyone seen it for sale anywhere -- farmer's markets, specialty stores, anywhere? Please help.
REALLY REALLY IMPRESSED BY SONA w/ pics
Hey, great review! I was told a long while back to check out Sona, by a foodie with impeccable taste..... and then I just sort of forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me because my GF owes me a nice dinner! And now I'm definitely making her take me to Sona!
Your description of the food reminds me a lot of Toque, in Montreal, which is a SUPERB resto, but with a California (rather than Quebecois) inflection. Have you been there? If not, you must check it out by any means necessary should you visit Montreal.
Bulk Spices
Since we're on the topic of places that AREN'T near you, I can think of two places: the Bulk Bin at Nature Mart on Hillhurst, in Los Feliz; and Erewhon on Beverly, between Fairfax and La Brea, next to the Grove. Nature Mart sells in bulk, down to a little tiny sauce container size, while Erewhon sells spices in tiny bags (the brand is Spicely) about half the size of a regular McCormick jar.
Help at Palate Food + Wine
Wow, notmartha, you are the first one I've seen here who isn't positively gaga about this place, other than me.......what a relief! When I was there maybe a month ago, I had a lamb dish that was almost entirely fat, rather than meat on the chops -- not delicious, savory heirloom fat, but regular old slimy, yucky fat! And everything else that my dining companion and I had was utterly ordinary, not at all transcendent. Maybe it was an 'off' night, but it's going to be hard for me to get my mojo back to revisit this place.
italian prune plums?
Saw them today at SM Farmer's Market, at a few stands. Some just barely ripe.
Jitlada Thai Restaurant - Perceptor's Report
I love this place soooo much! I've seen plenty of Thais and non-Thais eating here. And even a couple of babies, though I don't recall whether or not they were in high chairs. I had something new here recently from the Southern Thai menu (it was new for me!) -- a lamb curry with basil leaves that was scrumptious. There were even some lamb haters at the table who tried it and loved it!
