coreyander's Profile
Beef Stew Beef Rolls at East Dumpling King
You might have to hold off on East Dumpling King for a while (or forever); they received a 45 on their facility inspection on December 4th. If you've eaten there, you probably don't even want to read the inspection report.
New List: Culver City's What Is Everyone Thinking?
Agreed on Thai Boom; if you ask them to do it extra spicy, they're better than the other crap on the ws
Desserts for upcoming BBQ - in need of your opinions!
Definitely do a fruit salad! It isn't really a summer barbecue without some sort of fresh fruit, if you ask me. Mangoes are in season and oh so good right now. A simple mango, banana, and strawberry salad with a tiny bit of sugar and a squeeze of lime on top would be an awesome dessert.
If you do something chocolately, I would make sure it is something really light. Chocolate egg creams would be a fantastic choice -- especially if you can get kosher U-Bet syrup where you are. That would sate the chocoholics but without being overly rich or stealing all the attention from the fruit.
As for pineapple upside-down cake - that is one of my favorites for the 4th of July; I don't know why, it just tastes like summer to me. I have made the cake with lemon extract and zest in the past, for an extra bright flavor. But, my very favorite variation is to add poppy seeds and almond extract to the batter.
Tofu Banh Mi
I'm visiting Seattle for a bit this summer and need to catch up on all the banh mi I've missed in the last couple of years. Unfortunately, my favorite place to get a banh mi with tofu (Pho and Banh Mi Saigon on Rainier) has passed to new ownership and I cannot get the sandwiches that I require. Tragic, really. ;)
Anyway, I wanted to know if anyone has advice on the best tofu banh mi around since I don't have time to visit every Vietnamese deli in the short time I am here. I've been to Seattle Deli (pretty good) and went by Banh Mi 88 (out of tofu - do they ever have tofu banh mi?)... where else should I be sure to try?
Thanks!!
If you had to pick one neighborhood in LA to live in for best dining options, where would it be?
Hey, thanks for the food round-up in what is also my neighborhood. Haven't been to a few of those places, I'll have to check them out. But, yeah, Thai Boom and Fassica pretty much rock my world. And thanks to Mitsuwa, I will never want for red bean mochi. Oh, but you forgot Gaby's. Best baba ganoosh in the city.
If you had to pick one neighborhood in LA to live in for best dining options, where would it be?
I disagree. I lived in the Pomona Valley for several years and now live in LA. Parking isn't always that bad and there are lots of neighborhoods with good restaurants within walking distance. For most people living in LA, "Venturing out" would be a much bigger inconvenience than finding parking. Upland, for example, is at least 35 minutes from my place in LA -- and I'm a fast driver. While I can't help but chuckle at the folks above who won't go east of Lincoln, it is equally ridiculous to suggest that driving to the other side of the county (or into San Bernardino county) is better than taking a few minutes to find parking.
Who has the best hummus?
Yay, I knew someone would mention Gaby's! They have consistently awesome hummus and baba gannoush, at least at the Culver City location where I have been (Venice Blvd btwn Motor and Overland).
Who has the best hummus?
I vastly prefer 'fresh' hummus to that at the grocery store, but Sabra's roasted garlic hummus is by far the best pre-packaged hummus out there. They have an olive flavor, too, that I quite like.
red bean mochi ice cream?
I'm a big fan (to put it lightly) of Mikawaya's mochi ice cream. I've noticed that while a lot of grocers in my area (Palms/Culver City) stock it, I can never find the red bean flavor. Does anyone know of a store on the westside that carries it? As much as I love the green tea ones, I really miss red bean!
Good, Decent Sushi in Palms/Culver City??
I am right there with you on the need for convenient sushi. I haven't been in Palms for long, so I don't really know all of the sushi options, but I've enjoyed Mika on Olympic between Sepulveda and the 405. Might be more than a mile from you, depending on where you live. Their menu is very California -- mostly rolls -- but they also have good nigiri. I just ask them what is particularly good and fresh when I call. The salmon, in particular, has always been top notch. They also deliver within a 2 mile radius, but I don't know how good their service is because I always do carry out orders.
Thai food on the Westside
Thanks for the tip on Natalee; I'll keep on avoiding it :)
Hope you enjoy Thai Boom...
Thai food on the Westside
I actually quite like Thai Boom on Venice Blvd (btwn Midvale and Westwood). It is kind of a hole in the wall place and they also deliver to the surrounding area (Culver City, Palms, etc.), so it isn't the kind of place that you would pick as a destination, but the food is better than most that I've had in LA. I'm from Seattle and I'm used to being super choosy about Thai food; I tend to be disappointed in Thai food around here when I go out. Thai Boom, however, actually has chunks of lemongrass and galangal in their Tom Kha (so many other places either leave it out or just throw in dry spices) and serves Pahd Thai that doesn't appear to be produced with ketchup. I can't say anything about "true" - that is both nonspecific (as there are many true ways of preparing Thai cuisine) and totally subjective - but I think it is pretty good and definitely worth trying.
How did you like Natalee, by the way? I've driven by a few times, but for some reason the 'B' rating throws me off.
is pinkberry that good? [moved from L.A. board]
Don't go at a peak hour, but definitely try them out sometime. I think the yogurt is good, but not the mindblowing decadence of - say - a fresh NC Krispy Kreme (the KK story above misses the point that the decline of KK was a matter of sacrificing quality for national sales more than anything else). Rather, it is the sort of snack that you find yourself craving, even if you weren't blown over by it while you are eating it. I think the key to pinkberry is that it is simple: tart yogurt, fresh fruit, not oversweetened or overflavored, very versatile (I could imagine it for brunch as well as midnight snack), and all-around enjoyable. It isn't the best thing ever - and the cost is sort of ridiculous - but you should at least try it once.
It's so simple, but oh so good. The Chick-Fil-A sandwich.
Mmmm... I don't even eat meat anymore, but I loooved Chick-Fil-A as a kid growing up in NC. Chicken sandwich, sweet tea, those waffle shaped fries... probably the best fast food chain there is. I've lived on the west coast for the last ten years, though, so ol' Chick-Fil-A has been relegated to the 'childhood memory' department. I'm glad to hear that others are confirming what I remember!
Pinkberry Locations
There is also a pinkberry in progress on Beverly Blvd. near the Chipotle. Like other locations, however, it has been boarded up for a while and there is no word on when it is scheduled to open.
Mochi??
I have never tried to make mochi ice cream, but I have friends that make sweet mochi balls that are not too challenging if you have a bamboo steamer and some patience. I would start by trying to just make plain sweet mochi and then move on to filled mochi or mochi ice cream after you have figured out the basics.
Grits -- Savory Recipes
Oh, grits! Growing up in NC, they were a major childhood comfort food for me. My favorite recipe comes from Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill. If you are ever in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area, check them out on Franklin Street. The shrimp and grits are to die for. I have their recipe, acquired in the late 80s/early 90s, but I can't find it at the moment. If I can find it, I will post it later.
Here is a vegetarian adaptation of their recipe:
4 c. water
1 c. grits
½ t. salt
4 T. butter
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
½ c. grated parmesan cheese
pinch nutmeg
pinch cayenne pepper
pinch white pepper
dash of hot sauce (like Tabasco or Texas Pete)
Bring water to a boil. Slowly stir in grits, reduce heat. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, for about 20 minutes. At the end, stir in salt and butter.
Add cheeses and nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and white pepper. Adjust to taste.
Never, never, never use instant grits. You deserve better! Definitely look for stoneground. I prefer Bob's Red Mill brand, which is available in some grocery stores and many specialty markets on the west coast. I also like to use different cheeses and seasonings, depending on my mood. Italian cheeses tend to be good choices, as grits is very similar to the peasant staple polenta. Fontina works great instead of cheddar and grana and asiago are good instead of parmesan.
A healthier idea for grits is to prepare them without butter or cheese (okay, maybe a bit), but including salt, pepper, and garlic for flavor. Then, use the grits as a base for sauteed garlic shrimp with hot sauce. Or form refrigerated plain grits into patties and saute them in olive oil. Serve with the tomato-based sauce of your choice and some fresh basil.
I think I have to make grits for dinner tonight, now.
