I haven't actually eaten there for years, but from what I remember, it was real quiet in there due to all the soft surfaces. Food aside, the ability to have a conversation without straining to hear is a HUGE selling point to many of us. I can't think of another restaurant I've been to that's as quiet. Maybe the Langham?

Fusion Burger
5933 York Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Neighborhood: Highland Park

Fusion Burger in Highland Park. I must say, they have the best burger I’ve ever had....and I'm a burger hound! Let me qualify that, though. “Fusion Burger” is an obvious and deliberate copy of “Umami Burger”. Though I’m sure that some would quibble… to me….. they are equivalent burgers. Both incredibly great. For me, the main criteria is the juiciness of the burger. Even ordered “medium” these burgers are exploding with juice and flavor.

So why not just go to Umami Burger and be done with it? Well, here’s what you DON’T have to deal with at Fusion Burger:

1. Parking hassles – It’s my impression that Umami’s locations are in areas that involve pay parking and/or mall parking lots. I only know the Pasadena location….. where that is definitely the case.

2. A 20 minute wait for a table at lunchtime….like at Umami (again, at least that’s true in Pasadena).

3. Getting served “iced tea” with only two small ice cubes……and then a complete refill with no ice at all and the drink is not only not cold, but lukewarm. Served by a young Umami waitress with purple hair who is probably has afternoon classes at PCC and can’t wait to get back to her Iphone.

4. The “Corporate Image” they foist on you……it’s insincere and shallow. (Well, that’s the modern world, I guess.) A “U” stamped on every bun? How much extra did I pay for that accoutrement?

Here’s what you DO get at Fusion Burger:

1.Same great burgers as Umami…..but the prices are a dollar or two less per item. Bit more crunch to the patty itself while the interior is still perfectly juicy. I like that. Plus Fusion is very consistent. I've never had anything there that was better or worse the time before. Always right on.

2. Chili. I haven’t had Umami chili. I don’t know if they even offer it, but I can’t think of better chili i’ve had anywhere. As much as I like Tommy’s chili, this is much more refined chili……more carefully spiced and much meatier.

3. A “non-corporate” experience - It’s a family business and these friendly folks really care about what they’re doing. The pride they take in their operation is obvious. Often, the owner brings your burger to the table. You can see him scrutinizing it right before he sets it down to make sure it’s perfect. I’ve chatted with them on a few occasions. They’re excited about their business. They think that, if they work hard and deliver a good product , they’ll succeed in life. That’s the kind of thing I like to support in this world.

4. Easy access… they’re located in a pretty beat-up looking corner mini- mall that has SOME parking…but there’s lots of unmetered parking around. Not a valet in sight!

How about Fu Shing? It used to be well-regarded Chinese food. I don't know if the cognescenti still like it, but the service is good and it's a relatively nice setting (i.e. not a storefront in a mini-mall).

http://www.fushingrestaurant.com/home...

We're staying in the Pacific Beach area for the next several days. I'm hoping I get some advice from locals as to their favorite places to eat.

Sit down or take out. Fancy to casual. Any meal of the day. Any price range. Any kind of food.

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies on this.

I love Akbar over on Fair Oaks in Old Town. I think the food there is something special. A little outside of the norm in terms of the recipes....which isn't to say you'd mistake it for other than Indian food.

Absolutely second Fortune Chinese. I find the food tasty and well-made.........although it's not that really authentic stuff you get all over the San Gabriel Valley. The delivery process always goes smoothly from the call to order to the guy coming to the door in the time promised.

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Fortune Chinese Cuisine
60 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

I second Jack Flash on Nonna's. They're the only non-family member on my home land-line speed dial. It's everything I want in a pizza. Plus friendly delivery.

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Nonna Pizzeria
818 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

We're looking for a place that's quiet enough for easy conversation for a party of six. One of the party said she would like a place where the menu has some good vegetarian options and not too spicy.

Price wise we're pretty flexible.

Thanks!

Nona's Pizza which sold their operation to what became Mama's Brick Oven ....and then just reopened a couple blocks down the street .....is my favorite pizza anywhere. Mama's ain't bad though.

Dinner

Going there Saturday. Any suggestions of what to order or anybody's favorite dishes?

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Mission 261 Restaurant
261 S Mission Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Insalata di Mare (i.e. seafood salad) at Briganti's in South Pasadena.

I can't not order it when I go there. Great dressing, little baby oysters, shrimp, calamari, crisp veggies. That salad, a basket of their bread and a glass of cold white wine is a perfect meal. Real cozy place too.

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Briganti
1423 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Re: Pasadena area burgers

Well, to begin with. I stick pretty much around the Pasadena area, so I haven't been to any of the places in the challenge (enjoyable to read about though).

I think it was alluded to in this link that there are different classes of burger. For me, there is the non-gourmet, backyard BBQ sort of burger. For that, I can't imagine how you get better than the cheeseburger at the Oinkster. Ordered medium-rare with sharp cheddar. Better than Pie and Burger in my opinion. I suspect the Bucket in Eagle Rock may be real good too. (I haven't been there since I hear constant reports on this site about the folks there having a bad attitude towards customers.)

The other class, for me, is the gourmet burger. I love the Kobe Beef Bleu Cheese burger at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. Medium-rare of course. On a brioche bun with great sweet potato fries. I've never seen that mentioned on this site, but, boy, that is some good burger. Talk about beef flavor!

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Parkway Grill
510 South Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105

Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd, Eagle Rock, CA

There's a place in Agoura called Rock n' Steak that might have what you're looking for New Year's Eve.

A friend of mine was in Shanghai and enjoyed a particular dessert item that was "the best dessert she ever had". She said that it saddened her to think she would probably never get to have it again.

So I had her write a description. Here it is:

About the dessert...
It was shaped like a Hershey's kiss, except bigger. Maybe the size of dim sum. The outside was orange and made of pumpkin. The inside was dark, and I think it was a bean paste. Sweet.

Anybody know what this is and where to find it?

The recipe called for 1 cup hot water to mix the sugar and salt......add chicken and 3 cups cold water. The recipe said to brine and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours. I did exactly 3 hours.

The recipe said only to pat the chicken dry with paper towels....nothing about rinsing off! That seems like that could be the problem.

After brining, the recipe said to let the chicken rest for 30 minutes. I did that exactly.

Thanks to all for the help!

(Den, thanks for the tip on "Charcutierie". I'll check it out.)

I'm somewhat new to cooking, but I've got a fancy new outdoor grill and I'm trying to educate myself.

Last night I grilled chicken breasts that I brined according to a simple recipe I found (1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup salt, 4 lbs of chicken and a lot of water).

The chicken came out great (juicy, tender and succulent) , except we found it to be a bit too salty because of the brine. (I know...."Brine" is synonomous with salt so what did I expect!)

So here are my questions:

1. Is there a way to do brining that is less likely to leave the chicken tasting salty?

2. Would a marinade do as well as brine in making the chicken succulent?

3. Any recipes that anyone would care to recommend?

Thanks!

I've done extensive research on this subject....at least as far as burgers go. I've eaten many burgers at both places. There's no question in my opinion.....Oinkster's burger is hands down the better burger. Not only that, I think it's the best burger I've ever had...anywhere.

Now, I must preface this by all the chowhounders out there saying "What about Mortons, Father's Office, etc.?" Well, obviously it's a personal thing. I have an idealized view of "the perfect burger" and the steakhouse-type burger or bistro-type is not it.

For me personally, t's not all about the quality of the meat, but is as much about the "fixin's" being just right and the whole being more than the sum of it's parts.

Let me tell you...an Oinkster cheddar cheeseburger ordered medium rare, eaten while still hot and dripping juices can be a transcendent experience.

Gus' BBQ in South Pasadena. Excellent mayo-type with a hint of bacon. I believe the LA Times might have mentioned it in a "Best of L.A. list". They're right.

I live in the same area (San Rafael Heights) and often order from Fortune Chinese in Old Town. I think they're very good quality. Definitely recommend them.

I can't comment on the authenticity, but I loved the shrimp and grits at the Firefly Bistro in South Pasadena.

Folks,

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I was there for dinner last night. Had the Oinkster pastrami and fries. Incredibly fantastic as it usually is. I also had a cheeseburger at Pie and Burger yesterday (It was a very good day!). They have a great burger but I think the Oinkster's is better. I've had the chicken and find it quite adequate.

I can't think of another restaurant quite like the Oinkster. It's quite a different thing from Tops, Lucky Boy, The Hat, Tom's Burgers, etc. which to me can be grouped in the same category of fast food. The Oinkster is really in a different category to me. More thought and pride in the menu creation (e.g. gruyere cheese for the sandwiches, homemade catsup and mustard, oinksterade instead of lemonade, etc. etc.).

It's hard for me to understand how this "specialness" isn't recognized by the critical posters. To me, there is no substitute for the Oinkster. It's the casualness of the fast-food experience when you want that informality, but with some exceptionally tasty food. The gratification I got last night from that sandwich was at least as much as some very enjoyable-but-hugely-expensive meals I've had at fine dining restaurants.

The service has always been fine for me. Last night one of the guys came outside and asked how everything was; the counter-girl was super-friendly. I've probably eaten there 50 times since they've opened and NEVER had the slightest problem with the service.

Long live the Oinkster!

I'll second this too (in fact, I coincidentally did on a related thread just last week). Nonna's is my favorite for Pasadena/South Pasadena area. Better than Casa Bianca, Carmine's, Mama's Brick Oven and Manny's in my book.

Haven't tried Petrillo's yet, but they're not as close enough no matter what. Everyone needs a local pizza place!

I think Nonna's is the best pizza I've had in the Pasadena area. Better than Carmines, Mama's, Casa Bianca, Manny's in my opinion (oh, sorry....IMHO).

People are obviously quite varied in what they want out of a pizza. What I like about Nonna's pizza particularly is the chewy, yeasty, thin crust and the loose, fresh tasting tomato sauce. I think of this as being a N.Y. style pizza because it's the kind that when you pick it up it drapes over your hand because it's thin and soft/chewy.

I've tried to love Casa Bianca...I've really tried....but personally it's just not what I like. Nonna's is my mainstay now.

I go to the Oinkster frequently. It's terrible! Terrible food! No one should ever go there!

(Good! Now I can have it all to myself. Especially the Oinkster Pastrami and the gruyere cheeseburger medium rare)

Talesi in Sherman Oaks

O.K. my search for pressed duck led me to Paul's Kitchen. Great place but the pressed duck they have is the kind with brown gravy. The pressed duck of my dreams is the sweet and sour kind. Not where the sweet and sour sauce is just ladled over the pressed duck but is cooked into it in such a way that the whole thing gets carmelized and a little crispy on top.

The search continues!

Oh boy, is that something that needs to be said! I think that as people get older, there sense of smell diminishes and they don't really know how much they reek of perfume/cologne.

If just one person reads this and wakes up...

Houston's (in Pasadena, at least) has a terrific made-to-order Hickory Burger.

Friendly Thai on Balboa just south of Sherman Way. My favorite Pad Thai by far. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is first rate. They have beer and wine.

My other favorites there: garlic shrimp, garlic pork, mint chicken, ginger chicken. The restaurant review that led me there raved about the larb.