Chinese Joint at Downtown LA

Parking in front of Hop Li restaurant in downtown LA, Rommel insisted that we dine at the small corner Chinese restaurant instead. He went there a week before and highly recommends this one, especially the flounder with soy sauce.

As we entered, already cringing at the B rating at its window, a cute Chinese boy gave us our menus, which made all of my uneasiness, go away. Having lived here for some time, I became weary of places that would make me sick the next day. And no, I am not over reacting, but if you have heard about all the insider stories happening behind the scenes, you would understand.

I remember the day my dad took me to a local market and forcing me to eat the food served at one of the small eateries inside. You should note that a local market in a third world country is usually dirty, filled with bugs, flies hovering all over and where sanitation is never heard off. However, these are where the best and freshest meat and produce can be found. I have always been picky with my food, so that Sunday after church after bickering about what I want to eat, my father decided to teach me a lesson.
I cried as he watched me force my spoonful of rice and “adobo” in my mouth. It tasted terrible, I think even a chef prepared dish would at this moment, but I learned my lesson well. Mom sneaked me a burger later that day.

Chinese restaurants are everywhere. Usually good, they can’t go wrong with fried rice, but some stand out. We started with crispy rice wonton soup, beef vermicelli, roasted duck, deep fried chicken, salt and pepper shrimp and of course, the flounder. All were delicious. Feeding 3 guys and a granny, taking home leftovers after splitting a $45 check, this one is a gem.

Zen Buffet

Lots of choices at $7.99 for lunch on a Friday. Good food, great value, clean and with my cute boss paying, need I say more. Thanks Patrick!

Sushi along Olympic Blvd at Beverly Hills

Crazy Fish in mind, we passed and saw the queue at this hip restaurant along Olympic at Beverly Hills. So I pushed Marvin on trying this small Japanese restaurant a few stores down. Upon entering, and no customers around, he instantly chided it was a wrong choice.

The sushi chef, 2 assistant chefs and a waitress greeted us as we sat in the middle of the place. Besides the bar that can probably sit 10, there were only 4 empty tables. I smiled as I opened the menu and saw a "cooked" section, which usually meant homecooked Japanese style food.
They offered tongue, tripe and intestines amongst the usual sushi and grilled fare. So with Marvin not knowing what to get, I decided on traditional Japanese fried chicken, Asian style pancake, miso with mushroom, steamed rice and tea.

The miso soup ($3.50 @) was bland, us probably used to the seaweed taste which was the other choice beside the small black mushrooms. However, we both liked the pancake and the 5 small chicken fingers. Dinner on a Thursday night for two $27.00 excluding tip. We pass by this unique place at least once a week, and I am sure we will be eating here again soon.

Chili's

An online friend from Chicago had a business trip in LA this week and was stuck at the Pacific Palms Hotel at the City of Industry. Driving on the uphill, landscaped driveway was cool, and so is the hotel. A golf course, driving range, tennis courts, aquacentre, etc. The rooms were bigger than normal and had Aveda toiletries.

On a Wednesday night, I offered to drive him around LA but he was understanding enough to just stay around this factory studded city, and ended up at Chili's.

The usual sports bar franchise setting. We sat at the bar area so we can watch the baseball game. 5 choices of beer on tap and cocktails. He had a Newkie and I had Michelob Ultra. We both ordered on the guiltless menu.

My delicious grilled salmon came with wild rice and vegetables. His grilled chicken had the same side dishes plus corn. At $12.00 for salmon and $10.00 for the chicken, a few beers and the game, Chili's is a good choice for a Wednesday night at the City of Industry.

Aroma Cafe

A large eclair good enough to share.
A large mochaccino.
A large caramel mocha.
Valet parking.
Noisy.
Mostly middle eastern clientele.

$20.00 for two!! At a cafe along Ventura Blvd sometime close to midnight on a Saturday night.

Killer Shrimp

The wait at Katsu-ya was 45 minutes, so I suggested Killer Shrimp right across it. I have seen and heard about this unusual restaurant, but with that name it never appealed to me. Parking along Ventura Blvd on a Saturday night is impossible, unless you valet, so seeing the half empty spaces, I was having second thoughts.

My friend called and said there was no wait, as I expected, and when I entered this place I thought about Kill Bill the movie. It looked straight out of a set of any Tarantino flick, red, black, dim, Chinese lanterns, gold stars and 70’s like music. There was a one-page paper menu with three main choices: Original, Pasta or Rice. Caesar salad, sweet potato pecan pie and soda, another half page sheet for beer and wine selection and a brief explanation about the Killer Shrimp.

I forgot to inquire about its history, but they served shrimp prepared gumbo style. Spicy, saucy and shrimp (with or without shells) for $16.99. As soon as the waiter brought a large colander filled with cut French bread, I should have decided to stick with the Original. I was right. The rice soaked most of the juices and a dozen or so shelled shrimp on top didn’t look appetizing to me. My friends were happy with their angel hair pasta. But all of us wished we all had the Original.

They have a location at Marina del Rey and another somewhere in LA. One patron has been a customer for the last 15 years. Now that’s a lot of gumbo.

1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chili sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 lemon, sliced with peel
4 large cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
1 small Anaheim chile peppers, chopped
(optional) 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon Tabasco pepper sauce
1 pound large shrimp with tails (peeled and deveined)uncooked
French Bread for dipping

In a large saucepan over medium heat, simmer butter, olive oil, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, lemon, garlic, parsley, Anaheim chile, red pepper flakes, oregano and Tabasco until well blended. Remove from heat and let cool.

Place sauce in a zip-lock bag; add shrimp. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place sauce and shrimp in a large shallow baking pan; bake approximately 10 to 15 minutes or until shrimp are opaque in center (cut to test). Remove from oven.

Place mixture in shallow bowls and serve with a crusty French bread for dipping in sauce (this dish is eaten with your fingers). Makes 4 servings.

Early World Cafe

Pretty called last week to schedule our brunch date with Ashley at the "Earth" World Cafe along San Vicente, between Bundy and Barrington. I lived in Brentwood when I was studying at UCLA, but don't remember this restaurant.

So driving along one of my favorite streets in LA, it starts on my previous street address on Federal Ave and this joggers path ends at the beach on PCH, I called her and asked where they were. Made a U-turn, and parked in front of them at the Early World Cafe, the sign was blocked be a huge tree, that's why I don't recall this place. Ashley introduced her fiancee Brian, a native of Wisconsin, and I immediately liked him. Easy to talk too, all smiles, and just a regular guy. Wishing them the best.

As we waited for Matt, Pretty's beau, I glanced at the uninteresting Greek cafe with the signage that looked German to me. Well, most breakfast places are boring to the eyes anyways, but I was expecting more, especially from one at cool and expensive Brentwood. The four page menu offered regular cafe food, so I ordered gyros (pronounced as heros), made of Pita bread stuffed with beef and lamb processed meat, tomatoes, cucumbers and yogurt (no onions for me). Matt had the same, the newly engaged couple ordered burgers, and Pretty had egg white omelet.

Our serving was huge, freshly fried fries falling off my plate a few, the gyro was half the size of the big heavy plate I had to half it and took the other for dinner. For $13.00 and coffee, Early World Cafe is a nice, unpretentious place with good food to boot. I didn't ask the rest how they got their plates emptied. I was happy.

Gaucho Grill

A friend introduced me to this Argentinian restaurant close to 5 years ago, and with the plethora of places to choose from only get to visit once a year, or less. And now I know why.

This time around, I went with Kevin who has been complaining about losing weight. He mentioned sushi, but I already had that for lunch, and I thought maybe he could have a little more meat in him, so we decided on steak. Their convenient location at the San Fernando Valley makes it an ideal place to eat after a few hours of shopping at the nearby mall.

A few tables with families or couples, this is a good place to relax and just enjoy your company. The open style ceilings, and dividers, disguises the usual dining conversation to minimum. Being seated at a table with empty tables adjacent to us, we enjoyed our time chatting and stuffing ourselves with bread and their delicious concoction of olive oil and basil. Having mentioned the Milanesa, Kevin ordered it for himself, so I, not wanting to have the same entrée (probably because I am used to sharing), settled for the short ribs. Our waiter tried to convince me on having the skirt steak, but I stuck to my decision.

I should have listened to him. The short ribs came with mashed potatoes and three grilled zucchinis (dripping in oil). It was tough, so unlike many short ribs I have had, the ones that fall off the bone when you stick the fork in, and too ordinary. Having said that, it was just ok. And for $16, compared to the fried steak Kevin is having at $12, the price does not give justice to its value. A crock-pot could make this dish taste better.

At least Kevin was with me. I wonder who I’ll be taking to this place next year.

Gladstones 4 Fish

John would remember their branch along PCH, mentioning never to order cream of anything in this seafood restaurant. A tourist flytrap, offering mountains of fried seafood, lobsters, pasta, steak and normal fun food fare, one local participant suggested to have dinner here on the second day of our MDM training. It sounded better than dining at another local Glendale restaurant, especially for those who flew in from their respective offices, but I wished I suggested some place else.

In fairness, this is a fun place to hang out and drink up. Munching on peanuts, its shells you can throw at the floor, interesting decor that made you think you are eating inside a ship (at least the general mess area), cute waiters and large servings.

I started with Newcastle Brown Ale, whom I sipped from Ken a few weeks ago, but after more than a sip was too bitter for me I asked for water immediately. Wished I asked for Ketel One like Marco next to me. The appetizers were good, fried calamari, scallops, crab cakes, popcorn shrimp, fried clams and fish. Every one should just stop here and enjoy, but noooo, we have to order entrees. So I decided on the all time favorite, surf n turf. Who would get wrong with a piece of new york steak and grilled shrimps? G4F will. The steak is well done, even if the stick said medium well, and the shrimp were a bit slippery for me. This $21.00 plate seems like a steal, especially at a chain restaurant located at Universal Citywalk, but trust me when I say, stick with the appetizers and you'll have money left for dessert at one of the stores nearby.

I wouldn't leave you hanging. John saw a male cook and waiter "creaming" themselves at the restroom. Wish I saw that!

Far Niente

My friend Cindy used to live a few blocks away from this Italian restaurant along Brand Avenue in Glendale. I wonder why we never tried it, so close yet so-so. That's why.

Maybe its that unattractive sign they have outside, or its too small look, but as you enter and decide to either go to the left or ride (there is a wall in the middle making me think it was two leased spaces before), it is spacious, relaxing and has a friendly modern atmosphere.

The CEO, VP, President, GMs and the participants to the MDM training were all seated when I sat myself right in the middle of Paul, an older guy from Madison, WI and Vilhelm, our Plant Manager. The waitress immediately handed me the menu, as she continued her rounds of taking the orders from the rest. I settled for the king alaskan salmon with spinach and pears, starting with house salad for starters.

The big bosses were all making their speeches as I took bits off the bread, which was so-so, while everyone around me were having 3 or 4 glasses of wine. The salad and dressing was delicious, but I left a few untouched greens on my plate. One guy tried to run away with not sharing his shrimp, but my GM pointed me to him, so I had a piece of succulent shrimp in sauce. When our entrees came, everyone digged in and I can hear praises about their dishes. As I dugged into mine, I felt like it went straight through my tummy. Nothing spectacular, though nothing wrong with it too. The pears gave it a different taste, and thats all I can remember.

Is it me? Or is it because its dinner amongst your bosses that made this nice restaurant boring.
At least its free.