Monthly Archives: June 2013

Tasty Garden, Yumm

08 Saturday Jun 2013

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When my friend would ask me where I want to go eat at while I am out in the San Gabriel Valley area, more often than not, I would say “Tasty Garden”. I have been coming to this Tasty Garden in Alhambra for many years, then a Tasty Garden opened up in Monterey Park quite a while back. The menus are slightly different at the two locations. I was able to enjoy both restaurant on its own merits for a period of time.

Unfortunately, the last time I was in the Monterey Park location, there was a questionable item inside my food; so I related that to the waitress, and told her that I wanted to exchange for another dish. After more than 20 minutes, the new order still had not arrived. I questioned the waitress, and she looked confused. She went to check in the kitchen, and apparently it was not even ordered. I was really annoyed since I had an appointment to attend to, and could not wait any more. I then waved the manager over to complain to him, all he said was that he will not charge me for the dish. He did not even apologize.

I decided not to go back. The Tasty Garden in Alhambra, however, is a different story. The food there has been consistently excellent. Whenever I would be in Alhambra, this restaurant would be on top of my list.

One of the reasons why I favor this restaurant is because of consistencies of the food. There is also a tidiness feeling to the dishes. Being that I love eating all sorts of vegetables, especially Chinese vegetables; I find the quality of the greens to be always fresh and well prepared. The inside of the restaurant, though not big, feels spacious and comfortable and clean. Another deciding factor to go there are the drinks, namely the Red Bean Iced with the addition of boba. With a lunch order, the drink costs around $2.00. Occasionally, I would get the Hong Kong Style Coffee and Milk Tea; but I have to be careful, since the HK style milk tea is so strong that sometimes I would not be able to sleep that night.

 

My usual orders here are: Baby Bok Choy with Mushroom, Fish Fillet in Black BeanSauce, Beef Stew and Wonton Lo Mein. The bok choy and the medium size shitake mushrooms are always cooked well, the vegetables are never limp, and the mushrooms are thick and savory. Since shitake mushrooms contain compounds that are known for its medicinal and health benefits, I would order it every chance I get. The cod fish fillets are bite size, tender but still firm with a slightly sweet and spicy taste from the bean sauce. The beef stew includes tendon and are soft and flavorful. The shrimp inside the wonton gives an overall crisp feel to the dumpling. Noodles are al dente.

Lamb with Dried Bean Stick Hotpot is another favorite. Here, the lamb meat includes the skin which is definitely my favorite part. The skin is smooth and soft. The sauce is made with fermented bean curd which provides a creamy texture and a salty flavor.

Tasty Garden:  288 W. Valley Blvd. Alhambra, CA 91801  Phone: (626) 300-8262

Coco Ichibanya – Curry

07 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by in Food, Japanese Food

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curry

I have always enjoyed a good curry. While studying in Bordeaux, France, a fellow Japanese student cooked up a Japanese curry dish for us for dinner. I remembered her getting out something that looked like a large chocolate bar, except that it was a lighter brown color, and proceeded to break it into pieces into the pot. It was the first time trying Japanese curry.  The taste was quite different from that of Chinese curry; aside from the color being brownish, the flavor was more complex, more rich, and not as spicy.

From time to time, in order to satisfy my cravings for curry, I would order a small plain curry with rice, as a side dish to other food orders inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace. I had wanted to try the Coco Ichibanya since its opening a couple years ago. But for one reason or another, I kept putting it off. I was finally able to convince a friend to go with me yesterday.

I got there around 12:25pm, the restaurant was not as busy as I had expected. I had some questions regarding the menu, and the waiter was able to explain everything clearly. I decided on the Okura & Tofu with reduced amount of rice (150g) for a dollar off the normal price of $6.99. My girl friend ordered the Spinach with brown rice for a dollar more.

The food arrived rather fast. I was a bit annoyed at how small my plate was even though I did order less rice; I thought the plate size would remain the same with just less rice on top. With the smaller plate, I felt I was getting less okra and tofu and sauce. I also thought my friend’s plate size was smaller too, in comparison to the plates on the other diners’ tables surrounding us, and she had ordered the regular size.

I felt better upon eating the curry. The okra and tofu were cooked just right, with both having almost identical level of softness. I loved the sliminess from the okra mucilage. I had ordered the “level 2” spiciness, and I was happy with the decision since the spiciness did not overpower the rich flavor of the curry from all the other spices. I also piled the fukujinzuke (japanese pickles) onto my curry since it tasted so good.

I was satisfied with meal despite the initial dismay of the portion size. I would probably try the brown rice next time. The price is a tad high in relationship to what I got.

Coco Ichibanya:  2455 Sepulveda Blvd. Ste. C, Torrance, CA 90501  Phone: (310) 294-5315

Melisse – Finally

06 Thursday Jun 2013

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melisse

For years, during the month of my birthday which is also around Christmas time, I would begin to wishfully indulge in the idea of a friend offering to take me to Melisse, a highly acclaimed restaurant specializing in contemporary french cuisine with 2 Michelin stars. Needless to say, that did not happen.

Not one to give up easily, I finally had an opportunity to try this restaurant that had been on my mind for so long. I did all my research on the various menu selections, checked the reviews and recommendations, and was ready to go.

We arrived before 6pm. A young looking Asian couple was already standing in the lobby. While waiting, I took the chance to check out the bathroom. It was small, and not the fancy bathroom that I had somehow imagined. In fact, the whole restaurant seemed smaller, less elegant and grand than the images that I had conjured up in my mind based on photos I have seen online.  The lobby/hallway area gave me the impression of some Santa Monica art gallery.

melisse

My eating companion and I both ordered the “Ten” menu. A server came with a tray of breads, I chose the bacon and the pesto ones. I was surprised by the fact that the breads were not warm, a bit hard actually, and lacking in flavor; surprised because the French is known for having good breads. The waiter came with a complimentary amuse-bouche of a thinly sliced piece of a marinated scallop; it was really just a sliver, the taste was exquisite and fresh. The portion size sort of set the tone for the rest of the meal. Most of the dishes were really one bite or less. Later on during the evening, it did sink into me that this was a “Tasting Menu”.

The second amuse-bouche, grape served 2 ways, one coated with goat cheese and pistachio, and the other on a spoon, was fun to eat. The grape popped inside the mouth, and the flavor was a perfect balance of the sweetness of the grape and the mild creaminess of the cheese. The signature dish, Egg Caviar, soft poached egg with American caviar and crème fraîche was cooked perfectly, but could use a bit more caviar to enhance the flavor even more. Next came a raw Wild Japanese Mackerel with Chrysanthemum, pistachio, black mustard. With mackerel being one of my favorite fish, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the fishy taste of the dish; however, I was thinking that the dish was not very french. The Spring Onion Veloute, and the Green Asparagus in Perigold Reduction were both excellently executed, the asparagus was perfect in form and freshness.

At one point, I had to ask our waitress if the plates can come out faster after each course, since there was about a 10 to 20 minutes interval between each taste. I was getting really hungry after consuming just bits of food for over an hour’s time.

I enjoyed the Santa Barbara Spot Prawn even though I usually don’t eat much prawns nor shrimp. The prawn was crisp and fresh. The Scottish Salmon with fava beans, stinging nettle, nantua sauce was a fish perfectly cooked, tender with subtle flavors. I must say that because of the rather small portions of the previous dishes, I was, blissfully and genuinely, enjoying the Liberty Duck Breast with roasted carrots, white beans. The duck was impeccably prepared, cooked to perfection, and there were more than one piece of duck! Now my stomach was beginning to feel more satisfied.

With cheese being one of my favorite food, especially that of french cheeses, the next course, Fourme d’Ambert was exactly what I needed. The cheese was sublime, creamy and smooth, I wished there were more. As for dessert, I asked the waitress if I could have the Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, instead of the choices listed on the “Ten” menu. She was nice enough to check for me and told me it was possible. The dessert consisted of a Chocolate mousse, Chocolate soufflé, and Chocolate salted caramel tart. Because all three desserts were of chocolates, I soon found it hard to distinguish among each of the individual taste, but the textures were different enough for me to appreciate each one; and I found myself scoffing up all the creamy soft mousse, and leaving behind a bit of the tart and soufflé. The meal was finished off with a small tray of macarons, canelés, and cookies. The little treats looked delicate and appealing, but I found the textures to be too hard, and the taste lacking in any flavor; this was another surprise to me much like the bread earlier.

Perhaps after so many years of yearning to try this restaurant, perhaps there was too much expectations, perhaps I wanted more than just a small taste of some of the offerings, I left the restaurant feeling a bit sad that I was not completely smitten by the whole experience.

Melisse:  1104 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401  Phone: (310) 395-0881

Umenoya – Ramen Anyone?

04 Tuesday Jun 2013

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ramenEven though I am not a huge fan of ramen, I do enjoy a bowl of good noodles from time to time. I decided that my son would take me there for lunch this past Mother’s Day. Being a teenager and not working, his budget was limited. I also figured that I would avoid any crowds by going to a ramen place on such a busy restaurant day.

This place was highly recommended by my friend’s own teenage sons, so I figured it was at least cool to go. The menu was easy, with pictures. We were the only ones there. I was wondering if the cook and the waitress were feeling sorry for me for being there on “M” day. My son ordered the Tonkatsu ramen, while I opted for the Jiro ramen. I loved my bowl of ramen. It came with an humongous amount of cabbage on top of the noodles, with lots of onions, bean sprouts, and minced garlic (I especially enjoy eating garlic and onions). It was my dream come true, ramen with tons of veggies! There were also small rounds of fat floating atop the soup. As unhealthy as it seems, I enjoyed that . The chasyu was tender, and the soup was rich and flavorful.

The Tonkotsu ramen came with around four pieces of chaysu, half-boiled egg, and chopped green onions. I like the fact that there were more meat served with the ramen at this restaurant than most of the other ramen places in town. Upon finishing the bowl, the ramen expert, my son, declared that he still thinks Santouka has the best ramen. I argued with him about the soup being exceedingly salty at Santouka, and that there are only two slices of pork with the noodle; although I must give them credit for the consistently meticulous execution of the ramen.

Thoughts and Questions of the Day:  Why is the broth served with ramen usually so intensely salty? Why is there so very little amount of vegetables served in Japanese restaurant food? Do Japanese eat a lot of sushi or raw fish at home?

Back to Umenoya, the cook came over after we finished the ramen, and presented us with a complimentary plate of gyoza. How great, It was exactly what I wanted to try. The gyoza was not as flavorful as the ramen, but I really appreciated the very kind gesture. It was a comforting, cozy and warm “M” day lunch.

Umenoya: 24222 Crenshaw Blvd. Torrance, CA 90505   Phone: (310) 530-3177

Hamada-ya Bakery: Bread and Pastries

03 Monday Jun 2013

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Although I have been buying different varieties of bread and pastries here for years now, I have never really given much thought as to how good this bakery really is until the more I tried other bakeries in the Los Angeles area. To clarify, I am mainly comparing this place to the other Asian owned bakeries such as JJ Bakery, 85°c, Paris Baguette, Simply Splendid Bakery, etc.  I would just say that the items here are consistently delicious and of high quality.

What I find is that most bakeries usually offer a few items that are unique and outstanding to that particular shop. I would often end up going to different shops to purchase favorite items from that individual store. Perhaps I will share with you which pastries I find to be the best from each bakery at a later date.

The Raisin bread rolls and Mochi bread rolls, as well as the Green tea bread loaf are my favorites. The raisins in the bread are plump and juicy with just the right amount of sweetness in the bread. The mochi roll has a soft center with an outer crust that is chewy and slightly crunchy. If available, the green tea bread is exceptional, with its strong and fragrant tea flavor.

The Choco Ring Donut is the best chocolate donut I have tried so far. Perhaps it is not fair to compare it to a traditional donut since it is quite different. The description says that it is dipped in thick, dark french chocolate. The result is that I feel like I am eating a thin crispy layer of a delicious semi sweet chocolate with a donut.

One of their most popular item is the Cream Cornet, which consists of a flaky, slightly chewy outer shell, and filled with a blend of fresh heavy cream and custard cream.  While I like the outside texture and the creamy consistency inside,  I do find it to be just a tiny bit sweet for my taste. The Cherry Tart is dense but moist with the right balance of sweetness and tartness from the cherries.

Thoughts and Question of the Day: While in France, my favorite pastry was “chausson aux pommes”, I have not been able to find that here in LA yet. Why is it so hard to find this particular pastry?

Hamada-ya: 21515 S. Western Ave. Torrance, CA 90501 Phone: (310) 787-1778 (inside Mitsuwa Marketplace)

Kam Hong Garden – Good Food

02 Sunday Jun 2013

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Some time ago, a friend had been telling me for months about how good this  “hot and sour soup noodle” was at some restaurant I have never heard of in Monterey Park. Inside my brain, I tried to visualize adding some noodles inside a bowl of “hot ‘n sour” soup, and then tried to imagine how that would taste. Yeah, it would taste good, but since I can already imagine how it would taste, I didn’t need to try it.

When the LA Magazine published a list of top ten Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles quite a while back, I realized that one of the them was this “hot ‘n sour soup noodle” restaurant that my friend had been relating to me. Now I was interested. We arrived at the restaurant on a weekday around noon, the restaurant was relatively empty. The restaurant is small with about eight tables; the appearance of the place, both inside and out, is so nondescript that I would probably never go inside if not because of the recommendations.

We ordered, of course, the hot-and-sour soup noodle, the pan fried bun(Sheng jian bao), the boiled dumplings with pork and leek(Shui jiao). The soup noodle was every bit as good as my friend had depicted; the soup had the most appropriate balance of sour and spicy, without either one being stronger than the other. The liquid was not overly thickened with corn starch. For most of the noodle dishes, one can choose from the homemade hand-kneaded, knife cut, or hand-pulled varieties. I had the hand-kneaded one, not too thick, not too thin. I probably should try the knife cut version one of these days, since I like my noodle more chewy.

The pan fried buns were perfect. The bottom of the bun had the exact light, crisp, golden crust that I totally adore. I think the mark of great pan fried dumplings(guo tie), and the pan fried buns lies in the outer crust not being burned, or overly charred. The pork inside was juicy, and the flavor was not overpowering. The boiled dumplings come in different varieties of meat. The pork and leek dumpling tasted exactly how I wanted it to taste, light and delicate.

On subsequent visits, I tried the beef pancakes, and different versions of boiled dumplings; all were good, but my favorites still were the original three dishes I tried that very first time.

Thoughts of the Day:  I find that Chinese food is such a good value for the money when compared to other cuisines. One is able to get such wide varieties of tasty, well-made dishes for sometimes a fraction of what one has to pay for other types of cuisines. My friends and I often comment on how it is cheaper to eat or buy Chinese food from outside than to cook.

Kam Hong Garden: 848 E. Garvey Ave. Monterey Park, CA 91755  Phone: (626) 280-9318

Worth A Try – Bottega Louie

01 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by in American Food, Bakery, Food, Italian Food

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macaroons

While browsing through the internet looking for a decent restaurant to try, I noticed the name of Bottega Louie showing up in different sites. The name sounds Italian, and I usually do not visit Italian restaurants much, since my impression is that the food is often overpriced for what one gets. After all, noodles or pastas are not expensive items unless they are homemade with quality ingredients. I understand that there are, of course, numerous other Italian dishes in addition to pastas, but somehow I have not managed to really embrace the idea of eating Italian food outside, even though I do really enjoy the flavors of Italian cuisine.

Upon looking up the menu and photographs of the food from Bottega Louie, I found that the restaurant offers a mix of American and Italian dishes. The prices are not cheap, however, the selling point for me was that the restaurant offers extensive varieties of pastries and desserts, including my favorite – chocolate soufflé. How could I resist?

The restaurant has a beautiful store front with marble columns and huge glass panels, and high ceilings. The restaurant was already filling up at 11:00am on this memorial holiday. Near the entrance, a dazzling and elegant display of exquisite looking pastries and macaroons kept patrons like me pacing back and forth. I do love pastries.

My companion and I ordered the Portobello Fries, Smoked Salmon Benedict, and pizza with 1/2 burrata, and 1/2 mushroom. The crusts on the mushroom fries were not heavy, and tasted really good with the aioli sauce (I asked for extra sauce). The pizza had the right amount of cheese and plenty of mushrooms, and a very thin crust, but I did not finish the crust since the bottom was too charred for my taste. As for the Smoked Salmon Benedict, I would have preferred a bit more salmon in order to render the dish more flavorful, there is not enough distinctive taste within the plate.

The chocolate soufflé took at least 20-25 minutes to arrive. I like the fact that it was not too sweet, and the taste was chocolaty enough; but it was not as rich and moist as I had hoped for. On the way out, I got a large macaroon with raspberries and cream inside and a chocolate éclair. Of course, as soon as I got home, I immediately opened the very pretty box that the pastries came in. The macaroon turned out to be one of the best all around dessert I have had for a long time. The cookie part was moist and soft with a slight crunch, and the cream filling was divine, and the raspberries were totally fresh. The éclair, however, did not measure up to its look.

One negative mark for Bottega Louie would be the noise level inside the restaurant. It was really difficult to carry on a good conversation. I would say that it was even noisier there than a busy Chinese dim sum restaurant.

Bottega Louie: 700 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90017  Phone: (213) 802-1470