Monthly Archives: November 2014

Wonderful Thanksgiving Buffet @ Trump’s

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in American Food, Food, Italian Food, Japanese Food, Lifestyle

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Not that I do not enjoy a good Thanksgiving meal at home, or at a friend’s house, but having the Thanksgiving Brunch at the Trump’s National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes was truly an exceptional and marvelous experience. In addition to all the traditional Thanksgiving fare such as turkey, stuffing, potatoes, ham, there were the freshest sushi, sashimi, and the best soft shell crab roll. The Seafood Bouillabaisse had large succulent lobster tails, mussels, clams.There were also Korean style ribs, made to order pastas and omelets, smoked salmon, crab claws(so tasty), salads, white and green asparagus,oysters, cheeses, huge shrimp, crepes, and lots of tempting desserts, …

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There were unlimited champagne, orange juice, coffee,..

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All the ingredients were top quality and ultra fresh.  The taste of the food was just right without being salty and overly seasoned. The service was attentive and yet not too formal. The servers were cheerful and everyone was in good mood probably because of the holiday. The room was elegant and spacious, beautifully decorated. The view of the Pacific Ocean was impeccable, unobstructed. The weather was gorgeous, sunny and warm – a terrific day with amazing food for Thanksgiving.

Trump National Golf Club of Los Angeles: 1 Trump National Dr. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275  Phone: 310 265 5000

$85 person

 

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Scardino’s Italian Restaurant

21 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by in Food, Italian Food

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I have been craving for good Italian food lately, so I am currently on a quest to try different Italian restaurants in the Los Angeles area. After trying Il Fornaio, Buca Di Beppo, and Osteria Mozza, I ventured into a rather nondescript, small neighborhood Italian place close to my home this afternoon.

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Actually, I have passed by this restaurant hundreds of times throughout the years while getting take outs from a Chinese restaurant a few doors down. Some friends had recommended me to try but I never did until I received this “buy one get one free” coupon.

My son got off school early today so we decided to go when the place is not busy (there is usually a crowd outside on weekends). There are less than ten tables inside. The decor is cozy and homey, and the waiting staff was exceptionally friendly.

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We were brought a basket of garlic bread to start. My son who said he was not that hungry earlier scoffed down almost the whole entire basket of bread. He said they were the best garlic bread he had ever tried! These were his words “crunchy, crispy on the outside, soft inside, and nicely buttered”.

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My Eggplant Parmesan was very tasty and not greasy. The sauce was fresh with a mound of soft, melted mozzarella cheese on top. My son was very impressed with his spaghetti with meat sauce. The noodle was al dente and he said the tomato sauce tasted so fresh that it was like drinking tomato juice. He was still raving about how delicious it was on the way home.

While the food was indeed good, I would have be more satisfied if the portion size could have been larger, my eggplant was a bit too small for a hungry stomach.

Scardino’s Italian Restaurant: 4803 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90503. Phone: 310-542-2222

Entrees: $10 to $23

Ju Ju Shine – Will be back very soon

03 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by in Chinese food, Food

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A neighbor was looking for a good Taiwanese restaurant in the area, and came across Ju Ju Shine on the internet. I looked up the place and noticed that it serves Pig’s Knuckles as one of their dishes. I have been wanting to eat that dish for quite a long time, but since there are not too many places that serve that dish, it has been years since I have eaten it.

We arrived early on a Saturday evening so the place was still empty. It is a small restaurant with less  than 10 tables. The owner, an older lady, much like a mom figure, came to take our order. I chose the Pig’s Knuckle with Noodles Soup Combo. One can order it a la carte or with rice. My companion ordered the Beef Noodle Soup, and we decided on a small plate of Meat Dumpling in Chile Oil to share.

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My Pig’s Knuckle came out first – it was almost the size of two of my fist! I was  excited. I did not waste any time in diving right into the soft gelatinous skin of the knuckles (my favorite part). The taste was what I had anticipated – deep, flavorful but not too salty. Finally, my desire for the pig knuckle was fulfilled.

The noodle soup that came with the combo was a good size, with lots of vegetables on top. While there was not a whole lot of flavor to the noodles, it was actually the way I preferred it to be. There were also some cucumbers and cabbage served on the side of the pig’s knuckle as well. I thought that was rather thoughtful of the owner/chef to balance the meal with the vegetables since a lot of other restaurants don’t.

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The small order of Meat Dumpling in Chilli Oil had 5 pieces to an order for $4. The chilli oil was not too hot, which was better for my stomach.

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My friend commented that her Beef Noodle Soup was good, with the noodles being slightly chewy, much like hand pulled noodles, and uneven in sizes.

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The meal ended with a complimentary serving of Almond Jello which I found to have just the right amount of sweetness.

I will definitely be back really very soon to try the other dishes such as the Boiled Dumplings Combo, and the Braised Pork Rice Combo.

All the dishes were priced around $8 – $10 (including tax), rather reasonable.

Ju Ju Shine – 1631 W. Carson St. Torrance, CA 90501  Phone: 310-782-8988