Category Archives: Chinese dessert

“That little restaurant”- Bistro Na’s

07 Tuesday Mar 2017

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“That little restaurant” was what I originally thought is the English translation of the name of this fairly new Peking restaurant in Temple City. However, I read somewhere  that “Na” is actually a Manchu surname, so therefore, literally, the name translates to “Na’s little restaurant”.

Enough about the name. I stumbled across this place after finishing dessert at “Meet Fresh”, which is just a few doors down. The outside does not reflect what one would expect to find inside. It is actually quite a large restaurant. The decor is very elegant, since the cuisine is focusing on Chinese “Imperial court” cuisine.

I was told that I would need to make a reservation even for lunch. I did some research at home regarding the menu and its prices. The price did not seem too extravagant, so we made a reservation for lunch on a weekday.

I arrived when the restaurant just opened, so I was pretty much the only one there. So I had a chance to inquire about the food with the waitress. The main dining room was open and comfortable, while the decor is classy and not overly opulent.

We ordered the highly recommended “Crispy Shrimp”, the “Stewed Fish Combo”, “Traditional Beijing Noodle”, the “Vegetable in the Box”, “Dry Cooked Stuffed Mushroom”, and “Stuffed Lotus Root”.

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Originally, I did not want to order the shrimp, but it turned out that the shrimp dish was the best overall dish. The flavor was very distinctive, and the shell was fried to perfection, and I ended up eating a lot of it.

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However, all the rest of the dishes did not impress me. I did like the “Stuffed Lotus Root”, it is more like a dessert since it was a bit sweet.

I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. While I really enjoy the atmosphere of this place, I wish the dishes can be as good as one would expect given that it is supposed to be “Imperial Court” cuisine.

Bistro Na’s: 9055 E. Las Tunas Dr. #105, Temple City, CA 91780  Phone: 626-286-1999

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Meet Fresh

20 Monday Feb 2017

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After walking around for a couple of hours at the Lunar New Year Festival in Monterey Park a while back, a friend and I were trying to decide where to go for dinner. However, since it was still quite early, probably around 4pm or so, my friend suggested maybe dessert first before dinner. She mentioned that there is this really popular place in Temple City, and that there is usually a long line of people waiting. Being it was still early in the day, we figured that the line might not be as long. So we decided to head over to check out the place.

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This eatery is located in a fairly new strip mall at the corner of Las Tunas and Rosemead Blvd. The dessert revolves around Taro Balls, Herbal Jelly, Shaved Ice, Tofu Pudding, and Teas. 

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After trying to decipher the menu on the wall, we decided to share one order since it was quite big of a bowl. It was Herbal Jelly with kidney beans, rice balls, boba. It took a long, long time before it was finally ready. I did enjoy what we had ordered, though. Everything tasted fresh and most importantly, the items were not that sweet.

Subsequently, I had gone back one more time a week or so later. I made a special order that was not on the menu. I ordered the Taro ball with taro, barley, beans, and rice balls. For some reason, there was shaved ice at the bottom. It was quite huge, and tasted even better than the one last time. It was not cheap, more than $9 for that bowl.

I do really like this type of dessert, I like the chewiest of the rice balls, taro balls, and slightly bitter taste of the grass jelly. I just wish that it was not so expensive.

Meet Fresh: 9055 E. Las Tunas Dr. #100, Temple City, CA 91780  Phone: 626-537-1715

Koi Palace – Dim Sum at its best!

01 Friday Jan 2016

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I was really looking forward to meeting a great friend of mine of whom I have not seen for so many years. I grew up in the Bay Area, and it is always such a warm feeling to go back there and visit and see old friends.

The last time I was at Koi Palace was at least 10 or more years ago. I know it is extremely popular, but I did not realize that it was going to be so busy on a Monday afternoon past 1 pm.  We must have waited ait least 50 minutes or more before we were seated, but it was all so worth the wait the moment I sat down with my dear friend.

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The attention to details in the restaurant is admirable. The tables have Chinese drawings and calligraphy laminated on top. The teapot sat atop a porcelain stand. There were koi swimming in a small pond next to our table.

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The colorful dim sum menu is quite extensive, and I must applaud my friend for picking some of the best  dim sum for me to try.

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The Whole Abalone Minced Chicken Tart stood out as the most outstanding –  there was a whole small abalone that was cooked just right atop a delicious pie crust with chunks of tender chicken inside – easily one of the best dim sum I have ever tried.

There is no doubt that the Xiao Long Bao here is the juiciest, tastiest, and best texture of all, and the presentation of the dumplings in a flower shaped tin made it so much more appetizing and appealing.

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The Shrimp Dumpling Topped with XO Sauce was another excellent selection – the topping must had been dried abalone with XO sauce, which blended well with the perfectly steamed dumpling.

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The Tofu Skin Roll that I chose came inside a soup that tasted like soy milk, of which I found comforting to eat. The Durian Roll had the most(quantity) and flavorful durian filling inside a crispy pastry shell.

The pork filling inside the BBQ pork buns were lean and delicious, unlike some places where the pork can be fatty and of inferior quality.

I had such a marvelous time with my friend and the food that I wish time would stand still for that afternoon. Afterwards, my friend invited me to her newly renovated house to look at the incredible transformation – the tiles and some of the materials used in the bathrooms and kitchen were undeniably some of the most artistically designed. I would love to take a shower there.

I was debating whether I should stay one more day in the bay area so that I could go back to Koi’s for another awesome meal. After much serious contemplation, I opted to leave with a good memory, but Koi will definitely be the top of my list next time I am up there.

Koi Palace: 365 Gellert Blvd. Daly City, CA 94015  Phone: 650-992-9000

 

Din Tai Fung – Xiao Long Bao

23 Saturday May 2015

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I think that anyone who enjoys Xiao Long Bao (soup dumpling) will already have known about Din Tai Fung. It is one of the most famous place in Los Angeles where one can get a good varieties of soup and steamed dumplings.

It must have been quite a few years since I was there last. I have often thought about going many times, but being that the location is a bit far from my home, I have procrastinated.

I got there early on a Thursday morning, before noon. I was seated right away as the place was filling up quickly. What I like about this place is the fact that not only does the inside feels very comfortable and clean, the chopsticks, the plates, the teapot, cups were all chosen with care which enhanced the overall experience. I especially appreciated the fact that each person gets his/her small dish of julienned ginger to put the vinegar and soy sauce.

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I was rather hungry, so I might have ordered a bit too much this time around. On the order sheet, I checked the Pork Xiao Long Bao, Vegetable Dumpling, Sauteed Bok Choy, Vegetable and Pork Wonton Soup, Sticky Rice Wrap w/Pork, Sauced Noodles w/Pickles Mustard Greens and Shredded Pork, and the Eight-Treasure Sticky Rice.

I thought the pork XLB was excellent, better than what I remembered from before. The last time I was there, the skin on the XLB hardened rather quickly, to the point where it became like a thin cardboard by the time I put it into my mouth. The skin stayed soft and delicate this time, with the hot soup squirting out as I bit into it. I must say that this XLB was probably the best I had for quite a while.

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The flavor of the noodle was very light and refined. My friend and I both thought it was superb.

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The sauteed bok choy was done perfectly, still a little crunchy but not hard. The wonton was fine, but not special in any way. The steamed veg/pork dumpling was my least favorite of the day, lacking in flavor, and with the filling being a bit hard.

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My friend is not into sticky rice too much, so I was able to blissfully enjoy the whole sticky rice with pork all by myself. Even though it was not too big, but by the time I was finished with it, I was feeling really full. However, as full as I was, I still managed to finished one of my favorite dessert all by myself – the Eight Treasure Sticky Rice. The dessert came out steaming hot, with treasures such as dried plum, raisins, lotus seed, etc. on top of the very soft sticky rice. It was a totally satisfying and sweet treat.

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Though I was beyond stuffed for the whole day, and did not even have dinner that evening, I was still reminiscing about the wonderful XLB, and thinking about when to go back for more.

DIn Tai Fung – 1108 S. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007  Tel: 626-574-7068

 

 

Vege Paradise

01 Friday May 2015

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It has been quite a very long time since I lasted visited a decent Chinese vegetarian restaurant. Not that I am a big meat eater, actually, quite the contrary, I prefer to eat vegetables most of the time if I don’t have to worry about not consuming enough protein and iron.

I know that there are plenty of protein in beans, and food such as the black fungus contain enormous amount of iron, but I still feel that I need an occasion dose of fish, pork, and other meats in order to feel somewhat balanced and that sensation of fullness.

However, I was very much looking forward to eating at the Vege Paradise. I had gone there a few years back, and I remembered the place to be very clean, pleasant, and that the food was quite exceptional.

To my delight, the restaurant did not disappoint this time around. We sat at a large, comfortable booth, and once again, I was rather impressed by how comfortable the place feel.

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I proceeded to order the Pumpkin Bisque Puff Pastry, King Oyster Mushroom and Yam w/Basil, Pumpkin with Soft tofu Hot Pot, Vegetarian Chow Mein. The lunch special came with either steam rice or porridge w/pumpkin, and Hot and Sour Soup.

The Chinese yam stripes were lightly fried, crunchy and delicious, and the oyster mushrooms were smooth and soft.  The pumpkin in the hot pot was slightly sweet and thinly sliced, but the tofu was actually the brown fried type, not the white soft tofu that I was expecting.

The fried noodles here were very different from all the ones I tried in other restaurants. The noodles themselves seemed less sticky and firmer, and the vegetables were finely julienned so the whole plate looked more uniform and refined.

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The Pumpkin Bisque took a while to arrive (I was warned that it would take at least 15 minutes), but it was worth the wait. The pastry was soft and flaky, while the bisque was rich and not overly sweet.

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Being that I was still hungry,  I added an order of Sauteed Turnip Patties. This was perhaps the best dish of all. The patties were very slightly browned, with a crust that was wonderfully crispy and a center that was perfectly moist and delicious. I practically ate most of them by myself.

I had wanted to try their dessert but I was full and satisfied already, so I am already planning my next visit so that I can try their Eight Treasure Taro.

Vege Paradise – 140 W.Valley Blvd. Ste 222, San Gabriel, CA 91776  Phone:626-280-5998

 

 

85° Bakery in Gardena

02 Monday Dec 2013

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The opening of 85° in Gardena is almost like a dream come true for those of us who live in the South Bay area who enjoy going to this bakery chain that originated from Taiwan. I don’t even understand exactly why people like me flock in droves to this bakery place as if it was free. With the tong in one hand, and a large tray on the other, I scrutinized each slot and picked up these soft breads and piled them onto the tray.

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With hundreds of people lining outside for hours waiting for all of their grand openings, it makes me wonder what is the reason behind this type of euphoria over a bakery. Whatever the reason is, I was definitely part of that. I had been excited for weeks prior to the actual opening. I was able to go there in the evening of the opening day. We got a free red mug with the $20 purchase, and a free Sea Salt Drink coupon with a drink purchase as well as some key chains.

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As much as some of the selections here are quite excellent such the black Squid Ink Bread, the Rose Bread, and the Berrytale, there are other Chinese bakeries that offer distinguished choices of bakery items that are just as good, and some that are even better such as the Po Tart at Jim’s Bakery.

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Perhaps it is the fact there are comfortable seating areas where one can actually sit down and enjoy the “fresh bread” that had just come out from the oven. Perhaps it is the enticing drink selections which include the famous Sea Salt Coffee and Teas that one cannot get at other Chinese bakeries. Or perhaps it is the idea that one is getting something more authentic being that it originated from Asia. Or maybe just simply that hype produces more hype.

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In any case, I was back again on Thanksgiving Day after lunch. A friend and I sat down for a cappuccino and a Sea Salt Coffee. I got some breads to go: a Brioche, a Mango Bread, a Chocolate Croissant, Walnut Tart, and a Pumpkin Tart. I thought my cappuccino was especially outstanding and large for a medium size, much better than the ones at other coffee houses in town. The Brioche was the best out of the bunch – huge, fluffy, and buttery.

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Since the store did not have my favorite, the Rose Bread, the previous two times, I am already thinking about going back soon to get my hands on the fragrant bread.

85°c Bakery Cafe – 1398 Artesia Blvd. Gardena, CA 90248 

Ten Ren – More Than Just Good Tea

29 Thursday Aug 2013

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One of my best friend way back from elementary school came to Los Angeles a while ago with the husband and her daughter.

After stuffing ourselves to the maximum at El Rocoto, we headed over to Phoenix Dessert for some delectable Chinese dessert soups, fresh Durian Roll, and Strawberry Mochi. We were already really full by then, but we wanted to catch up some more, and her daughter wanted to try the Matcha Ice Cream Milk at this place called Ten Ren Tea Time.

So we decided to take a walk around the large strip mall in order to digest a bit so we could fit more food into our systems.

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There are a number of Ten Ren throughout the city. This particular one is one of the larger ones, with a good number of the patrons being students from the nearby college. Aside from a large selection of different teas, the menu offers a variety of savory dishes as well as sweet desserts and many choices of drinks.

This evening was all about drinks.

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I decided on the Hot Grass Jelly, which consisted of a rather large round container of mildly sweetened thick black grass jelly with some red beans and boba(tapioca balls) inside. Grass jelly is thought to have cooling properties, and is usually consumed in hot weather.

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My friend’s daughter had her Matcha Ice Cream Milk, which looked thick and foamy. She commented that it tasted pretty good, and not too sweet.  The Taro Milk Drink, a light purplish thick concoction that my friend decided on was rather delicious according to her. Her husband was absolutely stuffed, so he ordered the Pu-erh Hot Tea to aid him in digestion.

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We had a wonderful time enjoying each others’ companies, chatting about old times, about food, while leisurely savoring our flavorful drinks.

Ten Ren Tea Station: 1610 W. Redondo blvd. Gardena, CA 90247  Phone:310-515-2989

http://teastationusa.com/gardena/

Jim’s Po Tarts – Perfection

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

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“When will the Po Tart be ready?”

“In about five minutes”, the lady behind the counter replied. I was relieved that it was only five minutes, I was fearing that it would be much longer, and I would not be able to wait. I took the time to really look around at all the selections this time, since I was always in a hurry all the previous times I was there.

Po Tart is a Portuguese Egg Tart which consists of custard in a créme brûlée-like consistency caramelized in a puff pastry shell. The custard portion is much more softer, fluffier, and smoother than a regular Egg Tart.

“It is ready, how many would you like?

“Just one, I just have a craving for it, and I want to eat it right now”, I said to her in Chinese. I gathered that she thought I was going to buy quite a few since I had waited so patiently.

Boy, was I glad that I waited – the Po Tart could not have been any more more fresh. The gal had to go into the kitchen to get one for me. It literally came right out from the oven. It was super, intensely hot, I almost burned my tongue with the first bite. I had to keep blowing at it continuously in order to get it to be less than burning temperature so that I could put it in my mouth. Only one word can describe it – perfection. Being that the Po Tart was still so scaldingly hot, the texture of the custard was extraordinarily creamy, delicate and jiggly. With the prick of the plastic fork, the tart was starting to fall apart. The puff pastry crust was incredibly light and airy, and complemented the custard flawlessly.

The other favorite here is the Coffee Milk Powder Bun. The moist, yet faintingly crusty, ever so slight crunchy topping has the strongest and best coffee flavor out of all the various coffee buns that I have tasted so far. The milk powder filling has a hint of savory and sweet taste, and a fine granular, gritty texture that I personally find very addictive together with the softness of the bread.

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The purple Taro Pastry is worth mentioning. The not-so-sweet, dense taro filling is wrapped inside layers of ultra-thin marbled pastry dough. It is a heavier type of pastry that I definitely cannot finish the entire in one sitting.

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Jim’s has a special, for $2, one can choose from either the coffee, or hot chocolate and a choice of Egg Tart, Po Tart, or Pineapple Bun. Too bad I don’t live closer.

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Jim’s Bakery:  400 S. Atlantic Blvd. Monterey Park, CA 91754  Phone: 626-573-5757

Phoenix Food Boutique, Dessert

13 Thursday Jun 2013

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When friends came visiting from out of town, we often took them to the Din Tai Fung in Arcadia, and right afterwards, we would walk a few steps over to the Phoenix Food Boutique next door. I think that I was actually looking forward more to the dessert at Phoenix than the Xiao Long Bao at DTF.

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There is a chain of these Phoenix Food Boutiques scattered throughout the San Gabriel valley and the neighboring areas. These restaurants specialize in fast, casual Chinese food, as well as having an extensive dessert and tropical drink menu. I have tried some of the food selections at red beanvarious locations, and the qualities and taste are usually very good. However, when I do go to Phoenix, my focus had always been and still will be on the desserts, namely the hot dessert soups.

One of my favorite dessert soup is the Green Bean and Seaweed. Taste wise, it is not spectacular. The beans are cooked until mushy, the porridge has a slight sweet taste with a hint of seaweed flavor. However, in Chinese cooking, the green bean is known for its medicinal abilities to cool the body from excessive heat, and to cleanse the body of toxins. Therefore, while enjoying this refreshing dessert, I feel that I am, at the same time, restoring my body back to a better balance. Next is the Red Bean and Lotus Seed. Red beans are high in protein and iron, making it especially good for women in replenishing the red blood cells after menstruation. The lotus seed is thought to be beneficial to the kidneys and spleen, as well as having calming properties that might help with insomnia and restlessness.

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The Black Sesame Puree, another of my favorite, is an ingenious dessert which utilizes a remarkably nutritious seed to make an incredibly delicious dessert that not only taste good but also nourishes the body. The seed contains substantial amount of nutrients such as copper, calcium, iron, zinc, fiber and is thought to slow the development of gray hair. I have been adding roasted black sesame seeds to my cereal for over 20 years, and people have been commenting on how dark my hair is.

As far as a more robustly sweet dessert soup is concerned, the Black Sticky Rice Young Coconut would definitely be the right choice. By combining the fragrant flavor of the young coconut with the thick and gooey sticky rice, the result is a dense concoction that is thoroughly luscious, sweet, and divine.

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A Phoenix Dessert has opened recently in the Gardena neighborhood. The space is small but the Green Bean and Seaweed is just as good.

Phoenix Food Boutique:  1108 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007  Phone: (626) 446-7668 (Please see  phoenixfoodboutique.com for other locations)

Simply Splendid, a Fitting Name

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

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I had mentioned previously that I would often go to different pastry shops for certain favorite breads and pastries that are unique to that particular shop. That is exactly what I do at Simply Splendid, a small, modest bakery surrounded by restaurants and shops inside an uninspiring strip mall in Alhambra.

One of my long time favorite is a Hong Kong style bread with the name of Cocktail Bun. Here, this elongated, unassuming looking bun is fully filled with a dense, luscious, buttery coconut mixture that is beyond good. Usually, I have somewhat decent self control when it comes to eating sweet pastries. I often can stop after one or two bites, and saving the rest for later. However, with this bun, which comes three to a package, I have not been able to consume less than two entire buns at one sitting.

Some days the chef would make these little mochi cubes that come in a plastic container with a side of grounded peanuts/sugar mixture. They are some of the softest and best mochi I have ever tried – with the texture being slightly chewy, and a taste that is ever so delicately sweet from the rice.  My son’s eyes would lit up every time I bring them home. The obstacle, however, is that they are not always available.

On a recent visit, I discovered a baked radish pastry that I find to be the best of its class. The flakiness of the crust, along with a moist filling of shredded radish and finely grounded pork, offers a precise combination of savoriness and sweetness, without the often overly salty taste that is associated with this type of  radish pastry.

There are two versions of the plain croissants here that I find I cannot get enough of. One is made with wheat flour and the other one with white. The texture, unlike the traditional french croissant, is not flaky. In fact, they are a bit chewy; but it is that chewiness, combined with the rich buttery taste that I find irresistible.

The mantou, a traditional steamed bun, is offered here in white and wheat versions as well, and comes in a package of four. The wheat version, if available, is the perfect bread for me. The taste might seem bland to most people, but it is precisely that blandness that I find appealing. The steaming process somehow seems a bit healthier to me than baking.

Simply Splendid:  1273 E. Valley Blvd. Alhambra, CA 91801  Phone: 626-308-3277