• About

yummcha

~ Sharing experiences, ideas & thoughts regarding foods and life in general

yummcha

Category Archives: Markets

Rice Cakes this Sunday Afternoon

31 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by yummcha in Food, Korean Food, Lifestyle, Markets

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

dried seaweed flakes, Gimbap, korean food, rice cakes, sweet potato

WP_20140330_010

For the past few months, right after Sunday service, I have taken up the ritual of visiting various of my favorite markets to do some leisure food shopping and sample tasting. I find these particular times to be immensely relaxing and utterly enjoyable because, unlike food shopping on the weekdays, I don’t feel the pressure nor the time restraint to rush, to get back to work, or to get back before my son comes home from school, or to do more housework and cook.

Given the wonderfully sunny weather of Southern California, most of the past Sundays had been so bright, warm and cheerful.

Previously, my ritual usually began at Whole Foods. More often than not, there would be delicious samples such as pieces of sushi rolls, delectable cheeses, dips and crackers, and sometimes even chocolates and cookies. Knowing that all the ingredients were natural and relatively healthy added to the overall experience.

Next would probably be Trader Joe’s for the excellent coffee, then Sprouts, then a Korean Market, sometimes maybe a pastry shop, before heading home happy and satisfied.

WP_20140330_004

On this particular Sunday morning, however, I was really craving for some Korean fast food such as Ddeokbokki (Spicy rice cake), and Gimbap (rice and various ingredients rolled up in dried seaweed) , so I decided to visit one of the Korean market in my area named S-Mart, where there is a good selection of these types of prepared foods.

WP_20140330_007

WP_20140330_003

Being that it was around 11:10am or so, most of the items were fresh and still hot. The Spicy rice cake was selling for $1.49 a box today, sometimes they are only $1 each, so I was not sure why the price was higher. I know that at times, they sell for around $3.5, but those have an boiled egg inside.  The Gimbap came with either fish cake, beef, and sometimes with tempura. I usually opt for the Beef Gimbap with egg, spinach, pickled radish.

WP_20140330_006

On occasions, I would get the steamed sweet potato, but they are a bit pricey. I have found that after a certain time in the evening, some of these prepared food would be half off the original price which would then be really good deals.

WP_20140330_011WP_20140330_012

I also bought a package of dried seaweed flakes which was on sale for $1.99. I like to sprinkle these flakes onto my rice from  time to time. I added some of the flakes to my rice cake, and for those brief moments,  I was blissful and content.

S-Mart: 2515 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90503  Phone 310-533-6053310-533-6053

 

 

 

Call
Send SMS
Add to Skype
You’ll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Mitsuwa Marketplace – Fun and Yum

06 Sunday Oct 2013

Posted by yummcha in Bakery, Food, Japanese Food, Lifestyle, Markets

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Food, Home, Japanese cuisine, Los Angeles, Mitsuwa, Mitsuwa Marketplace, Ramen, Santouka

DSCN0852

Probably the first time I came to the Mitsuwa Marketplace was over ten years ago. As soon as my son was able to sit in one of those light weight stroller, I started bringing him out for lunches at different eateries. As a Stay-at-Home mom, I needed to get out of the house in order to achieve some type of balance and sanity.

The Mitsuwa Food Court provided a good respite since it is casual and offer a variety of choices, and the food are all good and reasonably priced. I was able to relax and eat while my son slept soundly in his little stroller, or if he was awake, I would feed him something.

As he grew older, he really enjoys Japanese food, especially the udons, and ramen. To this day, I believe that Mitsuwa is his favorite food destination. When the place is not crowded, the atmosphere gives a sense of calmness and peacefulness that we both find comforting. And one of our favorite thing to do after the meal is to venture into the supermarket section and look for my son’s favorite Japanese peach candy, and for myself, canned coffee with no sugar.

From the beginning, I have been thoroughly enjoying these lunches with my son. These meal sessions not only provided delicious food tasting adventures, but most importantly, wonderful bonding opportunities for my son and I. We would talk about school, friends, and even life in general at these outings, something that we don’t really do at home, since we are always occupied with chores, computer games, emails, etc.

DSCN0838

The restaurants inside this modest location are probably some of the best of their classes. Santouka is well know for its distinguished ramen, which my son already decided is the best in Los Angeles. Katsuhana, which specializes in deep fried pork, chicken cutlet as well as fried shrimp, is truly superb. While I tried not to eat a lot of fried food, the Pork Katsu is hard to resist –  moist, tender, and flavorful inside with a light and crunchy batter outside. The Katsu meal is a feast that comes with rice, soup, cabbage salad, fruit salad, small side dishes of tofu, and pickled vegetables.

DSCN0847

DSCN0853

One of the newer comer to the marketplace is J Sweets , which offers the prettiest, most enticing Mochi Cream –  a mochi ball filled with different delectable flavors.  My favorite is the Cafe au Latte, not too sweet, but with a definite strong taste of coffee. The Mochi Donuts look fantastic but have not tried yet. All the other cookies and sweets in the store are all so beautifully presented and packaged. However, the prices are high so I have not yet had the pleasure of tasting them.

DSCN0850

Miifune is the eatery that I have visited the most throughout these years. This place has a good selection of udons, sobas, and various combo plates. I particularly like the Wakame Soba or udon, the Beef Shabushabu, and the plain Curry Rice. The food is consistent and satisfying.

DSCN0849

I really enjoy the Mackerel plate at Miyabi-Tei. The oily, flavorful fish is grilled and comes with miso soup, a large bowl of rice and some shredded cabbage and little bits pickled radish. A bargain at about $7.00.

DSCN0837 - Copy - Copy

I don’t know why I like these ball shaped octopus snack made with wheat flour based batter, pickled ginger, and green onion, and cooked in a special takoyaki pan. Maybe it is the fact that they are so usual in taste and texture, sort of soft and chewy, salty and sweet, an odd kind of mouth feel and sensation.

DSCN0842

The Hamada-ya Cafe provides a more western style of food selections such as various spaghetti and pasta, risottos, and most delightfully, some of the tastiest cakes I have tried. One can order a set meal which comes with a salad, some bread, and tea or coffee. Almost right next door, is the Hamada-Ya Bakery, which I had already wrote about previously as one of the most outstanding bakery in town.

DSCN0841

The soup noodles here at Beni-Tora are quite substantial in size, as well as the gyozas, which are huge. I like the fact the noodles come with ample vegetables.

DSCN0835

Lupicia, a clean, modern looking store provides over 400  types of teas throughout the year, ranging from seasonal teas to flavored teas. The sales staff are extremely enthusiastic and more than eager to provide a tasting to the teas.

Mitsuwa Marketplace – 21515 S. Western Ave. Torrance, CA 90501  Phone: 310-782-0335

 http://www.mitsuwa.com/tenpo/eindex.html

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Green Zone – Organic and Tasty!

13 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by yummcha in Chinese food, Food, Lifestyle, Markets

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Chinese cuisine, Green Zone, Hainan, List of rice dishes, Restaurant, Rice, San Gabriel California, San Gabriel Valley

DSCN0797

First of all, it is already rather difficult to find a restaurant that serves organic dishes, but to find a Chinese restaurant that provides healthy, organic entrees, it is certainly a rarity.

Green Zone, a small yet very clean and comfortable place in the heart of San Gabriel Valley is a no doubt a needle in a haystack.

I must first clarify that not everything on the menu is organic, only those items specified organic are, and mainly that would be the vegetables, mushrooms, the buckwheat noodles, and the chicken.

I have heard about this restaurant for quite a while, and the reason I finally decided to go there today was so that I could get my son a take-out of the Organic Hainan Chicken Rice, since he does love the Hainan style Chicken Rice dish.

DSCN0793

DSCN0792

Though the interior is not big, I did not feel crammed at all, in fact, it felt rather airy and serene. The waiters were efficient and helpful. I decided on an order of the Steamed Chive Gyoza with organic chicken as the appetizer. The ten pieces arrived on a round bamboo platter. Famished from a small breakfast, I immediately stuffed the dumplings into my eager mouth. The taste was light, the texture smooth and moist, just perfect. I gobbled six of them in less than 30 seconds, while my eating companion was slowing savoring his measly four.

DSCN0795

DSCN0798

For the entree, I had the Vegetarian Sukiyaki, while my friend ordered the Beef Sukiyaki. The size of the two Sukiyaki pots were not too large, the ingredients inside tasted exceptionally fresh and delicious. All the vegetables were cooked perfectly, not too hard nor too soft, while retaining each of its own individual taste. I forgot to ask what they put into the wild rice, but it was the best rice I have ever had in a restaurant.

Even though I was not totally full, but I was extremely satisfied with the wonderful fresh ingredients and the unique tastes of all the dishes. I will certainly be back to try their curry dishes and the Satay Beef which looked so good from the table next to us.

DSCN0802

My son commented that the rice that came with the Organic Hainan Chicken Rice was exceedingly flavorful, different from all the other rice that he had before, and the chicken was quite terrific as well.

On one side of the restaurant, there are some organic produce, condiments and snacks that one can purchase, but the selection is limited. One would do better going to Whole Foods for more varieties of organic items.

Green Zone: 534 E. Valley Blvd. Ste. 4 &5, San Gabriel, CA 91776  Phone: 626-288-9300

http://www.greenzonerestaurant.com/

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Snacks and Beyond – TJ

25 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by yummcha in American Food, Food, Lifestyle, Markets, Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Business, Cheerios, Ice cream, Ice Cream Cones, Joe, Mochi, Oatmeal, Trader Joe

A friend and I, whenever we are in the mood for something good to snack on that are both delicious and not too junky, we would head over to our trusty spot – Trader Joe’s.

Aside from being a fun place to shop for foods, I like the fact that the store is not too big, which makes it easier and more efficient to find items that I would like to buy. Of course, another big reason for my friend and I to go is the “free coffee” and “free samples”.

In my opinion, the coffee, with a choice of fresh cream that is served there tastes much better than some of the famous coffee houses.

Let’s start with the decadent “snacks”. My son’s favorite is the super delicious “Crispy Crunchy Chocolate chip Cookies”, mini cookies that not only are filled with loads of tiny chocolate chips but has a exquisite fragrant coconut taste that is not to found elsewhere. Then there are the divine frozen treats such as the “Mini Mint Ice Cream Mouthfuls”, tiny size “Ice Cream cones”, and Ice Cream Mochi, all of which are flavorful, in addition to the sweetness.

My favorite is the selections of organic fruits and vegetables. They are reliable and consistently fresh. I especially enjoy the organic cherry tomatoes that are pop-in-your-mouth fresh and perfectly sweet. The last time I was there, there were the most beautiful figs, firm and luscious. The organic apples, bananas, pears are my staples there.

The organic Oatmeal here tastes better that the famous Quaker Oats. My son and I prefer the Trader Joe’s O’s cereal over the Cheerios brand. The O’s are puffier and not as brown and hard.

I use the Organic Chicken Drumstick to make “Soy Sauce Chicken” for my son which he kindly says is one of the best. The price is relatively non-expensive for $1.99 per lb.

The different selections of nuts are quite extensive here with various varieties in either salted, or non-salted. I also found an instant noodle that has no MSG nor any artificial ingredients that my son actually likes.

The fresh flowers and plants are always colorful and plentiful. The mini orchid is comparatively cheaper than most places and usually come in a pretty ceramic pot. One can also get different varieties of herbs in a pot.

My favorite sparkling water so far is the “Blu Italy Sparkling Natural Mineral Water” with a lemon and lime taste, so refreshing with ice.

See Trader Joe’s Website for various locations in your area.

http://www.traderjoes.com/

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Koreatown Galleria Market- Fun Shopping

14 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by yummcha in Bakery, Food, Korean Food, Lifestyle, Markets

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Business, Eyewear, Food, Korean language, Los Angeles, Olympic Blvd, Olympic Boulevard, Whole Foods

IMG_1886

It might seem extreme that sometimes I would end up going anywhere from three to five different markets in one day just to get everything I want for that day. Since I live within 5 miles from the major supermarkets, as well as smaller or specialty markets such as Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Market World,  it is not too difficult for me to visit a few of them in one trip.  Actually, I must confess that the real reason for visiting the different markets is that I truly enjoy looking at all the delectable food items, and I get excited trying new food products.

IMG_1883IMG_1882

Aside from usual markets that I go to almost daily, I would make it a point to visit the Koreatown Galleria Market whenever I am in that area for a meal. The freshness of the fruits and vegetables is one of the major reason why it is so appealing for me. The prices in the produce department seem very reasonable and even low at times, compared to some of the Chinese markets. The Persian and the pickling varieties of the cucumbers are always on sale and always firm and fresh. The Asian pears in boxes look huge and blemish free. The apples are good but the prices fluctuate quite a bit. I like the fact that the market feels really clean, airy and organized.

seaweedgimbap

Being that my son loves to add these seasoned dried seaweeds to his food, there are plenty of sizes and varieties to choose from here. There is a wide selection of banchan here that one can purchase in whatever amount desired since it is self served. The Gimbap here somehow taste better than some of the other ones I tried elsewhere.

galleria

Another propelling factor to go to the Galleria Market is that the Cake House, a Korean bakery, is located right across the market. The pastries and breads, though not as spectacular as some of other places that I frequent, are definitely not lacking in varieties, which makes it more fun to pick and choose from.

As a side note, there is an Eyewear shop on the second floor that I find to have the best and latest styles of frames and sunglasses for those who use them. Even though I don’t wear glasses, I find the vast selection of trendy styles to be inspiring to look at.

Koreatown Galleria: 3250 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90006  Phone: (323) 733-6000

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • November 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • July 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013

Categories

  • American Food
  • art
  • Bakery
  • buffet
  • Chinese Bakery
  • Chinese dessert
  • Chinese food
  • Food
  • French Food
  • Italian Food
  • Japanese Food
  • Korean Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Markets
  • Peruvian Food
  • Spanish Food
  • Thai Food
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Vietnamese Food

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: