Tag Archives: Food

A Wonderful New Year’s Day Buffet – Catalina Kitchen at La Terranea

02 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in American Food, Food, Lifestyle

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It was around this time last year that I had first tried the Sunday Brunch at this beautiful resort in the hills of Palos Verdes. I had wanted to come back here sooner, but never did have a chance.

When I found out they were having a special New Year’s Day Brunch buffet, I was quite excited and thought it would be a great way to start the New Year.

I thought people would be sleeping in and recovering from the New Year’s Eve partying, and the brunch would be a quiet one. Was I wrong, the place was already more than 1/2 full by the time I got there before 11am. There was a small line at the reception area. It was a good thing that I made reservations.

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We were seated next to the windows by the patio, and it was a gorgeous day. I waited a while for the server to come take my drink order, but no one came for quite a while. I got impatient and decided to grab a bus boy and told him that I wanted to order a grapefruit juice and a cappuccino. He looked a bit surprised and uncomfortable. He proceeded to tell me that the cappuccino machine was not working, and upon seeing how disappointed I must have looked, he said he should be able to find me a cappuccino from somewhere else. I said “fine”.

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Meanwhile, I decided to check out all the sumptuous offerings, and by the time I got back, there was a glass of grapefruit juice and a to-go cup with a lid on the table. I opened the lid and realized that it was a foamy and delicious looking cappuccino that he must have gotten me from another restaurant inside the resort. I was so amazed at how quick thinking and resourceful he was, and how this was the perfect example of what good service meant. I was impressed. He walked by, and I thanked him sincerely and expressed my utmost appreciation for his extra effort. It was a great beginning to a most enjoyable and wonderful brunch.

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The food selection was similar to what I remembered from last year. The cheese station looked even better with more varieties this time. The smoked salmon was moist, thick and delicious. I decided to try the cook-to-order omelet/egg station this year, and was I glad that I did.

I ordered the an egg white omelet with asparagus, onions, spinach, green onions, mushroom and it was the best omelet – fluffy. tasty and incredibly light. The guacamole I put on top was not salty, fresh and absolutely fantastic.

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The pizza was extremely thin crusted and probably the best pizza I had ever had with the thick, melty, hot and chewy mozzarella cheese. I enjoyed all the fresh mussels and clams from the hot food station. The french toast was so good that I had three slices of them.

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While the selections were not huge at the sushi/sashimi station, they were what I really liked. There was the lobster roll with large chunks of lobster inside – simple and wonderfully great. Being that I love asparagus, the vegetable roll was exactly what I wanted.

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I waited for the nice lady from the waffle station to make me a hot, fresh off the griddle waffle. It was worth it, crunchy, light, and so satisfying with the freshest whipped cream on top. I also added blueberries, raspberries and blackberries to almost everything that I was eating.

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The cheeses, being my favorite, were numerous and top quality. It was hard to refrained from eating too much.

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My friend commented that the prime rib was the best, even better than that of Lawry’s. I feel that everything in the buffet was so good because of the quality of ingredients. It was probably one of the best buffet ever. One must also go outside and walk around the luscious, beautiful garden after the meal for the most complete, awe-inspiring and memorable experience.

I am looking forward to coming back again, hopefully I do not need to wait another year to do so.

Catalina Kitchen, La Terranea Resort: 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275  Phone: 310-265-2704

Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant for Dim Sum

21 Saturday Dec 2013

Posted by in Chinese food, Food

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Those who are serious about Dim Sum would probably have tried or at least heard of this place in Rosemead that some food critics have rated as top on their lists of Chinese restaurants.

My first encounter was at least ten years ago. A friend and I wanted some top quality Dim Sum and decided to try it out. I remembered being quite impressed by the food. Throughout the years, I might have gone back a couple more times for holiday celebrations. So it seems befitting that I was back yesterday to celebrate my B-day.

It was actually a last minute decision to go there since I was in the area getting a chipped tooth fixed. Dim Sum has always been one of my favorite eating past time because it is so much fun to pick and choose all the varieties of food that are usually available.

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The inside of the restaurant is not exceptionally fancy, but it does feel extremely clean and much more comfortable and upscale than other places. Some friends have complained to me about the waiters being snobbish and not providing the best of service there, but on this occasion, the lady waiter was markedly friendly and helpful.

There is a menu with pictures of all the Dim Sum selections, and one needs to just pick and mark down on the order form how much and which ones. I chose about eight items.

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The food arrived piping hot and fresh and at just the right pace. The Baked  BBQ Pork Buns is the best that I have ever had. The restaurant is so proud of this dish that it was named Sea Harbour No. 1 Bun in Chinese. The meat is lean and wonderfully tasty with a bun that is incredibly soft and perfect in texture.

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The Pan Fried Spinach Bun was ever so lightly fried and delicious with a pork filling and a greenish outer skin. The Steamed Pork Spareribs in Black Bean Sauce was tender. The Steamed Turnip Cake came with four tall cubes that are really moist and soft, and steaming hot.

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The Scallops Dumpling had one good sized scallop on top if each dumpling. The Sticky Rice and Meat Wrapped in Lotus Leaf  was delicate with just the right amount of filling and a quarter of a salty egg yolk.

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Anyone who likes durian would love the Deep Fried Durian Pastry. The skin was light and flaky with ample and satisfying amount of the delicious durian.

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One last note, the tea that I ordered was the Pu’er and Chrysanthemum and was probably one of the better tasting version that I have tried.

Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant: 3939 Rosemead Blvd. Rosemead, CA 91770  Phone: (626) 288-3939

Back For More – Bottega Louie

28 Monday Oct 2013

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

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When my friend mentioned Bottega Louie for lunch, I was just a tad hesitant. Not that I don’t not enjoy the food there, but because of the fact that I had gotten a ticket on the way home after the last visit, the dark shadow is still hanging over me from the trauma of receiving an unjust, unfair, highly expensive citation that did not fit the violation.

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However, the remembrance of one of the best pastry I have ever tasted, Le Grand Macaroon, and the image of the beautiful, elegant display of the exquisite patisserie, as well as the magnificent architecture, the ambiance, the energy and the excitement of the place, which is so reminiscent of Paris, all proved to be too strong for me to resist, despite the nagging uneasiness of having to deal with traffic and parking in the Los Angeles downtown area.

After my church service on Sunday, I armed myself with the round trip driving instructions from Mapquest so that I will be able to zip in and out of the area in the fastest, most efficient way possible.

Parking was difficult, I had wanted to find parking on nearby streets, so I stubbornly circled the area continuously for 4 to 5 times. The idea of just giving up and calling my friend to say that we should just go elsewhere crossed my mind, but again, the thought of the unparallelled taste and beauty of the pastries would not allow me to leave. I found a parking lot nearby for $5 and succumbed to paying that price for the sake of tasting the Grand Macaroon once again and trying new ones.

I was surprised by how incredibly busy this place was on this Sunday morning around 11:30 am. The whole restaurant was packed and there was going to be about a 15 minute wait.

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Famished, I ordered the Smoked Salmon Benedict, and the Portobello Fries, both of which I had wrote about in my June blog of this year. The fries seemed to be even better this time around. I had mentioned on my last blog how I wished there would be more smoked salmon with the Eggs Benedict, so I decided to take things into my own hand. I ordered the Smoked Salmon Plate. It came with ample slices of the firm, yet moist and silky, and wonderfully smoky wild salmon, served with a side of white bagel and cream cheese. Now my Eggs Benedict is complete with the addition of the extra salmon.

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We also ordered the Prosciutto & Burrata which are ultra thin slices of mildly favored prosciutto on top of the Burrata cheese on a potato pancake. I liked the fact that the taste of the meat was delicate and not too salty, which balanced well with the softness of the cheese and crunchiness of the pancake. Though the serving was small, it was just right given the fact that I was becoming full.

Now let’s get to the real and important reason for coming here. It was mainly for the pastries, the sweets, the true masterpieces!

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And I do mean masterpieces – each one of the beautifully crafted cakes are meticulously and impeccably executed. While the appearances of some may seem delicate, the taste are often bold and exquisite.

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When I tried Le Grand Macaroon last time, it left me exclaiming in excitement to my son how incredible it was. So the first thing I looked for once inside was this splendid huge macaroon with the freshest raspberries and delicious cream filling. It did not disappoint me, it is just as good this time around.

However, as incredible as the macaroon is, the Cappuccino, unbelievably, is even better. Not only does the luscious light yellow custard-cream-like filling taste of strong espresso, but it is mixed with a striking liqueur flavor that is irresistibly flawless. Even my son chose that one as his favorite.

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The Hazelnut Brownie is a dense, not too sweet, round shape brownie with a slightly crunchy top. The Earl Grey Macaroon is chewy, crisp and moist all at the same time, but I did not get too much of the tea flavor. I must say the cookies are really good here, too, perhaps a bit under-rated and had gotten a bit lost amongst all the other great sweets. I had the Oatmeal Raisin and the Chocolate Chip, and both were excellent in freshness in taste and texture.

I am still energized and excited a day later from having visited this restaurant and from trying out the amazing pastries and cakes. Perhaps that is the mark of a great restaurant when it can instill such a sense of energy, passion and adventure. It was definitely worth the nuisance that came with the trip.

Bottega Louie – 700 South Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90017  Phone: 213-802-1470

http://www.bottegalouie.com/main.html

Cocohodo – Tasty Retreat

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Bakery, Food, Korean Food

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Sometimes simplicity is best. When it comes to these tasty little treats that the store called Premium Walnut Cookies, it certainly does not get any simpler.

The store sells just one main product (not counting the coffee and tea selections)- Hodo Kwaja.  These are small walnut shape cookies filled with sweet red bean paste and walnuts. When I first tried these pastries, it was over ten years ago, and I had bought them from a Korean supermarket. At that time, I thought the little pastries were just alright, perhaps a bit too sweet.

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The walnut pastries at Cocohodo are definitely many grades better than the ones at the supermarket. The red bean paste inside as well as the outer cake portion have just the right, small amount of sweetness that I prefer, and with the soft crunch of the walnut, the pastry came together quite harmonious without feeling heavy.

I ordered a special which included a cup of coffee and four pieces of walnut pastries for around $3.5. One could choose either regular or hazelnut flavored coffee. My friend and both decided that the hazelnut coffee was probably one of the smoothest, most flavorful coffee that we have ever tried. It was so good even without any cream, milk, nor sugar. The walnut pastries were individually wrapped and came in a contemporary ceramic white bowl, which made it easy to share with others without having to use any utensils.

The atmosphere inside this small store is very peaceful, modern, with huge windows are around. I felt so comfortable and relaxed sipping my coffee and looking out at the passing cars.

I was told that the store features art work from local artist at one corner of room. One can also buy these pastries either in gift bags or gift boxes and the prices are reasonable.

I will definitely come back the next time I want to having a relaxing chat with friends, while enjoying great coffee and a small treat.

Cocohodo – 2734 Hawthrone Blvd. Torrance, CA 90505  

http://cocohodo.co.kr/coco_e/1_1.html

Mitsuwa Marketplace – Fun and Yum

06 Sunday Oct 2013

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Mountain

22 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by in Food, Korean Food, Uncategorized

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“Please come in and try our food”, with the assured enthusiasm of someone who knew whatever he was offering was worthy, the young man urged us to go inside. This was about two years ago while we were walking by the newly opened restaurant inside a strip mall in Gardena. My companion and I were on our way to another restaurant in the same mall when we were intercepted.

At the time, there was nobody inside this seemingly spacious and clean restaurant. We were a bit reluctant to try, but did not have the heart to turn down this young fellow with the hopeful smile. “OK, we will try, you said it is good, right?”, I wanted to have his affirmation. “Yes”, excitedly he said.

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The menu was very clear with photos of all the dishes. He proceeded to recommend the Abalone porridge, DolSot Bibimbap (Rice with meat and vegetables on Hot Stone Bowl), and Galbi-Tang(short-rib based soup). I finally settled on the Abalone Porridge, while my companion ordered the combination of Galbi and DolSot-Bibimbap.

There was a rectangular box on each table that held the stainless steel spoons and chopsticks that one could help themselves to. The banchan (side dishes) here were much bigger in portion size than most of the other Korean restaurants. I especially liked the cube sized soy sauce beef, it was so tender and tasty. The potato salad was moist, mushy, a bit tangy, I asked for two more refills later on.

The porridge was served in elongated oval shape shallow bowl with a raw egg yolk on top. I gave the raw yolk to my companion, and dug into my porridge. The flavor of abalone was mild but I did find tiny pieces of abalone inside. It was not enough food for me, so I had some of my friend’s bibimbap and galbi. The galbi was cooked just right, with a slight sweet flavor.  While the mixed rice on hot stone bowl would be good on a cold evening, I preferred the regular version with the rice not burnt.

 

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After not having been there for quite some time, I decided to have lunch at Mountain this past weekend. I ordered the Soon Tofu with seafood, while my son had the combo of bulgogi and soon tofu with beef. The amount of tofu had decreased substantially, as well as the portion size of the bulgogi. I was quite disappointed. The only constant was the banchan, the selections were still enjoyable, so I filled myself up with the soy sauce beef and potato salad. While this restaurant cannot compared to some of the best ones in Koreatown, it does offer a relaxing atmosphere, comfortable seatings because of the spacious booths, a shorter drive from home, and ample parking spaces.

Mountain Restaurant: 15460 S. Western Ave. Ste 101, Gardena, CA 90247  Phone: (310) 327-8494

More Than Just Teppanyaki – Benihana

18 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by in Food, Japanese Food

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When one thinks of Benihana, the image that comes to mind is a chef expertly chopping up vegetables, meat, or seafood, and cooking up a storm in front of an excited audience who is hungry not just for the food but for a bit of entertainment.

Teppanyaki is the style of cooking at this famous restaurant. The restaurant was started in 1964 in New York by Hiroaki Aoki, also a wrestler who qualified but did not attend the 1960 Summer Olympics. The name of the first restaurant, Benihana of Tokyo, was named after the “red safflower” which was the name of the coffee shop owned by his parents in Tokyo.

Aoki’s idea was for the meal to be theatrically prepared by trained staff at a communal table. Teppan meaning “steel grill”, and yaki meaning “grilled” or “broiled”. Guest would place their order at the table, and be able to watch with amazement as the food items were sliced and diced and flipped into the air.

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I, like most other patrons of this restaurant, started enjoying the food here at these Teppanyaki tables. Then one day, a friend mentioned that she has been taking her son to Benihana for the Sushi Boat special.

“What is that?” I asked. She explained that for lunch only, the restaurant serves a combination of Chicken, or Beef Julienne, or Salmon, with half of a California roll, Shrimp and vegetable tempura, sashimi, soup, salad, edamame, steamed rice and fruit, served inside a huge bamboo “boat”, and all that for around ten dollars.

I was not sold right away, but one day, tired of the long wait for the teppanyaki side, we decided to just eat at the sushi side of the restaurant, since we were told that we would be able to order anything from the hibachi menu. It was actually nice to be away from the crowd and the noise and fumes. We proceeded to order the sushi boat with Beef Julienne, and an order of the Hibachi Scallops.

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I was surprised by the large size of  the boat, and how lovely the overall presentation of the food was. The beef was surprisingly good quality, tender and flavorful, and was enhanced by the slight sweetness of the teriyaki sauce.  The batter on the tempura was light and not greasy. Sashimi came with slices of tuna and white fish, though not the top of grades, they were nevertheless, enjoyable with the rest of the offerings. I especially like the tangy dressing on the very fresh and generous portion size of the salad.

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My Hibachi Scallops was every bit as good as it would be, even though it was not cooked on the teppanaki side. The scallops tasted fresh, mildly sweet, and not chewy. The hibachi vegetable rice was savory and satisfying.

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I had tried various sushi and rolls on other occasions, and I was pleasantly surprised by how strikingly fresh tasting they all were.  My favorite, the uni (sea urchin) was consistently creamy and smooth, with a nutty sweet taste, even better than some of the best sushi restaurants in town. The Caterpillar Roll, a huge roll made with eel, cucumber, avocado was exquisite. The eel was firm, yet delicate and moist, with a generous amount of sensuous, buttery avocado slices wrapped all around the roll.

One can receive a $30 Birthday Gift Certificate during the month of the birthday after joining “The Chef’s Table” at the Benihana website, which I think is one of the best deal in town.

Benihana: 21327 Hawthrone Blvd. Torrance, CA 90503  Phone: 310-316

http://www.benihana.com/

Fish Dumplings and more – Moo’s

04 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by in Chinese food, Food

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“Let’s go to Moo’s”, I said to my son the other day. He was a bit reluctant, but accepted the offer since the restaurant was rather close to our home, and he doesn’t like long car rides.

Not a stranger to this restaurant at all, I have been going there and getting take-outs for over ten years already. However, I have not been back for quite some time with my son, so he has forgotten what the food was like.

I must admit that the restaurant itself looks a bit run down, and the setting and decor inside leave much to be desired. The owners are Chinese, but had lived in Korea, so the food is Chinese but Korean influenced.

The dish that I have been getting over and over again for so many years is the “Steamed Fish Dumplings”. The lady owner once told me that they would buy the fish fresh and make the dumplings each day. I like the fact that there are twelve dumplings to an order. The fish taste is delicate and fresh, and the texture of the whole dumpling is very soft, smooth and light. With some vinegar and the addition of the kimchee that came with the meal, I can probably finish the entire portion if I had wanted to. I cannot even count how many times I had ordered the dish as takeout when I wanted some comfort food that is not greasy nor oily.

The other favorite here is the Jajangmyeon, a thick handmade noodle smothered with a dark soybean paste, with diced pork and onions. When I tried this noodle for the first time, I had expected a very strong, salty taste because of the very dark color of the sauce. I was surprised to find that the taste was actually relatively mild and not at all overpowering. With the pleasant chewiness of the noodle, the dish is delightful and can be rather addictive.

Chow Ma Mien or Chow Ma Mien with Seafood are large bowls of soup noodle served either with pork, onions and vegetables or with various seafood over the handmade noodles. The heartiness of the pork or seafood mixtures with the hot soup and noodle can be so satisfying and comforting on a cold evening.

As we were leaving the restaurant that day, my son agreed that food was actually “pretty good”.

Moo’s Restaurant: 4817 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90503  Phone: 310-542-5270

LA Market – What a surprise

01 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by in American Food, Food

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If it wasn’t for the fact that my friend had gotten a special deal through Travelzoo, I probably would not have tried this particular restaurant.

To tell the truth, I was a bit hesitant and anxious about the food not being as good as the deal sounded, since just the Prime Filet on the regular the menu cost $45 already, and the deal was $69 for two people, with choices of two appetizers and two entrées, and a dessert.

The restaurant is located in the lobby area inside the JW Marriotts in downtown Los Angeles, just a few steps from the Staples Center.  I was concerned about the parking, but being that it was a Sunday, l decided that I should just circle the surrounding blocks for street parking. Reluctantly, I gave up after three times around the blocks, and pulled into the hotel driveway for the valet.

We were seated right at the corner with huge windows all around, which provided a busy view of passersby. I did not realize that this area was so popular with so many tourists.

The décor of the restaurant, being a part of the hotel lobby, was comfortably modern, with very airy and open spaces, which enabled me to truly relax. I almost felt like I was on vacation elsewhere.

Out of the three varieties of bread that were served, I thought the Pretzel roll had the most flavor and was still warm and soft.

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The Tuna Dynamite – raw tuna sandwiched between two layers of sushi rice, with a generous amount of real crab meat on top was a good size appetizer. The real crab meat tasted fresh and was especially welcoming with the little bit of tobiko (flying fish roe). It virtually seemed as if I was eating a gigantic sushi.

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The Prime Filet arrived with slices of cepes mushroom, and the sweetest sugar snap peas. I asked for medium, and it was perfectly so. The meat surprised me. It was amazingly and remarkably tender and juicy. It rivalled, if not exceeded some of the best steakhouses in LA.

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The dessert “The Junk Food Platter”, indisputably lived up to its name. It was a giant platter filled with “Junk Food” such as baby churros, red velvet whoopie pies, snickers cake, banana Nutella macaroons, brownies, cookies, and a humongous, jaw-dropping blue color cotton candy sitting in a jar of caramel popcorn.

The other patrons around us were staring and marvelling at this “Unnatural Wonder”. Needless to say we could not and did not want to finish the masterpiece. We were only too happy to give away the cotton candy and the caramel corn to the table next to us, and to watch with contentment as they blissfully finished every morsel.

LA Market by Kerry Simon: 900 West Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015  Phone: 213-765-8630

Sandwich meats and beyond – Sprouts

29 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in American Food, Food, Lifestyle

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“That was the juiciest, most delicious, succulent, bestest roast beef I have ever tasted!” With such eager enthusiasm that I have not seen in him for a long time in regards to food, my son exclaimed excitedly.

I think that I might had forced him to listen to me describing the food in my blog a bit too much.Was it actually that good? I tore a small piece and proceeded to taste it. He was right. There is a very wholesome, natural flavor to this meat. The seasoning is appropriate and not uncomfortably salty as other sandwich meats tend to be. The beef is moist, smooth, and a tad pink. Most importantly, the beef looks and tastes undeniably fresh, because it is. The deli meats are cut each day on premise, and wrapped with cellophane, and sold by weight. The best part for me is the fact there is no nitrates in the roast beef and the turkey that I buy – research has shown that sodium nitrates are linked to increased cancer risks.

This was the first time trying the roast beef. I have been purchasing the turkey breast there for over a year. Prior to discovering the turkey, I was buying the ones without preservatives at Trader Joe’s. The main difference is that the ones here at Sprouts are cut daily, in thicker slices, instead of the paper thin, overly processed unnatural looking ones at TJ.

Some days, when I am feeling lazy, I would just serve some of these deli meats with some brown rice and sliced cucumbers to my son for dinner. The reason I don’t just make a sandwich in the evening is because somehow the dinner meal seems more legit, more presentable, more like I did something when rice is served along side.

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There is also a low sodium version of the turkey breast, which is my preferred choice. In addition to turkey, roast beef, there are ham, roasted chicken, mesquite turkey, etc. Be sure to check the labels though, since there are quite a few varieties with preservatives.

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To go with the sandwich meats, I find that the Alpine Valley Organic breads are absolutely addictive. I tried the Multi grain, 12 grain w/Omega-3, Nine grain, they are all uncommonly moist, wonderfully chewy, with a bit of sweetness. Just as good, but slightly cheaper are the Sprouts sandwich breads,  with similar textures and taste. I almost never eat the crust on any sandwich breads, but obsessed with the fabulous chewiness of the multi-grain version, and the sunflowers seeds that are scattered all over the soft and malleable crust, I find myself just eating the entire plain slices of the bread continuously throughout the day.

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Another reason to shop at Sprouts, is the bulk bins. There are so many fun and tempting choices, such as the assorted types of nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruits, and best of all, different milk and dark chocolate covered fruits and nuts, and my favorite – chocolate covered espresso beans. The bitterness and the hard crunch of the coffee bean is a perfect balance for the sweet candy coating. The unique hotness of the wasabi coated edamame gives a surprising kick to your taste buds and provides a bizarre stimulation to the nasal passages.

fruits

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The Produce department always have unbeatable specials on seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as the pop-in-your-mouth, fruitiest tasting organic grape tomatoes, as well as the sweetest blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, all for $1.50/dry pint this week. Raw meat selections such as the organic chicken drum sticks, Old Tyme organic beef, and the natural pork chops are all excellent in quality.

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Sprouts:  1515 Hawthrone Blvd. Redondo Beach, CA 90278  Phone: 424-903-7028

See Sprouts website for other locations.