Tag Archives: Pastry

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

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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

Jim’s Po Tarts – Perfection

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by in Bakery, Chinese Bakery, Chinese dessert, Chinese food, Food

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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

Simply Splendid, a Fitting Name

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Bakery, Chinese Bakery, Chinese dessert, Chinese food, Food

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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

Worth A Try – Bottega Louie

01 Saturday Jun 2013

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

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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