Weekend Run-Down (October 2015) - what did you have?

DTF Costa Mesa has it also.

Bar Toscana last night. Casual twist on Tascana more relaxed. Food was good. very good octopus salad, roast chicken was solid. Service was ok.

Pre-movie nibbles at Opah, Aliso Viejo- fried sweet potatoes and Veuve.

1 Like

Okay so I bit the bullet and tried it today. I ordered the pan pizza with the blended tomato sauce and had sausage, bell pepper, onion and mushroom. The cheese was probably the best part for me. The crust was okay tasting, sort of reminded me of Red Baron deep dish in a good way. But the sauce just overpowered everything. I was wanting more of the pieces without the sauce, it just seemed the sauce was far to acidic and just too much of it.

All in all, I probably won’t be back. Just meh to me, not great and not bad.

1 Like

Meizo Dongpo Century City. This is probably the best Chinese restaurant Westside and that includes New port. Flavors pretty spot on. Not toned down too much and still balanced.

The roast duck, classic pork belly, and braised ham hock are very good. Dan Dan noodles were very good. The pork belly with preserved vegetables was the weak link.

3 Likes

@CiaoBob, are we going to keep building onto this thread or, are you going to start a new thread every week?

On Saturday ate late lunch at The Bun Shop on Western in Koreatown.





1 Like

How are their buns? Every time I try to go there, I can’t find parking (for blocks) and there is a line inside—so I give up and go to Pollo al la brasa instead.

I never seem to hit a line, but here’s another place I usually hit up on off hours.

I like the buns, though the Ba’corn cheese dish is deadly! My favorites are the Katsu and the Spicy Pig. Here is the order sheet.

Friday - Some burger place called ‘Stacked’. Never been. Pretty horrible, flavorless shit. Even worse was the “service”. It was a quick bite while the GF was shopping at the “new” Del Amo Mall. Fucking Animals! I couldn’t get out of there quick enough.

Then we headed back to her place where her mom was making a huge bahn xeo spread.

Saturday - tried a local Salvadorian place that opened up not too long ago. Very good. I’ll have to revisit w/ a camera next time and post a review. Ordered: chile, cheese, and chicharron papusas, fried yucca and pork w/ curtido, pasteles de pollo, and plantain empanadas stuffed with black beans.

Sunday - requisite casarecce with Sunday Gravy. Left over hot sausages.

Friday - Rogue Dead Guy Ale (in general, I’m not a huge fan of most German styles but, this was very good), Green Flash West Coast DIPA (while I absolutely love this on tap, I’m not a huge fan of it bottled), Firestone Pale 31 (this is an excellent session beer). Oh yea, a guy’s gotta eat; more of those Hebrew National passed hors d’oevres (how dare you refer to them as pigs in a blanket. seriously good though with a high quality dog and puff pastry) Yea, my Friday’s need work.

Saturday - Linner at Dublin 4 our local Irish Pub for shrimp & grits with tasso and it’s renderings, fish & chips and various beers that I don’t recall because the menu wasn’t up to date with what was currently on tap so I accepted substitutes. Snacked on chicharon from El Fenix and chips & guac from Celinda’s while watching the USMNT defile the beautiful game.

Sunday - Pecan Sticky buns (my kryptonite) from the newly opened Urth in Laguna Beach (beautiful spot). Dinner was at Chef Perfecto Rocher’s Travel Inspired pop up at Hinoki & The Bird. It exceeded our expectations. While we came for the paella, we wound up ordering the squid ink fideua. While there was a special cocktail menu, there was no special wine menu. Mrs. JAB opted for Hennepin while I opted for Stone. We just may end up making that journey again from S OC to Century City for the actual paella before the end of the month.

3 Likes

Friday

Terroni, after the hilarious Jerry Seinfeld show at the Pantages
great charcouterie platter, and Rabbit Papardelle

Saturday
Cassia, no pictures but it was great.

Sunday
Howlin Rays Hot Chicken @ the Alibi Room (dark meat with Slaw shown below)
Washed down with some Lucky Buddha lagers for me, and a Paloma for my partner.

They are not joking about it being HOT, as the Offalo has described on his blog
http://theoffalo.com/2015/07/howlin-rays-hot-chicken/

I eat hot stuff all the time and this was at the edge of tolerable for me, and I ordered it hot (level 3 of 5), not extra hot or whatever they call suicide.

1 Like

@Novelli: Yah I had the “pleasure” of eating at one of those branches before; terrible.

But you were in Torrance then! You should’ve hit up legit Japanese food like Torihei, Ichimian (Soba Noodles), and a few other great places. :smile:

Friday

I was supposed to get soba with a friend, but something came up so she had to cancel. My SO and I ended up getting delivery from our regular Indian spot, Bombay Tandoori in Torrance, because we suddenly felt too lazy to go anywhere. I really like their lamb vindaloo. The meat is always tender and they always make the spiciness level to my liking, which is super duper hot. Their garlic naan is pretty good, too. Plus, I’m addicted to their tamarind chutney which I drink straight out of the cup. :grin:

Saturday

Lunch: Poke from King Poke in Lomita. I prefer Jus’ Poke in Redondo Beach because the fish seems better to me, but I go here more often because I live really close by. It’s actually not bad, especially with the fried onions and garlic chips which provide a nice crunch. Their bowls come with tuna, salmon, albacore, and whitefish. I get mine with rice, spicy mayo, jalapeños, and extra avocado.

Dinner: Whole chicken from Pollo A La Brasa, Gardena. We go here pretty often. I still haven’t been to the other location. Is there much of a difference?

Sunday

Got my monthly fix of the hot lobster roll at Connie & Ted’s. I crave that thing all the time. So good.
Also had:
Oysters - Belons, and a couple of Kumamotos because they only had 4 Belons left.
House smoked mahi-mahi with frisée, potatoes, aioli, and Calabrian chili vinaigrette. The fish was tasty and the chili vinaigrette added a nice bit of heat to it.
My SO had the Bacon Hook Burger which was pretty great! Neuske’s bacon, Hook’s 4 year old cheddar, pickles, onions, lettuce, and 1000 island.

4 Likes

Pre-concert dinner Saturday. Smoked beef ribs at The Running Goose in Hollywood really tender and flavorful. Forgot to snap the pic before we had gotten through most of it. Salt cod churros (on the left) were really good, too.

Breakfast Monday at Early Bird in Fullerton. Love their carnitas chilaquiles.

1 Like

I think I enjoy photos of food after eating as much as pre.
Plate Detritus is underrepresented in food porn.

1 Like

That may be the perfect picture of “really tender and flavorful”!

1 Like

is the BBQ beef joint the place in Cahuenga south of Hollywood Blvd maybe a block or so away from Birch before you get to Sunset Blvd ???

thanks man.

if so, I was wondering about that joint every time I pass by on my way to Birch.

thanks. sounds fucking dope.

That’s the one. More gastropub than BBQ joint, but the ribs were legit. Good beer and wine lists, too.

wow, i’m sold.

I remember looking at the menu and thinking to myself this place sounds good, around 8pm a few months ago. but the joint was completely fucking empty. and thought that it might not have shown up the perpetual fucking radar just yet.

beef ribs are my nom de plum, er fucking nom de guerre.

thanks man. great tip. desserts good ???

btw, how many ribs do they give you ??? full rack ??? three ribs ?? four ribs ??? and not many joints, it’s very very very very rare, offer beef ribs.