organic reed avocados

organic reed avocados
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

compared to other fruits, avocados aren't cheap, especially if you're buying organic. on a good day, they're $1.50 a piece at the local whole foods. for the past few weeks, i've been eying these large reed avocados that are about 4-5 in on the long side. they run $3.99 each. that's a lot to spend on one piece of fruit, but i guess it's up there with their neighbors in the produce department, the california grown heirloom tomatoes.

something about their bounty was calling me today at the supermarket, so i splurged & picked one up to make a lovely arugula salad with cherry tomatoes and a light vinaigrette. i could only do it justice by using the olivier's lemon infused olive oil and a white wine vinegar.

i opened up the avocado i selected to discover a perfectly ripe fruit that came right off the peel without much effort, but was still firm to the touch, and wow was it creamy. all this for a healthy accompaniment to my lunch of leftover scrambled eggs.

tasca

tasca
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

#25 on my 101 in 1001 list (6/143)
after our mediocre meal at cafe sevilla a few weeks ago, i was still craving spanish tapas, so we ate here. we arrived early on a saturday night without reservations, and were promptly seated, which made me a little nervous about the quality of the food because any good restaurant in LA would not be empty on a saturday night, but it turns out maybe we were just a little early, as people didn't start filling up the restaurant until 7pm.

have you ever ordered a good burger seared so it gets that smoky flavor on the outside but is still juicy on the inside, then the juice flavors the lettuce. well, the ceasar salad--a special--we ordered reminded me of that. it consisted of a heart of lettuce that had been grilled and thus infused with a nice, smoky aroma and drizzled with a tart, lobster flavored dressing and plated with a single grilled shrimp. the only complaint i had was the shrimp was a little overcooked and mushy.

in addition to the salad, we also ordered two similar, but different tapas--bunuelo de bacalao, which were salted cod fritters in salbetxada sauce and arancini, which were wild mustroom risotto fritters. both had a light crispy shell like a japanese croquette. the tender cod had a light texture that reminded me of canned tuna and a subtle flavor. the accompanying tomato relish, however, was very garlicky and slightly tart from a vinaigrette. in contrast, the arancini had a creamy, earthy flavor that was further enhanced by the creamy sauce that came with it. both were tasty.

they offer both tapas and entrees, although the entrees aren't full entree size, and the tapas are a little bigger than typical tapas. we shared the pasta special, which was a tagliolini pasta with chanterelle & shitake mushrooms with shaved black truffle. if you like mushrooms, this is earthy, nutty dish is for you. the mushroom sauce is creamy and rich as well.

we ended our meal with a pot de creme, a sizeble cup of chocolate mousse with cardamom infused whipped cream and copious amounts of shaved chocolate topping. the mousse was a little more sweet than rich like i like it, but it was still good. i loved that they give you lots of bits of chocolate, and the cardamom in the whipped cream enhanced the dessert.

we tried two different wines that were specials that night--a french bordeaux (chateau sorbey) rich in tannins & an earthy chilean syrah (bayo oscuro--and a sweet, oaky meritage from mendocino. the first two were ok. i liked the last the best, as i thought it had a richness that had a strong finish.

our waiter was very attentive, although service slowed towards the end of our meal as more people filled the restaurant. a good meal overall. i would come back to try other things on the menu.

polenta gratin w/ mushrooms & tomato

polenta gratin w/ mushrooms & tomato
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

inspired by how well the lentil minestrone i made last week turned out, i decided to try another recipe from deborah madison's vegetarian cooking for everyone last night. not only is this cookbook akin to a bible for vegetarians, it exemplifies what cooking vegetables should be--flavorful, healthy and not difficult to achieve both with quality ingredients.

so maybe all the cheese that went into this dish isn't the healthiest thing, it's got to be healthier than a meat-filled pie or an organic processed tv dinner, which apparently, isn't all that great according to the chapter on organic industrial farming that i've been reading about in omnivore's dilemma.

i did intend to make an arugula salad to balance out our dinner, but after the time that went into the preparation of this dish and the heat generated in the kitchen (we have no ac) from a 400 degree oven, i was ready to get out of there. the dish was delicious, but next time, i will make more mushroom & tomato filling as i thought it was a little heavy on the polenta side.

xinjian bbq

xinjian bbq
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

#25 on my 101 in 1001 list (5/143)
if you like skewered meat and are looking for something off the beaten path, xinjian bbq is worth a visit. the food here represents a certain variety of street food found in the northwest part of china. dusted with cumin & and chili spices, skewered and grilled, these snacks will satisfy. i went with a group, and we shared a number of appetizers and bbq'd meats. though all i had were tasty, some tended on the dry, overcooked side. here is what we had:

gouba soup: tortilla like pancake pieces in a five spice flavored thick gravy. some people liked it better than others.

oil pancake: like a buttermilk biscuit--good as a side to the meats rather than an appetizer

beef pancake: same pancake except filled with marinated beef with cilantro & green onions. the marinade was flavorful.

cucumber salad: i couldn't taste much beyond the copious amounts of garlic

vegetables: blanched vegetables flavored with sesame oil--pretty good and a nice balance to the heavy meats

pork & chives dumplings: these were juicy and flavorful, but they are on the big side, and the skin is rather thick

lamb chop: you can either get the lamb or lamb chop. others in my group got the lamb and really liked it. i got the lamb chop, which was a little tough, but the combination of cumin & chili went well with the meat.

chinese sausage: sweet, salty & spicy, this was good skewered as the fat kept the meat from drying out.

chicken wing & pieces of chicken: the skin and fattiness of the dark meat on the wing make for some good flavors. i recommend it over the chicken by itself

quail eggs: i like quail eggs. these needed a little soy sauce

corn: can't beat sweet grilled corn

yellow croaker: tender white meat inside, crispy skin on the outside

beef: these look like short rib slices and were on the tough and dry end. i wouldn't get them again.

mussels: i didn't taste these, but were told they were dry and overcooked.

it's a small place, and little english is spoken, but the prices can't be beat. also, the rub is spiced but not super spicy. each table has a variety of spices including white pepper, cumin, chili paste and red pepper flakes which you can add if you want more.

lentil minestrone

lentil minestrone
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

not being a huge fan of kidney beans, i had to try out this recipe from deborah madison's vegetarian cooking for everyone when i came upon it, looking for a lentil soup recipe. a hearty soup made with green lentils, leafy greens (your choice of chard, mustard or spinach), and shell pasta, it fills you up with goodness and warmth. now if only the weather would stay cool!

8 oz

8 oz
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

i can't remember having a burger that i could actually taste the meat without really focusing all my attention and searching out the sanguine juices with my tongue. amazingly, i didn't have to with 8 oz's estancia grass-fed beef burger. some people think there is a difference in taste between grass-fed and corn-fed and that the latter is better. i agree that there is a difference, but grass-fed is better, not only for the environment and your health, also for your palate and the respect of the animal. how sad and disrespectful is it to kill something only to make mediocre food?

if you've never had grass-fed beef, you may forget that all the other stuff on the burger is only an accent. sure, the heirloom tomato ketchup is tasty, but the meat flavor in this burger is more prominent than anything else, and that was good. it reminded me of an excellent pho broth that has been cooking for 8 hours and absorbed all the great flavors from the marrow and the bones. i felt like i had been asleep for years and woken up realizing how much i'd missed out. my only complaint was that the bottom bun soaked up a lot of juices and became mushy. they need a more substantial bun or do something about excess juices.

i wish i could say their onion rings were as good, but i thought they were ok. i like my onion rings with a little texture, and the ones here were thick and kind of oily. the chorizo stuffed fried olives are as good as they sound and definitely worth trying though. not the healthiest thing to eat, but at least they're small.

they have a lightly pan-fried filet of fish that's moist and tasty as well if you're looking for something leaner. i haven't tried any of the other entrees, but would come back to.

what burger meal is not complete without a chocolate malt--thick and yummy with just a hint of nuttiness. it's a casual gourmet burger place where ingredients are high quality, many locally produced. prices are on par with other gourmet burger places.

apple cinnamon muffins

in the kitchen
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

(makes 12 - 14 regular sized muffins)
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1-2 apples - peeled, cored and chopped (reserve 1/2 chopped apple for topping)

Topping
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

* can substitute whole wheat flour for 1/2 cup white & use 1/2 brown sugar for 1/2 white & half applesauce for oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease six - eight muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
2. Stir together 1 1/2 cup flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, baking powder and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix in oil, egg and milk. Fold in apples. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 2/3 of the cup.
3. In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix together with fork and top over unbaked muffins. Mince remaining apple into smaller pieces and sprinkle on top. Finish with cinnamon sugar on top.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

shinsengumi yakitori

shinsengumi yakitori
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

#25 on my 101 in 1001 list (4/143)
steph & i checked this festive yakitori joint out on monday. from the start, workers welcome you by shouting in japanese and bowing. we sat at the bar where we could watch the griller cook up a variety of the skewered items we ordered. all were tasty and made from quality ingredients served by friendly and attentive waitpeople. we ate:

chicken livers: i love pate, but have never been a fan of liver. theirs didn't completely sell me, but it was the best that i've had, and if i were to eat liver, i would recommend theirs. marinated in a slightly sweet, salty marinade, they were fresh, dark pink and plump.

quail eggs: i love quail eggs, and grilling them adds a smoky flavor

chicken thighs w/ salt & chicken thighs w/ special sauce: both were good, but i would recommend the special sauce, which is slightly sweet, over the salt.

bacon-wrapped enoki: the flavor of the bacon soaked into chewy bundles of enoki mushrooms wrapped inside which makes for a great combination of earthy, sweet and smoky flavors.

fried chicken: this one is quite tasty. lightly crunchy with a batter similar to that typically found on the fried soft shell crab, it was not at all oily or heavy.

scallop special: you get two whole large scallops, uncut, and seared. a little pricey, but i thought it was worth it for the flavor.

green chilis: these remind me of shiso peppers, though not as bitter. good if you like chilis.

smelt: these 3-4 inch whole fish come two on a skewer and are filled with tiny, cream colored eggs. they taste like the sea. i think they're less fishy when deep-fried.

shitake mushrooms: tasty.

they offer quite a variety of desserts, including creme brulee and ice cream. we had the green tea ice cream, which was a little on the icey side, but had a good, strong earthy flavor.

the service was really top notch and fun. we didn't drink this time, but seems like a great place to wind down with some beer or sake and some good food.

king's hawaiian restaurant

king's hawaiian restaurant
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

#25 on 101 in 1001: 3/143
saturday, i went with fellow knitters to the torrance spinning & weaving fiber festival. unfortunately for the lack of space in our little apartment, i undid the stash busting from the yarn swap a month ago, but discovered a great lunch at king's hawaiian.

the restaurant with adjoining bakery is diner-esque with a splash of hawaiian flavor and familiar comfort food. i went here with a large group for lunch, and it seems very popular among families. they offer typical breakfasts with a twist. you can get a side of spam, portuguese sausage or char siu with your omelet. if you get a burger, you have the option of one with pineapple and teriyaki sauce.

we shared an order of the macadamia nut encrusted onion rings which were awesome. i liked the textured, crunchy, nutty batter covering thick slices of onions. yum! i had the fried rice with egg over easy. the fried rice, although a little more moist than i like it, tasted homemade, with bits of char siu, imitation fish, green onions and egg. the fried egg on top is good, although mine was a little more cooked (not as runny yolk) than i liked. the bowl of fruit i had was freshly chopped and a good balance for an otherwise heavy meal. oh, and their rolls are sweet and buttery good.

everyone's food looked great, and no one had any complaints. i highly recommend it for kids, especially if they may be picky eaters. there's something for everyone.

Animal

Animal
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

#25 on 101 in 1001: 2/143
if you didn't get a clue from the name, Animal caters to meat-eating foodies. even though the meats were surprisingly lean, you could easily fill up on meat-heavy appetizers alone. i went with a group, and most of us shared, so i was able to sample a broad range of appetizers and entrees on their single sheet menu.

appetizers
i found the appetizers to be more interesting than the entrees, though no less heavy on the protein.
house smoked pork belly, lentil & butterbean salad- one of the better choices of the evening, the pork belly was a shockingly lean piece of meat with a section of fat. marinated in a thick bbq sauce, it was sweet on first bite and ended with an almost too salty finish. thankfully, the tangy vinaigrette from the beans cut through some of the intensity of the sauce.

pork ribs, balsamic, delicata squash & rocket salad, pecans- smothered in a dark balsamic sauce, the meat was tender and easily came off the bones. thank goodness for the spicy rocket salad with sweet slices of squash to balance all the pork. the sauce was somewhat generic.

poutine, ox-tail gravy, vermont cheddar- theirs is a gourmet version of a canadian specialty that consists of french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. the gravy on this had pieces of ox-tail in it. without much to compare it to, all i can say is that french fries do taste good with gravy on them. the cheese was a little scarce on this one.

entrees
flat iron, sunchoke, lobster & chanterelle mushrooms, hotel butter- this is a quality, thick piece of meat. another diner in the group thought their medium rare was a little too rare, but i found it to be just right. the steak was tender, simply prepared and mostly focused on the natural meat flavor. personally, i would have preferred more mushrooms, less meat.

halibut, king crab, tabasco butter, gold rice succotash, cipollini- one of two fish dishes on the menu, this one consisted of a piece of halibut that has been pan seared and covered with a good amount of king crab, plated with a mixture of beans and sweet corn and a butter sauce. i love crab, and it was good with the butter, so nothing to complain here.

although the preparations are straightforward, and the flavors are a little uninspired, overall, i thought the food was tasty. the ingredients, fresh, high quality, mostly organic and locally produced/grown, were good. our waiter was attentive and friendly, answering the various questions from our large group. though it's definitely not a place for vegetarians, but they do have fish and vegetarian salads, so if you wanted to eat a little lighter, it is possible.

uWink

hollywood scavenger hunt
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

#25 of 101 in 1001: 1/143
we were in hollywood for a scavenger hunt so tried this restaurant where you can place your order and play games through a touchscreen. food was ok. the veggie burger was actually tasty. for what it was, a restaurant in the hollywood highland mall, it was fine and fulfills my one new restaurant a week goal. the games won't push any boundaries in the gaming world, but they were entertaining while you wait for your food.

musha w/ steph

musha w/ steph
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

steph and i had plans to check out a yakitori place in gardena--torimatsu--that i had heard was really good. my excitement was dashed upon arrival as we learned that they are closed on sundays. doh! i suppose i could have checked their schedule, but no where on yelp is it listed, which would have meant calling them. so we tried to go to shin sen gumi, another yakitori place nearby. i think i got the wrong address and ended up at a little tiny place that didn't look right and had just closed.

musha happened to be in the same strip mall parking lot, and steph hadn't been there so we went there instead. everything we had was excellent, and i thought our meal was quintessential izakaya. good small plates of food with beer and friendship.

snow crab w/ daikon salad: fresh pieces of snow crab with slices of slightly bitter daikon over mixed greens. healthy and good.

beef tongue shichirin grill: chewy, salt and pepper crusted thinly sliced beef tongue. comes with a buttery, tangy dipping sauce.

buta kimchee: thin sliced pork stirfried with kimchee - smokey, spicy, salty

ebi yuba shinjo: shrimp dumpling wrapped with tofu skin. then deep fried & served w/ tentsuyu dipping sauce -- crunchy on the outside, tender inside

takotama: two layers omelette w/ chopped octopus, tokyo leek, red ginger & tuna broth -- very interesting combination. the octopus was sparingly used and mostly textural. there were a bunch of noodles sandwiched in between the two layers and cooked in a thickish sweet worcestershire-like sauce.

one of the waiters spilled some of the dipping sauce that came with the shrimp on steph, which sucked, but they gave us free ice cream in the end, which was nice.

claws

claws
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

monday, i went for cajun broiled seafood with some ladies from the knitting group and a fellow foodie--steph w, gayle, steph c & her husband josh, and lisa v. it was messy and darn good. we had shrimp, crawfish, mussels, and corn. except for some king crab which were ok, they were out of crab (blue & dungeness) again, so maybe next time. after what i found out about shrimping this week from a new member of our knitting group who is a marine biologist, i'm starting to think about cutting back on shrimp. there's also the whole cholesterol thing.

petrillo's pizza

petrillo's pizza
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

Petrillo's, a mom & pop pizzeria that also serves italian favorites, makes good old fashioned pizza. Their tomato sauce is sweet and salty, and they load their medium thick pizzas full of hearty ingredients. Though I prefer thin crust pizza, i thought this pizza was tasty, and like the proportion of the ingredients to the crust.

I went with a group, and we tried several of their pizzas, including the petrillo specialty, which is a supreme pizza with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, italian sausage, pepperoni, salami, mushrooms, onions and green bell peppers. They don't skimp on the toppings, especially the meat, on this one, which was the group favorite. The sausage was quite tasty with bits of fennel seeds that added a lot of flavor.

We also had a half pepperoni & black olives, half canadian bacon and pineapple, which they loaded up with toppings. Both were hearty and good combinations of flavors. The bianca, which has no tomato sauce, but is topped with mozzarella and romano cheese, fresh tomatoes and fresh basil, was the least favorite of the pizzas. It wasn't bad, but it was a little bland. The fresh basil was a nice touch, but with no tomato sauce or meat, it was on the cheese-y side. I think if they added pesto, it would be perfect.

In addition to the pizzas, we tried the antipasta salad, which consisted of italian cold meats, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, roasted peppers, black olives and pepperoncini over lettuce. The salad was a good balance, and quite large--enough to feed at least four people. We were tempted by another table's order of spaghetti and meatballs, which comes with several huge meatballs. The pasta was ok. I thought the sauce was good, and overall, the dish was typical of a mom and pop place.

I haven't tried any of the other dishes although the owner recommended the lasagna, but I felt that of the things we had, the pizza really was the star.

musha

musha
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

izakaya is japanese comfort food for me, and though the food here is not traditional but has western influences with regards to certain ingredients and preparations, the subtle and refined flavors and heavy use of cream and cheese will not only send you into a food coma, but leave you feeling quite satisfied. here is what we had:

baguette gratin: imagine a crispy, french baguette stuffed with bay scallop, onion & creamy white sauce and covered in melted cheese oven-baked. can't complain about the richness, but they could have had more scallops in the filling.

aski: an assortment of shitake & oyster mushrooms are sauteed with asparagus and garlic in a butter soy sauce. ok, they had me at butter soy sauce, but i love mushrooms, so that was a bonus. i could probably make this at home, but it beats doing dishes.

eringi mushroom: since they don't really have yakitori, the shichirin grill is a fun way to eat grilled food. the bf doesn't eat meat, so we ordered these exotic mushrooms, which were chewy and had a subtle, earthy flavor. don't forget to smear them with the butter before grilling. i'll have to come back to try the beef tongue. served with ponzu sauce.

negitoro menchi katsu: a disc of minced tuna with chopped tokyo leek, garlic, ginger, pepper & heavy cream is breaded and deep fried. ours looked to be slightly overfried, so extra crunchy on the outside. the flavorings were a little on the bland side, and i prefer my tuna a little raw so not one of my favorites of the night, but if you like katsu or anything fried, it doesn't seem to disappoint other diners. served with grated daikon mayo sauce.

maple syrup creme brulee: de-licious! creamy and just the right consistency, richness and sweetness with hints of maple. interestingly, it is accompanied by cornflakes and one of those cylindrical cookies with chocolate inside that i used to pretend was a cigarette when i was a kid.

the food was tasty and had some interesting combinations of eastern and western ingredients, but the thing that really impressed me was the service. considering how small the place is, and how packed it was, and how few servers/cooks there were, we never waited very long for anything. we didn't have reservations, and though they told us it would be 30 min, it only took 15. the food all came out in a timely manner. they seem very efficient and friendly in their work ethic. we sat at the bar, and i was amazed watching the one cook (there were two that i could see) preparing most of the food. i'll be back to try some of the other creative sounding dishes they have.

san pedro fish market & restaurant

san pedro fish market & restaurant
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

since mike works so late, i'm often home wondering if i should start dinner without him or wait. sometimes waiting means we don't eat dinner until 9 or 10pm. this past friday night, rather than sitting at home feeling lonely and eager to start the weekend, i went with a few foodie friends to the sand pedro fish market to pick out fresh seafood from the day's catch--shrimp, two kinds of crab, & red snapper, which they cooked for us, and we enjoyed low brow style with messy hands and beers on the pier. ah, the goodness of consoling myself with food, friendship and a nice buzz.

la chocolate salon 08

la chocolate salon 08
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

i love chocolate and never thought i'd say this, but there is a limit to how much chocolate a person can consume in an hour. i was somewhat thankful that the show wasn't as big as i thought it would be, although if it had been, i'm sure i would have mustered the strength to try something from every vendor. between the caffeine from the cacao and the sugar high, i was starting to shake by the time we left. that's not to say that i didn't enjoy it all.

noteworthy chocolates included those from valerie confections, chuao chocolate, amano artisan chocolate, christopher michael artisan chocolates, jade chocolate. there were some that i found way too sweet for my palate, but i won't dwell on those. there was something for everyone--sweet or rich, dark, milk or white, salty, spicy, sugary, and heady.

a trend i noticed were chilis in chocolates, which added a kick, and exotic fruit infusions. chuao had a bar aptly called firecracker made with chilis & pop rocks. it was quite the experience that moves beyond your tongue and brings you into the moment. valerie confections' salt & pepper truffle was divine richness with textural peppery finish. sometimes simple is best to savor the depth and subtle nuances of chocolate-y darkness as was found in amano artisans' various 70% cacao bars made from beans from different locales. jade chocolates had some interesting asian spices and flavors including a nutty toasted sesame & genmai green tea, while christopher michael offered variety in their beautifully silk-screened and airbrushed artisan chocolates with a nice balance of flavors in not too sweet dark and milk chocolate.

i've paid $20 for chocolate tastings at artisanal chocolate shops for 6-8 pieces of chocolate, and usually, the fine chocolates that are freshly made by hand and not machines with no preservatives and short lifespans cost upwards of $2 for a single piece of chocolate with infused ganache, so i thought this was a good deal and opportunity to try a lot of chocolates and chocolate products from different chocolatiers. granted, not all were artisan chocolates, i still thought it was reasonable. lucky for friends and family, i picked up some goodies for them.

they need to provide more water though. by table four, my mouth was a desert (not dessert) made from chocolate. those little plastic cups they give you at the one water dispenser in the whole place only lasts so long. the other complaint i had was that they could have come into the 21st century with checking will call and used a database. i didn't mind the wait which wasn't too bad at opening time, but if the show does grow, they'll want to streamline the entry process.

compartes chocolates

compartes chocolates
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

if you love dark chocolate, you'll love the chocolates at compartes. even if you aren't a fan of dark chocolate, you should give it a try because not all dark chocolates are created equal, and this one is one of the best i've had. it's neither too bitter nor too sweet. jonathan graham, the owner, continues to introduce new and delectable flavors to the infusions of his chocolates, including cardamom, pepper & cherry blossoms from japan.

at a tasting at compartes, i fell in love. i had to laugh at jonathan's story of how he went on a reality tv show and had his shop designed by a blind person in order to modernize it. it goes to show you how passionate he is about what he does, and you can taste it and see it from the fun designs on the chocolates that include patterned elephants, skull & crossbones and modern geometric shapes, to the cute little shop displaying pieces of chocolate like works of art. the chocolates were dark, rich and a perfect balance of interesting flavors. here are some i have tasted:

kaffir lime & lemongrass: fragrant, tangy & refreshing. you can smell the citrus before you even taste the chocolate.

cocoa nibs: pure unadulterated dark chocolate goodness with a little texture

cardamom & coconut cream: sweet & rich, with hints of cardamom

rosemary peach: interesting combination of sweet fruit with subtle earthiness. it was more peach than rosemary.

carmelized plantain: if you like bananas & chocolate, get this. the banana flavor hits instantly.

salted peanut butter & honey: wow. i'm not a huge peanut butter fan, but the pb really makes this great. that bit of salt does its job of bringing out the richness of the pb. i prefer eating plain on a day to day basis with flavored chocolates on special occasions, but i can see myself popping these things into my mouth one after another.

passionfruit: extremely tart, but very flavorful. if you like fruit, and especially passionfruit, this is for you.

blackberry bunch: fruity, berry

orange hazelnut crunch bunch: orange fragrance, crunchy hazelnut texture

italian tiramisu: mostly coffee flavors and sweet

vanilla bean chocolate: subtle hings of vanilla

mexican hot chocolate: literally drinking warm liquid chocolate, with a spicy tingle left on your tongue

you'll find hand-crafted artisanal chocolates and truffles as well as candied fruits dressed in chocolate, gift boxes, bar chocolates embedded with fruit. they have an outdoor area with tables and indoor seating, so if you want to stop and enjoy chocolates, you can. parking is a challenge, but it's totally worth it.

yung ho tou chiang: taiwanese breakfast

yung ho tou chiang: taiwanese breakfast
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

the breakfast here makes me nostalgic. i'm not taiwanese, but there are some overlaps in food influences that remind me of things i ate growing up. even if you are not asian, the whole egg & starch combinations with simple flavors epitomize what comfort food is, and for breakfast, that's what really hits the spot to start your day out well.

here are some of the things i tried:
sweet soy milk: served in a bowl, comes not too sweet so you can add sugar to taste. this is how soy milk should be (i think). none of those added flavorings or sweeteners, but pure soy milk IS good. i have to say i'm not a huge fan of the soy milks in health food stores as they don't quite taste right--usually chalkie and too sweet!

salted bean flower: a little on the salty side. cut up bits of fried crullers, tofu and green onions.

sticky rice roll (salty or sweet): the sweet one has sugar rolled inside. the salty one has dried bits of sweet pork. most people liked the salty better, but i would get both.

hubei doupi: sticky rice with little bits of ground pork and pancake on top; very subtle. the pancake reminds me more of a potato cake.

fried onion pancake & egg: it looks like two fried tortillas with a layer of egg in between. the green onions are tasty, and the combination is good.

pork & mushroom bao: not the best bao, but fine.

veggie bao: little bits of greens in this one

crullers: airy, long, cylidrical fried thing. you can't go wrong with something fried.

steamed taro bread: dense bread, reminded me of potato bread, with a little bit of nuttiness. i don't think i would order it again as i wouldn't be able to eat anything else as it's so filling.

turnip cake & egg: buttery, good combination with nice flavors in the turnip cake. one of the favorites.

pan fried shrimp & pork dumplings: surprisingly a lot of flavor in the filling. so good & fresh.

beef pancake: marinated well-done beef with herbs is wrapped in a cruchy pancake thing encrusted with sesame seeds. tasty.

i couldn't believe how inexpensive it was. we ordered a lot of food and ended up taking half of it home, and it came out to $10/person.

omnivore's 100

being the eater and omnivore that i am (and list lover), here is my list from very good taste blog. you too can participate.

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

my omnivore’s hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

interesting hodge podge list. there are a few things i had never heard of, like kaolin and raw scotch bonnet pepper. at the same time, i can see the list is influenced by the blogger's personal upbringing and geography. food from africa, spain to name a couple are absent. i like aloo gobi, but i wouldn't pick it as the signature indian dish to try as it's neither the most flavorful nor unusual. what about dosas or dahipuri? same with chicken tikka masala. some items are about taste. while others are about experience--the experience of trying something extremely out of the ordinary. a few items seem more nostalgic or culturally loaded than either of these. i think the best foods combine all three--they taste good, are off the beaten path, and remind us of past times.

paring the list down to 100 had to be challenging. each person could come up with their own list, and i'd be curious to see what would be on the list my group of foodie friends would compile. a few things i would add are xiao long bao, bugolgi, kulfi, fufu, ceviche from a street stand in baja in place of other things on the list.

l'artisan du chocolat tasting

l'artisan du chocolat tasting
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

fresh rich, chocolates with lots of love and flavor and no preservatives made by the hands of whajung park are what you'll find here. christian alexandre, her husband, runs the business and will make you rethink what you may or may not like with chocolate. my bf & i came here for a tasting and couldn't leave without a box of 12 to savor at home.

here is what we sampled so far:
red bean: sweet nutty

bacon: smoky bbq initial flavor, teensy bits add texture to the smooth ganache

korean garlic: though the garlic flavor is subtle, the garlic enhances the richness of the cocoa flavors, almost making it taste like coffee. small pieces add a crunchy texture.

ginger vanilla: the zippy ginger is great with the deep chocolate

anise honey: a very sweet, licorice-fennel-like infusion

traditional truffle: deep, dark, thick

lavendar: milk chocolate & lavendar

pomegranate: sweet, fruity, tangy

jasmine tea: fragrant & floral, and just like drinking a fresh brewed cup of jasmine pearl tea

their flavor infusions sound wild, but are quite subtle and act more as an accent for the high cocoa content chocolate. by the end, i was wired from all the cocoa, as if i had drank a cup of black coffee.

i have to say, christian is a jovial and funny guy. he told us a story of when a woman asked if he had chocolate for vegans, and he gave her a nicely wrapped box, and when she opened it, it was empty much to the chagrin of the woman. her friends thought it was amusing.

mei long village

mei long village
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

whether or not you've had a xiao long bao (soup filled dumpling), you really have to try one here. it's one of the better ones available in the city. they're little dumplings often filled with pork or pork and some other meat like crab and aspic, which is a gelatinous fat & broth combo that turns liquid when heated, and the ones here stand out. eat it with a little black soy sauce, ginger and vinegar. the vinegar helps to break through the fat and adds to the complexity of flavors mixing in your mouth. i'm amazed that the delicate skin can hold the soup and meat.

in addition to the dumplings, we had some veggie potstickers, which were ok. the bits of vegetables inside were fresh, but a little under-seasoned. they were out of the pea shoots, so we ordered the baby bokchoy with black mushrooms. a basic stir-fry, it was fresh, but not that interesting.

we also had the shrimp & mushroom noodle soup. the soup broth was good, and i enjoyed the combination of flavors. i'll be back for more!

LA farmer's market

LA farmer's market
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

i lucked out this weekend. for some time, i have been wanting to check out the LA farmer's market. we seem to perpetually have some kind of plan, and since there's a farmer's market in long beach, this hasn't been a priority. the pleasure palate group was hosting a melting pot food tasting and tour that explores the farmer's market and the businesses along 3rd st. there was a last minute cancellation, so i was made an offer i couldn't refuse. mike came along, and we had a two for one!

the tour provides historical information which i had no clue about until now. i thought it was going to be somewhat of a yuppie gourmet food gathering, but it really was more than that. many of the vendors have been around for a while, which you could see from the architectural details of the stands. there was both gourmet and popular foods, made the old fashioned way--no quick rise doughnuts at bob's, and that's right. they spell out the word doughnuts.

our tastings included doughnuts, coffee, toffee, brazilian churrasco, olives, bread, cheese, fragrant tea, macaroons, chinese chicken salad, soba and sushi, all of which were quite good. it was a nice walk.

dinner @ lou

dinner @ lou
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

tucked away in a strip mall on vine, with little more signage than a reversed out white on black marquis squeezed among the other businesses in the same mall, lou teases us to find her. even though there's only an address on the door, you can't miss the dynamic, black and white on one side, and red dominating black and white on the other side graphic curtains that shield its diners from the rest of the city.

i have to first comment on the fun and fabulous decor because no dining experience is complete without the feeling generated by the environment or the ability it has to transform you to another place. when you enter, the left wall is papered with a vintage-looking edward goreyesqe illustration of trees; while the right wall has the menu hand-written complete with drawings of sheep on a blackboard, an indication of the changing menu that follows what's fresh & in-season locally. though there's plenty of pattern, it all works well together, and along with candle and soft overhead lighting sets a warm mood.

a small, intimate space where you may find yourself bumping elbows with fellow diners at a keith haring-esque patterened communal table, it's still as yet largely undiscovered as we went on a saturday night without reservations and only waited 15min. i fear though, that won't last for long, but they do take reservations.

the attention to the details is as everpresent in the food as in the space. what we ate:

tonight's bistro salad plate: this included pee wee potato & sweet corn, like a delicate, buttery potato salad with sweet corn; blue lake green beans, fresh & crunchy and mixed with red onion with a splash of vinegar, and some smokey charred eggplant & basil.

savory tart: chanterelle mushroom, goat cheese, ricotta - for the cheese lover, light, creamy and subtle with nutty flavors from the mushrooms.

pan-roasted pekin duck breast, summer squash shelling beans: nice smokey flavor from the duck. tender and not gamey or greasy at all.

albacore conserva, chitarra, white beans, ligurian olives: if you like fish, this is a great pasta dish, simply sauteed in olive oil & garlic with chunks of albacore, beans and salty olives. the combination of the fish and the olives is fantastic.

i love that they offer wines as a taste, glass or bottle, so you can get as little or as much as you want. the taste is actually a good amount in a small wine glass. both the wines my brother & i had, a sonoma zinfandel & a chablis chardonnay from france/burgundy were great. they offer naturally produced wines, many of which are organic. that means no chemicals and low interventionist practices in wine-making. service was good.

king hua dim sum

king hua dim sum
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

this ranks highly in my book among dim sum places. not your average dim sum banquet, king hua offered us a bounty of delicious and atypical as well as usual small plates of goodness beautifully constructed, which didn't stop us from stuffing our faces. what we ate:

steamed rice noodle & shrimp: the delicate rice noodle wrapping fresh shrimp was tasty, with the best part being the sweet, light soy sauce ladled on top.

spare ribs in a black bean sauce: rich, fatty pork flavor enhanced with salty black bean sauce.

seafood salad: my least favorite of our meal, and though i like mayo, i thought that in combination with being deep fried was too heavy.

bbq pork bun in oyster sauce: i always feel these things are overrated at dim sum places because they're usually ho hum to me, all tasting the same from one dim sum house to another like they were cranked out by the hundreds, but not the ones here. the surprisingly sweet and flavorful marinade made this a standout. someone cared for these buns. this is why people like to order this.

shark fin scallop dumpling: held together by a delicate skin, large pieces of shrimp with a scallop on top and a dollop of shark fin bring together the flavors of the sea in one bite.

steamed shrimp & pea tips: one of the prettiest dumplings, this one also featured shrimp and sweet pea tips.

fresh shrimp dumpling with chives: the star in this were the chives that explode into your mouth when you bite into it. the skin was a little on the thick side, but flavor was good.

steamed rice noodle with chicken & bitter melon: this was more interesting for the novelty of the slight bitterness of the melon and sweetness of the soy sauce.

steamed egg tofu with fresh scallop in dry scallop sauce: if you like tofu, you'll really enjoy that flavor mixed with egg, both light and hearty and nicely paired with a scallop & salty sauce. not only pretty, but pretty good!

baked bbq pork bun: not as good as the steamed version, but still tasty, it is sweet with hints of cilantro coming through.

har gow (shrimp dumpling): standard, good. the other shrimp dumplings were far more interesting in flavor & ingredients.

shrimp & pork shiu mai: good, juicy and sizable.

stuffed eggplant: i like eggplant, but this one was so so. it appeared to be stuffed with some fish pureed that wasn't all that flavorful, fried and sitting in a sweet, slightly spicy sauce.

xia long bao: another surprising standout. i've had these at dim sum places, and they're usually ok. these were soupy, with a very nicely flavored broth. i didn't even notice that they didn't come with ginger as i found myself in a food porno. the broth literally squirted onto my neighbor's shirt when she bit into hers, and though i bit and sucked mine, there was still soup to squirt out the side. now that is what i call a climax.

shrimp & sticky rice on lotus leaf: shrimp cooked in a sweet broth coalesce with large slivers of ginger, carrots and straw mushrooms. this is what i call comfort.

egg custard: standard, and with a nice flaky crust.

there were a few things ordered that i wasn't partial to, but most of the food was consistently flavorful and well done. the aesthetics of the dim sum adds to the impression that the chefs aren't just cranking these out. standouts for me were the sweet & flavorful steamed bbq pork buns, juicy xiao long bao, shrimp dumpling with snow pea shoots.

the place looks a lot like sea harbour on the inside, with fancy carpeting, damask table cloths and fabric covered chairs. we were a part of a large group, and though the restaurant was packed, the food came quick and the service was good. with so many people, they had a hard time keeping our waters & tea full, but they were always eager to do it. they all thanked us as we left. like i said, not your average dim sum place.

komatsu: omakase dinner