Braisd

all the things brewing in my head at any given time. 
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February 14, 2010
 

Good Stuff: Santouka Ramen

     
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Good_Stuff_Santouka_Ramen.zip (156 KB)

It's in a strip mall.  In a food court.  Despite the lack of ambience, Santouka Ramen in the Mitsuwa Marketplace near Culver City is one of the not-so-hidden gems of LA cuisine.  The line can get unbelievably long and, if you're by yourself, as I was, it can be a challenge to wait in line, find a table, and then keep said table while you get your noodles when your number is called.  But, somehow, you manage and the steaming, delicious, broth and perfectly al dente noodles paired with melt-in-your mouth slices of pork make the whole exercise worthwhile.

I hadn't been to Santouka in a while.  I've been frequenting Chabuya on Sawtelle for my ramen fix.  But, I had to get some ingredients at Mitsuwa and I was hungry.  So, the other day, I found myself in line with a bunch of other ramen lovers.  Santouka has the classic glass case with plastic sculptures of the various offerings--kinda unnecessary when every bowl looks like...err...a bowl of ramen.  Thankfully, there is also a menu with brief descriptions.  I went for a regular sized (you can get small, regular or large) Toroniku Miso Ramen.  When my number was called, I picked up a bowl of glistening ramen swimming delightedly in a saffron colored broth.  The Toroniku is the "special pork" ramen and it is served with pork cheek that has been braised until meltingly tender.  The tender slices of pork, bamboo shoots, scallions, seaweed and a slice of fish cake come separate from the soup and you can add as much of these ingredients as you like.  

I don't know why this place didn't make such an impression on me the first couple of times I tried it, but it definitely has my attention now.  The broth was complex, earthy and, salty with a hint of sweet.  I would have been happy just to have the ramen and the broth.  With the addition of the pork, scallions and bamboo shoots, it reached a whole different level of awesome.  The pork (if you read this blog at all, you must realize I'm a bit pork-obsessed) cheeks were sublime, the bamboo shoots added a nice sense of texture and the scallions provided a nice balance to the salt and oil in the broth.  Chabuya who?  From now on, this is where I'll be getting my ramen fix.  

Santouka
3760 S Centinela Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(I'd provide the website, but it's in Japanese)
*CASH ONLY--No Credit Cards

 

 

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Filed under  //   deals   good stuff   japanese   ramen   restaurants   santouka   soup   West LA  
Posted by chona bagsik hirsch 

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February 10, 2010
 

Good Stuff: Lazy Ox Canteen

     
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Good_Stuff_Lazy_Ox_Canteen.zip (217 KB)
It's always an adventure driving downtown--particularly on a rainy night in Los Angeles.  After a ridiculous amount of traffic, we found ourselves exiting early and winding our way through the undulating urbanscape that is currently downtown LA.  It is a schizophrenic experience that goes back and forth between gentrified and not-so-gentrified.  Empty patches of run-down buildings amidst brand-spankin' new retail/residential buildings which boast airy lofts and stores such as Pussy and Pooch that apparently cater to the multitude of dog and cat owners that live downtown?  But I digress.  The destination for this particular journey was a new gastropub in Little Tokyo called the Lazy Ox Canteen.  And, it was well worth the effort it took to get there.

Located on the ground floor of one of the aforementioned retail/ residential buildings that seem to have popped up all over downtown overnight, the Lazy Ox Canteen has a nondescript store front that doesn't even bear a sign.  I'm intrigued already.  Once inside, you are treated to a warm, inviting wood-paneled space discreetly lit by beautiful, over-sized filament bulbs that dot the interior.  So far, so good.

The menu is eclectic and ambitious, to say the least.  There is the regular menu and then there are the seasonal specials which fill up a chalkboard the length of a wall.  Most of the dishes fall in the small plate category--perfect for sharing with a group of friends over one of the interesting collection of beers they serve.  We started with blistered shishito peppers grated with dried tuna, moroccan-style beef jerky served shredded on top of a fried egg and topped with salsa verde, and a refreshing assortment of pickled seasonal vegetables in dill.  We ooohed and aaahed over each dish and one of the friends we were with said, "I would have never ordered any of these dishes on my own but they are amazing!"  That, to me, is what makes dining out so fun--a sense of discovery shared over a table with good friends.  

We proceeded to order an incredible array of dishes from the formidable menu.  Most were hits, but some were misses.  The pig ear chicharron was bland and chewy.  The charred octopus was in a harissa-type sauce that didn't work all that well, in my opinion.  But there were a lot more hits--awesome, curry-infused cauliflower gratin, yellowtail tartar with avocado, creme fraiche and hash browns (OMG), lamb sausages on polenta, steak frite with smoked paprika mayonnaise and bone marrow jam, egg pasta with sunny-side egg, butter and herbs, and a delicious romaine salad that provided a wonderful break from the richness of the food.  

As the evening wore on, more people drifted in to the cozy space and the pub exuded a great neighborhood vibe--ironic in downtown LA, or maybe not anymore?  We ordered some delicious desserts and took it all in over the remainder of our drinks.  What a great little spot.  Unpretentious, good food, reasonably-priced and just plain fun.  We'll definitely be back.

www.lazyoxcanteen.com

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Filed under  //   american   comfort food   downtown   good stuff   pub   restaurants  
Posted by chona bagsik hirsch 

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February 9, 2010
 

Good Stuff: Hatfield's Re-Opens!

   
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Good_Stuff_Hatfields_Re-Opens.zip (69 KB)
Hatfield's, one of my favorite restaurants in LA, has just re-opened in a larger, grander space after being closed since August 2009.  The previous space on Beverly Boulevard was small, to say the least.  I think it had literally 6 or 7 tables inside with some patio seating.  As limiting as I'm sure that was from a business perspective, it made for a beautifully intimate setting which was part of the restaurant's charm, in my opinion.  

So, when Hatfield's re-opened at the old Citrus space on Melrose last week, I was dying to see whether it would be as good as it was before the move.  The answer is a resounding yes.  Although the new space doesn't have the off-beat intimacy of the old location, it is pretty, spare and contemporary in a wonderfully quiet way that allows the food to be the star.  And the food just plain rocks.

Let's start with their gimlet--best gimlet I've had in LA, hands-down--sorry Ivy lovers.  As far as the menu, I've never been to Hatfield's without being tempted into doing the tasting menu and this night was no different.  They didn't have the old seven-course tandem tasting menu (this allowed you to create your own tasting menu from a seasonal selection--maybe next time?), but you had the option of going a-la-carte or doing a four-course seasonal prix fix menu.  At $56, I think this is one of the best deals around.  And, as before, they always have a completely vegetarian option for the entire tasting menu, which is great.

I opted to start with Pan Roasted Diver Scallops in braised celery, salsify and apple froth.  I'm not usually a big froth fan, but it worked in this dish.  The flavors and textures were spectacular together.  My second course was Prawns a la Plancha--grilled prawns served with creamy crab rice, roasted peanuts, preserved lemon and mint.  Wow--even Doug, my non-shellfish eating husband enjoyed this.  For my third course, I chose the Horseradish Dusted Short Ribs and Hanger Steak.  Both the short ribs and hanger steak were served, pulled-pork style, over a smoked potato puree.  Surprisingly "light" for a meat and potatoes dish--delicious and a perfectly sized portion.  Finally, I ended with the Lime Cream "Pie."  This is not your mom's key lime pie--served with a gingersnap crust, oatmeal crumble, citrus chamomile ice cream, each bite awakens your taste buds and has you trying to figure out what flavors you are experiencing.  

If you loved Hatfield's before, I think you'll love it just the same.  If you've never been, go check it out.  It does a great job of being a casual foodie place, if that makes any sense.  Not as serious as Sona or Melisse--but with all the same seasonality and integrity.  The kind of place you'd find in San Francisco--and, in my mind, that's the best compliment you can give an LA restaurant.

 

 

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Filed under  //   american   comfort food   date night   good stuff   hatfield's   melrose   restaurants   west hollywood  
Posted by chona bagsik hirsch 

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January 28, 2010
 

Good Stuff: Trader Joe's Sea Salt Brownies

I am a huge Trader Joe's fan and am always on the lookout for my next TJ obsession. For a while, it was the Thai-lime Peanuts. Then, when they discontinued those, it was the chocolate covered sesame seeds. I love wandering the aisles, waiting to discover something amazing and new.

Today, I picked up these brownies and, man, are they good. Not too sweet, perfectly bite-sized with a hint of sea salt. These will definitely make it on my permanent shopping list! 

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Filed under  //   brownies   dessert   good stuff   kids   trader joe's  
Posted from Los Angeles, CA
Posted by chona bagsik hirsch 

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January 27, 2010
 

Good Stuff: 2008 Saldo?

via wallywine.com

Our good friends introduced us to one of my favorite wines, The Prisoner (the 2008 is 46% Zin, 26% Cab Sauv, 15% Syrah, 10% Petite Syrah, 2% Charbono, 1% Grenache). It is refined, delicious, well-priced, widely available at any Whole Foods and always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and great hostess gift.

Now, the same guy behind The Prisoner has produced another wine--this time it is mostly Zinfandel and the buzz is good. Drinkable now and over the next five years.  I just ordered half a dozen bottles. So, either come over for dinner or check out the link, order a bottle or two and we can compare notes.

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Filed under  //   gifts   good stuff   orin swift the prisoner   saldo   wine  
Posted by chona bagsik hirsch 

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