French food is among the top cuisines I favor. After visiting France and experiencing the freshness, quality and the execution of their dishes, I now seek opportunities to relive the experience. Cafe Laurent is a French cafe that I noticed many years ago; my wife and I finally visited them last weekend. You would expect…
Pickle Banh Mi, A Worthy OC Contender
Vietnamese banh mi is one of my favorite sandwiches. Prepared well, they are heavenly. The baguette has to be fresh, preferably baked in-house. Proteins can vary widely, but the constant is the pickled daikon and carrot mix. My favorite banh mi shop is Tan Hoang Huong and I’m curious if I’ll ever find one that…
Champion’s Curry Serves Rich Japanese Curry Offerings
Many are unaware that curry has a diverse international history with many permutations. In the 19th Century, the British developed their own roux-based curry. This style was well received in Japan and spawned off different varieties in the many prefectures of Japan. One such curry entrepreneur is Yoshikazu Tanaka, the founder of Champion’s Curry. With…
Gish Bac – Oaxacan Cuisine Done Well
Oaxacan cuisine is one of Mexico’s most varied cuisines. Well-known features of the cuisine include ingredients such as chocolate, cheese, mole, and grasshoppers (chapulines). I was happy to see one such Oaxacan restaurant, Gish Bac, reopen after being shut down due to the pandemic. Gish Bac is owned by David Padilla and Maria Ramos who…
Thrive Kitchen LA – Quality Home Delivered Meals
The pandemic has turned the restaurant industry upside down. Some have converted their operations to abide by state and local regulations have experienced some success. Other restaurants that primarily focus on service and ambiance have remained closed or have curtailed their operations to exist solely to pay rent and insurance. Catering companies like Thrive Kitchen…
Mia’s Kitchen Features Homestyle Caribbean Cuisine
If you have ever cruised the Caribbean, you’ve probably experienced Caribbean cuisine. It’s a blend of African, Cajun, Chinese, Creole, European, Latin American, Indian, and Middle Eastern. Immigrants from these countries influenced this cuisine. One brand new restaurant, Mia’s Kitchen, features dishes from the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Mia’s Kitchen is located on…
Apollonia’s Pizzeria Delivers Premium Pizza Experience
Because my wife and daughter enjoy pizza so much, I decided to surprise them by trying a new place. I asked my wife to check out Eater LA’s top pizzerias in Los Angeles, and she narrowed it to about eight establishments. I selected Apollonia’s Pizzeria primarily because they offer Detroit-style pizza. Apollonia’s Pizzeria is located…
Pacific Standard Prime Features All Natural Steaks
In the latter part of the 70’s, the late Paul Wallach proclaimed that the South Bay was a “gustatory wasteland”. In 1982 Michael Franks and partner Robert Bell opened Chez Melange and established California cuisine in the South Bay. They soon opened a number of restaurants including Restaurant Christine, which had a successful run of…
Sipan Bakery – A Delicious Armenian Surprise
Visiting an ethnic bakery is an adventure. If they have been in existence for any length of time, they are bound to have tasty offerings. While I prefer savory over sweet, I sometimes find something interesting to satisfy my savory tooth. Recently I visited Sipan Bakery in Glendale. On the northernmost side of Glendale resides…
Le Parfait Paris – A True Parisian Experience
My wife and I were in San Diego for an overnight stay. We had one more meal before we headed back to LA and I was determined to find something that we would enjoy. I did a search using the hotel address and I was thrilled to find Le Parfait Paris, a French restaurant in…