As unnapealing as it might sound, Rice Porridge is actually something very pleasant and desirable, especially when there is a couple of slices of fresh Chilean Sea Bass submerged inside. It might be the complete opposite of it's more popular northern cousin known as Pho .
A big clay pot filled to the rim with a broth almost as clear and light as water. A subtle taste hinting of seafood notes with no greasy residue or excessive "fishyness" (MSG). Redolent with a nice, ambrosial aroma. A generous amount of rice with tiny slivers of green onion and the main attraction, a couple of slices of slices of sweet, fragile Chilean Sea Bass served only with a little nub of Fresh Ginger that you grate yourself. Blissfulness in a bowl.
Could there be any more comforting soup as light as this?
I don't think so, especially in this excruciating "Frost of 07" that i've been painfully enduring.
Chaus Kitchen
107 E. Valley Blvd.
San Gabriel
626-307-5195
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Yak Momo's and Backbends: My start to a New Year
Tibet is known for it's spiritual avail's and great Buddhist monasteries. Food here not only nourishment the hunger of the body, but also of the mind and spirit. Being right between Asia and Tibet, the cuisine is something truly extrodinary.
Yak Momo's are dumplings that are filled with many spices and the lean etherealness of their common protein of Yak Meat. Not as thick as the countless dumplings i've ate around Alhambra and served with a Mint and Chili chutney, instead of the accustomed soy/vinegar mixture. Yak meat is surprisingly meaty but without the heaviness of beef, something that must be personally sampled in order to be understood.
Their Curries are also not as heavy as Indian Curries but just as packed with flavor. Try the Arun Valley Saag for a twist on your usual take on Bok Choy. When ingesting these amazing concoctions don't be confused by these little bursts of flavor that you'll taste here and there, for they are just part of a handful of Fennel Seeds that are steamed in with the rice.
A new year for me, usually would mean new problems, new pressures, new worries. But with meals like these after a 2 hour session of Urdhva Dhanurasana's (Yoga Backbends) and finally making my own path and eating at a place that HAS'NT gotten written up by Jonathon Gold, this year is suddenly looking a lot brighter.
Tibet Nepal House
36 E. Holly St.
Pasadena CA 91103
Yak Momo's are dumplings that are filled with many spices and the lean etherealness of their common protein of Yak Meat. Not as thick as the countless dumplings i've ate around Alhambra and served with a Mint and Chili chutney, instead of the accustomed soy/vinegar mixture. Yak meat is surprisingly meaty but without the heaviness of beef, something that must be personally sampled in order to be understood.
Their Curries are also not as heavy as Indian Curries but just as packed with flavor. Try the Arun Valley Saag for a twist on your usual take on Bok Choy. When ingesting these amazing concoctions don't be confused by these little bursts of flavor that you'll taste here and there, for they are just part of a handful of Fennel Seeds that are steamed in with the rice.
A new year for me, usually would mean new problems, new pressures, new worries. But with meals like these after a 2 hour session of Urdhva Dhanurasana's (Yoga Backbends) and finally making my own path and eating at a place that HAS'NT gotten written up by Jonathon Gold, this year is suddenly looking a lot brighter.
Tibet Nepal House
36 E. Holly St.
Pasadena CA 91103
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Are You Serious? Teenage Glutster in The L.A Times?
I still can't believe it!
Yup...i'm part of big boys now. Even though i'm representing the wrong 'hood', but it's still good.
Of course, it had to happen in the one week i didn't get it!
According to The Times, I'm "A really fun post on an Alhambra teenager with great pictures and excited accounts of such milestones as his first coq au vin".
Damn, it feels good.
This is just what i needed right now...inspiration.
Thank you "Anonymous" whoever you are for commenting me and letting me know.
Yup...i'm part of big boys now. Even though i'm representing the wrong 'hood', but it's still good.
Of course, it had to happen in the one week i didn't get it!
According to The Times, I'm "A really fun post on an Alhambra teenager with great pictures and excited accounts of such milestones as his first coq au vin".
Damn, it feels good.
This is just what i needed right now...inspiration.
Thank you "Anonymous" whoever you are for commenting me and letting me know.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
It's Ahh-ssshhhheeeyy not Axe
I wanted to try Joe's but their Prixe-Fix Menu for the day didn't agree with my stomach. So i decided to try Axe just a couple of paces next to it. With a name like that, i was already expecting something. The place was pretty happening for a Wednesday lunch, we had to wait like 15 minutes.
The menu was pretty weird, it offered this "standard rice bowl" that had the same things as a vietnamese rice bowl and a couple of salads along with make-it-yourself salad option. The featured salads didn't sound too appealing, so i just ordered the DIY salad and chose Hummus, Lentils and Roasted Beats as my ingredients.
My Salad was O.K, the Hummus was nothing special. The Lentils were just cooked with no special flavor. The Beets were pretty good though. When i was done, the messy tint of the Roasted Beets made my plate look like somethng the weird girl next to us could of drawn. My dad's Spicy Chicken Rice Soup was alright if you were craving chicken. And my brothers Chicken Apple Salad was o.k also.
I guess i went in with the wrong expectations. It seems like they are just concerned with delivering the best, possible beautiful, organic produce available, without thinking too much about how they deliver it. Don't get me wrong, it's nothing bad. It does give you the oppurtunity to taste the real flavor of the produce. Axe Restaurant is a good restaurant once you know what their goal is, but don't expect anything amazing.
Axe
1009 Abbot Kinney
Venice, Ca
90291
The menu was pretty weird, it offered this "standard rice bowl" that had the same things as a vietnamese rice bowl and a couple of salads along with make-it-yourself salad option. The featured salads didn't sound too appealing, so i just ordered the DIY salad and chose Hummus, Lentils and Roasted Beats as my ingredients.
My Salad was O.K, the Hummus was nothing special. The Lentils were just cooked with no special flavor. The Beets were pretty good though. When i was done, the messy tint of the Roasted Beets made my plate look like somethng the weird girl next to us could of drawn. My dad's Spicy Chicken Rice Soup was alright if you were craving chicken. And my brothers Chicken Apple Salad was o.k also.
I guess i went in with the wrong expectations. It seems like they are just concerned with delivering the best, possible beautiful, organic produce available, without thinking too much about how they deliver it. Don't get me wrong, it's nothing bad. It does give you the oppurtunity to taste the real flavor of the produce. Axe Restaurant is a good restaurant once you know what their goal is, but don't expect anything amazing.
Axe
1009 Abbot Kinney
Venice, Ca
90291
My Warm, Buttery, Flaky New Year (Europane Bakery)
Having to camp out in near freezing temperatures with my Dysfunctional Family, sleeping on the cold, uneven street, having to get up from sleeping 4 times to go to the port-a-potty that was 2 blocks away!
Of course, i didn't get any sleep. But at least i finally had the chance to finally have a Croissant and a couple of bites of other pastries from the famed Europane Bakery. And when, i was literally sleeping a couple of paces west of the place, i had the chance to have them seconds out of the oven(6:00 AM!), still hot enough to scold your tongue. And believe me when i say that in near freezing temperatures, this crisp, steamy, flaky Croissant seemed unreal.
Flaky, where other croissants were bread like. Not too sweet, or salty. With the perfect density, hollow but not too hollow.
Well worth the calories
With a tall cup some steamed soymilk from this little coffee place across the street....
Was In Heaven?
Oh yeah, and the Rose Parade was pretty cool too.
Europane Bakey
950 E Colorado Blvd,
Pasadena, CA
91106
Of course, i didn't get any sleep. But at least i finally had the chance to finally have a Croissant and a couple of bites of other pastries from the famed Europane Bakery. And when, i was literally sleeping a couple of paces west of the place, i had the chance to have them seconds out of the oven(6:00 AM!), still hot enough to scold your tongue. And believe me when i say that in near freezing temperatures, this crisp, steamy, flaky Croissant seemed unreal.
Flaky, where other croissants were bread like. Not too sweet, or salty. With the perfect density, hollow but not too hollow.
Well worth the calories
With a tall cup some steamed soymilk from this little coffee place across the street....
Was In Heaven?
Oh yeah, and the Rose Parade was pretty cool too.
Europane Bakey
950 E Colorado Blvd,
Pasadena, CA
91106
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