Paulette - One Lucky Girl

This year I got 3 birthday cakes. Well, cross that, two red velvet birthday cakes from my galfriends and one Parisian macaroons birthday tower from my boyfriend. Wow, I mean look at the array of happy polka dots sitting pretty and I couldn't bear to touch it.

Paulette has great choices of flavors, both classic and seasonal. Some flavors are great than the others but green tea is always a favorite. Be very careful 'coz Paulette's may be so addicting and not cheap. $1.60 for each dot and a tower consist a good 60. Didn't take a village to finish 'em all, just me, myself, and a few good friends.

Paulette
9466 Charleville Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 275-0023
www.paulettemacarons.com

Soowon Galbi - Fall In Love With The Grill

dolsot bimbimbap

Finally, a satisfying meal from a Korean restaurant without the feeling of fear, fear of bitchy Ajuma. And Finally, the search of the best Korean BBQ is over - this is it! 

You really get what you pay for: great meat selection and quality, charcoal grill, and dope service. All the side dishes are better than average - especially sweet potatoes, egg soup and crispy white seaweed, unlimited refill won't hurt either. And charcoal grill does make a difference, it bring the juice, smoky, and tenderness out of the meat. All you need to do is just relax, sip your soju, and the ajuma will cook them goods for you!

 combination B stands for the BOMB - marinated beef rib, beef ribeye, pork neck meat, marinated beef sirloin, beef brisket, mushroom and, of course, soju.

beef brisket, marinated galbi, and mushrooms.

can you smell it?!

Soowon Galbi Korean BBQ

856 S Vermont Ave 

Los Angeles, CA 90005 

(213) 365-9292

Skratch Is Now Choppe Choppe

 Turkey Waldorf - All Natural Hand Shredded Turkey Breast, Spiced Walnuts, Bing Cherries, Julianne Green Apple, Stilton Blue Cream Spread, and Cut Green Leaf with a Strawberry Vinaigrette. My favorite sandwich! Of course my idea of "healthy" has to involve cream cheese.

Seasoned Braised Pork, Vietnamese Picked Daikon and Carrots, Fresh English Cucumber, Jalapeño and Cilantro Aioli*, Napa Slaw, and Sesame Ginger Dressing.

What you eat is what you are, isn't it? I always try to get avoid the junks and eat healthier during my weekdays. At least it will make me live guilt free of the non-stop munching and crazy culinary expeditions on the weekends. Skratch, which is now Choppe Choppe, is my healthy alternative to the usual basket of garlic fries. Well, I always justify my food - anything with plenty of greens and involving white meat are healthy.

Thank goodness with the new name, they still serve my favorite sandwich - turkey waldorf. Some changes made on their menu, mostly getting rid of the less appealing and add more varieties such as Vietnamese Bahn Mi or Korean BBQ rib eye.

Everything is simple. The menu listed are available in sandwich, salad or wrap. One last thing, you can order everything online, regardless take out or dine in. You can schedule your pick up time or put ASAP for 5-10 minutes wait.

Choppe Choppe 
3867 Hughes Ave 
Culver City, CA 90232

(310) 558-3400

www.choppe-choppe.com/

Newport Tan Cang Seafood - Asian Persuasion

I just cannot believe after countless time I went to Tan Cang, drove the crazy miles from West LA to San Gabriel and waited after the long lines - I never wrote a review about it. I must be loco. So does the house special lobster and everything else in Tan Cang. This restaurant is my favorite and apparently is also everyone else's - so prepare for a long wait during weekends. Although this place don't take reservation, on weekdays you may be seated right away.

Let's spin that glass table:

french beef loc lac - black pepper beef cube sauteed to tenderness, on top of chopped onions. The beef is super tender and juicy - the best beef dish in any Chinese restaurants I've ever tried. I never get enough of these, give me a plate for myself!!

 

please don't lick the screen. of course the house special lobster is a must. chopped, battered, and lightly fried together with scallions, black pepper, drenched with some oil. No need to make a mess, just fork out the tender lobster meat, dip it with the oil and green onions. it sure is special.

kangkung or water morning glory. stir fried with chopped garlic and shrimp paste. the aroma and taste are equally appetizing. super good. 

It may not be on the menu, but you can have two cooking ways of the fish. I'm not sure whether they charge differently or not but to add varieties to the table, I greatly recommend splitting the fish.  

 

first half of the fish: steamed tilapia with special sauce, ginger, and scallions. very delicate and buttery. 

second half of the fish: deep fried and drenched with sweet sour sauce. uber spicy delicious crispy skin and moist inside. 

Newport Tan Cang Seafood
518 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776
www.newportseafood.com 

Foo Foo Tei - Slurpy Time

broiled squid. nice chew, flavorful, and perfectly cooked.

grill blue mackerel. my favorite! crispy skin, moist and tasty meat.

potato croquette. crispy and wonderful.

nanchatte tonkotsu ramen #17. super rich broth! creamy and sweet. put chili flakes to tone down the richness.

After a few slurps of the nanchatte tonkotsu ramen broth, my friend ask me, "What do you think? Is it worth the drive?" I replied "If the traffic was clear, yes. But if it was like the last time when we stuck at the highway 60 for one and a half hour, heck NO." I know Rowland and Hacienda Heights have plenty of good food but the drive may took up to 1 1/2 hour from West LA and I perfectly know myself - hungry man is an angry man!

Aside from the long ass drive, Foo Foo Tei is all good. Fantastic ramen, crazy good appetizers, and one heck of wonderful broth - ramen #17. The moment you enter the room, creamy and oily smells mixed together and you know what's about to go down. Slurrrpy time!

Foo Foo Tei

15018 Clark Ave
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745

(626) 937-6585 

Syrup Desserts - Glorious Batter

banana tiramisu - cappuccino cake waffle, brown bread ice cream, fresh blackberries and banana, topped with tiramisu cream.

mixed berries - blueberry farm waffle, blackberry jasmine ice cream, fresh mixed berries, mixed berry compote.

After a satisfying food comma, we were at no rush to go home. We all agreed to top off the night with some scrumptious waffles and ice cream! Located in ghetto area of downtown LA, this hidden gem is surrounded with everything sketchy - dark area, hobos, and troublesome parking. In contrast with the neighborhood, Syrup Desserts has a cool atmosphere to hang out for some coffee and desserts. Their waffles were solid in terms of texture and crispiness. Jasmine ice cream was an added special flavor of ice cream. All of their ice creams are from Scoops, heaven!

Syrup Desserts

611 S Spring St
Los Angeles, CA 90014

(213) 488-5136