Los Angeles - Chaba

J and I decided to chill.  And so, she introduces me to her local hangout, with a Thai twist.  We got a seat at the bar and had a wonderful time, with Ken helming the bar.  She loosens up with a Cosmo and I stick to tried and tested Coke, coca cola that is.

The chicken satay with Thai peanut sauce started us off for the night.  My only complaint, they use chicken breast.  But heck, the whole country generally does.  I don't care much for breasts and prefer the more succulent dark meat cuts.  Oh well.

J's spicy noodle was addictive for the chili-basil combi which I love usually with a heap of rice.  But done with rice noodles, it was more than tasty and I was glad for J to share a little with me.

Especially since my Pad-Thai took a little long to get to me - Ken was apologetic and I was chilled enough not to kick up a fuss.  The Pad-Thai was just what I needed to get a little taste of home, although comparatively speaking, this was a little heavy on the ketchup.  Overall, a nice comfort dish, albeit a little greasy.  But it put me in the right frame of mind, as I prepared to head home the following day.

Do check this out if you're in the South Bay area.  You'll at least have a great time, even if the food can be a little "raw".

525 S. Pacific Coast Hwy
Redondo Beach
CA 90277
Tel: +1.310.540.8441

Los Angeles - Matsuhisa

My new friend SB and wife B were all too kind to have hosted me at Matsuhisa - a place to see and be seen in LA.  Matsuhisa is Nobu san's first owned restaurant (circa 1987) and so the nostalgia alone was exciting for me.  More than 30 years later, it still does a roaring business, judging from the packed crowds on a Tuesday night.

We did get to chat with Nobu san, who despite taking rushing about and taking many calls, had time to stop by our table and reminisce with SB about the late Bruce Parker, rest his soul.  As for people spotting, we spotted Jason Stratham from the Transporter.

With distractions out of the way, I was excited at the opportunity to compare the food with that of his Hong Kong restaurant, where I had been a couple of times.

The seafood spring roll with caviar was an impressive start.  Chunks of crab meat rolled in a well-fried spring roll pastry served in a martini glass with a grapefruit-based sauce, topped with caviar, was decadently tasty.  Such a variety of tastes and textures coming together very well.  Even the contrasting temperatures from the heat of the spring roll with the chilled grapefruit sauce were such that you didn't have to burn your tongue while savouring it immediately when served.

The Yellowtail Jalapeno is signature Nobu and I can never get enough of this one.  A good cut of Yellowtail, firm but creamy and well-chilled, served in a ponzu soy sauce, and laced with thin Jalapeno slices.  Again, a nice play of combining a moderately fatty fish with a refreshing citrus sauce, and then add a little heat from the chilies.  Brilliant.

Another signature from Nobu - the Rock Shrimp tempura with Ponzu sauce.  I thought the Hong Kong version was better executed since this one got soggy too quickly but otherwise, good enough to pop in your mouth until the last one.

The Eggplant with Miso sauce is a favourite of mine, and SB and B loved it too.  SB liked it so much he even ate the skin.  And why not, most nutrients are there anyway.  The use of sweet miso and toasted sesame gave it an addictive fragrance, and because the miso is sweet, you don't get clenched jaws which you might if it were the salty kind.  And steamed eggplant contributes the fibre intake for the day!  Yay!

The Washugyu (or short rib) was a first for me, and boy, did it NOT disappoint.  Lovely marbled short ribs grilled to perfection, served atop Japanese abalone mushrooms, still stirring in the juices of the ribs, were a delight.  So simple, yet so well executed, and capitalising purely on the quality of the meat.

Dessert was a lovely chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream and raspberries.  Well, you may think this is done to death.  So did I.  But I loved the fondant for its pudding-like consistency, unlike the usual cake-like ones.  Because of this, it absorbed enough of the yummy custard-like sauce and went well with the vanilla bean ice cream.  I was guilty of eating the most of this, even though it was meant to be shared.  SB and B were too kind to fight me on this one I think..

There were some misses though..  the Spicy Tuna handroll was shockingly flacid and tiny.  The seaweed was so chewy that it was almost rude to eat.  Very disappointing considering the number of sushi chefs at the counter waiting to serve.  The other dish which was so-so was the Spicy Tuna salad which was drowning in dressing and didn't taste of much else.  A waste considering the fish was so fresh.

Overall, still a great place to hang out - and given its appeal as an "old" restaurant, almost a place where only the seasoned ones go.  I am told De Niro/Nicholson types have their own private corners..

129 N La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Tel: +1 (310) 659-9639

Washington DC - Kushi Izakaya & Sushi

Lunch time is probably not the coolest time to visit but the food was enough to win me over.  And for the quality, I didn't think the prices were unreasonable by international standards, especially if it's an Izakaya first, then a sushi joint second?  The cool factor is high - high ceilings, dark interiors, and while I did not check, from what I've heard, a comprehensive selection of sakes, shochus, and other knock-me-over drinks.  

The menu isn't big, focusing on sushi and kushiyakis (grilled skewers of meat or vegetables).  And if you do the sets, the skewers come with miso soup, pickles and rice.  A pretty good deal.

The skewers we ordered are largely winners but special mention goes to the Buta Bara.  Melt in your mouth pieces of black pork belly that had a pork fragrance only found in this species and so tender to the bite.  So good that I could not bear to discard the fat strip (which I ordinarily reluctantly do for health reasons alone).   So good we had to order seconds.  

The duck sausage which is an awesome combination of meat and liver, delivering a slightly gamey taste but not overpoweringly so akin to a foie gras sausage with bite, was also excellent.  Especially so with a strong drink.  

Other skewers were certainly competent so add these to your list - chicken breast with plum sauce and shiso,  chicken breast with marinated cod roe, chicken meatballs, Wagyu loin and mushrooms, and even the golden potato.

The Chef's sushi choice of 10 pieces were surprisingly good.  A nice selection of white fish, chutoro, mackeral, sweet shrimp, scallop, clam, sea eel and salmon roe.  All catch-of-the-day fresh, and laid atop a good bed of rice that had the right amount of sushi vinegar in it.  A worthwhile order. 

To supplement, we also had the fatty tuna and scallion maki.  Generously creamy from the melt-in-your-mouth tuna, and a subtle hint of heat from the scallion.  Always a winner.

As well as the sea eel and cucumber maki.  Sweet eel, with added crunch from the cool cucumber.  A refreshing combination.  

Certainly a big plus for the Japanese food scene in DC.  A more than worthy add.  

465 K Street NW

(between N 4th St & N 5th St)

Washington, DC 20001

Tel: +1 (202) 682-3123

Washington DC - Good Stuff Eatery

The concept is wonderful - kinda like Jamie Oliver meets Modern Italian but here it's Spike meets old-fashioned American favourites of burgers, fries and shakes.  My reaction on visiting is that if I had a restaurant with such steady crowds, I am set.  The people relate.  So I am just hoping the nits with service and quality control get sorted out over time.

It's not a fast food joint - not at these prices.  So IMHO, it needs to offer up something a little more than nostalgia.

My hand-spun Soursop Hop and Strawberry Shake was refreshing.  Good quality fruit and ice cream hand-spun to deliver a home style consistency that's thick enough and importantly, to still be able to discern the strawberries.  The soursop was MIA so a little disappointment there.

My Uncle D's chili 'n cheddar burger did not look like much when I opened the wrapper.  Everything sort of mashed together.  While I still like to eat with cutlery, I didn't have much of choice here.  Very hard to pick up for those who still like eating their burgers the traditional way - with their hands.  The taste was admittedly pretty good.  It was a good juicy patty, and well spiced chili.  The combination of the green onions and sour cream sealed it for me.  Taste - 8; preso - ZERO.

Sides sounded wonderful from the menu.  Spike's village fries with thyme, rosemary and cracked pepper.  Stupendous combination but poorly executed.  Fries were soggy, and whoever had the bag of spices did not have control.  Way too much spice, which became soggy also.  Such a letdown.

Cliff's homegrown Vidalia onion petals were slightly better.  Tasty and sweet onion petals but oh my, coated in mile high batter.  Way too much of it.  The soggy factor was smaller but dig right to the bottom, and there was a small pile of soggy handcut fries there.  What's up with that?

Chef Spike has got a great concept and great place to hang.  But he definitely needs to hire better people and train them better to deliver the good stuff in an eatery everyone can rave about.  I like it enough to give it a second try and hope it is GOOD STUFF next time.

303 Pennsylvania Ave SE

(between S 3rd St & S 4th St) 

Washington, DC 20003
Tel: +1 (202) 543-8222

Los Angeles - Second City Bistro

Chill place to hang.   It is after all, a bistro.  And its cozy interiors, with open kitchen and brick walls, with booth seating is exactly as it should be although on a Tuesday night, it is quiet and not quite so cool..  Perhaps it was a little too early.

The food is as the website introduces, American fare with flair.  And the menu promises that, and then some.  

Execution was a little flat though.  The French onion soup certainly did not have a soup stock base which boasted the workings of a brew but rather a short cut of sorts.  2 tads saltier than it should be did not help either.  But if you like your salt, it is tasty for that reason alone.

My half burger as I shared with KS was better though.  Chargrilled beef patty, albeit a little overdone, with caramelised onions, crispy bacon with lettuce and tomato was tasty enough although as burgers go, this won't make it to any top 10 category.

Perhaps BK's choice of the salads with char-grilled beef was the better way to go.  If I'm in El Segundo, I might give it another go, but it won't be a place I purposely drive out to though.  

223 Richmond St
El Segundo, CA 90245
Tel: + 1 (310) 322-6085

Los Angeles - Patina Catering

One of the best experiences in LA is being invited to a swanky address and having a caterer come in-house to cook specially for you.  I was fortunate to have been invited to a place in West Hollywood, beautiful house with unmatched views of the city, being set in a hill.

Hor D'oeuvres of salmon tartar on a crisp wafer, and brie with honey and roasted almonds served on an endive leave greeted us as we walked in, picked up our drinks and did the grand tour.

No wonder, and Patina Catering did live up to its name.  So double fortune!  That's why they call it Hollywood...

For starters, the arugula salad with Medjool dates, aged Parmesan, combined with a very light vinaigrette and given a fresh boost from the apple slices was a wondrous combination of flavours, textures and very appetising.  The spicy leaves, neutralised by the sweet and plum dates, given a slightly sharp overtone from the cheese, and then teased by the vinaigrette and crunchy apples were brilliant.  So good it makes any one want to eat all their vegetables and for a table of 10 to have all finished it, is testament in itself.

The main course of the chicken was my least favourite although the sauce is what I like to do at home.  A simple wholegrain mustard sauce made all yummy by the drippings and reduced with butter and a splash of wine.  I like my dark meat and would have been happier with it but the chicken breast was well executed and not as dry as I thought it looked.  But because it was the breast, there wasn't enough gravy to go round, since I had it with the creamy mash, garlic spinach, and sweet baby carrots.

Dessert was a slight hit and miss although I did like it.  If you don't like bananas, then you would skip this.  But I do like a mean banana dessert, and this did not disappoint, although it was a little big for me.  Slightly unripened bananas mashed up and filled a hard crust cup (a little too hard so that towards the end I just dug out the bananas), and topped with fresh cream.  The sauce I have to guess had a little brandy in it, caramelised to make it a delicious golden brown, and lent a nice twist to the otherwise one-dimensioned cream.  A brilliant finish.

And of course, clever conversation in LA's fading light on a cool crisp evenings made for a lovely way to enjoy food and company all at once.  For those who are less fortunate to get a Hollywood invite, the Patina group has quite a group of restaurants to choose from.

www.patinagroup.com 

Los Angeles - Salt Creek Grille

One Monday a month, the office has happy hour at Salt Creek Grille.  It was my first but as you enter, the inviting fire place at the end of the hallway is an immediate lure and the generous couches there are a perfect match to the warmth from the fire.  Sit back, order a drink or 2, and you're set.  

Don't forget the baked goat cheese marinara.  The ball of goat cheese in a generous bowl of marinara sauce balances perfectly against each other.  Smooth, creamy slightly pungent cheese, against a robust, salty and tart sauce, and served accompanied by wood fire oven toasted foccacia crostinis, it is a perfect appetiser for happy hour and gets those communal juices running with everyone dunking into the bowl.  


The other appetiser of the Ahi Tuna Stack wasn't too bad either, with generous tuna sashimi slices stacked up interspersed with avocado, served with sesame ginger soy and wasabi but wasn't spectacular compared with the goat cheese starter.

When we adjourned for dinner in the dining room, I had the Cheese Burger, which was highly recommended by our server for the night.  Thick juicy burger, slapped with mustard and mayo, with melted cheddar over the top, it was certainly a good choice.  I think I was the happiest at my table with others complaining the braised short ribs being too fatty.  The petite filet mignon did win praise though.  


Not a spectacular place to eat but decent if you're in El Segundo.

760 S Sepulveda Blvd
El Segundo, CA 90245

Tel: +1 (310) 335-9288

Los Angeles - Taiko

I was happy that C introduced me to Taiko on this trip.  I tend to have a craving for Asian food, and Japanese always hits the spot anytime.  Taiko is close to the office and is always a good fallback option but make no mistake, it is better than just a fallback.  Huge menu offering the gamut of Japanese specialties including sashimi, sushi (complete with American influence rolls), noodles of all kinds, yakitori.  You name it, they have it, and at surprisingly good standards too!

After a lot of meat on the trip, I chose the seafood udon (after 15 mins of deliberation - I wanted to try everything!).  Extremely generous with seafood, it boasted 2 kinds of fish, salmon and a white fish, fish cake, mushrooms, spinach and cabbage, and topped off with a well done tempura prawn.  Broth was clear, healthy but tasty and was pure comfort food after a long day, and a cool evening at that.

This will definitely be a regular feature for me on work trips to LA!

2041 Rosecrans Ave
El Segundo, CA 90245

Tel: +1 (310) 647-3100

Los Angeles - Tin Roof Bistro

Manhattan Beach is a cool place to hang in LA.  Tin Roof Bistro is a cute place in the area, drawing its decor from the Northern Californian region, with a huge emphasis on wine country.

Old crates are used to make the tables, used wine bottles now used for serving water to diners, and they even have a mini vineyard where they're trying to grow grapes at the entrance.  Unfortunately, I didn't see any though.

I went for lunch where they have a typical American cafe menu but spruced up to have modern influences from other lands, with tuna spring rolls and tapas goat and honey.  

We were in a hurry so I chose the Pizza Bianca with Prosciutto, without the garlic.  But the rest of the mozarella, fontina, parmesan and balsamic were a nice combination against the salty prosciutto.  My only complaint was that the pizza base was a little greasy and burnt but if you like it rustic, you would be happy.  

The dinner menu is a lot more bistro like with classics like Steak Frites and sounds enticing enough for a second visit.  Perhaps on my next visit in June..

3500 N Sepulveda Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Tel: +1 (310) 546-6180

Los Angeles - Dinner at KS'

Ironically but never surprisingly, the best meals are at home.  And so, with great fortune, I got invited to KS' on my last night in LA.  Beautiful home not far from the water on Redondo Beach, it boasted a nice big kitchen and since we were rushing a little so I could catch my flight out (sorry K), K got to work as soon as we got to the house.

K's other half H, had been great to have already made light work of a beautiful salad as well a pot of French Onion Soup on the stove.  Even with entertaining his best friend L and his lovely wife J from Missouri, he managed to to do all that.  What a lovely man.  And the stories of H and L are great - they've been best buds since 1969, how many people can boast that!

And Tigger was waiting patiently in the kitchen - didn't get to photograph Charlie - he always seemed to be busy...

In between sips of Francis Ford Coppola's vintage, which is almost as good as his movies, K started to roll the dough and patiently layer on the Black Forest ham, and Swiss cheese, after spreading a generous layer of whole grain mustard.  Sealed, glaced, the whole pastry was popped into the oven while we sat down with our glasses and started tucking into our salad, followed by the hearty soup.

Nicely balanced between the onions and the essence from the meat in the broth, it was made better by the good quality Parmesan which was allowed to congeal over the top, and accompanied by a nicely chewy sourdough slice (good thing there were seconds).

And it was with great timing, that after enjoying the soup, the pastry was ready  - moment of truth - it rose perfectly and was crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, made even more deliciously so from the Swiss, and well seasoned by the Black Forest ham, with enough meatiness yet not salty as it would have been had we eaten this dish in a bistro.

And as any good host, K provided 2 desserts - no need to choose, just have both.  I was stuffed and so I had the vanilla ice cream with the sweetest raspberries ever.  The cupcakes looked inviting but unfortunately I had no room.   Must be sure to pace myself next time - I was assured we will do it again!  YESS!

Wonder what what surprises are in store next time...

Washington DC - Tachibana

After a couple of days eating as a gwai lo, it's nice to have a spot of Asian, just to break the richness and the monotony.  So we drove out to McLean, in Virginia to have Japanese at Tachibana.  It's authentic and good value for what you pay.  Don't expect the moon, this is DC, but the number of Asians, and the Japanese wait staff with heavily accented English lends plenty of credibility to the place.

If they have Ankimo (monk fish liver) on the menu in the US, I am assuming a fair bit of authenticity already.  It's by no means the best or freshest I've had but it was decent and firm but creamy.  And there was suitably enough ponzu dressing to lift it, plus crunch from the sweet julienned Daikon.

Our other starter of the Kurobuta (Berkshire loin or Black pig) Katsu, was also fairly good.  You won't get the best cut for the prices they charge at lunch, but it was a tasty piece of meat, and well deep fried to leave no trace of oil on the bed of cabbage.

My main of the Saba Oshizushi was good with the generous piece of mackeral on the top of each piece of pressed sushi.  And while not as plump as the good ones are, this was a good effort.  Only complaint: they used rice which was too mushy and sticky and not the good grade where every grain is distinct.

E and C each had the Chirashi which again was fresh, and great value.  Bonus: the marinated pieces of salmon in the foreground, added to the novelty of Tachibana's interpretation of the dish.

Great value for lunch and the variety keeps it interesting.  But by the same token, don't expect specialist quality here.

6715 Lowell Ave
McLean, VA 22101

Tel: +1 (703) 847-1771

Washington DC - Montmarte

Brunch is a big thing on Capitol Hill.  So a place serving brunch would be a best seller, and French bistro style like Montmarte, means waits of up to 40 minutes on the weekend for a table, if you have a party of more than 4.  But if you are patient, it is a pretty worthwhile wait for the classics on offer.  It's not a big menu but everything sounds yummy, so it takes a while to settle on your choices.

Can't do without eggs on the weekend so Eggs Benedict with spinach and hollandaise on a muffin topped off with crisp pancetta seemed like a logical choice.  Surprisingly served up with a seriously runny egg (I thought the salmonella scare in the country would still make restaurants think twice but glad they didn't!) and a hollandaise which had a subtle hint of white wine perhaps but whatever it was, it took the heaviness of the dish away.  Spinach which was not overcooked was a nice fibre add.

Our other French staple of the buckwheat crepe with spinach, tomatoes, eggs and swiss cheese, with a choice of prosciutto was also very yummy.  The red onions added crunch and a little pungency for balance and again, the runny egg bound all the flavours together.  Well executed.

Since it was a lovely day out, we decided to live dangerously and have dessert.  We ordered the creme brulee which was decent, but not the best I've had.  The top was a tad too burnt for my liking but otherwise, competent enough to finish the meal on a happy note.

Overall, it was worth our 20 minute wait.


327 Seventh Street SE
Washington DC 20003 
Tel: +1-202-5441244

Washington DC - Belga Cafe

How do you know it's a Belgian place?  Because the beer list is longer than the wine list and the food menu.  Indeed it was impressive.  But it was the middle of the day, and I was totally zombified from my 20 hour journey, and so we stuck with the food.

In the US, my rule of thumb:  always share so you don't eat yourself silly, or at least if you have to, have variety.

It's a Belgian place, so we had to have a mussels pot.  So we did, and we order the classic Mariniere, with plenty of white wine, shallots and garlic.  Mussels were of the small, sweet kind with the right textural combination of bite and creaminess.  The "soup" was also tasty albeit a tad salty.  Alright if you have a beer.  Fries were disappointing though - not hot nor crispy enough and had too much salt on them.  But dunk in mayo and you might overlook that.

The B&B Burger isn't an American burger and it shouldn't be.  I don't know if it was authentic Belgian but it was very good beef, done medium rare, as we ordered it.  Sitting comfortably on half a brioche, and topped off with a baked Parmesan crisp, and deep fried onions, it was juicy with a nice kick from the cheese.

For dessert, we order the Liege Waffle with cinammon-cooked apples.  The waffle wasn't as chewy as I liked and had too much icing sugar on it.  But overall, a pleasant enough ending to a casual lunch.

Worth a shot if you're in the hood.

8th Street SE
Washington DC
Tel: +1-202-5440100

Los Angeles - Petros Greek Cuisine and Lounge

I'm not a huge fan of Greek food but game enough to try it and hoping I would be pleasantly surprised on a fine Californian sunshine day. And if you're hosted by an entertainment lawyer from LA, you know she knows the scene (even if she's being humble!).

Petros was indeed a pleasant surprise! Set right in the Manhattan Beach Village, very cool and on a Friday afternoon, the patio was filled with all types of ladies who lunch - corporate types, dress down Friday types, gym types, biking types, yoga types... you get the picture.

The lunch menu is almost made for these women and why not? Refreshing salad combinations, couple of soups, and entrees which are yummy but don't start your weekend on a draggy note.

C had the Karpouzi salad - frsh watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, Epirus feta, manouri cheese, generously drizzled with Greek honey and mint. Sweet but not cloying, freshly tart but not sour, bound together with all the yummy dairy and honey from Greece, you feel your eyes perk up as you tuck into every mouthful, made different depending on what your fork picks up.

I loved my Gyro Giaourti - grilled gyro slices, with homemade Greek yoghurt, red onion, tomatoes and perfect shoestring fries (and mind you - this ain't a burger joint). The Greek burger which didn't make me feel guilty and became my energy for the Friday workout to come!

Highly recommended by others and now I see why. I just might change my mind about Greek food, we shall see.

451 Manhattan Beach Blvd

Manhattan Beach,

CA 90266

Tel: +1.310.545.4100