Archived entries for Favorites

TUBS Fine Chili + Fancy Fixins’: Haiku and Doodle Review

TUBS Fine Chili + Fancy Fixins’:  A Darn Tootin’ Good Meal!

tubschili

****TUBS FINE CHILI HAIKU REVIEW****

Rick Hodges spent years
Perfecting Six Tubs Chili’s.
It was time well spent.

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Neighborhood: Culver City
4263 Overland Ave
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 559-8827
www.tubschili.com
Yelp Page
Hours: Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

WHAT TO ORDER:

CHILI  ($4.99 “City Slicker” Small (1 large scoop – perfect) / $6.99 “Showgirl” Medium (2 large scoops – if you’re really hungry)/ $8.99 “Rancher” Large – massive)

  • STEAK TOWN CHILI: Unfortunately it was sold out, probably due to Linda Burum’s recent article.  “I had just such an epiphany over a “tub” of the Steak Town chili. It came loaded with marinated grilled meat chunks that stood out against a galaxy of seasonings driving the flavor of a grease-free sauce,” said Burum.  Those words are enough to make you run there right when it opens.
  • SMOKIN’ PIG: *FAVORITE* Spice imbued Chili freckled with Black-eyed peas and finished with 8-hour wood smoked hand pulled pork.  It’s protein’s smokiness that rounds of the flavors of this excellent dish.

SIDES

  • TUB’S BUFFALO CHIPS: Horizontal, Hand-Cut Russet Potatoes which are soaked then lightly fried resulting in a crisp exterior and soft interior.  Topped with dusty Chipotle Salt and served with a side of Buttermilk Ranch.  While I wish Rick used a multi-soaking process (Father’s Office technique) that would result in the reduction of starch in the potato and a crispier, more Chip-like dish, the chips still disappeared off  the plate faster than the rest of the meal.

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Sapp Haiku + Doodle Restaurant Review

Sapp Coffee Shop:  Broth Perfected.

sapp coffee shop2

***Sapp Coffee Shop Haiku Review***

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Row Row Row Your Boat…
Noodles gently to my mouth.
Sapp is but a dream.
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Neighborhood: Hollywood/Thai Town
5183 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-1035
Hours: Mon-Tue., Thu-Sun. 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Now for what to order…

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Elf Cafe Haiku + Doodle Review

Elf Cafe:  It’s a lot of things.  One of them being…a great place to eat.

Elf Cafe

***The Elf Cafe Haiku Review***

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You “leaf” me feelin’
So Fine…& BYOB!?
I’m back in New York?

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Neighborhood: Echo Park
2135 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 484-6829
www.myspace.com/elfcafe
Hours: Wed-Sun. 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Must Get:  Kale Salad; Tahini Avocado Puree; Moraccan Vegetable Tagine over Red Quinoa; Chevre Crepe

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Platine Cookies: Haiku + Doodle Review

Platine: Gold Bars … or Chocolate Bars….There’s not much of a difference here.

Although Chef Jamie Cantor promises that there is no Platinum or Gold in her chocolate creations…

OVERALL SCORE: A-

Platinebar

***The Platine Haiku Review***

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Small Batch, High Product

Sophisticated Cookies
What a lovely spot.
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OVERALL SCORE: A- As this place is meant for takeaway, it’s not really fair to judge the staff/atmosphere of this store front.  But, the spot is darling and the person at the counter has always been kind and willing to tell you their favorite(s).

  • Atmosphere:  N/A (Worth 25%) & Staff:  N/A (Worth 25%)
  • Food:  A- (Worth 50%)

My Favorites:  Signature Cookie; Chocolate Gingersnaps; Traditional Rugelach (Friday Special); Ice Cream Sandwich with Ice Cream From MILK; Camees; Caramel Top Brownies

Neighborhood: Culver City
10850 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-9933
www.platinecookies.com

Guess What's Inside

What else is in the box?

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Donut Man Haiku + Doodle Review

The Donut Man: Flex those donuts.  You’ve worked hard for them.

OVERALL SCORE: B+

DONUTMAN!

***The Donut Man Haiku Review***

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3 month apprentice.
Near 40 years honing craft.
You’ll love Donut Man.
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OVERALL SCORE: B+ As this place is meant for takeaway, it’s not fair to judge the staff/atmosphere of this Donut Stand. Their fried dough, however, deserves consideration!

  • Atmosphere:  N/A (Worth 25%) & Staff:  N/A (Worth 25%)
  • Food:  B+ (Worth 50%)



*How To Make Tiger Tails*

Recommended: Buttermilk.  Cinnamon Sugar.  Famed Strawberry Donut.  But “Why” You Ask? Continue reading…

MARISCOS CHENTE – HAIKU REVIEW

Mariscos Chente: The Reasonably Priced, Mexican Sushi.

OVERALL SCORE: B+ (Food A-)

Camarones Enamorados @ Mariscos Chente

Camarones Enamorados @ Mariscos Chente

***Mariscos Chente Haiku Review***

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Mariscos Craving?
Chente’s Cuisine is supreme.
Go. No. Run There Now.
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OVERALL SCORE: B+

  • Atmosphere:  B- (Or an A+ if a single Pacifico Sign is your idea of art…!) (Worth 25%)
  • Staff:  A- (Worth 25%)
  • Food:  A- (Worth 50%)

Recommended:

  • Camarones Checo (Softened Garlic + “Spices.”  That’s all they would tell me!)
  • *Smoked Marlin Tacos (MUST GET!  Smoked Marlin purchased from Mazatlan)
  • *Camarones Aguachiles (MUST GET!  So fresh – the shrimp only start to ‘cook’ in lime juice when they’re ordered)
  • Pescado Zarandeano (Fish used  @ Mariscos Chente is Snook.  I admit, I didn’t get this – but I saw it wizz by to other tables and it looked absolutely delicious.  Full fish – Head to tail, Butterflied, then grilled to perfection.  Next time…)

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Neighborhood: Mar Vista (Not Far from 405 + Culver Blvd)
4532 S. Centinela
Los Angeles, CA 90066

310-391-9881

Hours: Mon – Thurs, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fri – Sun, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

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FRONT PAGE JAMAICAN GRILLE – HAIKU REVIEW

FRONT PAGE JAMAICAN GRILLE: OVERALL SCORE: B+/A-

You Might As Well Be In Jamaica.  But…by golly, you’re here in LA!  Who knew luck would be in the shape of Jerk Goat?

So Good - The Jamaican Coat Of Arms Has Extended Itself to the Restaurant.

So Good - The Jamaican Coat Of Arms Has Extended Itself to the Restaurant!

***Front Page Jamaican Grille Haiku Review***

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Unassuming Place
First-Rate Traditional Fare
Kind Owners;  A Find.
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OVERALL SCORE: B+/A-

  • Atmosphere:  B (Worth 25%)
  • Staff:  A- (Worth 25%)
  • Food:  A- (Worth 50%)

Recommended:

  • *MUST GET* Roasted Whole Perch in foil with chili + cabbage.  Call in advance; Takes 45 Minutes to cook!
  • Oxtail
  • Jerk Goat
  • Rice & Beans
  • “Carrot Cake” (More Like a pudding – So Unique – I WANTED MORE!)
  • *DRINK* Cran-Moss! (Cranberry + Irish Sea Moss. When Irish Moss is soaked + blended it lets off a natural form of sugar that creates a viscous, thickened drink..like gelatin.  The Cran-Moss drink is made by blending soaked Irish Moss with cranberry juice.  Unusual and surprisingly tasty.)
  • 3642327096_7e6eb59a5c*DRINK* Sorrel (Hibiscus Flower Beverage – same as Latin Hibiscus Beverage – except Front Page’s Version is extra concentrated and balenced in its acid + sweetness.  I’d like to bathe in it thank you.)


  • *DRINK* Pine Ginger Beer (Pineapple Ginger Beverage)

Perhaps Bypass:

  • Festival Bread – (Think Old-Fashioned Doughnut, minus the sweetness + added flavor of oil. Tastes good – but the one piece we got was not finished by us…which says a lot!)
  • 3641517597_07d62607dfJamaican Patties (They are tasty – but since the owners get the Patties from a Los Angeles wholesale vendor, you may want to try other food options that are made in-house.)

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  • 3641518171_e9d30aeb08
  • Okra Side Dish (Their preparation is a simple steam w/ House-made Jamaican Seasoning.  Extremely slimy and I’m thinking there may be things you’d like more on the menu!)

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Neighborhood: Inglewood (Near LAX)
1117 W Manchester Blvd #C
Inglewood, CA, 90301
(310) 216-9521

Check Out Front Page Jamaican Grille’s Website!

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Mon Land Hot Pot City – Haiku Review

Mon Land Hot Pot City – On The Brain.

OVERALL SCORE: B+

It's That Good.

It's That Good.

Hot Pot City Haiku Review

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Best Hot Pot in LA
Wolfberries make tasty broth
You will leave in bliss.
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OVERALL SCORE: B+

  • Atmosphere:  B (Worth 25%)
  • Staff:  B (Worth 25%)
  • Food:  A- (Worth 50%)

Recommended:

  1. Spicy Red Broth and Traditional Broth
  2. Fat Beef Slices
  3. Egg Tofu – Firm texture but still retaining some of the silkiness.   EGG-cellent.
  4. Mushrooms (Enoki/Oyster) and Greens (Spinach/Peashoots) and Vermicelli Noodles
  5. Onion Pancake
  6. Lamb Pancake

Perhaps Bypass:

  1. Squid (Extraordinarily Fishy and Pre-Frozen Tasting
  2. Shrimp Balls (They’re Bouncy like the 25c Rubber Balls from your childhood…Yes, I know that’s the typical texture – but there are just better things to order on the menu)

Neighborhood: San Gabriel Valley
251 W. Bencamp St
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 289-4889

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Westside Tavern – Haiku Review

A Round Of Applause For Westside Tavern

OVERALL SCORE: B+

Westside Tavern Brings On Culinary Nostalgia

Food From Your Past - Made Better In The Present.

Westside Tavern Haiku Review

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Comfort Food Done Right
Inventive Drinks; Excelled Sweets

Great West LA spot.
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OVERALL SCORE: B+

  • Atmosphere:  B+ (Worth 25%)
  • Staff:  B+ (Worth 25%)
  • Food:  B+ (Worth 50%)

Recommended:

  1. Grilled Cheese Sandwich With Tomato Soup
  2. Handcut – Multi Soaked Fries
  3. Carrot Cilantro Caipirinha

Neighborhood: West Los Angeles (In The Westside Pavilion)
10850 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 470-1539
www.westsidetavernla.com

Modern, "Loft-Style" Restaurant - Designed by Tony Plescow.  Notice the beautiful and Custom-Made Steel Bar.

Modern, "Loft-Style" Restaurant - Designed by Tony Plescow. Notice the beautiful, Custom-Made Steel Bar.

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Wurstkuche – Haiku Review

The Federation of Wurstkuche

OVERALL SCORE: A-/B+
money

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Beer, Homemade Sausage.
Behold, This Is What LA Needs.
Minting Money, Yes.

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OVERALL SCORE: A-/B+

  • Atmosphere:  A (Worth 25%)
  • Staff:  B+ (Worth 25%)
  • Food:  B+ (Worth 50%)

Neighborhood: Downtown LA
800 E 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-4444
www.wurstkucherestaurant.com
Hours
Mon-Wed. 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Thu-Sat. 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

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