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

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

****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 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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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-

***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

What else is in the box?

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$1 Weekly Item- Mush’s Savory Lahmajune

A couple of months ago, I wrote about Mush Bakery – the Armenian Fresh Bread spot (across the Street from Jitlada in the 99c Store complex) who’s name made me giggle.  Research proved Mush to be a historical Armenian province and not the American Mush that graced my Dinner Plate as a child.  Either way I was drawn to enter.

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Donut Man Haiku + Doodle Review

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

OVERALL SCORE: B+

***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…

$1 Weekly Item-Atwater Village Street Cart Tacos!

The Meat Man

The $1 Taco has been illusive as of late. Not that they don’t exist…it’s just that more often than not, the $1.25 Taco has taken it’s place.

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MARISCOS CHENTE – HAIKU REVIEW

Mariscos Chente: The Reasonably Priced, Mexican Sushi.

OVERALL SCORE: B+ (Food A-)

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!

***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.)
• *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!)

• Jamaican 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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• 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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Territory BBQ – Haiku Review

Territory: A Silverlake BBQ Joint and Record Shop

OVERALL SCORE: C

Sad Ribs

TERRITORY Haiku
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Hipster BBQ
Small Plates, High Price, Lacks Flavor
Not My Kind Of Place
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OVERALL SCORE: C

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

Neighborhood: Silver Lake
534 N. Hoover St
Los Angeles, CA 90004

http://www.territorybbq.com/

Hours
Mon – Sun11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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Mush Bakery: Armenian Name. Armenian Breads.

Ever have one of those days where you go out shopping with a list – and you tell yourself, “NAME – I’m only getting what’s on this piece of paper and nothing else,” and then you come home with a number of things, most of which were never on that said list….?

Well, that’s what happened today, and I couldn’t be happier.  After purchasing various home necessities from the Hollywood 99c Store (across from Jitlada),  I went to get in my car and something stopped me.  That something was the wordy sign: MUSH BAKERY.

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Lay Off Of My Blue Corn Quesadillas.

The Quesadilla Queen of Echo Park, Located on Echo Park Ave between Sunset Blvd and Montana Street (and my heart)- did not have to do much to get my attention.  One look into her dancing hands and I knew she was taking my money.

Her hands held  just-made, thick, Blue Corn (mais) tortillas – that soon plopped on the flattop, and transformed into one of her many flavorful Quesadillas…which were then consumed desperately by me.  She “opens” at 2pm and is churning out delicious $2.50 snacks until the sky is black.

Oaxacan Quesadilla Cart

Neighborhood: Echo Park
1246 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Options: Flor de Calabaza (Squash Blossoms), Hongo y Queso (Mushroom + Cheese), Huitlacoche (Corn + Fungus), Chicken, Chorizo y Papas (Chorizo + Potatoes).

What we ate:

Flor De Calabaza: Simple, with the main flavor coming from the cheese itself.  The Squash blossoms pretty much just soak in the flavors of everything else – and since all the components are tasty – its a plus.  SCORE: 7/10

Hongo Y Queso: Batter, Batter, SWING.  Not a home-run…but definitely to 3rd base .  Canned mushrooms + Cheese + salsa + blue corn tortilla = complete success.  The texture of the canned mushrooms (though sounds strange) strangely works [chewy density w/ the semi-crispy tortilla].      SCORE: 8.3/10

Huitlacoche (Corn + Fungus): Huitlacoche was the one that put my tastebuds on high alert (in the best way possible) as there were so many competing but balanced textures and flavors (the sweetness of the corn; the earthiness of the mushroom; the saltiness of the cheese). Here’s your winner.   SCORE: 8.7/10

Chorizo y Papas: Greasy, Mushy, Surprisingly flavorless. SCORE: 4/10

The Verdit: The Vegetarian options are the winners..  The only one I have not tried is the chicken – which I think I will continue to not try. Eat There….Eat The Veggie Options…And you can even tell people (try to believe it) that you’re being healthy.