Food, Food, and More Food Thread

Tu_triky wrote:During question you should have answered with "Seig Heil." <one handed salute>

Oh yeah, an Asian Nazi: they'll buy that. :beaten:


Anyways back on topic:

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Can't say that I've ever had ochazuke... Do places like Daikokuya have it?

Seems like more of a side dish like miso soup rather than a meal unto itself... Correct me if I'm (likely) wrong.

bmwracer wrote:
Oh yeah, an Asian Nazi: they'll buy that. :beaten:

:lol: love the humor, man.

Anyways back on topic:

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Can't say that I've ever had ochazuke... Do places like Daikokuya have it?

I don't think so, 'racer. You're likely to find it at an izakaya perhaps...I've only had it once here but that's not to say more places don't actually have it on their menu...I'm sure with the plethora of Japanese restaurants in your area there are at least a couple of places that serve it.

Seems like more of a side dish like miso soup rather than a meal unto itself... Correct me if I'm (likely) wrong.

Well in that picture, it's not quite the finished product...you would pour the tea on the right into the bowl of salmon with the rice & seaweed and then have yourself the ochazuke...almost like a porridge i guess, but not so thick.

Tu_triky wrote:Well in that picture, it's not quite the finished product...you would pour the tea on the right into the bowl of salmon with the rice & seaweed and then have yourself the ochazuke...almost like a porridge i guess, but not so thick.

A fancy rice gruel, ne? :beaten: :hehe:


EDIT: Duh, I shoulda looked it up on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochazuke :banghead:

Tu_triky wrote:


Well in that picture, it's not quite the finished product...you would pour the tea on the right into the bowl of salmon with the rice & seaweed and then have yourself the ochazuke...almost like a porridge i guess, but not so thick.

never thought Honda-ya as being an izakaya..but i suppose towards the back part they do have a sitdown yakitori, grill section.

i haven't tried that japanese porridge like dish..ochazuke...where in Japan is it known at? cause i know Okonomiyaki is from Osaka.....

bmwracer wrote:
A fancy rice gruel, ne? :beaten: :hehe:

yeah that's about right.

EDIT: Duh, I shoulda looked it up on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochazuke :banghead:

always a potential source for info!

qilver wrote:

never thought Honda-ya as being an izakaya..but i suppose towards the back part they do have a sitdown yakitori, grill section.

but it is an izakaya...they serve alcohol and small dishes intended to be eaten with drinks and shared with ppl at your table :)

i haven't tried that japanese porridge like dish..ochazuke...where in Japan is it known at? cause i know Okonomiyaki is from Osaka.....

i personally dunno if there is any place that is most known for that dish but i imagine you could get it anywhere....

currently working my way through a huge blueberry muffin. :mrgreen:

kenjilina wrote:currently working my way through a huge blueberry muffin. :mrgreen:

Ooh, I love blueberry muffins. :)

As soon as I go home, I'm going to eat a cinnamon cake. And a tofu ball with rice. *counts minutes*

http://www.calendarlive.com/dining/virbila/cl-wk-critic30aug30,0,3766661.story

A feast for your eyes only at Takami
Enjoy the 21st floor view while the downtown restaurant's kitchen works out the kinks.

By S. Irene Virbila
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

August 30, 2007

PILED into the car, my dining stalwarts and I creep along deserted Wilshire Boulevard on the lookout for Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant, the new multimillion-dollar restaurant and lounge at the penthouse level of 811 Wilshire. When we spot the address, it's a nondescript office tower. Where's the entrance to Takami? And, more important, where do you park? On a second pass, we see a small sign with an arrow pointing down an alley, and tucked to one side, a telltale umbrella. Are they playing hard to get, or what?

We trudge through the lobby to the elevator and ride up, eyes averted from the bleary light and mirrors, to the 21st floor. The doors open onto a dimly lit bar with an extraordinary piece of gnarled wood as a coffee table and four wheels of Parmesan cheese as stools. No, on closer inspection, make that turned pieces of blond wood.

I look up and see the moon through the pillars and realize the extraordinary scope of this place, with its wraparound verandas running the length of the building. Now that's a view.

In the bar section of the open-air veranda, it's all low, white sofas and cubes. Martini glasses are lined up in formation. Every other reveler, it seems, is smoking -- seriously and with intent. Looking down the veranda, I see a flash of leg, a kiss, a nudge. Somebody snaps his fingers to summon a waiter. The crowd appears to be a mix of downtown hipsters scoping the scene, tourists sent over by one of the local hotels, and people who work in the neighborhood sharing an after-hours drink.

Now that Windows, the steakhouse on the 32nd floor of the former Transamerica building, has closed, Takami stakes its claim as the new glam spot to take out-of-towners eager for a glimpse of the glittering sprawl. The venue also includes Elevate Lounge, which takes up the opposite side of the building; with it's own panoramic view, it boasts a dance floor where night owls can gyrate under pulsing blue lights, and perhaps recharge with a few bits of sushi and a couple of robata sticks.

Our sweet, nervous server wants to explain right away that there are three kitchens: the normal one, the sushi kitchen and the robata kitchen. I can see the latter two from where we're sitting on the veranda. Both have a handful of stools in front. The sushi kitchen, though, is in the weeds.

Our sashimi comes out at a snail's pace and the quality of the seafood, at these prices, is a real disappointment. An order of toro sashimi costs $56! The robata sticks are expensive too. A few bites of eggplant, $4; those with beef or other meat can cost up to $14 per skewer. Here, it's best to stick with the basics over something fancy like the filet rolled around a dab of foie gras.

The rest of the menu is devoted to chef Kenny Yamada's Asian fusion dishes. Yamada is one of Katsuya Uechi prot&#233;g&#233;s and opened the Encino branch of Katsu-ya. He's also been the chef at Bambu in Malibu, so he had a handle on what appeals to the trendy set. Think Japanese tacos -- deep-fried gyoza skins filled with spicy tuna, crab and avocado and scribbled with spicy mayonnaise from a squirt bottle. The poki martini -- spicy tuna buried in mashed potato and caviar -- is gooey and quite awful. Crispy and spicy dominated the menu; spicy tuna appears so often that the kitchen must have vats of it.

Traditionalists will find it hard going at Takami. Fortunately, there's a simple bowl of miso soup on the menu. But rice? My Japanese dining companion practically wept.

Meanwhile music blasts out of tinny speakers, getting louder as the evening wears on. Over in the lounge, it climbs to a delirious pitch. Nobody can claim anymore that downtown is asleep. But if this high-flying spot is going to appeal to more than a fickle, trendy crowd, the kitchen needs to get its act together, and fast.

In the meantime, go for a drink and a light snack. And the view -- definitely worth the price of that admission.

The view from Takami: [image]

http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-wk-dine30aug30,0,3557564.story

August 30, 2007

Heaven on a stick
Robata -- the grilling of savory meats and vegetables on a skewer over an open charcoal flame -- is an age-old Japanese style and a rare L.A. treat.

Katana

Looking for robata so fresh and hot you can taste the husky bite of an open flame? Sit at this joint's

bustling robata bar and choose from the selection on ice beds in front of you: succulent filet mignon daubed with bitter foie gras,

tender and sticky Chilean sea bass, or skewers of salty, silky shiitake mushrooms.

* Chilean sea bass, $4.50. 8439 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 650-8585

Katsuya

Created by a triumvirate of cool (Philippe Starck designed it, Sam Nazarian is CEO, Katsuya Uechi helms the kitchen), Katsuya's a hipster magnet with a scene that won't quit. Come for the eye candy, stay for the duck breast with yuzu pepper or king crab legs with garlic-soy butter.

* King crab legs with garlic-soy butter, $16. 11777 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, (310) 207-8744

Izakaya Haru Ulala

This unpretentious Little Tokyo favorite prides itself on its menu of "Japanese-style tapas" and "comfort food." Sit at the U-shaped counter to watch the cooks grill up traditional favorites like sliced pork ribs in spicy miso paste, crispy chicken skin, or garlic and korobuta pork.

* Sliced short ribs in spicy miso paste, $3.95. 368 E. 2nd St., L.A., (213) 620-0977

Geisha House

"Blade Runner" fans will find a second home at this restaurant, with its red, dimly lit interior and futuristic fireplaces set into a giant red tube in the middle of the split-level dining room. (The place boasts a thumping Hollywood bar scene with DJ and dancing.) Get as crazy as the decor and order the full monty: eight juicy skewers of chicken, beef, asparagus and tofu-tomato dubbed "Robata World."

* Robata World, $26. 6633 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 460-6300

Minx

A high-concept restaurant and club located in an unlikely Glendale locale packs 'em in on weekends and features a wraparound patio. Robata is not the focus of the menu, but if you opt to sit in the bar you can order tasty filet mignon robata lettuce wraps with a Korean BBQ glaze and cilantro hoisin-peanut dipping sauce.

* Filet mignon robata lettuce wraps, $12. 300 Harvey Drive, Glendale, (818) 242-9191

bmwracer wrote:http://www.calendarlive.com/dining/virbila/cl-wk-critic30aug30,0,3766661.story

Our sashimi comes out at a snail's pace and the quality of the seafood, at these prices, is a real disappointment. An order of toro sashimi costs $56!

Thanks for the article! Great location and ambience but a bit overpriced to say the leaast! 56 dollars for some toro?!?! That's ridiculous.

bmwracer wrote:http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-wk-dine30aug30,0,3557564.story

August 30, 2007

Heaven on a stick
Robata -- the grilling of savory meats and vegetables on a skewer over an open charcoal flame -- is an age-old Japanese style and a rare L.A. treat.

Katana

Looking for robata so fresh and hot you can taste the husky bite of an open flame? Sit at this joint's

bustling robata bar and choose from the selection on ice beds in front of you: succulent filet mignon daubed with bitter foie gras,

tender and sticky Chilean sea bass, or skewers of salty, silky shiitake mushrooms.

* Chilean sea bass, $4.50. 8439 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 650-8585

Katsuya

Created by a triumvirate of cool (Philippe Starck designed it, Sam Nazarian is CEO, Katsuya Uechi helms the kitchen), Katsuya's a hipster magnet with a scene that won't quit. Come for the eye candy, stay for the duck breast with yuzu pepper or king crab legs with garlic-soy butter.

* King crab legs with garlic-soy butter, $16. 11777 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, (310) 207-8744

Izakaya Haru Ulala

This unpretentious Little Tokyo favorite prides itself on its menu of "Japanese-style tapas" and "comfort food." Sit at the U-shaped counter to watch the cooks grill up traditional favorites like sliced pork ribs in spicy miso paste, crispy chicken skin, or garlic and korobuta pork.

* Sliced short ribs in spicy miso paste, $3.95. 368 E. 2nd St., L.A., (213) 620-0977

Geisha House

"Blade Runner" fans will find a second home at this restaurant, with its red, dimly lit interior and futuristic fireplaces set into a giant red tube in the middle of the split-level dining room. (The place boasts a thumping Hollywood bar scene with DJ and dancing.) Get as crazy as the decor and order the full monty: eight juicy skewers of chicken, beef, asparagus and tofu-tomato dubbed "Robata World."

* Robata World, $26. 6633 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 460-6300

Minx

A high-concept restaurant and club located in an unlikely Glendale locale packs 'em in on weekends and features a wraparound patio. Robata is not the focus of the menu, but if you opt to sit in the bar you can order tasty filet mignon robata lettuce wraps with a Korean BBQ glaze and cilantro hoisin-peanut dipping sauce.

* Filet mignon robata lettuce wraps, $12. 300 Harvey Drive, Glendale, (818) 242-9191

Another great article...cool. :victory: I've only been to Geisha and Haru Ulala......Haru Ulala is definitely worth a visit.

Tu_triky wrote:Thanks for the article! Great location and ambience but a bit overpriced to say the leaast! 56 dollars for some toro?!?! That's ridiculous.

Toro is pricey, but not that pricey... :sweat:

Hope they were big honkin' pieces at least.... :sweat:

bmwracer wrote:
Toro is pricey, but not that pricey... :sweat:

Hope they were big honkin' pieces at least.... :sweat:

Seriously, man...that's ridiculous...you might pay that much if maybe you eat Sushi in GINZA prepared by some well known master......56 dollars...that's ridiculous.

dood for about 75 or 80 dollars you can have a 5 course omakase at Matsuhisa which includes several pieces of nigiri sushi.

for 40 dollars you can have a tempura omakase at komatsu!

bmwracer wrote:
Toro is pricey, but not that pricey... :sweat:

Speaking of expensive I just chatted with a good friend of mine who recently moved to London for work. We were discussing the well known high cost of living in London, and in Britain generally. While we were chatting he randomly found a website of a sushi restaurant in London and found out that ONE PIECE of hamachi cost FOUR POUNDS!!!!! That's like buying one piece of sushi for 8 dollars. :shocked:

A standard nigiri sushi dinner was 48 pounds...which is close to 100 Dollars US :shakehead:

At those prices, I kid you not, you could eat at some of the finest restaurants IN JAPAN and probably eat more and better quality sushi, of course!

Tu_triky wrote:Speaking of expensive I just chatted with a good friend of mine who recently moved to London for work. We were discussing the well known high cost of living in London, and in Britain generally. While we were chatting he randomly found a website of a sushi restaurant in London and found out that ONE PIECE of hamachi cost FOUR POUNDS!!!!! That's like buying one piece of sushi for 8 dollars. :shocked:

A standard nigiri sushi dinner was 48 pounds...which is close to 100 Dollars US :shakehead:

At those prices, I kid you not, you could eat at some of the finest restaurants IN JAPAN and probably eat more and better quality sushi, of course!

Dude, that is outrageous... How can those restaurants stay in business with those kinda prices?

It'd be cheaper in the long run to fly back here for sushi and fly back to the UK... :sweat:

bmwracer wrote:
Dude, that is outrageous... How can those restaurants stay in business with those kinda prices?

Well you have to appreciate the difference in cost of living. No offense but it is well known that London is one of the most expensive cities to live in :sweat:

It'd be cheaper in the long run to fly back here for sushi and fly back to the UK... :sweat:

for real, man. for real.

Even G.I. Joe loves Kushikatsu.....frying is half the battle


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Maguro zuke....Marinated tuna (with shoyu) over rice..

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