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Captain Hongo

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    Venice Beach, California
  1. I'm booked into Providence on Tuesday April 12, under my real name: Arthur Wilson. I will post with pictures just to update this thread. Honkman from 2 Foodies posted last August with the Summer menu, I'll do the Spring version. This date is midway between our anniversary and my birthday so it's the big celebration for us. In the past we've done Trio in Chicago, West in Vancouver, The French Laundry, Perigees in Toronto (now sadly closed) and Bigas in San Antonio for this occasion. For us, this is the big event of the year, but the first time we've trusted an LA restaurant. We just got back from Australia and New Zealand and don't want to travel again so soon. But after reading the reviews and talking with friends, I'm not worried. Let's eat!
  2. I'll be in Vegas next week for a few days. Who is doing great BBQ? I hear about Rub and Memphis but don't know them. Can y'all help an old Texan eat high on the hog? And, also, what happened to Salt Lick at the Red Rock? That was my favorite. Thanks in advance.
  3. Cathy Danh (Gastronomyblog.com) is putting on a Bake Sale at Zekes Smokehouse in West Hollywood (7100 Santa Monica Blvd) on Saturday December 5, 2009, 10am to ?, proceeds to go to the LA Regional Food Bank. Good foodie blog, good cause and a good restaurant. I've been to the original in Montrose, Ca. and think it ranks with The Salt Lick in Austen, Tx. Details at her blog (600 baked goods, oh boy!), and at latimesblogs.latimes.com Be there to meet lots of LA food bloggers and foodies on the patio. HOST'S NOTE: This is an member-organized event, not an official eGullet Society event. Please see here for the terms under which this event is listed in eG Forums.
  4. Why are most restrooms "disgusting", and I agree that they are. But, usually it's the patrons that mess up the rooms. They do things that I hope they don't do at home. Flushing anything in sight down the toilets and then walking away from the overflow. Diapers, pads, paper towells, etc. Missing the urinal, throwing hand wipes on floor, butts in the urinal. All these things are common. They restrooms don't start the day dirty, but stuff happens. Your fellow guests are the problem...fixing the problem starts there. IMHO.
  5. Last week I enjoyed a fun dinner at the Border Grill helmed by Mary Sue Millikan and Susan Fenigan (The Two Hot Tamales). This was a margarita paired tasting dinner hosted by Ray Ramos of Corralejo Tequila. Their Triple distilled is my favorite sipping tequila, hard to find, it's at Bevmo. Mary Sue Millikan and The Captain Chef Raymond This was the third or fourth tequila dinner I've attended at Border Grill and it was the best. The Grill is in downtown Santa Monica, just off the Promenade. Fortunately for me, it is located at a bus stop which bus also runs by my home in Venice. No driving was involved. For that, I gave thanks, for I was impaired when I left. This is how I roll. Each course was accompnied by a shot of the selected tequila and a generous margarita. Also, before the dinner there was a surprise margarita and several tastes. It pays to arrive early and also have a Local's Club membership. The first course was a Hoja Santa Wrapped Stuffed Shitake. It included carmelized leeks, oaxacan cheese, salsa verde, and pincho. Hoja Santa is an aromatic herb with a heart shaped pepperleaf that is considered a sacred herb because Mary is said to have dried the diapers of Jesus over them. None the less, it had an anise/nutmeg flavor. I'm not sure why the description includes "pincho". The only pincho I know refers to a stick stuck through a combination of food much like a skewer through yakitori. However, there was no stick. And, it needed none. The Tequila was a reposado. The Margarita was named Grape-nilla. It was mixed with green grapes, a vanilla bean infusion, lime juice, and the house citrus blend. The combination worked quite well, even though I am a margarits snob. To me, currently, I think a 3 to 1 ratio of Cazadores reposado and Roses Lime Juice over ice cubes is the way to go. The next offering was just great. It was named Albondigas Dos Cominos. It consisted of two meatballs, each different with their own sides. The Kobe beef was gently seasoned and sat on salsa bravo with roasted shallot aioli. Quite tasty, but suffered in comparison with the Lamb ball. I could totally enjoy this "meatball" as a large entree. The lamb was very tasty and was surrounded by a fresh curried yogurt, a caramelized onion marmalade and oregano chimichurri. Outstanding. Chimichurri is an Argentenian green sauce, usually made with parsley, olive oil, garlic, vinegar and peppers. I cooked one summer at the Coyote Cafe in Santa Fe and Mark served it with rabbit, though much spicier. Chef Raymonds take was much finer and fit very well with the lamb. The tequila was anejo, like me, and the drink was a Curried Margarita, it included muddled neem leaf and muddled lime. I had to look up neem and found out that it is an evergreen tree from India that taste of peanut and garlic. It is claimed that it produces a medicinal oil. What doesn't? Next up was a Sea Scallop served with olive oil poached peppers. An outstanding dish with a large succulant scallop resting on white creamed corn, a combination of poached peppers and serrano ham, drizzled with a blood orange reduction. Lordy, I love scallops. This one was just right and the orange gave it a great tang. The tequila was blanco, and of course the cocktail was a Blood Orange Margarita, with a beautiful slice of blood orange decorating the glass. By now, I needed the security of knowing that I had a designated bus driver. Sadly, we were at the last course. However it was a combination of three of my favorite tastes, Tequila, naturally, coconut and cheesecake. TMI, when I was pastry chef at Strattons at the Westwood Playhouse, I served what I called the Tequila Surfride Cheesecake. It was fairly well received. This Coconut Tequila Cheese Cake, put mine to rest, with its tequila soaked golden raisins, toasted coconut and a just right caramel sauce. The tequila was reposado, as was I until late the next day. The "Margarita" was very untraditional. It was a Corralejo Horchata cocktail. If you dont know, horchata is a rice milk drink made in every latino kitchen I been in out of rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Not unlike a wet rice pudding strained through cheesecloth. I've enjoyed it for years and now see a commercial version in some grocery stores. It was just the smooth drink that the cheesecake needed. Susan Feniger and Toni Chef Raymond, the Tamales and Ray Ramos from Corralejo put on an outstanding party and you weren't there. Pity.
  6. On June 6 this year, we had dinner for 2 at the 9:00 seating, next to the fireplace. And at least one more two top in the ground floor room. Da Capatin
  7. I'd say try either The Lobster Restaurant at the top of the Santa Monica Pier or Marisols at the end of the pier on a Thursday night and then go to the free concert on the pier. A true taste of Santa Monica. Capt. Hongo
  8. Thank you, RJ. We'll be at TFL June 6 and really enjoyed your report. The pictures were exciting and the discussion useful. You and I have communicated here before and your suggestiions have always been spot on. You're a pleasure and an education. Da Captain
  9. Is Bistro Zinc in Monte Lago Village at Lake Las Vegas a version of Zinc Bistro? Da Captain
  10. I want to give a shout out to Ah Sin in the Paris Hotel. Creative and beautfully presented sushi and Japanese cooking. Excellent food and friendly service. My personal favorite. Da Captain
  11. The title is it. We like to try out the local products and the different types of cooking. So, what does Fresno have to Offer. Da Captain
  12. Just a quick report and thanks to those who helped. We stayed at the Marriot Marina Hotel down by Gaslamp. Excellent Margaritas at the Yacht Club at the hotel. We sat on the patio and watched the boats go by and ate Crabcakes and sashimi. Rama is a beautiful white linen restaurant, very formal looking. The waterfall wall is the whole wall, I didn't expect that. It is great. The Nua Kem is fantastic. Beef that's air-dried in a tangerine sauce with a bite. It's not on the menu, but the hotel conceriage told me about it, and to ask for it. Also get the chili tray and play with your flavors. La Gran tapa was very quiet and peaceful. We had the tapa sampler and about 4 others, and drank Sangrea. And a shout out to the reason for our visit. The San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido. This is not a zoo, but an open air park with wild things and beer. A wonderful way to spend a day. Da Captain
  13. Thanks for the advice. We appreciate the help Da Captain
  14. We're going down to SD for a quick midweek holiday before Labor Day and will stay near Gaslamp. We'd like some Thai and thought about tapas for lunch. Are these still great places? Thanks in advance for your comments Da Captain
  15. Maybe off topic. But I'll be visiting Auckland and Christchurch. Whats in Christchurch that's worth a special visit?
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