Captain Hongo

On the 13th , I'll be there for business. Any dining suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks, Da Captain

There's Strohs on Abbott Kinney or Meditirina. Baja Cantina is fun. Terrace Cafe is a fun breakfast place by the Pier. Da Captain

I'm going to be up there in a few days. Does anyone want to suggest any place good to eat? Thanks, Da Captain

Todays LA Times (May 11, 2005) in a "Column One" article entitled "Tonight's Special Is Paper" does a great description of Chef Cantu's art in the kitchen. It seems that Chef Grant may be the most creative, but not the only exceptional artist in the Heartland. Read it. it's fun. (sub required) Da Captain

I would certainly add Cascadia, because of its local products tasting menu. And, also Mistral in Belltown. Chef Belickis has an enjoyable view of a tasting menu and an eclectic wine list. Da Captain

My argument would be that they serve as an educational service for the inexperienced.

Like a lot of people, we took the Mexican Riviera cruise. Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas. We took the Diamond Princess and mainly ate in the speciality restaurants, not the main dining room. We haven't seen any posts comparing the various cruise lines that make that trip (Crystal, Roayl Carribbean, Princess, Holland America). Anyone interested in starting a thread?

At the Terrace Cafe at the Venice (Calif.) Pier (shameless plug) today, I combined two salads and had the warm grilled salmon over young field greens with a warm broiled quail breast and havarti cheese. A very nice lunch and then the fog rolled in over the beach.

I've overcome my embarassment and now use a tiny tape recorder to take my notes. So, now I've gone from smeared notes to slurred ones. Such is progress.

I'm going to Toronto to eat at Perigee and then to see the Falls. After the sightseeing I'm planning to eat at Susur. Does anyone have a newer take on Susur? TIA

Once again an EGer has decided my vacation for me. With this review in my mind I will be going to Toronto for the first time since 1972. I'll add a review and entice someone else. I'll also try Sansur. I've done West and Trio, so I'm ready.

Just to keep the thread going on a good place to eat..... I had dinner at Nanbankan, tonight, and they had a new fish on the special menu. It's called a Sanna Fish and is a long sknny Pike with a sweet charcoey(sp?) flavor. Very nice. The Yellowtail collar was tasty and flavorfull with a tangy marinade, then, the Sole was sweet and buttery. Altogether, a good meal. Some props for Yakitori, please.

Going back to the post about kangaroo. At the foot of the Harbour Bridge in Sydney I had pizza with kangaroo and another with emu.

A few years ago, in Australia, I was served Witchity Grubs with a Peanut Sauce. I think that the restaurant was called Roundtree's and is no longer there. This is Aborigial traditional food and is really a grub, I think that it lives in trees.

I manage a restaurant and today ate of the special menu. I had Crab-crusted filet of Halibut with Scallops and Mussels. A quite special group of tastes for someone like me that really enjoys seafood. Yesterday, I ate street food on the Santa Monica Pier. Da Captain

There was a storefront resturant i St. Louis which when you entered, had just a window in the wall that you ordered and received from. No tables or counter. The name? TAKE IT AND GIT Captain Hongo

What about retro foods like squirrl stew and fried rabbit? I grew up hunting and eating them in the Midwest. Captain Hongo

Now, I'm jelous. That sounds like an epic meal. It seems we'll be back for Christmas and will be there again.

I certainly agree with the Biga recomendation. I did a report on several of my dinners there last April in this Forum. Also, try Acenar, on the Riverwalk, for great Mexican and Southwest influenced cuisine. If nothing else, the bar is lots of fun. I also like A.H. Burritos for Puffy Tacos, and the Pig Stand for drive-in food.

My very last three. All in West LA. Amuse Cafe (Venice) Marisol (Santa Monica Pier) Nanbankan (Yakitori in WLA)

I've had a good year, it seems. Istarted at Trio, in Eveston, Ill. at the kitchen Table for the Tour de Force. Later, went to Seattle for Mistral, Cascadia and Earth and Ocean. Later in the year we were in San Antonio for the two week Fiesta and ate at Biga's on the Banks (twice) and Acemar. Then, we took the Island Princess to Vancouver to enjoy the Chefs Table at West Restaurant. Now, I'me hungry again.

Does Region have a Chefs Table in its kitchen?

I didn't see anyone mention Earth and Ocean or the restaurat at the Edgewater. Sit at the table inside the redwood trunk. Da Captain

In several of the restaurants I have managed, the take out department operates like a seperate section. The TO person takes the phone, fax and walk in orders, rings them in and if in house, takes the money. The kitchen puts the food in the take out packages and the packer picks it up from the several stations, assembles the order, adds the sauces, drinks and utensils, bags it and gives it to you. They, as side work, make all the little packs of sauces and side orders. Usually, the are the newest and most inexperienced employees, learning the restaurant and food, before becoming servers. Floor servers are not involved. For these reasons I vote "yes" on tips. They work hard (though not always accurately), work for minimum wages, and deliver a true service.

I don't know if anyone will ever see this, but, thanks, Chris and others. I finally got to the Ragin Cajun and I was blown away. It's great!! Thanks for the tip.