Muffin210

If you decide to go for the Le Creuset, Amazon.com has it on sale right now (but only until October 24th)! (Don't forget to also use the promotional code on the Amazon website for the extra $20 off if you spend at least $120 in Kitchen and Housewares...with Le Creuset, it's easy to make it to $120, but with the sale and the additional discount -- and free shipping and no sales tax for most people -- it might be a good time to buy a piece and see what you think). I just bought the 2 1/2 quart oval oven (for $55.99 plus free shipping), so I'm glad fifi likes hers so much!

"Those look like matsutake mushrooms. You've had those before, right? I've only had the ones from Oregon, which are delicious. They're mushroomy, of course, but with a complex topnote - almost like whiskey or brandy, IMHO. I'm surprised they weren't more prevalent in your meals." (FoodZealot) Well, we did have small pieces of matsutake mushrooms, but I wonder if the super-expensive ones actually taste better, or if they just cost more because they are so rare. (Kind of like wondering if the $100 melons actually taste that much better than the $15 ones...) "The Japanese word for chestnut is kuri but when it is used in sweets they use the French pronunciation of marron, thus it is easy to confuse it with melon..." (Torakris) Oh, that makes so much more sense! I only knew the word "kuri" for chestnut so I couldn't figure it out. I never realized that the Japanese say "marron", and when they used it in otherwise English language sentences, I just assumed it was "melon"! My mistake... I'm sorry to see all the damage (and loss of human life) from the latest typhoon. I guess all those foods (produce and fish, at least) will be more expensive for a while. Did any of our Japanese members suffer any injuries or damage to their homes? One other thing we were impressed by was the number of sweet shops. As you can tell from the photos, we probably went to at least one or two a day! How often do people who live in Japan frequent these types of shops? Usually we were the only non-Japanese in them. Do people make their own matcha at home?

Thanks for all the comments on the photos! Akiko, the "Gourmet Museum" sign was just for a food/restaurant section in one of Osaka's many maze-like underground malls...I have no idea how people manage to navigate their way around some of those places -- but at least there is a lot of good food to eat! Helenjp, the temple we stayed at was Shojoshin-in on Mount Koya. I guess it's a subtemple technically, but they prepared the meals for all of us. I loved the creamy tofu -- so different from the tofu I've eaten in the US -- but there was another, spongy tofu that must take some getting used to. The mystery dish did seem to contain a fig, but it wasn't just a fig, unless it was some sort of fig from hell. We would have sworn it was some sort of sea creature innards if it weren't for the fact that the meals were strictly vegetarian! melonpan, the tempura was nicely salted after cooking, so the waitress told us that we should eat it plain, without any type of sauce. It was delicious...how could anything fried and salted not be delicious, of course! -- but it wasn't just the potato-chip-like qualities that were appealing, the flavor of the vegetables within really stood out. Hiroyuki: Actually, Chris Cognac told me I should check out the vending machines, so that's why I took so many photos of them! But I find Japanese vending machines very appealing -- so colorful and fun. And the sheer variety of things you can get from vending machines is so different from here in the US. One funny thing I noticed was that I was repeatedly told that such-and-such dish would contain "melon", when what it actually contained was chestnut. The first time it happened, I thought that it was a simple translation error, but when it happened again (at a different place), I wondered if there were a reason -- do the words sound similar in Japanese? Has anyone tried those expensive mushrooms? Are they worth the $400? (I guess they are still cheaper than, say, truffles, but that's a lot of money for one fungus...)

Just got back from our 9 day trip to Kansai (Osaka, Koya-san, and Kyoto). Ate lots of great Japanese food, including okonomiyaki, yudofu, lots of matcha with sweets, and vegetarian temple meals. The highlight was probably the kaiseki meals we were served at the Kyoto ryokan. I posted all the food/drink photos on our photo website, if anyone wants to see them: http://gallery.houseberg.com/JapanFoodOct2004 There was one dish we were served at the Buddhist temple with dinner that was a complete mystery to me -- it tasted and looked like it was made with a fig. I'd never seen or tasted anything like that before. Can anyone identify it? It's on page 5. Even in just one short week, we were served several dishes featuring chestnuts and persimmons (since they are in season). I wish the restaurants in the US were as in tune with the seasonal offerings as the Japanese restaurants are! Luckily, there was no natto in sight!

Dammit, Tad, your food pictures should come with a warning! Now I'm starving!!!

Well, Houseberg and I are leaving for KIX on Saturday morning...we'll arrive just in time for the latest Osakan typhoon, I'm sure! I have been reading this thread: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=5369 and have jotted down some of the suggestions for Osaka and Kyoto. The only set plan we have so far is an okonomiyaki restaurant ("Chiba") in Osaka for lunch on Monday. (Too bad we missed "Okonomiyaki day"!) Any last minute suggestions for us? We're spending a couple nights in Osaka, four nights in Kyoto, one night up on Koya-san, and one night maybe in Kobe or Nara. Thanks!

I haven't been there yet, but I have a few friends who absolutely love the restaurant at Montage in Laguna Beach: http://www.montagelagunabeach.com/dining/dca_studio.html I've heard you need to make reservations far in advance, though. When are you coming?

I'm jealous! -- I loved Iceland. Beautiful country, friendly people, incredible landscapes and the northern lights... However: like everything else in Iceland, the food is expensive. Also, good vegetables are hard to find. (We did eat one dinner at a vegetarian restaurant in Reykjavik called Noestu Grosum which was casual and filling.) As for upscale dining, we had a great fish tasting menu dinner at Tveir Fiskar -- although it wasn't all fish, since it included small dishes of puffin and dolphin (didn't have whale, though). We also ate at Siggi Hall, but since we were there during December, we had their special holiday buffet (the first time I've ever had a "buffet" brought to the table, course by course), so I can't tell you what the food is like the rest of the time. It included traditional Icelandic holiday foods, such as smoked lamb and reindeer and what seemed like a jillion different flavors of herring. The skyr was delicious; we had some at breakfast every day. (There were also different herrings every day at breakfast...) However, I didn't like the traditional hakarl (rotted shark) and brennivin ("black death" = schnapps) too much! We made a special trip to a supermarket just to buy the hakarl but after two pieces, we decided to "donate" the rest to the hotel bar... Alcohol is very expensive, so consider bringing some with you or buying duty-free on arrival (Iceland lets you do that). PM me if you have any other questions about the food or visiting Iceland!

Wow, that sounds like a wonderful experience. I'd been to Ginza Sushi-ko (twice...once during blowfish season) but have yet to try Urasawa...your review makes me want to go! Thanks for posting the photos! So, if you're serious about going back, let me know! (I can't believe there are people who can afford to eat there every night for two weeks!!!)

Don't know if your friends live close to this place, but also consider Inn of the Seventh Ray: http://www.innoftheseventhray.com/ Romantic, organic, vegetarian-friendly, new-agey and in your price range... It's not in the most accessible location but that's part of the fun -- you have to go into the Santa Monica mountains...I've made the drive more than once from the South Bay, though (that's way on the other side of LA from Topanga).

Chungking in December...can I come too???

Houseberg and I are headed to Japan next month -- Oct 10-18, to be exact -- staying in the Kansai region. I saw this thread and noticed it hadn't had any action recently...any new recommendations for travellers in this area? We will be in Osaka for two nights (10/10 and 10/11) and hope to try the local udon and okonomiyaki that seems to be so highly recommended... One night up on Koya-san (10/12) -- (guess we'll eat whatever vegetarian food the temple provides us -- what should we expect as far as Buddhist temple meals?)... Four nights in Kyoto (10/13-10/16) -- the first in a traditional ryokan that serves meals, but the other three nights we're on our own and up for anything... The last night (10/17) who knows where...maybe Kobe or Nara? -- something not too far from KIX, since we have to catch a flight the next day. Would love any further food/restaurant recommendations, and of course, if anyone in the area wants to get together for a mini eGullet dinner in Kyoto when we're there, that would be a lot of fun for us!

I'm hoping to check out: 1. Aubergine in Newport Beach (never been there before and I got a gift certificate from a silent auction), 2. That Korean samgyetang restaurant in Garden Grove that Melonpan recommended (Gohyang Sancheon), and 3. One of the weekly Italian regional dinner menu nights at Alto Palato in West Hollywood. (Anyone else interested? They are Wednesday nights...could make it a mini-eGullet outing) Runner-up: grilled cheese sandwich Thursday nights at Campanile -- another one of those things I keep meaning to try.

Glad to hear you had some good meals...I should go back to Bastide -- it's been a long time. What was on the chef's menu that you got? Last time I went was when they were having a special white truffle menu...yumm.... By the way: Happy Birthday!

What's the name/address of the pho restaurant? Sounds like something I'd like to try!

I really wanted to like this place, having heard great things about the one in the valley. Gave it three tries, and each time the food was cold, and wrong. Both. Each time. Got dragged there a fourth time, and it was dismal. Big portions, reasonable prices, but, for my money, not worth the (small) price of dinner. Oh, that is a shame! Well, I'm glad someone who's dined there could give us a review. Any other suggestions for a romantic dinner for less than $40???

How about Cafe Bizou in Pasadena? (626) 792-9923 -- 91 N. Raymond Avenue. There are also branches in Santa Monica and Sherman Oaks. I've never been to the Pasadena location but they have a super-low corkage fee ($2) and I recall the prices were really good. Is anyone familiar with the Pasadena restaurant? Think they can dine for less than $40? (Bringing your own wine is a huge plus!)

Just for fun...what are the last three restaurants that you ate at? Be brutally honest! Here are mine (if you don't count the terrible cafeteria food at the hospital where I work): 1. Buona Vita on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach (inexpensive Italian food plus no corkage fee!) 2. Five Crowns in Corona del Mar ("The O.C."...heh, heh, heh ) -- Lawry's with silly waitstaff costumes (kinda like Disneyland meets Hooters?) 3. Michelia in LA (3rd Street) Of the three, I think Michelia is my favorite. I hadn't been there in a long, long time (because of the distance across town) but I wasn't disappointed. So where have you eaten lately???

What kind of food are you looking for? There are so many places in a metropolitan area like LA...help us narrow it down! You'll have a car, right? When will you be here? You mention the San Gabriel area; have you already explored a lot of the Chinese restaurants there?

Where in LA are you staying, and what type of cuisine are you looking for? I agree with Carolyn that Spago and Patina are going to be a lot alike...although, I guess that's not necessarily a bad thing if that is what you are looking for. I also agree with her in that the "best" restaurants in LA might be very similar to the "best" restaurants in DC, and that exploring the diversity of cuisines offered in the area might be another approach. I like Table 8 alot...Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills is another very L.A. restaurant (go for the omakase -- chef's choice...other LA sushi suggestions: R-23, Mori, Sushi Sasabune, and Nishimura) but I don't know if Nobu already has a restaurant in DC...Melisse in Santa Monica...very popular (but IMHO overrated, although everyone else seems to love them) LA places also include Valentino in Santa Monica and Crustacean in Beverly Hills... If you narrow down your criteria a little more, maybe we can give you some better suggestions. Let us know what you choose and how your meals turn out!

Ummm...exactly which cable channel are you filming this for, Chris?!?

Almost the opposite of what you want (in terms of service, variety, creativity, and decor) but still worth checking out is Zankou Chicken -- there is (or at least was) a branch in Glendale -- 1415 E Colorado Boulevard (818-244-1937). Zankou is an Armenian chain selling cheap, garlicky rotisserie chicken (lots of garlic sauce!) -- well, they sell other items too, but none that I've ever tried. I have a friend who moved from LA to the Bay Area and whenever he comes down to visit, Zankou is the one thing he wants to eat. It's an inexpensive but delicious quick meal (you can also get it for take out), immortalized in a popular song by Beck a few years ago. So it's the other side of the LA dining experience! If you do end up renting a car, or getting a hotel closer to the Westside, the dining choices are much more varied...so keep us updated!

Here's another nod for Cookinstuff if you happen to be in the South Bay...they may not be the cheapest, but they tend to run a lot of coupons in the local flyers. I don't know about the Anaheim/Orange County area, though. So, where are you going to eat when you're in So. Cal???

Help us narrow it down a little bit...what kind of food/cuisine are you looking for (or want to avoid)? For example, there is a lot of excellent Japanese food in LA, but sushi and sashimi are not for everybody. Will you have a car? Glendale is a little far away.

Thanks for the great gohyang sancheon review (and photos); it's right near my boyfriend's parents' house, so we'll definitely check it out soon! (Actually, I have the flu right now, so some of that chicken soup would be sooooooo good...)