la.foodblogging

Back when I was out in the frozen tundra, I received a phone call from one of my friends in L.A. He had a food emergency. He was going to a birthday party and needed the “best cheesecake in L.A.” Without hesitation, I told him to get to Susina Bakery ASAP and purchase the orange cheesecake. Long story short, the cheesecake was the hit of the party, and all the guests at the birthday bash were impressed with my friend’s fine taste. Over the weekend, we introduced Susina to some other people. After a couple bites, they agreed that Susina is pretty special.

First of all, we were initially disappointed because their famous orange cheesecake was out. The staff did recommend the Oreo cheesecake as an alternative. They said they make it exactly the same way, just with a different filling and crust. The cheesecake was delightful. We were all impressed with how it has the same rich flavor as other cheesecakes but without the heaviness. I’m usually not a fan of an Oreo crust because I find it to be too dry for my taste, but the crust of this cheesecake was just right. We also really enjoyed the raspberry chocolate cake. We were pleasantly surprised to find actual raspberries in the cake, not raspberry filling. The raspberries were fresh and not drowned in sickening sweet syrup. This was one of the best cakes I’ve had in a while. Our last selection was the apple tart. I’ve eaten a lot of apple tarts, and the trend seems to be making apple slices as thin as possible and layering them. Susina’s apple tart, however, was topped with a generous amount of thick slices. Each bite is filled with a very strong apple presence. As we were leaving, I decided to buy something to go to give to my mother. I picked a blueberry custard tart and some Italian cookies. My mother started off intending to have just a bite, just to taste. She finished the whole thing in one sitting. She did offer me a taste, and just like the three desserts my friends and I shared, this one was absolutely wonderful. The blueberries were fresh, the custard was creamy, and the crust was crispy but not dry. The cookies were also a nice little treat. The cakes and tarts were approximately $5, while the cookies were $20 per pound. (I spent about $2 on a handful of the bite-size cookies.) We all felt that Susina’s price is very reasonable for a taste of heaven.

You can purchase whole cakes and pies and even place orders in advance. Susina is more than just sweets and pastries though. I haven’t had anything other than beverages and desserts here, but Susina also offers soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches, and lasagnas. The staff is incredibly friendly and amiable. There is parking available in the parking lot behind the building, but be careful of where you park. Not all the spaces are for Susina, and the spaces are stacked, so you may be blocked in (or be blocking someone else in).

Susina Bakery & Cafe
7122 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-7900
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-11pm

By Pauline (see more of her posts).

Here’s a fun toy for your Sunday: Wordle. I love words as art, here’s la.foodblogging run through Wordle:

I think I am going to have to do a version for our header image.

By Jonah (see more of his posts). Jonah is the founder of la.foodblogging and also created Digesty, a food blog aggregator and Cheww.com, a spam free foodblog search engine.

After a couple of weeks of nesting with our new son, we hit the gates running on dining out. I took a chunk of time off of work to do some bonding and help out as my wife recovered and did feedings at what seemed like every five minutes, little guy can eat!

As predicted, our first meal out was at Sushi Karen. My wife devoured the sushi, we kept Simon in the car seat and he slept the whole time. Sushi Karen is majorly kid friendly and we have already been back.

We had breakfast at John O’Groats where the owners carefully selected a table so that we could wedge the car seat onto a chair so that it wouldn’t get bumped or jostled. We went mid-week so we didn’t have to deal with the weekend wait. Tried their new menu item — poached eggs on bruschetta — very tasty.

Dinner at Rockenwagner’s 3 Square was very tasty, especially the carrot soup and tuna burger. The space is a bit tight though. Fortunately, Simon is a saint and our dining neighbors just wanted to look at him and comment on his hair. The indoor lighting at 3 Square is awful, a weird dull orange that does not make the food look as appetizing as it really is.

Brunch at Joe’s in Venice was delicious as always. Unfortunately we couldn’t get an outdoor table because of a private party, but Simon and I shared the bench seat and he slept through almost all of the meal. He popped up awake towards the end of the meal and we traded off holding him.

Joan’s on Third was a great stop while strolling in and out of the cool shops lining the street. We were a bit before the lunch rush and snagged an outdoor table. Simon was in the mood to be held and fortunately, the dishes were easy to eat one handed.

Simon’s first trip to Jinky’s was also our first stop into the Valley location. More open and roomy than the Santa Monica location, this was also a mid-week stop so there was no wait. I tried the turkey burger with curry spiced chili, a decadent delight. A messy chili burger is no meal to eat one handed, however, so Simon was in his seat on a chair.

La Bottega is the little casual cafe attached to Il Grano. In fact, I believe that they share a kitchen. We went with friends, sharing a four top. Simon’s car seat plopped down into an upside down high chair, a trick we learned having lunch in Napa. La Bottega is one of the best priced deals on the Westside; good, basic Italian food for a reasonable price. nice carafs of wine as well.

For a mellow weekend brunch Back on Broadway is a great choice. This place seems to be busier on weekdays, popular with the business crowd. Weekends are quieter, and we nabbed a huge table for my whole family, with Simon on the side. I can’t wait to go back for the breakfast quesadilla.

Burgers at The Counter was good, but our seat was next to the bus station and the servers were literally throwing the silverware and plates into the bus bins. Simon can sleep through noise no problem, as long as it isn’t big bangs. The crashing plates and silverware kept startling him, and annoyed us as well, so we had a quick dinner and split. The Counter does have this nice little hammock thing to put car seats into. It’s more stable than putting the car seat on top of a high chair and fit nicely next to the table.

At Marix in Santa Monica we met a bunch of friends for dinner. The restaurant was very accomodating to our party and gave us room for the car seat. That place can get really loud with the low ceilings, but Simon just slept and slept, loud talking doesn’t really bother him.

Cafe Brazil is casual and relaxed, with plenty of large tables and benches. A word of warning though. Their coffee is STRONG. I love it, but combined with my sleep deprivation, the high octane caffeine boost sent my mind spinning. I though that would be a good energy boost, but it made me edgy. Their spicy black bean soup is one of my favorite sides.

That’s a sampling of where we have been in the last couple of months. So far, dining with an infant has been great. We haven’t had any screaming fits, just a couple of diaper blowouts that have necessitated a trip to the car for a change. As he gets older, we’re pretty sure that things will get tougher, we will see!

By Jonah (see more of his posts). Jonah is the founder of la.foodblogging and also created Digesty, a food blog aggregator and Cheww.com, a spam free foodblog search engine.

When I get the craving to eat some no-frills Japanese food, I head to Mitsuwa Marketplace on Centinela and Venice. Usually, I order something from the highly regarded Santouka, but I wanted something different from ramen this time. Enter the katsu-don from Misasa:

Misasa is on the far corner from the entrance when you face the foodcourt. They offer a variety of don’s including an egg and eel don, which I will need to try next time. There are also a couple of bento choices available.

The katsu-don, a big bowl of rice topped with cooked onions, a shoyu-based sauce, breaded pork cutlet and egg, also comes with a few sides: hiyakko tofu, some pickled veggies, miso soup, and cold barley tea. The pork is on the dry side, but the sauce and egg on top saved it. The dish isn’t anything amazing, but it’s good no-nonsense Japanese food. For about $7, it’s a pretty good deal for lunch on the west side.

For dessert, I visited the cafe by the entrance and got a green tea ice-cream with red-bean and mochi ($4.50). The mochi was the perfect amount of chewiness and I loved how the ice-cream has that nice matcha bitterness and wasn’t too sweet.

View Larger Map
Misasa in Mitsuwa Marketplace
CASH ONLY
3760 S Centinela Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90066

Louise absolutely LOVES filthy, cheap places! (See more of her posts). You can also find more of Louise's writing at her own website NakedSushi.

On the corner of Valley and 7th in Alhambra is a restaurant that usually has a line out the door by 7pm daily. You wouldn’t know it by the name, but Jazz Cat Cafe is the place to go for some good hot pot. There is a slight twist. This is not your old-fashioned hot pot where everyone shares. Instead, each person gets a mini hot pot, and while you can still share, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

First, you choose from one of the many soups for the base of your hot pot. For first timers or the less adventurous, I would recommend the Jazz Cat Soup. It’s a very basic broth. The more popular soups are the Hokkaido Miso Soup and Thai Lemongrass Soup. The Hokkaido Miso Soup uses Hokkaido milk, so the soup is very rich in flavor. Hokkaido is very well-known for its milk. There is almost a sweetness to the flavor. While the soup does not retain the sweetness, the distinct flavor of the milk is present. The Thai Lemongrass Soup is perhaps the most aromatic soup offered at Jazz Cat Cafe. The broth itself is very light and simple. If you’re having hot pot during the summer, this is the soup you want to order. It is so popular that Jazz Cat Cafe sells out of it some times. Personally, I am partial to the Hakkaido Kelp Soup (pictured on above). It is another light broth, but I find it to be surprisingly flavorful due to the addition of the thick slices of kelp. Not everyone enjoys kelp, however, so I am definitely selective about who I recommend this soup to. The price range is about $11.95 to $15.95, depending on what meats you want with your soup. Your choices are: chicken, beef, pork, lamb, shrimp, and assorted seafood. You could also opt for a veggie only plate, as well as order add-ons, such as udon noodles.

A typical plate includes your chosen meat, cabbage, cellophane noodles, bok choy, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots, tofu, fish paste (which will turn into fish balls after being cooked in the soup), and an egg for you to poach. There is also a little bowl of rice, but you can substitute it for additional cellophane noodles or onigiri (rice balls wrapped with seaweed). Your order will be brought to you on a tray with the mini hot pot, and under the hot pot is a little dish filled with a flammable jelly that they will light up for you. Once your soup gets a good boil going, it’s time to start cooking the food. Something you need to be cautious about: fire burns! One of my friends is unfortunately forever teased for accidentally setting her napkin on fire at Jazz Cat Cafe. The funny thing is when she went there on another occasion, she was retelling the story when at that exact same moment, a woman at another table had her napkin catch on fire. At my first visit to Jazz Cat Cafe, I am pleased to say I did not set anything on fire, though I did burn myself a couple of times when the flames from the pot across from me leaped towards me. If you sit near the edge of a table, be aware when people walk by you, the flames will move.

No alcohol is served here, but Jazz Cat Cafe offers an assortment of beverages. In truth, I’ve only tried two - the Brown Sugar Milk Tea and the Hokkaido Milk Tea. A friend let me sample his Brown Sugar Milk Tea on my first visit, and it’s okay. Nothing to write home about. The Hokkaido Milk Tea, on the other hand, is what I order every time. Remember what I wrote above about Hokkaido milk? That sweet flavor that was overpowered in the soup is very present here. I happened to order this on my first visit, and while I know I should venture out and try some of the other drinks on the menu, I have not been able to resist the Hokkaido Milk Tea. Now, the photo is a little deceptive. The milk teas are served in carafes, but they are short, small ones. Nevertheless, one carafe is more than enough for me. The milk teas are $4.50, but you get a discount if you order food.

Tips: Jazz Cat Cafe definitely gets busy during peak hours. If you’re going for dinner, try showing up around 5-5:30pm, otherwise you’ll be battling for a space in the parking lot or on the street. The wait for a table can also take quite some time. Service is overall good. Since they get so busy, the staff will typically not notice you unless you flag them down. Once you request something, they are quick to respond. For instance, if your fire has died out, they will put more flammable jelly in the tin for you and light up your hot pot again. Alternatively, if you’re done cooking and want the fire out, they’ll extinguish the flame. If you can’t finish your hot pot, containers are available, but everything must be cooked. You are not permitted to take home anything raw. Jazz Cat Cafe is worth a visit, but you should either hurry before the summer heat hits us in full blast or wait until fall/winter to check it out.

Jazz Cat Cafe
640 W Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 293-8999
Hours: Sun - Thurs 11am-12am, Fri - Sat 11am-1am

By Pauline (see more of her posts).

Sushi joints are a dime a dozen in Los Angeles. So I have to ask myself, what makes someone come back to the same spot time and again? The freshest of fish, prepared by skilled hands is obviously first on the list, but what about service, or ambiance? Sadly, in my opinion, this is often what is lacking when I sit down down for sushi. But Sushi Hirosuke gets it right on at least two of these important ingredients.

While the decor ain’t gonna knock your socks off, think very 80’s, this place is always packed so there is a good energetic vibe when you eat here. The service is also really friendly. From the moment you enter you get the sense that these folks working here care about your time. I always try to sit at the sushi bar, a gargantuan 25 seater. But if you are dining with a larger party and want a chance to chat, they also have booths that seat six and a variety of tables.

On a recent night, we started off with the Ozeki Sake, a dry, cold sake that I thought was really good. I prefer cold sake to hot and I don’t like it to be too sweet. To go with that we had a Sapporo as well.

We then munched on the Sunomono. It’s a simple salad made up of thinly sliced cucumbers, asparagus chunks, seaweed and sesame seeds topped with a simple vinegar based dressing. It was simple and light and the perfect starter.

From there we ordered several items for the table, including Dynamite. It’s a bit like a pot pie. This dish was full of fish, onions and mushrooms and topped off with colorful smelt roe. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the dish was creamy, but a little rich for my taste.

Much more to my liking was the clean lines of the Albacore Sashimi. The texture was velvety, the taste mild and buttery. It was complemented perfectly by the crunchy fried onions that came with it.

Too bad they missed the mark on the Spicy Scallop Hand Roll. First off, it was not even close to being spicy and second, any flavor there might have been was completely masked by the mayonnaise they used to dress the fish.

The Special Tuna Roll was much better. There was pretty pink tuna on the outside and rice and vegetables on the inside. This time the fish was complimented by the creamy, mayo based sauce, rather than overwhelmed by it.

Another dish we all loved was the Seared Tuna Sashimi. The fish was meaty and flavorful with excellent texture. We enjoyed the simplicity of it so much we ordered a second round for the table.

The Spicy Octopus Salad was definitely a winner. The portion was huge and loaded with lots of fish and fresh vegetables (unfortunately my picture turned out crappy…you’ll have to trust me on this one!)

The Unagi, Japanese freshwater eel, wasn’t bad at all. The cute little parcels were prepared just right and dressed lightly.

We finished off with the Spicy Tuna Roll. I think of this as a good “beginners” roll because there is nothing too adventurous about it. While the spicy factor seemed to be missing, again, the tuna was, again, very fresh and flavorful. It was a good capper to the meal.

If you go to Sushi Hirosuke for a “hip” dining environment or dishes that are overly exotic, you might leave feeling disappointed. But at this friendly mom and pop place, where the sushi chefs are competent, the wait staff caring, you will get great service and fresh sushi that is, at the end of the day, really tasty.

Sushi Hirosuke
17237 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA
818.888.7548

By Erinn (see more of her posts). You can find more of Erinn's writing at her own website Sunday Dish.

Despite living within walking distance of Bar Hayama, I finally went for the first time last night for dinner. The outside is unassuming and easy to miss, but inside is a nice spacious shelter from the traffic on Sawtelle. The seats around the large fire pit were already taken, but we nabbed a table near it and it was just as pleasant without having to face a roaring fire.

We started with some sake samplers: the Legacy and the Classic. Each sampler (about $15) included 3 different sakes in 2 oz. cups. This was perfect for a sake newbie like me to taste different types without breaking the bank.
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Louise absolutely LOVES filthy, cheap places! (See more of her posts). You can also find more of Louise's writing at her own website NakedSushi.

Okay, I don’t usually get excited about sandwiches. They’re not really my… thing. It’s not that I avoid bread or anything, it’s just that I tend to prefer my carbs in pasta form, or as roasted or fried potatoes.

So —
you’ve gotta appreciate it when I go nuts about this new sandwich I tried.

Backstory: My hands-down, all-time favourite lunch place in the east Valley is healthyca (fyi – it’s pronounced ‘health-i-ka’). I already reviewed them a couple of years ago.

Well, I am excited to report that healthyca has just launched a fresh new menu. I tried one of their new sandwiches on Friday and it was Oh. My. God. Fantastic!!

Portobello Mushroom on home whole wheat ciabatta (i.e. baked in-house, gentle readers) with beets, chevre, walnuts, roasted tomato (with a bit of a spicy kick!), black olive tapenade, lettuce and I sub’d grilled onion instead of raw red onion.

The complex flavour profile and combination of this heavenly sandwich was just a knockout. It was so damn good, I went back and got it again the very next day they were open (Monday). Remember - I said I don’t go for sandwiches very often.

Okay, having said that, I actually really like hot sandwiches. So, I love the variety – about thirty choices – at my new local sandwich joint Press Panini. Generally if I’m gonna have a sandwich, I’ll make a toasted ham, gruyère and pineapple one at home on my own panini maker (don’t laugh!) The benefits of now having a place around the corner that does Italian-style pressed sandwiches is (1) the variety, (2) the convenience – it’s a walk-up window and you can eat there or take it home, (3) it’s great for when you don’t have enough ingredients at home to put a lunch together and (4) um, there isn’t a (4)… BUT while the French-style bread roll they use at Press Panini is great in its own way, they don’t offer a whole wheat option at all, and I just can’t do white bread… Also, I probably won’t be craving hot sandwiches during this sweltering summer that often, either, which is too bad for them because I am sure I am not alone.
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By MaxMillion (see more of her posts). Max Million is the nom de 'net of Pauline Adamek. Born in Sydney, Australia, Pauline has lived in Los Angeles for the past thirteen years and finds it agrees with her. She has been reviewing films and filing celebrity-based interview articles since 1991, and has filed stories from various international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. She completed a family cookbook and has also written novels for 8-12 year olds. She is the creator and host of ArtsBeatLA.