October 1, 2008 1

Metro Cafe (Culver City)

//// By in 13: Culver City, Favorite Food Entries

I came to this Serbian restaurant (that looks like a 50s diner from outside) Metro Cafe 2 years ago, and oh my…the owner remembered me! He even remembered where I sat and what I ordered! 😀

Their dinner menu is the same as lunch, this time I came with a Serbian friend~
Buratta over Peppers Salad
Buratta over Peppers Salad.
The Buratta cheese has the texture of a fluffy runny scramble egg. The refreshing taste of the cheese constrast with the sweet grilled pepper, very delicious.

GaspachoStew of Oxtail Meat with Rigatoni
The owner treated us the Heirloom Tomatoes Gazpacho. The heirloom tomatoes flavors were incredibly sweet and fresh. Stew of Oxtail Meat with Rigatoni: heavy and flavorful. The meat was a little tougher than what I expect from a stew.

Chevapchichi
The Serbian Chevapchichi (Cevapcici): grilled minced blended of three types of beef. It is so yummy~ It has a tight and chewy texture with lightly crisp surface. My friend said they eat it with onions. I thought it taste familiar, it’s only later I found out I’ve had it before at Aroma Cafe‘s, the Chevapi Sandwich. Metro Cafe‘s have a more complex and fine flavor.

I also met three friends of Triple Creme. 😉 They saw my camera and asked if I’m a food blogger like their friend. The funny thing is I found out this place originally from her blog!

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September 24, 2008 2

Father’s Office 2.0 (Culver City)

//// By in 13: Culver City, Favorite Food Entries

Quite a few of my friends have been telling me the quality of Father’s Office (Santa Monica’s High-end pub)’s famous burger had gone down lately. We had a friend’s farewell party at the recently opened Culver City branch.

Father's OfficeFather's Office
We ordered at the bar and the food were served at our table promptly. The beer was really good. There’s a wide selection of craft beers on tap line up on the wall behind the bar. Quite overwhelming to choose but the bartender could choose for you if you tell them your preference. Nothing taste better with a burger than a nice cold beer!

Father's Office
The renowned The Office Burger: Dry Aged Beef with caramelized onion, applewood bacon compote, gruyere, maytag blue cheese and arugula. The rich dense beef flavors of the juicy dry aged beef was just incredible. The caramelized onion and arugula provided a delightful sweetness, while the two cheese gave a distinctive smokey creamy taste. To top it off, they used an oval shaped French roll. It’s heaven in my mouth~ The frites were really good too.

They also have an impressive menu of tapas, everything was impressive.

Father's OfficeFather's Office
Smoked Eel poached egg, fennel, horseradish creme fraiche. I forgot what the right photo is.
Father's Office
Steak Tartar. Wonderful!

Father's Office
Bone Marrow

Father's Office
Soft-shell Crab

The outdoor patio at the Culver City location isa huge plus over the Santa Monica’s which I found claustrophobic and dark. With the superior Culver city one, there’s no reason to go all the way to Santa Monica for the best burger in LA anymore.

Father’s Office 2.0
3229 Helms Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90034

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September 18, 2008 6

King Hua (Alhambra)

//// By in 01: San Gabriel

Rumor has it that chefs from Sea Harbor (another popular Dim Sum place) had jumped ship to this place, so we came here for a try. There is no wait as we arrived early enough at 11.

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Big banquet style dining room. Creamy Chicken Pineapple bun. Pineapple is just a name for the type of pastry that’s crusty on top and soft and chewy at the bottom. I prefer the pastry with sweeter savory stuffings like BBQ pork.

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Lucky Clover Shrimp Dumplings: with minced shrimp and sauteed snow-pea shoots fillings with wolfberries, peas and corn resting on a clover shape top. The skin are thin and it slipped right into your mouth. Very lovely~ Pearl Chicken (lotus leaf wrapped glutinous rice with chicken and yolk stuffings), moist, soft and tasty.

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An opened Sesame Paste Bun (Left): nutty and sweet! I haven’t have this for a long time so I was quite moved when I realized they offer it. The bread texture was a little sticky though. Steamed Turnip Cake (Right): The texture is incredibly light and pillow-y, full of turnip flavors as well, very good!

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Chili Omasum. Stuffed Eggplant

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We went adventurous with Durian Pastry: none of us abhor nor are crazy about this infamous fruit, but we got it because it looks so pretty. The sickly sweet and slimy durian goes well with the golden crisp, quite nice~ The durian’s taste and fragrance was rather mild.

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Rice noodle rolls: thin and smooth. Sticky Rice Ball with Salty Egg Yolk: the lightly sweet chewy skin and hot, melty salty egg yolk are a gold combination in taste and texture, it was a heavy dessert but we couldn’t stop eating!

The things I ordered are my usual ‘regulars’, just to compare the quality. I enjoyed everything and can’t wait to come back to try their original stuffs. They seems to specialize in decorated dumplings. It’s a great alternative to The Elite.

King Hua
2000 W Main St. Alhambra, CA 91801

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September 17, 2008 1

Banquette Cafe (Downtown LA)

//// By in 06: Downtown LA

DSCN4443Jon and I originally wanted to go to Lost Soul cafe but it was closed that day for some reason so we went to this cute little place next to Pete’s instead. I love the interior, it reminded me of the small corner cafe you see a lot in Paris where you can just go in any time of the day and get a glass of wine while reading your paper. All the customers and employees there seem to know each other, there’s a strong neighbourhood vibe to it. While we were lounging there, a little drama happened outside — a tenant who lives upstairs of Pete’s threw a picture frame down to the street and the glass almost shattered on the people sitting outside of Pete’s. Yikes~~

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We went in for some coffee and late afternoon snacks: toasted bagel with sour cream and capers and Bruschetta with olive tapenade. The olive tapenade was tasty but got a bit salty after awhile, wish I had a glass wine to go with it instead. The espresso and french plum tea we got were good.

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Apple tart that has big pieces of apples. Tasty!

I think this has became one of my favorite cafes to hang out in LA. The menu also has selections of sandwiches and breakfast and the price are all very reasonable. Can’t wait to go back to try them. And it’s nice to know there’s a casual place where you can just hopped in to get a glass of wine or coffee, sit as long as you want to read or use your laptop. For some reason there’s not a lot of places like this in LA, which is a pity.

Banquette Cafe
400 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 626-2768

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September 16, 2008 8

Jeon Ju Restaurant (Koreatown)

//// By in 07: Mid-Wilshire

DSCN4347Someone recommended us Joen Ju for the best bibimbap in Los Angeles. It’s located in the same plaza as So Kong Dong Soontofu which I frequent often. The restaurant been around for a long time. For a hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant, I found the wall-to-wall Chinese character wallpaper interesting and quite unintentionally hip.

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Very good banchan (side dishes) and there were 3 more that weren’t in the pictures. I especially like the rice cake with chilis (left pix).

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For a place that specialzed bibim bap, I’m a little disappointed at how little choice there is. There are only 3 to choose: kalbi, seafood and Kimchi. I was expecting a few unconventional ones along with the traditional ones. Jon got the Kalbi Bibim Bap. Tasty! There’s a taste of home cooking to it compare with other places I’ve had before.

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I got the Seafood Bibim Bap ($10.19) Delicious! I like it a little more than the Kalbi because of the egg.

The bibim bap are definitely better than the ones at the other Korean places I’ve been to. Just wish there are more choices! I saw other table got this cod dish that looks really good. Next time I’ll give it a try.

Jeon Ju
2716 W Olympic Blvd, St 101, Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 386-5678

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