February 15, 2008 2

Cafe Blanc (Costa Mesa)

//// By Joan in 18: Greater LA, Favorite Food Entries

Jon and I went to Orange Country few weekends ago so it was a good chance to check out the Japanese french bakery Cafe Blanc. I always love Japanese take on French pasteries for the delicacy and refinement. Such as
Chantillily (1 and 2) or Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki at Paris.

Other good, similar French style patisserie (non Japanese ones) in Los Angeles are: Jin Patisserie, Angel Maid, Boule, Cake House Galleria, RJ Patisserie. Interestingly they’re all opened by (or partially) Asians…^^;;

Chocolate Au Miel, chocolate mousse cake infused with Earl Grey tea. Comes with a small scope of gelato when dining in. Light and smooth with a subtle hint of Earl Grey flavor. Very good!

Jon got the Pamplemousse Gelee which was a bit too watery to be gelee, feel more like a fruit punch. The flavor was good though.

I got 3 more cakes to go.

Napoleon. Fresh and light tasting. I wish there were more cream in between the cripsy layers though.

miroir and Pear Charlotte. Not sure how they taste as I gave those to my parents. They liked them a lot.

Now I just wish this place is a little closer to where I live 🙂

Cafe Blanc
298 E. 17th Street Unit B, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949)631-9999

Tags: Cake, Dessert, Patisserie

February 14, 2008 3

Vin Bar Valentino (Santa Monica)

//// By Freda in 16: Santa Monica

I tried another participating restaurant from the dineLA Restaurant Event. Vin Bar Valentino is basically the bar section of the high end Italian restaurant Valentino, hence the more casual vibe. The dinner course was $34. The dineLA menu is different from the one posted online. You can choose from two from the three: appetizer, pasta or meat. Both my partner and I picked the appetizer + pasta combine.

It’s very classy and romantic inside, but a bit too dark at the bar area (hence the poor quality grainy photos).

Appetizer: Italian Sashimi, Salted Anchovy Sauce, Organic green. The sashimi are sprinkled with gourmet salt and anchovy oil…hence ‘Italian’… 😉

Appetizer: Duckling and Tomato Ragu Filled Crespelle, Mostarda di Cremona. Creamy and melty, very comfort food feeling. The mostarda di Cremona are these very sweet preserved pears, the combine of it with savory reminds me of Southern Asian cooking.

Gragnano Pasta with Shrimp, Clams, cherry tomato, rocchini & fresh mint. It taste very fresh and light but too little portion. Semolina-Ricotta Saffron Gnocchi with Porcini & Proscuitto, the gnocchi are really good, one of the best I’ve ever had (well I only had very bad ones before). They felt surprisingly light, and the texture is smooth, soft but chewy. My partner finished the former in a few gulp while I have plateful of gnocchi to savor for a longer time.

Guava Pudding with candied walnut I can’t remember what the dessert of the day is, it’s very delicious, very good combination.

I’m impressed with the food even though we were still hungry afterward, it’d be the right portion if they let us have all three choices (appetizer + pasta + meat).

Tags: Haute Cuisine, Italian

February 13, 2008 2

Saigon Flavor (San Gabriel)

//// By Freda in 01: San Gabriel, Favorite Food Entries

When I couldn’t deal with the impossible lines at Golden Deli, I go to the less crowded sister restaurant Saigon Flavor at Alhambra. The menu and quality is similar, even the fabric inside is the same.

Banh Beo Bi $4.75 Hard to eat because of the crumbs of fried shallot, dried minced shrimp, shredded pork, green onions and green bean paste on top of a smooth slippery rice cake. It’s crispy, smooth, crumby, beany, salty and sweet all in one~ Very yummy.

Beef Pho $4.75 Huge bowl with very flavorful broth. Very good~

Com Bi Cha (Charbroiled Pork & Shredded Pork, Baked Egg and Steam Rice). The pork was a bit dried and hard. I love the egg cake.

Saigon Flavor
208 E. Valley Blvd., #B San Gabriel, CA 91776

Tags: Pho, Vietnamese

February 12, 2008 2

Lapis Surabaya Cake from Indonesia

//// By Freda in Food: Kitchen

My friend brought this Lapis Surabaya cake back from Indonesia for me. It might not look glamorous, but it’s so delicious. It’s almost like a cross between a custard and sponge cake. Being an egg addict I found the rich egg flavor irresistable. The texture is fine and deeply moist, and it has a delicate sweetness from the thin layer of strawberry jam inbetween. And the heavenly fragrant, my goodness! Whenever I opened my fridge, I feel like flower graphics dancing around my head. Whenever I was eating a slice in the office, everybody turns their head. Sometimes, simple is best. Too bad I didn’t save the wrapper with label. My friend said she ordered it in Indonesia. It’s probably slim chance that I can find one such good quality in LA. If anyone knows a place to get really good ones in LA please let us know!

Tags: Cake

February 11, 2008 6

Wakasan (West LA)

//// By Freda in 11: West LA

Since our last visit, the prix-fix menu has gone from $30 to $35 (a new year adjustment?). There’re many similar dishes

Pretty Cold Sake jar. This time one of the cold courses has Geoduck and Fish Eggs (very crispy, yellow kind).

Salmon with Beer Jelly I think I heard it right, the pretty jewel jelly cube is made from beer. Just like last time the fish is so well marinated and perfectly cooked, very delicious.

Sashimi course: Kanpachi, Maguro, Scallop, very fresh, very good (and we just read about the NYT mercury article that morning).

Cold Crab and a heavily miso flavored Sardine that’s too rough texture (hurt the surface of my tongue).

Deep Fried Oysters and Shrimp, Lightly Batter, very good, I enjoyed this much better than the fried chicken last time.

Yummy Onion, Green Onion & Egg Rice (sweet) and incredibly smooth Chawanmushi (and Red bean ice cream).

Even though the courses are similar as last time, I’m still delighted by the attention to details (beer jelly) and better sashimi and deep fried course. The night we went was very full, make sure you reserve table (for 3 or more people only) or else you’d have to wait forever for people to finish their 11 courses.

Wakasan
1929 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90025
(310) 446-5241

Tags: Japanese, Prix fixe, Seafood, Sushi

Cafe Blanc (Costa Mesa)

Vin Bar Valentino (Santa Monica)

Saigon Flavor (San Gabriel)

Lapis Surabaya Cake from Indonesia

Wakasan (West LA)

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