My 12 Christmas Gift Ideas for 2006

With just four more days until Christmas, I'm hoping that all my shopping is done. Here's a sneak-peek into some of this year's gift ideas and things on my wish list...

#12) Sanuki no Sato in Gardena is a family favorite for their deliciously hot Japanese udon noodles. My mom likes to order hers without all the green onions with a side of spinach salad. But beware - the salad comes topped with tons of bonito flakes! Gift certificates can be purchased in $20, $50, and $100 increments.
Sanuki no Sato
street: 18206 S. Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90248
tel: 310.324.9184

#11) Best tonkatsu in Japan
I crave this breaded fried pork cutlet, but know that it might be a little while before I can sink my teeth into it. (Unless Santa's able to take me to Japan as a vacation trip.)

Just outside the Yebisu train station, this tonkatsu-ya is a must eat. In a traditional shop, you sit against a wooden bar where the chef cooks your order right in front of you. On top of a shredded cabbage bed, this tonkatsu melts in your mouth like butter.

#10) Apple RED iPod nano
With all the holiday good eats, it's no wonder that so many people have "working out" on top of their resolutions list. Apple has teamed up with Nike to help spice up your workout with their new nano sport kit. A great gift for music lovers, food lovers, and sports enthusiasts alike. An even better gift when the (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPod nano is purchased. A $10 portion of the purchase price goes to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

#9) Pinkberry Yogurt
(photo taken by Oishii Eats)
It has truly been the year of the Pinkberry. And for all its hype, I've gotta say that pinkberry's yogurt is pretty good. So good in fact, that I can taste its sour and sweet flavors as I type. SO good that gift cards make great Christmas stocking stuffers this year. Cards come in their cute green and pink font, and can be filled with any allocated amount. For example, a $15 gift card translates to about three mediums with three toppings each.
web: www.pinkberry.com

#8) Jin Patisserie
Kristy Choo at this Venice patisserie creates fabulous desserts - artisan chocolates and other delectable treats in fabulous gift boxes and beautiful packages. Read about her LA Secret Garden and my last Christmas visit.
street: 1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
tel: 310.399.8801
web: www.jinpatisserie.com


#7) USC POUNDING Michigan
I submitted my Rose Bowl season ticket lottery bid this year, but didn't get picked - which is probably a good thing since my family loves to feast on New Year's Day. But as we pass the onigiri and mochi, I will proudly watch my Trojan team to victory against the Michigan Wolverines. ^o^

#6) Homemade Cookies
Nothing beats a batch of homemade love and goodness straight out of the oven and into your loved ones tummies! This picture is of my Cran-Apple, White Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies with Chopped Walnuts I made a few months back for my partner-in-crime.

#5) Canon EOS Rebel XTI
For the food blogger or budding amateur photographer, this camera is a great gift this Christmas. In fact, I'm looking forward to opening mine up and using it this holiday season! Thanks to MS, also known as "My very own Santa", I'll be shooting food photos and family shots like a pro!

#4) Wagamama in Boston
I've been waiting for the Wagamama arrival into the US market since the summer of 1999. Almost eight years later in April of next year, I won't have to wait any more. I'm already keeping my eye open for a weekend trip to Boston next spring with MS.
web: www.wagamama.us

#3) The Cat's Pajamas
Another great all-around gift can be found in some soft, cozy and warm flannel pajamas - like these sushi lover's ones from The Cat's Pajamas. I purchased some grandparent appropriate ones to keep my ji-chan warm during these cold LA nights.
web: www.thecatpjs.com

#2) Sushi Sasabune
But if you prefer the real SUSHI deal, Sushi Sasabune is the LA place to go. With 6pm reservations at the bar when the restaurant's still relatively empty, you're given the royal treatment for an omakase dinner to remember. Save room for some Toro Ice Sushi [pictured here] and Lychee Sorbet dessert - well worth the extra dollars. A gift certificate to this local favorite will be cherished and used right away!
Sushi Sasabune
street: 2400 Wilshire Blvd Ste 150, Los Angeles, CA 90025
tel: 310.820.3596
open m-f / 12p-2p, 5.30p-9.30p

#1) Being with your Loved One
Last but not least, it's best to remember what the Christmas season is all about. Regardless of all the cool places to be, new foods to try, or things to buy this season, it's the time of year that should be shared with the ones you love. I'm so lucky to celebrate another Christmas with MS.

Merry Christmas & a Happy 2007!
- BoLA

Kobe Beef Roll and Edward Scissorhands

I thought that a 5pm dinner before a 7pm show at the Ahmanson was a good idea. But when LA traffic hits and a three course meal is in the picture... I miscalculated how much time we would need.

After a serious discussion of Roy's delicious chocolate souffles, I made the reservation for four at Roy's Restaurant in Downtown LA - just minutes from the Music Center. I ordered my usual Misoyaki Butterfish and Chocolate Souffle to share, and added the Kobe Beef Sushi appetizer to the mix [pictured above]. The sweet, cool, cut roll topped with delicate slivers of kobe beef is one of MS' favorites. It's not hard to understand why after a couple bites.

We zoomed through dinner and was on our way to see Edward Scissorhands adapted by legendary director and choreographer Matthew Bourne.

I was thrilled that we were able to catch Mr. Bourne sharing some thoughts with our group before the show, and that we had pretty good center seats up in the balcony. As the show began, the audience is introduced to Edward who is a young boy who dies after playing with scissors and being struck with lightning - already deviating from what I remembered of Tim Burton's cult classic. I knew it would be an interesting night, and it was. (Here is my friend GT's review of the night.)

The show was an incredible visual display of creative magic on stage. My favorite scene had to be the one at the close of the first act in the topiary garden. An awkward Edward is transformed into a fluid and touching character who dances beautifully and gracefully amongst topiaries brought to life. There are dance numbers that make you laugh, dramatic pauses that make you uncomfortable in your seat, and looks that make you cry. And the show's ending really puts you in the mood for the holiday season.

Check it out at the Ahmanson before it's gone!

Edward Scissorhands
playing at the Ahmanson Theatre until 12/31
for tickets, visit the website
(picture taken from the website)

Roy's Restaurant
street: 800 s figueroa street | los angeles, ca | 90017
tel: 213.488.4994

"Simon Kirk says: Eat at Da Kitchen"

Kirk is my patron saint of lunch-plate food blogging.

He welcomed me into the wonderfully complex web that is this community of food bloggers. And has been a great person to know over the last year. Based in San Diego, this Japanese American hails from Hawai'i and has been a business consultant in a previous life. All of which connect me to him.

We instantly could talk story about not having enryo, our families, and MS' new job this year - in addition to the usual and obvious conversations that surround food and food blogging.

So when I was in San Diego and craving some good Hawaiian eats, Kirk knew of the perfect lunch-plate place.



And with any patron saint, you have faith that they'll guide you right and I knew I was in good hands. MS and I followed the directions to this small, family-owned and casual dining spot. MS ordered the Kalbi lunch plate that came with some standard white rice and generic mac salad. Generous portions of pretty good meat at a great price! MS licked his fingers clean after eating all his shortribs.



I, on the other hand, knew exactly what I was craving - the Korean Chicken lunch plate. (Also, a favorite of Kirk's Missus.) When Kirk met us for lunch our first trip to Da Kitchen, he raved of this restaurant special.

And it IS THAT GOOD.

The sweet marinated fried chicken reminded me of some delicious sesame chicken wings my sorority sister used to make called "J.Ito's Chicken" - the kind that gets you going back for seconds. At Da Kitchen, it's all in the sauce. Not sure what's in their secret recipe, but would LOVE to get my hands on it!

I'm due back in San Diego in another week to visit MS during my winter break, and I'm already smacking my lips for that mmm-yoso tasty fried chicken!

Da Kitchen in San Diego
street: 9823 carroll canyon road | san diego, ca 92131
tel: 858.271.8268
hours: m-sa / 10a - 8p

Bistro K: my 8-course tasting menu culinary adventure

Picture taken from Bistro K website

* BEWARE: This is a long post as it was a long dinner out. *

I first heard of Bistro K from a college friend who recently got engaged. He had his birthday and early celebratory dinner there, and raved about it. So when GT emailed me to have dinner at this same very restaurant, I was giddy and knew that it would be a night to remember.

So when it was time to head out for dinner in primetime rush hour (and LA traffic is such the nightmare), I tried some seemingly shortcut routes to Pasadena from work - only to get lost and make a huge circle around Downtown LA. The 110 Freeway was not so forgiving as my friend, and I was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Once in South Pasadena, I passed the little nook of a restaurant by the church and had to make a quick u-turn on a side street. There's free parking behind the restaurant but I didn't know that until I passed it. GT was also stuck in traffic so we both were right on time for our dinner reservations.

Two servers graced this little restaurant - one who sat us at our table and who was extremely friendly and knowledgable of all the dishes, and another who was just friendly as well. The former introduced us to the menu and suggested we try one of their signature tasting menus - either the 5-course menu for $50 or the 8-course menu for $75.

I was famished that night, having worked through lunch on only a cup of fair-trade coffee. So we decided to go with the grand-daddy menu. And with a no corkage fee, we had a bottle of red to go with our meal.

Boy, was I in for a culinary adventure!

Here was the play-by-play:

1. Scrambled Egg, Vodka Cream Scented with Jasmine, Topped with American Sevruga
   (The sevruga is one of the most expensive types of caviar, and hails from the Caspian Sea - I learned these interesting facts from a wikipedia search.)
   
   This was my first experience with the rich, salty taste of fish eggs - minus the more familiar tobiko (small orangish fish eggs) that comes with my sushi. My tastebuds had to get used to the warm, creamy, and softly scrambled egg, but after several tiny spoonfuls, my eyes popped in curious delight as I finished the egg.


2. Sautéed duck foie gras with lightly smoked eel, caramelized green apples and a splash of Xeres vinegar
I am not a fan of foie gras. At all.

But one bite of the foie gras at Bistro K, and I am sad to say that it was really good. Really, really good. Sweet and earthy flavors of the foie gras mixed well with the tenderly cooked eel and fruit.


3. Seared Diver Sea Scallops served with House “Tripes” and Cumin Crisp
   This was my favorite dish of the night - delicate and mild. I think the next time I visit Bistro K, I will be getting a plate full of scallops for dinner!


4. Monkfish Tail Cooked on the Bone, in a Guajillo Infusion with Harrissa Paste and Ras el Hanout
   The monkfish was a little tougher and overcooked than I thought it would be, and was somewhat unmemorable.


5. Sea Urchin, Green Tea Sabayon, Panna Cotta, Fig Chutney
   This was the chef's Intermezzo surprise dish. Again, I'm not a big fan of sea urchin. I've tried it a number of times at different sushi restaurants when friends and family have convinced me that somehow, it's really good. And I've never been convinced.
   
   Until Bistro K.
   
   Smooth, silky, and sweet - the uni was delicious after a couple of bites. The green tea sabayon combination made your mouth pucker in delight! The best part was the balance of uni richness with the mild and creamy panna cotta - a definite palate cleanser, getting ready for the rest of the tasting menu.


6. Chausson of Veal Sweetbreads, Black Trumpets mushrooms, Braised Parsnips and Bergamot Demi Glace
   For some reason, I thought I heard "sweet brits." Not knowing what I would be eating, I asked our server for the name of the dish a second time. She replied, "Sweetbreads are the most delicious things ever! They are my new favorite on the menu."
   
   I was sold, but still had no idea what was a sweetbread. Apparently, I wasn't alone. GT and I blissfully devoured the entire dish in ignorance!
   
   At home, I googled it and learned that I was eating either thymus or pancreas. Definitely, not something I would have ordered on my own and another one for the books.


7. Fresh Hare From Scotland, Charlotte of Braised Cabbage with Chanterelle Mushrooms and Pondichery Peppercorn, Huckleberry Infusion
   Now this was my very LEAST favorite dish of the night. The hare portions were huge for what I thought a tasting menu would be, and I was already quite full.
   
   I had my first taste of sweet rabbit at Drago Ristorante, and absolutely loved its tender flavors. But the hare here was everything I thought rabbit was supposed to taste like - gamey. There seemed to be a mix of ground and chunks of rabbit meats, and it was just overwhelmingly too heavy to be the seventh course of the dinner. I would have gladly passed on this dish, but ended up eating the entire thing.
   
   (Asian guilt makes me eat everything on my plate.)


8. Chocolate Truffle & Avocado Mousse with Red Wine Tuille
   Our dessert for the evening was served on a raised glass platter, and was a great end to an interesting and adventurous dinner out. The mousse tasted more like a kiwi sorbet to me, and the tuille was a nice, crisp cookie-like treat. The truffle was initially ice cold and hard to bite into, but softened with a little time and was deliciously rich and not too sweet.

After almost three hours of what seemed to be non-stop eating, I was completely satiated and exhausted. I never thought I'd eat caviar, foie gras, sea urchin, veal sweetbreads, and rabbit all in one sitting. But I did. And I'm so happy I dared to try something different and proud that I consumed them all.

I can't wait to go back!

* Rumor has it that they will be moving to another location soon...

Bistro K
street: 1000 Fremont Avenue | South Pasadena, CA | 91030
tel: 626.799.5052
dinner hrs: W-Sa / 5.30-9.00p
(m, tu, su dinners available for private parties only)
* They only take 45 reservations a night because of their small space.
web: www.lqmanagementservices.com

Baking Banana Chiffon Cake for the Holidays

Delicate soft peaks of egg white goodness.

Something about them reminds me of waking up to cold mornings, frosted windows warmed by my own breath, and the freshly fallen snow just outside - a beautiful winter wonderland.

These days in LA, the weather is getting cold, the winter sweaters and coats are coming out, and it's starting to look a little like Christmas to me.

And nothing gets me more in the mood for the holidays than baking (except for decorating the tree, the lights, and singing along to KOST 103.5, of course).

I love filling the house with warm scents of vanilla and cinnamon, and of waking up to something good with my morning coffee.

I found a most delicious recipe for Banana Chiffon Cake from Blogger, Baking Sheet based in Los Angeles and on my blogroll to the right. It's light, moist, soft and absolutely banana scrumptious!

INGREDIENTS:
+ 2 c unsifted cake flour
+ 1 ⅓ c white sugar
+ 1 Tbsp baking powder
+ 1 tsp salt
+ ½ tsp ground cinnamon
+ ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
+ 5 large egg yolks
+ ¾ c (2 large) ripe bananas, mashed ...(I used 4 med-sized ones)
+ ½ c vegetable oil
+ 1 tsp vanilla extract
+ 7 large egg whites, room temp
+ 2 Tbsp white sugar


DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. Sift cake flour, 1 ⅓ c sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in large mixing bowl.
3. In a small bowl, mix egg yolks, bananas, oil, and vanilla. Pour into flour mixture. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add remaining 2 Tbsp sugar. Beat to form soft peaks.
5. Using ⅓ of egg mixture at time, gently fold beaten egg whites into banana mixture. Fold until batter is uniform in color.
6. Pour batter in bundt pan and gently tap side of pan once or twice to eliminate any large air pockets.
7. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until top springs back when gently pressed. If it's not done, a small indent will remain on the surface of the cake where you poked it. Return to oven for another 2 minutes and check again until done. (It took me about 60 minutes.)
8. Invert pan over a wine bottle or cooling rack until completely cool, 3 hours or overnight. When cool, carefully separate the cake from the pan with a thin knife and invert onto a serving platter or cake stand. Glaze as desired.

Serves 12-14

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Monday Night Blues - Soho Thai Fusion

Why are so many Japanese restaurants closed on Mondays?

I don't know why, but I completely forgot about that little bit of trivia when I offered JT to drive to Il Chianti on a not so manic Monday - only to find it closed.

Not being familiar with the Lomita area, I was at a loss of where to go for dinner. Thankfully, JT had a PLAN B for our dinner outing - Soho Thai Fusion just down the way.

We pulled into their parking lot in the back, and entered the restaurant to find a large, vaulted ceiling and a pretty modern yet empty space.



After being seated right away by the friendly waitstaff, we quickly ordered our dinner. The menu was pretty extensive - highlighting foods that were "Issan-Classics" and as far reaching as Little Bangkok, Little Hong Kong, Little Saigon, Little Tokyo, and Little Italy - there's so much to choose from.

We started with the Shrimp Pad Thai [$8, not pictured here, but there's a great photo of this dish on the restaurant's website]. It was absolutely delicious - not too sweet, not too heavy, and with lots of shrimp to be had between the two of us. That was the best part - having about three or four jumbo shrimps EACH!

After getting some advice from our welcoming and attentive server, we ordered some of the sweet Thai Chicken Curry with potatoes and carrots. The actual name of this dish was Karee Curry [$8] made with sweet a sweet coconut curry. Nothing like the spicy curries I would have expected, but was more like mild, homecooked comfort foods on a cold night out.



Next up, we dug into the Pleasing Garlic from the Wok with beef [$8] and were pleasantly surprised in the good flavor of this dish. Atop a bed of iceberg lettuce, there were snow peas, carrots, and water chestnuts with the marinated meats - all of which made for some good leftovers the next day for lunch with some white jasmine rice.

Always a good time with my girlfriend JT and her impeccable taste for good eats!

Soho Thai Fusion Restaurant
street: 2104 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite #3 | Lomita, CA 90717
tel: 310.530.7646
hrs: su-th / 11.30a-10p, f-sa / 11.30-10.30p
web: www.sohothai.com
free parking lot behind restaurant