24 Jan 2012
by scolgin
in Eating Out, Observations
Tags: Chinatown, Chinese cuisine, Chinese New Year, dim sum, kung pao, los angeles, Peking duck, Superior Poultry, Topanga, Year of the Dragon
On Chinese New Year, I always wish that we had a Chinatown in our town. I don’t mean in Los Angeles, where there are several large and thriving Chinese communities — all an hour or more drive away. I mean in our little beachy, mountainy community of Topanga Canyon. The entire of our one-stoplight village is itself no bigger than the most modest 3rd-tier middle-American city’s Chinatown. But it would be cool to have a tea-and-dumpling house, a market and a crappy chotchke shop. I know a couple people in the canyon of Chinese descent, so I guess that’ll have to do.
Chinese immigrants in the New World
I like ethnic celebrations, and if I lived in New York or San Francisco on this Chinese New Year, I would hop a subway or cable car, go unwrap some sticky rice and watch a parade. More
17 Jan 2012
by scolgin
in Eating Out, Observations, On the Road
Tags: Camping, Cholada, Duke's, Joshua Tree, Leo Carillo, Malibu, Reel Inn, saltimbocca, Topanga
Willa breakfasting at the camp site
The other night I went camping.
My son belongs to a Cub Scouts troop who go camping with alarming regularity. I try to be a good scouting father, and make a few of the trips a year. Even though camping is not really in my DNA. I’m more of a hotel/resort guy. I’m overwhelmed by the amount of gear you need to bring, the logistics of set up and break down. I’m not crazy about dirt and dust, and I like warm showers and soft beds. More
23 Dec 2011
by scolgin
in Eating Out, Observations
Tags: John Sedlar, los angeles, Mexican food, Mexico, Nobu, Playa, Puerto Vallarta, Rivera, tamale, Wolfgang Puck
I’ve never liked office holiday parties much. People stand around awkwardly, drinking punch and nibbling bad food. But this year I was fortunate enough to be invited to one at the much hyped new Los Angeles restaurant, Playa.
Wiped plate and torn menu, Playa
Chef John Sedlar had success with his downtown restaurant, Rivera, and the investors lined up to help him open another. He seems to be one of the nicest guys on earth. Most of the really good chefs are. More
20 Dec 2011
by scolgin
in Eating Out, On the Road, Recipes
Tags: Borobudur, gado gado, Indonesia, java, kecap manis, nasi goreng, peanut sauce, San Francisco, satay, Simpang Asia
When I was a kid, we had an Indonesian exchange student live with us for awhile. His name was Radi. He was a skinny, excitable chap with thick glasses who was eager to introduce his American hosts to Indonesian culture. This included ferreting out an Indonesian market and restaurant deep in an Asian pocket of the San Fernando Valley.
Borobudur in San Francisco
My parents were travelers and adventurous eaters. So even in the comparatively dismal dining scene of my childhood neighborhood, ours were regular faces at the nearest Chinese, Japanese and Thai restaurants. But here was something completely new. More
02 Dec 2011
by scolgin
in Eating Out, On the Road
Tags: California, Chinatown, Dodgers, los angeles, Monterey Park, New York, Nobu Matsuhisa, San Francisco, Thomas Keller, Yank Sing
I know New Yorkers like to think they’ve got the world’s best Chinatown. Of course, New Yorkers think they’ve got the world’s best everything. They even like to think Nobu Matsuhisa and Thomas Keller are New York chefs.
Chinatown, San Francisco
I’ve never been to New York’s Chinatown. I’m a true native Californian. Which means I was born hating the Yankees, and ironically subscribe to a decidedly New Yorker-esque kind of regionalism in which I believe California has the best everything. You southerners ever tried Santa Maria barbecue?? More
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