Uzumaki

I love finding new places near my new home, especially when they are as surprisingly superb as Uzumaki :) From their Covid 19 protocols, knowledgeable and professional servers, to their quality fresh fish, everything is on point and should be a paradigm for other restaurants. If you are driving to the restaurant, park for free in the garage on Tilden, otherwise you risk being towed in the private lots across from and next to the restaurant.

They don't take reservations, so sign in on the sheet as soon as you arrive and they will seat you as soon as they have cleaned and prepared your table. Every diner gets an envelope with clean set ups and the envelope itself is to be used to hold you mask as you dine! The outdoor patio tables also have individual trash cans for your use, so after you open your chopsticks and use your wet towel, you may dispose of them in your personal trash receptacle!

They offer set menus if you can't decide what to order ranging from $28 to $100 for a 19 piece premium omakase box, but I wanted to explore their menu a la carte. Their $13.50 salmon skin salad could be a meal in and of itself! Perfectly grilled skin pieces with lots of salmon on them, bonito flakes, house pickled carrots, steamed asparagus, julienned cucumber, micro greens and spring salad all brought together with a miso dressing. If you are getting this as an appetizer, three or 4 people could easily share it!

The waitress explained that they had a seasonal albacore available for an extra dollar, so two orders were $18 and as they were delivered, it was also explained that no sauce was needed as the chef had already prepared them to be eaten as is. They were so good that if you are offered the chance to order this, please do, because another day they only had one piece left, and even though the regular albacore was good, the seasonal was spectacular.

I love halibut and two orders for $16 was a bargain for this quality of fish and preparation.

Seeing the popcorn shrimp at another table was enough to order one for $12 and the lightly battered appetizer portion was so generous that it was also easily enough to share for 3 or 4 people.

One day I went, they had run out of Spanish Mackerel, so the waitress recommended the Shima Aji for $8 per order of 2 pcs) which was very good, but I had to go back for the Spanish Mackerel on another day.

Arriving right when they open was the way I finally got the Spanish Mackerel ($8 per 2 pcs) that alone was worth the trip to Uzumaki! The fresh fish and gorgeous preparation made this my favorite of all the sushi I ate (but Spanish Mackerel is also usually my favorite sushi choice)!

The cut spicy yellowtail roll ($10.50)  and the California roll ($9) were both well executed. I asked for the yellowtail without mayo which they did for me.

Unagi ($8 for 2 pcs) was broiled expertly with a delicious sauce that made for a sweet ending for me.

For those who wish to finish their meals with a more traditional dessert, they also offer an excellent green tea ice cream :)

Holbox

Sharing food with friends has been on hold for the past 18 months, so when friends flew in to town and everyone was vaccinated, masked, and willing to eat outdoors, we chose to celebrate at Holbox (the one in Los Angeles, not the island in Mexico)!

Going on a Tuesday at 3pm meant plenty of parking and no wait, so we ordered a little of everything on the menu and shared it all. The fish and octopus tacos were sublime, with each of the the $6.50 grilled Hawaiian kanpchi done perfectly as were the braised and fried octopus tacos for $6 each.  

The 3 sauces that came with our meal, ranging from not spicy to extremely spicy, so taste them all before pouring them on your food! The roasted habanero was my favorite (medium hot) at the top of the photo.

The Coctel Mixto is basically a 20 ounce cocktail of shrimp, octopus, scallops in their homemade cocktail sauce for $18, that left plenty of extra sauce for your chips to scoop up.

One of my friends loves uni so he got the kanpchi and uni tostada for $20 and devoured it himself since the rest of us were not uni fans :)

We all shared the ceviche del dia de pescado for $12 and loved every bite of the fresh fish and octopus.

I chose the grilled sea bass for the group for $25 the fish was grilled perfectly. We were so full we didn't even touch the rice and beans! We all ate as if we had to make up for the years we had not seen each other, but we left full and happy as we celebrated the joys of living with great food and better company.

Two Guns Kitchen

After a move to an interim place (AirBnB), then finally moving into a new apartment, I have not had any energy nor desire to cook, so it's been a good reason to revisit some old favorites for meals as I rest and restore my cooking desire.

Two Guns in El Segundo is known for their coffee, but I also enjoy their breakfasts and lunches. I stayed at an Air BnB in El Segundo so it was a 5 minute drive to downtown and places I loved when I lived there. 

My go to is the salmon toast with avocado, cream cheese, capers, tomatoes, dil, and micro greens.

The spicy fried chicken salad was not only refreshing, but actually spicy!

The spicy chicken sandwich uses the same spice level, but on a bun with coleslaw, the intensity of the spice is lessened, so if you want a milder taste, go for the sandwich.

Their pastries are wonderful if you want a bite of heaven to begin your day, get a pain au chocolat with flakey buttery layers and great dark chocolate.

A sweet breakfast treat is their French toast with fruit which I could not finish...but I enjoyed trying!

For a truly hearty breakfast/brunch get their full breakfast plate of maple sausage, eggs any way you wish, potatoes, grilled tomato, toasted bread, and the great gravy. You will want to take a nap, but hopefully you will enjoy a delicious dream:)

Fishing with Dynamite Patio

The creation of outdoor patios for restaurants where they had none or a very limited outdoor seating has been one of the few silver lining of the past year and a half of pandemic living. The cramped indoor space at Fishing with Dynamite is now augmented by a sizable outdoor patio in the street, complete with heat lamps and plants. It's such a popular spot for outdoor eating that I highly recommend reservations if you wish to eat al fresco.

Even though they had every table booked outdoors, the kind host said if we could eat in 30-40 minutes we could be seated and served, so of course we ordered as soon as we sat down, asked for the check as soon as we were served, and left in plenty of time for them to clear and clean before the reservation :)

Ordering cold dishes like their marvelous 1/2 lb shrimp cocktail for $21 helped speed up the meal, but we slowly savored every bite :)

Their hamachi sashimi with ponzu, crushed avocado and serrano chili for $20 is one of my menu favorites, so I order it nearly every time. It is consistently fresh, well balanced with citrus and soy, and a marvelous warm day appetizer.

I had never tried their seared Maine diver scallops for $36 before, but the celery root purée, savoy spinach, pine nuts, fennel and nasturtium pistou were an addictive combination and completed the meal on a rich comforting blissful note. 

Next time I will plan ahead with a reservation so that wine and oysters can be slowly sipped at sunset with the ocean wafting a cool breeze throughout the patio...

Moving Day

Moving Day

Going to recuperate from the move at an Air BnB and then move into a new place after the holiday :)

Return to Le Pain Quotidien

I'm slowly beginning to go back to all the places I went to regularly pre Covid 19, but I must admit that I still prefer eating at outdoor patios, so Le Pain Quotidien in Marina del Rey was an easy breakfast choice. The jars of house jam are now individual containers, and the servers all wear masks. 

I was so impatient for my first sip of oat milk cappuccino that I forgot to take a picture before I sipped :)

One of the mornings when I wanted something light, I chose the fruit, granola and Greek yogurt parfait with perfectly ripe berries, tasty crunchy granola, and a rich smooth Greek yogurt.

Their breakfast sandwich is a nice brunch choice.

The classic ham and cheese omelet served with their organic bread and side salad

or their mushroom and goat cheese omelet are for the days when something more substantial is needed. I have never been able to finish their omelets, but I always make a valiant effort! My favorite server, Ashley, had just returned from Senegal so we caught up on what we had been doing during the last 18 months in French! It made me nostalgic for the Pain Quotidien outposts in Belgium (original) and Paris. It was a good appetizer for traveling to Europe again....

Hatchet Hall

Hatchet Hall has inhabited the space it occupies for 6 years, but I did not make the 3 mile trek to eat there until this week-end. 

The huge patio opens at 5pm, and since they do not take reservations, if you wish to be sure to score a seat, arrive at opening time to eat a very late lunch or early dinner. By the time it was 7pm, there was a line down the block. Keep in mind that with new Covid-19 rules effective next week allowing more capacity, you may find it easier to get a seat in either the indoor covered patio, the outdoor open patio, or the indoor space.

I went for a birthday celebration on the outdoor patio at 5pm on a perfect Southern California blue sky 72F afternoon, and even with a bit of a breeze, the warmth from the last rays of sun made it feel like it was a late afternoon brunch.

My dining companions ordered mocktails, one of which was enjoyed and the other found too sweet. We shared every plate, so we told them to send them out as they were done. First up was the Garden of Little Gem wedge with creme fraiche, tomatoes and lardons for $15. It was a refreshing way to start the meal and everyone loved the decadent lardons that were like finding treasures in the salad. 

The birthday guest loves lamb so we got the lamb sirloin with tonnato, salsa verde, and breadcrumbs for $33. A squeeze of the grilled lemon on top gave the meat a nice acidic zing that made this one of the crowd favorites.

I asked the waitress what she would choose if given the choice of the pork chop or quail and she said the pork chop, so I went with this paprika and fennel grilled chop for $35. The meat was perfectly prepared, still juicy and just barely well done, but the seasoning was very light and I ended up dipping the slices in the lamb salsa verde for some extra flavor. It was a very generous portion, easily enough to share, especially when ordering other dishes.

I loved the sautéed bloomsdale spinach with green garlic and lemon for $12. I could have easily eaten this side by myself.

Everyone loved the trout almondine with brown butter and almonds served with green beans for $27. This was a huge portion, and if we had not all been very hungry, we could have easily skipped one of the other proteins and just eaten this with some vegetable sides. We also got the grilled asparagus with pine nuts and lemon for $17, but I was too busy eating to take a picture :) As an asparagus lover, it satisfied my desire for a vegetable, but I found it a bit bland and expensive for 4 stalks, which is probably why I forgot to take a picture of it...

Since it was a birthday celebration, we got the strawberry rhubarb crisp with pecans and a scoop of vanilla ice cream for $15 to share. It was neither overly sweet nor overly memorable.

Please note that they add a 20% gratuity to all checks, so you do not have to tip more on your check unless you wish. Overall we enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere, but for an average of $90 per person without alcohol, it was a bit pricey. The ingredients were all top notch, and after being sequestered for over a year, being able to share a meal on a nice patio close to home in celebration of a special occasion made it all worthwhile.

Newport Seafood

My friend Georgia and I always celebrated her birthday with lobster, but with Covid 19, we had to settle for a remote greeting and a gift certificate. Since we are now both vaccinated, we ventured out to Newport Seafood, which is now open for indoor dining with masks and social distancing rules still in place. I had never been, but Georgia had, so the birthday girl got to choose the restaurant and the menu :)

We had the beef Loc Lac, basically a sauté of tender beef plated over raw onions, 

pea shoots with garlic

and their renowned small (4-5 lb) house special lobster.

The meal was pricey but the gift of a 30+ year friendship enjoying great food and wine is priceless. 

First Time at Little Fatty

I've been meaning to try Little Fatty since they opened, and I really have no good reason why it took so long, but like many delays in life, the ultimate point is to eventually having the experience. Even now during the last phase of Covid restrictions, it is still mainly my preference to pick up food. Their online ordering system circumvents the apps which eat away at their margins so I gladly drove to their little window and got my hainan chicken fix for $15 which had the most delicious chicken fat rice that

came with ginger scallion sauce and delicious crisp pickled cucumbers.

Since I am still in search of my favorite beef chow fun, I tried theirs for $16. It was a generous portion, but although their meat was good quality, I found the dish a bit lacking in flavor and too oily.

I am glad to finally try Little Fatty and would go back for some other dishes, so there will be a follow up post :)

Pann's Patio

Slowly getting back out to eat, so for my 2nd post Covid meal out, I opted for the patio at Pann's. Originally I was planning to go to Lunetta, but they were packed (a great sight to see), so instead I made a short drive down the packed 405 (seemed like everyone was on the road today just like any pre Covid 19 Sunday) to join a friend for brunch.

The owners live across the street from me, so it was a chance to not only support a neighbor, but also enjoy some company in a very airy, well spaced out patio. It was also a time to indulge in some fried goodies, and of course that included a side of bacon:)

Their cole slaw and potato salad would fit right in at any Sunday picnic

and their tuna melt with a great pickled jalapeno pepper and pickle is the kind you would make at home if you had the time and ingredients to do it properly.

I came for the fried chicken wings and since it had been so long since I've had non curbside pick up orders, I got some onion rings too; a reminder that some freshly fried fragile foods are best when eaten as soon as possible. Of course I had to get some spinach too just to be a little healthy ;) 

I finished everything except the biscuit and one wing drumstick, so it was handy to have the plastic serving containers double as take out trays. Hmmm that reminds me I still have that biscuit and wing in the fridge....

 

First Meal at Restaurant since Covid 19 @ Kagura

Now that I am fully vaccinated (2 weeks after my second Moderna shot), I finally ventured out for my first meal since February of 2020 at Kagura in El Segundo. I felt a bit like an invalid who had been bedridden for over a year, being a bit wobbly as I tentatively took my first steps back into familiar territory. 

I found the Covid 19 protocols are in place with hand sanitizer, face masks, and separated dining areas. I was willing to order to go if there was any problem, but I was relieved to find everything was strictly health conscious. I chose Kagura as my first post vaccination restaurant because of their very private separate booth areas and the security that provided even pre Covid 19. Some thing are different now with drink menus posted and separate mini single servings of soy sauce and hot sauce rather than multi use larger tableside ceramics or glass containers.

The service was lovely as usual with the same servers they had preCovid, all wearing the same kind and professional demeanor with excellent service. From serving tea, salad and miso soup to delivering the main gozen lunches of sushi and miso black cod. It was wonderful to go out to eat with a fellow food lover who had also been housebound the past year; it felt as if we were released from prison on the same day to enjoy life as we had known it before our confinement :)

 

2 Grilled Salads & 2 Great Sandwiches To Go

It's been over 1 year since I've been out to eat, but curbside take out from my favorite places has given me a much needed break from constantly cooking:) Assembling great salads is as time consuming as preparing a mise en place for Chinese stir fry; the preparation takes 5 times longer than the actual assembly. 

Two of my favorite salads are the grilled chopped salad for $17 from Lunetta and the grilled mushroom salad for $15 from Metro Cafe. Both use quality fresh vegetables and each dressing perfectly compliments the mix, from the vinaigrette for the chopped salad to the balsamic for the mushroom salad.

Clark Street Bakery was already sold out of all their marvelous sourdough by the time I got there, so I opted for the roasted turkey pesto with aged provolone, arugula, and avocado for $15

and their Italian tuna with mozzarella, heirloom tomato, arugula, and pickled jalapenos for $13.

Taking a needed break to from cooking was well worth the change of pace. It also gave me a taste for an eventual return to dining out as Covid 19 cases drop with vaccinations rising in California. I'm salivating at the thought of seeing my servers again in all my favorite dining spots.

 

Colossus Bread 2021

My first post about this small bakery in San Pedro was written right before the world changed, and I'm happy to report that some good things are still around to keep us going until we are able to share bread with others as we did before March of 2020.

It was a pleasure to find that good sourdough has survived the pandemic, and they have pivoted to make it easier to place and prepay before you arrive at their window, so you can just pick up your goodies when you arrive. They also have a few items on display if you are lucky enough to get there early. They practice social distancing, have hand sanitizer, use tongs to gather the pastries, and wear face masks.

I got a chocolate chip cookie for the first time here and it was so good I think next time I will pick up a few as a reward for the trek down to San Pedro :)