About T-Salon:



For all of you that remember Elixir Teas & Tonics on Melrose and still yearn for its vibes, look no further, you have found your new sanctuary at T Salon Melrose. The best part is that it’s only a mile or so down the road, where Melrose meets La Brea in the Miracle Mile/Hancock Park adjacent neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

A slightly more modern version of a traditional Japanese tea house has been putting its own spin on Tea and culinary treats since its soft opening several months back.



And, T-Salon has been making a big splash ever since with over 20 cold, ice-brewed teas that flow out of a custom non-alcoholic draft system that keeps drinks cold and consistent with every pour.



Tea infused sushi and ice-cream and some sweet bites from local artisan bakers from throughout our city round out the sublime spread found at this boutique coffee house alternative.

T salon sums up their unique concept best on their blog as An Eco-Sustainable Tea Bar, Market & Cafe and you have to experience it for yourself to see that it is much more than that.




T-Salon and Z-Sushi go hand-in-hand:

Owner Miriam Novalle formerly of T-salon New York has successfully transplanted her flagship location to Los Angeles with a few additions. Since Sushi is uniquely LA, it is no surprise that tea and sushi go together like “Peas and Carrots”(Thanks Forrest Gump). Novalle’s T Salon and Sushi Zuri under the direction of Chef Zuri Lifshitz interweave their passions for flavors and food by creating a truly unique culinary mash-up that works oh so well.





About Z sushi:



Zuri is a Jedi master when it comes down to making sushi and his hands seem to summon the forces of sushi fusion. No light saber needed, Chef Zuri handcrafts each sushi item himself with an arsenal of secret sauces with tea infusions. He also keeps few padawans or apprentices standing by to act in his presence if he gets pulled away to do private catering. He brings his own version of Nouveau sushi to the T-salon clientele who are looking for something a cut above the rest.




Tea and Sushi together as one:

All of T-salon’s menu selections are the product of the union of food and beverage and in their case, tea and sushi. For centuries tea has been paired with sushi but Chef Zuri takes it a step further by formulating his creations with tea as an integral ingredient in the sauce mixtures.

All dishes are ordered and served table-side with prompt and positive service.



We ate almost everything off the menu in one way or another and would like to put the following items on blast:



T-Sushi Squares(spicy tuna or crab) are not your ordinary katsuya(esque) rice cake style sushi. This less crispy counterpart is lighter and more complex and soothing in flavors.



T-Sushi Tartars(Tuna or crab)-are served with sesame wonton crackers and loaded with flavor and is the perfect meal to cool down on a hot day.



T-Sushi Hand Rolls(spicy red tuna, spicy salmon, spicy blue crab or vegan baked tofu served with micro-greens, avocado and choice of soy paper & shiso or seaweed. These light bites are filling without making you feel overloaded as well as providing that Omega3 boost to keep you going into the evening.



Zuri’s other selections of either T-Sashimi, T-Sushi Wonton tower or the famous Wonton Crackers with spicy mayo caviar and soy sauce all provide the satiety to make you just feel good.





I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice-cream:



Did someone say Ice-Cream tasting? Yes, they actually did and this isn’t anywhere close to the ice-cream we all crave from our childhood. This slightly more adult tea infused ice-cream comes courtesy of Carmela Ice cream from NYC. Several exotic tea flavors took several months to develop, but the end result is soothing bliss in every scoop.



White Ginger pomegranate, Sunrise in Tibet and Organic angora were all so aromatic and soothing. Each embodying their own holistic properties while simply just tasting good. Treat yourself to a sweet treat while keeping your body in perfect balance.

Food for thought:



It doesn’t take a genius to realize that the T-salon is here to stay. And besides serving up tea, sushi and ice-cream, they also are a great source for gifts for that special someone in your life who just likes to Zen-out. Everyone needs friends in high places and that’s why I was fortunate to visit with Pauli Orchon; friend, foodie and fan of T-salon. Without her invitation, I would’ve missed out on this refreshing Los Angeles gem. The problem is, once you visit you will keep coming back. And, I will be back again very soon for my ice cold Lemon Verbena fix with a side of Zuri’s famous tuna tartare.



If you are thinking about cooking with tea, the following Article, “Think Outside The Cup” will get your mind and creativity racing.



Maybe you will be Zuri’s next Jedi apprentice!



Contact info:
T Salon
7111 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046-7617
(323) 954-8327

Comments Off | In: Affordable & Healthy Eats, Ethnic Corner | tags: carmela icecream, chef Zuri Lifshitz, t salon, tea-infused sushi menu, www.sushizuri.com. | #

It took me sometime to discover this hidden treasure inside the Farmer’s Market at 3rd and Fairfax, but it was well worth the wait. We ventured to Singapore’s Banana Leaf again, last Saturday with our friends to explore and indulge in the flavors and cuisine of Indonesia. Banana Leaf offers Indonesian/Malaysian(or Singaporean) cuisine to guests and I always describe the style of food as a fusion of Indian and Thai food. Keeping this in mind will enable you to truly understand Singaporean food and the culinary movement behind it.





Like most other traditional Asian styles of cooking in Los Angeles, Singapore’s Banana Leaf puts their own spin on the genre. Curries and Stir-Fried noodles are staple dishes and Island ingredients such as Tamarind, Coconut and red chilies make the dishes refreshing and spicy at the same time. Many flavor layers will make your mouth go wild.





When dining here as a group I encourage a family style approach to your dining experience because than you can sample the majority of dishes that are offered and create your own Indonesian feast.



We started off with the Satay Chicken(Grilled Chicken Skewers) with house-made peanut sauce, Indian Flat-bread with vegetable curry sauce and a the Rojak Salad loaded with Cucumber, jicama, pineapple, bean sprouts, apple, tofu, and spinach all tossed with spicy peanut tamarind dressing. This is combination is always a great way to get your taste buds primed for the main course dishes. Unfortunately during our visit the Egg Rolls were not available, so I highly suggest a side order to cut and pass around.



As soon as we were midway through on appetizers our entree orders were dropped off at our table. Everyone was so focused on what they had on their plates that we almost missed it. The #10 Me Goreng(Stir Fried noodles) is always a hit with Tofu or Chicken for the non-vegetarians. Ask for it spicy and it will rock your tastebuds. Our other favorites are the Rendang Chicken(Spicy red coconut curry) served with rice and the Laksa(Spicy yellow curry) with noodles, tofu or chicken(upon request) and garnished with bean sprouts. By the time we were full there was a small sampling of items left for a to-go container, but this is the best case scenario, because 90% of the time on previous visits we want more. The rule is that it is better to order too much than too little.





I hope you find yourself on a journey to Singapore’s Banana Leaf soon but be aware that one visit will have you hooked so get ready to see the psychiatrist for your newest addiction.







Singapore’s Banana Leaf
6333 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-933-4627

Hours:

Open Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Comments Off | In: Ethnic Corner | tags: Malaysian, Singapore's Banana Leaf at the Farmers Market Los Angeles, Singaporean Cuisine in Los Angeles. | #

Dim Sum always seems to come up in conversations with devoted foodies and a previous conversation with a fellow food blogger was the beginning of my epicurean excursion to Chinatown in Los Angeles. After discussing several of the top Dim Sum establishments in the Chinatown vicinity we both conquered that the Empress Pavilion would be the site for this journey.

It was a Thursday afternoon around 12:30 and after figuring the tricky downtown parking scene I arrived at Bamboo Plaza on Hill Street and was smelling amazing scents of culinary delights. To my surprise, after parking across the street, I found out that the Empress Pavilion validates for the Bamboo Plaza parking structure. In any event, I was happy that I arrived and we were seated right away.





Carts were hustling and bustling throughout the restaurant like rush hour on the 101 freeway and the clanking and crackling of stainless steel steamers meant that a bountiful selection of Dim Sum was soon to arrive. Before we could say stop, Pork Bau, Shumai and Shrimp Dumplings were strategically placed on our table and our order card was stamped with all kinds of colorful impressions.





After pouring traditional hot tea for one another, we dove into the bountiful “little presents” lay-ed in front of us. All items are meticulously prepared and cooked to perfection at Empress Pavilion and the carts offer plenty of variety for the most discriminating guest. With a nice blend of savory and sweet items we both left satisfied even down to the last piece. You will not be disappointed by the food or the prices. For $20.00 you will have more than enough to eat like a King or Queen.











Empress Pavilion
988 N Hill St # 201
Los Angeles, CA 90012-1750
617-9898

http://www.empresspavilion.com/

No Comments | In: Ethnic Corner | tags: Dim Sum in Chinatown, Dim Sum in Los Angeles, Empress Pavilion, Ethnic foodie seeks dim sum in Los Angeles. | #

In these challenging economic times it is becoming harder to find restaurants that offer a balance between healthy and affordable dining, but most of the time this can be nearly impossible to achieve. This is not the case with Siam I am, Thai Cuisine located in Redondo Beach, California a few blocks from the Pier. Siam I Am understands that good food, great customer service and value all go hand in hand or shall I say, tusk in tusk, as in the case of their animated running delivery elephant logo.



Siam I Am is an efficient family owned and operated Thai restaurant that is continually satisfying the Thai food cravings of South Bay residents from El Segundo to Torrance. The small restaurant team directed by Floyd and Giang Ross, husband and wife keep customers coming back for more with their dynamic menu of both Traditional Thai dishes as well as many fusion items.



Siam I Am is 1 of 8 Thai Restaurants in Redondo Beach, but don’t be fooled by the others; they may have larger spaces and fancy decorations, but they compensate in other ways by offering smaller portions and higher prices. At Siam I Am, fresh produce comes in daily and this provides an added fresh benefit to its customers.



Prior to my visit I had sampled several of Siam I Am’s traditional dishes including various curries, spring rolls and other appetizers and noodles, and each time was taken back by the reasonable prices, good sized portions and flavors. With my sights and expectations set high, I new that whatever Floyd and Giang had in mind for our VivaLAfoodies tasting, would be amazing. After dissecting the menu from cover to cover Floyd and I decided that we would go with some of Siam I Am’s specialty dishes that are popular in Thailand. This culinary perspective provided me with a different perspective on authentic Thai cuisine.



We got our order started with the Steamed Thai Dumplings which share a resemblance to the “shu mai” that you would find at a Dim Sum Restaurant. Both Floyd and Giang educated me that these are a thai style dumplings and that they are actually quite a bit smaller in Thailand. With 5 to an order these ground chicken morsels started the meal off right. To my surprise the chopsticks were not the main utensil, rather it was a spoon that we used for most of the meal. This tradition goes back to mainland Thailand and is still being used today. Our second course was the Kau Soi Noodles. This yellow curry style noodle soup with chicken has great flavor and is quite hearty with its array of vegetables and spices. Our last two entree items were the Pineapple Fried Rice and the Basil Leaves. Once again it was a flavor explosion. The Pineapple Fried Rice is a bold blend of Shrimp, Chicken, Pineapple, Cashew nuts and raisins with yellow curry. Each ingredient lends to the next and each bite packs a punch. The Basil Leaves compliments the fried rice with its spicy sauce and ground meat and veggies. Talk about a sweet and spicy combination. I finished the meal with the Coconut ice cream. This refreshing treat was a perfect way to cool things off after my indulgence in Thai chilies and spicy fish sauce.









When Floyd and I had a moment to put our spoons down he told me that he married his wife Giang because of her cooking and I am sure that anyone who dines at Siam I am would attest to the fact that Giang is a fantastic cook. Her cooking is the primary ingredient in Siam I Am(s) success since they opened a few years ago. Wheather you are dining in, taking out or having it delivered, Siam I Am will leave both your stomach and wallet satisfied. Why pay more for smaller portions at other Thai Restaurants in the area when you get quality and value for much less?





Siam I Am
Thai Cuisine Delivery
215 S. PCH
Redondo Beach, CA
310-374-7202
http://www.mysiamiam.com/

No Comments | In: Ethnic Corner, Guest Foodie | tags: Redondo Beach Thai Food, Siam I Am Redondo Beach, Thai Food in the South Bay, Thai Food in Torrance, Thai food on PCH. | #

Last nights foodie adventure began at the intersection of sushi and craving. The group of us piled in the car and headed out on a quest of another not so well known sushi bar in Los Angeles. We have been trying different Sushi restaurants over the past 6 months that serve quality, gourmet, fresh and fusion items but also provide a good atmosphere and vibe along with easy accessibility and various neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

After a recommendation from fellow foodie and friend Tina Paredes we proceeded to Shintaro Sushi in Hollywood (on Highland just north of Franklin Avenue). She had been there several times before and we were all excited to try another local sushi venue.

I had driven by the non descript strip mall location many times before on my numerous journeys to both the Hollywood Bowl and the 101 freeway entrance at Highland but never thought much of venturing to this hidden treasure. I am sure grateful that I had the opportunity this time because I had been missing out.

The spacious Japanese inspired interior has a lofty/industrial vibe fused with traditional Japanese art and décor. Bamboo accents highlight the space and lounge music plays in the background. Our party consisting of 4 was seated immediately to a large table with bench seating on side. It felt like the entire restaurant was our Oyster, parden the pun but I am enthusiastic about my indulgence in all things culinary moreover the delicacies from the sea.

After a quick glance at the menu I was ready to have a beer and unwind from the day and so was the group. To my surprise I noticed that pitchers of Kirin Draft were available for the amazing price of $10. That translates to $2.50 cents per beer and that means that you can get more beer for your buck. That is a welcoming sign considering any savings is welcomed these days.

While we waited for our beverages we all looked over the menu and ordered family style sushi rolls along with a few choice pieces of nigiri sushi. Additionally we all ordered various Miso Soups included a house special “Shrimp Miso” I have had fusion Miso soup before of the clam variety, but shrimp miso was something new and interesting considering my infatuation with shrimp and lobster bisque. To my surprise the bowl of soup accompanied a huge “Santa Barbara Prawn” loaded with bright red roe. The soup had a nice miso texture coupled with a savory seafood broth. I had a smile on my face with every bite until it was gone.

For our main course rolls we ordered some unique rolls including house specials such as the Cowboy roll, Hot night roll, Double Shrimp roll, spicy tuna and crispy rice. In addition we enjoyed the Eel avocado wrapped California roll, spicy tuna roll and California roll. The choice nigiri selections that I ordered included Ahi tuna, spicy Scallop and Octopus. Everything was prepared to my liking with good-sized portions that were not too overwhelming. Plate presentation was top notch. The Cowboy roll is made with spicy tempura lobster, asparagus and avocado and served with a chili sesame sauce and is a unique offering. The Hot night roll is a variant of the shrimp tempura roll and includes spicy tuna on top. A similar creation is the Double shrimp roll with chopped shrimp in spicy mayo on the outside and warm shrimp tempura inside.

All of these selections illustrated the artistry behind the Sushi Chefs at Shintaro, Hollywood. The next time you want to venture out of your area for a sushi buzz Shintaro is the place. Traditional entrees for the non-sushi inclined guest include Rib Eye steak Teriyaki, Baked Black Cod, Udon, Tempura and various baked appetizers from seafood to vegetables.

Shintaro Sushi
1900 N Highland Ave Ste 5
Los Angeles, CA 90068
Phone: (323) 882-6524

http://www.shintarosushi.com/

Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30am-2: 30pm, 5:30pm-11pm,
Sat 5:30pm-11pm
Closed on Sunday

No Comments | In: Ethnic Corner | tags: Cowboy Roll, Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood and Highland, Hollywood Bowl Sushi, Hot Night Roll, Kirin Draft Los Angeles, Pitchers of Kirin Draft, Shinatro Sushi, Shintaro Sushi Hollywood Los Angeles, Shrimp Miso Soup, Sushi near Hollywood & Highland, Sushi North of Hollywood Bowl. | #

Need a sushi fix that wont break the bank?  If your answer is yes, than Crazy Rock’N Sushi is the place for you. Conveniently located in West Hollywood at the West Hollywood Gateway Shopping Center on Santa Monica Blvd between La Brea and Formosa Avenues.

This Sushi, Sake and Wine Bar has an inviting interior filled with plenty of seating including intimate booths, tables and sushi bar options.  The menu is extensive and there is an artful array of specialty rolls for all of your sushi cravings.  Favorites include the “Hot Night Roll” and the “Spider Roll.”  The “Hot Night Roll” is a shrimp tempura roll with cucumber, avocado wrapped with spicy tuna.  In contrast the “Spider Roll” is a soft shell crab version dressed with Masago(smelt egg).

Both are available on the lunch special menu between 11am and 4pm.  The lunch special is quite a value and combines either a special roll or premium roll with 5 pieces of chef select sushi(Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Seared Albacore and White Tuna) and miso soup.  The price for the lunch special is between $9.95 & 12.95. The daily lunch specials provide the perfect balance of sushi goodness and won’t leave you gasping when you get the check.  Hot Bento box style lunch specials are also available fresh from the kitchen.  Additionally Salads, Curry Rice, Noodle Dishes(including Udon & Soba), Tempura and hot appetizers are available.

Venture to the Far East without leaving West Hollywood.

Crazy Rock’N Sushi
Sake & Wine Bar
7100 Santa Monica Blvd #158
Los Angeles, CA 90046

West Hollywood Gateway
(Inside Target & Best Buy Shopping Center)

No Comments | In: Ethnic Corner | tags: Carzy Rock n sushi west hollywood, sushi at west hollywood gateway, sushu lunch special, west hollywood sushi. | #

Our Neighborhood Thai Restaurant cannot be beat. We frequent Galanga Thai Fusion at least once a week and we always get the best authentic Thai food in Los Angeles. They are conveniently located on the Eastern end of West Hollywood at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Vista St.(Gardner). The restaurant is small but is always busy and the service is top notch for both dining in and take-out.

On this recent excursion we opted for a few of our staple dishes including the homemade Egg Rolls(vegetarian rolls fried and served with Thai sweet & sour sauce), Wonton Soup Hot Pot(breast meat chicken, bok choy, scallions and chicken wonton) and Panang Curry of Beef(thick coconut red curry sauce and bell peppers). After looking at the “Chef’s Specials” we decided on the Spicy Seafood(mixed seafood sauteed with chili garlic sauce). This dish was large and was accompanied with steamed vegetables and coconut rice. The portions were healthy and provided enough food for all 3 of us.

With many choices for Thai food in West Hollywood, Galanga Thai Fusion provides the best mix of flavor, quality, fusion and service. They also provide excellent lunch specials and unique “Thai Burritos”

7740 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Phone: (323) 851-4355

Cross Street:
North Vista Street

Hours:
Mon-Sat 11am-10pm

No Comments | In: Ethnic Corner | tags: Best Thai Food in West Hollywood, Galanga Thai Fusion West Hollywood, Thai food in West Hollywood, Weho Thai Food. | #

If you are ever in the mood for authentic Mexican food for a reasonable price then Tere’s Mexican Grill is the place for you. I frequent this spot quite often and yesterday was no exception.

I met with my friend Joe who works in the area and we felt like getting a quick and hearty lunch so it was a unanimous decision to go to Tere’s. When we got there the lunch crowd had already began to develop. The place is located on the border of Hollywood and Hancock Park in a strip center located at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Cahuenga Boulevard.

The restaurant is small and inviting and offers menu selections for the most discriminating palette. I recommend ordering the homemade Chips ($1.00) and a side of Guacamole to get you started. The homemade salsa bar is extensive choices from mild red salsa, spicy salsa roja, Tomatillo salsa and Pickled Jalapenos, Carrots and Onions. If you decide to opt out of the Guacamole than the salsa bar will have you covered.

I have ordered and sampled many of the dishes and have concluded that 2 of my favorites are the Burrito de Machaca (aka: Machaca con Huevo) and the Burrito con Pork & Chili Verde. When I can only get one I go for the Chili Verde burrito, but when I can split the two it provides the perfect balance of yin and yang.

Joe ordered the taco combination with the Carne Asada and the Pork (Chili Verde) tacos. It is served along with homemade rice and beans.

We both ate to our hearts content and washed our meal down with the wide selection of bottled drinks including Mexican sodas and bottled Mexican Coca-Cola.

We highly recommend Tere’s for your next Mexican food craving. You will not regret it. One important note is that they are closed on Sunday.

Tere’s Mexican Grill
5870 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038-3700
Phone: (323) 468-9345
Monday-Saturday (9am-9pm)

No Comments | In: Ethnic Corner | tags: Authentic Mexican Food, Burritos in Los Angeles, Casual Dining, Hollywood Mexican food, Mexican Food in Hancock Park, Mexican Food In Los Angeles, Tere's Mexican Food on Melrose. | #

I was familiar with Hugo’s Restaurant in West Hollywood, but had no idea that it had another offspring until yesterday when I was in the San Fernando Valley.  I was told that the next time I had the craving for Mexican food I should drop into Hugo’s Tacos on Coldwater Canyon & Riverside.  Ordering is made easy by a simplified step by step menu that will guide you to create a custom treat that will delight your senses.  After you decide what item you would like you then select a filling, choose a salsa and the optional combo with rice, beans, chips and beverage.  I opted for a Buritto with Carnitas wuth Honey Chipotle Salsa.  The organic white beans, Spanish rice onions and celantro provided an excellent balance of sweet and hot.  The quality was first rate and the price could not be beat.  While I waited for my to-go buritto I took refuge under the misters on the patio.  This was a bonus that I didn’t expect especially on a hot Valley day in October.  The next time you  or anyone you know gets the craving for some cheap, healthy Mexican food Hugo’s is the place.

Location also in Atwater Village in Glendale.

Hugo’s Tacos-Studio City
4749 Coldwater Canyon Ave.
Studio City, CA 91604
818-762-7771
http://hugostacos.com/

No Comments | In: Ethnic Corner, Hidden Treasure | tags: burritos, Coldwater Canyon & Riverside, Hugos tacos, organic mexican food, studio city, tacos. | #

So it’s Friday night and you can’t decide what to eat. You get a call from your friends and they say they are going for Chinese and they ask if you are down. We say most definitely and where to? They say come check out this great Chinese restaurant in Los Feliz called The Palace. We decided to take a cruise over to Los Feliz Village and get our Chinese fix.

Once we arrived we were seated immediately. The friendly staff suggested appetizer selections and we decided to share an order of Steamed Dumplings and Vegetable Egg Rolls. This was a nod to Chinatown’s finest Dim Sum. The group had Wonton Soup and Sizzling Rice Soup. The rice soup made its own “Snap, Crackle, Pop” when it was brought out and gave it a sizzle that continued to pop flavor in your mouth.

We shared the Sizzling Beef with Scallops and the Palace Fried Rice. The surf and turf version of the Scallops and Beef was done to perfection and was combined with fresh veggies. The Fried Rice was truly unique and was loaded with flavor. Half way through the meal we insisted on sampling the BBQ Pork and this to was infused with bold flavor and cooked to perfection.

The consensus is that this East-side establishment rivals some of the great authentic Chinese restaurants that you would find in Chinatown and Monterrey Park.

The Palace

www.6671595.com

2112 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 667-1595

No Comments | In: Ethnic Corner | tags: Chinese Food, Chinese Food in Los Angeles, Dim Sum, Egg Rolls, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Sizzling Rice Soup, Wonton Soup. | #