50 places to eat for $5 or less in Southern California Dining out for $5 or less may seem like a fantasy, but Southern California has much to offer for those on a tight budget. For affordable Vietnamese fare, for example, venture to Garden Grove or Westminster. Or look to food trucks for unique, inexpensive eats. Even some pricier restaurants offer a selection of cheap eats during happy hours. 50 places to eat for $5 or less in Southern California latimes.com/50eats By Jenn Harris, Jason La and Michael Robinson April 9, 2012 Our list covers a wide range of tastes. Latin American Cha Cha Chicken Neighborhood: Santa Monica Type: Caribbean 1906 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica chachachicken.com Open 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Read more La Arca Neighborhood: Highland Park Type: Salvadoran 5570 N. Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Read more Tropicana bakery Tropicana Bakery & Cuban Café Neighborhood: Downey Type: Cuban, bakery 10218 Paramount Blvd., Downey tropicanabakeryandcubancafe.com Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Read more Porto's bakery Neighborhood: Glendale 315 N. portosbakery.com Read more Asian
17 Bizarre Foods Every Russian Grew Up With Baked Egg Boat recipe Breakfast is my favorite meal. I like to drink iced coffee and watch the cream climb its way down the chunky ice cubes in a dazy before the caffeine hits. I like to order bacon with whatever I’m eating. I like eating potatoes with ketchup. Baked Egg BoatsMakes 4 Ingredients: 4 demi sourdough baguettes 5 eggs 1/3 cup heavy cream 4 ounces pancetta, finely chopped and fried until crisp 3 ounces gruyere cheese, grated 2 green onions, thinly slicedsalt and pepper to tasteDirections: 1. The Infamous Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies Now, I have a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I swear by. I love it, I think it is incredible, and I haven’t changed my mind about that. However, as much as it pains me to say it, these chocolate chip cookies by Jacques Torres are absolutely, without a doubt, the best chocolate chip cookies that I have ever made or tasted in my entire life. I guess that’s why they call him Mr. Chocolate! These are a chocolate chip cookie of another color, that’s for sure. Either way, I made these and everyone that tried them went nuts. Edit: For more Jacques Torres deliciousness, check out my Jacques Torres Chocolate Mudslide Cookies! Your ingredients. Whisk together the cake flour, bread flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat together the butter and sugars, until light and fluffy, at least 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla. Add in the flour mixture, very gradually, until just moistened. Fold in your chocolate. Author: The Crepes of Wrath Prep time: Cook time:
Scalloped Hasselback Potatoes “Scalloped” is an attractive word, isn’t it? When I hear it I think of several things: first, there’s scallops, as in the seafood—totally delicious. Then there’s the scalloped shape that can live on the edge of a pair of shorts or on the collar of a woman’s blouse—always pretty and dainty. And of course scalloped potatoes also comes to mind, which carries my imagination to a land of crispy potato skins drenched in a sea of cheese and cream. The first players up are: a few Russet potatoes (I’m sure other varieties will work equally as well), Parmigiano-Reggiano and butter. Start by scrubbing your potatoes good and clean. Then, using a sharp knife, make slices across the potato, being sure to stop before you reach its bottom. Cut up your butter. Then do the same with the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Next, open the potatoes’ crevices and shove the parmesan and butter, alternating between the two. When they’re done baking, you’re still a few minutes away from cheesy gloriousness! Description
L.A.'s 4 Best Bargain Omakase + The "Jiro Effect" - Los Angeles Restaurants and Dining - Squid Ink click to enlarge If you're planning to see David Gelb's brilliant documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi this weekend when it premieres at Santa Monica's Nuart Theater you might be well advised to pass on the popcorn and soda. The film clocks in at just under an hour and a half -- a good portion of which is dedicated to sweeping shots of immaculately cut slabs of fish, buttery lozenges of uni and plump, wriggling shrimp plucked from the ocean that morning. After seeing the inner workings of what is perhaps the world's greatest sushi restaurant, it might be difficult to settle for a plate of crunchy rolls and dynamite shrimp. The good new is that a reasonably priced omakase experience is entirely possible -- in fact, many sushi chefs are more than content to customize a meal based around your optimal budget and tastes. 4. The meal begins with a small, flavor-intensive dish, which can range from a shaved mountain yam salad to yuzu-marinated wakama kelp. 3.
5 Places to Eat When Your Parents Are Treating - Los Angeles Restaurants and Dining - Squid Ink click to enlarge Jaanus Treilmann It's not a special occasion, your parents just miss you and want to treat you to a good dinner and catch up. Awww. Having lived through this scenario many times -- almost always resulting in a trip to the No. 1 spot on this countdown -- we've come up with a go-to list of parent-approved spots you and your friends and relatives of all ages will enjoy. Our criteria for selecting five places everyone would like wasn't so simple. Babita's 5. Sophisticated, beautifully prepared, intriguing plates in an intimate setting. Marino Ristorante Baccala all'insalata at Marino Ristorante 4. Seasonal and farmers market-driven Italian food served in a beautiful room with truly attentive service. 3. Strong martinis (because some family dinners require them), flawlessly charbroiled steaks and a feeling you've stumbled into the past. Boxwood Café by Gordon Ramsay Seared Scallops at Boxwood Café by Gordon Ramsay 2.
Banana Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe Banana Chocolate Cupcakes:Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Line 12 regular-sized muffin cups with paper liners or spray each cup with a non stick vegetable spray. In a large bowl whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another large bowl, whisk together the egg, mashed banana, water, milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Chocolate Frosting: Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Makes 12 regular-sized cupcakes. View comments on this recipe on YouTube
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes Updated 9/22/11 to Add: If you’re coming here to sample these delicious Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, you just might like the latest recipe that I’ve posted for Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes too. And Gingerbread- Cinnamon Roll Pancakes too. Enjoy! Here’s a short video sharing how to make these delicious pancakes: If you’ve ever thought you needed a reason to eat pancakes, today is the day: National Pancake Day! How do you like your pancakes? But recently I started dreaming about mixing cinnamon rolls and pancakes together… and this is what I came up with- my new favorite pancake: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. I have a wonderfully fluffy pancake batter that I like to use (recipe below) so I swirled a bit of cinnamon roll filling into the pancake. And they cooked up just like a pancake- fluffy, but with craters of crusty, sugary cinnamon swirled within. You might find three of these stacked in a fancy breakfast restaurant, but I’m gonna tell you that one pancake is all you need. Oh yeah. Ingredients: