March 2008 Archives

I may hear a lot of complaints later, but I have to say this: I bought a mini carrot cake from Euro Pane in Pasadena today, and it wasn't very good. It was dry.

Because carrot cake is supposed to be super moist and Euro Pane is supposed to be super delicious, I was disappointed. The rest of the cake wasn't bad. While the cream cheese frosting was a little too heavy for my taste, the gold foil garnish was a nice (frou-frou) touch. I've never been disappointed by Euro Pane before so I'm hoping that this dry carrot cake is a fluke.

I also bought a slice of blueberry lemon chiffon cake from Euro Pane. It was delicious.

Other notes: The best carrot cake I've had is from Craft in Los Angeles. After dinner, the restaurant gives each guest a take home carrot cupcake. The cake was moist, the shredded carrots were flavorful and not at all dry or stringy. The streusel topping was a just the right balance of crunchy, soft and sweet.

During a recent visit to Souplantation, I found out that the restaurant no longer accepts AAA cards for a 10% off your meal! BOO.

A few days later, I got this coupon in my e-mail Inbox. It expires at the end of this month. That's next Monday, March 31, 2008.

Dining on a budget:

Craving a fresh lunch one day, I decided to go Super.

Super Bionicos in Baldwin Park is a little shop along a small strip mall on Ramona Boulevard that offers a variety of fresh fruit items, smoothies, sandwiches and, of course, bionicos.

Bionicos are a Mexican specialty dessert that features a mix of fresh cut fruits topped with a sweetened condensed milk and cream mixture, shredded coconut, granola and raisins.

They are made to order if you prefer just one type of fruit, and if you would like cottage cheese or yogurt instead of the cream mixture.

For comparison, here's a photo my friend looking at the crab. It really is that big.

I saw these HUGE crabs at NBC Seafood in Monterey Park. The main body of the crab looked like it was 6 to 8 inches long. The entire crab must be at least 1 1/2 to 2 feet!

Anyone know what kind of crabs these are -- and more importantly, if they taste good?

Daily Bulletin columnist David Allen writes about the closure of the Romano's Macaroni Grill in Rancho Cucamonga because of slow sales. He mentions that the West Covina location is closing for the same reason.

I was surprised. You would think that the West Covina restaurant would have tremendous sales. It's next to a insanely-popular movie theater and across the street from the West Covina mall. Then again, the last time I went to the Macaroni Grill was at least a year ago...

Macaroni Grill didn't necessarily have the most amazing Italian food, but it was good. The menu had all the traditional favorites, and the restaurant was casual enough for a weeknight dinner but nice enough for a special occasion. Now that it's closing, where else can you find Italian food in the area?

Tulipano's in Azusa
Giovanni's in downtown Covina
Macaroni Grill in Rowland Heights/Industry (wonder if that one will close, too)
Avolio's in Covina
Artie's Pizza in Covina
Johnny Carino's in Covina
El Appetiz in Baldwin Park
Olive Garden in Industry
Spaghetti Eddie's in Glendora

When a restaurant gets shut down by the Health Department, it's not only embarrassing for the restaurant owners/managers, it's also embarrassing for its customers.

On Thursday, Bishamon, a Japanese restaurant in downtown Covina, had this sign on the front door. "Closed due to construction."

The front window displayed the Health Department's closure notice. "Vermin infestation, no hot water, scored below 70."

I couldn't believe it. I've eaten at this restaurant at least a dozen times, and I go there about once a month. The restaurant has plenty of customers, and the sushi bar is usually full. I thought the food was pretty good and never dreamed about unsanitary conditions in the kitchen.

I've even taken my friends to Bishamon and recommended it to others. How embarrassing.

There's no way to know that these poor conditions were around when I dined there, but it certainly makes you wonder.

Going by a small poll take by me, people are split about eating food made at 7-Eleven stores.

Some may be ashamed for some reason I don't understand, to admit they do while others may not even dare to try anything cooked there.

Here's what I say - just like fast food restaurants, it depends on where you go.

I am not ashamed to admit I occasionally will have a spicy hot dog from 7-Eleven and just recently I tried the Go Go Taquitos.

Each 7-Eleven is individually owned, so though they may offer what most stores offer, their commitment to quality may be a little different.

To prove my point, I went to a 7-Eleven today in El Monte, just to use the ATM. My plan was to get cash and get lunch somewhere else.

But not wanting to drive around anymore I thought I'll just go ahead and pick up something to eat while I was there.

I got two taquitos, Doritos and a V8 Fusion drink.

I first tried the taquitos about a month ago at a 7-Eleven in La Puente, and was surprisingly satisfied. I tried the Monterey Jack and Chicken flavor.

They were nice and tender with cubed pieces of chicken and melty cheese on the inside and a crispy spicy seasoning flavor on the outside.

I mean for a prepared meal that they just warmed up on the little rolling grill they have there it was pretty tasty.

So when I picked up taquitos from the 7-Eleven in El Monte I thought they couldn't be that different - you just warm it up right?

Wrong. Apparently they don't think to time them because mine were overcooked and hard at the ends. Funny enough, I was going to try the steak and cheese one but the guy said he had just put them on the grill so he didn't think I should get those.

He should have also warned me about the other ones being on the grill for too long.

I don't know if I'll try the other flavors but I will probably have a spicy hot dog next time - yummy.

You take your chances. But I will say that I have never gotten sick from anything I've eaten at 7-Eleven unlike some may think.

Hey, I'm not looking for a high-quality meal when I go to a 7-Eleven, just something quick and convenient that does the trick until dinner. 

Anytime someone in the news room mentions Anjo, we get all flurried. We love this place that's situated on the border of West Covina and Baldwin Park.

They have everything from sushi to udon and it's always fresh.

This little restaurant (when I say little, I mean little) opens up for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., then closes until dinner time from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday only, and Sunday, only dinner is offered. It is closed every Monday.

I believe they can afford to have such oddly short hours, since it is always packed for lunch. My very first day here at the paper about two years ago I was invited to this locale for lunch and tried salmon for the first time.

The gourmet coffee scene is getting a little crowded: Starbucks, McDonald's, Peet's, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Dunkin' Donuts.

How about some super gourmet coffee? Would you pay $22 for a personalized latte? Or $5 for a perfect cup of drip coffee?

LAMILL Coffee. Your $5 cafe au lait is made at your table.

Intelligencia. Super expensive coffee and long lines. Also mentioned on NPR.

Literati Cafe - Reviews say it is hit or miss.

Dining on a budget:

Diners looking to find a little more of the South in Southern California can look to Azusa's own Country Chicken & Ribs Bar-B-Q. 
 
Few foods inspire such vigorous debate as barbecue - is Kansas City, Memphis or Texas-style tops? - and this little eatery holds its own in a hyper-divisive culinary field. 
 
Of course, some barbecue purists may have a bone to pick, since the restaurant doesn't serve pork, just chicken and beef ribs. But what it does, it does well and at a very affordable price. 
 
The best time to visit is between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the lunch special is served.

For $4.65, you get to sample a little bit of everything - a chicken wing and breast, two beef ribs, coleslaw, rice and gravy and a dinner roll. After 4 p.m., the price of the special goes up to $7.55, so the lunchtime discounts are pretty steep.

 

The barbecue ribs here have plenty of meat on their bones, but they are a little tough, especially compared to traditional pork ribs, which are smaller and more tender. The provided steak knife comes in handy when dismantling these ribs for consumption. 
 
Consider asking for a side of the house barbecue sauce to give them a flavor boost. 
 
The real star of this blue-plate special is the delicious barbecue chicken. The meat falls right off the bone, and you'll find yourself picking away at the last scraps. The chicken is perfectly juicy with just the right amount of seasonings and sauce. 
 
For $10.40, you can forgo the beef ribs altogether and order the Country Cluck, which includes all-you-can-eat soup or salad bar, three pieces of barbecue chicken, fries or house rice and a roll. 
 
The side dishes, which come included with all specials and dinner plates, are a treat in themselves. Savor the rice smothered in gravy, Southern comfort food at its finest. 
 
Only the side of coleslaw misses the mark. It lacks that sweet, tangy creaminess that's a hallmark of all the best coleslaw recipes. 
 
The ambiance at Country Chicken & Ribs Bar-B-Q is a bit unusual, but comfortable and cozy nonetheless.

The wood accents and old-timey decor harken back a general store from the gold rush era, but with a few amusing anachronistic touches - the Mortal Kombat arcade game in the corner and Day-Glo plastic toys in the display cases. 
 
Still, it's hard not to feel connected to the Canyon City's rich gold-rush history. Though you may wonder if the restaurant's designer got carried away with the old-fashioned theme and left out crucial modern facilities, the restrooms are actually located just outside. 
 
And while this carnivore's delight accepts only cash, an ATM is available inside, if you're willing to pay the rather inconvenient convenience fees.

Even with that extra cost tacked on, Country Chicken & Ribs Bar-B-Q offers some great lunchtime bargains and value-priced family dinners, which are available dine-in or carry-out from the drive-through. 
 
In Southern California, barbecue-starved beggars can't be choosers - or picky eaters. 
 
So next time you have the urge to hop aboard the soonest flight to a Southern destination of choice, try getting that fix at Country Chicken & Ribs Bar-B-Q instead. At the very least, it will take the heat off your wallet and put it back where it belongs - on your meal. 
 
Country Chicken & Ribs Bar-B-Q is located at 994 E. Alosta Ave. in Azusa. For more information, call (626) 334-8220.

Written by Evelyn Barge.

For awhile now I have been waiting for the Jamba Juice (www.jambajuice.com) in West Covina to feature the chain's new breakfast menu, and now it's here! Yay!

I first tried the new breakfast blends at the Jamba Juice in Eagle Rock and fell in love.

I'm not that crazy about yogurt, especially alone, but when it's blended with fruit and juices, and I can't tell there is yogurt inside, it's yummy and adds a nice consistency to the blend.

The new breakfast menu features three granola toppers - blends featuring yogurt, juice, fruit and any other extra add-ins (peanut butter for those pb lovers) - topped with fresh granola, eaten with a spoon, of course.

I have tried the mango-peach topper and the berry topper, but the mango is my favorite. The granola is not too hard and tastes fresh and crunchy.

The yogurt-fruit blend is thick enough to hold the granola on top until the blend begans to melt, but I like to mix it into the blend to get a good amount of granola with every scoop.

And because it's made thicker than the usual drink blends at Jamba Juice, you might find bits of what I like to call little treasures - chunks of fruit.

Of course, even though these are listed under the breakfast meals, they make a great healthy snack anytime.

A 12 oz. serving is 390 calories with 7 grams of fiber, 10 grams of protein, and a healthy dose of vitamins A, C and calcium.

I already had some for breakfast this morning at the West Covina Jamba Juice but I may just have to go back to the Eagle Rock location tonight after work!

Dining on a budget:

I walked into the Canadian Cafe in Monrovia ready to take all of Canada they were willing to throw at me.

The amount of time I've spent in Canada doesn't even add up to 20 minutes - the time it took to walk back and forth over The Falls. So I decided to do a bit of culinary research on America's neighbors to the north.

In addition to the many varieties of fish, shellfish, and other seafood to be found, Quebec is known for its cheese; Ontario, its maple syrup; and in Newfoundland, seal flippers, cod tongues, moose, caribou and venison are among the delicacies.

I didn't find any of these on the Canadian Cafe's menu - unless they have an In-N-Out -styled secret menu - so I decided to piece together the most Canadian meal I could.