I was at the gym, of all places, on the treadmill on my iPad, switching between Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown Vietnam and Bornea episodes and Yelp, looking for some inspirational new Asian eats to have lunch at that was close to home. Somehow this new find which appeared to have opened just a week ago, was not in the New & Noteworthy search. Luckily, I had expanded my search first from Vietnamese food to Asian food and found this restaurant with 4 red Yelp stars. Upon reading the reviews, looking at the photos and then checking their profile and photos on Instagram, I decided right then and there, that is where we must go. It’s literally up the street, about an 8 minute drive.
We walked into the restaurant which was surprisingly busy for a Sunday afternoon. Word must have gotten around that this was the new hot spot in town. We had an amazing waiter, Victor, who was totally on top of his game. Didn’t miss a step.
The food was outstanding and hit the spot. The fries were crispy and piping hot. The turmeric fried chicken was exceptional. It was juicy and you could see the herbs mixed into the batter as you bit into each crispy layer. The garlic noodles were perfectly cooked and evenly coated with bits of garlic. The prawns were also perfectly seasoned and crispy with an amazingly light but flavorful cabbage slaw. The star of the show though was the goi gai salad which had chunks of marinated white meat chicken mixed with a slippery noodle salad. It had a light citrusy, sesame flavor which could almost be considered a palate cleanser as it provided a brief and delicious interlude in between the fried appetizers and the entrees.
Mee and Greet is the new neighborhood gem and I could not be happier at its close proximity to home. Thank you for choosing to make Palms your new home!!
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3500 Overland Ave, Ste 150, Los Angeles, CA 90034
To say that my dinner experience at Newport Seafood was the best of my life to date would be an understatement. Sure it was a trek of 40 minutes to get there and yes, it was about over an hour’s wait, but it was worth all the effort and time. We started off with two small offerings from what seemed like dim sum carts. I had seen the cucumbers on “Ugly Delicious” so was confident they would not disappoint. They were crisp and shockingly had a bit of heat. Next from the cart was a small plate of seaweed salad which was perfectly seasoned with oil and seasonings. The star of the show arrived and the juicy decadence of the first bite of the lobster special was enough to cease all talking at the table which was a continuing trend as each dish was served. We all had seen photos of the Newport Lobster special on their website and all over Yelp. The meat was tender and perfectly seasoned. The challenge was trying to get the meat out from inside the claws and that was when we all came to the realization that it was literally going to be a hands-on dining experience and we went to work. I had seen the Yang Chow fried rice served to two tables simultaneously and it piqued my interest. It had a light yellow tint with some vegetables, shrimp and what appeared to be small cubed pieces of pork. I grabbed ahold of the closest server to inquire about the dish and added to our proposed list of dishes for dinner. It did not disappoint. It was amazingly light and not oily. The flavor combinations were just right and the seasonings weren’t overpowering. We also ordered the rich and savory crab meat and asparagus soup. The broth was dense and thick and unbelievably delicious and savory. Next to arrive was the shrimp with cashews which was quite tasty and plump. The Chinese broccoli arrived with the rice noodle dry. The broccoli was bright and green but not overly wilted or oily. The stems managed to retain a bit of crispness. The surprise was the noodle dish which was ridiculously savory but light and again, not oily. It had a diverse offering of chicken, squid and shrimp. The beef au loc was the last to arrive and was a disappointment in comparison with the lightness and flavor explosion of the other dishes. The beef was a bit chewy. The sauce was a bit heavy and was a complete contrast to the other lighter flavors we had experienced. Next time, we will likely substitute that for perhaps the Newport Special crab which also appeared to be a favorite dish. If the Asian restaurant is full of Asian people with more waiting to be seated, that is where all people should come in droves as Asian foodies are unforgiving and will not tolerate anything but the most authentic. Being an Asian foodie myself, I don’t waste my time or money or anything that is not up to my very experienced palate. I wholeheartedly can recommend Newport Seafood for all who are bold and energetic enough to make the trek.
518 W Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776
Rocky’s is one of your local haunts that you hope enough people hear about so it stays open but you hope doesn’t get too crowded so you can’t come in whenever you have a hankering for their delicious, tasty, unpretentious food. I had been eyeing the 4 1/2 star yelp reviews but could never find the right time to go. Finally, fate and destiny brought family and friends together with us and off we went. There was nothing in our collective and individual experience which could be improved. The tomato soup was savory but not too thick. The flavor and amount of salad dressing was perfect for the thick and heartiness of the kale. The ahi skewers had a very light subtle flavor and were perfect to share. I didn’t taste the salmon, Bad B Burger or the American Beauty but my dining companions polished them off and kept commenting on how delicious everything was. I came for fried chicken Friday which was sensational. The batter on the chicken was light and crispy and the chicken was unbelievably moist. I ordered a side of the tater tots which were surprisingly not oily but fluffy and obviously delicious. And then there was the dessert. It was an amazingly light cinnamon spice cake with a side of vanilla ice cream. It wasn’t overly sweet but had just the right amount of zing to make your mouth tingle. It truly was a sensational 5 star dining experience for a 2 star price. I am so incredibly grateful for its close proximity to our home. Thank you Rocky’s for a decadent delicious dinner. We will be back and bringing more friends!!
4357 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230
I had not returned to the Philippines since 1985. My last memories of it were dark and negative. It didn’t help that my last trip was in August, the dreary, muggy, rainy season. I was a teenager at the time and I was forbidden to wander off on my own lest some terrible tragedy befall me. I can only imagine what that may have been now that I’m much older. After my last visit, I had decided that I had left the Philippines and all of Asia forever, never to return or partake in anything related to the culture.
It wasn’t until 2011 when Ching He Huang’s show premiered on Cooking Channel that I became remotely interested in preparing Asian food at home. Once I began implementing some of the basic tenets of Asian cuisine, a whole world opened up and I intuitively was able to improvise quite a bit and produce restaurant quality food. The “a-ha” moment came after I cooked up a simple shrimp and broccoli noodle dish which tasted unctuous but was not oily or greasy like at the local Americanized Asian restaurants. That’s when I realized that I had inherent knowledge and possessed skills which had traversed generations and had been ingrained in me. It inspired me to continue to experiment on the cooking front, and I allowed myself to watch shows featuring Asia. When Anthony Bourdain filmed an episode in Manila, I was a bit unnerved because it was his stamp of approval and if he had gone, it was no longer controversial for me to return. By the end of the episode, he had convinced me to venture back and rediscover my roots.
This past Christmas, I went to Boracay, a beautiful but financially challenged tourist spot an hour flight from Manila. The people who inhabited the island exhibited a very severe dichotomy of extreme poverty contrasted with a strong will to survive and persevere. I remember seeing beach vendors selling hats, sunglasses and tours from the crack of dawn til the wee hours of the night every single day, with the hot sun bearing down on them as they walked up and down the beach on the blistering sand and into the pitch black of the evening, being rejected by one person after another with very little success and yet they continued on their path. I appreciated and gained a deep respect for their tenacity, their perseverance and conviction.
Thank you, Boracay, for opening my eyes, heart and mind.
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Grace Gambin
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