Pumpkin Season - Recommendations?

[zeprosnepsid]

Pumpkin is probably my favorite food in the world. Unfortunately, I'm an impossible cook. So any recommendations for good Pumpkin food around town? I'm particularly fond of Pumpkin Raviolis.

Usually, each fall, I eat at Dish in La Canada every weekend for their Pumpkin pancakes.

[slimjd99]

I know where to get the best pumpkin bread in the WORLD! And you don't have to wait for Autumn. GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. has a store out in Thousand Oaks (they say it's in Thousand Oaks, but it's really in Newbury Park) The pumpkin bread is super moist, and very pumpkin-y with a nice balance of spices. They make three varieties: plain pumpkin, pumpkin chocolate chip (if you have never tried pumpkin bread with chocolate, you don't know what you're missing, you'll think you died and went to heaven.) and a pumpkin cinnamon chip, which as far as I can tell is like a cinnamon flavored chocolate chip that's not chocolate. They sometimes make pumpkin muffins too, but they're not on their regular schedule.

They make these 2 or 3 days a week year round, call them to find out what day they are baking them. Everything in the bakery is fresh and natural, they say no HFCS, no trans-fat, no preservatives or artificial flavors. They even grind their own flour everyday. I love all the breads at this place, but their pumpkin bread is to die for! They also do some farmers markets in the West L.A. area, so you might not have to drive too far for your pumpkin fix.

[MyTongueEatsThenSpeaks]

Zucca downtown (zucca means pumpkin, fyi ;-)....pumpkin gelato at Cafe Bella Roma on Robertson and i think they have Pumpkin Soup this week, too. Did someone say pumpkin croquettes at Musha?!? YUM!

[SauceSupreme]

There's a great pumpkin ravioli at Bastide. It's such a simple dish (with shaved parmesan and a few drops of aged balsamic vinegar) but it was so perfectly executed.

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Bastide Restaurant
8475 Melrose Place, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[meatlessinla]

I've made the delicious Kabocha squash with Farro and Cavolo Nero from Suzanne Goin’s Sunday Suppers at Lucques cookbook. I haven't had it in the restaurant, but it would be worth checking if she's making it this year. Or just make it at home although it is time consuming.

[nimo]

Angelini's tortelli is obviously wonderful, but there's also an excellent pumpkin ravioli in a sage and butter sauce at Girasole on Larchmont.

[Diana]

Does anyone do Toasted Pumpkin Ravioli a la St Louis' Little Italy?

[Diana]

mmmmmmmm....Kabocha heaven. I GOTTA have more pumpkin! LAst Saturday I was outta town and had SPLENDID Pumpkin Risotto. I want in town pumpkin!

Pumpkin gelato at Gelson's in Encino! Yummy!

[ElJeffe]

I've got a fever. And the only prescription is more Pumpkin!

[Diana]

Some pumpkin Gelato will cool your fever!!

[SauceSupreme]

In the past week, I've had kabocha about seven different ways, five of which were paired with chanterelles.

By far, the best preparation was the kabocha puree at Hungry Cat. It was paired with caramelized onions whose earthiness matched that of the chanterelle mushrooms, but whose sweetness paired with the squash. Add to that the piece of nicely cooked halibut (though admittedly it could be any nicely cooked piece of white fish) and you have my favorite pumpkin preparation around town. (Musha's kabocha croquettes are second.)

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The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Oinkster]

If you are looking for pumpkin ravioli's you must try Gale's in Pasadena. Just thinking about them is making my mouth water:) Whenever I eat there my eyes light up when I see it on the menu. I didn't know Dish had pumpkin pancakes..... Thanks for the tip!!!

www.galesrestaurant.com

[Emme]

Hugo's

Exotic Thai has pumpkin egg custard

Out Take has pumpkin ravioli

Wine Bistro has pumpkin ravioli

Barsac Brasserie - pumpkin ravioli

Social Hollywood has pumpkin salad

O-Bar has pumpkin flan

Dolce has pump rav

Amalfi has pump fav

Angelini Osteria has pump tortelli

The Farm has pumpkin gnocchi

Bel Air Bar & Grill - japanese pump rav

Gallegos for pump tamales

Pumpkin Cake or Cheesecake at La Serenata Gourmet

Soleil for pump rav

Chaya - pump gnocchi

Hal's Bar and Grill - pump soup

Juliano's Raw -- tortellini, wraps, and a sushi substitute

Library Alehouse - rav

Canal Club - pump tempura

[Faulkner99]

For pumpkin ravioli specifically, Il Moro used to do a wicked one, and the presentation in a cleaned out pumpkin was pretty cool. Don't know if they still do it, but it might be worth a call.
http://www.ilmoro.com/

[AquaW]

They are just starting that up, I got a press release on it last night. Sounds like a wonderful feast for the eyes & tastebuds!

~H.C.
http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

[Faulkner99]

Glad to hear it. It has been years since I've been there, this might call for a trip back.

[SauceSupreme]

I just had fantastic pumpkin croquettes at Musha. Of course, my favorite pumpkin ravioli goes to Angelini Osteria.

[foodforus]

I re-reviewed the annual Pumpkin list and was wondering about the Pumpkin Tamales. Are they all sweet? Or any one do a savory?

[Moomin]

Gallego's Tamales are sweet-ish. They are a desert item, but I wouldn't call them particularly cloying or intense. Think of the sweet masa used in green corn tamales, then dial it back a little bit. The pie spicing is pretty deep on these, which gives them a darker color than other tamales. Just be aware of Gallego's Deli's wierdly limited hours (and the fact that they only make tamales one or two days a week, so they run out).

The ones at Whole Foods were sweeter because of the addition of Rasins, but not intensely spiced or particularly pumpkin-y.

Honestly, the best Pumpkin Tamales I've ever had were served in the deli section of Mother's Markets in Orange County about ten years ago. They were savory, pumpkin-y and intensely seasoned with pie spices. I doubt that they still have them, and there isn't much else that they stock there that would draw me in, so I've been disinclined to investigate.

[gaylenwaydelich]

Gallego's will make to order. Call and find out what days they have the pumpkin tamales and call that day to "reserve/prepay". I order anywhere from 80 - 90 dozen every Christmas to have delivered to my clients. They will take small orders too. I love there sweet tamales, definitely try the dulche de leche and the pineapple.

[byeCalihelloBahamas]

I posted the pumpkin soup recipe on the Home Cooking board, enjoy!

[rds246]

More Than Waffles, in Encino, has lovely Pumpkin pancakes as well as waffles. Last year they had this amazing apricot compote to put on top of them, it was The Best combination.

[byeCalihelloBahamas]

I have a recipe for Pumpkin Soup, that is too die for! Promise. Have been asked for the recipe at least 100 times. "Family Secret" :-)

I make it on "autopilot", the actual recipe is on my other computer, if anyone really wants it, let me know and I will post.

[cmarie]

i would love the recipe. can you post it sometime soon?

[Diana]

post it in the home cooking board, or the "team" will delete it.

[plantainchips]

Yes please, would love the recipe if you could post it.. (just checked in Home Cooking and didn't see it there..)

[Henry2054]

Zucca has spectacular Pumpkin Raviolis - and the name actually means Pumpkin!

[DanaB]

They have a pumpkin tortelli on the menu at Osteria Angelini. I haven't tried it this year, but their pastas with pumpkin in the past have been wonderful.

http://www.angeliniosteria.com/menus....

[foodforus]

I couldn't help myself and made a run to Cube on La Brea. They have Divine Pasta Pumpkin Ravioli to go in their freezer case. Also, picked up Butternut Squash as well, (just 'cause I was there), just in case you lot are not just "Pumpkin Heads" but "Squash Heads" as well. Lots of other super yummy flavors .I will serve with light cream/sage sauce. $4.99 for a dozen. Yummy!

[Diana]

Butternut is so close to pumpkin (well, it IS a pumpkin, really) that it is often used as filler in pumpkin pack or canned pumpkin. Industry secret.

[Moomin]

My annually updated list:

Mr Pizza Factory pumpkin and cookie-crust cajun shrimp and corn pizza with blue cheese -- good god... this wasn't nearly as wrong as it should have been (served with a side of sweet bread and butter pickle slices)

Zucca's Pumpkin Pizza -- I had it without the ham, and it was pretty good, but pricey

Noah's Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bagels -- too bad there aren't Noah's on every corner anymore

Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale -- it's awful this year

Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale -- not good...

Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale -- much better this year, but still too thin and acidic

Sea Dog Pumpkin Ale -- I think that this is the same as Shipyard

Monastery of the Angels Pumpkin Bread -- I honestly find this a little too fluffy and generic, very strong brown sugar flavor

Jack in the Box Pumpkin Shake -- surprisingly good, honestly

Baskin Robbin's Pumpkin Ice Cream -- Pretty lame

Double Rainbow Pumpkin Ice Cream -- the best pumpkin ice cream on earth, very nice, very spicy, available a Trader Joe's but usually not until around New Year's Eve

Dr. Bob's Pumpkin Ice Cream -- not so good, overly fluffy

Coldstone Pumpkin Patch Ice Cream Sundae -- I like the concept, in execution the blend-ins are better than the pumpkin base

Griddle Cafe Pumpkin Pancakes -- these are unbelievably decadent, with about half a can of pumpkin pie filling on the top... best to share!

John O'Groats Pumpkin Pancakes -- not bad, not enough pumpkin

Jinky's Pumpkin Almond Pancakes -- also not bad, but muted pumpkin flavor

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's Pumpkin Latte -- this should have been made with chai instead of coffee... coffee and pumpkin don't mix

Luggatti’s Italian Grill Huntington Beach Pumpkin Ravioli -- the best of these I've tried

Fritto Misto's Pumpkin Ravioli in sage cream sauce -- not bad, but leaves much to be desired

Pumpkin macarons at Boule -- these are only available when they're in the mood to make them

Thai Nakorn's pumpkin custard -- terrific, but muted pumpkin flavor, tastes more of coconut than pumpkin

Pumpkin Curry at Bulan Thai -- so very good, best pumpkin cury I've ever had

Pumpkin Curry at Chandni -- eh... not terrific

Pumpkin Tamales at Gallego's -- very good stuff, but they dry out fast, eat them right away

Whole Foods Pumpkin Rasin Tamale -- Mostly tastes of rasins, really

Roasted (baked) Pumpkin with spices at El Mercado -- this was outrageously tasty, sticky, spicy and delicious, but it was served cold, I wanted it freshly roasted and hot

Pumpkin Candy on Olvera Street -- how can you say no to a bright orange lump of pumpkin candy

Filling Station's Pumpkin Pie -- not really my speed, but it has a very fluffy custard and a very interesting almond flour crust

Urth Cafe Pumpkin Pie -- this certainly has its merits

Vanilla Bakery's Pumpkin Cupcakes -- Not as good as Leda's

Leda's Pumpkin Cupcakes -- stuffed with Orangey smashyness like a Jaffa Cake

[Diana]

Moomin, I love you and want to marry you. Yes, I'm already married and no, I don't know your gender. I don't care.

Marry me and we'll trip the light fantastic through your wonderful pumpkin world.

This list will take me several seasons!

[Moomin]

As I started keeping track of pumpkin dishes on behalf of my wife, I don't think that you and I were destined to be...

Of course, our shared love of real ales and pumpkins could be kismet of a sort...

[Diana]

ooh real ale! I want to follow CAMRA around some more!

[ElJeffe]

Bulan Thai, here I come!

[Moomin]

The item in question is actually called "Bulan Pumpkin" and is served with tofu in a clear herbal broth. It's really excellent.

Don't be taken in by their Pumpkin Rice, though, as it's made with brown rice, and is pretty awful.

[avena]

Wow I'm in awe. How long have you been working on this list? I don't know where to start. I need to expand my pumpkin world beyond pie. Pumpkin pizza and pumpkin curry intrigue me!

[ElJeffe]

Yeah great job Moomin. Are you a pumpkin fanatic or do you have similar lists for other hard-to-find cuisine?

This is why Chowhound rocks! Unrivaled foodie knowledge. Citysearch? For donkeys. Yelp? School children.

[Moomin]

I've got niche lists for all sorts of things.

Pumpkin just happens to be one of my wife's favorites. This is my third year modifying that list, but each year I've actually taken more out than I've added. I'm still waiting for Dogfish Head to get their West Coast distribution with Stone straightened out so that we can get Punkin' Ale again.

[ElJeffe]

Do share. Any other threads from previous posts you can share?

Crab cakes?
Funnel cake?
Duck confit?
Interesting Creme brulees?
Moroccon bastilla?
Fish tacos?
Vietnamese Bun Cha?

[Moomin]

Gosh. I feel like I'm being called out. I'll see whether I can put together a master list at some point, but it'll take some time.

Recently I posted my vegetarian favorites (there's a veggie burger list as well, but that's another matter):

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/414971

And I haven't posted my Fish Taco breakdown in about five years, but I've got that too (back in 2004 did a "taco tour" post that hit a few of the fish options: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/62425 ).

Somewhere I've got Custard Tarts, and British Grocers and Pubs, and once upon a time I was keeping a list of Thalis under $10 (but it's grossly outdated). I could slap together a pretty good Pad Thai tour of Los Angeles (yet another that I've kept track of for my wife). I've got a good list of eccentric Ice cream places (Persian, Indian, Asian, and so on), and general inerest places on the West Side under $10 per person...

[meatlessinla]

I had a pumpkin macaron from Boule yesterday and while the texture was great, it had no pumpkin flavor, not even pumpkin pie spice.

[The Chowhound Team]

Pardon the interruption, but we've split some interesting ideas on what to do with pumpkins at home to the Home Cooking board. You can follow that discussion here:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/445740

[ipsedixit]

Pumpkin raviolis at Zucca in downtown LA.

Pumpkin Pie ice cream at Fosselman's in Alhambra www.fosselmans.com

Pumpkin and shrimp dumplings at 101 Noodle in Alhambra.

[Diana]

Does Scoops do pumpkin ice cream?

[ipsedixit]

Scoops will do anything. I'm sure Tai can accommodate any request dealing with pumpkin.

[Moomin]

I didn't include Scoops in my list because the flavors rotate so fast, but last week there were at least three different pumpkin flavors on offer. There was Spiced Vegan Pumpkin, a Pumpkin Cheesecake, and a third pumpkin offering that has somehow slipped my mind (sorry), all being served at the same time. It was an uncharacteristic focus on one ingredient...

[goodhealthgourmet]

diana

totally different than scoops...but the chef at the organic yogurt place 'sno:la' in beverly hills told me last week they'd be doing pumpkin soon. all their other flavors are so fantastic i imagine this one will be as well.

i may stop there tomorrow...if i can find out when they're planning to debut the creation, i'll post.

come to think of it, wasn't i trying to convince you to go there the other day...?

see, now you have another reason :)

[Diana]

Yep..they keep adding up!

[stacyface]

My husband adores the pumpkin pancakes at Griddle Cafe called "Tis The Season" pancakes. they are really good. lots of pumpkin pie spices cooked in, a pretty color and yummy fresh whipped cream on top :)

[ElJeffe]

Many Thai restuarants will do a Pumpkin curry special this time of year. Its worth calling around as, when done properly, this is the best pumpkin dish I've ever had.

[Diskes]

Don't forget the pumpkin bread sold at the domincan monastary in Hollywood off of Franklin and Carmen. TO DIE FOR.

[liu]

I liked the pumpkin bread at the Monastery of the Angels, but I much prefer the pumpkin bread at StoneGround Bakery in Agoura Hills. It is loaded with large raisins, walnuts and pumpkin, and not too sweet -- with no fillers.

StoneGround Bakery
5005 Kanan Road (Kanan at Agoura Road)
Agoura Hills
#818.597-8774

[badseed]

I like Monastery of the Angles as well:

their website:
http://www.op-stjoseph.org/nuns/angel...

they also have hand made toffee and other chocolates

-----
The Monastery of the Angels
1977 Carmen Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068

[Pumpkin_Head]

The pumpkin pancakes at Follow Your Heart are most excellent ( had them last weekend )

I used to like the pumpkin muffins at Panera until I found out what was in them. Sigh.

[CookieEater]

why what's in them?

[Pumpkin_Head]

Corn syrup and artificial colors/favors/preservatives - not things that belong in a muffin IMO.

In other pumpkin-related news, I picked up some Spiced Pumpkin and Brandy gelato at Scoops the other day - quite good.

[dinami]

I also like pumpkin muffins from Panera Bread (I bet Il Fornaio's pumpkin muffins are great too!)

[Diana]

OOh, I like John O Groats Pumpkin Pancakes!

We're having a Pumpkin Spice Cake from Leda's Bake Shop for our Anniversary this Sunday.

My favorite Pumpkin Ravioli were from Angeli Caffe, but I bet others woud have equally good recs for ravioli.

I love the pumpkin candy you can get from Vallarta.

[goodhealthgourmet]

they also have pumpkin pancakes at jinky's.

[Diana]

Jinky's is just not John O Groats, I'm afraid.

[dinami]

Cucina Paradiso has excellent pumpkin ravioli. www.cucinaparadiso.net

[foodforus]

Oh pumpkin is just so yummy! My favorite also! Does Divine Pasta still make their's that you can pick up at Whole Foods or other market?