48211 Sat Aug 11 21:14:10 -0700 2001 20 2 Los Angeles Area 0 240196 has there ever been a LA Chowhound get-together? Sat Aug 11 21:14:10 -0700 2001 0 ??? 1 240211 Yeah, sure, I'd be up for it, but just imagine: 1. How the hell would we decide where to *go*? and 2. Pity the person who, say, offered their house and offered to make snacks. I mean, is there a more critical audience? Maybe the Yearly Convention of Michelan Starred Chefs... -thi Sun Aug 12 12:57:28 -0700 2001 240196 0 Thi N. 2 240215 Notes from a SF 'Hound - what has worked for our get togethers is having one person decide where to go - makes a choice of restaurants, date/time (weekday nights have worked best for us - since it's not such a problem getting a reservation and everyone's weekends are always booked up) and post a note on the board. Keep track of the posts and meet and enjoy - ours usually are around 8-10 people. So far ethnic places that have menu items easy to share have worked best. BYOB - esp if the corkage is reasonable. Split check evenly (ours have worked out around $15-30 per person depending on the restaurant) Granted the SF area is a lot more compact so it's worked well for our area. Try it in LA - it's fun! Sun Aug 12 14:18:32 -0700 2001 240211 0 Celery 3 240216 That sounds like a good idea. I know you said BYOB but do the non-drinkers ever moan about having to pay for the corkage? Sun Aug 12 16:27:08 -0700 2001 240215 0 HUh? 4 240218 The non- wine drinkers usually order some soft drinks, beers or other beverages and the bill evens out. Corkage at these restaurants hasn't been huge, like $10 per bottle max and often free. Whenever we've offered to adjust the bill to divvy these up more exactly, the non-drinkers decline. I think it comes out pretty even anyway. Similarly, we'll have non-red meat eaters, non-dessert eaters, non-coffee drinkers, etc., but these all come out in the wash. The places we've been to have been in the value range. The group has been willing to leave 20-25% tips and we still hit the per person range Celery mentioned. Sun Aug 12 17:06:37 -0700 2001 240216 0 Melanie Wong 5 240220 Thanks. Makes sense. Sun Aug 12 18:00:22 -0700 2001 240218 0 HUh? 6 240229 if it were at someone's home, it should be potluck, with everyone bringing something they think is special for others to taste. I don't know any of you, but I'd consider offering my house since I am centrally located, near highland and olympic. especially if everyone bring great food to my house for me to eat. Sun Aug 12 22:43:07 -0700 2001 240220 0 elisha 7 240237 That's nice of you to offer but to me, wouldn't it make sense for a group of people who talk about restaurants to GO to one? Mon Aug 13 08:27:46 -0700 2001 240229 0 alexis 8 240239 I agree - I think meeting at a restaurant would be better. Don't get me wrong - I think the idea of meeting *at all* is a fabulous idea . . . I've gotten so many wonderful ideas from this board lately, I would love to meet you all. Mon Aug 13 11:04:54 -0700 2001 240237 0 SusanB 9 240248 Okay, you guys, lots of talk and no action. Who's going to choose the place and time? Mon Aug 13 13:46:51 -0700 2001 240239 0 LBQT 10 240251 YOU CAN'T ARGUE TASTE... so maybe it's not so much about WHICH restaurant you go to as long as it can accomodate a big group of folks who want to talk and most importantly, HEAR each other. How about LUNCH at the FARMERS MARKET on Fairfax - the group can choose to have Brazillian churrascos or Crepes and chat over Beignets and chicory coffee. Or DINNER at MANNA on OLYMPIC - Korean style steamed Shabu or the grill. Big tables. Patio seating. As for time, how about next Saturday, the 25th at 7PM? It would be great to meet all of you too. (Hello Thi, it's Jude) Mon Aug 13 14:46:15 -0700 2001 240248 0 critical 11 240254 Can I vote for a midweek dinner? My weekends are booked way in advance, and besides, most restaurants are less busy midweek so we will be less likely to be rushed. Mon Aug 13 15:08:30 -0700 2001 240251 0 Richard Foss 12 240257 farmers market is not open in the evenings, is it? it's going to be hard to find a time that accomodates everyone. but I can make practically any time. there is phillipes downtown. they have a meeting room upstairs. Mon Aug 13 16:03:29 -0700 2001 240254 0 elisha 13 240261 Another suggestion: Ocean Star, in Monterey Park. Good eats, and they have multiple banquet rooms. Chinese food: it's better when there's more people. -thi Mon Aug 13 16:34:06 -0700 2001 240257 0 Thi N. 14 240263 I vote a Wednesday night at 7PM. I will go with a Korean BBQ, someplace like Chosun Galbi or the earlier mentioned MANNA on OLYMPIC. Shall we set it before we forget it? Mon Aug 13 16:55:41 -0700 2001 240261 0 Rachel Lee 15 240290 Next Wednesday? Anybody willing to take a head count offlist so we don't fill the whole board on this subject? Tue Aug 14 00:51:09 -0700 2001 240263 0 Richard Foss 16 240297 OK. I have set up a special e-mail account for this project. Chowmama888@hotmail.com (cute eh?) I suggest Wednesday, August 22, 2001 @ 7:30PM. Lets firm up a place and get it going. I also suggest that I will make a reservation so lets set Monday August 20 @ 9PM as a cut off for the head count. I was reading through the old postings and one place seems to stand out as a overall favourite, 888 Seafood in Rosemead. Yes, I know it is not as central as Koreatown, but I could not find a bad word about the place on any list. Whaddya think? Tue Aug 14 04:36:17 -0700 2001 240290 0 Rachel Lee 17 240318 Just a suggestion - when I used to set up dinners like this for friends - Whoever sets it up has a set number of people, calls the restaurant, or goes personally, talks to the chef and explains that it's a group of (however many) and that they are adventurous, trust the chef, want interesting and typical food, perhaps on the menu but maybe not, and come to an agreement on price per head. In a European style place, this comes to everyone getting a multi-course dinner, in an Asian place, many dishes brought to table. As well, in Asian places, the plates will be decorated more nicely than if you just walk in. Also, the price is set, no surprizes, and drinks are settled individually. If five people want to share a bottle, or someone downs 6 diet cokes, that's settled separately. The best thing about this, though, is that the restaurant goes to a special effort and isn't surprized.After all, this isn't an incognito visit for some reviewer, it's a dinner - let the restaurant do better than usual. who cares if you'll get it again? You had a chance to have something wonderful once. Tue Aug 14 18:23:27 -0700 2001 240297 0 jerome 18 240320 that sounds good to me. i have never been to Ocean Star in Monterey Park, but a banquet there would be excellent. as a group, if we set up the meal here beforehand i think it would be truly spectacular. I'm sushi conosseiur so would that be an option for a chowhound get-together. tsukasa, asanebo, or shibucho could be great, but maybe can't handle a group of our size. an indian restaurant might work too. just a suggestion. Tue Aug 14 18:39:22 -0700 2001 240318 0 kevin 3 240217 Non drinkers!? So far it's worked out - the emphasis should be on the food and company, not the exact dollar figures - that's why an even split has worked well (at least for me - I can't really speak for everyone!). Sun Aug 12 17:02:14 -0700 2001 240215 0 Celery 2 240279 How about the newish Kung Pao Bistro at Santa Monica and Fairfax in the former Boston Market location in front of Whole Foods. They can accommodate larger crowds, the food is quite good, very affordable with an ok wine list. Make that part byo if you choose. They use only the finest shrimp, scallops, USDA choice beef, and their sauces are from scratch, with no MSG. Generally minimal notice is required as most of their business is taken out or delivered. Seats around 60 or so. Have special filet mignon, lamb dishes and even special orders can be taken ahead. Have locations also in Studio City and Sherman Oaks, but it is easiest to get into the Weho one as it is quite new (April of this year). Mon Aug 13 20:22:47 -0700 2001 240211 0 carter