50750 Wed Jun 26 17:02:56 -0700 2002 21 2 Los Angeles Area 0 257102 Let's be real. Is there any true New Yorker who is ever going to agree that there's a bona fide NY style pizza, hot dog, bagel, deli, etc. in Los Angeles? Isn't that part of what makes it New York style: the accept-no-substitutes attitude? Contrary evidence gratefully welcomed. Wed Jun 26 17:02:56 -0700 2002 0 mc michael 1 257104 If by "true New Yorker" you mean the sort who clings to his roots as a way of saying "I'm a more serious person than you shallow Angelenos", you're absolutely right. Anyhow, as I said to myself the first time I ate at John's, "that was good...but it was just a pizza." Wed Jun 26 17:24:23 -0700 2002 257102 0 Michael Robertson Moore 2 257105 Anyhow, as I said to myself the first time I ate at John's, "that was good...but it was just a pizza.">> Q. Who could argue with that? A. A New Yorker. Wed Jun 26 17:51:23 -0700 2002 257104 0 mc michael 3 257107 I'm expecting a volley of argument. But hell, I lived in NYC long enough. I can hurl a few f-words. Wed Jun 26 18:01:55 -0700 2002 257105 0 Michael Robertson Moore 1 257116 There isn't going to be a real New York anything in Los Angeles for the simple reason that LA != NY. (That's 'does not equal' for you non-geeks out there.) Just like there's not real LA smoothies in New York. There's not San Fernando tacos. There's no Pink's Chili Dogs. There's no In-N-Out substitute in New York. I just accept the substitutes, or don't eat them, and save up my cravings for trips to New York, where I can get out there, eat New York pizza, knishes, whatever, and use the F-word as a comma, just like I used to. Wed Jun 26 19:15:43 -0700 2002 257102 0 PRSMDave 2 257123 I totally agree. I avoid eating cheesesteaks, cannolis or hoagies except when in my hometown (if you did not guess, Phila.). When I do try something like these here, I just hope it can approximate - it will never be the same. I try to focus on what is truly excellent about So. Cal cuisine instead (i.e. sushi!!) Still, I appreciate the search for it, but I try not to get on the East Coast high horse about certain things... then again, I'm not from NYC ;) Wed Jun 26 19:53:59 -0700 2002 257116 0 Megan 3 257127 How long before Russkar chimes in about the FANTASTIC NEW YORK CHEESCAKE at PASTINA? Wed Jun 26 22:29:45 -0700 2002 257123 0 Foodie 4 257141 If the Shoe fits wear it! You crack me up. You have RUINED the word FOODIE for many, haven't you? AND YOUR NO FOODIE, NOT EVEN CLOSE! By the way go have the best Cheesecake you've ever had at THE GRILL on THE ALLEY BH, PASTINA W. LA, FIVE CROWNS CDM or?, it's all the same. Thu Jun 27 03:11:08 -0700 2002 257127 0 russkar 5 257158 hey russ, how do they serve the cheesecake (the Petaluma bakery one) at Pastina is it unadorned or does it got a raspberry or strawberry sauce or something? and which way is better if i actually got the choice. and how much will a slice set back, more than eight bucks for the little gem? i guess it must be pretty popular because last time my colleague went there was going to bring me a slice back, but it was all gone and that wasn't even too late in the evening. Thu Jun 27 12:08:52 -0700 2002 257141 0 kevin 6 257165 A thought: maybe RUSSKAR actually plants these questions so that he can PRAISE the OUT OF THIS WORLD CHEESECAKE yet again. I mean, haven't we seen this EXACT question a month ago or so? I don't mean to flame the poster Kevin but after all he does refer to RUSSKAR in a rather familiar vein which leads me to believe that he's no newbie. Kevin, do tell, are you a shill? Russkar: I'm just giving you the business. I think it's great to have strong, passions and that you do. It's just sometimes a whisper works better than a scream. People might get the mistaken impression that either you or your good friends have something to gain by our attending Pastina (you don't need to assure us that this isn't true). Also, how do I give Foodie a bad name? It already has one! It's a lamentable moniker and one that is specifically derided in the Chowhound's Handbook on How To Post so I protest (!) and think it's unfair to give ME credit for hurting the maligned word. Additionally, I have taste not just in food and restaurants but also in posters and posts. Is that a crime? As to good recent meals? Had a fantastic dinner last night at ANGELINI OSTERIA. They are really on top of it over there. Had FARRO SALAD and the OCTOPUS SALAD, both of which were fresh and utterly fantastic. Also the LIME AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO and the SALT BAKED BRANZINO were knockouts. Yes, the place takes hits for (a) it's success and (b) the noise factor but for an authentic trattoria there's nowhere in LA that comes close. Went to JOE'S (in Venice) on Monday night for a TASTE of VENICE where chefs from many Abbott Kinney establishments cooked a rather lackluster series of dishes. Sad. In fact, I think JOE'S goes into the OVERRATED pile for me; I've never had a good meal there and I've had MANY. I went to the WATERGRILL in May based in part on your INSANE AND OVER-THE-TOP PRAISE for the place and I have to say that I was sorely DISAPPOINTED. In my view this place is for people who have LOST THEIR TASTE BUDS. That's right -- I found everything drowned in rich, over-reduced and HUGELY OVER-SALTED sauces. This is the kind of food that people with expense accounts THINK is good because it is so RICH and EXPENSIVE, and you have unctuous young waiters hovering around your table like flies. Not the way I like to dine. Please, put better people in the kitchen and less people on the floor. The SOMMELIER was a super nice guy and selected 4 half bottles for our 8 courses so even if he didn't know much about the wine he was a big plus to an otherwise wasted dining experience. You'll be happy to know that Michael McCarthy was happily munching away in another booth, no doubt gleaning kitchen secrets for his own, similarly bogus restaurant. Thu Jun 27 12:56:18 -0700 2002 257158 0 Foodie 7 257186 Foodie I must admit that we agree on several fronts. I have no idea who Kevin is(I'm sure he's a great guy) and only have met a couple of Posters over the last few months, one being Chino Wayne. Your right that Joe's is very over-rated, I dislike Michael's too. I will go back to Angelini's because I can't believe I would have such an awful experience and your's so incredible, somethings fishy in Denmark. My recent Water Grill experience was not up to the level of the previous one I compared to Laundry unfortunately, bummer. Have you had the Baked NY cheesecake so often mentioned? Dinner at Four Oaks Tue. Thu Jun 27 15:06:47 -0700 2002 257165 0 russkar 8 257192 I have to put in my two cents on the cheesecake. It is absolutely the best I have ever had, anywhere (including New York). Even if it's $8 a slice, it's worth it, with or without fruit - and one slice is more than enough for two to share. Thu Jun 27 16:53:22 -0700 2002 257186 0 LBQT 7 257240 no relation to russkar. just always on the hunt for delicious food whether it be the much praised cheesecake or a kaiseki/sushi omakase meal at a small restaurant in monterey park or the tiny, almost hidden cafe blanc in bh for tremendous french japanese food, or the almost too delicious pastrami (nicely greasy and salty and perfectly spiced) for what is basically a fast-food shack at the Hat (loads better than johnie's pastrami in culver city.) or extemely delicious and exotic ice cream flavors at mashti's. merely on the search for good. Sat Jun 29 13:39:24 -0700 2002 257165 0 kevin 7 257333 Funny post. Found it while trying to figure out how Joe's in Venice is faring these days. Is it still a winner? Tue May 25 13:02:08 -0700 2004 257165 0 Ecce Homo 6 257197 Pastina serves it plain which "works for me" and the price is somewhere around 5- I think. The Grill offers it with "stuff" on it, for big bucks. Thu Jun 27 17:51:28 -0700 2002 257158 0 russkar 5 257209 As members of the same family as Five Crowns, do the Tam O'Shanter and Lawry's the Prime Rib serve the same cheesecake? Fri Jun 28 06:12:50 -0700 2002 257141 0 G 6 257213 Don't know, maybe? Fri Jun 28 07:44:45 -0700 2002 257209 0 russkar 3 257208 As a Philly boy transplanted to L.A. nearly thirty years ago, I found I didn't appreciate steak sandwiches nearly as much during my twenty years living in Philadelphia, and I search them out here. Believe me, Philly's Best in O.C. (several locations) is as close as you'll get. They import all their ingredients from Philly, including Amoroso's rolls, white American cheese, and they even have Taylor Pork Roll, Habersetts scrapple, and, of course, a nice selection of Tastykakes. Fri Jun 28 06:10:47 -0700 2002 257123 0 NortheastPhil@adelphia 4 257300 would like information on how to purchase habersetts scrapple. Wed Jun 04 11:22:31 -0700 2003 257208 0 jim calrymple 5 257328 I would love to find Habersetts scrapple too! My parents were both born and raised in Media, Pa and we got transfered a lot with Ford and anytime anyone from Media would come to visit they would bring Habersett's Scrapple - yum!! I have seen it over the years in the occasional grocery store but not recently. No other brand is as good. Have you found any? Sun Feb 01 16:59:46 -0800 2004 257300 0 Joanne Young 2 257124 Have you read Bourdain? Now there's a guy with a way with a "comma." Wed Jun 26 20:09:59 -0700 2002 257116 0 mc michael 1 257228 casa bianca in eagle rock- they even have checkered plastic cloth table covers. they amke thir own suasage also Fri Jun 28 19:38:42 -0700 2002 257102 0 chris