November 12th, 2008 — Newspaper Articles
Everybody loves pie, but when it comes to making one, many cooks shy away because of the crust.
While there are all kinds of crusts — cookie crumb, nut, meringue, shortbread and coconut — it’s flaky pastry dough that cooks fear and find elusive. Pastry dough is really not difficult if you know the secret of making it flaky….read more of the article: “Crust that’s easy as pie” (go towards the bottom of the linked page to view the recipes!)
June 12th, 2008 — Newspaper Articles
Today’s article in the L.A. Daily News, “More bite for your buck”, discusses the issue of people’s eating habits as the economy sours. Here’s a list I put together of great places to eat a meal that won’t hurt the wallet!
You’ll see a certain restaurant at the top of the list below. Every time my son comes back into town, he MUST visit Zankou at least once! It’s that and In-n-out Burger.
Great Cheap Eats!
Zankou Chicken
5658 Sepulveda Blvd.
Van Nuys
(818) 781-0615
and
1415 E. Colorado Blvd.
Glendale
(818) 244-1937
and
1001 N. San Fernando Blvd, Suite 100
Burbank
(818) 238-0414
also locations in Pasadena, West LA., Hollywood, Anaheim.
Wonderful half rotisserie chicken or beef or tri-tip schwarma plates are $8.99 and include hummus or tahini, pickles, tomatoes and pita. Roasted chicken sandwiches (with garlic sauce and tomatoes) are $4.29. Be sure to get a side of the terrific moutabal (eggplant dip) with pita bread ($6.60). Also falafel, salads, tabouli salad and more.
Zanos Pizza Kitchen
21604 Ventura Blvd.
Woodland Hills
(818) 719-0003
Pizza, pasta, paninis, calzone and salads are available (in big portions) - ranging from $5.50 to $21. For $7, you can get a slice of pizza, a cold salad and a drink (with free refills).
Mandarin Deli
9305 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge
(818) 993-0122
Mandarin Chinese cuisine featured. Try the noodle soups ($6.95), pot stickers ($5.95), scallion pancake ($3.75) along with cucumber and other salads ($3.75). Entree selections, ranging from $9.50 to $12.50 include kung pao chicken, Mandarin boneless chicken, orange chicken, Mongolian beef and hot spicy shrimp, etc. Vegetable and noodle dishes are $7.50 to $8.50.
The Gourmet Tamale Factory
119 N. Maclay Ave.
San Fernando
(818) 837-3524
Although not really a restaurant, you can eat on the premises or pick up tamales and chiles rellenos to go. A dinner plate with Mexican rice, pinto beans and a tamale is about $3. A chile rellenos plate with rice and beans is about $6. Large tamales (beef, pork, chicken, cheese, pineapple, corn or mixed vegetables) are $1.95 each or $19 to $21 a dozen. Chiles rellenos are $2.75 each.
Ginger Thai Cuisine
22330 Sherman Way
West Hills
(818) 887-7118
Salads — such as seafood, papaya, beef or green mango — range from $8 to $12 - and entrees such as yellow chicken curry, chicken kiapow, fish filet with tamarind sauce or grilled rib eye beef,` range from $8 to $18.
The Original Chef Burger Greek Cafe
1543 Los Angeles Ave.
Simi Valley
(805) 520-3997
and
Chef Burger Greek Cafe
(different owner)
4397 Township Ave.
Simi Valley
(805) 582-1491
Serves burgers and hot dogs but noted for Greek and Mediterranean fare. For $7.95, several dinners are available including moussaka and rice, a choice of four different shish kabobs (beef, pork, chicken) with rice and Greek baked potatoes or a grape leaves dinner with rice and veggies. All served with pita bread. Greek appetizers are $2.95 to $4.95; Greek salad is $6.95 (large). Also serve tri-tip or pastrami sandwiches and more. Sit down, take out or drive through.
Campos Famous Burritos
2149 Tapo St.
Simi Valley
(805) 522-8590
More than a dozen combination plates available, among them chiles rellenos with rice and beans; a taco, enchilada, rice and beans; and a carne asada plate ranging $3.80 to $5.35. A la carte items like nachos, tostadas, tacos and burritos at $3.85 to $4.40.
Bamboo Forest Chinese Restaurant
14834 Burbank Blvd.
Sherman Oaks
(818) 988-8688
Dinner entrees priced from $6.50 to $10.25. Most popular are volcano shrimp, orange chicken, walnut shrimp, pineapple chicken fried rice, and chicken asparagus - all served with steamed rice. Appetizers such as eggs rolls, white meat chicken dumplings, and crab and cream cheese wontons range from $2.25 to $5.75. Eat in, take out or will deliver.
Rincome Thai
17050 Devonshire St.
Northridge
(818) 366-5805
A Thai dinner for $7.95 includes an eggroll, rice, salad and a choice of entrees such as chicken yellow curry, pad Thai noodles, chicken with mint leaves, beef with broccoli and more. A la carte entree items also available for $6.95.
Melody’s Mexican Kitchen
6747 Reseda Blvd.
Reseda
(818) 609-9062
Combination plates — two hard-shell tacos with rice and beans or enchilada and tacos, etc., are $5.50 to $9.60. The salpicon tostada with choice of meat is $7.50, while the carne asada burrito, dry or wet (with cheese sauce on top) ranges from $6.75 to $7.85. The menu also includes appetizers, desserts, beans, rice and other items.
Pita Pockets
9127 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge
(818) 709-4444
Middle Eastern food to eat in or take out. Lots of options for $5 to $10. The lemon chicken and gyros plates are popular, as are chicken schwarma in fresh lafsa bread that is baked on the premises. Tabouli, hummus, baba ganoush and falafel are also available. You can get lamb, chicken and chicken kabob plates with sides - an entire meal for $10 or less.
La Fogata
5142 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks
(818) 501-9065
Burritos, tacos and enchiladas plates are around $8. A la carte items range from $2 to $5. No lard used here. Eat in or take out.
Carnival
4356 Woodman Ave.
Sherman Oaks
(818) 784-3469
Dinner specials range from $8.95 (bean stew, stuffed chicken) to $12.95 (lamb shanks) and include rice. Appetizers range from $3.75 to $5.50. Combination appetizer platter (enough for two to share) is $8.95 to $11.95. A la carte entrees $11.25 and up. Beef and lamb or chicken schwarma dinner plate is $12.95 and comes with rice and salad; schwarma sandwich is $5.95.
Tony’s Mexican Grill
12910 Magnolia Blvd.
Sherman Oaks
(818) 769-5754
Dinner specials vary on different nights and might include mahi mahi fish with mashed potatoes, spinach and grilled zucchini topped with sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and mushrooms sauteed in a lime sauce or grilled salmon over rice with grilled spinach and zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, and green and black olive salsa, and tortillas on the side, with prices from $12.95 to $13.95. Also available are burritos, enchiladas, tacos, taquitos, chiles rellenos, fajitas, tostadas and more for $2.50 to $10.50. House specialties include items like tilapia, torta sandwiches, soups, trout and seafood plates.
Versailles
17410 Ventura Blvd.
Encino
(818) 906-0756
and
1000 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 937-6829
also Los Angeles, Universal CityWalk
Featuring Cuban food, this chain is known for its garlic chicken but also serves beef, roast pork and seafood. A half chicken dinner with white rice, black beans and fried plantain is $9.95. Other dinner plates are $10.95 to $12.95. Salads are $4.99. Soups including black bean and chicken are $3.
Cafe Bravo
1135 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
Glendale
(818) 500-4005
Middle Eastern food. Plates with skewers of chicken breast, beef or pork kabobs are around $7 and come with with rice and two sides (choices of tabouli, hummus, tomato salad, etc.) and pita bread. Other dinners such as lulu kabobs or ground chicken lulu are $6.50. A la carte appetizers range from $2 to $5.25. Dine in or take out.
Tangy Thai
16045 Sherman Way, Suite D
Van Nuys
(818) 994-7556
Dinner prices range from $6.95 to $9.50 and entrees come with steamed rice. Popular entrees include Thai BBQ chicken, ginger fish, jumbo shrimp and spicy noodles. Appetizers such as Thai egg rolls, crispy wontons, fried tofu and jumbo shrimp tempura range from $4.95 to $7.95.
Pine Tree Inn
8322 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge
(818) 886-1512
Korean food. Chicken dinner is $13.95 (you cook at the table) while barbecue beef is $17.95 - the dinners come with soup, salad and vegetables. Other options also available.
India Sweets & Spices
22009 Sherman Way
Canoga Park
(818) 887-0868
and
18110 Parthenia St.
Northridge
(818) 407-1498
Indian vegetarian fare featured. Dinner specials (order at a counter) range from $4.49 to $6.49 and include rice, two vegetables, one bread, yogurt, salad and pickles (add a few snacks for the higher price). Other options also available. A grocery store is adjacent to the eating area.
Hummus Bar
18743 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana
(818) 344-6606
You’ll find many varieties of hummus here along with other Middle Eastern specialties. Dinner plates with items such as chicken breast, schwarma or meat ball kabobs with two sides range from $11 to $15.
Kabuki Sushi
9701 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge
(818) 886-8266
Besides sushi, this Japanese restaurant offers chicken teriyaki and other combination dinners at $14 to $15 along with seafood salads ($9.75 to $12.25) and more.
May 30th, 2008 — Newspaper Articles
If you’ve ever stopped at a gas station in Italy, pointed at one of the stacks of pre-made sandwiches and asked to have it pressed or toasted, you’ll be hooked on panini. They are amazing. More than likely, you may not be able to stop at a single panino. But you don’t have to travel to Italy. Now you can get your fix in the Southland at a growing number of establishments that specialize in the warm, crispy, irresistible sandwiches.
Please read the article…“Start the presses! Panini are here!”. For the Panini recipes: “Paninis you can make at home”. For some new haunts to enjoy a Panini: “Places to pick up panini”.
April 24th, 2008 — Newspaper Articles
If you, like most of us, feel you don’t have much time to cook - let alone entertain or even have friends over - I have a few fast-fix strategies to make your next get-together a stress-free hit. Recently, I was put to the test when some out-of-town relatives dropped by for dinner on a moment’s notice. With about three hours to pull a meal together, I opted for fuss-free creations that looked appealing and tasted delicious, relying on my refrigerator, freezer and well-stocked pantry.
Read the rest of the article…“10 fast-fix favorites for stress-free get-togethers”
February 6th, 2008 — Newspaper Articles
You may recognize Martin Yan, the celebrated TV host, restaurateur, chef and author of 26 cookbooks, who has been demystifying Asian cuisine for Americans for more than 25 years… He sprinkles his cooking presentations with lightning-fast knife skills, wit, humor and gusto. Home cooks can embark on a culinary journey through China enjoying Yan’s expertise and flair…
Please read the article for more…“Yan returns to the cooking spotlight”
December 5th, 2007 — Newspaper Articles
I had the chance to do an article on Sherry Yard and her new cookbook. She is incredibly talented and I have enjoyed her creations for years. Here’s a link to the article: Desserts are sweetest way to punctuate a meal.
