santa monica: frogo

tommy tries frogo, the newest yogurt shop in the hood...


a swirl of mixed berry and plain tart with pineapple

tommy says: frogo just opened last friday, so they are still working out the kinks... they didn't have mochi (but will be getting it in, so they say), used canned pineapple instead of fresh, and didn't have all the flavors available... yogurt was a bit too sweet. also tasted the chocolate, which tasted just like tcby chocolate (not tart)...they have free wifi and will eventually be serving coffee as well, free parking in the back of the building... with so many fro-yo options available, not sure if this one deserves a repeat visit...

frogo
1300 wilshire blvd
santa monica, ca 90403
(310) 395-6794

los angeles - hollywood: palms thai

tommy enjoys palms thai despite the lack of thai elvis...


red curry


fried trout with mango sauce

tommy says: the flavors were bold and tasty. the curry was good, though it could've used some more veggies. the mango sauce is sooo tasty! portions are quite generous... if only thai elvis had been there... apparently he only performs wednesday to saturday nights...

plams thai
5900 hollywood blvd

los angeles, ca 90028

(323) 462-5073
http://www.palmsthai.com/

los angeles - westwood: red mango

tommy gets his fro-yo on at red mango...


original with strawberries and mochi
original with mango, mochi, and captain crunch

tommy says: similar to pinkberry, they only offer 2 flavors (original and green tea) however, the texture is of the yogurt is softer than pinkberry and it tastes slightly different as well... but at the end of the day, it's just another fro-yo joint...

red mango
10942 weyburn ave
los angeles, ca 90024
(310) 209-0194
http://www.redmangousa.com/

los angeles - westwood: soleil

tommy finds sustenace at soleil in westwood...


crême de tomate flambée - cream of tomato soup with mushrooms flambeed with cognac


sylvie picasso pasta - linguini, brie cheese, sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic and spinach


lamb shank - braised fork tender

tommy says: the tomato soup and the lamb were great! the sylvie picasso pasta was underwhelming and a bit bland, but the glenn and cathy (linguini with mixed vegetables, bell pepper, chicken, olive oil and garlic in a wine reduction; not photographed) was quite tasty!

soliel
1386 westwood blvd

los angeles, ca 90024

(310) 441-5384
http://www.soleilwestwood.com/

los angeles - koreatown: park's bbq

tommy pigs out at park's bbq in ktown...


assorted banchan (side dishes)


kalbi - seasoned prime short rib


gaeranjim - steamed egg


undaegujorim - spicy black cod


bibim nengmyun - spicy buckwheat noodle

tommy says: decent korean food, but nothing extraordinary... kalbi was a tad too sweet (also, if you want to grill at your table you must order at least 2 bbq dishes... this is pretty standard at most korean restaurants). the steamed egg wasn't as good as other places, but was a big portion. spicy black cod was good, but better can be had at chosun. bibim nengmyun were mediocre and probably not worth ordering. overall, nothing was terrible but no standouts either...

park's bbq

955 s vermont ave

los angeles, ca 90005

(213) 380-1717
http://www.parksbbq.com

los angeles: osteria la buca

tommy transports to italy via osteria la buca...


caprese


bread and tomato sauce


pappardelle fume: handmade noodles with a creamy pink sauce with bits of pancetta


panna cotta


tiramisu

tommy says: heavenly handmade pasta! the sauce was rich but quite tasty. the caprese was forgettable, but the bread and tomato sauce was wonderful. the pièce de résistance was dessert! the panna cotta was perfectly smooth and flavorful without being too light and gelatinous! the tiramisu was out of control!! just the right amount of espresso so the ladyfingers weren't too mushy, and the marscapone was creamy and light with the perfect hint of sweetness - none of the components overpowered, all the flavors were harmoniously balanced!! the desserts alone make it worth a visit!

osteria la buca

5210 melrose ave

los angeles, ca 90038

(323) 462-1900

san gabriel valley - alhambra: tasty garden

tommy enjoys afternoon tea at tasty garden...


beef chow fun



hong kong style pancakes
milk tea

tommy says: super cheap afternoon snack! tasty garden offers an afternoon tea specials that are $5-$6 each and comes with tea (with free refills! even in a to-go cup!). the chow fun was a bit on the oily side, but still decent, and the portion was quite generous considering the price. pancakes were not too sweet and went perfectly with the milk tea. all this for $11!!

tasty garden
1212 south baldwin ave
arcadia, ca 91007

(626) 445-9388

santa monica: cha cha chicken

tommy chows at cha cha chicken in santa monica...


gumbo soup


jerk combo:
jerk chicken tostada - crunchy tortillas topped with rice & black beans
lettuce, shredded chicken and parmesan cheese
jerk chicken enchilada - jamaican style chicken breast enchiladas smothered in sweet spicy mango pineapple jerk sauce


mulato cubano: grilled crispy shredded chicken sandwich with lettuce
pickles and cheese
red cabbage slaw

tommy says: muy sabroso! the jerk combo was absolutely fantastic! the tostada had a bit of heat, the enchilada was slightly sweet, and the plantains were great (just wished there were more). the sandwich was good, the sauce that it comes with complements perfectly. the gumbo was just ok, but the little muffin that came with it was tasty.

cha cha chicken

1906 ocean avenue

santa monica, ca 90405

(310) 581-1684
http://www.chachachicken.com

santa monica: dhaba cuisine of india

tommy is dissatisfied with dhaba cuisine of india...


lamb biryani


chicken tikka masala


vegetable korma

tommy says: such a disappointment! the lamb and chicken were dry. the biryani was pretty bland. the chicken tikka masala was simply terrible... vegetable korma was actually ok, but not spectacular. garlic naan wasn't so great either...

dhaba cuisine of india
2104 main st
santa monica, ca 90405
(310) 399-9452
http://dhaba.biz/

san gabriel valley - arcadia: simbala

tommy chills with some taiwanese shaved ice at simbala...


shaved ice with lychee, flan, almond tofu, coconut jelly, sweetened condensed milk, and brown sugar syrup

tommy says: the secret for making this so good is in the condensed milk! choose 5 toppings (brown sugar syrup doesn't count as a topping, but the condensed milk does) ranging from peanuts and red bean to pineapple and flan. so delicious and big enough to share!!

simbala

651 w duarte rd ste f
arcadia, ca 91007

(626) 446-0886

san gabriel valley - alhambra: savoy

tommy grubs at savoy in alhambra...


hainan chicken rice



halibut with cream sauce

tommy says: yummy hainan chicken comes with 3 sauces (ginger, hot, and soy). the chicken is super tender and juicy (get the dark meat). the halibut came with pasta, and the cream sauce was a bit heavy but still tasty. oh, and the price is right! two orders of chicken, the halibut and 2 teas came to $26 with tax!!!

savoy kitchen
138 e valley blvd
alhambra, ca 91801
(626) 308-9535

santa monica: joe's pizza

tommy takes in a ny slice in santa monica at joe's of bleeker...


fresh mozzarella

tommy says: the thin crust and sauce were just right... the mozzarella wasn't so fresh and the slice could've been warmed up a lil longer. all in all an ok slice, not the greatest, but its still worth a return visit.

joe's pizza

111 broadway

santa monica, ca 90407

(310) 395-9222
http://www.joespizza.com/

phoenix - scottsdale: orange table

tommy hits up orange table in the valley of the sun...


ruben


cafe


arrogant bastard burger

tommy says: best burger in phoenix! ruben was quite tasty and the cafe was refreshing. can be tricky to find, but its worth the search!

orange table

7373 e scottsdale mall, #6

scottsdale, az 85251

menu

culver city: beacon

tommy doesn't see the light at beacon


green papaya salad


tasmanian salmon trout with falls mills stone ground grits, and chinese black bean sauce


green tea and sour cream ice cream sundae with strawberriebs, kiwi, and crunchy bits

tommy says: overall, food was underwhelming food and generally bland. green papaya salad was ok, but could have used some umph. the salmon had skin that was nice and crisp and the black bean sauce paired nicely. the grits were completely flavorless and boring. the ice cream sundae was not bad, but was still lacking... ho hum...

beacon

3280 helms ave

culver city, ca 90232

(310) 838-7500
http://www.beacon-la.com/

san gabriel valley - alhambra: 101 noodle express

tommy experiences his first beef roll at 101 noodle express in alhambra...


cold tofu noodles


fried shrimp and pumpkin dumplings
scallop and pork dumplings


BEEF ROLLS

tommy says: the beef rolls are amazing!! the dumplings aren't bad either, but the beef rolls is where its at! the meat is so tender, the sauce is flavorful, the essence of cilantro complements without being overpowering, and the wrap just binds up the heavenly concoction! a gift from the gods!

101 noodle express
1408 e valley blvd
alhambra, ca 91801
(626) 300-8654
http://www.yelp.com/biz/101-noodle-express-alhambra

los angeles: pizzeria mozza

tommy tries batali's pizzeria mozza


meatballs al forno
fior di latte, apple, celery & ligurian olives


clams, garlic, oregano, parmigiano & pecorino


fennel sausage, panna & spring onions

tommy says: the crust on the pizza is the real draw. the salad and meatballs were good, as was the sausage pizza. the clam pizza was too clammy and could have used a tomato sauce to help balance out the flavor... although from the looks of it, it appears that none of the pizzas have any kind of sauce... reservations are a must, even for an early dinner.

pizzeria mozza

641 n highland ave

los angeles, ca 90036

(323) 297-0101

http://www.mozza-la.com/pizzeria/about.cfm