Andy Gavin's Blog, page 53
October 23, 2021
Dune 2021 (shades of 1984)
Film: Dune (2021)
Genre: Science Fiction (leaning slightly into Fantasy)
Watched: Oct 22, 2021 (on 80″ home screen, Dolby)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Summary: Excellent, but not without issues to discuss
_I must state right off the bat that I’ve been a huge Dune fan for decades. I’ve read the first book 4-5 times and the entire series at least once (although it’s been decades) and am also one of those rare fans of the 1984 David Lynch version. I’ve always liked David Lynch films in general and ...
October 22, 2021
J Zhou Prequel
Restaurant: J Zhou
Location: 2601 Park Ave, Tustin, CA 92782. (714) 258-8833
Date: June 17, 2021
Cuisine: Cantonese Chinese
Rating: Amazing (if pricey) crab
_Today is the third day of our epic Foodie Club June mega week, and tonight is a special La Tâche dinner deep in the OC, so we wanted to “warm up” (sans wine) with a bit of Orange County Chinese food.
J Zhou is the fanciest of the OC’s big Cantonese palaces and I’ve heard good things about it for a long time.
There were 3 of us, but we ha...
October 18, 2021
N/Naka on the Nose
Restaurant: N/Naka [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Location: 3455 S. Overland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034. 310.836.6252
Date: June 16, 2021
Rating: Awesome
ANY CHARACTER HEREN/Naka served as the host location for the second of our 3 epic June “Fred” dinners, this one being themed around Coche-Dury Les Rougeots.
The empty interior. This was actually the first night that N/Naka reopened after the long lockdown closure.
Our table — before we got to it.
1996 Moët & Chandon Cha...
October 15, 2021
Power Providence
Restaurant: Providence [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Location: 5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038. (323) 460-4170
Date: June 15, 2021
Cuisine: Cal French
Rating: Best meal I’ve had at Providence
_I usually make it to Providence about once a year, and so we return with the Foodie Club for a small, epic main dining room. After a long time off (for the pandemic) the core gang of myself, Erick, and Fred met up, joined by Michael Z wanted to really up the game and we focused on the awesome white Burgu...
October 8, 2021
Birdie G Birthday
Restaurant: Birdie G’s
Location: 2421 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404. (310) 310-3616
Date: June 11, 2021
Cuisine: Modern Deli?
Rating: Small menu but tasty
_I had intended to go to Birdie G’s sometime before the pandemic but it never happened. So, when looking for a place to go with my wife on my birthday (al fresco) we decided to check it out.
They have a very interesting modern look that fits in with the Bergamot Station vibe (that’s where they’re locate, just across the street from m...
October 1, 2021
Marino al Fresco
Restaurant: Marino Ristorante [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Location: 6001 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038. (323) 466-8812
Date: June 3, 2021
Cuisine: Italian
Rating: Superb
_Tonight I return to a favorite haunt.
The amazing chef/owner Sal Marino cooks at his original family location, venerable Marino Ristorante on Melrose and continues to whip up his unique blend of amazing modern Italian. And if anything, he’s gotten even better.
Post pandemic they’ve turned the parking lot into a cute patio.
We begin...
September 28, 2021
Little Saigon Crawl 2021
Restaurant: Oc & Lau Restaurant [1, 2]
Location: 9892 Westminster Blvd Unit R, Garden Grove, CA 92844. (714) 583-8100
Date: June 1, 2021
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Rating: Great
_
This crawl returned to Oc & Lau 2, which is tucked behind the Garlic & Chives.
Interior of location 2 — much bigger than 1.
Big menu.
And the denser “covid” menu.
Sauces on the table.
Mien Xao Cua Oc. Stir Fried Glass Noodles with Escargot and Crab.
Fried quail (Chim Cut Rotti). Much like the Chinese style quai...
September 24, 2021
Yasu a Year Yater
Location: 265 S Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. (424) 355-0257
Date: May 27, 2021
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
Rating: Awesome ingredients and technique. One of the best sushi places we’ve found in a while
_Back right before lockdown Foodie Club co-founder Erick and I — along with last minute addition Jeffrey — hit up Yasu, a then new sushi bar.
We had a great time and meal and so eagerly decided to return once it was viable again.
This photo shows our 2020 visit, ...
September 12, 2021
GV (is) Yummy
Restaurant: GV Yummy
Location: 203 W Valley Blvd Alhambra, CA 91801. 626-872-6677
Date: May 26 & July 3, 2021
Cuisine: Qing Dao Chinese
Rating: Really good kitchen, albeit sketchy service
_I’ve eaten at this location as at least 4 restaurants. Because of this Yarom and I went out on one of our reconnaissance missions nad tried it ourselves and determined that it was worthy of a real dinner later.
It’s the familiar spot that once housed Sham Tsem (Alahambra), New Bay, and Happy Table.
Then af...
September 3, 2021
Post OOToro
Restaurant: OOToro [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Location: 1569 Fairway Dr, Walnut, CA 91789. (909) 598-8299
Date: May 22, 2021
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi (with slight nod to China)
Rating: Ends of the earth, but very good
_Chef Kaz of Totoraku, an occasional hedonist, sent us far east to this Sushi restaurant in 2016 and it was such a fun time that we had to return again for a sixth visit — it’s now become a twice a year thing. This is my first return since the pandemic — although some in the group went ...
