Mmmm… sourdough yeasts? Most really good baguettes seen to have a very slight “tang”. For example, Republique and Gjusta. This baguette as missing that, it tasted of water and flour, not much salt.
I’m pretty sure baguette dough doesn’t include butter. I think it’s flour, water, salt and a starter.
Hmm, yes, not sure what I was thinking there, pre-espresso brain linked croissant for some reason.
However, the sourdough tang in Gjusta seems wholly American to me. Compared to the baguette’s I recall having in Paris, which were pretty much the same as the ones at Petit Trois (which I just had again the other night along with a Big Mec haha).
I think I know what you’re talking about, but I don’t know what accounts for it; perhaps a difference of yeasts or malts used.
I know it’s a tempting bang-bang with both practically across the street from each other. We haven’t had BB for a while now (the turn-off was pulled pork being a serious fail).
MPP hits the curiosity button, but with Gjusta only four or five blocks away…
Common person’s roast chicken alternative: Costco. Hard to beat $5 consistency. Maybe I’m a cretin, but no one has ever turned away their chicken. Couple it with Lao Gan Ma/S&B crispy chile garlic or ABC sambal also or sambal belacan and the skies open.
Take that money you saved on MPP and get a rack or two of ribs at Maple Block. My family was against me at first on their ribs v. Bludso’s. They preferred the “fall off the bone” tenderness. I preferred the more toothsome quality and the pure smokey porky essence. We are one family again.
MB also now has “family dinner” combos on the menu. Smoked chicken dinner (~$40) or their meat combo (~$50). Not a bad deal. They throw in a fair amount of sides including biscuits or corn bread. We got the chicken and supplemented with ribs and brisket.
Did they specifically refuse to sell you a whole one? I see the whole ones in there…
Btw, they’re doing a classic duck a l’orange for $59 currently on special. Might be worth a gander for anyone interested! I might give it a go. I sadly only noticed after inhaling a baguette and a Big Mec haha
Going out with a bang @ Golden state. Love the place, burger prepared with TLC. Option of healthy fresh and well dressed arugula & cucumber salad. Curated beer menu, small selection but great variety. And the guys who run it are so pleasant, curteous and efficient. Very evident they run a tight ship. LOVE IT!! note to self: bring some fleur de sel next time
#Guerrilla tacos
I got scared when i was walking towards blue bottle coffee and didn’t see guerrilla tacos parked on beverly, but all was well when i turned the corner and saw it on sweetzer.
soft shell crab taco - chile japonese, cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, cilantro, chipotle crema
I came for the lobster quesadilla thanks to @Chowseeker1999, but stayed for soft shell crab. This turned out to be the highlight, fresh crispy soft shell crab on a blue corn tortilla, delicious.
lobster quesadilla - chile morita, oaxaca cheese, aged cheddar, chives
This was about the size of a small pizza and had chucks of lobster claw meat, really good.
The ham and cheese was one of their pre-made “to-go” sandwiches in their glass case. It’s super simple with ham, cheese, mustard, evoo, on their baguette, delicious.
Beelined it straight to ST Patisserie to make up for the greasy burrito.
I don’t know the name of it, but it was excellent. The lady said this dessert is very French. It tasted like a Mille Feuille with torched sugar. Highly recommend it if you see it.
I asked her if they make any desserts with peanut butter, she told me they can possibly make a dessert with peanut butter mousse. Hopefully they do.
Then went to Hi-Times to grab some wine and beer and Sidecar is right across the street. I have to say, they have vastly improved their donuts. The last four times I have been, they are batting a perfect .1000 Grabbed a strawberry buttermilk is it was great. My favorite to date is their Meyer lemon cake donut. Sidecar is my current fav in the city right now.
Isaan Station might just have the best gai yang chicken around! Pair it up with some papaya salad and sticky rice to dip in the salad and chicken juices.
Honestly, not much. Get the papaya salad and the tom saab (and honey toast). Maybe other people feel differently, but almost everything else other than the kai yang, which is extremely good (besting most of the $28 chicken in this city served at high-end spots) has been disappointingly mediocre at Isaan Station. The tom saab is also really good, papaya salads are funky, and the honey toast is outrageous (baked to order), but nothing really lives up to the kai yang. I have a feeling that is why it doesn’t get more press or appear on the big lists etc…
Whew, if there’s a BETTER kai yang in town I would LOVE to know about it. Kai yang usually sucks whenever I’ve tried ordering it at other Thai spots, but the kai yang at Isaan Station goes way beyond just besting other Thai spots, it’s remarkable in its own right as a chicken prep. Top 5 chicken in all of LA, going against any chicken at any price level I would say. So good it makes me wonder what they’re doing to it to make it so bizarrely great.