Gumbo this side of the Mississippi

I refused to believe it but Naz was right. This gumbo had it all. Except half the crab that he said they usually hook it up with. We thought for sure we'd get love because they hooked up a fresh pot for us since it was 9 pm/closing time.

The broth was nice and thick, the color of hurricane mud, sausages chopped up perfect bite size, chicken wasn't over cooked, the shrimps was tasty, the crab-it was missing more of it but overall it was good. I was looking forward to half of what he screamed about but it wasn't there. Added a little bit of rice from the small cup they gave for us to share and we were in business.

All good, this gumbo gave me some crazy gas. Speaking of which, their burritos looked massive, like a little mortar rocket. Their super size burrito had the regular price of a mission burrito.

They're right there in Oakland on San Pablo at 27th. Good hood eats, at good hood prices.

Crepe craving

Finally did it up. Mushroom, spinach, feta crepe. That was #2 attempt in the photo. Killed it on another day, Canadian bacon, sautted red onions, mushrooms and feta and cheddar. Did up a mango, cinammon, and coconut gelatto too. Naz was in crepe heaven every day. Spoilled in fact. I don't know why I really like doing these bastards but they were good.

"IM Food Critic"

It started a novel idea of IMing someone else and doing a food critiique via AIM, Yahoo or something but then whatever, it seemed like work and no one wanted to volley via IM. Not that I asked but still. I'm thinking of renaming my blog url. Another thought in the life of a life artist.

Zucch #5, Bigger, Better

I'd have photos here if Blogger would actually work. (They look like the ones below pretty much. Maybe a little browner.) I sent pics 6 times. Guess I'll just have to describe how delicious these were. Uhm, where can I start? I chopped half a zucch, used only one egg and made it slice bigger. I'd have to say the more real estate, the more property the ingredients covered.

I used light ranch tonight. Wish Bone was aiite. A little light but good. I have another one, I'll see how that one is tomorrow. Why light? Low sugar, lower sodium, less carbs. What can I say, I'm old, gotta watch this figure of mine.

Zucchs #4, How They Should Look

Ok, it's been a few days since attempt #3. I called my chef buddy, Dom Ainza, in San Francisco but the dick didn't call me back. I got a nice tip from my client today at the studio. He happens to be a chef at Sofitel in Beverly Hills who cooks comfort food. He says their brick roasted chicken is the One. It's served with fava purée, tomato-basil- olive sauce. Meanwhile, back in Long Beach, I finally got the bread crumbs and cheese to stick. Tasted good too. Now, I need to find the perfect ranch dressing. But not right now, I gotta sleep and dream of a much better camera/phone.

Ashley's Bar & Grill

Ashley's Bar and Grill, 1731 4th St., LB (562) 436.7643

I like this place. Could have done without the drama outside that came inside at midnight but the three of us were chillin with the bar manager and owners until these two dicks started a fight outside and ran inside like cowards.  Almost fucked up the nice $14 pitcher of Belgian White beer I was having. In fact, they did. The pitcher had to be taken away because LBPD came in to see where the bitches might have been hiding (they ran out the back).

Large mushroom pizza, chiken wings with spilled ranch on the table and I was told I couldn't substitute 2 sodas for salad but what is that on the top left corner of the table? Good late night eats. $20 or so fed 4 of us (Gus, Porfirio, Big Mark and myself.)

Drive By Shootings

Blue Star Burger ? at the corner of Anaheim and Pacific. If memory serves correctly the lady who  took the order was the most memorable experience of this joint. She wasn't the most pleasant and it seemed painful for her to take my order of a chicken sandwich. My boy, Gus, ate the Pastrami sandwich which seemed good from the bite that I copped. The fries was aiite. The chicken tasted like chicken.

Jian Wah Chinese Restaurant
2081 Pacific Ave., LB 90806, 562.218.9686 (se hablan espanol, bitses)

I wanted to eat here for the longest time. It looked like a good hole in the wall Chinese joint. Sure enough, it was. I couldn't tell you what I ate because I thought I was in New York. These muthafuckas took my order in Spanish and barely spoke English. I was rolling. The static telenovela on the tv above the bathroom hallway was funny too. The food was delicious. What can I say, order some rice.

Thai Bird House
2345 Pacific Ave., LB 90806, (562) 426.1993

This Thai food-hole-in-the-wall I like the most in Long Beach. Although, I've been here only once so far and I recommend it highly. That's why there's a drive-by photo and no food pics. The partial recall is that the Larb was good, the pad see ew was good and the sauce in the green string beans I wanted to pour into a cup and drink. It gets ****.

Thai Sky, 2415 Pacific Ave., LB 90806, (562) 426.4192

May 2nd, 2008

I was tired tonight and hadn’t eaten pretty much all day except for two Trader Joe taquitos at around 3pm that nuking them was just a horrible soggy mess. You would think because I was hungry, whatever I put to my mouth would be a crazy parade of flavor- carousels and roller coaster rides. Unfortunately, my parade was rained on with golf sized rain pellets.

I was always curious about Thai Sky with it’s cute corner spot on Pacific with the big windows and bright ass lights. I walked in at 915 p.m. and I became real self conscious when I read on their menu that they closed daily at 9 o'clock. My waitress said they closed at 930 which made me feel half as bad, but I was hungry.

I ordered Larb with chicken. My staple food to judge Thai restaurants. I don’t know why my nit noy Thai language made me say that I wanted it mai phet, when I really like my (Thai) food spicy to begin with but I was too tired to correct myself.

When the larb arrived, the rice powder odor was strong. I didn’t take this as a warning. I pushed my rice and larb with my fork into my spoon. To add, I’ve eaten at dozens of Thai restaurants in California and in Thailand and I have to admit, this is one of the worst chicken larbs that I’ve ever eaten.. To be fair, I can’t say that eating larb without spice should be a preference. There was more hint of lime in a can of Sprite.

If I come back, Pad See Yeuh will be my next order. We’ll see how it goes and if I will want to come back from here.

Long Beach Eats

Being a bachelor with minimal kitchen space and fantasies of competing against the original Iron Chef's of Japan, I have found myself dining out frequently. The search is for the best of the best and to try every possible spot I can. Or want to.

I've amassed a pretty good resume of eateries and pubs from the hoods finest to higher end restaurants sprinkled throughout the 5th largest city in California, Long Beach. Some blogs will be of places I've hit and ran. Others will be of being there and blogging it.

So far, it's been hard to find late night spots in Long Beach.

There are a few Thai/Cambodian joints that people rave about and the others are dismissed but always packed.

The local brewing company has a good selection of suds.

Every other taqueria is hit and miss.

I hope I can shed some light with my blog from the field.