Comments on: Nook - Los Angeles http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html In LA, but Still Exploring Desserts Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:36:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Nivedita http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-1019 Nivedita Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:10:06 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-1019 Nina, next time you're in town, try the "Curried Lentil Salad with fresh baby spinach, apple-fig chutney and pickled red onions" at Nook. So many non-Indian cooks don't get curry right, that this was a very pleasant surprise. Actually this was more of a Garam Masala curry flavor than a typical corriander-cumin curry flavor. In any case, all the flavors and textures just pulled together nicely in this dish. The service at Nook was very good. One time I ordered their Brown Rice Bowl and found it a little bland. I asked if they could offer any condiments and the server said that she'd be happy to let me have some of her personal stash of sriracha sauce, if I liked. (She may have offered soy sauce or ketchup, don't remember now.) I took up the offer and that made a big difference! I appreciated that the server felt invested enough to go out of her way to accomodate my request. Nina, next time you’re in town, try the “Curried Lentil Salad with fresh baby spinach, apple-fig chutney and pickled red onions” at Nook. So many non-Indian cooks don’t get curry right, that this was a very pleasant surprise. Actually this was more of a Garam Masala curry flavor than a typical corriander-cumin curry flavor. In any case, all the flavors and textures just pulled together nicely in this dish.

The service at Nook was very good. One time I ordered their Brown Rice Bowl and found it a little bland. I asked if they could offer any condiments and the server said that she’d be happy to let me have some of her personal stash of sriracha sauce, if I liked. (She may have offered soy sauce or ketchup, don’t remember now.) I took up the offer and that made a big difference! I appreciated that the server felt invested enough to go out of her way to accomodate my request.

]]> By: Nina http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-453 Nina Fri, 05 May 2006 22:09:11 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-453 I still have to try one of their prepared dishes! Even for breakfast, I was always get lured in by the buffet bar. Ironically, since I want to order multiple things from their menu, I divert myself to the buffet bar so that I can have more things. But next time... Always next time. :) I still have to try one of their prepared dishes! Even for breakfast, I was always get lured in by the buffet bar. Ironically, since I want to order multiple things from their menu, I divert myself to the buffet bar so that I can have more things. But next time… Always next time. :)

]]> By: Susan http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-444 Susan Thu, 04 May 2006 23:52:12 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-444 I didn't manage to have the carmelized french toast at CB (I went with more prudent "have some protein so you can shop longer with your friend" lox and onions and eggs) so I have to get back there. Like, soon. Very soon. Let us know what you think of Literati II! I didn’t manage to have the carmelized french toast at CB (I went with more prudent “have some protein so you can shop longer with your friend” lox and onions and eggs) so I have to get back there. Like, soon. Very soon. Let us know what you think of Literati II!

]]> By: Nina http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-436 Nina Wed, 03 May 2006 05:26:05 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-436 Oooh, thanks for the info on Literati II! I used to go to Literati Cafe all the time to do writing/work (and to eat their great salads), but I think moved away from LA shortly after Literati II opened. I'll have to check it out. I wish I had loquats right now. :) And I'm happy that you enjoyed the City Bakery! Oooh, thanks for the info on Literati II! I used to go to Literati Cafe all the time to do writing/work (and to eat their great salads), but I think moved away from LA shortly after Literati II opened. I’ll have to check it out. I wish I had loquats right now. :)

And I’m happy that you enjoyed the City Bakery!

]]> By: Susan http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-417 Susan Sat, 29 Apr 2006 15:30:26 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-417 Another great West LA place that is pretty new is Literati II (Bundy and Wilshire for those who are familiar w/the area!). Took a friend there for dinner last night for her birthday--had wild sturgeon grilled on their wood fire, over a warm salad of arugula, fingerling potatoes, and artichokes (it's supposed to have bacon too, but I asked them to leave that out), with a loquat relish. It may have been the best fish I ever tasted--smoky, moist, firm, full of flavor. For dessert I had churros w/bittersweet chocolate dipping sauce--amazing! And Nina, thanks for the City Bakery entry--my friend and I went there for breakfast! : ) What a good eating day! Anyway, if you're in WLA again, try Literati II. Literati Cafe is next door, good for coffees, pastries, light lunch-y stuff, but it's REALLY crowded all the time. Sigh! Another great West LA place that is pretty new is Literati II (Bundy and Wilshire for those who are familiar w/the area!). Took a friend there for dinner last night for her birthday–had wild sturgeon grilled on their wood fire, over a warm salad of arugula, fingerling potatoes, and artichokes (it’s supposed to have bacon too, but I asked them to leave that out), with a loquat relish. It may have been the best fish I ever tasted–smoky, moist, firm, full of flavor. For dessert I had churros w/bittersweet chocolate dipping sauce–amazing! And Nina, thanks for the City Bakery entry–my friend and I went there for breakfast! : ) What a good eating day! Anyway, if you’re in WLA again, try Literati II. Literati Cafe is next door, good for coffees, pastries, light lunch-y stuff, but it’s REALLY crowded all the time. Sigh!

]]> By: Nina http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-396 Nina Wed, 26 Apr 2006 05:52:48 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-396 Hello Susan, You're so lucky to live so close! If I did, I'd already have had my next dream meal there of the burger and the bread pudding. :) And yeah, our table was a little divided on the peanuts -- others would have just preferred edamame instead. And thanks for the take out tip! Hello Susan,
You’re so lucky to live so close! If I did, I’d already have had my next dream meal there of the burger and the bread pudding. :)

And yeah, our table was a little divided on the peanuts — others would have just preferred edamame instead.

And thanks for the take out tip!

]]> By: Susan http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-372 Susan Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:52:14 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-372 I happen to live right around the corner from Nook--it is a wonderful place! They also do take-out (at a 10% discount!) so you don't have to wait for a table if you don't want to. It's just a great place--and I have to agree--the shitake/gruyere bread pudding and the choco-banana bread pudding are reason alone to go there! Mmmmm. Can't say I like the peanuts, though. I happen to live right around the corner from Nook–it is a wonderful place! They also do take-out (at a 10% discount!) so you don’t have to wait for a table if you don’t want to. It’s just a great place–and I have to agree–the shitake/gruyere bread pudding and the choco-banana bread pudding are reason alone to go there! Mmmmm. Can’t say I like the peanuts, though.

]]> By: Nina http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-210 Nina Fri, 21 Apr 2006 22:09:42 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-210 San Francisco Photorama - It was my first time, too. A reviewer that I found online said that their's are spongier than usual, so I wonder what kind of a range there is for them. I should try making them; I just found a method for making them online that sounds simple enough: "In a large sauce pan, cover peanuts (still in shell) with enough water. Add salt. Boil until peanuts are tender." Lizelle - I wish I could watch Top Chef! Comcast doesn't have Bravo on the lineup in Napa. I only saw the first episode b/c I downloaded it... Instead, I have to make do with the Next Food Network Star... which isn't quite the same. And that's interesting about nilagong mani -- I didn't know about that before. A quick google search showed that it has many devoted fans. :) I only knew about American South boiled peanuts, and Wikipedia shows that they're often eaten with beer in China... I wonder if the idea somehow migrated around, of it it's a case of spontaneous peanut boilers around the world :) San Francisco Photorama - It was my first time, too. A reviewer that I found online said that their’s are spongier than usual, so I wonder what kind of a range there is for them. I should try making them; I just found a method for making them online that sounds simple enough: “In a large sauce pan, cover peanuts (still in shell) with enough water. Add salt. Boil until peanuts are tender.”

Lizelle - I wish I could watch Top Chef! Comcast doesn’t have Bravo on the lineup in Napa. I only saw the first episode b/c I downloaded it… Instead, I have to make do with the Next Food Network Star… which isn’t quite the same.

And that’s interesting about nilagong mani — I didn’t know about that before. A quick google search showed that it has many devoted fans. :) I only knew about American South boiled peanuts, and Wikipedia shows that they’re often eaten with beer in China… I wonder if the idea somehow migrated around, of it it’s a case of spontaneous peanut boilers around the world :)

]]> By: lizelle http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-207 lizelle Fri, 21 Apr 2006 05:26:36 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-207 this place sounds interesting. on the last episode of top chef, one of the teams put a concept restaurant together called "american workshop" and served homey American classics. sounds like it fell within the ranks of this type of restaurant. in the philippines, boiled peanuts are a staple snack. they're labeled, "nilagang mani" and are sold by street vendors by the bag. the philippines was once a colony of america so you could definitely make the connections between this "filipino/american classic"! this place sounds interesting. on the last episode of top chef, one of the teams put a concept restaurant together called “american workshop” and served homey American classics. sounds like it fell within the ranks of this type of restaurant.

in the philippines, boiled peanuts are a staple snack. they’re labeled, “nilagang mani” and are sold by street vendors by the bag. the philippines was once a colony of america so you could definitely make the connections between this “filipino/american classic”!

]]> By: San Francisco Photorama http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-206 San Francisco Photorama Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:27:30 +0000 http://www.sweetnapa.com/2006/04/19/nook-los-angeles.html#comment-206 That food looks yummy...never tried boiled peanuts though. I should sometime! That food looks yummy…never tried boiled peanuts though. I should sometime!

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