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Anonymous.
Rob_Hugo@PortNWNot too sure whether this would qualify as a valid section in this seminar, but I have discovered while visiting different Asian restaurants in Los Angeles and surrounding areas that many are exquisitely decorated. Our schools don't count with the resources to do this, but wouldn't it be a wonderful field trip if we could take our children to a fancy locale and treat them to a different type of food while they are surrounded by interesting artwork and learn a bit more about the culture of another country?
AnonymousIt would be great to be able to take students to restaurants.
Since that's pert near impossible, here are some alternatives:
- bring in affordable Asian foods (make or buy- Costco does Sushi & don't forget Sushi boy) tea served with sticky rice made in a rice cooker is cheap and easy! Add almond cookies in those big pink boxes. Use cheapo bulk wooden chopsticks for extra fun. Every one should learn how to handle them.
- encourage kids to go to L.A.'s China Town (accessible by bus), if they have money eat at the Empress Pavillion, if not- walk into the myriad bakeries/take out joints and afforable items (spring rolls, soup, tea, Char Siu Bao aka Manpua, sesame balls, etc.) or have them venture to Mitsuwa marketplace (L.A., Torrance) or the Xanadu- Marukai in Gardena (plus antiques upstairs- its a real museum for free! All feature a food court.
Class application: Imagine as many do- living on one bowl of rice a day (like many here do on just rice & beans), compare/contrast food availabilility and diversity,
P.S. Good opportunity to dispel the fortune cookie myth- especially the in bed part! :]
AnonymousThose are marvelous ideas. I can definitely go ahead and at least get some class discussions with fortune cookies, maybe doing some research on their history?
The other idea that just popped in my head would be a field trip to Chinatown, and if there's the posibility of having a restaurant visit... sounds great!
Thanks,
AnonymousThe July 11, 2005 Newsweek had a slight blurb on page 69 regarding a “crash course” in Chinese food calligraphy. I thought this is a very handy thing, especially if you are a picky eater (I am) in when there are no pictures to rely on, who knows what you are going to eat if the authentic menu is written in characters. Among these books “The Eater’s Guide to Chinese Characters,” “Swallowing the Clouds,” and “Dim Sum: A Pocket Guide.” Additionally, a thorough web guide is recommended at: inu.org/meiwah.
AnonymousHere are two resources I often use to find good eats in Los Angeles:
Counter Intelligence by Jonathan Gold:
and Finding Chinese Food in Los Angeles by Carl Chu
Many of you are probably familiar with Counter Intelligence-it is written by a former food critic of the L.A. Times and Los Angeles magazine and includes not only Asian food but whatever type you might be fancying. I have only tried a few of the recommended East Asian spots, but Gold is usually right on with his reviews. A great resource to find out of the way places with delicious meals.
The index in the back breaks down styles nicely, so under the Chinese umbrella you can find Cantonese, Chiu Chow, Hunan, Islamic Chinese, Northern Chinese, Shanghainese, Sichuan, and Taiwanese. There are definitely no shortages of places to try out.
The other, by Carl Chu, was enthusiastically given to our house by Vi, a friend with a passion for exploring new Asian restaurants. The book is excellent [our copy is from 2003 and i don't know if there are newer editions] with an abundance of information, ranging from regional histories to hours of operation. If anyone is serious about finding great Chinese restaurants, this can be an indispensable tool.
AnonymousI just got an idea for a project from reading the posts in this section for my drawing class. Fortune cookie illustrations!
AnonymousIf you happen to be in Santa Monica dont miss to visit Royal Star Seafood,on 3001 Wilshire Blvd. They serve authentic Chinese cuisine at a very cheap price.
AnonymousI need help with the name of a dish, and a local place to find it.
I have gone to Frank Phats Restaurant in Sacramento (Chinese). They serve a dish with honey and chicken. I cannot remember the exact name, but I have even called restaurants, to ask if they had it with no luck. I do not like honey because of the sweetness, but this is not sweet at all, and is incredible!!! If anyone knows the exact name of the dish, and where to find it in Southern California, I would be most appreciative.
AnonymousLet's get down to the real...Where is the best Sashimi restaurant? I don't care about ambiance, music, jizzzzzz...I want the place with the best fish, the best variety of fish, and sashimi swordsman who will go out on a limb for the best fresh fish...if monkfish is not on the menu, i don't want to know. i want special!!!
AnonymousThis is out of the question financially for our students, but there is supposed to be an excellent restaurant in Hollywood named Yamashiro. My husband and I have reservations for an early dinner on December 17th. The artwork and setting is supposed to be beautiful. It sits above Hollywood and Hghland in the Hollywood Hills. I will write more about the details after we try it.
AnonymousThis forum is the perfect opportunity to discuss field trip potentials. I think it is a fabulous idea to bring students into restaurants for a taste of something new. Since I teach both World History and Life Management, this would be ideal for my classes. Though I'm not sure justifying the buses out to Little Tokyo and Chinatown would fly at the district. But in Torrance there are plenty of ethnic restaurants right in our area. Contacting the establishment and having them and the chef give a tour of the kitchen and a demo might be something justified by a walking field trip. My principal is pretty keen on the idea. Hopefully it'll fly this next semester. I hope you can do this as well. Why not enlighten kids and open their minds to different cultures via some yummy food and a chance to get out of the classroom?
AnonymousYamashiro is a wonderful restaurant for its setting if nothing else. Be sure to go and walk around the Japanese garden thay have there. It's been a few years since I have been up there but it was always so beautiful and peaceful, even at night. Have a wonderful time!
AnonymousA little pricey, but what delicious food! The Nori Crusted Tuna is scrumptious - I highly recommend it. I think that the weekend crowds can take away from the ambiance. Try going on a Sunday evening instead…the waiters have more time to actually provide the excellent service you’d expect from such an upscale venue.
AnonymousYou're right...it's not always possible to get out of the classroom. Why not bring the food to the students? Order in!!! It's amazing how few of our students actually tried ethnic cuisine from a culture other than their own. I like to stop by the Chinese markets and pick up pastries or other snacks that they can try at school. Although they're not always open trying something new, I've found that if you can tempt just one student, others will usually follow suit.
AnonymousI finally got to Yamashiro with a girlfriend on December 17. We got out of the theatre early and decided to head up the hill, not knowing that they did not open until 5 and did not seat until 5:30. It gave us some time to walk the grounds and take a few pictures. I don't know if they will trun out, because dusk was setting.
Thank heavens we had reservations. The restaurant was expecting 452 people that evening. You could not go in the bar and two other rooms because there was a private party. By saying we had to go to the restroom, we were able to get into the inner courtyard with the Koi pond, which was beautiful. ("There is more then one way to skin a cat").
Remember: the best table in the house for 2 is table #2. You cannot reserve it. You just have to get there super early. What a view! The entire Hollywood area, as well as the ocean and Palos Verdes. I am told on a clear day you can even see Catalina. Kind of like "The Restaurant" at the Getty Museum.
For dinner I started with Caesar salad with deep-fried white anchovies, followed by the grilled seafood platter. We shared some proffiteroles and Yamashiro's version of som'ores for desert. We had a great time.
I am looking forward to taking my huisband. He had a bad bout with the flu and couldn't go.
This was my very first venture into Japanese food, and I really enjoyed it.