Melody "I can use a cupcake!" V.'s Profile
DateJoshua Tree, CA 92252
(760) 362-4615
Southern California Vipassana Center
Category:
Education
I was a fan of this place, unfortunately that was not enough to keep it going.
1 Previous Review:
-
10/25/2011 First to Review
Located off a busy Main Street, it is not easy to find a good used bookstore now and days, but this bookstore is a desert gem is great. There are also great nostalgic collectibles located in this 3 generations of books store and includes the sale of vynyl records and collectible toys. Can't wait to go again!
Los Angeles, CA 90042
(323) 254-3401
El Arco Iris
Category:
Mexican
Neighborhood: Highland Park
In my recent visit, the place has lost a certain...flavor. I admit, I never had the Chicken in Mole burrito before, but when the tattooed guy order in the booth adjacent to me ordered, I was curious to look it up in the menus. All the menu said, and I quote even from its online menus: "chicken breast, beans from the pot, jack cheese and rice; topped with sour cream." Sounds simple enough, right? Uhm, but they forgot to mention the mole. I know what mole tastes like. Growing up in the area the mothers of my friends served me this incredible dish. Now, comparing a restaurant dish to any mother's cooking is an insult, so don't do it unless the mother wins.
Mexican mothers of my friends in Highland Park, you TOTALLY win.
The mole was a bit bland, missing the sweet kick I am most certainly familiar with. And the chicken was a bit dry.
My father ordered the Chile Relleno. Unfortunately he was also not satisfied with his dish. My mother did enjoy the cheesiness of her enchilada and the abundance of sauce it was cooked in.
The service was great, the ambiance of the restaurant is impressive, but I think the love in its dishes is missing. Oh, and my Dad was not happy with the $33 check that came in the end. He suggested that next time we just go to the Taco Truck down the street.
Littlerock, CA 93543
(661) 944-2606
Charlie Brown Farms
Categories:
Chocolatiers and Shops,
Delis,
Toy Stores
We came here on new Year's Eve, earlier enough to beat the rush and early enough to have the opportunity to look around this hidden treasure (I like hidden treasures) in between the Palmdale/Lancaster area and the High desert. And yet we still did not have the opportunity to see everything we wanted. Yes, it is LIKE a souvenir store, but look beyond that and you will find kitschy items that make you smile, relive fond memories, and even want to take something home.
There fresh bagged batches of nuts throughout the store, dried fruits like strawberry-bananas and apples. Various chocolates and fudge. There is a fudge counter in the back of the store, made daily and in trays including flavors like orange-chocolate. Batches of fudge are also sold in its own containers.
I bought a small honey bear bottle filled with an orange honey. It's UH-mazing! Fantastic flavor to douse over my oatmeal! There were three kinds of honey, molasses, and maple syrup you were able to purchase to pour into jars.I wanted to bring my nieces and nephews something unusual and delightful so I brought them, now prepare yourself, BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE COOKIE CRUMBLES which (WARNING) made their tongues the shade of blue but delighted their taster's palette.
Onward to the food. We were under the impression that breakfast would be sold here. NOPE. So if you show up before noon, expect lunch size portions. My Charlie's Stink'in Garlicky burger and fries was incredibly garlicky. I wanted to make-out with someone after that garlic experience. Great portion, fresh tomato, very green lettuce, thinly sliced red onion. Yum! My fries were smothered with cheese and topped with fresh, crushed, pan fried garlic. YES! The cashier told me it would take 20 minutes. We were okay with this!
My friend had a steak sandwich, dripping in a sweet and savory barbeque sauce served with an order of fresh cut fries. Not oily at all!
His wife ordered an egg and cheese sandwich. Sure, it sounds plain but what was impressive that it was served in a whole wheat tortilla.
There is a self-serve area of condiments which includes (but not limited to) jalepenos, peppers, and cut-up onions. And each table has a funny little book on display as a conversation piece as you wait for your food.
Charlie Brown Farms is definitely a place worth the drive for people who enjoy the small pleasures of life.
1 Previous Review:
-
6/16/2011
Located within the outside mall area next to Stater Bros, behind the McDonalds and Subway, on Main Street and Maple, my search for great tasting Indian food in the high desert has come to an end! Indian Express is a amazing! Though I came here during dinner time, Indian Express is often found advertising its $7.77 lunch buffet in local high desert advertisements, which is a great deal for lunch time grubbing.
Based on my knowledge and experience with Indian food, Indian dishes cater to the spices and herbs of their food - the spicier, the better. I find it difficult to handle spice, but I do appreciate a mild curry dish. Thankfully, I found the perfect mild Indian dishes here that fits my weak pallet. Lets discuss food, shall we?
First, please note that in order to appreciate such great food you must appreciate the time it would take to cook it. It is not a long wait, but I could imagine a hungry local resident whose impatience is bigger than his stomach. The dishes we ordered came out in a timely fashion and in proper order: appetizer (stuffed mushrooms), followed by main dishes (Lamb tandoori, Chicken Vindaloo, and Chicken Mughlai - which sorta tasted more like Chicken Tikka Masala), with Rice Pulao and Garlic Naan, and finish the night with the popular Gulab Jamun. All delicious.
The Stuffed Cheesy Mushroom was a great small treat. You can savor the mushroom, cream cheese, and the diced green onion and celery in this bite-sized appetizer. It was served with a minty sauce and a sweet tamarind sauce, both of which were a pleasant company to the mushrooms.
The Lamb Tandoori was tender. Its texture was just right and its marinated juices is exploded with flavor with each bite. It is served to your table hot and steaming on a bed of onions.
Though I intended to order the Chicken Mughlai, I think I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala. The Mughlai is cooked in yogurt with mushrooms, and the dish I received was a creamy tomatoe dish that tasted similar to the Chicken Vidaloo, only Vindaloo had potatoes in it. Thankfully, both chicken dishes tasted wonderful with the fresh Garlic Naan. The chicken dishes were mild and made me sweat a bit, but little cousin hoped for a little more spice. You can order your dishes mild, medium, or spicy.
We also ordered Rice Pulao, which looks like a Chinese vegetable fried rice but tastes lighter. The rice is a different kind of rice, not typical, and the flavors of its green beans, carrots, raisins, almond slices, and raisins provide an interest blend to the tastebuds.
What to drink? Their yogurt drinks are tremendously flavorful. If you order a fruit flavored yogurt, your beverage will have an equal sweet and sour punch. The Lassi drinks are traditional yogurt drinks. I ordered the Sweet Lassi which is like a plain yogurt that was blended and thinned to allow for drinking through a straw. The Mango Lassi and Strawberry Lassi offered the same yogurt taste with the added fruit flavor. I drank my glass empty!
Lastly, the Gulab Jamun. Think of a small doughnut ball soaked in a sweet syrup and served to you in a small bowl. I have had extremely sweet Gulab Jamun before and I think the Gulab Jamun at Indian Express is perfect. Not too sweet, warm syrup, and just right.
The service was also great. Like all my previous reviews, I judge service by how often the waiter is able to keep my cup of water full. He did a great job!
It is a bit on the pricey side, but WELL worth it. This is a great gem in the high desert and I hope it sticks around. Dishes are served family style, so a single dish can be shared between 2-4 people. Overall, a great experience and excellent dining experience. I am sure to drop by this place again! And, lets face it, whether you're Indian or not, nothing beats mom's cooking so do not compare mom's dishes to that of this family owned, family style restaurant. This place is a quality of its own.
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 424-2134
Elise's Tea Room
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Tea Rooms,
Sandwiches
My overall service was great. The location itself is cute and quaint, good for small parties.
The scones were warm but crumbled nicely on my tea plate. My scone had nice little bites of cranberry and was a pleasure to eat with my tea.
There was nothing too impressive of this place, but seeing that it is rare to stumble upon a nice place to have tea, this little gem is a pleasure to visit when you need a small break from the city.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0000
The Edison
Category:
Lounges
Neighborhood: Downtown
And, who do I meet at the door? Some chick in a cute jeans and shirt and heels. Granted, they were my friends, but I didn't know you can wear jeans! When I entered there were men in baggy jeans, sneakers, and even a woman in a hooded sweater.
Either security was not doing their job or I was mislead.
Anyway, The Edison has a great ambiance of an environment. The decor is amazing for an old electricity building, and the dim lighting helps make the Edison even more intriguing.
As far as service goes, it took about 45mins to get a grilled cheese sandwich, which management appropriately apologized for and gave out two free drink tickets to correct the error. I mean, even in the classiest of bars and restaurants, no grilled cheese sandwich takes 45 minutes! But, as I said, management apologized.
The drinks were strong that night, as my friend encountered a buzz much faster than expected with a whiskey sour. Then again, 45 minutes of waiting on a grilled cheese sandwich and drinking a whiskey sour can do that to a person.
Dark, gloomy, leather. I like it.
I was not prepared for the cool 1970's decor of this lovely little hot spot. Nor was I expecting a small line of customers formed inside the shop when I opened the door. The lined moved quickly and I found a great deal in the assortment of doughnuts and doughnut holes this shop served.
Great service and I saw a few shop helpers chatting with the customers at the coffee bar, so that's always a great sign of having regulars and great customer service.
I wouldn't bring a group of no more than 10. It's a great location, but quite small, and if you want a table or area reserved for a large group, this would not be the place to do it. Great place for casual meetings of drinks and small bites, but that's about it.
It's not a restaurant that serves drinks, or a bar that serves food, I find it somewhere still in middle.
Perch was less than two weeks open, so I respect it for where it's going and I will return when it matures. Perch serves pricey french food, but good. The menu was limited, though since it was 2 weeks since its inception, I'm sure the dishes will grow.
My group of six friends decided to check-out the entire menu so we picked at its various dishes. The Brocollini salad is good, though I prefer the prosciutto sliced smaller. Don't be afraid of the frog legs, a good, small appetizer that really does taste like chicken. The Risotto was a bit wet, a bit soggy than what I have tried at other place.
I DID love the Duck, Duck, Goose appetizer. It was great. I never had duck bacon before and it was served on small bites of bread. Savory.
Now, I was not impressed with the Cordon Bleu "Poppers" tasted like chicken nuggets dipped in bleu cheese. Nothing surprising there.
And, the desserts? Tasted my first gooseberry with the Apple Tart Napoleon dessert. It was a pretty apple tart served with a small scoop of ice cream. Good for one. The Beignets are those warm puffy doughnuts. Nothing special here, either. Though the strawberry jam was a treat. The Chocolate Creme pot is a chocolate pudding with slices of fruit.
Drinks were strong (as I was told), and the bottle service is great.
I say this place will only get better with time. Definitely a great place to go for quick drinks and good company. They should look into expanding their appetizer menus.
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 449-8520
Hamburger Hamlet
Category:
American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Pasadena
These burgers are gourmet.
My friend ordered the American Classic burger. It's your burger with cheese, tomato, onion, and lettuce. The ingredients are fresh, the tomato doesn't make the burger soggy and the lettuce leaf did not weigh down the burger. It was your basic burger, but big.
I went a different route and enjoyed my Napa Valley Burger simply because I like pesto and garlic. It was a thicke burger served with arugula, goat cheese, tomato, garlic and pesto. it was your basic burger, just a different version of greens, cheese, and sauce. I dig it.
The service was great and attentive. Kept my glass of water full and the burgers were served with your side of fries or salad. The Mesquite fries is like your common fries with a little spice and your side salad is a decent portion.
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Los Angeles, CA
Yelping SinceNovember 2006
Things I LoveCupcakes, tattoos, button pins, cartoons, photography, bubbles, finger foods, driving nowhere, writing, teaching, learning, talking, whiskey...
Find Me In...traffic.
My HometownHighland Park, CA
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I really should be working out.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsBecause I'm real, yo, REAL.
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadI tend to re-read books.
My First ConcertGreen Day.
My Favorite MovieI can watch Shawshank Redemption repeatedly...
My Last Meal On Eartha cupcake from MILK.
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I don't trust a Yelper with no friends, no picture, and no opinion.
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Current CrushJason Segel
10 days of silent meditation. I have NEVER meditated in my entire 31 years.
And so, my journey through the back desert highways lead me to an isolated area in Twentynine Palms. From reading Darshan's review, I simply thought I would be living in the most modest conditions, but with donations and such a new Vipassana venue was built.
Vipassana itself is a meditation technique. One that I can not describe through a Yelp review. I can tell you that it was 10 days of total dedication to myself and such technique is practiced worldwide. For more information on the technique, read and review its website.
I will, though, review the center itself.
It is located in Twentynine Palms off the 10 freeway. It is a traveler's drive from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas. You may find yourself driving through the high desert cities of Victorville. If so, be sure you have a full tank of gas because you will drive through miles and miles of isolation on a well-paved highway. It is a beautiful drive nonetheless.
The sleeping accommodations are simple and meant for sharing. Rooms that are shared are either divided by a curtain or a single room with two beds. Single non-shared rooms with its own restrooms are available. You do not have a choice of rooms as it is assigned at registration. You will be assigned a manager you can speak with if the accommodation is that inconvenient. Frankly, if you choose to do Vipassana you should arrive with an open-mind and willing to accept the conditions. Each room has a heater and the shared bathrooms have stalls, shower curtains, and storage space for your showering materials.
But do not think this is a hotel. You are responsible and expected to be respectful of the living quarters as well as clean up after yourself.
Under the practice of Vipassana, vegetarian meals are served, and for the record, you will not go hungry. I am quite the omnivore, but I think I turned over a new leaf in vegetarianism after the meals I had during my course. Ok, well, I at least eat more vegetables since my last day. The food is rather good. I discovered the deliciousness of sunflower salad dressing, beets, tofu, and rice milk.
The meditation hall is large. We each are given our own meditation cushion and pillow and other cushions and seats are available for you if you find yourself needing them. A few meditators, specifically old students (that's what you are AFTER completing the 10-day course) bring their own cushions.
Overall the hospitality of the center was excellent. The center is clean due to teamwork, respect, and volunteers.
The road to get here may be a challenge, but very much worth it. I mean this literally and figuratively.