molly "nerdicle" s.'s Profile

is this place really closed?  that's so sad.

Pilates.  Who knew.  It really works.  The Pilates Bodyshop has incredibly knowledgeable teachers who are friendly and helpful.  The work is totally different than anything I've experienced before.  And for someone who loathes gyms and has a natural inclination toward being sedentary, this has truly helped me.  Pilates had been recommended to me by various friends and professionals as a remedy for my history of low back pain and sciatica.  I finally made a commitment to try it out and it will now be a part of my life forever.  I love the realistic philosophy of the women here.  They don't push you to have an "extreme" workout, but rather educate you about your body and how to move in a way that will strengthen rather than injure you.  And it is by no means easy.  After a few months, I already see a marked difference in my body.  I feel strong and elongated.  My low back pain has alleviated tremendously.  I trust these teachers and highly recommend taking some private lessons.  You will be amazed.

this place is fascist.  i shouldn't have expected much more from a the mega-chain bookstore in a disneylandesque mall in the middle of miserable glendale.  but, sadly, i did.  went there simply to kill time.  found a really good spot leaning against a pillar on the carpet.  got really into my book about alternative energy.  then this lady comes up to me and vomits some words in my direction about how i needed to find a chair.  i looked up at her blankly and said, 'thank you.  i'm quite comfortable here.'  to which she retorted (flabbergasted), 'no, you don't understand, you can't sit on the floor'.  i didn't move an inch.  just let her walk on and bug someone else.  but it made me mad enough to yelp them.  i mean, honestly, if this woman ever set foot in the union square b&n she would probably have diarrhea.  it's so packed with people, that you can't even find a spot on the floor to sit!  i've sat in the middle of the aisle for lack of space.  i've never been into a barnes & noble that forbade floor-sitting.  it's absurd.  and rude.  and annoying.  and bullshit.  

and another thing.  my boyfriend wanted to charge his phone because it was almost out of juice, and we asked the salesgirl where an outlet was.  guess what her response was.  no outlets.  customers are not allowed to charge their phones, computers, etc.  they have outlawed outlets.  unbelievable.

I was driving along Valley Blvd. through Alhambra and Rosemead with my partner in culinary crime.  Wow, what a shot in the dark.  There's umpteen million establishments on the boulevard and then thousands more within each mini-mall.  Our intention was to check out Lee's sandwiches, but when they didn't take cards and their ATM was busted, we were left to our own devices.  We decided to go somewhere that was packed, as a crowded restaurant can often be a trusty gauge.  We ended up at Face Cafe--partly because the name is so cool, partly because it was bustling, and of course we were hungry and needed to make a decision.  There was no menu posted and we were seated immediately upon entry, left with no time to retreat.  We sat, looked over the menu and realized we were basically sitting in the Denny's of China.  There was everything from fettuccine alfredo to malaysian curry on the menu.  We settled on Singapore chicken curry and a Hong Kong special soup with beef balls and fish balls.  My partner went to the restroom and upon returning to the table, informed me of the 'C' rating on the window.  Ugh.  When it comes to those ratings, I always panic.  I'm all for 'B' is better, but 'C'??  I get queasy just thinking about what extra health violations warranted the 'C' rating.  

Our food arrived.  My curry already had a coagulated film on top and some curious cuts of meat.  I imagine it came from a pot that had been stewing for a week.  Actually, it had probably just been microwaved for 2 minutes.  I took the serving spoon and pierced through the orange film, scooping up a piece of chicken and a generous helping of the thick and gloppy curry, and plopped it on top of my rather crusty white rice.  Cutting into the chicken revealed a pink middle.  I cut around it and ate the edges.  i thought to myself, "this wouldn't deter Jonathan Gold.  What's a little pink?"  The soup arrived with big pieces of brown beef tripe floating atop.  We ordered beef BALLS--not tripe.  It was too much trouble to call over a waiter and explain the mistake.  The soup was just a bowl of salty yellow water.  

The only saving grace was the jasmine tea.  The food was edible, but not in the least bit tasty.  It wasn't even that cheap.  Our meal was $20, but it was hardly worth 2¢.  We both came home with MSG headaches.  Even my teeth hurt.  This place was gross and I wouldn't go back.  I don't know why all those people were there.  Stupid people.

I would definitely try this place again.  It's a bit off the beaten path, further up the street from the over-rated Yang Chow and hidden inside a 2-story plaza.  Went there late on Christmas Eve and there were just a few tables seated.  Uninterrupted Christmas music filling in the spaces of the mostly empty restaurant.  Decor is sparing--a single line creating a charcoal gray mountainous horizon along the walls. The service was congenial and attentive.  

We ordered an appetizer of steamed dumplings.  They were surprisingly above par.  Doughy, chewy starlets with a flavorful pork ball inside.  Then we moved onto a dish called Lion's Head which was several large meatballs stewed with cabbage in a brown sauce.  It was tasty and oddly reminiscent of an Eastern European dish, though the meat was a bit underdone and pink inside, which made me hesitant to finish it.  We also ordered spicy eggplant with pork.  This dish was terrific--the eggplant smooth and melty and caramelized.  

All in all, a pleasant dining experience that I would try again.

do not be afraid.  chinatown deli is just great.  according to the faded sign out front it is also called 'banh mi saigon'.  whatever you wanna call this joint, it is worth a trip.  hole in the wall is an understatement.  i happened upon it in a nearly broke and famished stupor and was drawn in salivating more at the $2.50 sign than at the sandwiches themselves.  The price was unimaginable.  especially after all these frou-frou trendy banh mi joints i've easily shelled out 8 or 10 bucks for.  

not to mention, while i was standing there waiting for my sandwich to be prepared, a gentleman came in and ordered a mysterious drink in vietnamese.  the worker promptly shoved a 4 foot long sugarcane stalk into a juice extracting machine and out came a clear greenish liquid.  He capped it, strawed it, and handed it to the customer.  Fresh sugarcane juice!  Needless to say, we added one to our order.  It was sweet and sappy, but so refreshing, especially after chomping into the spicy jalapenos that were stuffed lethally into the banh mi.  We also ordered an avocado boba, and i watched her generously blend in 2 whole avocados, producing a rich and luxurious smoothie.

The sandwiches are easily 8 or 10 inches long; the bread is fresh and hearty.  Each sandwich has pickled daikon, carrot, fresh cilantro sprigs, muchos jalapenos and a mayonnaise sauce to moisten and bring together all the ingredients.  We've ordered banh mi dac biet (mixed meat), ga (chicken) and thit nuong (bbq pork).  All have been great.  They make everything to order and ingredients seem fresh.  Also had freshly fried bananas (2 for a $1) which melted in my mouth.  YUM!

Grab a couple sandwiches, fresh juices, walk up a block or so to the benches in Chinatown Plaza.  Eat and people watch and relax.

Woah, i am so shocked that this place has such mixed reviews.  I went there only because of a huge coupon deal from http://restaurant.com and was pleasantly surprised.  I had zero expectations and when we rolled up to it, I was apprehensive about the hole in the wall/strip mall eatery, plus it was empty inside (except for a table in the back full of what seemed to be family or friends).  And the sign for "All Day Karaoke" made me wonder what the hell I was in for.  

We got there late on a Friday night (last night actually) at like 8:45 or 9pm.  We seated ourselves and placed our order:  kofta chicken pakora appetizer, chili naan, raitha, goat curry, chicken tikki masala, Fulodi Keba, and aloo gobi matar....yes, we ordered a feast!  The food came out quickly and efficiently, the service was friendly and with a smile.

The food was not greasy at all.  Everything was flavorful and succulent.  I'm not the biggest goat meat fan (something so unusual about it) but I thought this goat meat was high quality.  The only dish I didn't totally care for was the vegetarian aloo gobi.  It was a bit bland.  Not terrible by any means, but not exciting.  My boyfriend put it best: It tasted like a home-cooked meal.  It was hearty and cooked with love.  I recommend this place whole-heartedly!

If you don't like these pupusas you are wrong.

They are crispy and delicious; the cheese oozes out and is burnt and salty.  MMMmmmmm!!  And, I kid you not, on Mondays and Wednesdays pupusas are 99¢.  You simply can't beat that.  Throw in an horchata and you are all set.

There's some fancy overpriced pupusa place in Silver Lake on Sunset and the pupusas are soggy and they give you just a tiny side of cabbage.  Don't go there.

If you sit in, you get chips and salsa too.  The salsa is a bit watery, but it's complimentary and helps cope with the wait time.  I usually order 2 pupusas de queso y frijoles, however, I can never finish both pupusas. They are extremely filling.  And their cabbage mixture beats every other I've had.  I could eat the whole damn canister by myself.  

Atmosphere is no frills.  There's like 3 TVs going at once with various novelas blaring.  Some paintings on the wall depicting El Salvador.  You don't go here for the decor.  You go because the pupusas are hearty, tasty and dirt cheap.

I had an extremely positive experience here.  Shortly after moving to LA, I developed sciatica which is basically when your lower back pinches the sciatic nerve and stabbing pains radiate down your entire leg.  It's the most awful pain imaginable and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  Normally I would have gone to Southwest Physical Therapy (check my earlier reviews) in Brooklyn, NY, but being displaced I had to find new services.  This pain has lessened somewhat, but it has persisted for nearly a month and a half.  I need to address this problem before I go insane.

Getting back to ERCA....I went there today and am already feeling incredible relief. The pain is still there, but subdued and I noticed that overall I feel better.  Even my mood is lighter, cheerier.  

I have only done acupuncture a couple times and wasn't sure that I felt any effects from it.  The fact that ERCA is so affordable--sliding scale and no questions asked--is invaluable.  I paid $20 for the session and a one time $15 administrative fee.  The staff was extremely pleasant.  The atmosphere calm and soothing.  It is a big open room with a bunch of lazy-boys lining the walls.  When I arrived there was one other man there; when I left there were 3 other patients.  I was hardly aware of the communal aspect.  I did not feel weird or self-conscious to be sharing the space.  They provide eye pillows and soothing music, so it is really easy to drift off.  

I will certainly be going back. They recommend I return twice a week initially since I have acute pain.  $20 is less than my co-pay when I had insurance.  Eagle Rock Community Acupuncture ROCKS!!

AMAZING NEWS: Ridgewood has a Thai food restaurant.  It's just about all I've dreamed of.  I have been dying for something new and exciting to happen here in sleepy Ridgewood, and it finally has!!  

I think this is my favorite restaurant so far in the area.  The atmosphere is calm, relaxing.  They have the lights very dim and pretty tapestries framed on the walls.  Definitely modest, but comfortable.  The waitstaff is smiley and sweet and attentive.  We ordered the basics: papaya salad, calamari, chicken pad thai.  I was pleased with each dish.  

It's just so amazing to have a new option in the hood.  It's off the main drag, but still an easy walk for me.  I am seriously rooting for their success and hope they become a neighborhood staple.  We were the only customers on a Friday night and the phones were pretty quiet.  But I think that's simply because nobody really knows they exist yet.  

So spread the word: THAI FOOD IS HERE IN RIDGEWOOD!!