Eating auf Deutsch is always a pleasure. When I was in Germany three years ago, I enjoyed many tasty delights, none of which were brat or brotwurst, as they say ("brot" is german for bread, so this "wurst" is intended to be eaten on bread!). I had salads, Italian, Italian, Italian, and wonderful cheese, fruit, and meat resto bars. The food was fresh and zingy - I can remember the site of white asparagus fields south of Frankfurt.
So when I walked into Wurstkueche in Los Angeles, I expected nothing short of the very best wunder-brotwursts they could find. Beer, truffle fries, dipping sauces--I accompanied my meal with the proper fixins' and got down to business.
I had heard such wonderful reviews of the place from Americans and Germans alike. Everyone always asks: "oh, have you been to wurstkuche yet? Well, if you love hotdogs, then this is the place for you!" So yeah, it was a signed deal. I had to try it out.
I ordered the austin blues dog. It's a mix of pork and multiple peppers, which I thought I'd adore, topped with more peppers and onions. What's not to like? Well, it tasted like any other hot dog. Let me list my complaints.
1) Don't call it spicy and have it not require water. I'm tired of going to restaurants, asking for something spicy, and have it sizzle in at a 4.5. If it's not seriously spicy, don't pretend to warn me about it.
2) Don't overdo the fluff. What's all the hub-bub? If you can make nice fries, select wonderful beers, and produce an average dog, no thanks. Let me be. It wasn't overpriced, but if I can get a better product at a gas station in the midwest, I'm going to walk away.
I walked away disappointed. Was it too American? Was I too American? I guess I should go back, as my German friend suggested, and get the real German "bratwurst." Ah-ha. Maybe that's what they've been raving about - the raw-gold dogger.
Don't get me wrong: the scene there was real swingin'. I'd go back just for that open air scene. It's almost like a club in there it's so dark (I sat down at about 9pm at an outside table). However, this scene is almost always too crowded for a free seat to be available anywhere in the house. Instead, I'd recommend getting carryout at Nista Pizza.. or something of the sort.
http://www.wurstkuche.com/
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Trip to Little Saigon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Saigon
Yesterday afternoon I drove down to Little Saigon in Orange County, California. Off the 405 at exit 10, you can turn right immediately and find yourself innundated by vietnamese writing on all the shops! There's a huge grocery store - almost vietnamese mall, technically - in the shopping center, as well as a lee's sandwiches, a fixture to the LA area. http://leesandwiches.com/2008/
First, though, we entered the parking lot and ate at the large restaurant on the far side of the shopping mall. It was exhuisite and authentic! So good I couldn't tell if the goodness was from the authenticity, the MSG (sodium bicarbonate, they label it), or the two combined. Needless to say, I'd go back there immediately. I ordered a spin off my favorite item, which I experienced as breakfast in Vietnam: Banh Uot Cha Lau, Banh Tom... think:
except I was forced to order it sans "Uot cha." Instead of getting a sheet of rice noodles, I got a sheet that was stringy (had holes in it), so was somewhat more noodley and less savory. My dish came with barbecued pork and a tofu/sticky rice that was made from shrimp paste. Extremely good! I added veggies (chives, red pepper paste, lemongrass, mint, cilantro, sprouts) and the vinegary requisite fish sauce (wow!) and dug in.
I am sad to say that I didn't finish my dish, but my stomach was not sad. We ventured into the shopping mall/grocery store (looks just like you're in Vietnam!) and then over to Lee's sandiwches. There we ordered mung bean filled sesame balls, some little waffley cream delight, and smoothies. I mistakenly ordered the durian smoothie, which had me smelling like durian for the next 24-hours. I threw the smoothie away in a parking lot and apparently caused a smell explosion when the smoothie hit the garbage can!
None the less, I maintain my love for the stuff :) Authentic or not, my smoothie was strong.
I look forward to many more adventures south to Little Saigon in the coming months :)
Yesterday afternoon I drove down to Little Saigon in Orange County, California. Off the 405 at exit 10, you can turn right immediately and find yourself innundated by vietnamese writing on all the shops! There's a huge grocery store - almost vietnamese mall, technically - in the shopping center, as well as a lee's sandwiches, a fixture to the LA area. http://leesandwiches.com/2008/
First, though, we entered the parking lot and ate at the large restaurant on the far side of the shopping mall. It was exhuisite and authentic! So good I couldn't tell if the goodness was from the authenticity, the MSG (sodium bicarbonate, they label it), or the two combined. Needless to say, I'd go back there immediately. I ordered a spin off my favorite item, which I experienced as breakfast in Vietnam: Banh Uot Cha Lau, Banh Tom... think:
except I was forced to order it sans "Uot cha." Instead of getting a sheet of rice noodles, I got a sheet that was stringy (had holes in it), so was somewhat more noodley and less savory. My dish came with barbecued pork and a tofu/sticky rice that was made from shrimp paste. Extremely good! I added veggies (chives, red pepper paste, lemongrass, mint, cilantro, sprouts) and the vinegary requisite fish sauce (wow!) and dug in.
I am sad to say that I didn't finish my dish, but my stomach was not sad. We ventured into the shopping mall/grocery store (looks just like you're in Vietnam!) and then over to Lee's sandiwches. There we ordered mung bean filled sesame balls, some little waffley cream delight, and smoothies. I mistakenly ordered the durian smoothie, which had me smelling like durian for the next 24-hours. I threw the smoothie away in a parking lot and apparently caused a smell explosion when the smoothie hit the garbage can!
None the less, I maintain my love for the stuff :) Authentic or not, my smoothie was strong.
I look forward to many more adventures south to Little Saigon in the coming months :)
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