Mop N Pop Thai food in Encino

I have always had a great affinity for those mom and pop, "hole in the wall" restaurants. There is a sense of adventure, a sense of discovery when I get to partake in one of these kinds of places. Thai 'N I is one such restaurant. This small establishment on Verntura Boulevard in Encino has been at this location for over thirty years. They specialize in Thai Barbecue and authentic Thai cuisine.

This unassuming restaurant is easy to miss unless you are looking out for it or have an eye, as I do, for places that otherwise would be passed up for one of the many corporate restaurants that line both sides of Ventura Boulevard. My wife and I were looking for some Thai food after dropping off items at the LA Kids Consignment . She remembered a spot from her childhood and sure enough we found Thai 'N I.

When you walk in, the inside of the restaurant is equally as humble as the discrete exterior. The seating area is adjacent to the small kitchen and is not much bigger than a hallway. My wife and I were greeted by one of the owners and she also was our server. From the get go, the service was friendly and hospitable, which made up in spades for any lack of decor or specific ambiance.

We immediately found some favorites on the very basic menu: Tom Yum Kai (traditional Thai soup with lemon grass, chicken, mushrooms), Pad Woon Sen (glass noodles, chicken, shrimp, cilantro, lime juice, bean sprouts, red pepper flakes), and my favorite beverage...Thai Iced Coffee. In addition, we made sure to order one of the barbecue chicken dishes made to perfection in traditional Thai fashion.

There are many Thai restaurants, big and small, simple or elegant, throughout the Los Angeles area. However, restaurants of all kinds come and go, but the mere fact that Thai 'N I has been around for so long is a testament to their success. In addition, it is clear to this pallet that it is possible to have authentic, well crafted, and great tasting food and maintain affordability.

Thai 'N I is a perfect example of why I take the time to write these reviews. It is these little independently owned restaurants that do what they do, day in and day out, and do not get the recognition that they deserve. My wife commented that she used to eat at Thai 'N I as a little girl often. We are back as adults and will be back again when we are in the area.

If you can patron Thai 'N I, you will certainly be pleased. If not, make a point to support local eateries, coffeehouses, and other independently owned establishments. This is truly where one finds authenticity, tradition and quality.

It is what it is!

Thai 'N I
17544 Ventura Boulevard
Encino, CA 91316
(818) 783-THAI (8424)

Cafe Balcony-Siphon Specialists

Every so often, I get a chance to venture into one of my favorite coffee places with my oldest daughter. She likes the baked goods and the chance to play on my computer with the free Wi-Fi and I of course like to sample the coffee.

This was certainly the case yesterday as we ventured into Cafe Balcony in West Los Angeles. I have been there numerous times and have even mentioned it in previous posts. I wanted the day to be a special opportunity to focus on what this particular cafe does best...Siphon Coffee. To understand this process of coffee brewing, I highly recommend you check out some of the links that will be located at the end of this post.

For now, the focus will be on two different cups of coffee being reviewed today, Guatemala Huehuetenango and Kenya AA. I picked these merely for my preference for a brighter cup. This is especially important, in my opinion, in light of the siphon brewing method being used here at Cafe Balcony. This process is ultra clean and the notes exhibited in the brighter coffees seem to come out especially well using this method.

I began with the Guatemala Huehuetenango. As I anticipated, this was a clean cup overall. This particular coffee tends to be higher in acidity relative to the body of the cup. Interesting enough, the description made reference to notes of orange, cocoa and cinnamon. I am not sure why, but the orange was barely a hint and I really didn't get cocoa or cinnamon. I had to almost convince myself that it was there to notice it. I would be interested to know when and for how long the coffee had been roasted. That certainly would provide one source of explanation. Regardless, this was an enjoyable cup, but really because of a more earthly kind of taste and not because I actually tasted the notes that were used in the description.

Next came the Kenya AA Kirinyaga. Kenyas are typically my favorite coffee overall. I always look forward to the bright, fruity, wine-like flavor that comes with a Kenya. In this instance, the Kenya delivered better in the cup then the Guatemala. It was well-balanced, fuller in body (as it should) and had a tea like quality, rather than a wine quality to it. Since I only had time to sample two items, it was nice to end on the higher of the two notes. This was enjoyable to me, most notably because of a fuller body, creating a nice balanced cup.

Overall, I really enjoy Cafe Balcony. From the moment you walk into the store, you are welcomed with diverse indy music, eclectic decor and hip baristas behind the counter. I know that Ray the owner takes his coffee seriously. It is not uncommon for him to roast his own beans and serve something off of the menu. Typically, however, he uses Rocky Roasters in Canoga Park, CA to supply his beans. Honestly, he might consider pursuing other options. Rocky's is not bad, it is just not at all great. Considering he is using such a great brewing process in the siphon method, he really would benefit from serving either his own roasts or the roast of another vendor. I think the difference would really show in the cup. At $3.00-$5.00 per cup, the coffee should be spectacular.

Regardless, I am loyal to this local coffeehouse. We need more places like Cafe Balcony throughout the city of Los Angeles. When you do get a chance to drop by, definitely give one of the siphon coffees a whirl. It is really the focus and highlight of this coffee establishment.

It is what it is!

Siphon Coffee link:

http://www.coffeegeek.com/guides/siphoncoffee

Authentic Mediterranean Cuisine in Marina del Rey

Previously, I had written about a nice little eatery right on the beach in Venice, CA called Figtree's Cafe. There is no particular reason why I was back in this neighborhood, it just happened that my wife and I decided to take the kids for another Sunday afternoon stroll on the ocean walk. This also afforded me yet another opportunity to check out one of the many restaurants in the area.

My wife and I really enjoy Mediterranean food. Whether it is Greek, Lebanese, or any of the other cuisines of that region, we always find the food to be full of flavor while still being healthy. This is the case at Gaby's Mediterranean Restaurant by the Venice Beach Pier where one can get real authentic Lebanese food at very affordable prices.

After being seated by the friendly wait staff, we proceeded to scan the menu. There is really something for everyone, every budget, every appetite. We decided on a few different pita wrap sandwiches, but not before starting off with warm pita bread and tabbouli. If you don't know what tabbouli is, then make it a point to try this wonderful salad that is quintessential to this region of the world. Tabbouli is chopped Italian parsley, diced tomatoes, onions and bulgur wheat tossed with lemon and olive oil. I have had tabbouli a number of times in my life. This was perfect. In other instances, the tabbouli had too much of one of the ingredients. Here, it was very well balanced.

The pita wraps arrived shortly after and were perfect to share with the kids. We got a very basic chicken kabob as well as Maanik. Maanik is spicy homemade lamb sausage that is wrapped in the pita with just a little lettuce, tomato and hummus. While the chicken kabob was truly excellent, the maanik really made it for me. The sausage has this very unique "cinnamony" flavor with a dryer texture but them backed up with the other spices and the creaminess that comes from the hummus. All the flavors worked really well together. In addition, the portion sizes were very reasonable especially considering the price ($6.50 for the kabaob and $7.00 for the maanik). Each pita came with a side of either rice, salad or fries. I am not one for fries, but they are a hit with the kids. In this case, they were a hit with me too. They use a really nice seasoning and cook them with a little extra crunch. Just like I like fries.

It is important to note one other thing. The restaurant is pretty well maintained and clean. I point this out because Venice is not known as a beacon of light as far as cleanliness goes. When I go to Venice, I expect plenty of grime, funk and foul aromas. So to come into a restaurant that is already in an older building and find it in good shape (even the bathroom was clean and smelling nice), that alone was a huge selling point to me. The aforementioned weight staff also made the experience one worth coming back for a second meal. One side note, though. If you are coming with children who need high chairs, they only have one. Thankfully we got the only high chair before the other toddler arrived. It might be good if Gaby's made a small investment toward a few more high chairs. Nonetheless, Gaby's will be at the top of the list should my wife or myself be Jonesin' for some authentic Mediterranean food.

Gaby's Mediterranean can be found at the following locations:

Gaby's by the Sea
Marina del Rey/Venice Beach Pier
20 Washington Blvd.
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 821-9721

The Original Gaby's
West Los Angeles
10445 Venice Blvd.
(Between Motor and Overland)
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 559-1808

Gaby's Express
Marina del Rey
3216 Washington Blvd.
(Corner of Lincoln)
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-7299

It is what it is!