By Neena Strichart
My hubby Steve and I love to watch the home-improvement shows and various food-type programming. Last Saturday morning, we had a nice, leisurely breakfast while watching The Best Thing I Ever Ate on The Food Network. Yummy! It was chock full of foodie experts giving details about their favorite dishes from restaurants or shops, including items like gourmet peanut butter and marzipan pastry. Unfortunately for me, I had no way to tell if the items featured during that particular episode were gluten free or full of gluten— a big no-no for me.
After watching the show, I decided that I should do a column about what I consider to be the best things I eat— locally. Now, keep in mind that with only a small amount of space, I can’t include everything. I promise I’ll give Steve a chance to list his favorites, many just full of gluten, in an upcoming issue.
So, here goes! in NO particular order:
Bamboo Teri House (Bixby Knolls)— Una Don bowl (baked eel over rice)
Café Bixby (Bixby Knolls)— Lamb, any way, shape or form
Delius Restaurant, Cherry Ave. at Spring Street (Signal Hill)— Poached eggs wrapped in salmon
Hokkaido, Cherry Ave. at Spring Street (Long Beach)— Chocolate fountain with fresh fruit
Awesome Sushi, Clark Avenue at Willow Street (Long Beach)— Octopus salad
Curley’s, Cherry Ave. at Willow Street (Signal Hill)— One word— CHILI
Le Yen (Bixby Knolls)— Phoenix & Dragon (chicken, shrimp, and vegetables)
Shenandoah at the Arbor (Los Alamitos) — Maple-glazed salmon, crème brulee
Big E Pizza (PCH in Signal Hill)— Greek and/or antipasto salad
Alsace Lorraine Bakery (Bixby Knolls)— Flourless chocolate cookies
Five Star Teriyaki (Signal Hill)— Triple taste sauce on anything
E.J. Malloy’s (Bixby Knolls)— Steak salad
Panda Garden (Bixby Knolls)— Aromatic shrimp
Trader Joe’s (Bixby Knolls)— Crème brulee in chocolate cups, frozen food aisle
Pho America, Pacific Avenue at PCH (Long Beach)— Mango boba and shrimp spring rolls
Patricia’s Mexican Restaurant (Bixby Knolls)— Mixta tostada (cold seafood with crispy corn tortilla)
Flame Broiler (Bixby Knolls, Long Beach) Steak & brown rice bowl with green onions
Pizza Place, Broadway (Long Beach)— Antipasto or Greek salad
Arby’s/Green Burrito (Bixby Knolls, Long Beach)— Mini nachos with carnitas
Baja Sonora (Long Beach)— Green rice (much different than regular Spanish rice)
Golden Eagle (Signal Hill)— Carne asada tacos, their crispy bacon on anything, mango iced tea
Georgie’s Place (Bixby Knolls, Long Beach)— Greek or steak salad
It’s A Grind (Signal Hill, Long Beach)— Nutty cow— hot hazelnut— flavored coffee drink, YUM!
Baba Ghanouj (Bixby Knolls, Long Beach)— Lamb-stuffed grape leaves
Arnold’s Restaurant (Bixby Knolls, Long Beach— gone, but not forgotten) — Brussels sprout salad
