Seafood Village: Chiu Chow, SGV Style

Everything I know about Chiu Chow cuisine, I learned from eating at restaurants representing that regional fare, growing up in Hong Kong. So, what I know may just be the 'Hong Kong version' of chiu chow, but what I do know, I dearly miss when I am in LA: sugar vinegar double fried egg noodle pancakes, oyster omelettes, soy sauce duck parts, stir fried cow spinal cord...

So, I was excited when I read about David Chan, man who has feasted on and documented an incredible volume of meals at Chinese restaurants all over the country.  Surely, he would know where I can get a decent chiu chow meal in LA.  The answer was not what I wanted - there isn't any restaurant, even in the great SGV, that serves such specific and authentic regional Chinese dishes -  but he did have a place that is one of his favorite restaurants in the city, and it just happens to be chiu chow.  I won't be able to get the niche dishes I've been craving, but I will be able to get an excellent meal nonetheless. So it was that I embarked on a journey to Seafood Village in Monterey Park a few weeks back - and was so impressed with my experience that I plan to be back again, and again.

Located in a non-descript strip mall, in a no frills place with specials listed in Chinese only (albeit with photos) along the walls, Seafood Village struck me as very authentic (Chinese) right away.  You're definitely not going to visit for the ambience.  A glance at the menu confirmed, as David said, that the items I wanted were not going to be served there.  But they had some amazing sounding dishes with ingredients that are not seen everywhere even in the SGV.  One of these was the Sauteed Clams with 9-Level Pagoda Basil ($11.99)  - yes, this is the same kind of basil (九層塔) used in the signature lobster at Newport Tan Cang restaurant.  A little sweet, with the slightest hit of spice, often described as 'clove-like'.  Legend has it (because you should believe everything you read on the internet) that the basil got its name when a Chinese emperor was stranded by flooding in a 9-Level Pagoda, and stumbled upon the herb growing on its roof.  Basically our people seem to have to have a story for everything...it does make things more interesting that way.  Whatever the origin of its name, I love this unique tasting herb with shellfish - cuts through the briny flavors and more...robust textured creatures nicely.  The clams are perfectly steamed at Seafood Village in a clear broth with garlic and the foodgasm inducing basil.
 

For the token vegetable dish, and only because my server said the magic words "XO Sauce" and it sounded interesting with a mix of surf and turf in it, I sprang for the Stir-fried Chives with XO Sauce, Dried Shrimp and Ham ($13.99). I never really thought of chives as something you would eat as the main component of a dish - usually it's as flavoring or garnish.  But who knew, the tips of chives look like blushing baby flower buds, and the 'stalks' give off a fresh, delicious crunch when stir fried.  And were perfectly punctuated by pops of dried shrimp, ham and I think bits of squid - along with my beloved savory/spicy/sweet magic XO sauce (a Hong Kong invention usually made of dried shrimp, dried fish, dried scallop, chili peppers and garlic).  And yes, you guessed it - there's a story behind the name XO sauce too: basically Cognac XO was a popular liquor in Hong Kong that had an established brand as the ultimate in luxury, representing refined tastes and wealth - a status good that all self-respecting-consumers-with-fine-palates should aspire to experience. So when this sauce was invented, with all the expensive seafood needed to create just a small amount of sauce - it was decided that naming it XO would be a reflection of its luxurious ingredients, and give it instant appeal to status conscious Hong Kong uber-consumers.  I do love the name of this sauce, but it's really its amazing layers of flavor, that unfurl like the culinary equivalent of a fine aged brandy, just a little different every time, that get me every time.

Then came the House Special Crab ($26.15 for 3lbs, varies with market price) although that works out to less than $10 a pound when I went, it's a minimum of 3lbs per order so best if you go with other people.  I managed to inhale about a quarter of the platter and had to take the rest to go.  This crab is simply amazing - if you go to Seafood Village, don't leave without tasting this.  Chopped garlic, fried to a crisp, spring onion, peppers and salt give it instantly addictive flavor - you can scrape off the stuff and use it as topping for rice and make a delicious meal of that alone - while the meat inside is tender and softly sweet.  The crab is deep fried so you get that tasty crispy coating on the shell that had me frantically trying to scrape off with my teeth.  I'd never had this dish in chiu chow restaurants in Hong Kong - but I'm in love with it now and will definitely be coming back for more.

As typical to old school Chinese restaurants, the meal is finished off with complimentary dessert.  Seafood Village provides Red Bean Soup - this wasn't mind-blowing, but very nicely done and especially lovely because it was free.

Also wanted to take a moment to note the attentive service - the waiters are not here to chat with you, so if you're looking at it from a western perspective, you're not going to think it's great because you don't get the banter here - but with all the seafood they are very quick with replacing dirty plates with clean ones and offering napkins / towels.

All in all, a great meal and one that has turned me from skeptic to fan of SGV-style (or at least, Seafood Village style) chiu chow!  Thanks David Chan for the rec!!

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 6.5 bites
Presentation - 5.5 bites
Originality - 6 bites
Ambience - 5 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $$ (2 bite marks)
Probability of return visit - 100% 
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Seafood Village
684 W Garvey Ave, Monterey Park,CA 91754
Ph: 626.289.0088

Parking:  Free in attached open air lot

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Freddy Smalls Bar & Kitchen: Does Size Really Matter? It's What You Do With It, Right?

I'm learning to be a Westsider again, after years of living to be around work in the SFV.  Love my new co-workers who I've discovered to be fellow foodies and adventurous eaters.  They've introduced me to so many great places and we're discovering others together.

On a weeknight, Ms Fab and I decided to check out Freddy Smalls Bar & Kitchen for drinks and apps.  It was a tiny space, but cozy and familiar, like a modernized version of the Cheers bar.  It felt like everybody that walks in are regulars, and love it there.

We strolled past a smattering of tables, and sidled up to the bar, where you really do get to know the 'community' based on sheer proximity to your neighbor - you're almost literally elbow to elbow - order too many plates and you're going to spill over into someone's personal space.  Good for those who want to make new friends, not so fun for us who were trying to have a conversation without having to cater to our solitary neighbor who decided it was his duty to 'host' us that entire evening, commenting on our menu choices and plates as they arrived.

Anyways, that's the setting.  Let's get on to what they do with it.  The food is FANTASTIC.  We got excited just looking at the menu, not your run of the mill bar grub - and even more excited to hear that we had made it in time for Happy Hour pricing (on select items). We jumped at the Chicken Liver Mousse on Toasts ($4 regular price / $3 during Happy Hour) caper berry marmalade, frisee, radish.  Loved the beautiful balance of creamy, earthy chicken liver mousse with the clean crunch of radish slices, frisee and sweet/tart caper berry marmalade - on a slender slab of artisan toast.  We were going to share, so we can taste other food, but ended up ordering a second round immediately after the first bite.

Our friendly bartender asked what kinds of drinks we were into: when I said craft cocktails, layered - he recommended the 5-Star Sidecar ($11) Mexata Star, fresh orange, fresh lemon, Jerry Thomas bitters. I loved this light and refreshing drink, that almost felt healthy.  Bitters can sometimes be overpowering but this one was perfectly balanced.

Next up for grub: Pork Belly and Charred Squid ($18) cranberry beans, eggplant, new onion.  Big price jump on this one, but loved the offering of charred squid, at a bar!!!  It was a dream pairing of gourmet surf and turf.  I don't think I've ever seen eggplant used with squid either - kind of an ingenius combination, as evidenced by our rapid inhaling of the entire dish. If we weren't so close to our office (big risk of co-workers coming in, and in fact, one did as we were settling inwith our food) - we would have picked up the bowl and licked it clean.

Time for another drink. There are two things I particularly love in cocktails: cucumber, and some sort of element that brings heat into the mix.  So the bartender whipped up a Westside Eastside ($12) Fidencio Clasico mezcal, fresh lime, agave syrup, cucumber, jalapeno - probably my fav drink of the night.  I could drink these all day like they were Pressed Juicery concoctions. 

I was so occupied with my drink I didn't really take good notes on Ms. Fab's unfortunately.  So I think this pic is of Swedish Island ($9) Kanon Organic Vodka, lime, coconut water, orange blossom simple syrup.  Ms. Fab liked hers but if memory served correctly, wished she had ordered the Westside Eastside instead. 

Last but definitely not least - the dish that made us want to 'jump the bone': Reuben's Gluttony ($24) corned beef, bone marrow, yorkie pudding, carmelized kraut.  We didn't really expect this giant platter of insane deliciousness.  There was a gigantic bone with gorgeous, buttery marrow inside, topped by finely chopped carrot and I think celery bits for flavor and counterbalancing crunch.  There were 'yorkie puddings' that were like giant popovers.  Addictive *sweet* sauerkraut.  Amazing corned beef that was more like carvings of steak, perfectly cooked. With house made mustards on the side that we wanted to lick off the board. 

I know, I know, enough with the innuendos...we are still talking about food here.  But us two single ladies definitely left satisfied and ready to come back for more at a moments notice.  Freddy Smalls, you've won our hearts through our stomachs.

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 6 bites
Presentation - 6 bites
Originality - 6 bites
Ambience - 5.5 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $ (1 bite mark)
Probability of return visit - 100% 
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Freddy Smalls Bar & Kitchen
11520 West Pico Blvd, Los Angeles,CA90064
Ph: 310.479.3000

Website: freddysmalls.com
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1MB Savvy Saveurs: Savings & Sweepstakes

Deals and sweepstakes uncovered this week! Click here to follow me on Twitter for instant updates on the latest discoveries :) Happy grazing!

FOODIE FINDS:

• Gusto - 30% off dinner with free passcode from BlackboardEats
• R23 - $69 for 7-course shared tasting dinner and beer or wine for two (up to $113 value) deal from Bloomspot LA (~1 day left to buy)
• Eva Restaurant - $39 for $58 bottomless mimosa 2-course Sunday brunch for two or
  

  $89 for $149 4-course dinner for two (family-style chef's tasting menu valid Wednesday–Saturday only) deal from Bloomspot LA (~3 days left to buy)

SWEEPSTAKES/CONTESTS:

• Travel Channel October Sweepstakes - enter for chance to win 6-day trip for 2 to Grand Cayman (ends 10/31/12 11:59pm ET).  Enter daily. Official rules here
• Diesel Trip to Tokyo Sweepstakes - enter for chance to win 6-night trip for 2 to Tokyo + $1000 shopping spree at Diesel (ends 1/31/13 11:59:59pm ET). Official rules here
• NOLA Getaway Sweepstakes - enter for chance to win 3-day getaway to NOLA for 2 with 3 meals included +$1000 for travel expenses (ends 10/19/12 6pm ET) via BlackboardEatsLA Official rules here
• JetBlue Election Protection Sweepstakes - enter for chance to win a flight on JetBlue out of the country, if your chosen presidential candidate doesn't win (gotta love the sense of humor and marketing genius in this campaign!). 1006 winners. Prize is a JetBlue Travel Certificate, redeemable for the base fare of a roundtrip JetBlue flight originating from a JetBlue city in the U.S. (not including Puerto Rico) to one (1) of the following destinations: Bermuda, St. Maarten; St. Lucia; Barbados; Dominican Republic; Nassau, Bahamas; Cancun, Mexico; Costa Rica; Aruba; Colombia; Grand Cayman; Jamaica; or Turks & Caicos (as selected at the time of registration). Each Travel Certificate may be redeemed between 11/8/12 and 2/13/13 for eligible travel between 1/8/13 and 2/13/13. Requires login on Facebook - see site for details (ends 11/5/12 11:59pm ET) Official rules here

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This is meant to be an easily digestible (yes, I did) report of third party offers - I am not the sponsor. I do not receive any payment for these listings. Please read offer details / official rules carefully before deciding whether to submit your information.

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To get more mileage for your money everyday - see Get More Bites Outta Your Budget. Check out my Sweepstakes Page "Win Your Next Bite" - for more foodie promotions!