Chinese Restaurant Review: Norcal vs Socal

Photo Credit: Flickr Avlxyz Beef Hor Fun

Photo Credit: Flickr Pinguino Chinese Fried Shrimp

I'm originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, but in my year and a half here in Southern California I've come to love Los Angeles. No, I don't love the traffic. However, I dig the diversity of entertainment here. For instance, I spend Saturday nights at the Getty Center museum with my husband, Saturday afternoons at the Natural History Museum admiring the Gem Exhibit with my girlfriends and Sundays hiking or running on the beach. Plus there's upscale but well-priced bars, bowling in Hollywood, and crepes in Santa Monica. I'm a happy gal.

Photo Credit: PolkaDotCupcake Blog Oxtail Stew

This post is a comparison of a Norcal Chinese restaurant and a Socal Chinese bistro. Yes, this can stir the Norcal vs Socal rivalry but I must comment so read on.

Today I am reviewing:

Photo Credit: Flicker OpenCage Info Chinese Restaurant

Photo Credit: Flicker Rick's Red Bean Dessert Soup

• Three Brothers from China in Pleasant Hill, California
• Garden Cafe in Alhambra, California

Photo Credit: Flickr Avlxyz Mapo Tofu

Criteria

• Value
• Quality
• Service
• Ambiance
• Menu Items

Garden Cafe

This is an excellent MSG-free alternative to the equally highly rated Tasty Garden next door. The price point is higher than Three Brothers from China for beef chow hor fun, however it's inexpensive and high quality for SoCal Chinese food. The waitstaff is polite unlike the crew at Tasty Garden. If you know the Chinese language as a patron, you are in luck. The restaurant attracts mainly Asian clients or interracial families. The appearance is clean and contemporary with lots of white and lime green in its decor. The track lighting and plasma screens give the medium size restaurant a feeling of spaciousness. The open kitchen is a true source of pride. It is exceptionally clean and currently boasts an A rating from the health department. The menu items include oxtail, baked spaghetti, walnut shrimp and tofu dishes. This pleases a Cantonese gal like me with Hong Kong parents. My German-Lithuanian American husband agrees that this place is fantastic especially because it doesn't season with MSG. He is allergic. 9/10

Three Brothers from China

Photo Credit: Flickr Nhong Lam's Chinese Banquet

This is a medium to large restaurant with a banquet room that can fit up to 11 round tables. Disclosure: this is where I held my wedding reception. The price is moderate and the decor is a blend of modern bar and traditional Chinese. You'll see faux stone relief of emperors and princesses, red-gold dragons and Chinese blessings on the walls. I like the red, black and orange decor. The waitstaff is fast and the owners make the effort to greet frequent customers. The owners are friendly, confident and fun to chat with in English or Chinese. This restaurant attracts Chinese, non-Chinese patrons and interracial families. The menu is more extensive and the portions are larger than Garden Cafe. For instance, you can order Peking Duck here and Yee Mein. You can also purchase expensive banquet meals for small, medium or large parties. Hot dessert soups are served after every dinner. This means you get to enjoy taro root tapioca or red bean soup on some nights. I awarded this Chinese restaurant a higher score because of a menu that includes banquet items, more interaction with the owners and a better price point. 9.7/10

Tip: Ask for the 3 item menu. It's a secret. Tell them Renee sent you. 

Molasses Review

Photo Credit: Renee Marchol's Kitchen

Photo Credit: Flicker Star 5112 Molasses Cookie

Cooking or Baking with Molasses

Brands:
First Street Molasses from Smart and Final
Grandma's Molasses from Ralphs

My rating criteria:

• Value
• Sweetness
• Moisture

First Street Molasses 9/10
This versatile molasses has served me well when making caramel, molasses cookies, gingerbread cake and savory Chinese dishes. Whether used in a sauce or baking, the texture is right.
Value 9/10 inexpensive in bulk
Sweetness 9/10 not overly sweet
Moisture 9/10 better than pre-packaged brown sugar

Grandma's Molasses 6/10
This molasses has a stronger sulphur taste and works well with Western desserts, specifically baked goods. It is runnier than the other brand and seems better for baking than sauces made on the stove.
Value 4/10 expensive
Sweetness 6/10 more bitter than sweet
Moisture 7/0 too runny

Photo Credit: Flicker BluColt Gingerbread House

What are the test recipes I used to evaluate the molasses?

1. Chinese 5 Spice Chicken
2. Gingerbread Cake
3. Molasses Cookies