Coffee tasting event at G&B - Grand Central Market

I was invited to coffee tasting event at G&B coffee recently. As a coffee lover, I couldn't miss this offer.

Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinski, collectively G&B Coffee, bring LA’s hottest new coffeebar concept to Grand Central Market beginning today. The debut of G&B Coffee is part of the unprecedented year-long celebration of new restaurant openings every month at the iconic food arcade, which is the oldest open air market in the city.

G&B Coffee arrives at Grand Central Market having won accolades and a dedicated following from its recently completed seven-month pop-up coffeebar within SQIRL Cafe in Silver Lake. Stars of specialty coffee, Kyle and Charles have worked at some of the world's preeminent coffee companies, won barista championships, and taught and lectured around the world.

G&B serves coffees selected from the world's top roasters and serves them with care and efficiency in a relaxed, bustling sidewalk setting.

Along with the rotating single origin coffees, Red Blossom teas and traditional espresso drinks, G&B serves cappuccinos made with housemade almond milk, cold sparkling white tea and a small selection of coffee and tea infused milkshakes.

CLICK HERE for pics from Squirl with G&B

Coffee

Housemade almond milk
Well, I'm not a milk lover, in fact, I don't like drinking milk BUT I tried it and I couldn't believe how delicious it was.

Cappuccino with housemade almond milk

DELICIOUS milkshake
the best milkshake ever

Toast

Sparkling Oolong tea
Yup, it's not ginger ale. It's sparking tea! I never had or heard about it but I guess it does exist.

G&B Coffee (Grand Central Market)
324 S Hill St Ste C19
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Mon-Sun 7 am - 6 pm

Parking: There is parking. 1 hour free with validation (I think you have to spend $10 or more)

http://gandbcoffee.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/g-and-b-coffee-los-angeles-2

Pizzeria Napoli - Koreatown

Pizzeria Napoli, new pizza place just opened on the second floor of Assi supermarket in Koreatown.
They are having grand opening special, everything is 50% off now. They don't deliver so I called and picked up. It was difficult ordering over the phone because the lady couldn't understand English well. Also I'm not sure what time they close but when I when to there last week around 6pm, they were already closing.

menu

I ordered 12" pizza with easy cheese, Canadian ham, roasted eggplant, and basil. It was $6.

When I got home, I opened the box, and it looked kinda small so I measured it. It was 10". I called and told them about it. Their response was "that's our 12", our pizza is by weight.". I was like.. what a fuck? They kept saying that my 10" pizza is 12". At the end, they said I can bring back the pizza and they make bigger one but I was already home so I refused it.  At least it was only $6 and my pizza was not bad at all. But I still feel like I was tricked and not very happy about it.

The dough was chewy, thick crust, also my pizza / crust was not greasy at all which is good (well, I ordered with VERY easy on cheese).

Rating (food): 3.8 / 5
Rating (service): 3 / 5
Repeat: Yes

Pizzeria Napoli
3525w 8th st,
Los Angeles, California 90005
(213) 387-4992

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pizzeria-Napoli/372035622901700

Semi sweet bakery - Downtown

It's been more than a year later, I'm back here again!  They are still serving yummy pastries for good prices.

CLICK HERE for pics from 2011.

Almond croissant $2.50

Blueberry cornbread $2.75

Valenting A Ling $2.50

Yellow cake, strawberry cream, covered with white chocolate

Rating (food): 4.3 / 5
Rating (service): 3 / 5
Repeat: Yes

semi sweet bakery
105 E 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90013

(213) 228-9975

Closed on Mondays
Tuesday - Thursday, Sunday 8am - 4pm
Friday - Saturday 8am - 6pm

http://semisweetbakery.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/semi-sweet-bakery-los-angeles

Civil Coffee - Los Angeles

While I was at Melrose Trading Post flea market, I saw Civil Coffee. Civil coffee doesn't have a  shop, just pop-up. It was really hot day but I had to try their latte.

Latte with 2% milk $4, very smooth.

I bought Kathy Van Zeeland purse and Juicy Couture perfume for total $20. Good deal. And I love the smell of the perfume.

http://www.civil-coffee.com/Civil_Coffee/Civil_Coffee.html

http://www.yelp.com/biz/civil-coffee-los-angeles

http://melrosetradingpost.org/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/melrose-trading-post-los-angeles

Dim Sum at Ocean Star - Monterey Park

Ocean Star, very popular dim sum restaurant in Monterey Park. During the weekdays, it's only $1.98 ($2.38 on the weekends). No wonder why this place is so popular. The place is extremely busy during lunch time on the weekends. I arrived here little before 11:30am and there were 1-2 tables open so I didn't have to wait to get seated. However, after me and my friend sat down, no one came to our table, we waited about 10 minutes. Usually when you are at the dim sum restaurant, you sit down and the lady pushing the cart will be there right away.

I thought the food was just ok. This place is popular because of the prices, not the food. If I want good dim sum, I'd go somewhere else.

Finally the cart is here

clams

soup

sesame ball

shumai

steamed bun

har gow

tofu dessert
I didn't like it at all

shrimp balls

Rating: 3.4 / 5 
Service: 2.5 / 5
Repeat: Maybe

Ocean Star Seafood Restaurant
145 N. Atlantic Blvd. #201-203
Monterey Park, CA 91754

(626) 308-2128

Dim Sum & Lunch - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Dinner Service - 3:30 am to 10:00 pm

http://www.oceanstarrestaurant.com/home.htm

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ocean-star-restaurant-monterey-park