December is a time for tradition, so three of the five top tastes for this month come from decades-old restaurants in Los Angeles. They are Andre's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Du-pars in the Original Farmers Market and Canter's Deli. The other two tastes are soup from a Thai restaurant, representing a cuisine with a long history in the city, and a classic yogurt from China.
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce at Andre's. The spaghetti is cooked just right and the meat sauce is classic, with no cute twists. That's why it's the top selling pasta at Andre's, which has been dishing it out since 1963. The big serving is only $7 and comes with a wedge of garlic bread. Parmesan is on the table.
Sadly, Andre's has lost its lease but intends to continue until construction starts on the redo of the Town and Country Shopping Center in which it is located.
Andre's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, 332 W 3rd St #18, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 935-1246.
Chicken Pot Pie at Du-par's in the Original Farmers Market. A best seller at this 80-year-old restaurant, chicken pot pie is so popular that there's a danger it could be sold out before you order. The crust is tender and nicely shaped. And the filling is top quality--freshly cooked chicken breast meat, potatoes, carrots and celery. So old fashioned and so good.
Du-par's Restaurant and Bakery, 6333 W. Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90036. (323) 933-8446. Other locations are in Studio City, Pasadena and West Las Vegas.
Cobb Salad at Canter's Deli. A Jewish deli and restaurant might be the last place you would look for a Cobb Salad, made famous by the legendary Brown Derby in Hollywood. Nevertheless, 87-year-old Canter's has a terrific version, super fresh and packed with goodies including crispy bacon, turkey, egg, blue cheese, romaine lettuce, tomato and avocado.
You can have the salad the original way, with each ingredient displayed separately in the bowl, or tossed with dressing in the kitchen. My waitress recommended the latter, and she was right. The salad was perfect, with just the right amount of dressing, and no risk of making a mess at the table.
Canter's Deli, 419 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. (323) 651-2030.
Banana Blossom Soup at Noree Thai on Beverly. This unusual soup is a delightful blend of banana blossoms and chicken in coconut broth seasoned with lemon grass and galangal. Instead of eating it from a bowl, you spoon it over rice. A coleslaw-like salad of shredded cabbage comes on the side.
Noree Thai on Beverly, 7669 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. (323) 937-3100.
Beijing Yogurt. A friend raved about this yogurt, which she discovered on a trip to China. The good news is, it's available here, made in the USA and distributed from the City of Industry.
As she pointed out, it isn't overly sweet, like many yogurts on the market, but it's nice and creamy with good tangy flavor. And it tastes the same as that she bought in China. You'll find Beijing yogurt in some markets in the San Gabriel Valley, including Lohas Fresh Mart.
Lohas Fresh Mart, 300 W. Main St., Suite 120, Alhambra, CA 91801. (626) 300-3998.
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