On Monday, I decided to be nice to my dear mom and take her out for lunch. We headed to BaLe, one of our favorite Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall joints in the Valley. BaLe is located in Canoga Park, deep in the center of the Valley. I know most of you will never trek down to Canoga Park, it's definitely not a destination city. But I have two words for you...OYSTER CHICKEN. This place is famous amongst Canoga Parkians and people living in West Valley. It's the Zankou's of Vietnamese cuisine, umm, but a lot more low key, and without the yellow Zankou shirts. Also, Ba Le, is runned by a sometimes sweet, sometimes cranky Vietnamese mama. She's nice to me and my mama. Actually, she usually sits down at our table to gossip with my mom. Don't be intimidated by her frown, she usually doesn't smile, but she does when she gossips. :) Oh, and my mom will warn you not to use too many napkins. The BaLe mama's has told my mom how she doesn't like when people use too many napkins. My mom usually hides all her used napkins in her purse. Strange? Yes, Vietnamese mama's are strange.Ok...back to the chicken. The chicken, well, more like the cornish hen, has been baked and then fried, according my mama sources. It's served over Vietnamese broken rice with nuoc mum. It's a simple, but chicken smacking dish all for $6.25.
I will tolerate Vietnamese gossip in exchange for Oyster Chicken anytime.BaLe also serves up yummy noodle soups. If you're tired of pho, try banh canh. Bahn cahn, large Vietnamese rice noodles are served with large shrimps and real crab meat. Sooo yum!
Later Monday night, several of us from our grad school program got together for another social justice education/alum reunion/eat at our favorite Italian bistro night. Can I tell you how much I love Fritto Misto??? It's just so cozy and simple. And the food has always been really really yummy.
My friend Jenn introduced me to something new at Fritto Misto. Along with their yummy bread, you can ask for a dish of fresh garlic, with olive oil and basalmic vinegar. Yes, you are setting yourself up for offensive garlic breath, but that garlic mix beats butter anyday. (Ohh...I never thought anything could beat butter!)
The ultimate "killer breath" bread dip.
These big babies are stuffed with proscuitto, mortadella, and chicken and tossed with a garlic cream sauced with carmalized onions, pancetta, and a lot of sun-dried tomatoes.
Later Monday night, several of us from our grad school program got together for another social justice education/alum reunion/eat at our favorite Italian bistro night. Can I tell you how much I love Fritto Misto??? It's just so cozy and simple. And the food has always been really really yummy.My friend Jenn introduced me to something new at Fritto Misto. Along with their yummy bread, you can ask for a dish of fresh garlic, with olive oil and basalmic vinegar. Yes, you are setting yourself up for offensive garlic breath, but that garlic mix beats butter anyday. (Ohh...I never thought anything could beat butter!)
The ultimate "killer breath" bread dip.This was the first time I ordered the Jumbo Ravioli. I think I might be stuck on this dish for a while.
These big babies are stuffed with proscuitto, mortadella, and chicken and tossed with a garlic cream sauced with carmalized onions, pancetta, and a lot of sun-dried tomatoes.