Thai Stag Weekend
Ben (my son) and I are stag this weekend -- Marsha's mom came in from the East Coast and they went up North to the Oaks Spa in Ojai to enjoy a weekend of rest and relaxation.
The first thing Ben and I did after her car pulled out of the driveway was to look at each other and say "now what?" After a few minutes of discussion, we decided a road trip was in order. We packed up the iPod, a bag of diapers and our sunblock and headed North on the 405, over the big hump of the Santa Monica mountains and into the San Fernanado valley.
Ben was happily chirping along to a Toots Thielman, song. The freeway was packed, so we tried surface streets. Ventura Boulevard, made famous by Tom Petty, was packed, as well, due to luxury mini-vans cruising the shopping district.
We finally made it to my brother's house after 45 minutes on the road. J was out in the back smoking a cigar and T was doing some gardening. We dropped off a present and hung around for an hour or so, listening to the airplanes fly overhead and enjoying the afternoon sun. S (my nephew) really enjoyed the iTrip we got him.
Ben was up for more fun, so we headed to Studio City and picked up Mike, who was more than ready to get out of his house for a little while and rumble with the big boys in the Subaru wagon.
We headed deep, deep, deep into the valley to a place called Bangluck Market in North Hollywood. For a while, I've been wanting to find some concentrated chili sauces for Thai cooking. On the plane back from Jacksonville, they had some excellent Chicken Curry (and some AMAZING white-label pigs in the blanket, which, if you can tell me who supplies the Jacksonville FBO, I will be oh so happy) and it got me hunkering for the sauce.
Bangluck is in the middle of strip mall near the railroad tracks-- pretty unassuming place -- but when you get inside, it's a whole other world. "The Luck", as I like to call it, is full of every imagineable Asian ingredient you could ever want (or not want). Mung Beans, Dried Fish, Shredded Ginger in Brine, Fresh Catfish Heads -- they have it all. And the amazing thing is the prices. It's what food SHOULD cost in L.A. Coconut milk cost $.99, six heads of garlic cost $.79, and the Cock Brand Fish Sauce cost $.59. Unbelievable. (I must say, though I picked up a lot of vegetables, I stayed away from the meat and fish section -- didn't see any cats in the alley).
Walked out with eight bags of groceries. Total bill=$44.23. Mike was pretty pleased as well, but Ben was starting to get bored with the whole scene (except for the packaged Frogs) so we packed up the car and headed back. We dropped Mike off at his house, showed him the new HD camera and hit the road.
Somewhere near In-and-Out Burger, I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw Ben's eyes close, gently lulled to sleep by the sound of Little Willie John singing "Fever." I turned the Subaru into the sun and headed home -- two weary suburban warriors returning from battle.
The first thing Ben and I did after her car pulled out of the driveway was to look at each other and say "now what?" After a few minutes of discussion, we decided a road trip was in order. We packed up the iPod, a bag of diapers and our sunblock and headed North on the 405, over the big hump of the Santa Monica mountains and into the San Fernanado valley.
Ben was happily chirping along to a Toots Thielman, song. The freeway was packed, so we tried surface streets. Ventura Boulevard, made famous by Tom Petty, was packed, as well, due to luxury mini-vans cruising the shopping district.
We finally made it to my brother's house after 45 minutes on the road. J was out in the back smoking a cigar and T was doing some gardening. We dropped off a present and hung around for an hour or so, listening to the airplanes fly overhead and enjoying the afternoon sun. S (my nephew) really enjoyed the iTrip we got him.
Ben was up for more fun, so we headed to Studio City and picked up Mike, who was more than ready to get out of his house for a little while and rumble with the big boys in the Subaru wagon.
We headed deep, deep, deep into the valley to a place called Bangluck Market in North Hollywood. For a while, I've been wanting to find some concentrated chili sauces for Thai cooking. On the plane back from Jacksonville, they had some excellent Chicken Curry (and some AMAZING white-label pigs in the blanket, which, if you can tell me who supplies the Jacksonville FBO, I will be oh so happy) and it got me hunkering for the sauce.
Bangluck is in the middle of strip mall near the railroad tracks-- pretty unassuming place -- but when you get inside, it's a whole other world. "The Luck", as I like to call it, is full of every imagineable Asian ingredient you could ever want (or not want). Mung Beans, Dried Fish, Shredded Ginger in Brine, Fresh Catfish Heads -- they have it all. And the amazing thing is the prices. It's what food SHOULD cost in L.A. Coconut milk cost $.99, six heads of garlic cost $.79, and the Cock Brand Fish Sauce cost $.59. Unbelievable. (I must say, though I picked up a lot of vegetables, I stayed away from the meat and fish section -- didn't see any cats in the alley).
Walked out with eight bags of groceries. Total bill=$44.23. Mike was pretty pleased as well, but Ben was starting to get bored with the whole scene (except for the packaged Frogs) so we packed up the car and headed back. We dropped Mike off at his house, showed him the new HD camera and hit the road.
Somewhere near In-and-Out Burger, I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw Ben's eyes close, gently lulled to sleep by the sound of Little Willie John singing "Fever." I turned the Subaru into the sun and headed home -- two weary suburban warriors returning from battle.
posted by Lou at 5:10 PM
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