Cobbler+Gumbo

It took me a year to discover this place that is just a few blocks up the exact same street I live on. Shame on me! But I have been making up for it by visiting regularly. The Gourmet Cobbler Factory in Pasadena is a small hole in the wall place on Catalina Ave, just north of Colorado. If you're walking up from Colorado you would see a faded sign and barred windows/door, and you might think the place has gone out of business. But just walk a little more and you'll see the actual entrance door!

The place is pretty much all take-out: there are one or two tables outside, but they don't heat things up for you. The gumbo (yes they have gumbo! and sweet potato pie!) is sold by the pints, quarts, etc, and chilled so it doesn't spoil.

THE COBBLER
The "single serving" (which is too much for one) 4x6 cobbler ranges around 6$, depending on the filling. My ultimate favorite is the Cherry Cobbler. Followed probably by the blueberry (pictured left), or the peach (pictured below).

I've read a lot of reviews with people complaining that there's no bottom crust. I guess they've heard your laments, because my cobblers definitely have a bottom crust!

All the cobblers are made with fresh fruits, no preservatives, and the taste? I eat them for lunch! I'll eat them for dinner again! If it wasn't so bad for my health and figure I'll just keep eating it!




THE GUMBO ($15.50 / quart)

I was surprised I had to tell my friend this but, yes, be careful eating the gumbo. The chicken still has bones. The crab is still in the shells. The shrimp tails are still attached.
Their gumbo is good. Not awesome. But they can double brownie points for being a great take-out within walking distance. And another brownie point because I can get a cherry cobbler while I'm there. Oh, and a peach too. And blueberry. And a sweet potato pie. Yeah. That'll be all.


The Gourmet Cobbler Factory (www.thegourmetcobblerfactory.com)
33 N Catalina Ave
Pasadena, CA
(626) 795-1005

(closed on Mondays)

Bloom, Tea

A lot of you have probably seen it in that movie 'Marie Antoinette.' Some may have seen it elsewhere. The movie was the first time I saw this in, then when I saw this strange leave-wrapped thing at Tea Station, I thought "could it be ..."

And it was!
So I bought this Yuan Bao Tea, which is sold at Tea Station for rather expensive :( $15 for a box of 6. But I was too curious! I have since then found a bunch of websites where you can order them online for cheaper, but I've yet to try ordering.


So the crinkled little thing bloomed into a purty red flower in hot hot water :)

It takes longer than Marie Antoinette might have made it seem, but I waited with excitement and it was worth it.

The taste for this particular one was just like regular jasmine tea.

Online I saw crysanthemum, jasmine, and other flowers as the flower inside, so who knows, maybe you 'll get different tastes after all?

Must Be Providence

Providence on Melrose is my new special-occasion favorite. (Although it's on Melrose it's actually pretty far down from THE Melrose that most people think of).

Go there (when you have the dough) and get the tasting menu! The tasting menu is the way to go!!

I originally went there because it was said they had the best dessert in town. (They have a DESSERT TASTING MENU, for like 30$ I believe)

I took my mom there when she was in town. Got the smallest tasting menu they had which was $80.

Anyway, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves :)


It was sooo sooo tasty ....

The scallop was big, fresh and juicy. I also loved the preparation and presentation.



The veal was tender and cooked just right - medium rare.

The pastry chef is undoubtedly innovative and just really awesome :)
I think the only down side is that sometimes it seemed like the dessert was not coordinated perfectly with the rest of the menu.
I say that because the dessert this time was rather rich and heavy when we were already stuffed ... I wanted something more refreshing, perhaps ..



Providence Restaurant
5955 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 460-4170