The French Dip Beef Sandwich Always Disappoints at Philippe Or Am I Just Missing Something?

I've been to Philippe's about 3 or 4 times in the past several years, but for some reason, I've always ordered their French Dip Beef Sandwich and each time I've been disappointed.

As for the juices the sandwich bread is dipped in, they just doesn't have the meaty flavor you'd expect or would want, which just leaves me with partially soggy bread.

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Also, the beef is usually a little dry, chewy and tastes unseasoned. Only the addition of Philippe's mustard gives this sandwich any oomph.

As for why I only ordered the French Dip Beef Sandwich, I think a part of me thought that was the specific dipped sandwich to order over all the other dipped sandwich choices. For some reason, I thought the Beef Sandwich was the first "dipped" sandwich that gave Philippe's the fame it has now and given its popularity, there must be something I'm just not getting. Isn't it amazing how something just sticks in your head, even it may be wrong? For all I know, that first dipped sandwich was pork.

I kept on thinking that if I tried it enough, I'd end up liking it more, but nope, no dice. That was obvious at a recent visit there where again, I was disappointed. I also wasn't that thrilled with the potato salad which had so much mayonnaise that you could hardly see the potatoes or the cherry pie, which had a filling that was too sweet and tasted like it came from a can.

After I uploaded my Phillipe photos to Flickr and posted them on my Facebook Wall, I posted a message saying that I didn't get the allure of the Beef Dipped Sandwich at Philippe. In response, a few of my Facebook friends gave me suggestions of other things to try on their menu, which included the:

• lamb and blue cheese double dip
• turkey double dip
• pork dipped sandwich
• macaroni salad
• coleslaw
  
• pickled eggs
• pickled pig's feet
• beef stew
• baked apple

Being from the Philippines, I'm definitely a pork kind of girl, so if I do make my way back to Philippe, that pork dipped sandwich with a side of pickled eggs and a baked apple might make up my three course menu. How about you? What do you like (or don't like) about Philippe? Do you think it's popular just because it's a classic restaurant icon that's been around for over 100 years or is their food actually better than I've experienced so far?

Philippe The Original
100 N. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-3781


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CSN Product Review Teaser

CSN Stores has offered me a chance to review a product of my choice from their website. If you've never heard of CSN Stores, it's basically a website where you have access to 200+ sites that offer a large selection of home and office goods, from end tables to pet supplies to kitchen gadgets and more! Leading brands on CSN Stores' sites include: La-Z-Boy, Herman Miller, iittala, Kartell, LG, Rachael Ray, Sanyo, Diaper Dude and many, many others. Click here to visit the CSN Stores to learn more!

It took me awhile but I finally decided on something that I think would be perfect for me, especially since as many of you know, I'm not much into cooking. So are you curious as to what I picked? Well, you're going to have wait just a little bit longer.

Glamming It Up at the 2010 Blogger Prom

2010 Blog Prom Committee ~ Photo Credit to Heather Kincaid

First and foremost, I have to give thanks and credit where credit is due to the awesome Blog Prom Committee who were kind enough to not only include me on their invite-list, but for also throwing a fun and unforgettable event.

• Caroline of Caroline on Crack
• Ester of e*star LA
• H.C. of L.A. and O.C. Foodventures
• Lindsay of LAist.com
• Marni of Happy Go Marni
• Maya of Shop Eat Sleep
• Natalie of The Liquid Muse
• Tara of Tara Met Blog

The theme for the 2nd Annual Blogger Prom was Hollywood Confidential, so bloggers and guests were asked to glam it up and with a setting like the iconic Yamashiro Restaurant, we could only hope to live up to this historic restaurant's elegance. What was even sweeter was that 100% of all donations by the attendees went to support Operation Frontline.

Drink sponsors for the evening included Pinky Vodka, Cabana Cachaca, Zaya Gran Reserve Rum, Casa Noble Tequila, The Beer Chicks, Dalmore and Fresh and Easy while we feasted on delicious food from Yamashiro, The Cheese Impresario, CoolHaus, Chocolate Box Cafe and Crumbs Bake Shop. Throughout the evening, there was also a raffle for some fantastic gifts as as well as a parting gift bag valued at $300. Now that you've gotten all the details, take a look at some of the beautiful photos taken by Heather Kincaid, The Official Blogger Prom Photographer.

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View from Yamashiro

Checking In

Food and Drink

Scenesters in Color

Scenesters in Black and White

Fun in the Photo Booth

Click here to see the rest of Heather Kincaid's Blogger Prom Photos!

Thanks again to the Blogger Prom Committee for a wonderful time. As you can see from all the photos, fun was had by all and everyone certainly took the Hollywood Confidential theme to heart. Looking forward to the 2011 Blogger Prom!

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Upcoming Culinary Events

Celebrity Chef Tour (September 28, 2010 ~ Tuesday ~ Starts at 7:00 PM ~ $150 to Benefit James Beard Foundation): A once-in-a-lifetime meal by some of LA's top chefs. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.

Rick Bayless Demo and Book Signing (September 29, 2010 ~ Wednesday ~ Starts at 12:00 PM ~ $5 to Benefit Local Food Banks): Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.

Rick Bayless Demo and Book Signing (September 30, 2010 ~ Thursday ~ Starts at 6:30 PM ~ $5 to Benefit Local Food Banks): Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.

2nd Annual Pasadena Wine Festival (October 9, 2010 ~ Saturday ~ Starts at 2:00 PM ~ General Admission $28 and Deluxe Pass $55): Enjoy a fun-filled day trying over 125 different wines as well as savoring delicious foods from LA's top gourmet food trucks. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.

L.A. Beer Float Showdown (October 10, 2010 ~ Sunday ~ Starts at 5:30 PM ~ $25 in advance and $30 at door): 4 Bars will compete to see who can come up with the best beer and ice cream pairing. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.

Feast Your Eyes: Rajas Fries from Frysmith Food Truck

Rajas Fries: French Fries with fire-roasted poblano chiles, caramelized onions and marinated Angus skirt steak with Jack cheese

Links to Check Out:
Tasting with Frysmith Food Truck
Tasting with Frysmith Food Truck Photos
Frysmith Food Truck Website
Follow Frysmith on Twitter
Follow Frysmith on Facebook

¡Baja Delicioso! TJ Tour City Tour, Cuban Cigars, Chili Shrimp Tacos and Churros

Suffice to say, it's been awhile since I've done my first and second post in my ¡Baja Delicioso! series, but hey, better late than never. Just a reminder of what this series is all about. From July 16-July 18, 2009, Bill Esparza of Street Gourmet LA fame arranged a food and wine media trip with and graciously sponsored by the Tijuana Visitors and Convention Bureau along with the support of the Crossborder Business Associates, Cotuco (Tijuana Tourism Board) and the Tijuana Canirac (Tijuana Restaurant Association). My first two write-ups were about our first night in Tijuana. The next 2 or 3 posts will feature what we did, saw and ate just on our second day, which started bright and early with a Tijuana City Tour.
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Our entire group rode in a bright red open air bus and as we drove around roundabouts and checked out the local scenery, our guide gave us a lot of information about how Tijuana came to be, its history and where it's going now. He was actually quite a crack-up. My only thing was that sometimes he talked a little too fast to be understood, but then he was trying to cram a lot info in a really short amount of time. Below are some of the sights of the city.

After our 45 minute whirlwind tour, we were taken for a taste of the forbidden, at least, if that was what we wanted. In downtown Tijuana, La Villa de Tobaco, was the place to go if you wanted to indulge in smoking a Cuban cigar or partaking in Cuban rum. Of course, there was also coffee and other refreshments for those who thought 10:00 or so in the morning was to early to indulge in either the rum or the cigar, but at least, one had options.

Before we got on the bus, I was even able to take pictures of the Zebra Striped Painted Donkeys that were lined up and down down town Tijuana. It did involve a donation though. Don't ask me what the history is behind these donkeys being painted, I haven't a clue; however, I did feel bad for these animals. It must be so difficult to have to stay still for so long.

With our stomachs grumbling, we were ready for breakfast and our first meal of the day was at Mariscos El Mazateno. It started with a Shrimp Consomme. Add some onions, cilantro and a squeeze of lime and it made a great soup even better.

Tacos soon followed and we were served half portions of a Camarones Enchilado (Chili Shrimp) Taco and Smoked Marlin Taco. That Chili Shrimp was amazing. Sweet, plump and with a nice hit of heat, it jump started my taste buds.

Mariscos El Mazateno were even gracious enough to offer us a full size taco of either the shrimp or the marlin. I was definitely all over that Camarones Enchilado.

I liked the smokiness of the Smoked Marlin, but found it a tad too dry for my taste, even with the addition of salsa.

For the churro portion of this post, I actually had these churros originally when I did a trip with Bill in 2008 with my dining group, Pleasure Palate. You can see photos of that trip by clicking here. Even from 2008, those churros stuck in my head and when I found out we were making a brief stop close to that churro stand, I knew I had to get some. This particular churro stand is tucked within a recess of a wall in downtown Tijuana and unfortnately, I can't remember where it's located exactly.

What I love about them is that they are crispy and they're substantial, not these flimsy-floppy churros you sometimes are stuck with. The selling point are also the various fillings from dulce de leche, crema, chocolate and even strawberry. Take a look below and you'll know why these churros are simply unforgettable

So far, we've definitely done a lot in a short amount of time, but believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned and I promise that it won't be another year until my next post in this ¡Baja Delicioso! series.

Tijuana City Tour Website

La Villa del Tabaco
Avenida Revolucion 868
Zona Centro, Tijuana
(664) 688-3920.

Mariscos El Mazateno
Calzada Tecnologico,No. 473-E
Tomas Aquino
Tijuana, BCN

Click Here to See the Photos of the Entire Trip! ¡Baja Delicioso! - Introduction and the Ultimate Carne Asada Taco at Tacos El Poblano - The History of Mariachi and Late Night Mariachi at La Vuelta
- TJ City Tour, Cuban Cigars, Chili Shrimp Tacos and Churros< - From Spain to Argentina to My First Taste of Baja Med Cuisine Disclaimer: Sponsored by the Tijuana Visitors and Convention Bureau along with the support of the Crossborder Business Associates, Cotuco (Tijuana Tourism Board) and the Tijuana Canirac (Tijuana Restaurant Association). This sponsorship took the form of these organizations paying for our travel arrangements, our hotel accomodations and all our meals.

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