September 25, 2011
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Song of the Day
Eating Around in L.A. – W treated me for my Birthday at LUKSHON - a new establishment tucked inside the Helm’s Bakery Complex in Culver City. We tried this joint a few months back and I’m very much interested to try the other dishes in its edgy menu. So, here we go….. 
Cocktail – Singapore Sling (back) with gin, cherry heering, benedictine, orange & pineapple bits and bitters / Lukshon Sour – rye, with lemon, tamarind, palm sugar, kumquat…..
Softshell Crab – deep fried, with green mango, chile sambal and bits of peanuts…..
Spicy Chicken Pops – drumettes with garlic, kecap manis, and spicy Sichuan salt…..
Steamed Branzino – with black bean ghee, sitting on Taiwan spinach…..
Chinese Eggplant – pan fried with fennel raita, tomato sambal and topped with eggplant “fries”…..
Bhutanese Red Rice – fried rice with lamb bacon, maitake mushroom, egg, scallion and Chinese celery…..
Baba Monterey Squid – stuffed with Chiang Mai sausage, candlenut, mint, and rau ram…..
Dessert is complimentary – (right rear) Soy pana cotta with coconut tapioca and black sesame shortbread; (left rear) Jackfruit sorbet with Beijing yogurt; (front) cocoa custard topped with Beijing yogurt; three completely opposite tastes, with the refreshing tartness of yogurt versus the sweetness of coconut, mango and cocoa…..
The entire dinner was about US$150, including service charge. I enjoyed the dish of tiny bulbs of squid stuffed with Chiang Mai sausage, as well all of the other dishes in the menu, especially the steamed whole fish. All are very delicious indeed! LUKSHON again exceeded my expectations with flying colors. Dishes were bold, lustily flavored, and though not 100% authentic, very true to their Southeast Asian roots. Many thanks to W for the wonderful dinner and fabulous photos!
LUKSHON | 3639 Helms Avenue, Culver City | lukshon.com
Comments (26)
Oh wow… what a great dinner. Happy Birthday Gary!
happy birthday! and food looks great
ooh, all looks so good!
@ElusiveWords - Thank you, Matt! This time, all the photos are from W’s Canon!
@ds0905 - Thank you! Interesting stuff, spicy food!
@CaKaLusa - Thank you! I’m glad you like the food!
The squid dish is beautiful!
agree with Chris, the star shape squid dish is pretty!!
@christao408 - @agmhkg - Nice arrangement! I second that! It was good timing that I read about sausage making in Chris’ blog!
perrrty!
@yang1815 - Thanks, Andy!
BTW that red rice looks very interesting!!!
The soft crab and the eggplant dishes were mouth watering to look at, and then the desserts! OK, I am coming there, and I want you to take me to Lukshon in Culver City. I don’t know where the emoticons went. I wanted to add a winky one here.
Happy Belated Birthday Gary.
@ZSA_MD - Thank you, Zakiah! In addition to Lukshon, I think you’re liking a few more places here in L.A., where I can take you guys to with great pleasure!
@CurryPuffy - Would love that. Thank you. Will start traveling after this dang knee gets repaired. heh heh.
@ZSA_MD - Sounds good! Maybe you guys can stop over at L.A. while on your trip to Asia.
I just googled Culver City -> East of Santa Monica. I’m going to try it the next time I go down to LA.
By the way, do you go to LA a lot? I wanna hang with you sometime.
@Devilzgaysianboi - Oh sure, I live in L.A.! Let me know when you’re coming.
i’m so jealous. can i be W’s friend too? i wouldn’t mind getting my hands on that lukshon sour, followed by baba monterey squid, n end with jackfruit sorbet with beijing yogurt.
@rudyhou - That sounds good, Rudy! I’d like to add the Chicken pops to our meal! LOL
@CurryPuffy - that’s fine with me. the more the better
by the way, belated happy bday to you. sorry i missed it. hope lukshon lunch wasn’t your only bday gift.
@rudyhou - Thank you, Rudy! I need to find time to post another dinner! *nom nom*
Happy Belated Birthday!
@icepearlz - Thank you! *nom nom*
Happy happy birthday, Gary! It is so romantic.
@stevew918 - Thank you, Steve!