Re: [ba-poker] Chow

[Nick Christenson <npc(deleted the rest)>]

> I just got back from a quick trip to LA, and playing a few hours at
> the Commerce.
> 
> Why is it that the food in LA cardrooms is so good, while the food
> in bay area cardrooms (Garden City notwithstanding) is so uniformly
> crappy?  Any theories?

Caveat, it has been 9 months since I dined at an LA card room and a 
year since I dined at a BA card room.

I agree that there's some excellent food in some of the large LA card
rooms.  The Hustler has the best food I've ever eaten at a poker table.
The Commerce (especially their middle-eastern menu) and the Bike 
(especially their asian menu) both have very good kitchens.  However,
Hollywood Park does *not* have a good kitchen, IMHO, even by Bay Area
standards.  

As you point out, Garden City has a good kitchen, although it used
to be great.  IMHO, Casino San Pablo has one that is quite decent, 
although it used to be very good.  I believe that these declines have
been due to declining profits at these places, and keeping the quality
up in the kitchen has suffered.  In days gone by, these two card rooms'
menus were much more comparable with the good LA kitchens.

I think a ranking of the kitchens of the big LA and BA card rooms looks
like:

Hustler                 LA
Commerce                LA
Bike                    LA
Garden City                     BA
Casino San Pablo                BA
Artichoke Joe's                 BA
Bay101                          BA
Normandie               LA
Oaks                            BA
Hollywood Park          LA
Lucky Chances                   BA

I haven't eaten at Hawaiian Gardens since it moved out of the trailer.

Especially if you remove the Hustler, whose kitchen is an aberration
IMHO due to the influence of the owner, it doesn't look so lopsided.
I would guess that regional competition between the Bike and Commerce,
economies of scale, and overall profit margin/competitive advantage
combine to explain many of the differences.

I am looking forward to a filet mignon kebab and humus at Commerce during 
ESCARGOT, though.

-- 
Nick Christenson
npc(deleted the rest)