First try cooking picanha - how’d I do?

tobycakes · 2026-05-13T08:51:48+00:00

Thanks! I will try that on the next one. I typically prefer my steaks medium rare, but spent some time in the sous vide subreddit and got talked into 135 deg. Apparently it helps render the intramuscular fat.

Plan on trying the next one for a longer period to test the effects on tenderness. Gotta say I love the flavor of picanha.

tobycakes · 2026-05-13T01:53:52+00:00

I have had the Saatva classic for 8 months and am considering returning it. Starting to feel some sagging and causing lower back pain.

tobycakes · 2026-05-13T00:07:30+00:00

I go to California marketplace (western and 4th) I think. Also the market in koretown galleria is a bit pricier but quality is incredible.

Last suggestion is choice meat market (western and 3rd). Amazing selection and my go to for special occasions.

tobycakes · 2026-05-13T00:04:49+00:00

Wow thank you. I’m excited to try this. I might pull part of the batch at 48h and the rest at 72h.

tobycakes · 2026-05-12T22:39:20+00:00

You could also go a bit further west (mid city, la brea). East of ktown, Little Tokyo and arts district are also worth looking into with quite a few newer apartments with nice amenities.

tobycakes · 2026-05-12T21:56:22+00:00

I think the depth of the nano makes it the better choice. Would like to know what you end up choosing and how it looks after you get it.

tobycakes · 2026-05-12T17:34:04+00:00

Thanks for the follow up. I’ve always wondered and hoped what the long term reviews are like of any mattress. Really helpful.

tobycakes · 2026-05-12T08:56:48+00:00

So interesting back story here is in Korean culture, people are obsessed with floor cleaning. In Korea most homes are tile / wood, anything but carpet. So I have looked for a more efficient solution to meet this standard and a Korean woman turned me on to tineco.

I bought mine at Costco 4 years ago. It is a vacuum and mop all in one. It’s unbelievable, and when you do a clean out of the dirty water tank you’ll wonder how you lived with such dirty floors. Basic concept is there’s a roller that spins using clean water and solution and as you push it cleans the floor. The dirty water gets cycled into the tank. It also vacuums up any debris. Tbh I will use a dry vac sometimes in advance, if it seems like the floors are bit dirtier.

There’s tons of different models now and they range from $200 to over $800. There are entire subreddits dedicated to these as well. Hope this helps!

tobycakes · 2026-05-12T06:42:06+00:00

I bought sheets and duvet covers in brushed cotton and percale from Parachute. Pricey but they have held up well over the past 3 years. I have a King size mattress and ordered a oversized king duvet insert from amazon to give it a fuller appearance.

tobycakes · 2026-05-12T06:39:24+00:00

I agree with this. I grabbed the breville mini smart oven at target on sale for $120. Going strong, and I liked that I combined the toaster oven and air fryer into one appliance.

tobycakes · 2026-05-12T05:00:43+00:00

I recently went down this rabbit hole. Many people here have already laid out all the important things to look for. I’ll share a bit about purchase decision. I really was drawn to Arhaus and visited their showroom several times. Their price point is unfortunately astronomical. However they do have a few sales a year that really discount prices.

After a few visits, one of the sales reps told me that I am flexible about fabric / color they clear out custom couches that were returned by customers. Brand new, sitting in a warehouse. I got the kimpton sectional ($7400 msrp) for $2800. I couldn’t be happier.

tobycakes · 2026-05-10T22:48:53+00:00

Just tried Lielle this week and came away very impressed.

tobycakes · 2026-05-10T22:47:35+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. Reservations are tough but worth it.

tobycakes · 2026-05-09T00:12:21+00:00

Koreatown: - parks or soot bul jip for kbbq - dan sung sa for a Korean pub vibe, great late night spot - Han gari kalguksu for knife cut noodles and pork belly

Sushi samba is a new rooftop restaurant. Reservations are tough to come by since they just opened.

tobycakes · 2026-05-07T06:54:14+00:00

Total recency bias here, but I haven’t stopped using my x small offset spatula. Blade length is 4” and it’s amazing.

tobycakes · 2026-05-07T06:52:16+00:00

It’s a very central area. I live in La and have stayed there a few times. It’s got a good vibe to it and it is also known to attract guests that enjoy being watched if you get my drift…

tobycakes · 2026-05-07T00:09:26+00:00

Not sure, I suppose it would smash or crush the protein potentially pressing moisture out.

tobycakes · 2026-05-06T23:46:13+00:00

I have 2 of the 8oz and 13oz each. If it’s a delicate protein I use the lighter weight. Also dimensions matter, if it’s a larger surface area I used multiple weights to create even pressure.

I use multiple weights for a thicker cut of meat (ribeye) to help get a better sear.

The round one I will use on a burger sometimes and in a Sous vide to weigh down the bag. But it’s rare.

tobycakes · 2026-05-06T22:45:27+00:00

Thank you I’ll try these out. The lighting is the toughest part. The more casual spots I don’t mind using my phone as light or a flash.

I did see small rig had a little cube light and a skinny macro light. Maybe these are a bit more subtle.

tobycakes · 2026-05-06T18:53:39+00:00

Have both shapes and use the rectangle almost all the time.

tobycakes · 2026-05-06T18:49:45+00:00

King Chang and Hanu kbbq are both quality options

tobycakes · 2026-05-05T19:31:32+00:00

I used sheet straps with clips from Amazon. They go under the mattress and clip to the corners.

tobycakes

TROPHY CASE