Monday, February 22, 2016

Two Long Beach Eateries
You Don't Want to Miss

(Nomad Asian Bistro and Catalano's Pizza)

 

Nomad Asian Bistro

My parents wanted to take me to their new favorite restaurant, Nomad Asian Bistro, located at 6563 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA, 90803.

This is a Halal Chinese restaurant that is open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 11a.m. to 9:30 p.m. They serve Asian cuisine you would find in any Chinese restaurant along with Hui specialties.

The Hui are a Chinese ethnic tribe who originate from regions along the historic Silk Road. This results in a unique blend of traditional Chinese food with Mediterranean influences introduced by Persian and Middle Eastern travelers along the trading route.


Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns

My parents have brought all their friends here and told me they could eat at Nomad at least five days a week. The restaurant is located in an outside mall that also has a movie theater. The outside of the restaurant is very pleasant, with beautiful fencing and succulents growing around the patio. There is plenty of outdoor seating.


Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns

Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns


The inside of the restaurant is not nearly as welcoming as the outside, but the service and food make up for that tenfold.

Pictured above is my parent's favorite waitress at Nomad, Mary. She knows just what they want and treats them like honored guests. She will have the kitchen make the dishes however you specify and you can also specify heat levels in the dishes. We started with their unique sesame flatbread. It was wonderful, warm and chewy and covered in sesame seeds. There are eight large pieces for one order! The three ingredient soup bowl was more than plenty for the three of us and Mary served it expertly using chopsticks.


Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns

Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns

Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns


I ordered a chow mein with homemade soft noodles (they did not call this dish a low mein, even though it had soft noodles in it.) They make all their noodles from scratch. The meal was huge and had lots of veggies and noodles. If I ordered it again, I would ask for more spice as I like my food spicy. We all ate the chow mein and there was plenty left over for another meal.


Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns


The menu is extensive and there is so much to try. It is a place you want to return to again and again.

Catalano's Pizza

One of the days in Long Beach, my friend, my parents and I were craving pizza. We did not want just any pizza, but wanted something special. My mom remembered a place near them, Catalano's Pizza, located at 1178 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA, 90807.

Don't let the shopping center fool you or make you turn away because you will miss some of the best pizza on the planet! They are open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. They offer delivery in a limited area with a $15 minimum.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns

Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


This is a very small place, but I recommend you pick an off-time and eat in.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


The owner, Christine, was so welcoming and friendly. The restaurant has been opened since 1993 and Christine took it over in 2011. She works with her two sons and some amazing employees.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


Their dough is made daily from scratch with the finest flour (and their pizza crust is a marvel.) Their cheese is top quality whole milk mozzarella and they do not skimp on any ingredients. They prepare their Italian sausage fresh and chop it by hand. Their marinara is to die for (I asked for a taste of it since it was not on the pizza I ordered. Christine happily obliged then came by the table to see what we thought of it. We all loved it.) I wanted to take a bucket of it home!

Each pizza is hand rolled and tossed to order. Christine believes in using the best quality and freshest ingredients and she chops every ingredient by hand. I decided to take a chance on a pizza invented by her son. The girl working the register assured me it was amazing. My pizza came out first and everyone tried a piece. I think they were sorry they did not also order it. It sounds crazy but was the best pizza I have ever had.

It was called the Pastrami Pizza. The pizza has mustard, pickles, mozzarella and the finest pastrami. Christine said it took many tries before they found the perfect pastrami for this pizza and it definitely tastes like the work they put into it. The crust was not too thin and not too thick, just right (although you can order the crust the way you like it; thin or regular).

The pizzas come in 8", 12", 15", 18", and 24". The love and care and quality ingredients that go into these pizzas make the bit extra you pay for them well worth it. This is definitely NOT Domino's, Pizza Hut, or any of the other tasteless pizzas you can get for a cheap price. This is quality unleashed!

My friend and my parents got the Meta Lover's Pizza. I tried a piece and it was also amazing.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


There are plenty of toppings in every bite. Catalano's also has seven different kinds of salads, spaghetti, lasagna (with or without meat), hot and cold sandwiches and several desserts, including cannoli’s. They also do catering. You can make your own pizza or choose between 10 specialty pizzas.

Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


One of the pizzas offered is wonderful if you want to try four different kinds. It is the Sampler Pizza and is 1/4 Cheese, 1/4 Pepperoni, 1/4 Sausage, and 1/4 Canadian Bacon and Pineapple.

Cute sign in the bathroom:


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


The pizza boxes were even high quality and had Catalano's menu and information taped to the top of each box.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


Christine came over to our table and told us the history of Catalano's and her philosophy on making delicious food with the best quality ingredients. She works long days and pours her heart and soul into Catalano's and man oh man, can we tell. A MUST if you are in Long Beach.

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