My Tummy Smiled

Angelina, who?

2010-01-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

Gjelina, Gjelina, Gjelina.

Loved everything about this place down to their bathroom fixtures. (How cool is their wheel-faucet fixture?! I sooo want one.) The moment le cub and I stepped in, I gasped, as the decor was pitch perfect. Industrial, yet warm due to the exposed brick and mixture of wood with metal. And ooh... the chandelier... i wanted their "bulby" chandelier. But enough about the decor. On with the food...

My man and I stopped on by on early saturday afternoon hoping to grab brunch, but we missed that menu by ten minutes. No worries, we were down for their afternoon menu of oysters, salads and pizzas. Our wait was 20 minutes.

We were seated at a cute little table at the back, outside. Apparently this is the "lounge area." A really cute space that could only exist in sunny Southern California. There were heat lamps, installed above our table, but they weren't turned on while we were there. No need.

Service was polite but "meh" (we were constantly trying to make eye-contact to get orders placed, to add on to our original order, to get the check, but the staff rarely noticed us), but the food was fantastic. Fresh and unfussy. Beautiful to look at! (We'd ordered the mushroom truffle oil pizza, the hen of the woods mushroom pizza, 1/2 dozen kumamoto oysters, 1/2 dozen umami oysters, the trout avocado grapefruit salad, and the banana chocolate bread pudding with caramel.) OMG, omg, omg.

Rustic and flavorful. Fresh, local ingredients. Our tummies smiled over and over.

We're heading back for the brunch and dinner menus for sure.

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 450-1429

Trust Me

2010-01-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

Very good fish, but not the best "evah"...

Le cub and I came here on a Wednesday night with my man. Neither of us had ever been to Sushi Nozawa, and neither of us had read Yelp reviews our lil' adventure. That said we were a tad confused when we were guided towards the sushi counter - at which, apparently, one has "no choice" and is told to "trust me" (by the sushi chef, nozawa-san) via the assortment of framed artwork behind his counter.

The ambience at Sushi Nozawa leaves much to be desired. Flourescent lighting combined with ghetto red vinyl chairs. Meh. No music plays in the background, and gosh, very little conversation takes place. (I whispered to le cub the entire time.) Bit sterile?! But ambience isn't what matters to us foodies. We wanted to taste the fish. Gimme.

We ordered the omakase as we were both ravenous. The tuna sashimi in ponzu sauce was overly sauced in my opinion, but the fish was definitely fresh. Intimidated by Nozawa's presence (we were seated smack center, right under his nose), I constantly making "mmm!" sounds :) After the tuna sashimi, Nozawa served us toro sushi. The fish was fantastic, but I was a tad turned-off by the crumbly rice (which apparently is Nozawa-san's signature). Then came the blue crab hand roll, which I was REALLY not a fan of - as the crab flavors were totally overpowered by the rice. Which isn't to suggest that Nozawa isn't generous with his fish. His servings are hearty. But the rice... I couldn't even leave the rice on the plate as le cub and I were eating at the sushi counter right before him. We didn't want to piss off the famed sushi nazi...

Albacore sushi, yellow tail sushi, and a toro hand roll followed. And after our last roll, we were asked if we wanted uni. (Uni is, apparently check-point one. If you answer "yes" to uni, he serves you three more items - including the uni.) A question to which we both exclaimed, "YES!"

The uni was FAB. But once again, his strange rice took away from my serving of fish. sweet scallops followed. I was bursting at the seams at this point - due to the rice - so le cub kindly helped eat my second piece.

Our meal came to a strange end with raw oysters. Now we're both huge fans of oysters, but the strange thing was, these Nozawa oysters had been removed from their shell and placed in dim-sum tea cups filled with some soy sauce-based concoction. We spooned the oysters into our mouths and both of us were somewhat turned off by the textures of these particular oysters (really rubbery). but because we were seated right under his nose, we gulped the cupful down and went, "mmm!"

Great place for sushi, but a tad overrated...

Sushi Nozawa
11288 Ventura Boulevard
Suite C
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 508-7017

To Die For

2009-12-04T00:23:00.000-08:00

I've posted about this downtown gem before, and I'm going to do it again.
Nickel's Smac and Cheese (yes, Smac and Cheese, not Mac and Cheese) to die for.
Killer with a shot of hot sauce.

Wash down with a Bananina. (A banana soda. Sounds gross? Try it and get back to me.)

Nickel Diner
524 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1422
(213) 623-8301

MORE.

2009-12-04T00:19:00.000-08:00

I adore Joan's on Third.
Though I'm not fond of the lack of table service (meaning, I don't like having to wait in line to order at the counters and then having to hover like vultures over other Joan's patrons in order to snag a table), I absolute love the food. Fresh, seasonal, clean flavors.

Tad pricey? Yeah. But I still think everything served is well worth the price paid.

Above photo: spinach and mushroom quiche, vegetarian lasagna, tomato and mozzarella salad (SO GOOD), and a choco-cupcake.

Joan's on Third
8350 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 655-2285

Cheaper Than Airfare

2009-12-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

An extremely handsome French brasserie with a beautiful bar that my fiance would envy.

Went for dinner with my cousin and her friend, and we were seated upstairs. The ambience upstairs may not be as nice as the ambience downstairs (the soft, "gold" lighting downstairs would make any person's skin look flawless), but in exchange one is provided the opportunity to hold an actual conversation. (It can get really loud on the ground floor!)

Our chummy server was a tad strange. He kept on touching the shoulder of my cousin's friend - which probably wouldn't been okay if it weren't for the fact that my cousin's pal is OCD, and wanted to punch the server. But anyway.......

The food. The food was terrific. I ordered the duck. YUM. My cousin ordered the mussels. Even yummier. LOOOOOOOOVED the skinny frites that accompanied her mussels.

Profiteroles for dessert. I'm actually not a huge fan of cream puffs, but ice-cream puffs drenched in chocolate? I can do this.

An overall pleasant experience. I'd totally return, but there wasn't any one item that made me yelp, "I'll be back tomorrow!"

Anisette Brasserie
225 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-3200

Too Cool For School

2009-12-02T04:03:00.000-08:00

I rarely hang out in Silverlake as I'm hardly cool or hip enough to do so; But last week, when my vintage-loving cousin was in town, I decided to venture beyond my comfort zone and spent an entire day mingling with Silverlake's boho-chic.

Our morning began at Casbah Cafe. I'd been there once and totally dug the Moroccan vibe but hadn't ordered any food, and was therefore, wary of putting in a review. This second time around, I ordered their sweet corn salad, mint tea and strawberry tart. (I shared with my cousin.) The salad was extremely fresh and refreshing - just as I'd hoped and expected. But what I didn't expect was the perfectly crusty and chewy consistency of the rolls that accompany the salad. YUM! The mint tea was also nice. Not as sweet as traditional Moroccan mint tea (yes, I've been), but still good. As for the strawberry tart, I don't think I'd ever order it again. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't all that great either.

An overall pleasant experience. We'd stopped on by around 11am, yet even at that hour, the cafe was already full of nerd-wannabes with books and laptops sprawled before them. My cousin and I sat outside and pretended that we weren't actually sitting at a cafe located alongside a big street when we actually were.

Great place to brunch/lunch if you plan on shopping in the neighborhood. Speaking of shopping, there's a shop within this cafe! I didn't get a chance the fare out though. Next time?!

Pictured: Hummus salad that Josh ordered the first time we went to Casbah Cafe.

Casbah Cafe
3900 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 664-7000

Top Scallop

2009-11-09T01:46:00.000-08:00

Was in the Bay Area this past weekend, and le cub had the foresight to make reservations at Absinthe, the Hayes Valley brasserie run by Top Chef Season 5 contestant, Jamie Lauren. Throughout that season, my man and I longed to try her scallops. She was always making them!! So often that an exasperated Fabio was caught on camera exclaiming, "This is Top Chef! Not Top Scallop!"

Anyhoo, our Absinthe experience was a good one. The French Onion soup (the best I've ever had) was well-seasoned and perfect, considering the chilly evening weather. The oyster shooters were also lovely. Go Bloody Mary! And the main course... the scallops. They were so delicious that my picky fiance declared them the best he'd EVER had.

Service left much to be desired, and the dessert menu was lame. We didn't order any. Rare, as I'm such a dessert junkie. But boy, were the savory items yummy!

I look forward to returning.
Absinthe
398 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102

Photos to come.

Town's End Restaurant and Bakery

2009-11-09T01:39:00.000-08:00

Brunch with old friends in my old stomping ground, SOMA.
I loved the complimentary basket of fresh-baked scones and muffins served to us at Town's End. And Josh's eggs benedict? YUM!
Nothing uber-unique about the fare served at Town's End, but always a solid showing.

Town's End Restaurant and Bakery
2 Townsend St
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 512-0749

Five A's

2009-11-05T09:20:00.001-08:00

That's the name of the restaurant, er cafe. FIve A's!
Le cub and I don't understand why the reviews for this joint are so awful. The food here is incredible. Just like that which is served back home in Taiwan. So authentic. Loved all the "small dishes" served at the beginning of the meal like the braised peanuts & marinated cabbage (pictured), the knife-cut noodles (pictured), the fried pork chop (pictured), and ooh, the "saliva" chicken (devoured)! I can't wait to return.

Five A's Cafe
1851 El Camino Real, Burlingame, CA

Mmm... Burger

2009-10-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

One of the best burgers in town :)
RIght up there with In N' Out, Father's Office and The Counter...
That which differentiates Apple Pan's burgers from the rest (for me, at least) is the hearty serving of crisp, refreshing lettuce sandwiched in the juicy (oh-so-juicy) burger...

Yum, yummy, yum!

Apple Pan
10801 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Fill Me Up

2009-10-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

Perfectly-cooked breakfasts :)
Enough said.

Ford's Filling Station
9531 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232-2618

Move Over Kogi

2009-09-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

At $1.75 a pop, El Tonayense's tacos are quite the bang for one's buck. Street food at its best! Be sure to down the jalapeno provided with your taco. Ridonkulously tasty. Wish this truck existed in Los Angeles...

El Tonayense
22nd St and Harrison St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 559-6127

Aloha

2009-09-10T01:03:00.001-07:00

This place serves up Hawaiian comfort food so freakin' delicious that people actually order (and not just talk about ordering) seconds. Our friend Larry treated Josh and I to brunch here, and we just fell in love with the simple, but spectacular flavors. While the ambience of the restaurant leaves much to be desired, the food... OH, the food. And the service. Eggggg-cellent!

I don't even know what it was that I ordered. The friendly staff - a supposedly 48=year-old Japanese surfer dude recommended some sort of egg-sausage concoction with a kick (hot sauce), and I just went with it. DELICIOUS!!! And yes, my scramble was served with sweet Hawaiian bread and brown rice.

For dessert, be sure to order a Hawaiian shaved ice. If you don't know what flavor you'd like, enjoy them all!!! I did :)

The Beach Hut
3713 Highland Ave # 5
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266-3272

The One That Started it All

2009-09-10T00:52:00.000-07:00

Josh and I recently returned to the Laurel Heights neighborhood of San Francisco to buy a new mattress for his new place. While there, we couldn't resist stopping by our fav teeny-tiny neighborhood gem, SunStream Coffee. To think that it was their Brazilian acai bowl that inspired the creation of this food blog... ahhh.

SunStream Coffee
2884 Geary Blvd
(between Collins Street and Wood Street)
San Francisco, CA 94118

Heart Attack on a Plate

2009-09-10T00:48:00.000-07:00

This little hut serves food that'll clog your arteries. And for that, I am grateful. Get a load of these chili cheese fries. Delicious. A perfect hang-out spot before a Giants game. And ooh, the owners are super dog-friendly. Beans got a piece of bacon :)
Oh, how I miss San Francisco.
As does Beans, I'm sure.

Java House Coffee Shop
40 Pier
San Francisco, CA 94107-2123

Fish Are Friends, Not Food

2009-09-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

Yeah, right!

Uber-fresh seafood at uber-kind prices. For about US$15.00, we were able to enjoy the above-pictured hearty portion of fresh, raw fish. Incredible.

Sydney Fish Market
Sydney New South Wales
Australia

Bills

2009-09-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

My all-time favorite breakfast destination in the whole-freaking-world.

I am in love with Bill Granger's ricotta hotcakes paired with honey butter.
And the corn-fritters... YUM!!!!!!!!

Josh and I should've stayed for seconds.

A Sydney must-eat.

bills
433 Liverpool St
Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia

Fit For a King, er Emperor

2009-09-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

Sydney's Chinatown has got to be the cleanest Chinatown that either of us have ever stepped foot in. Seeing that we'd paid a visit to the Sydney Fish Market earlier that day, we knew that one couldn't possibly go wrong ordering seafood in this city. Josh and I indulged and ordered a fresh steamed fish. Parrot Fish. We'd never tried it before, and since it came highly-recommended, we decided to give it a go.

The staff at Emperor's was excellent. Once we placed our orders, our waiter disappeared and returned to show us the live fish that they were about to steam per our request. I was torn between wanting to feel joy, knowing that we were about to enjoy a really fresh meal, and guilt, knowing that Josh and I had just placed a death sentence on the lil' guy. Whatever. The little guy was delicious, and did not go to waste. We ate every last morsel on our fish plate. Yes, it was that good.

The salted pepper fried shrimp were also amazing - though different from the sort I'd had in the past. The shells on the shrimp had been removed, making for a more calamari-like dish that what Josh and I had expected. Yum, yummy, yum!

And then there were the veggies. Not the least bit oily. Perfectly seasoned.

I felt as if I were back in Hong Kong.
And that's a good thing.

Emperor's Garden Seafood
100 Hay St
Sydney, 2000

Hugo's

2009-09-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

Let the photos speak for themselves. A beautiful meal with a beautiful view. Josh and I walked into Hugos by accident. Located IN the Ferry building, Hugos is a sun-drenched restaurant/bar with a handsome beach house vibe. Josh and I opted for a seat facing the harbor - gorgeous view and breeze- and enjoyed one of 'em "I can't believe we're here" and "How lucky are we?!?" moments as we scarfed down our perfectly-cooked and seasoned scallop appetizer along with one of Hugo's award-winning pizzas. You must eat here if you're in Sydney.

Hugos
Shop 1, Manly Wharf
East Esplanade
Manly NSW 2095
Manly Beach

Harry's Cafe de Wheels

2009-09-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

"In 1974, chicken king, Colonel Sanders, stopped at Harry’s and enjoyed the food so much that he ate three ‘pies and peas’ while leaning on his walking stick in front of the caravan." - quote from Harry's site.

Dude, if it's good enough for the Colonel, it's good enough for me!

On our first day touring Sydney, Australia, Josh and I decided to by a pass for a Hop-on, Hop-off bus tour. During our second circle of Sydney, I noticed that we were near a "must-eat" cafe I'd read about in my guidebook... Harry's Cafe de Wheels. Always the participatory mate, Josh hopped off the bus with me to enjoy a lunch of Aussie meat pie. We ordered the "Tiger" pie which is, in someways similar to a chicken pot pie. Only better! Josh and I both enjoyed our small beef pie topped with peas, mashed potato and gravy...

Someone should open up a cart here in Los Angeles.

Harry's Cafe de Wheels
Corner Cowper Wharf Roadway & Brougham Road
Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011

Reservations a Must

2009-08-10T10:06:00.001-07:00

Reservations are a must at Mario Batali & Nancy Silverton's critically acclaimed Pizzeria Mozza. Le cub, Tiff and I arrived at the pizzeria for our 3:30pm reservation (alas, we're D-listers) still full from a hefty brunch at Nickel Diner. We decided to sample several of the antipasti and two pizzas to better experience a wide array of the restaurant's dishes. We started out meal with the Crispy Goat Cheese & Umbrian Lentils and Fried Squash Blossoms with Ricotta. Delicious! The blossoms were perfectly fried, and not the least bit greasy. Seasoned "just-right." As for the crispy goat cheese, all three of us agreed that the dis's flavorsh brought us back to our Spring trip to Morocco. Think there may have been cumin in the dish.

And then there was the pizza. Oh, the pizza! We'd ordered the Squash Blossoms, Tomato & Burrata Pizza and the Tomato, Mozzarella, Fennel Sausage, Salami, Bacon & Guanciale Pizza. Le cub loooooved the meaty one, whereas I was incredibly impressed by the squash blossom-burrata one. So special! Pizzas at Mozza are exactly the way I like 'em. The center of the crust is thin - so not to overpower the flavors from the toppings with the taste of the dough; yet the outer crust is thick and chewy, providing carb-lovers like myself with a massive dose of satisfaction. Pizza warts. That's what I love about Batali & Silverton's pizza, and the outer ring of Batali's pizzas seem to be composed of them! Alas, a real food critic would never ever allow the word "warts" to enter a review for a restaurant that he/she actually liked. So I imagine. I'm clearly no professional!

Our meal was topped off with a shared dessert. A trio of ice-cream! Tiff selected vanilla, strawberry and olive oil. Yum, yummy, yum.

Pizzeria Mozza is a happy place. The decor is bright and cheery (down to their fact-filled placemats), the alcohol selection is vast, the service is excellent, and more importantly, the food is yummy! We'll be back.

Pizzeria Mozza
641 N. Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
323.297.0101

Scouting a Venue...

2009-08-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

For le cub and cougar wedding :)

Upon arriving, Josh and I realized that this venue would not be large enough to house all our guests. But that didn't stop us from giving their menu a go.

The food at The Sunset, believe it or not, exceeded our expectations. The heirloom tomato salad alone almost made our traffic-ridden hour and a half long drive along the Pacific Coast Highway bearable. ALMOST.

As for the calamari, it was perfectly fried and seasoned, making for a happy tummy. And for dessert? A peach and honey panna cotta. The best panna cotta I've had since returning from Morocco. And that's saying a lot!

Pity we did not arrive at sunset (the view is supposed to be amazing, hence the restaurant's name), and too bad this restaurant is so damn far. If I should ever return to Malibu (with out-of-town friends), I will definitely bring them here.

The Sunset Restaurant
6800 Westward Beach Road
Malibu, CA 90265
310.589.1007

The Unexpected

2009-08-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

Who would've thunk that the valley could offer such fantastic sushi?!?

Le cub and I discovered a new favorite hole-in-the-wall last night (alongside Tiff), and it's crazy to imagine that it's located in Glendale, of all places! Sushi Nishi-ya is an unpretentious sushi bar located in a ghetto, inconspicuous-looking strip mall. The restaurant's staff takes pride in the fact that they only serve sushi and hand-rolls (as opposed to cut-rolls). Exactly what le cub and I love!

Nishi-ya's portions are small, but the quality of the sushi served, is great. Fish is fresh. Rice is warm. The toro and uni served the night we were there? PERFECTION.

While Nishi-ya's decor leaves its patron with much to desire, its friendly staff of two makes up for the restaurant's interior-decoration-short-comings by showering guests with a wealth of information about the fish they serve. We'll be back!

Sushi Nishi-Ya
1712 Victory Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91201
818.244.2933

Edible Art

2009-08-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

I'd read about Jin's Patisserie in an issue of LA Magazine back when I lived in the Bay, but somehow never made the time to drop on by this Venice gem until this past weekend. One of my very favorite peeps, Tiff, was in town, so we dropped on by for afternoon tea.

Tucked away in a garden setting along Abbot Kinney, Jin's provides the a lovely environment for devouring edible art - though Tiff and I did have to battle a persistent fly. Grr. Having downed a heavy meal of burger and sweet potato fries at Father's Office right before arriving at Jin's, Tiff and I were forced to turn down the selection of museum-worthy pastries. Instead, we opted for the "lighter" option (haha). We selected half-a-dozen French macaroons in the flavors, Hazelnut, Earl Grey, Chocolate, Violet-Cranberry, Yuzu, and Pistachio. Not only does Jin's offer the cookies in a wide-spectrum of colors, they come in a wide-spectrum of flavors! Paired with coffee and tea, the cookies topped off our already-near-perfect afternoon.

Our tummies smiled.

Jin Patisserie
1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291-3366

Food and Flattery

2009-08-09T17:46:00.001-07:00

Who needs a shrink to feel good, when you can fill your belly AND ego with less than ten bucks? If you're ever in the SOMA area of San Francisco and are looking for a quick and cheap eat, drop on by Victor's for well-priced tacos, burritos enchiladas and flattery. While the food there is pretty mediocre, the compliments (cat calls of "guapo" and "guapa") provided by the friendly folks behind the counter are splendid.

Victor's
210 Townsend St
San Francisco, CA 94107

Grubbin' at Grub

2009-08-04T23:41:00.001-07:00

Brunched at Grub with Kathy and Kris a couple weeks ago. I was so incredibly psyched to be seated by Betty Fraser (of Top Chef fame) herself! Loved the Sweet & Sassy Bacon (oink) and am still thinking about their basil lemonade champagne! Yum, yummy, yum.

From top-to-bottom:
1) Corn, Tomatoes, Fresh Basil & Pepperjack Cheese "Mix-It-Up"
2) Friggin’ Amazin’ French Toast (with Raspberry butter!)
3) Sweet & Sassy Bacon

Grub
911 Seward Street
Hollywood CA, 90038
323.461.FOOD

Back in the "Yay" Area

2009-07-26T00:30:00.000-07:00

Love, love, love oysters. Unfortunately, my eating partner that day, Will, is not a fan like me. No fear, Hog Island has delectable items on its menu other than oysters. Try their grilled-cheese that's generously made with Cowgirl Creamery cheese. YUM. And their house clam chowder? Unbelieveable! Bacony and chock-full-o clams. The beautiful view from the Ferry Building doesn't hurt either. *smile*

Hog Island Oyster Co.
1 Ferry Bldg # 11A
San Francisco, CA 94111

This is Why I'm Fat

2009-07-26T00:12:00.000-07:00

Generously portioned brunch food! A perfect ending to a fund weekend spent in San Diego attending Comic-Con.

Hash House a Go Go
3628 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92103-4220

San Diego

To Fry, or Not to Fry?

2009-07-26T00:10:00.000-07:00

Amaaaaazing criss-cross fries accompany my very first salmon fish taco. Delish.
Tin Fish Gaslamp
170 6th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101-7002

Sweet Lady Jane

2009-07-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

The triple berry cake here is so light, unfussy, and lovely that my dear friend Joonki (a six-foot-two Korean fella) is known to mosey on over to Sweet Lady Jane's all by himself to enjoy the dessert paired with chamomile tea. It's not only the ladies who are enjoying LA's sweets... All you other dudes out there, man up! Eat cake.

Sweet Lady Jane
8360 Merose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90069

Nickel Diner

2009-06-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

After a morning of patient treasure hunting in the somewhat ghetto fashion district of downtown LA, Kathy and I hit up Nickel Diner... a joint she'd been raving about ever since her pal Celia, became one of their investors. We were ravenous upon arrival. Good thing it was nearly two... our wait was fairly short.

Having been there numerous times, Kathy knew exactly what to order. From the array of retro sodas and beverages to pick from, we ordered mint lemonades. Ahhh... Then came our entrees. Kathy recommended that we share something heavy and something light. To satisfy our need to feed, we ordered the 5th and Main - a pulled pork hash and potato concoction drizzled with delicious sweet and spicy red sauce that's then topped with two perfectly poached eggs. To satisfy our need to refresh, we ordered the Stuffed Avocado with Quinoa Salad - so so so pretty... what with the colors from the black beans, red peppers, squash, corn and cilantro. And ooh... we also ordered a side of Homemade Brioche Cinnamon Toast served with butter and homemade jam.

And as if all of this weren't enough, the waitress served us complementary donut holes. Maple Glazed Bacon Donut holes.

I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. This place is AMAZEBALLS. Please try it if you're ever in town. This unpretentious diner is a real gem. Can't wait to bring the cougar cub here when he returns from Shanghai.

Nickel Diner
524 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Photos to come!

Finders Keepers

2009-06-05T11:41:00.001-07:00

Le cub and I successfully hunted down the Kogi truck last night with the help of Twitter. Read reviews about this culinary unicorn HERE.

Le cub thinks: "It's fun to hear what everyone else wants to get. People speaking in all sorts of languages. Weird people that are clearly obsessed with the truck. I'm just talking. And a blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. It's good bar food."

Cougar thinks: "It was fun eating late at night. I really enjoyed the spiced-up mixed greens in my taco. Nandor (my bootcamp instructor) would not have approved. Hehe."

Love, Love, Love

2009-05-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

Le cub's sista' is in town, and we wanted to take her out for brunch. Unfortunately (or fortunately... depends on how you want to look at it), our go-to restaurant, Clementine's closes on Sundays, so the three of us ventured over to Santa Monica to try out a new join le cub had read about. Huckleberry. It was a most excellent decision.

Le cub ordered the highly-praised (on Yelp!) "Poached Eggs Over Veggies," and my fork, naturally, ventured over to his bowl for a taste. WOW. Huckleberry claims to purchase its ingredients from the Farmer's Market in Santa Monica, and boy, you can actually tell! The snap peas, corn and cherry tomatoes that lined the bottom of his dish were delightfully fresh and sweet. And the pesto sauce drizzled upon his poached eggs (and my eggs and prosciutto) was divine.

I ordered the "Green Eggs and Ham". What can I say? I'm a sucker for any/all creative marketing schemes. MMM... Perfectly cooked sunny-side up eggs topped freshly-sliced prosciutto and a homemade english muffin. And on top of all that deliciousness was the pesto-ish sauch and greens. Yum, yummy, yum!!!

Will need to save room for their baked goods the next time I go. *tummy smiling*

Huckleberry
1014 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-2311

Where My Hipsters At?

2009-05-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I brunched with my cousin and his fiance, Marie, at Madame Matisse in hipster-filled Silverlake. Was highly anticipating a meal of their highly-praised (on Yelp!) Eggs Benedict, but when my order arrived, I was sorely disappointed. Marie had ordered the same thing, and she too, was an unhappy camper. Our poached eggs were overly-runny, the english muffins were soggy from the sour-tasting Hollandaise, the rosemary potatoes were poorly seasoned, and well, quite frankly the only things I enjoyed about that sad meal were the coffee and company. Never again.

But ooh. To be fair, service was friendly. And the compliments stop there.

Madame Matisse
3536 W Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 662-4862

Feel the Need to Feed

2009-05-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

...on raw fish.

Dined at Fat Fish with Le Cub in West Hollywood a couple weeks ago. It's my go-to place for rolls... The Fat Ass, Crunchy and Carb-less Cucumber rolls are my favorites. If you want great ambience (as in, you want to be surrounded by fun-loving people), arrive after 8. If you want to dine in solitude, arrive early. The place is dead from 6-7:30. Don't count on this place for quality sashimi. Their raw fish isn't bad, it's just not the very best. Again, come here for well-priced rolls and drinks. I personally can't take my alcohol, but I hear the happy hour here is fab.

And ooh, if you're into massively portioned desserts, you may want to try their banana split. It's FAT.

Fat Fish
616 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 659-3882

No Need For Words

2009-04-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Apple Pan's Banana Cream Pie.

Apple Pan
10801 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 475-3585

Case de Chow

2009-04-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

Menu du Jour:
"Three Cup" Chicken
Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms
Sauteed Bean Sprouts

Yum.

Miso Hungry

2009-04-22T19:33:00.001-07:00

I love eating out, but needless to say, meals out are pricey. Le cub and I eat out once or twice a week (usually on the weekends). Nothing fancy, but always tasty.

During the school/work week, we cook a lot. I generally stick to Chinese recipes adapted from my mom and uber-cute "Aniang" (grandma). "Three Cup Chicken" (a wonderous concoction of soy, sugar, cooking wine, basil, and chicken drumettes) and Mapo Tofu are our favorites.

But when I'm feeling "fancy", I turn to two cookbooks.

1) Simple to Spectacular by Jean-Georges Vongerichten & Mark Bittman

2) The Breakaway Japanese Kitchen by Eric Gower

Both cookbooks are easy enough for beginners to follow along... and the end-results of my cooking sessions under the guidance of these two manuals have always been delish.

I'm making Gower's Edamame Mint Pesto tonight. I've made it before, and it's such a pretty dish. Camera's malfunctioning, so in the meantime, check out Masak-Masak's rendition HERE. YUM!

At Last

2009-04-21T00:48:00.001-07:00

In exchange for a home-cooked meal of Chinese food, my talented classmate, Kanako, bought me and Josh our first Sprinkles cupcake. She chose one in my favorite flavor. RED VELVET! OMG, OMG, OMG... the cupcake was so incredibly moist. The frosting? Nothing short of incredible. And the presentation? The trademark "sprinkle"? To-die-for. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!! Sprinkles is the Christian Louboutin of cupcakes...

This cupcake is now not only Oprah-approved, it's Le Cougar-approved. I am now officially torn. Susiecakes or Sprinkles?!? Aaaargh!

Sprinkles
9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA

Breakfast is Served

2009-04-17T00:31:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite past-times as of late is watching "The Biggest Loser" while consuming Cheez-its and a Trader Joe's "Sublime Ice-Cream Sandwich." Hmm.

In the latest episode of the show, the "Losers" were shown munching on Multigrain Cheerios for breakfast. It looked so good, I made Le Cub buy me a box.

Check it out. Sugary goodness in a bowl!

Just Dough-It!

2009-04-10T22:29:00.000-07:00

"Life's too uncertain. Eat dessert first." - Sign in the window of Stan's Doughnuts. (Love it when folks bother to write out "doughnuts" fully - as opposed to "donuts"...)

A visit to the barber (for Josh) led to a stop at Stan's. I'd always wanted to go in... and today I did. I bought the above-pictured "Homer's Donut" for a buck. It was delightful :)

Stan's Doughnuts
10948 Weyburn Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Joie de Vivre

2009-04-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

Laduree's signature macarons. A must-have when one is in Paris. I cross oceans for these.

Laduree
16, Rue Royale, Paris
+33 1 42 44 19 77

Le Poisson, Le Poisson

2009-04-05T23:15:00.000-07:00

Hee-hee-hee, hon-hon-hon! Photos of our seafood feast at the seaside food stalls of Essaouira. Perfection that came to less than US$10 per person.

Undefeated

2009-04-05T23:08:00.000-07:00

The most delicious panna cotta I've ever had the pleasure of tasting was the one on the menu of Grand Cafe de la Poste in Marrakech. Visit the restaurant's website HERE. A dessert so good, our crew of six returned to the restaurant on our last evening to taste it one more time. And it certainly didn't hurt that the restaurant's French colonial decor was gorgeous...

If you're ever in Marrakech and are feeling a lil' yuppy and want to chill with the ex-pats, Cafe de la Poste is the place to be.

McArabia

2009-04-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

No joke. The McDonalds in the Gueliz area of Marrakech was advertising McArabia sandwiches featuring halal meat. Our crew ordered both versions along with a Diam flavored McFlurry (Diam is some sort of European candy bar). All items were surprisingly delicious. I miss my McArabias.

It's All Me

2009-04-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

Results from my cooking class at La Maison Arabe: a magnificent chicken tagine! Josh, Nancy, Tiff and I were taught by a teeny-tiny Moroccan chef (she was shorter than me!), and she was aided by a translator (who's part-time hobby is to provide travel tips on TripAdvisor). Did our tagines taste as good as they looked? But of course!

Check-out La Maison Arabe's website HERE. A truly wonderful experience. I highly recommend it.

Baby Cakes

2009-04-05T22:07:00.000-07:00

Vanilla, Chocolate, Mint and Red Velvet. Heaven in a box.

Susie Cakes
11708 San Vicente Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 442-2253

Ladies Who Brunch

2009-04-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

I love this place. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Pictured are photos taken during a brunch I had with my lovely cousin, Jen a month ago.
A gorgeous savory breakfast tart (who can turn down pastry dough?), the perfect bowl of steel-cut oatmeal with brunch sugar (with soy milk because my cousin's a lac-tard), and a heavenly pear tart (the crust... oh, the crust...)...

If you haven't been to Joan's before, your life is incomplete. Stop on by if not just to check out the gleaming marble counters, hustle and bustle of LA hipsters and yuppies, and the beautiful spread of grab & go selection of salads and baked goods on display. It's a pain in the ass to park in this neighborhood, and a pain in the ass to find a table to grub at, but once you get over these minute hurdles, your tummy will thank you for your patience.

I promise :)

Joan's on Third
8350 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 655-2285

April Showers Bring...

2009-04-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

May flowers? NO! April showers bring grilled cheese. It's grilled-cheese month at Clementine, my favorite neighborhood cafe. Le cub and I stopped on by last week and he ordered the "Original Beef Dip Grilled Cheese" on french roll served with hot mustard off their seasonal grilled-cheese menu. It was so good that two folks stopped by our table to ask what he had ordered, AND so good that le cub felt the need to walk back up to the ordering counter to tell them his sandwich was fantastic. We must return so that I can try "Olivier's Grilled Cheese" - a sandwich that is, apparently, offered or influenced by the folks at Maria Batalli's famous high-end pizza joint, Mozza.

Yum.

Clementine
1751 Ensley Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 552-1080

Le Birthday

2009-04-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

In celebration of le cub's birthday, I treated us both to a meal at AOC. According to TimeOut, the acronym stands for Appellation d'Origine Controlée, the system for certifying the region of origin of food and wine in France and ensuring its quality. I had no idea. AOC might be a long way from France, but the food, served in tapas-like portions, is Gallic in their design. So beautiful! That said, we weren't impressed by all the dishes we ordered (it takes 6 to fill two of our tummies), but there were a few highlights. And here they are.

Pictured: Top - roasted dates with parmesan and bacon... my favorite item on the menu, Center - diver scallops, pancetta, peas, saffron, orange, and an unidentified leafy vegetable... le cub really enjoyed the peas and unidentified leafy vegetable, Bottom - acacia honey panna cotta with elderflower, mandelos and blood oranges... AMAZING! ALMOST as good as the panna cotta we had at Cafe de la Poste in Morocco. Almost.

Great ambience. Great service. Food's a little overrated, but I'd return just for the panna cotta.

AOC
8022 West 3rd Street
(cross street South Laurel Avenue)
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Mac-Off

2009-02-28T21:44:00.000-08:00

You wouldn't dare... my mac & cheese features seven different cheeses!

All Sorts of Deliciousness

2009-02-18T22:24:00.000-08:00

In hopes of keeping my new year's resolution to cook new dishes for le cub, I baked a savory tart for dinner today. Inspired by a Suzanne Goin recipe from the cookbook, Sunday Supper's at Lucques, (I'd read about the dish via Erin's grub-filled blog), I ventured over to Whole Foods to purchase the ingredients necessary to create my fool-proof masterpiece.

Ingredients:
1 frozen sheet of puff pastry (I bought mine at Trader Joe's, but I've read that the one sold at Whole Foods is phenomenal)
2 egg yolks
1 large bunch of chard, center ribs removed, roughly chopped
3 strips/bunches of green onion, finally chopped
1 onion, thinly sliced
5 cremini mushrooms, sliced
1/2 carton of ricotta cheese
1 tbsp. of cream cheese
3 oz of goat cheese
extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 400.

Instructions:

1) Defrost the puff pastry dough and unroll it onto a lightly-oiled baking sheet. Mix one egg yolk and and brush along the border of the dough. Chill the pastry in the freezer until ready to use.

2) Heat a large sautee pan over high heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Toss in a sliced onion and saute the onion "strands" for a few minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Set aside.

3) Now heat the same (hopefully wiped-down) large sautee pan over high heat and add another tablespoon of olive oil and pat of butter. Add the chard. Season with salt and pepper. Watch the greens wilt. Set aside to cool.

4) Finally, heat the same (wiped down!) large sautee pan over high heat and add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil. Toss in the sliced mushrooms and chopped green onion. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Set aside...

5) Mix the ricotta cheese, remaining egg yolk, cream cheese, splash of olive oil, salt and pepper together in a bowl.

6) Spread the cheese mixture on the puff pastry while leaving a quarter-inch border. Crumble half of the goat cheese over the cottage cheese, arrange the onions, chard, mushrooms, and green onions on top. Top with the remaining goat cheese.

7) Bake the tart for 20-22 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and the crust is a golden brown. Let cool, and SERVE!

Our tummies smiled. Your's will too.

A Valentine Tradition

2009-02-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Arros Negre Paella. Looks can be deceiving. This plate of grub was delicious!!!

When le cub and I first began dating, I'd told him about a trip to Barcelona thatI'd taken with my girlfriend, Tiff. Tiff and I had signed up for a cooking class while there, and seafood paella had been a part of our final menu. I'd purchased a paella pan upon my return from Spain, and told him that I would make some for him someday. Yes, someday. Anyhow, le cub got tired of waiting for the paella that was never going to happen, and ended up taking me to La Paella for Valentine's Day last year. We made the joint decision to order the Arros Negre (cuttlefish, calamari, baby shrimp, and mussels cooked with rice and squid ink) Paella not realizing that our teeth and lips would get stained throughout the meal. The squid ink paella isn't an ideal date food for those still concerned with instilling good first impressions, but it's definitely a fantastic test of individuals' true affection for one another in spite of looks. And ooh... how agreeable are you? Paellas are meant to be shared. In fact, La Paella requires a minimum order of two portions per paella. So some group work will be necessary...

The restaurant also offers a large variety of well-flavored small plates, and complementary bread... Warm, crusty, and chewy. When paired with olive pate, garlic butter, and olive oil, the bread makes my heart skip a beat. So good. But food aside, there isn't too much more about La Paella that's mention-worthy. The decor is so-so, but the lighting is pretty freakin' amazing. Everyone looks good in candle light...

A must-eat if you're into paella. Make a reservation if you're hoping to drop in on a Friday or Saturday night!

La Paella
476 S San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 951-0745

Butter, Cheese, and Truffles

2009-02-15T00:25:00.000-08:00

Valentine's lunch spent at D-list celebrity hot spot, The Grove.
Le cub and I had, surprisingly, never eaten at The Grove's Farmer's Market prior to yesterday, so it was really neat to finally sit down and grub amidst the charming atmosphere.

After surveying our numerous options, we opted for tapas at Monsieur Marcel. Pictured are the small plates we ordered:
- Chef's Tart: Marcel's take on pizza? Gourmet ingredients onboard puff pastry dough = yum!
- Caprese Salad: Not so hot. I felt as if I'd been presented with taco ingredients! There wasn't enough basil, and avocado doesn't belong in a traditional Caprese, does it?
- Foie Gras with Figs: Really just a pate. There wasn't enough toast, so le cub and I ended up spreading the pate onto the complementary bread (which, by the way, wasn't as crusty and chewy as I'd hoped).
- Truffle Oil Fries. I broke my New Year's resolution having only kept it for a month and a half. But how can anyone possible turn down TRUFFLES in any form?

Overall, a fun meal, but I probably wouldn't order the same items the next time I return...

Monsieur Marcel
Farmers Market
6333 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90189

Real Simple

2009-02-07T15:48:00.000-08:00

Don't mind dining amidst a bunch of Hollywood wannabes and UCLA students? Then hit up Literati Cafe in Brentwood. Pictured is the half-sandwich and soup combo. My favorite sandwich is the "Turkey and Asparagus Affair" and my favorite soup there is Minestrone. (Although the soup pictured is Tomato Basil). The combo makes for a really satisfying lunch. Be sure to splurge and order a Mint Lemonade while you're there as well!

Literati Cafe
12081 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 231-7484

Never Gets Old

2009-01-27T23:13:00.000-08:00

The three salad combo at Clementine. Attempted to be adventurous by trying two items that I'd never had before. Grilled cauliflower with midget raisins and pine nuts, beet salad with blood orange, avocado, and walnuts, and cold sesame chicken noodles. Yum.

Happy "Niu" Year!

2009-01-27T23:10:00.000-08:00

It's the year of the ox, or "niu", but I didn't eat any "niu" at the le cub's family's Chinese New Year meal in Minnesota. Mama Huang's chicken was pretty damn good though.

Disappointment

2009-01-19T23:19:00.000-08:00

I haven't been to Tom Colicchio's famed Gramercy Tavern, nor have I been to his other joint, Craft. But I'm really hoping that both are far-far-FAR better than the grub served at 'Wichcraft. Neither of the above sandwiches (Roasted pork panini and Turkey-avocado-bacon warm sandwich) made my tummy smile. We realize that 'Wichcraft is meant to be his answer to fast food, but neither of the above-pictured sandwiches would've won a quick-fire challenge on his show (one of our favorite shows), Top Chef. That said, both le cub and I were hugely disappointed.

Colicchio, please pack your knives and go.

Reigning Champion

2009-01-19T23:12:00.000-08:00

One of the best wood-fired grilled pizzas I've ever had. The Bosco pizza, with its thin, crisp crust, is superb. Wild mushrooms, Robiola cheese and white truffle oil...
Need I say more?!?

The prosciutto-pear salad is another must-have.

Stratta
Wynn Las Vegas
3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV, 8910

Vegas, Baby!

2009-01-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

Le cub and I are at it again... Traveling and ingesting all sorts of yummy.

Pictured: The best croque madame I've ever had (yes, better than the one I had at Bouchon) can be had at Payard Patisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace.

Crack Snack

2009-01-07T23:22:00.000-08:00

Pictured: A hearty bowl of mixed-variety Taiwanese fishcakes (tian bu la), daikon, and pork balls (gong wan). "Xia Men" is a tian bu la chain that has been in business in Taiwan for over 35 years and they supposedly make the best. All-you-can-drink soup is an additional perk! A real bargain of a snack at 45 NTD (roughly $1.50).

Xia Men Tempura
Food Court of Mitsukoshi in the XinYi district

Happy "Niu" Year!

2009-01-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

"Niu" in Mandarin Chinese, means "cow". According to the Chinese zodiac, this year is the year of the cow. That said, how fitting is it that this next entry shall be about beef noodles?!? Did you know that the City of Taipei styles itself as the "World Capital of Beef Noodles"? In fact, Taipei recently started to host an annual Taipei Beef Noodles Festival... this is mayjah~!

Pictured: XO scallop fried rice (perfection. amaaaazingly flavorful...) and beef noodles at The Regent. The photo does not do this bowl of noodles justice. It was delish! The chunks of tendon (jing) melted in my mouth. And the braised egg... I didn't even get to taste it! Le cub hoovered it. Yum, yummy, yum. Not usually one to venture to fancy shmancy hotels to eat "small eats", I must give credit to my mom for this wonderful discovery.

Azie
The Grand Formosa Regent Taipei
41 Chung Shan North Road, Section 2
Taipei , Taiwan

Bowl of Balls

2009-01-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Fish balls (yu wan), pork balls, dan dan noodles (dan zai mian), and "side-of-mouth-meat"(ko bian ro) at a stall in Jiu Fen, a traditional mountain village which, as of late, has gotten a tad touristy. In the foreground is the mixed variety bowl of balls (hehe, "bowl of balls")that le cub, my mom, and I had ordered to share. Tossed into the bowl as a ball made of shark flesh! Mmm... very Q! ("Q" is the way Taiwanese people describe perfectly chewy texture.) The bowl of dry dan dan noodles immersed in clear broth topped with minced pork and bean paste was also spectacular...

Unable to translate the name of the stall we ate at, I took a photo. Better than nothing!

Taiwan is Belly Fun

2009-01-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Beef sukiyaki, rice with mountain veggies, homemade agedashi tofu and shrimp. Merely snippets of the amazing lunch special offered daily at Sumie Nouvelle Cuisine Japonaise at the San Want Hotel. My heavenly main course came accompanied with a hearty salad, assorted sashimi (really fresh fish), three small plates (the appetizers vary day to day), rice with mountain vegetables, miso soup, dessert (mine was a piece of tiramisu mochi), and coffee/tea. Extravagant much?!

Total damage: 750 NTD, which comes out to be roughly US$23

Sumie Nouvelle Cuisine Japonaise
San Want Hotel
172 Sec 4 Chung Hsiao East Road
Taipei, 106 TW

I love Taipei. I attended middle school and high school there, my parents still live there, and gosh darn it, the food in Taipei is to-die-for.

As usual, much of my voyage home this past winter was spent chowing down. And why not? We're the Chows! With le cub in tow, I felt a great sense of responsibility. It was my duty to not only show him a good time, but good grub as well! With my epicurian momma nearby, le cub would surely leave Taipei with his tummy not only smiling, but bulging.

For the sake of aesthetics (I personally detest uber-long blog entries because they look ugly), the following Taipei food entries will be kept short. Photo, location, and maybe a tip on ordering? That should do. After checking out our photos, perhaps you'll find that a trip to Taipei for YOU is long overdue!

Happy New Year!!!

Our tummies are smiling,
Le cub and cougar

So much to report... coming soon

2008-12-20T12:41:00.000-08:00

An airplane meal hardly worth mentioning... a delicious bowl of beef noodle soup and XO Sauce Fried Rice... Taiwanese breakfast consisting of fan tuan (rice wrapped you tiao) , egg wrap (dan bing), soy bean drink, shao bing you tiao, and Taiwanese fruits (especially 蓮霧)... and more... photos and reviews coming soon

The Wedding Banquet

2008-12-04T15:21:00.000-08:00

In celebration of their big day, Pammy and Andrew treated all of us to a meal fit for a king at Wing Lei in the Wynn. Priceless! Review to come. Photos first :)

Wing Lei
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 770-3388

Keller Does Breakfast

2008-12-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

I claim to be a foodie, but I've yet to make the true-foodie pilgrimage to The French Laundry in Napa. While I've yet to have the opportunity to enjoy a Thomas Keller lunch or dinner, ut I have, however, enjoyed a Thomas Keller brunch at Bouchon. Everything on the menu is delightful, but what I find most pleasing are the fresh complementary baguettes and the cinnamon beignets with Nutella. What one might "order as a part of his/her last meal" good according to Pammy's cousin, Susan. Perfect when paired with coffee...

Bouchon
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 414-6200

Move Over Wetzel

2008-12-04T12:58:00.001-08:00

The Venetian Las Vegas has a great little food court for those incapable of coughing up crazy dough to pay or celebrity chef fare. Luckily, their food court offers some really wonderful won't-break-the-bank alternatives. The day of Pam's wedding, Emily (another wedding goer) and I stopped by the New York Pretzel for a lunch of pretzel and lemonade. Emily paired her original pretzel with a honey mustard dipping sauce. I, on the other hand, ventured and chose a jalapeno Parmesan version. SO-VERY-GOOD. Warm, chewy, and cheesy with a kick. Mmm, mmm, mmm! Too bad New York city pretzels don't actually taste like these!

New York Pretzel
The Venetian
3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, 89109

Gobble, Gobble

2008-12-04T12:53:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving meal (Vegas-style) with Pammy, Mr.Debs, and the gang at Stratta, a chicly casual Italian eatery in the Wynn. There wasn't a single item on the menu that we ordered that I wouldn't order again. But in an effort to be helpful to those of you who do decide on going and can't order "everything," I highly-recommend their Bosco pizza (mushroom and truffle thin crust pizza) and short ribs. To die for!

And ooh, our party ordered one plate of Stratta's Thanksgiving special just for all to share. I don't usually do white meat, but when we're talking turkey prepared by Alessandro Stratta and his crew, how could I say no?

Thank God for good food!

Stratta
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 770-2040

Number One

2008-12-04T12:38:00.001-08:00

The Coral Cafe has got the most fantastic red velvet cake EVER. EVER, EVER, EVER. And trust me, I've had my fair share of cake! Jennifer and I shared a delectable slice while at the Century City Mall. We had hoped to limit our caloric intake that fateful evening by sharing a cupcake, but when we were rang up, and the cashier uttered the words, "That will be $6.45," I couldn't help but go, "WHAT?!" Yes, The Coral Cafe wanted to charge me over six bucks for a single cupcake. While most folks probably would've walked away, Jen and I went ahead and asked, "How much for a slice of cake?" And that's how it happened. $6.75 bought us a massive slice of pure happiness. THE BEST EVER. I mean it!

Can't Get Enough

2008-12-04T12:25:00.000-08:00

Of Clementine...

Photos taken during two separate trips to the cafe (once with Josh and once with my cousin, Jennifer). Pictured: autumn chicken salad (it's got apple slices and a handful of grapes mixed in!), brussel sprouts (sweet red onions complement the bitter sprouts perfectly), salmon edamame salad (never again), shrimp-calamari-lentil salad (must-have), broccoli-cauliflower salad (okay), smoked turkey sandwich (so-so, buttersquash soup (felt sooooooo good going down), German chocolate cookie (the caramel got stuck in my molars), chocolate chip cookie (oh-boy!)...

T'is the Season

2008-11-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

... for pomegranate seeds at Pinkberry.

After sharing a meal at Century City mall's Brazilian churrascaria, Ummba Grill, I dragged Josh to my favorite overpriced fro-yo joint to revel in the mystery that clouds the pomegranate seed. They're sweet. No, they're sour. They look like red corn. No, they look like Christmas lights. Whatever. They're tasty. The seeds were somewhat difficult to consume as a topping (definitely not a date-food... I was spitting my seeds into a napkin that Josh was holding... haha, yes, he is good to me), but pomegranates rarely if ever make appearances in my Asian household, so "yay"! I'm feeling jolly.

Pinkberry
Century City Westfield Mall

Ice, Ice, Baby

2008-11-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

Mediocre Japanese/Korean fusion food by normal standards, but by Westood Village standards, not bad. I come here for the ice. My friend Sophie and I downed an entire bowl during our girl-talk-fun-time. As a pre-ememptive measure, Sophie also ordered two hot green teas knowing we'd be freezing post ice consumption :) One can only imagine the storms brewing in our tummies.

Iso Fusion Cafe
1108 Gayley Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Feeling Japanesey

2008-11-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

My dear college eating buddy Sophie was in town a couple weeks back and the two of us hit up Raku. I was feeling Japanesey.

This place is awesome. A little difficult to park as the restaurant is located in a teeny strip mall and shares a "massive" (I'm being sarcastic) parking lot of eight spaces with a 7-11. But really, Raku is a diamond in the rough! The sashimi is always fresh (check out the super fresh yellowtail belly pictured above), the salads are creative and refreshing (grapefruit and pomello in salads work so well), and the small plates, Japanese tapas, are to die for (the miso-cod is great, but the fried fish cakes with cheese are are real must). If you're a fan of Japanese food, do try Raku. Yum, yummy, yum.

Raku Restaurant
11678 West Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Who Would've Thunk

2008-11-20T17:57:00.003-08:00

That I'd ever enjoy Arby's?

5 items for $5.95. According to my Uncle Tom, it used to be 5 items for $5.00!

Josh and I were on our way back down to Los Angeles from San Francisco. Arby's is his favorite fast-food chain. I used to think their food was gross, but for some odd reason, this time around, I was enamored. Their cheesy roast-beef sandwich melted in my mouth and the curly fries... mmm. Yes, I know. I'm hopeless. Don't judge.

Have You Been To...

2008-11-20T17:31:00.001-08:00

Father's Office?

And I'm not referring to my father's office, rather Father's Office, the wonderously fabulous, upscale pub best known to locals and visitors to alike, for its great (but over-rated, and more like a sandwich than a burger) gourmet burger, vast beer selection, and absurdly delicious sweet potato fries with tartar sauce.

Haven't been?! Well you should.

And when you go...
1) Order the steak tartar. I enjoyed it more than I enjoyed the burger.
2) Be prepared for dim lighting.
3) Get there a little early. Or REALLY late. There's almost always a line to get in at both the original branch in Santa Monica as well as the Culver City branch. There's a bouncer at the door. Oh yeah. You need to be at very least 21 years of age to enter...
4) Be prepared to wait on yourself. Orders (all orders) are taken at the bar. You seat yourself.

Yum.

Father's Office (Culver City one... there's more seating)
3229 Helms Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034

Photos to be posted.

Food Babies

2008-11-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

A meal at Won Stew is bound to result in a massive food baby. Our last meal during our whirlwind trip up to the Bay Area took place in Fremont. Wanting Josh to have a taste of my favorite pork-chop over rice, I introduced him to Won Stew House, a Chinese take-out joint that serves bentos of gargantuan portions. For $6.50, one can enjoy a meal that one would normally consume in three-sittings. And if you're really looking for value, you may even consider purchasing a pre-paid Won Stew punch card. I believe it's 10 meals for $50, but you may have to double-check. Fried meat over rice accompanied by vegetables, five-spice-marinated tofu, and egg. I guarantee that you'll leave stuffed.

Won Stew House
477 Saratoga Ave
San Jose, CA 95129
(Am offering y'all the address to the San Jose shop because the Fremont one is way too ghetto.)

C'est Si Bon

2008-11-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

After attending a Steven Alan sample sale with Kathy, the two of us were ravenous. Presented with several dining options (Fred 62 being the original front-runner), we ultimately decided on the French bistro, Figaro. The restaurant looked sooooo cute from the outside -- that and the fact that it was packed! We'd originally wanted to sit outside (well, I did, because I wanted to people watch -- a fun thing to do in a hip neighborhood like Los Feliz), but there wasn't room, so we set up camp inside. Noticed that were seated alongside lots of Frenchies (folks speaking French)... good sign?!

In an effort to be healthy (and knowing that I'd be placing an order for dessert), I ordered the shrimp-avocado-mango-yogurt-honey salad. Sounds gross, but it was so lovely! So amazing, that the table next to us asked which salad it was that I'd ordered. As for Kathy, she had a craving for fries, so she ordered the mussels & frites. She wolfed down ALL the fries before starting on her mussels...

Bread basket was awesome (they've got this walnut bread that Kathy couldn't stop eating--with butter, of course!)... but the chocolate souffle? Mediocre.

An overall wonderful experience. I'd definitely return.

Figaro
1802 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027

In a Land Far Far Away

2008-11-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

Lunch in Walnut at Apo Apo with Josh's cousins. Apo Apo - the fobby way to pronounce "Apple Apple". Hehe. I like the name of this eatery. The food was sadly mediocre (noodles in the beef noodle soup weren't chewy enough, the rice of the pork chop over rice combo "pai gu fan" was dry, and the braised tofu that accompanied the braised pork over rice "ru-ro fan" was too salty), but the massive portions made up for the meal's short-comings--for the boys, at least. Tummies left full. While the entrees left much to be desired, the desserts, on the other hand, were de-liciouso! Soooooo good! Pictured is one of the two happy endings to our meal: Fresh strawberries on top of sago, shaved-ice, and soft-tofu. The mango one was better, but I didn't get a chance to take a photo of it as I was too busy shoveling it down.

Apo Apo Deli Cafe
808 N. Nogales St
Walnut, CA 91789

To Cook or Not to Cook...

2008-10-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

That is the question. I've never attempted sea scallops before. But since Josh really enjoys them, I thought I'd give Iron Chef Cat Cora's recipes a shot. The recipe I tried was really simple and the success of the dish would be dependent upon the freshness of my ingredients. That said, I hit up fancy shmancy Whole Foods for my seafood.

Pictured: Sea scallops served over field greens... they would have been perfect had I not undercooked my first batch... Gosh, how was I supposed to know? The critters I picked up were unexpectedly ginormous!

Mmm.

2008-10-21T23:51:00.000-07:00

Debra: You need to write a review.
Josh: I'm not your slave. I don't want to right now.
Debra: You're mean. I hate you.
Josh: You don't smell like Korea when you leave. You can get round if you come eat here too much. Hahaha.

Josh's favorite Korean BBQ joint in LA. Super yummy. Be sure to order the kalbi and seafood pancake!

Park's BBQ
955 S. Vermont
Los Angeles

It's Better with Butter

2008-10-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

"God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well." - Voltaire

Together my college bff Kathy and I consumed nearly a pound of butter at the new Santa Monica bistro, Anisette. Having walked in with no reservations, we felt lucky to have found bar seating. The restaurant set-up is really charming. High ceilings, dark wood, dim lighting, bustling... For a second there, I felt as if I'd been transported to Paris. So wonderful.

Kathy and I ordered the mussels (creamier than we'd anticipated but yummy), steak frites (there were three sauce options and we chose the red-wine reduction option... an excellent choice), and a side of hericot verts (they were swimming in butter, but neither of us complained).

Service was slow, but the waitress' fab attitude more than made up for it.

Anisette Brasserie
225 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90407
(310) 395-3200

One Time...

2008-10-12T12:25:00.001-07:00

Two times...

Clementine is so good that I'm featuring it yet again. The food there is fresh, simple, and "comfortable."

Pictured: Grilled shrimp and calamari salad (I highly recommend it), cauliflower and broccoli with almonds and shallots, the most delicious meatloaf I've ever had the pleasure of eating (another dish I highly recommend), Mrs. Miller's cookie (a coconut oatmeal raisin cookie offering just the right amount of chewiness), and ginger-limeades.

Love, love, love this place.

Clementine

Reunited...

2008-10-12T12:12:00.000-07:00

... and it feels, so good...

Grubbed with with le cougar cub and my cousin, Albert and his fiance, Marie a couple weekends ago. (The power couple - Albert, a doctor-in-training, and Marie a recent U.Chicago law school graduate - has moved back to Cali!)

Marie suggested a cute Thai restaurant in Pasadena. A good call, as Josh and I hadn't left the west side in ages. Pity that the ambience at Saladang Song outshined the food.

Pictured: Soft shell crab...

Saladang Song
363 S. Fairoaks Avenue
Pasadena

浪人 - Ronin

2008-10-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Josh and I were typing up reviews for Ronin at the same.

This is what Josh had to say:

Prior to a riveting performance by Maya Rudolph and Fred Armison at the Largo, Debra and I had dinner with our friends Casey, Dianne, and Kathy at an izakaya joint called Ronin.

We were delighted by the pleasant selection of both hot and cold tapas. Of course, the ladies enjoyed the complementary warm chocolate cake dessert served with a shot of homemade milkshakes.

And this is what I had to say:

Before catching Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisine's show at the Largo Theater, fellow foodie Kathy, le cougar cub, Casey, Dianne, and I dined across the street at Ronin. Though located next to a sketchy strip club with a blazing neon NUDE NUDE NUDE GIRLS sign, Ronin ROCKS!

The plates here are meant to be shared. With five people in our party, we tried pretty much everything!

Highlights?
The taco shimi (ahi tuna sashimi, avocado, and grilled shitake served on cumin-seasoned flour tortilla chips that come stacked like a napoleon... delish!), the curry fried chicken (yum, yummy, yum), Ronin fried rice (sticky rice topped with a fried egg!), and decadent chocolate cake served with berries and a mini (shot-glass-sized) vanilla smoothie (it was served complimentary, which made it all the more delightful!)...

Whereas most restaurants located on La Cienega are pretentious, over-priced, and outright crappy, Ronin defies the norm. The plates were beautiful, fresh and delicious, service was incredibly friendly, and the restaurant was clean and perfectly lit... gosh, I can't stop raving about this place.

I'll definitely be back.

Pictured: Ronin fried rice. The other photos I took didn't come out due to the dim lighting. Boo.

Ronin Izakaya Bistro
359 N. La Cienega Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 289-8404

Clementine

2008-10-01T23:30:00.001-07:00

If it's good enough for Reese Witherspoon, it's good enough for us!

Josh and I were finally able to dine at upscale neighborhood cafe, Clementine yesterday. Tucked away in a random location, the restaurant comes highly recommended by Pulitzer Prize winning food critic, Jonathan Gold. But more importantly, my classmate, Robby had mentioned it various times as well. Josh and I had tried popping in on two other occasions, but the place was always closed! We admittingly dropped in on two straight Sundays... but yesterday, on a Wednesday, in the company of our dear friend, Jeannine, we were fortunate enough to finally enjoy lunch there.

The sandwich Josh ordered had him wondering, "How'd they do that?!" (the answer was "butter") and the refreshing summer salad I'd ordered had me thinking, "I could eat this for every meal!" (But of course I could. The "healthy" salad I'd ordered came tossed with amaaaazing bacon!) Overall? The ingredients were simple, but the combination of fresh farmers market faire made for uber-happy customers.

I look forward to returning.

Pictured: Josh's Clementine Combo consisting of "today's sandwich" (a turkey melt), a mixed green salad, and choice of cookie or drink. Also pictured is my summer salad.

Clementine
1751 Ensley Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 552-1080

Spanish Sushi

2008-10-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love tapas. That said, when Josh told me that our b-school Spaniard, Daniel recommended Bar Pintxo, I just had to go.

The tapas served at this cozy, tiny tapas bar were like none that I'd had during my visit to Barcelona. Sitting atop a high stool, I consumed some of the largest tapas I'd ever seen. Check out the photos. I liken them to mega nigiri sushi.

Pictured (from left to right):

TOP: Simple and classic grilled bread rubbed with fresh tomato and topped with serrano ham, the same simple and classic grilled bread topped with foie gras, caramelized onions and apple, and once again, the same bread topped with smoked salmon wrapped around a hearty serving of dungeness crab.

MIDDLE: The special. Homemade flatbread topped with olive oil, figs, caramelized onions, and arugula.

BOTTOM: mushroom, jamon, and diced veggies

Detailed review to come.

Bar Pintxo
109 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-2012

Piece of Greece

2008-09-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

May not look like much, but yuuuuum.
Le cougar cub's gyro.

Gulen's at the Century City Mall
aka Westfield Shopping Center
10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90067

On My Short List

2008-09-21T11:28:00.001-07:00

Of all-time favorite desserts...
A bowl of "Xiao Nan Men" or "South Gate"'s "Hua sen, Do Hua, Huen Gui" (peanut, silky tofu, gelatin". The best way to describe it would be heaven in a bowl. I love, love, love this Asian sweet soup.

Xiao Nan Men
Basement of Taipei 101

An Oldie But Goodie

2008-09-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

If you’re visiting Taiwan for the first time, you must pay a visit to this classic joint for what may arguably be the tastiest handmade soup dumplings available. This restaurant is best known for its "xiao long bao" (soupy pork dumplings), but my mom and I dig their minimalist fried rice—-flavored only by eggs, scallions, and lard. Mmm… lard. Their eight-treasure sticky rice dessert is also a treat. A must-eat for Taiwan tourists as well as natives.

Din Tai Fong
Sogo III

(There's also one in Arcadia, California!)

Innovation

2008-09-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

Round toast. I didn't have any, so I can't tell you if the stuff tastes as good as it looks. Was reprimanded by the bakery for taking this photo...
Flavorfield Bakery
Basement of Taipei 101

And They Lived Happily Ever After

2008-09-20T00:51:00.000-07:00

Dinner with my mom led us to one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Taipei, Sumie. Though I was tempted to order sashimi off the ala carte menu, I opted for the more economical option, the predetermined assorted sashimi meal. As expected, I enjoyed the meal immensely. Sumie not only offers gorgeously presented dishes, but also some of THE freshest sashimi I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. Aside from the tuna, all other pieces of fish I bit into were perfection. Not one with a liking for raw fish, my mom ordered the Beef and Onion rice bowl—which she enjoyed.

To top everything off, the waitress brought our meal to a close with complementary dessert, tiramisu mochi. Talk about a happy ending.

Sumie
Sant Wan Hotel

Itadakimasu!

2008-09-20T00:48:00.000-07:00

Grubbed with my old friend, Judy today. I had her choose the location of our meeting and, “Jude” (as I like to call her), selected Daikanyama, a new restaurant on the 5th floor of Taipei tourist hot spot, Taipei 101. We ordered two lunch specials—grilled salted mackerel and assorted sashimi (6 pieces)—and then “upgraded” them to include a beverage and dessert. The lunch special came with the expected starter salad, miso soup, pickled daikon and white rice, but better yet, it also came accessorized with chawan mushi (egg-seafood custard) and braised eggplant. Dessert was black-sesame tofu soup. We wanted red-bean, but they were out.
In summary, lunch was decent, but I think the company was better than the meal.

Daikanyama
Fifth Floor of Taipei 101

Average Joe

2008-09-20T00:46:00.000-07:00

A typical Taiwanese "bian dang" (lunch-box). Your's for under four bucks.

Rice, Rice, Baby...

2008-09-20T00:41:00.000-07:00

The Japanese have always been innovative—even with their fast food! Check it out: burger buns made of rice. My family's favorite fast-food joint.

Mos Burger
Jen Ai Road, Sec.4

P.S. MOS is an acronym for Mountain, Ocean, and Sea :)

Dinner At My Place

2008-09-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

When I don't go out, I enjoy food cooked by my parents' housekeeper, Xiao Hui. Check out the spread on my first evening home! The "Lion Heads" (Chinese meatballs pictured in the center) were particularly delicious.

Food Court

2008-09-14T15:25:00.001-07:00

Sbarro, Hot Dog on a Stick, and Panda Express have nothing on this shredded-chicken topped rice which I enjoyed at Taipei 101's Food Court last week for less than two buckaroos. Yum, yummy, yum.

Made in Taiwan

2008-09-14T14:51:00.001-07:00

Lunch at Lai Lai Sheraton's "Ching Ke Lo" with my family (mom, dad, and younger brother). Featured: traditional "small eats" go new-age.
From top to bottom:
"Pi Dan" or "Thousand Year Egg" (preserved egg). An oldie-but-goodie appetizer finds itseld renewed by the presence of new "clothes", or spicy seaweed, wrapped around each egg wedge. Well-flavored. My family's favorite dish.
"Ciao Ciao Hua" or "Pig-Ear wrapped around Duck Tongue". A cheeky dish playing on words. In Mandarin, to conduct "ciao ciao hua" is to conduct a "secret talk." As disgusting as the ingredients may sound, this dish was quite tasty. Slices of the dish were incredibly thin--a good thin as I did not find myself making strange faces while consuming the ear cartilage. Not as well flavored as the egg dish, but still tasty.
"Su Er" or "Vegetarian Goose". Bean curd wrapped around a splendidly seasoned, finely shredded, vegetable mix. My mom mom really enjoyed this course.
"Seafood Lettuce Cups" or... hmm. I seem to have forgotten the Chinese name of this dish. A refreshing dish.
"Short Ribs and Glutinous Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaf" or in Chinese... again, I am at a loss. Two words? Food Coma. This dish was good, but I've had better. The textures were perfect, but the ribs lacked seasoning.
"Soup Dumplings" or "Tang Bao". Yum, yummy, yum.
I'll be back.

Feeling Beachy

2008-09-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Redondo Beach steamed dungeness crabs and a Mrs. Field's ice-cream sandwich.

Reviews to come.

100 W. Torrance Blvd.
Redondo Beach, CA

Underwhelmed

2008-09-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Review to come.

Hirozen
8385 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048