Moo Moo Thai Cafe - Venice, California

Address: 11127 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90034

Items Ordered:

• Thai Tea
• "I can't believe this is Mushroom" - fried crispy mushrooms
• Papaya Salad - level spicy, with green beans, tomatoes, shrimp, lime juice, & peanuts
• Kra-Pow Crispy Pork - stir fried with spicy garlic sauce, basil, green bean, & serrano
• Chicken Pad Thai - not pictured

Ever since visiting Thailand a few years ago, I've been searching for a remnant of authentic Thai street food in the U.S. Moo Moo Thai, a new restaurant in Culver City, comes reasonably close, but alas, the ultimate search continues. The mushroom appetizer was only okay, a tad too salty for my tastebuds. The papaya salad on the other hand, was refreshing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Next time, I'll order it extra spicy so I can relive that burning but oh so delicious sensation I felt from eating papaya salad freshly made from street carts in Thailand. The crispy pork was flavorful, and had the right amount of spiciness, but the "crispiness" factor could have been a point of contention. Moo Moo Thai has some good looking noodle soups that I still want to try, and I would definitely return for some good papaya salad.

--y

P.S. The thai tea was fantastic.

Cafe 70 Degrees (formerly Westsubs) - Culver City, California

Address: 3863 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90232

Items Ordered (breakfast menu):

• Smoked salmon bagel with egg salad
  
• "Simply Yummy" - baked egg, turkey bacon, potatoes
• Peach Icy Snow with boba

I waited a long time to write this post b/c I kind of don't want to share this place with anyone :O. I first discovered this small cafe nestled in Culver City Center when I was in need of wi-fi for a few hours. I ordered a boba milk tea and to my surprise a giant beer mug of creamy, perfectly sweetened milk tea and chewy boba arrived at my table. I liked the drink so much, I proceeded to order a crunchy tuna wrap and thoroughly enjoyed polishing off the whole plate of fresh tasting ingredients including the side of cantaloupe and salad. I can't recall if I actually got any work done that day amidst all the eating...

Ever since discovering Cafe 70 Degrees, I've made multiple return visits, and honestly have loved everything I've ever ordered here. On this particular day, I went for breakfast with a friend, and thought the salmon was smoky, fresh-tasting, and paired beautifully with the toasted bagel. I was a little too stuffed with the egg salad atop, as it probably could've been made into FOUR delicious egg salad sandwiches--too much for one person! The peach icy snow was one of the best drinks I've had from Cafe 70 Degrees yet.

If you decide to visit, and love this place as much as I do, do me a favor and keep it on the DL. It'll be our little secret, yea? Thanks.

--y

Thanksgiving 2011

Items Prepared:

• Crab and cream cheese spread with toasted almonds on French bread
• French onion soup
• Arugula, beets, and goat cheese salad
• Prime rib and Yorkshire pudding with au jus
• Chocolate mousse with mint and raspberries
  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm thankful for my beautiful family and friends today as I am everyday. No turkey this year, but prime rib is still a winner! Hope your Thanksgiving gathering is fabulous and delicious.

--y

Paco's Tacos - Los Angeles, California

Address: 4141 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Items Ordered:

• Two beef tacos combo plate - no beans
  
• Chicken taco and tamale combo plate - no beans
  

"SHOW ME THE TACOS!" I imagine that's what Tom Cruise would have said when they filmed Jerry Maguire at Paco's Tacos. When our plates arrived, they were huge and heavy and looked like they could've weighed 8 pounds! The crispy tacos at Paco's Tacos were crunchy, flavorful, and especially satisfying with the addition of spicy salsa. The mexican rice was delicious and made me happy that I skipped the beans. As for the tamale, it arrived a little on the cold side so I'll reserve judgement for another day. However, the real winner at Paco's Tacos were the homemade tortillas made fresh every minute by the tortilla lady. The tortillas arrived piping hot, soft, and chewy, and I wanted to wrap everything into them and just eat it up. Somehow I managed to reserve a tortilla to take home, and after reheating it on a grill, and wrapping it around eggs, sausage, and hot sauce, it made for one of the best breakfast burritos I've ever eaten. YUM!! I would definitely return to Paco's Tacos--after all, they had me at tortilla ;).

--y

Scarpetta at The Montage - Beverly Hills, California

Address: 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Items Ordered:

• Sunday Brunch
  

I blame my lackluster Scarpetta experience on the breathtaking scenery of the Beverly Canyon Gardens. The food was doomed to failure against such an amazing backdrop. The quality of the food was impeccable (think fresh fruits, veggies, seafood) but the taste and selection was just not up to par for the $70+ dollar price tag. The shellfish was a little too cold, the meats a little too dry, the vegetables a little too soggy, and the desserts were hit or miss. In fact, I much prefer the brunch buffet at M Resort in Vegas which provides flavorful food items at a reasonable price including drinks (try it!). I might visit Scarpetta again, but only for the tomato-basil spaghetti, which in accordance with popular belief can do no wrong. Toothsome and flavorful, it was the only item that garnered repeat trips to the kitchen. I wouldn't steer you away from visiting Scarpetta--it is a pleasant experience--but so is being $70 richer!

--y

The Bazaar by José Andrés - Los Angeles, California

Address: 465 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Items Ordered:

• Tortilla de Patatas "New Way": potato foam, egg 63, caramalized onions (skip this)
  
• "Philly cheesesteak": air bread, cheddar, Wagyu beef
  
• Embutidos platter: chorizo, lomo, salchichon with tomato bread (SO GOOD!!)
  
• Papas canarias: salty wrinkled potatoes, mojo verdé
• Pisto: vegetable stew, tomato, egg 63
• The "ultimate" spanish tapa: potatoes, carrots, mayo, tuna belly (skip this)
• Sautéed shrimp: garlic, guindalla pepper
• Sea scallops with romesco sauce
• Beef hanger steak: Piquillo pepper confit
• Traditional Spanish flan: vanilla and fruit
  
• Greek yogurt panna cotta: apricots and muscat gelatin
  

Don't read this post! Why not? Because your time could be much better spent making a reservation for The Bazaar, and then enjoying one of your most delicious meals ever. Succulent shrimp and scallops, tasty potatoes, savory embutidos and creamy flan. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu!!

--y

Din Tai Fung - Arcadia, California

Address: 1088 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007

Items Ordered:

• Xiao Long Bao: juicy soup dumplings with pork and fish
• Shanghai rice cake with pork
  
• Stir fried green beans

I visited Din Tai Fung (DTF) only so I could brag to my parents that I could have an authentic taste of Taiwan in L.A. while they'd have to resort to eating their own cooking...suckers! After waiting 30 minutes in the sweltering heat, the restaurant was kind enough to offer us cups of ice cold water. When we were finally seated, the soup dumplings and green beans arrived looking extremely photogenic. Tastewise, the dumplings lacked the spoonful of soup which I love, but the outstanding flavor of the fish dumplings made up for the scarcity of soup. The stir fried green beans were crunchy and devoured quickly. Overall though, eating at DTF just made me jealous that I couldn't eat my parents home cooking :(.

--y

Jitlada Thai - Hollywood, California

Address: 5233 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Items Ordered:

• Green Mussel Curry: New Zealand mussels in southern Thai curry with pineapples
  
• Crying Tiger Pork
• Deep fried seabass
• Pad Thai (not pictured)

Jitlada has been on my to-eat-list for almost a year now. After being bombarded by reviews from Jonathan Gold, the Food Network, and other bloggers, I wanted to participate in the Jitlada experience too! The mussels were one of the best I've ever had, and the mussel broth was drinkable like a delicious seafood soup. The best part of the famous crying tiger pork was the spicy sauce that accompanied it, which was really a delight and punishment for the taste buds. Last but not least, the deep fried seabass was a standout dish--probably my favorite of the night. The fish was crispy and delicious even without any sauce. Next time I return to Jitlada, I would definitely order the fried fish and mussels again. Try it for yourself!

--y

The Six - West Los Angeles, California

Address: 10668 Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Items Ordered:

• Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders
• The Six Mac n' Cheese
• The Six Pizza: Margherita, Mushroom
• Organic Jidori Chicken Breast Risotto
• Parmesan Truffle Fries

The concept of the Six is a full menu of 6 of each type of menu item (entree, fries, appetizers, etc.). It is definitely an interesting mix of food. I love risotto, but this risotto was made out of a quinoa rice. I much prefer arborio rice for risotto, but the chicken did have good flavoring. Great if you feel like having an American meal - very innovative menu and good atmosphere.

--v

Meet - Culver City, California

Address: 9727 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Items Ordered:

• All-you-can-eat Mussels Wednesday
• DIJONNAISE - Garlic, shallots, tomato confit, house mustard, tarragon and cream
• MARINIERE - Garlic, shallots, chablis, herbed croutons
• MEET - Crab, shallot, saffron, tomato confit, celeri, bacon, basil, chablis
• THAI - Indian curry, garlic, cumin, lemongrass, coconut milk , cream
• MARINARA - Merlot, garlic, shallots, spicy marinara
• Fries

Meet is a cute French bistro in Downtown Culver City. We came one day for the all you can eat mussels and it was DELICIOUS. I love mussels and I loved the variety of about 10 different types of mussels we could choose from. The fries came a little later than I would have liked, but once they came, they were perfect for dipping with the sauces. Each of the bowls of mussels (1 pound each bowl) had great sauces and I wanted to just drink all of it. Yummy!

--v

Mayura - Culver City, California

Address: 10406 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Items Ordered:

• Chicken tikka masala: boneless chicken in a curry sauce
  
• Shrimp masala: shrimp in a savory curry sauce
  
• Masala dosa: crepe stuffed with spiced cooked potatoes
  
• Plain & garlic naans

I convinced Connie and Victoria to accompany me to Mayura after raving about the buttery, fork-tender chicken tikka masala. The dish did not disappoint, and we ended up splitting a second order along with some spicy shrimp masala! I would come back anytime for the chicken tikka masala and a order of garlic naan and rice. The portions are actually quite generous, we were just extra hungry eaters that day. The only thing I might do differently is skip the dosa for some standard samosas instead since deep fried n crispy beats pan-fried any day. Highly recommend.

--y

Update

Hi friends!

Do you find yourself sitting at home wondering, where has the food gone? Or are you slowly wasting away in front of the computer as you search for restaurant options without suggestions from eat.snap.love?! Well, no worries! Summer vacation is also coming to a close for Victoria and YJ, and there will be a whole slew of new cuisines for you to drool over shortly.

However, there have been a few changes in our lives, and you may find the pace of postings a little different. For one thing, Victoria will be posting from jolly ol' Brighton, UK for the next year. How exciting! Maybe we'll finally find out what a "spotted dick" and "toad in the hole" really is. As for YJ, well besides subtracting one fabulous eating partner, she just started a brand new job and hopes to bring you an insider's perspective into gourmet hospital food.......j/k!

We hope your summer has been eventful as well, and look forward to sharing more pictures with you in the future. :)

--v & y

Vivolo's Chowder House - Pacific Grove, California

Address: 127 Central Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Items Ordered:

• Clam chowder in bread bowl with garlic cheese lid
  
• Spinach cobb salad
  
• Garlic cheese bread

Touted by some as having the BEST clam chowder ever, I was super excited to try Vivolo's on a recent trip to Monterey. The clam chowder was super creamy, just the right level of thickness and the seasoning was spot on resulting in one delicious bowl of chowder. Additionally, the garlic cheese lid and bread were both toasted so that the bread bowl managed to be both crispy and soft (and delicious). The ingredients in the cobb salad tasted fresh, and made me feel slightly less guilty for my cheesy, chowdery, bready indulgence. The verdict? Having lived in San Francisco for a few years, I can still say with confidence that Vivolo's has the best clam chowder in a bread bowl I've tasted thus far. I hope you get a chance to try it sometime so you can judge for yourself :). Don't forget the garlic cheese lid!

--y

Waterloo & City - Culver City, California

Address: 12517 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90066

Items Ordered:

• Smoked salmon terrine, fried egg, sauce gribiche
• Brussels & bacon, balsamic vinegar
• Steamed mussels, red thai curry, lime, ginger, ciabatta
  
• Yukon potato gnocchi, braised beef ragu, tomato, spinach
• Homemade bourbon glazed donuts with cream and blueberry jam
  

Last time Connie suggested a restaurant, it became my new favorite love (aka the Tasting Kitchen) so when she suggested Waterloo & City in Culver City, I was excited to try this hip British gastropub. Victoria also visited on a different occasion, and although I stole her pictures, I have no idea what she thought of the food... All the side dishes/appetizers we tried were delicious. The smoked salmon terrine layered with potatoes and a fried egg atop had a nice smoky flavor and was not as mushy as regular pate, which I tend to avoid. Connie and I fought over the last bits and pieces of the crunchy brussel sprouts and crispy bacon pieces. I never understood why brussel sprouts get picked on as the vegetable that children hate, b/c all the versions I've tried are delicious, and Waterloo & City was no exception. The steamed mussels although well-cooked, could have been found at any Thai restaurant probably for cheaper. The gnocchi had a nice chewy consistency, but the beef ragu didn't taste that special. I suppose the gnocchi was only a disappointment b/c the other dishes we tasted that night were superb. We ordered the bourbon donuts to share, and I found them too sweet for my taste. I would probably try a different dessert and pasta on my next visit, but overall, I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Waterloo & City, and would likely take friends here for some beers and small plates to share.

--y


P.S. Only 3 more days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows finale!!

HOT's Kitchen - Hermosa Beach, California

Address: 844 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Items:

• Appetizers: smoked trout salad w/ mustard vinaigrette, roasted brussel sprouts, grilled Korean wings with kimchi, grilled lamb lollipops w/ rosemary, lemon, & garlic
• Entrees: HOT's burger w/ cheddar cheese, onion, avocado, tomato, Mexicali burger w/ oaxaca cheese, roasted poblanos, corn-jalapeno mayo, fried onion rings
• Tacos: hamachi, oxtail, spicy tuna, Mojo chicken, duck confit, steak & potato, fried chicken
• Alcohol: 2008 San Luis Obispo Petite Sirah, 2008 Andiron Farrier Sauvignon Blanc from Alexander Valley, and the Duvel Green from Belgium
  

Victoria and I attended our first ever media event at HOT's Kitchen a few weeks ago, and it was super exciting knowing we'd get to hobnob with other foodies. Having rarely visited Hermosa Beach, we got dressed up with our +1's and headed out for a good time :P. Overall favorite dishes were the smoked trout salad and roasted brussel sprouts; both had a nice smoky flavor and the brussel sprouts were deliciously crunchy while the beets had a nice earthy finish. Additionally, the HOT's burger seasoning was flavorful, and we would definitely order the burger again, yum! As for the tacos, I would skip the hamachi and Mojo chicken for the spicy tuna and ingenious fried chicken tacos instead. Perhaps our favorite part of the meal were the suggested wine and beer pairings as we sampled almost all of them, and left the restaurant fuller and "sillier" than when we first arrived. We had the opportunity to meet Chef Sean Chaney and "Beer Geek" Mike Siordia, to round out our meal. We love finding out the history and concept behind any restaurant (i.e. we watch a lot of Food Network and Travel Channel) so this was a special treat. HOT's Kitchen was a fun place to grab drinks & snacks and made our first foodie event a success! Hopefully we'll get to visit again in the future.

--v & y

Crustacean - Beverly Hills, California

Address: 9646 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Items Ordered:

• Shrimp Toast - freshly minced shrimp on French baguette
• Herb Roasted Halibut - sauteed sweet onions, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and porta bella mushrooms
• Royal Tiger Prawns - charbroiled with An's' famous garlic noodles
• Frutti di Mare - mussels, crawfish, shrimp, and lobster with garlic noodles

Victoria and I debated where to eat for eat.snap.love's 1-year blogerversary for awhile, but once we saw Crustacean's menu, we had our hearts and minds set on eating those buttery garlic noodles. Stepping foot into the restaurant with its upscale decorations and ground-level fish tank, we realized we'd come a long way since our first post at Royal/T in Culver City.

Crustacean lived up to our expectations. The garlic noodles were richly flavored al dente strands with buttery, garlicky goodness and so were the tiger prawns. The herb roasted halibut was tender and perfectly seasoned. If we had any complaints, we suppose the shrimp and mussels in the frutti di mare could have been larger and had a nicer bite similar to the tiger prawns.

On our way out of the restaurant, we saw policemen and secret service attempting to escort a celebrity into the restaurant. Who was this mystery celebrity? Only TMZ will tell ;). Ah, the lives of food bloggers visiting the 90210 area code.

Thanks for joining us to drool over food photos at eat.snap.love this past year! Our goals for next year include:

1. Create a ranking of our all-time favorite cuisines
2. Have guest bloggers
   
3. Try not to go broke!

Happy Belated 1-Year Blogerversary!

--v & y

The Foundry on Melrose - West Hollywood, California

Address: 7465 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046

Items Ordered:

• Foundry tots: fried potato, cheese fondue, violet mustard
  
• Steamed black mussels: harissa broth, chickpeas, spiced yogurt
  
• Grilled cheese: taleggio, raisin bread, apricot-caper puree w/ short ribs
• Roasted hanger steak: creamed spinach, crispy potatoes, brown butter bernaise
• Halibut: spring vegetable, bacon, watermelon radish
• Assortment of breads: "pizza" bread, foccacia, cornbread w/ herb butter spread
  

Looking back, I thought the food at the Foundry was delicious, and even more so cuz it was free (!) since my roomies brought me here for my birthday. The restaurant has been on my list of places to visit for awhile and their grilled cheese with short ribs was featured on the "Simply Irresistible" episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate. However, I think the grilled cheese might have been the least favorite of the night for me since it was too sweet tasting for an entree. The tater tots were soft, crunchy, and delicious, and purple mustard just looks cool. My medium-rare hanger steak was cooked impeccably and the creamed spinach helped cut the saltiness of the bernaise sauce. The mussels were flavorful, but ever since having my favorite mussels ever at The Tasting Kitchen, these mussels didn't seem as fresh :(. Connie wants everyone to know that her favorite part of the meal were the miniature breads that they kept bringing out, especially the cornbread w/ herb butter spread. The tiny breads were super cute and delicious, and I might have to return just to have them again or steal their recipes. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, and while the grilled cheese seems a tad overhyped, the delicious food and service is what will bring me back to The Foundry for another visit.

--y

Tart Restaurant - West Los Angeles, California

Address: 115 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Items Ordered:

• California scramble with egg whites: pico de gallo, chicken andoullie sausage, green chili, cheddar cheese, topped with avocado
• Tomato, spinach, and mushroom egg white scramble
• Biscuit, hash browns
• Vanilla latte
  

I've driven by TART many times and the sign outside is so intriguing that it always catches my eye. On a Sunday around 11:30, the restaurant was not very crowded, and we found parking and seating easily. Justin Walker (Dave Annable) from Brothers and Sisters and his wife sauntered into the restaurant right after us and were seated right in Connie's line of sight. Thus, I had a lot of free time that morning to concentrate on my food since Connie was too busy drooling over the hot actor instead of our food or conversation ;).

The vanilla latte tasted creamy and was a great pick-me up for the morning. I requested the California scramble made into an egg white omelette, and I loved the bounty of ingredients included in the omelette. The hash browns were grease-free and tasted like delicious carbohydrate-y goodness. I managed to refrain from ordering the Chicken 'n Waffles on this visit, but I vowed to return to try that dish at some point in time farther away from swimsuit season... Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere at TART, the fresh ingredients, and unique dishes. Maybe next time I return, I'll also be starstruck by someone I actually recognize.

--y

Porto's Bakery - Downey, California

Address: 8233 Firestone Boulevard, Downey, CA

Items Ordered:

• Meat Pie
• Ropa Vieja Sandwich
• Pork Tamale
• Ham Croquette
• Chicken Croquette
• Potato Ball
• Fresh Mango Juice
  

I’ve been to all 3 locations now – Downey, Glendale and Burbank. They are all DELICIOUS. I usually just eat the savory items because I am not big on dessert. I blame it on the small size and cheap prices, but every time I come here, I can’t seem to control my orders. It gets out of control! My favorite are the Potato Balls – a fried ball with mashed potatoes and ground beef inside. My favorite stuff all in one! This was the first time I ordered a sandwich and I would have to say I enjoyed it a lot. Can never pass up on the Croquettes and Tamales though! Mmmm. I love this place.

--v

The Copper Onion - Salt Lake City, Utah

Address: 111 E Broadway, Ste 170, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Items Ordered:

• Ricotta Dumplings: thyme, lemon
• Mussels: creamy black pepper sauce, toast points
  
• Sauteed mushrooms: fried farm egg, potato sticks, parsley, garlic
  
• The Copper Onion Burger: house-made bun, roasted onions, steak fries
  
• Mimosa

On a recent snow trip to Utah, we stopped by some restaurants we read about online. We decided to stop by the Copper Onion for lunch while on visit to downtown Salt Lake City. I still think about the Sauteed Mushrooms that I had there. I wish I could recreate that perfect mix of ingredients! I mean, egg? Potato sticks? Garlic? It was all my favorite ingredients in one mushroom dish. We wanted to try so many things so we got the entrees and also ordered appetizers to start. All the dishes had a lot of flavor and were made with a great mix of ingredients – very innovative! I enjoyed the burger, mussels and dumplings! Definitely a cute restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City!

--v

Tasty Garden - Alhambra, California

Address: 288 W Valley Blvd, Ste 110, Alhambra, CA 91801

Items Ordered:

• Walnut Shrimp
• French Style Filet Mignon
• Chicken & Mushrooms with Rice in Hot Pot
• Sauteed Fish Fillets
• Deep Fried Tofu with Dried Scallop
• Salt & Pepper Squid
  

Tasty Garden is my go to place for Chinese food in the San Gabriel Valley. One of my favorite Chinese dishes is the Honey Walnut Shrimp, and this is one of my favorite places to get it. The shrimp is crispy and has just enough flavor to go great with rice. My second favorite dish here is the French Style Filet Mignon. It is wonderfully marinated and a perfect level of tenderness. All the other dishes were good and went well together. It is great for a family style dinner. Every time I come here, I want to order everything off the menu, especially because the leftovers are great. Good thing I have SOME sense of self-control.

--v

The Tasting Kitchen - Venice, California

Address: 1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Items Ordered:

• Mussels with saffron and fennel
  
• Clucks 'n frites
  
• Bucatini alla amatriciana (bucatini in spicy marinara)
• Bass, forbidden rice, mandarin beurre blanc

After our first bite of the mussels at Tasting Kitchen, we were madly in love with the restaurant. The mussels possessed a beautiful texture and the buttery toast was addicting soaked in the saffron sauce. The bucatini was our second favorite dish as the marinara sauce was actually spicy and the pork was extremely tender. Too bad we had to share the portion amongst 3 people :(. The roast chicken had a crispy skin and retained its moisture, but the taste was ordinary compared to the other dishes. However, it photographed beautifully and became the poster child for Tasting Kitchen when we were retelling our experience. The bass also had a nice crispy exterior and flaky interior. We highly recommend Tasting Kitchen and would definitely return; hopefully in the very near future.

--v & y

Geisha House - Santa Ana, California

Address: 2773 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705

Items Ordered:

• Spicy tuna on crispy rice
  
• Beef robata
  
• Rock shrimp
• Black cod with miso (not pictured)
  
• Various sushi rolls

I would probably never go to Geisha House if they didn't offer 50% off food and drinks on Monday nights. It's not because I'm cheap, but because the food is way overpriced. With that said, I do enjoy myself whenever I happen to visit Geisha House. The spicy tuna on crispy rice is the highlight of their menu. The spicy tuna is fresh, packs some heat, and the crispy rice provides a nice contrast to the texture of the dish. The miso black cod is also a fantastic dish to try. The stellar seafood quality makes up for the inexperienced wait staff and overpriced drinks. A word to the wise, if you're not an 18 to 21 year old Asian teeny bopper (which I am NOT), I would avoid visiting the club/lounge on Friday and Saturday nights.

--y

Simpang Asia - Culver City, California

Address: 10433 National Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Items Ordered:

• Laksa - mild curry noodle soup served with shrimp, boiled egg, sliced fish cake, and shredded chicken
• Bihun Goreng Special - stir fry rice noodle with chicken, shrimp, beef ball, and veggie
• Lumpia Semarang - Indonesian style egg roll with chicken, dried shrimp, and veggie
• Potato balls

There's this food blog I frequent where tantalizing pictures of curry laksa, nasi rames, and Hainanese chicken rice are displayed once every few posts. I haven't eaten much Indonesian food, but after drooling over those photographs, I decided it was time to take my own Indonesian eating adventure. At Simpang Asia, my curry laksa came in a large bowl overflowing with shrimp and a perfectly hard-boiled egg in a creamy, mild curry soup. The noodles had a nice bite, and I was pleased that my first laksa was a success. Victoria's stir fry noodle dish had a nice smokiness and great flavor, and I couldn't stop eating her food either :P. The appetizers were on special for $2/plate; they were alright, although the potato balls definitely fell short of Porto's version. I enjoyed Simpang Asia, and am on the hunt for more authentic Indonesian restaurants to try if you have suggestions or want to join me on my excursions!

--y

Musha Restaurant - Santa Monica, California

Address: 424 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Items Ordered:

• Tofu French Fries
• Spicy Tuna Dip
• Salmon Sashimi
• Musha’s Risotto
• Pork Belly
• Seared Mackerel
• Takotama
• Saikoro Steak
• Crispy Shrimp
  

Love at first sight. Or should I say love at first bite? I love Japanese tapas and this place was full of everything I love about Japanese Izakayas. We got our own room in the back so it was definitely an all around fun experience. The mackerel was seared at the table with a blow torch and the risotto was stirred right in front of us – how cool is that! I love fries and I love tofu, so tofu in French fry form, nothing could go wrong. The pork belly just melted in my mouth and the fish was fresh and delicious. The crispy shrimp had a perfect amount of breading and crispiness and the mayo sauce on top sealed the deal. Each of the items we had were great and I’m getting really hungry thinking about it. I think I need to make a trip back there soon!

--v

BLD - West Los Angeles, California

Address: 7450 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Items Ordered:

• Eggs Floretine: wilted baby spinach, crispy fingerling potatoes, piquillo pepper hollandaise, english muffin
  
• Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes with Berkshire maple syrup
• Merguez Chicken Sausage
• Trio of housemade pastries

Is brunch a girls-only thing? If so, then BLD is the perfect place for girlfriends to get together and enjoy a nice brunch. The food is artfully prepared and the space is modern and cute. The spinach for the eggs florentine was fresh and the potatoes underneath were indeed crispy and delicious. I ordered the ricotta blueberry pancakes I heard so much about, and they were fluffy and HUGE, although the blueberry flavor didn't really shine. My friend who doesn't eat much meat thought the chicken sausages were tasty and had a hint of spiciness to them. I enjoyed BLD immensely and would definitely go back to sample the L and D (lunch and dinner) as well!

--y

Steingarten LA - West Los Angeles, California

Address: 10543 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (West Los Angeles)

Items Ordered:

• Chicken & Italian Herbs Sausage
• Bratwurst (pork) Sausage (with caramelized onions)
• Duck & Bacon Sausage (with caramelized onions)
• Braised Short Ribs (served with plantains)
• Parmesan French Fries
• Cucumber Salad
• Spicy Shrimp (served with blood orange, mango, cilantro slaw)
• Dogfish Head Aprihop Beer 

I love it when new restaurants open up in my neighborhood! Latest addition to the West LA food family is Steingarten LA. The restaurant concept drew me in, but the coupon postcard we received in the mail sealed the deal! Let's start off with the sausages. My favorite was the duck & bacon sausage - great flavor (more on the bacon side). The Chicken & Italian Herbs and Bratwurst sausages were just as I've always had them. They were good, not great. Since we wanted to try everything on the menu, we also ordered a couple of tapas and sides. The tapas were enjoyable, but next time, I'd stick with the sausages and the sides - just didn't seem to fit in with the restaurant. Lastly, I am a huge fan of fries and I thought the Parmesan French Fries were REALLY good. They were just a perfect level of crispiness, and sprinkled with a good amount of  Parmesan. The sauces were an aioli as well as a tomato sauce. The aoili complemented the fries very well and I even used it to spread on my sliders. Oh, and we can't talk about Steingarten without referencing their extensive beer menu. Great selection of all kinds of mostly German and Belgian beers. I'll definitely be coming back to try some of the more adventurous sausages (alligator, rabbit, etc.) and to try more on their beer menu! ...I think I'll even sneak in an order of the Parmesan Fries with that too! :P

-v

Father's Office - Culver City, California

Address: 3229 Helms Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Items Ordered:

• Office Burger: dry-aged sirloin, caramelized onions, applewood smoked bacon compote, gruyere, Maytag blue cheese and arugula (no substitutions)
• Regular and sweet potato frites with garlic aioli

Do you ever get really excited anticipating your first bite into a juicy, beefy, cheesy, and savory burger? Well, Father's Office burger will not disappoint. All the ingredients meld together to make the perfect burger. The caramelized onions and bacon compote give the burger a smoky, tangy flavor, and even the blue cheese is a necessary ingredient. We always think we're only going to eat half of the burger and take the rest home, but the whole thing is gone before we know it!! The fries are plentiful and crispy, and they have a huge selection of beers. We absolutely LOVE Father's Office, and sometimes just talking about it makes our mouths water. Thus far, Father's Office is our favorite burger in L.A., and we highly recommend you try it!

--v & y

Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ - Long Beach, California

Address: 4828 E 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803

Items Ordered (lunch menu):

• Southern fried dill pickles, 1/2 order
  
• Southern fried chicken with gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, & vegetables
  
• Ribs and hot link with macaroni & cheese

There are many-a-days when I sure do miss Texas friends, family and food, and while I can't materialize the former two, I can continue my search for scrumptious Southern food in California. I always find the plating a little too fancy compared to some of the really home style restaurants in Texas, but nevertheless, Lucille's BBQ was pretty decent. The ribs actually fell off of the bone and had a nice smoky flavor, and my favorite, the fried chicken (which was actually chicken fried steak) had a nice crispy skin and savory seasoning. I prefer fried pickle chips so the appetizer was just okay, and the macaroni and cheese was too dry for my taste. Lucille's is not my favorite BBQ joint on the West Coast, but it suffices for a quick, reminiscent lunch, and I would return for the fried chicken.

--y

Beijing Noodle No. 9 - Las Vegas, Nevada

Address: Inside Caesar's Palace at 3570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Items Ordered:

• Beef noodle soup with hand-pulled noodles (L) & knife cut noodles (R)
• Dry pork noodle
• Wonton noodle soup
  
• Soup dumplings (xiao long bao) and steamed buns

I never expected to find decent Chinese food in a Roman-themed hotel in Las Vegas, but Beijing Noodle No. 9 was a nice surprise. After spotting a sign for hand-pulled noodles inside the casino, we were hooked. The restaurant was actually quite difficult to locate, and after stopping 3-4 times to ask for directions, we finally found this lavishly (but nicely) decorated restaurant near the entrance. Everyone who worked here spoke Chinese and the food/menu was pretty authentic, but we were still the only Asian people inside the restaurant. The favorite was the beef noodle soup with hand-pulled noodles, which were springy and had a nice bite. The steamed buns and dumplings were also delicious. Overall, the restaurant gave us a good semblance of Chinese New Year celebrations to come.

--y

Pizza & Chicken Love Letter - Los Angeles, California

Address: 3377 Wilshire Blvd. #110, Los Angeles, CA 90010

Items Ordered:

• Fried Chicken, with sweet and spicy sauce on the side
• Sweet Potato Chicken Pizza
• Bulgogi Pizza

Interesting pizza toppings, Korean fried chicken...sounds like a great match to me! My favorite pizza was the sweet potato pizza. It was like nothing I ever had on a pizza before, but it definitely worked. The fried chicken was nice and crispy and I liked that we got the sauce on the side to keep it that way. And the restaurant name - cheesy...but oddly appealing. Fried chicken and pizza...what an epic love story. Haha ok I'll stop right there...

--v

Go Burger - Hollywood, California

Address: 6290 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90028

Items Ordered:

• "UltiMELT" the ultimelt patty melt! our burger topped with caramelized onions bacon is sandwich between two slender rye & gruyere grilled cheese sandwiches yes we went there
• Smashed Burgers: griddled hand smashed burger studded with onions and topped with american cheese
• Miso Hungry Burger - Burger of the Day
• Duck Fat Fries
• Fried Dill Pickles
• Spiked Milkshake: The Nut Job frangelico, pistachio ice cream, nutella
• Adult Floats: Keith's Quencher guinness stoul, coffee ice cream

Go Burger is located is located in the heart of Hollywood and was opened for less than one week. From the creators of BLT Burger in Vegas and New York, comes a similar style of burgers and spiked milkshakes. Mmmm! I had the UltiMELT and it did not disappoint. I didn't think I'd like the rye bread, but it was surprisingly very good. I tried the other burgers and they were decent too. Our sides were the duck fat fries (yum!) and the fried dill pickles. I basically hate pickles, but the breading on them was good enough for me to want to eat it on it's own. My drink was the Nut Job and even though I could barely taste the alcohol, was a nice alternative to traditional diner cafe milkshakes. Overall, I enjoyed my experience there!

--v

Mastro's Steakhouse - Beverly Hills, California

Address: 246 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Items Ordered:

• Jumbo Lump Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
• 22 oz. Bone-in Ribeye
• 18 oz. Bone-In Filet
  
• Chilean Sea Bass
• Shoestring potatoes
• Complimentary chocolate cake for birthday girl :)

Took Connie here for a surprise birthday dinner, and surprise! Connie had already been here before :/ (JK, We had a fantabulous time). The crab-stuffed mushrooms were a real treat, and chock full of crab meat. The steaks were humongous, cooked exactly medium and medium rare as requested, and quite well-seasoned, yum! Surprisingly, the Chilean sea bass was tender, buttery, and flavorful as well. Everything was a win. The only drawback were the shoestring potatoes, which didn't really have any flavor, and tasted like crunchy fried sticks (??). We would recommend another type of potato to share if you visit. Nobody ate much of the chocolate cake except YJ who thought it was moist, dense, and deliciously chocolatey. We probably would return if someone was having an event here, but there are so many steakhouses to try in L.A. that it might not be for a long while before we're back at Mastro's.

--v & y

Hot Pot Hot Pot - Monterey Park, California

Address: 120 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754

Items Ordered:

• Half medium spicy, half mild broth
• Veggies: Spinach, soft tofu, enoki mushrooms
• Meats: Beef meatballs, egg dumplings, tripe, meat-stuffed fishballs, beef & lamb slices
  
• Homemade noodles (green) and regular noodles
• Green onion pancake (not pictured)

I love this place! Even though it's never really cold enough in SoCal to justify eating hot pot, the herby, flavorful broth and expansive selection of veggies, fungi, meats, and seafood always draws me back. The must haves for me include: spinach, tofu, meat-stuffed fishballs, and homemade noodles. Also, the green onion pancake here is so flaky and delicious that I always contemplate taking the last piece for myself. I've probably tried 80-90% of the menu and the only disappointments were the fried rice (weird herbs inside) and the scallops (small, tasted frozen). They also have dipping sauces that remind me of eating hot pot on Thanksgiving Day when I was younger. Lastly, the owner/manager seems to be a Bruins fan even though the restaurant is located in USC's hood. Sigh, what's not to love about Hot Pot, Hot Pot?!

--y

Alibi Room - Culver City, California

Address: 12236 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Items Ordered:

• 3 taco combo: corn tortilla, slaw, cilantro, onions, salsa roja with short rib, bbq chicken, and spicy pork (1 each)
• Sliders with cheese, sesame mayo,onions, slaw, salsa roja, and short rib
• Breakfast burrito with hash browns, eggs, cheese, onions, salsa roja, and short rib
• Korean spiced fries with sriracha, ketchup and sesame mayo dipping sauce

I'm a busy lady. When I'm not busy taking naps or sitting around, I'm watching cute animal videos on YouTube. With that said, I don't have time to stalk the Kogi truck whenever I get a craving for Korean or Mexican food. The next best thing is to eat at the Alibi room where other upsides include free parking and good drinks at the bar. The most outstanding dish I tried was the spiced fries, which were deliciously spicy and maintained a crispy texture. Runner-up might be the flavorful bbq chicken taco. Overall, the dishes were repetitive (skip the mushy breakfast burrito) and the slaw too tangy. However, I would re-visit because the bar had a lively atmosphere, and Alibi Room seems like a fun place to have drinks and a snack with friends.

--y

Vacation

Hi everyone (i.e. Connie),

Sorry for the hiatus over the holidays but Victoria and I are back from vacation and ready to start blogging again!

Hope you all had a happy and delicious New Year. Best wishes for 2011!

--v & y