Thanksgiving 2013 - Houston, Texas

Happy Non-Turkey Day everyone!! I get to spend time in Texas with my family, and we're having a Chinese feast with some of my favorite home-cooked dishes. I'm thankful for all this delicious food, my family, friends, health, and happiness. I hope everyone is feeling thankful and most importantly, stuffed like a turkey today and every day!

--y

School Food Blooming Roll - Los Angeles, California

Address: 621 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Items Ordered:

• Squid ink kimbap with teriyaki squid
• Special Roll III: anchovies, teriyaki beef, radish
• Mandu (dumplings) spicy ramen
• Spicy rice cakes with ramen (tobokki on the menu)

Visiting Koreatown in Los Angeles is very reminiscent of walking the streets of Korea--the only difference, you probably shouldn't literally walk the streets cuz you'll get mugged...Other than that, whenever I have a craving for spicy dishes, kbbq, soju, noraebang and then hangover soup after too much soju, I visit K-town for my fix. School Food, a chain restaurant in Seoul, transported to Ktown in L.A. back in 2010, and it usually has a line out the door. Obviously, the prices are inflated, but the tobokki (spicy rice cakes) are indeed quite spicy, and taste just like they would on the streets of Seoul. The kimbap (rice rolls) don't taste particularly spectacular, but the fact that they are shareable and offered in so many varieties makes this restaurant a fun place to visit. To fend off boredom while you wait for your food, there are entertaining KPop videos displayed on the wall that my boyfriend probably has TOO much fun watching. I'd revisit School Food; it's a fun place to catch up with friends over shared dishes.

--y

Extraordinary Desserts - San Diego, California

Address: 1430 Union St, San Diego, CA 92101

Items Ordered:

• Apple pie (I think?!)
• Chocolate sundae

I'm gonna go ahead and stereotype myself and say, I'm a girl, and I love desserts! I spent so long gazing at the rows of beautifully displayed desserts at Extraordinary Desserts until finally settling on a beautiful apple pie. I remember it being tasty, but not the best dessert I've ever had--probably could've used the addition of ice cream. Doesn't really matter though because it looked so pretty!! I would return to Extraordinary Desserts, especially with girlfriends, since with the plethora of amazing desserts to look at and try, I'm sure I'll eventually fall in love with one of them. I would love to return soon to see if they have themed desserts for Halloween and Christmas!

--y

Sasaya - West Los Angeles, California

Address: 11613 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Items Ordered:

• Agedashi mochi
• Skewers: chicken meatball (tsukune), asparagus wrapped pork (buta maki), ribeye
• Salted grilled mackerel (saba shioyaki)
• Tuna sashimi and spicy tuna over rice (maguro don)
• Not pictured: snow crab porridge (kani ojiya), fried eggplant & ground chicken (nasu soboro), simmered pork and egg in a sweet soy sauce (kurobuta kakuni), cheesecake

I love everything here at this neighborhood izakaya. There are so many interesting dishes,and everything is flavorful and unique. Of the dishes I've tried so far, I highly recommend the nasu soboro (you can also order it over rice), the fatty and delicious kurobuta kakuni, and the maguro don since it's a large portion of rice that you can use to eat with the other dishes. I wonder how many trips it might take for me to try the entire menu--I'm sure I'd leave each visit with a satisfied belly. This is a great place to bring friends who enjoy good food, but just be aware the restaurant is super small, but they take reservations. If you visit, let me know what are some other must try dishes!

--y

Hawaii (Oahu) Eats - Honolulu, Hawaii

Locations:

• Ted's Bakery - chocolate haupia cream pie
• Tiki's Grill and Bar - loco moco
• Ono Seafood - spicy ahi and tako (octopus) poke
• Iyasume Musubi - spam musubi, etc
• Chef's Luau - traditional Hawaiian foods (poi, lomi lomi, roast pig, etc)
• Giovanni's Shrimp Truck - garlic shrimp with rice
• Bubbies - mochi ice cream
• Leonard's Bakery - masaladas
• Not pictured: mai tais and pina coladas galore; Matsumoto's shaved ice, clear blue waters

Oh Hawaii, how I miss your clear waters, giant turtles, and delectable dishes lacking any greenery. I wish I was back in Oahu still, but I guess these food pictures will have to suffice. If you haven't been to any of the places above, then I definitely recommend Ono Seafood's house specialty tako poke, and Giovanni's garlic shrimp--bring cash so you can get 2 plates of the buttery, garlicky shrimp. If you're staying in the touristy part near Waikiki Beach--like I did, cuz I'm a tourist--then, go off the beaten path to a little alleyway for Iyasume Musubi; you won't be disappointed! You can get delicious spam musubis for an amazing price. I can't wait to go back to Hawaii for all the great seafood, sweets, frozen drinks, and beautiful beaches! Next time though I'll be posting my eating adventures from Maui.

--y

Umamicatessen - Los Angeles, California

Address: 852 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Items Ordered:

• Truffle beet salad - ricotta, smoked almonds, baby arugula, truffle dressing
• Quinoa salad - chickpeas, bell pepper, tomato, cukes, citrus vinaigrette
• Crispy pig's ears - with parsley, lime, brainase
• PIGG style fries - pickled peppers, ham puree, brainase
• Truffle burger - house made truffle cheese, truffle glaze
• Pastrami reuben - kraut, swiss cheese, house spread
• Meyer lemon curd donut - yogurt glaze, freeze-dried blueberries
• Bread pudding - whiskey, dried fruit, zested orange cream cheese
• Honeycomb ice cream

I've been on a winning streak with the restaurants I've tried recently. Umamicatessen was delicious; I enjoyed every dish and drink we tried, but there are a few must orders. 1) Pastrami reuben - seriously, the most tender and flavorful pastrami I've EVER tasted. If I could eat this for lunch everyday, my life would be complete 2) Bread pudding - so good..I can't even describe it to you. Order this dessert!! 3) Honeycomb ice cream - very inventive, not too sweet...does it come in anything larger than a pint?! The 100% lard fried pig ears and fries are also amazing. Umamicatessen has way more options than any of the Umami Burger locations, but they still make a scrumptious truffle burger. As I'm writing this, I'm imagining myself getting my hands on the amazing pastrami reuben again. Don't delay; bring some friends and come to Umamicatessen for a delicious indulgence asap!!

--y

Drago Centro - Los Angeles, California

Address: 525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Items Ordered (DineLA menu):

• tagliolini pasta, seafood ragout, spicy marinara
• buffalo mozarella, tomatoes, basil, balsamic crumble
• diver scallops, garlic risotto cake, watercress, zabayon
• sausage stuffed quail, shaved fennel, garlic aioli
• vanilla panna cotta, black mission figs, rosemary puff pastry
• chocolate and olive oil terrine, salted caramel gelato, almonds

I was unbelievably excited to finally try Drago Centro during DineLA last week. Last minute reservations on a Saturday night were easy to come by, the valet parking was free, and the restaurant decor was absolutely gorgeous. So many things going right for Drago already! The wine pairing during DineLA was $22 for all 3 courses, but they also have reasonably priced carafes of which I selected a lone Sangiovese. Probably my favorite dish of the evening was the seafood pasta. Seasoning was spot on, shrimps were bursty, and the calamari had a nice bite. Just from this pasta starter, I can tell their pasta dishes are probably the stars of the menu. The plating of the buffalo mozarella was so artistic, and I loved running the mozza/basil/tomato combo through the balsamic dots. As for the mains, the scallops were huge and plump, and the garlic risotto cake while deep fried managed to taste light and buttery at the same time. I did enjoy my crispy skinned quail, but stuffed with sausage, it was just a little too heavy for my tastebuds. It wasn't a badly executed dish, but having shared 3 plates of food by this time, my friend and I were already too stuffed to stuff ourselves with any sausage-stuffed quail. Miraculously though, my friend and I managed to find a 3rd stomach for dessert, and we were not disappointed. I wish I had a better picture of the panna cotta, because it was also beautifully plated. It's probably the best version of this dessert I've ever had. The rosemary crisps played really well against the sweet panna cotta. Unfortunately, the chocolate and olive oil terrine was a little mushy, and the salted caramel gelato had melted by the time the plate was delivered. I will let that slide though b/c it was DineLA weekend, and while our server was extremely busy, he still managed to be courteous the whole meal. I really loved the whole dining experience at Drago Centro, and I will surely return for a nice lunch, dinner, hot date, birthday, Wednesday, you name it.

--y

Mo-Chica - Los Angeles, California

Address: 514 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Items Ordered:

• Watermelon margarita - jalapeno infused espolon blanco, watermelon, lime juice, agave nectar
• Pan con Tuna - grilled bread, spicy tuna, cucumber jalapeno relish, yuzu mayo
• Anticucho de Pulpo -  grilled octopus, roasted potatoes, jalapeno sauce 
• Chicharron de Pollo - marinated crispy chicken, rocoto aioli
• Picarones - sweet potato & kabocha (squash) donuts

Who doesn't love the great food and drink options in downtown L.A.? I wish I could go there more often. After visiting San Antonio Winery for free tastings & hitting up Seven Grand's great happy hour whiskey cocktails, I walked across the street to find Mo-Chica with an open table for 2 to help me soak up the libations. Things were really going my way. To continue my drinking trend, I started with a watermelon margarita. It was great, not too sweet or sour or strong--just a nice refreshing drink. We weren't that hungry, and the small plates actually filled us up for the rest of the night. I loved every dish. The tuna was fresh tasting, moderately spicy, and I liked the squishy bread and mayo that it was served with. The grilled octopus had a nice smoky flavor, and was probably my favorite of the evening. The fried chicken tasted just like it's counterpart at Picca, and the meat was still juicy and steaming hot on the inside. The picarones had a nice texture, kind of like eating mochi, except that they tasted a little burnt--although they looked great when the dish arrived. I would definitely return to Mo-Chica, especially when the wait at Bottega Louie is bordering on ridiculous, and I need to combat my low blood sugar or alcohol addiction asap. I hope to make a return visit sooner than later!

--y

Manhattan Beach Post - Manhattan Beach, California

Address:1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Items Ordered:

• Bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits with maple butter
• Sticky buns with pecan and brown sugar
• French toast stuffed with in house ricotta, brooks cherries, marcona almonds
• Truffle honey laced fried chicken with kholrabi slaw

I don't know how long MB Post has been open, but it's basically been on my to-eat list ever since the first day it opened its doors. I love carbohydrates, and the thought of delicious biscuits really piqued my interest. The bacon cheddar biscuits really did not disappoint. If you've ever thought the cheddar biscuits at Red Lobster were good, then multiply that by 10,000 times, and you'll have MB Post's deliciously soft, buttery and savory biscuits with creamy maple butter. My second favorite dish was the ooey gooey sticky bun that while sweet was not overpowering and had a nice contrast with the crunchy pecans. I liked the French toast too, but I think we ordered too many sweet dishes, and if possible, there might have been too much ricotta stuffed in there. The fried chicken was crispy outside and contained juicy white meat inside, but something about the truffle and honey flavors just didn't work that well for me. Next time, I would try the steak and eggs or the poached eggs with polenta as my savory dish instead. All the dishes and restaurant decor were artfully presented, and if you love brunch, then I highly recommend you give MB Post a try---I'm sure I'll be making a return visit!

--y

Bice Ristorante - San Diego, California

Address: 425 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Items Ordered (pre-fixe menu):

• Endive, arugula & radicchio w/ pine nuts & shaved parmesan in a lemon dressing
• Chicken scaloppini in dry vermouth & caper sauce with mashed potatoes
• Salmon scaloppini in white wine sauce over creamy barley risotto
• Tiramisu
• Espresso panna cotta w/ salted caramel sauce

The pictures of the nicely presented dishes above look kind of nice right? Well, that may be the only positive  thing I have to say about the food we were served at Bice. Firstly, I asked for my salad dressing on the side, and turns out the dressing is just pure lemon and nothing else! After squeezing just a tad on my salad, it was already way too tangy, and made me think the entire salad was not very imaginative. Just vegetables w/ some parmesan shavings and squeeze of lemon? An 8-year old might be able to make this dish. Secondly, the chicken scaloppini was definitely oversalted, while the mashed potatoes were extremely bland. Maybe, the chef thought the extremes in seasoning would balance each other out? Unfortunately, the salmon scaloppini did not fare much better--the fish was flavorless and overcooked, and the barley risotto was a watery mess. Not at all like the creamy, rich risottos of my dreams. The only thing, I kind of enjoyed was my tiramisu, but it probably was not made in-house, so I can't give any credit to the chef there =/. I don't think I've ever had a worse meal AND at $75/person for the prix fixe options, the whole experience was severely overpriced. I would never go back to Bice and hope you don't have to suffer through the same dining experience.

--y