LA/OC Eats and Beyond - Part I

I've been in the OC (and LA) a lot recently and have tried a lot of tasty eats so I thought I'd share with you all the things that have made my stomach happy. And yes, all these pictures were not taken with a camera. I've been slacking in that department. It's all about taste for me anyway.

 

Vitello's Restaurant, Studio City, California

 



 

 

Enjoyed the Lobster Ravioli and the Chicken DaVinci. Both were real treats. Also had the calamari but it was oily and had me a little woozy. A great place to hang with a few friends or go on a date. Heard the pizza is good here so we discussed coming back here for the pizza next time. I'm sure some of their other dishes wouldn't disappoint as well. I left not feeling well so wasn't sure if it was the food or not. Service was absolutely great. Atmosphere was very cool and relaxed. I'd say it deserves 3/5 hearts: © © ©

Paradise Cove, Malibu, CA

Lobster tacos. I'm a lobsta lover. Enough said. Pricy but whatever. Get them. 5 hearts: © © © © ©

 

Kagura Downtown, Littly Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA

 

 

Fresh fish. Affordable for the area. Would definitely make it back there --which you should, in my opinion, stick to a sushi place once you find a good one. Raw food isn't something to play with and get sick! I give Kagura 4/5 hearts: © © © ©

 

Tokyo Delves, North Hollywood, California

  

 

 

 Came here for the first time for a friends Dirty Thirty party. Sushi wasn't that great. Didn't taste fresh to me. And quite pricy. Entertainment was just okay. Tokyo Delves gets 2/5 hearts: © ©


Jae Boo Do, Koreatown, Los Angeles, California

 

Jae Boo Do is known for their Seafood BBQ. Not the typical AYCE Korean BBQ. I enjoyed this very much so, though my lungs did not! And major chest muscle pain but that had nothing to do with the food. There are 4 options to choose from here and we (4 of us) went with Option C, which came with:

Various Korean side dishes, Shrimp, variety of Clams, Green Mussels, Oysters, various Scallops, Abalone, Baby Octopus, Hag fish, Sweet Potato, Potato, and a warm soup to end the meal.

I enjoyed wrapping the Hag fish in the sesame leaf and eating it with a piece of garlic, onion, and ssamjang, a typical Korean eats. Seafood was fresh here. We left feeling really full but not overly stuffed to the point that we couldn't walk. The bill will be cheaper if you pay in cash. Friendly service. I'm already thinking about my next visit. 5/5 hearts: © © © © ©
 
 Miss Coffee, Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA

After all that seafood, we were in the mood for ice cream! In this HUGE measuring cup, we had green tea ice cream, ice, strawberries, sauce, malt, and all sorts of things in this concoction. Great for 4 friends to enjoy. Interesting experience. I'd come with a group. Fairly priced. I give it 4/5 hearts: © © © ©

To be continued!

Best thing I ate on my travels in 2013

Welp we are closer to the end of 2013 and I already posted my favorite recipe of this year. So I thought I'd add the best thing I ate while traveling in 2013. This one was an easy one...I only went to Guatemala this year! I was itching to book plane tickets SO BAD but I ended up getting a Cross Country Coaching job that I did not want to pass up. Probably one of the best things I did for myself this year. Not only am I a better runner now than when I first started 13 years ago, I worked with high school students instead of my little ones and it was an experience I'll never forget.

Definitely had a great group of students to run with and despite working in 'The Valley' (I did find (smell) some pretty authentic restaurants to eat at while running!) and the commuting everyday (I will not miss the drive!!), it was a learning experience that I needed and appreciate the opportunity I was given. I also learned that I need to toughen up a little! :)) I was constantly told that "I'm too nice." If someone yelled at me, I wouldn't want to go run 8 miles!! Maybe that's why I sometimes get taken advantage of but I'm glad the teams respected me and listened to what I had to say. My boss at my other job just told me the same thing. :/ Even when I wore my 'tough cookie' shirt. He didn't by it!

So anyway, that was my reason why I didn't purchase a plane ticket this year but I will be doing that soooooon.... :)

So with all the wonderful meals I ate in Guatemala, this was the best thing I ate while traveling in the year 2013:

Marshmallows roasting over an open and active volcanoooo! ;)

 

Just kidding...that was one of my favorite things to do in Guatemala. I AM A SUCKER FOR MARSHMALLOWS! EVERYONE KNOWS THAT!!

 

Ok the best thing I ate was...

 

 

Pollo Asado con tortillas, tomate, y cebolla!

 

It was simple, filling, made with love, and enjoyable to eat while chit chatting it up with the locals around the asado. It was actually the first meal I could eat and felt normal again after my sleep deprivation experience ...that won't happen again! It felt so good to eat this comforting meal. I almost went for seconds but ate at the asado right next to this one..to be fair! :) I also enjoyed the rellenitos! I didn't get a chance to love up on the Guatemalan tamales and chile rellenos but my best friend is Guatemalan and her mom makes the best! And I love the Guatemalan restaurant Guatemaltecos to get my fix when I need it.

 

So there you have it! The best thing I ate while traveling in 2013. Until next year.... :)

 

Moroccan Lamb Stew

We are slowly coming to the end of 2013 and I decided to look back and post the recipe of the BEST thing I ever made, cooked, and ate this year! And it didn't take me long to think about it. I've had some pretty good meals but one dish has stood out to me and now I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! It's my Moroccan Lamb Stew. And oh my word you need to have this in your life!

The flavor has so much depth to it. Richness yet it is so simple. If this is the best thing I've had this year, I can only imagine what it is like in Morocco everyday! I HAVE TO GO THERE SOMEDAY SOON! Truly I will forever speak highly of this meal and I could definitely eat this every day and not get bored. Or at least finish the whole pot by myself! The only downside to this recipe: It takes too long and the smells coming from the kitchen will have you in a trance! You just want to eat it already! So this definitely takes some patience on your part. :-)

Look at that vibrant color! It's enticing you but don't jump fast! Cooking it low and slow for a couple hours will all be worth it in the end, I promise. Don't make this on an empty stomach!

The stew is served with couscous and it is 100% perfect together. You can just buy a box of the couscous and follow the package directions and it'll be just fine. I added a side note to turn it into a dessert below the recipe. Try this stew. You will definitely not be disappointed. Trust me on this. Without further adieu, here is the recipe for the Best thing I ever ate in 2013:

Moroccan Lamb Stew

Ingredients:

3 lbs Lamb shoulder meat, cut into 1-1 1/2 in. cubes or lamb off the bone (leave some fat on)

1 Yellow onion, chopped

4-5 cloves of Garlic, finely minced

1 Red bell pepper, chopped

1 fresh Pasilla chile pepper, remove the seeds and chop or 2 tsp Pasilla chile powder

1 Tbsp Smoky Paprika (or regular Paprika)

1 tsp Cumin

1/4 tsp Cardamom

1/2 tsp Thyme

1 Bay leaf

2 cups of Chicken Stock

14 oz can of Whole Tomatoes, pureed, or 14 oz of fresh Tomato Sauce

1 can of Garbanzo beans (chick peas), drained

Salt and Pepper, to taste

2-3 Tbsp Olive Oil

Couscous, for serving

1. Pat the lamb pieces dry. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the lamb and brown the sides (about 7-8 mins). This will be done a few times so the pot is not crowded. Transfer each batch to a plate after browned.

2. Add the onions, red bell pepper, and pasilla chile (if using fresh) to the pot. Cook for about 5 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute or two. Stir in the paprika, cumin, cardamom, thyme, and add the bay leaf. Cook for a couple minutes.

3. Next add the tomatoes, chicken stock, and lamb pieces into the pot. Raise the heat to high and cook until the mixture boils. Lower the heat and let simmer with the pot not fully covered for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the lamb pieces are tender. 

4. About 20-30 minutes before the stew is done (estimate), mix in the chick peas. When ready, season with salt and pepper and serve over cooked couscous. The combination of stew and couscous is perfection.

5. Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy.

*Side note: Getting off topic here. :-) I grew up eating couscous as a dessert and you should try it too! Follow the package directions but cook the couscous in milk, with a pinch of salt, and a couple tbsps of sugar. Serve warm with either powdered sugar on top or very fine coconut flakes! YUM! 

Let me know what you think!

A new BBQ sauce

I have a huge love for BBQ and enjoy it with my usual BBQ sauces but lately I've been looking for something different outside of the norm. Although there are tons and tons of BBQ sauces out there and while they all have their own unique spins, they pretty much are all the same. You rarely see a different BBQ sauce being explored, both in restaurants and on the famous 'Food Network'. I want something different! A new change in my eats. More culture. More creativity in the works---from myself and from others. 

So one day....

I think I found my 'it' sauce. Or I know I found my 'it' sauce. How do I know I found it? Because I crave* it all the time now and that's enough to solve this new sauce dilemma! Or at least start my search for more.

*Growing up, my mom used to crack jokes all the time about my cravings and how they = to pregnant women cravings! Ugh! I can't help it! And that is one of the main reasons why I run, ;) besides the fact I actually do love running!

I got this recipe from an Egyptian friend. -I added a couple things to the mix to make it my own without changing its simplicity- At first, I didn't want to try it---WHAT?! The reason for this is because I asked what was in it and the main flavor you get from this sauce is---tahini. And to be honest, I wasn't too fond of it at the time. It's not a bad thing but in my opinion, too much of it is....too much. It's a strong flavor when used to the supreme. I know it's in one of my favorites--hummus, but I prefer it when it's used lightly. Now, things have changed and I appreciate it more. I've enjoyed experimenting with it now in both savory and sweet dishes.

So of course I tried it anyway and it was love from there. You get the hint of tahini but it really isn't overpowering at all. And it goes great with chicken. It's definitely not your typical 'BBQ Sauce' but I strongly urge you all to give it a go. Just once! Then tell me if you agree or disagree. I added the cayenne and garlic for that little hint of spice and I love love garlic so of course it made the cut. Sometimes I add the vinegar and sometimes I don't. Either way it's still a palate pleasing sauce.

Tahini BBQ Sauce Recipe:

1/3-1/2 cup Tahini
2 cups Plain Yogurt
1 Tbsp Vinegar, optional
Juice of 1/2-1 Lemon
Salt, to taste
1-2 tsp Paprika
1/4-1/2 tsp Cayenne
2 cloves of Crushed Garlic or 2 tsp Granulated Garlic Powder
Water, small amount just to achieve liquid consistency
Chopped Parsley

*Note: May need to experiment to your liking and double/triple/leave as is depending on the number of people enjoying this. Nothing is measured exactly when I make this. Some changes may or may not need to be made, depending on your liking.

1) Combine all ingredients and either use as a dip or pour over your meat of choice*.

*I've only had this with chicken. I haven't experimented yet with other meats.

It's time to appreciate the ingredients we have been given in each and every culture in this world.

Will you try this new BBQ sauce recipe?

Happy 4th!

To celebrate the fourth, I'm making my Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Burgers. Mainly because I'm running everyday now for my current job and I have been CRAVING a good burger bad for days now. And normally, when it comes to my cravings, I have to give in because it just doesn't go away! And I would never deprive myself of eating good comfort food. :)

Once in a while, I'm all about simple and don't feel the need to add odd ingredients to everything I make, according to my friends. The faster it's put together, the quicker I get to eat!  It's only FOUR ingredients. No salt added and no salt needed. Satisfies the craving of a burger, who doesn't love bacon and blue cheese together, and my love of garlic. All put together to make an all around filling and craving-satisfied meal.

All you need is:

1 lb of ground beef (or chicken, lamb, your preference)
Garlic powder/Granulated Garlic
1/2 cup blue cheese
4 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Combine cheese and bacon; set aside. Mix the meat and garlic together. Split meat into four sections and shape into rounds. Hollow out each ball and stuff in the cheese-bacon mixture. Close off and flatten with the palms of your hands. Heat skillet or get the grill going and cook burgers for 3-5 minutes on each side. Serve with avocado and keep it simple or add any of your favorite toppings on a hamburger bun.

My mouth is watering now.

Restaurant Crawl

While waiting for my camera charger to return so I can post all the goodness I ate in Guatemala, here are some delights to enjoy on the Venice Beach Boardwalk and surrounding area of Venice, California. Forewarning: Pictures were not taken with a camera!

Hawaiian Style (no rice) Ahi Poke at Poke Poke

Fresh tuna right next to the ocean. Poke Poke may not be that fancy shmancy seafood restaurant most people prefer but don't judge a book by its cover. I love this gem on the boardwalk. Grab your cup of ahi poke with any ingredient that you want, sit back, relax, and people watch. I ordered the small ahi tuna poke with the additions of seaweed and masago.

And I give it four hearts: <3<3<3<3. The flavor was explosive, the vibrant colors in my bowl were visually appealing, and the perfect amount. Just not five hearts because I felt the fish could have/should have been a little more fresh. I'm guessing it tastes better the earlier you go but still it was fine. If it had not been fresh, of course that's another story. Since you are going raw, it better be held to high standards.

Next, We wanted shrimp tacos but sadly the boardwalk front kitchen was closed. Can't tell you the name of it but look for a taco place with a counter near muscle beach gym and you'll see what I'm talking about. And you'll love it too.

Which led me to remember my favorite burger place on the boardwalk. It had been an awfully long time since I had been there so decided to go and show that place some love. It's a long walk down the boardwalk but well worth it. It's a little bit after that whole creepy 'freak show' building. You have to look in every small alley until you find it. Eventually you'll come to one that has a few shops but at the end, you'll see a Chinese massage place and a burger place. The cafe you've been looking for -- Sean's Cafe.

Yes, Sean's Cafe. That's where you'll find the best burger on the boardwalk. Hands down. And well worth the wait. Because yes, it does take a while to get your meal but good things come to those with patience. The best part of this burger: Simple and fresh. It tastes the same every time. Haven't felt a downgrade with quality in the burger there ever. It consists of beef, mixed greens, and whatever else you want on it. I keep mine simple, with just ketchup and mustard. And the fries that go with them. Mmmmmm. Enough said. Get yours.

I don't really eat much on the boardwalk but I'd say the best place to get a greasy and huge slice of pizza would be at Big Daddy's. Pizza is great there but wasn't planning on ordering it. I got sucked in to the chocolate covered banana. Oh the chocolate covered banana! Always gets my thoughts going in the brain (I'm not the only one!) AND satisfies my frozen treat cravings. It was just okay for me. I prefer 45-70% (semi to dark) chocolate for anything I eat. And they use milk chocolate here. You'll like it if that's the chocolate you crave.

And lastly, we were going to split a burger on a pretzel bun at Three Square Cafe on Abbot Kinney but we were done, so we went next door to grab a pretzel at the adjoining cafe. Just needed that salt to counteract the sweetness of the milk chocolate banana.

It's a good day when you can relax on the beach for half the day, order different things at different places, split with friends, and be able to walk, not drive, on your restaurant crawl.

There are plenty of options to choose from that I've been to, but not mentioned above, when your at Venice beach. And pretty affordable too.

Egypt

Egypt. The country that won me over. I headed to Egypt with the excitement of seeing the pyramids, the Sphinx, the Nile, the bazaar, the history, the desert, Cairo, the amazing city of Alexandria, Mediterranean Sea, the crazy drivers, street food, food, the people, night life activities to stay away from the heat, and not being able to speak the whole time there!

I loved Egypt. So lively and always full of energy. Once you get past all the security measures you have to go through to get anywhere in Egypt, the vibe is just different than most countries. Places to go. People to see. Food to eat. Everyone is pretty much out at night and not much action during the day to avoid the heat when possible. In the city of Alexandria, you're right on the Mediterranean so the temperature wasn't too bad. I think it was hotter here in California at the time than it was there. Cairo, a whole different story. Hot hot hot! High humidity. Amazon status minus not messing up my hair as much!

I am so glad I made it there over the summer. I highly recommend it. I know it may not be so 'American friendly' now, but if you can go with someone who speaks Arabic ~me, not so well, if that, that would be the best or you're kind of stuck doing more tourist-directed activities, which still isn't even bad in Egypt because it is just plain worth it. It's a bonus to know someone because you can really get a feel of the culture and step into their norm.

Egypt really surprised me and completely changed my outlook on it through my previous unsure thoughts. It's just like going anywhere else in this world. Same old cat calls if you're light-haired, color-eyed like myself. Bargaining for everything. Friendly and hardworking everyday people. Expert drivers. People who love to go out at night and have a good time. Despite everything going on now, they really are happy people just trying to live a wonderful life like everyone else.

For now, I'm going to get into the Egyptian food I ate there. Honestly, I wasn't sure what I would think of the food. More curious about the spices they use there and how strong they are but I'm always openminded. I try almost everything at least once. My thoughts on the food... Way better than I had originally thought. I was happy with everything. I wanted to try it all. My eyes, my heart, and my stomach were eating everything in site! I really wasn't there long enough. I have to go back.


Homestyle Meals

LOOK at that shrimp!

Got to try a Saudi Arabian dish too. Pretty tasty!

Fruits and Veggies

Street CORN! Love love love.

Prickly pear/Cactus fruit - So sweet and so needed on the hot days in Egypt. I peel them now just like the guys over there!

Watermelon everywhere

I did not partake in this, mainly because I didn't know what it was but they are all over the place. Drinks in different colors.

Street food and Munchies

Nuts and beans

You will find these color coordinated boxes filled with chips all over the place

Street meat and sides

Must have condiments

Foul mudammas

Falafel! Really fluffy and made to perfection.

Corn dogs

KFC delivers. Yup, in Egypt. They also have delivery McD's bikers all over the place.

Desserts

Zalabiah with a white chocolate sauce. LOVE Zalabiah. And I'll definitely take it with white chocolate over the usual simple syrup or honey that's normally served.

Baklava and other delights

Not pictured..

• Zalabiah food carts all over the place being served with honey and/or simple syrup

• Baklava food carts around, as well

Restaurants and Drinks

Shwarma - Time for a refill!

Beef and Lamb Shwarma

Falafel, Hummus, Tabbouleh, Cucumbers, Condiment, and Pita Bread. Last meal. I preferred the previous falafel sandwich over this one.

Soda! Only when I travel I crave soda. I would love to be without this craving!

Mint tea. A must when you are in Egypt.
Okay, now I'm really hungry!

Pinterest Recipe Testing

Instead of the usual work potluck, someone at work thought it would be fun to test recipes that people pin on Pinterest and see if they are any good and actually 'pin-worthy'. Great idea except I never follow recipes and had to this time. So I ended up testing out the recipe, "Nutella Brownies". This was the first time I tried Nutella. I think I'd be fine with only eating Nutella this way!

Here's the link to the recipe. Copy and Paste:

http://m.instructables.com/id/Nutella-Brownies-Three-Ingredients/

The result?
They were really good. Simply devine. Chocolate craving satisfied. Moist yet more cake-like. Stomach pleasing. Mood enhancer. One of my favorite combinations: hazelnut and chocolate. Seriously, what girl doesn't love (semi-sweet (35%) to dark (70%)) chocolate? Enough said.

I actually don't feel the need to adjust the recipe too much. I don't want to change the flavor and easiness of the brownies but I would probably add a teaspoon of vanilla to the batter and maybe take out a tablespoon or two of the flour for more moist brownies.

Would have liked more times given for different brownie methods instead of having to estimate the times. I gave the brownies about 15-17 minutes in the oven. That may be adjusted again if, or I mean, when I make them again. I personally would like to rewrite the directions too. I don't just throw things in a bowl and mash things up. You have to love what you are doing in the kitchen.

'Pin-worthy'?

Yes, but with some adjustments!

Happy Thanksgiving! One of my favorite days of the year. :) Gotta love all the food and always be thankful for what you have and who you have in your life. Appreciate life each and every day.