Tummy Diaries

Black Hogg

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:59:00 -0700

After a few grueling runs around the Silverlake Reservoir, my friends and I headed off to Sunset Blvd to celebrate with some much needed carbs. Our stop? The highly touted gastropub, Black Hogg.We were given the option to wait a few minutes for a table to open or a spot immediately at the bar. I’m fat, hungry and just ran.. bar please.Ample seating? I think not!You know an amazing meal is about to take place when you start with oysters. More specifically East Beach Blonde Oysters with a Spicy Pickle Juice Mignonette and House Cocktail Sauce. The oysters were light and briny, yet surprisingly sweet. The mignonette cut the flavors perfectly. Here we have Black Hogg’s infamous Popcorn Bacon. They are fried Bite-Sized House Bacon Morsels with a Maple Crema. Slap me please, I must be in heaven. There’s nothing more perfect than deep frying cubes of bacon. Oh wait! There is! Serving those same Deep Fried Cubes of Bacon WITH a Maple Crema sauce. Continuing on this cholesterol skyrocketing tour, a pair of Uni Toast - Santa Barbara Uni, Plugra Butter, Scallions and Maldon Salt. Sweet, sweet Uni.. you are the love of my life. This is the way toast should be served around the world. Not that over buttered soggy mess you find in our discount breakfast, but lined with luxuriously rich strips of sea urchin gonads. Did I just really say gonads in a food blog?If you’ve followed me in the past, you know my love for these beautiful Fire-Blistered Shishito Peppers with a Housemade Togarashi. Light bulb! I should start making these at home..I now understand why the restaurant is called Black Hogg. The dimly lit restaurant makes you gorge like a pig… on dishes with pig! Who can say no to Pork Belly Tacos? Ok.. vegetarians, vegans, Jews, Muslims.. put your hands down. You’re already missing out. But these bad boys are made with House Cured Roast Salmon Creek Farms Pork Belly with House-Made Tortillas, Apple Slaw and Jalapeño Relish. Whew! That’s a mouthful.. of delicious pork belly I mean.After the amazing Chicken Liver Toasts at Animal, I felt compelled to order it at Black Hogg. You’re served Sauteed Chicken Livers, Caramelized Serranos, with a piece of Chicken Skin Cracklin. Want my advice? Don’t order it. The flavors just don’t come together and the dish is definitely out of sync. Why hello there beautiful.. what’s yo name? Bacon ‘Chi Burger? Nice to meet you. Your kimchi is showing…Woah! Not on the first date! But let me take a look.. is that CAB Natural Beef, House-made Kimchi, House Bacon, Jalapeño, Ssamjang Mayo, and Fries? Honestly though, burger aficionados.. this is it. An amazing novelty burger packed with huge flavors. How ironic, the Jack in the Box “Hot Mess Burger” just came on. But we all know who the real hot mess is..Let’s finish dinner with a dessert. Five Milks Bread Budding made with Brioche, Brown Butter, Apples, and Toasted Pecans. The flavors are nostalgically familiar, but it’s not the prettiest of dishes. It looks like what would be produced if an Oompa Loompa had a case of the runs. And yes, I’m saying it looks like sugary poop.

Black Hogg Scores:
Food: 9/10 - Not quite perfect, but pretty damn close. Creative dishes and powerful flavors.

Restaurant Environment: 7.5/10 - Spaces are cramped and I’m not sure about the Ikea minimalist furniture. But a clean eating space is a happy eating space.

Service: 8/10 - You better get somewhat decent service sitting up at the bar..

Value: 8/10 - Apps were all a shade under $10, and the burger was $17. Not too shabby.

Overall: 8.5/10

Tokyo: Sushi Dai

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:01:00 -0800

After watching Jiro Dreams of Sushi, I made it an item on my bucket list. But due to the ridiculous barriers of entry, I amended that goal to just “Have life-changing sushi in Japan.” And you know what? It happened.. at Sushi Dai (寿司大).Sushi Dai is located in Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Market and is often regarded as the best sushi spot inside. My friend’s and I got to the market bright and early (like 5:00AM early..). We waited roughly 1.5 hours in the freezing cold. Lucky for us, the nice lady of Sushi Dai brought us warm matcha green tea as she gave us our options. Either the cheaper (¥2,500) or more expensive option (¥3,900). We went with the ¥3,900 omakase (~$42) which includes 10 pieces of nigiri sushi + 1 bonus piece of whatever you want.The restaurant only seats around 12-15 people and is armed with 3 sushi chefs. The a la carte menu which you’ll select your bonus piece from. Next time, I may just do a la carte.Tuna Everywhere!!You’ll enter and get seated in a cramped spot with a small counter space to eat.Ready for the ride..Oh-Toro (Fatty Tuna) - This sushi breakfast started with a bang! Only the best! Fresh, Clean, Sweet, Buttery Soft Tuna… Just look at that marbling!Tamago (Egg Omelette) - A complimentary starter. The egg was delicate and sweet and perfectly constructed. It’s difficult to find a restaurant in the states that puts in the effort for such a basic dish. I now understand why it took Daisuke years to learn the Tamagoyaki at Jiro.Miso Soup - Holy Moly! Best Miso Soup of my life!!! Forget all of the prepackaged powdery crap you get and your local roll sushi joint. The miso soup at Sushi Dai is created with an amazing seafood broth. You also get bonus chunks of fish that has been slowly marrying with the soup. And it’s complimentary!? I’m packing my bags as we speak..My hero.. <3Suzuki (Sea Bass) - Usually sea bass is served seared/cooked in the states. But the raw version has a soft and delicate flavor. This piece actually perfectly demonstrated the amazing execution of the sushi rice and its wonderful flavor.Tai (Snapper) - I’m usually not a huge fan of snapper because of it’s usual fishy taste and tougher texture. But boy, did Sushi Dai change everything. The snapper had a beautiful ruby sheen and was surprisingly tender in texture. Uni (Sea Urchin Roe) - At this point of the meal, I was having a total sushi-gasm. And when the piece of Uni was placed in front of me, I almost died smiling. The Uni at Sushi Dai has a more East Coast, darker orange hue when compared to the golden West Coast version. I picked up my chop sticks, grabbed the sushi, closed my eyes, tasted the sweetness, and before I knew it.. the feeling was gone. But I knew what I had just experienced was pure euphoria. Carefully constructing our next pieces.My my my… what do we have here?Maguro (Lean Tuna) - A ruby gem. None of that fake dyed crap we have here in the states. What’s another synonym for clean and amazing?

Akagai (Red Clam) - Video Journey! I think the reaction from most people would be.. WTF! That shit’s still moving!! How do you eat it? My answer? Easily… just pop it in my mouth and chew that sucker to death. The clam had a subtle flavor and because it was still alive, it had a toothsome texture. Who said eating can’t be fun?Pose for me baby…I was trying my hardest not to reach over and steal myself a piece.Aji (Horse Mackerel) - You beautiful piece of Aji! Served with your friends Scallions and Ginger. You have an early morning date with my mouth. Baby Shrimp - Our chef was excited to present this to piece to us. The sushi is topped with many pieces of baby shrimp. How they peel every single piece of shrimp is beyond me, but the taste resembled amaebi. Amaebi-zing! (Sorry i tried..)Sawara (Spanish Mackerel) - Yay more mackerel! The fish is brushed with a light soy sauce and topped with finely diced scallions. It’s a bit more mild than the Aji, but trust me when I say.. delicious..Negitoro and Tarako (Chopped Tuna and Cod Roe) - Cod Roe? Now it’s a party!Anago (Sea Eel) - I’ve actually haven’t had much Sea Eel here in the states since I’m more used to seeing the fresh kind (Unagi). But despite how ugly this piece looks (honestly it looks like poop), the sweet sauce and slightly salty eel is a match made in heaven. Now what should I order as my bonus piece? Come on… you serious? Oh-Toro!!Hamachi (Yellowtail) - I released my inner fat ass and ordered my favorite fish off the menu, a piece of Yellowtail. It looks like they cut my the American sized portion since this bad boy took me 3 bites to finish. I’m not complaining as it was probably THE best piece of yellowtail ever and was prepared perfectly. I love you Sushi Dai..Kaki (Oyster) - My friends followed my lead and ordered Oysters. Now I didn’t get to sample it (thanks a lot fatties..), but I heard it was a highlight of the meal.

Sushi Dai Scores:
Food: 10/10 - Best sushi of my life, possibly one of the best meals of my life.

Restaurant Environment: 10/10 - The long wait and the ridiculously small restaurant are things you would expect in Tokyo. So get over it and enjoy the experience.

Service: 10/10 - Friendly staff and chefs. Although we were “gaijin,” we were treated as though we were VIPs.

Value: 10/10 - $42 for the best sushi of my life? Sold!

Overall: 10/10 - I can’t imagine how Jiro can be any better, but it’s probably something I’ll have to experience for myself..

ink

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:02:00 -0800

Michael Voltaggio, the quintessential James Dean of the culinary world. Is it wrong to say that girls want him and guys want to be like him? Winner of Top Chef Season 6. What kind of bad ass would leave his Michelin Star restaurant to create something he truly loves. Respect.Ink is the manifestation of Voltaggio’s ingenious creativity. To be honest, I’ve been waiting ages to eat here, since the day the rumor of the opening first came out. My recommendation: Skip the tasting, be adventurous and order your meal a la carte. You’ll be able to sample more offerings and surprisingly, save more money.The restaurant is beautifully constructed with an open bar and seafood prep. Unfortunately for us, MV was not in house this evening.Slow down, catch your breath, and take a drink.If you’re yearning for a more adult libation, you can enjoy ink’s cocktail offerings which include Moscow Mules and ones mixed with Japanese Whiskey.Burrata with Bottarga, Little Gems and Lemon Dressing. A perfect light start to our soon to be hearty meal. It’s just something you can never go wrong with.Carrots with Pea Tendril Mojo and Coconut. OMG! MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY!!!! Carrots are shaved into thin planes and are served frozen. Served with the curd-like coconut, amazing! A must try at only $11, what a steal!La Quercia Berkshire Ham with Manchego Biscuit and Marcona Almond Butter. One of the best dishes of the night. A perfectly baked fluffy biscuit, spread with the smooth almond butter and the savory, salty ham.. enough said..Shishito Peppers with Almond-Bonito Sand and Tofu Mustard. Oh shishito peppers, I think I’ve already gone over how much I love you in previous posts. Ink does them right, especially with the integration of the Tofu Mustard and Sand. Duck Rillette with Waffle, Mustard, Griddled Pear, and Banyuls Vinegar. The duck rillette is hidden under the sheet. The dish, or should I say slab of slate, was extremely delicate and a bit underwhelming for my taste. On to the next one..Baja Scallops with Egg Yolk Gnocchi and Mushroom Hay. Umami Attack!! All of those mushrooms, especially with the mushroom hay simply overpower the dish and the beautifully tiny baja scallops.Brussels Sprouts with Pig Ears, Lardo and Apple. I love how the sprouts were cooked in vinegar. It definitely provided a new cooking method for myself to try. The sheet of lardo just provided that unctuous punch. Let me say this though, Chinese still prepare better Pig Ears.Potato Charcoal with Housemade Sour Cream and Black Vinegar. An ink staple. Blackened potatoes are paired with sour cream and a spritz of black vinegar. Simple, yet delicious. It’s a fun dish that you should definitely experience.When you’re having a great time, just throw another bottle of wine into the mix. Octopus with Ink Shells, Young Fennel and Pimenton. It may be because we’ve already had a ton of dishes, but I wasn’t a huge fan. The ink shells were a bit bland.Poutine with Chickpea Fries, Yogurt Curds and Lamb Neck Gravy. A great example of gastronomy gone bad. I love poutine. It should be a comfort dish, but ink’s rendition just made things confusing. Be sure that your friends love the gamey lamb flavor, as the gravy is a bit overpowering.Pork Belly with Charcoal Oil, BBQ Flavor and Petrified Yams. Perhaps the best entree out of the lot came in the eleventh hour. Oh Pork Belly, get in my belly. Wait what? The liquid charcoal jogs your BBQ memory. A few bites in and before you know it, the chunk of porcine is gone.Apple with Caramel, Walnut, and Burnt Wood Ice Cream. During the meal, my friend (whom commented on my check-in) recommended that I order the Burnt Wood Ice Cream. And boy was she right. The small plate is filled with goodies to complete a wonderful dessert experience.An interesting way to receive the bill..

ink Scores:
Food: 7.5/10 - Although there were a few misses (perhaps my high expectations), overall everything was extremely creative and fun to try.

Restaurant Environment: 8.5/10 - A bit cramped, but the edgy design is what you’d expect from Voltaggio.

Service: 8/10 - I love how when I asked for a copy of the menu, the server just ripped it straight out.

Value: 8/10 - With all items under $20, an unexpected affordable meal.

Overall: 8/10

Blue Hill

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 15:44:00 -0800

Let’s continue on this Michelin Star highway and take an exit off Greenwich Village, New York to Blue Hill. The restaurant is completely inconspicuous, hiding itself in a small section of a dimly lit street. If this is your first time here, you’ll definitely be question yourself whether you’re in the right location or not. My friend and I were actually around an hour late to our reservation. But the nice people at Blue Hill stil managed to score us a seat. While they were prepping our table, we plopped down at the bar. Nothing better to kill the time like a glass of scotch.After navigating past the main seating area, past the kitchen and through a corridor, we arrived in the back Patio Garden Room. I actually enjoyed sitting back here as it felt less pretentious and provided a more comfortable atmosphere. On a down note, there was hardly any lighting - thus the poor quality pictures..Blue Hill is New York’s best Farm-to-Table restaurant. Offering the freshest ingredients straight from their farm located hours away in Massachusetts. Rumor is, the restaurant in upstate New York is even better than the one in the city. Their cyclical daily menu offers recurring staples yet prides itself with dishes made from the purist seasonal fare.The meal starts off with an Amuse Bouche of Mini Zucchini Burgers with Almond Flour Brioche Buns and Ricotta Cheese. Hands down the healthiest burgers ever. The zucchini was a nice way to cleanse the palate.Again, pardon the pictures, but here we have what Blue HIll calls Farm Snacks. Small tapas like starters - Corned Pig’s Belly with Green Beans. Screw those multicolored spiral ones - lollipops should now come in the form of unctuous sweet pig fat. But hey, it’s ok.. there’s a green bean on there, so I’m getting my vegetables. My mom would be proud. Blue Hill’s signature snack - Vegetables on a Fence. After you get past the fact that you just paid $8 for a glorified and well plated garden salad, you’re reminded of why you came to Blue Hill in the first place. Freshness. The tomatoes are like healthy Gushers that burst with sweet flavors. The world would be a healthier place if vegetables were displayed and prepared like this all of the time.Bread in the dark….yum..Our first appetizer was the Purple Potato and Ricotta Gnocchi with Berkshire Pig’s Belly, Zucchini and Shiitake Mushrooms. Everything about this dish had a soft subtle approach, the way a starter pasta should be. The zucchini were nice interjections to the full flavored pork. Another one of Blue Hill’s signature dishes - This Morning’s Egg with Stone Barn’s Spinach, Yellow Foot Chanterelles and Speck. Holy smokes, I would love to wake up and have this every single morning. If I did, there wouldn’t be a single day which I didn’t leave my house with a giant smile on my face. The Chanterelles carried a superb umami flavor and married the dish together.Blue Hill Farm Veal with Roasted Cauliflower, Chanterelle Mushrooms and Hazelnuts. Wow.. just wow.. The veal came 3 different ways. Each way cooked to perfection and incredibly tender. An amazing showcase of the different preparations. Stone Barns Berkshire Pig with Tomatoes, Shelling Beans and Titan Parsley. The plate consisted of 3 different pig preparations (tenderloin, loin and pork belly). I think most of us easily forget how many different cuts of meat are on an animal. By giving you the opportunity to sample everything side by side, truly marvelous. The tenderloins were tiny nuggets in which you only had a few bites to enjoy. Dessert time! Chocolate Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel, Pecans and Bourbon Ice Cream. Seriously, how can you fail with a dish with those ingredients? Blue Hill certainly didn’t. Forget Prozac, doctors should be prescribing warm chocolate pudding with deliciously cold ice cream - it’s guaranteed to boost anybody’s day. If chocolate isn’t your cup of tea, then here you go: Raspberries - Goat’s Milk Cheesecake and Caramelized Oats. Cheesecake and sorbet? Are you mad?! What a terrific compliment to the chocolate bread pudding. Oh hey.. some chocolate.. hey.. some raspberries.Finish the night with a petit fours of Peanut Butter and Jelly Gelee with Maldon Sea Salt. These are dangerous! I absolutely love the combination.

Blue Hill Scores:
Food: 10/10 - Every dish was masterfully prepared by Chef Dan Barber. Working with the freshest of ingredients doesn’t hurt either.

Restaurant Environment: 10/10 - Sitting in the patio room definitely made things more comfortable and enjoyable, but a little light for my camera wouldn’t hurt either.

Service: 10/10 - Phenomenal service from start to finish. Including missing my reservations to our servers knowledge of every dish and creating an inviting atmosphere.

Value: 10/10 - If you opt for the a la carte option like we did, Snacks at $8, Appetizers at $16 and Entrees roughly $30. It’s a classy dinner for anybody’s budget.

Overall: 10/10 - I would consider Blue Hill as one of the best meals I’ve had. Our server was warm and friendly and an absolute food lover. When she saw me taking pictures of all of the food, she was legitimately interested in my blog and food adventures. Although she forgot to bring one of my dishes, I had a magnificent night.

Marea

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:40:00 -0800

Ahh.. New York. Has it really been nearly 2 years since I’ve left and last visited you? Well if that’s the case, I have to make every meal count in my short trip back and partake in my favorite past time, Michelin Star hunting. So how about we visit one of the fastest up and coming restaurants in the city? First up, Chef Michael White’s 2 Michelin Star restaurant, Marea.My friends and I showed up a few minutes late to our reservations, but the Maitre’ d was more than accommodating and was very understanding. By the way, I absolutely despise Apple’s new iOS maps, which led me into Columbus Circle instead of the restaurant.Our table was situated right next to their beautiful wine collection. If there was ever a time of significant jealousy in my life, this was it. Unlike many other 2 or 3 star restaurants, Marea felt a bit.. unassuming. Classy? Yes. But not once did I feel out of place or experience a condescending stare from the staff (even going with the cheaper a la carte route).

Marea was so highly touted that Bourdain even featured the restaurant on two separate episodes. I tried to mirror my dishes after his sit down with Chef Michael White. Unfortunately I am no where as eloquent as Bourdain, but I’ll try my best.Tsk tsk.. oil stains on the menu?!My friends and I took a different approach this time around. Instead of perusing their wine list, we opted for some crisp clean Italian lager. A refreshing change.For bread, you get your choice of multigrain or foccacia. A bit disappointed, but hey. I came for the food and not the free bread. Stay positive! Let’s get started shall we?Being a cheap Asian, free swag always puts a smile on my face. The amuse bouche was a small gelee of Butternut Squash, Razorclams, and Cranberry. A clean start, well done.A spectacularly beautiful dish, Astice - Nova Scotia Lobster, Burrata, Eggplant al Funghetto and Fresh Basil and Basil Seeds. An unusual paring that works amazingly well together. The lobster is sweet and tender, and the burrata is smooth and creamy. Mix in the body of stewed eggplant and the acidic cut of tomato and basil/basil seeds. The dish vanishes before you know it.My friends trusted me ordering their entire meal. So I decided to grab something that I knew they would never have given a thought to order. Animelle e Gnocchi - Roasted Sweetbreads, Gnocchi, Smoked Trout Spuma, Parsley and Candied Lemon. I loved how the little roasted sweetbreads camouflaged with the soft gnocchi pillows. I don’t believe any of my friends had an idea that they were happily eating roasted animal glands. Now this is interesting. An Italian seafood restaurant serving Peperoni - Shishito Peppers with Sea Salt. I’ve always loved shishito peppers and the various levels of spicy heat. It’s this randomness and sense of gambling that makes eating fun.

Fun Note: They actually messed up our order and gave us a plate of Panzerotti - Smoked Eggplant, Ricotta, Bottaraga. Which my friends quickly devoured and were luckily comped. So quick that I didn’t even get a chance to take a picture. A major no no when dining with me.Now we have the mother of all appetizers. Ricci - Sea Urchin covered in Lardo with Sea Salt on top of a Crostini. My goodness, this must be what they serve in heaven. Honestly, the Santa Barbara Sea Urchin and crostini would’ve been divine enough. But Marea takes it to the next level and melts a sheet of lardo over top. The sweet buttery sea urchin tied in with rich unctuous lardo, finished with a crunchy bite. I could care less about my cholesterol levels. That’s why Lipitor was developed right? So we can eat dishes like this?Always have your camera ready. Especially for times like this. Beer Bubble! Another round of beer please.I wanted to take pictures of each of the 4 pastas we ordered, but unfortunately the servers were too quick and they decided to distribute the dishes as soon as it arrived. So excuse the pictures please!The pasta line up.Continuing on with our meal in Heaven menu, Fusilli - Fresh Rolled Fusilli with with Red Wine Braised Octopus and Bone Marrow. The octopus was cooked to tender perfection, none of that cheap rubbery crap and the sauce was full bodied and packed with flavor. One thing I disliked was the non proportional amount of pasta to protein. I don’t even think I got a single nugget of bone marrow! Definitely not a happy camper.Next up, Spaghetti - Crab, Santa Barbara Sea Urchin, and Basil. Say goodbye to your cheap Prego and store bought noodles. Rich rich rich!! Like gangster rapper rich! The delicate crab and sea urchin flavors meld with a creamy tomato sauce to bring a smile on your face. If I closed my eyes and took a bite, I could pretty much imagine what Ariel was eating every night. Rapper rhymin’Here we have two pockets of Tortelli - Lobster Ravioli, Zucchini, Chanterelles. I actually thought the strong umami of the chanterelles dominated this dish. Hell, I paid for lobster, I want to experience lobster. Ok.. maybe on my next bite. Wait what? That’s all I got?Finally we have Mare Risotti - Shrimp, Scallops, Lobster and Rouget. I’ve never really had a seafood risotto that I absolutely fell in love with. And Marea’s was no different. The ingredients are there, but after finishing my few bites, I was thinking: “What’s next?” instead of “Wow, that was amazing.” I guess Bourdain was spot on regarding seafood and cheese. I would say save your money and perhaps get the mushroom, but that’s only $4 cheaper.Now that’s a beautiful full plate of dessert. The Bomboloni - Deed Fried Doughnuts, Zabaglione Crema, Espresso Crumble, Chocolate Sauce and White Espresso Gelato. My goodness were these good. You pretty much get a little love tap of every flavor and texture. You’ve got my heart when you have warm doughnuts and ice cream.We end our night with Petit Fours. Starting from the top and going clockwise: Mocha Cream Puff, Salted Caramel Chocolate, Raspberry Gelee, and Hazelnut Cup. I love free stuff.Congratulations on the 2 stars! Well deserved!

Marea Scores:
Food: 9.5/10 - None of the dishes were disappointing and some were absolute home runs. But what keeps this from being perfect, was the keyword from the previous sentence, “some.”

Service: 9.5/10 - Maitre D helping me with directions, and our server comping a dish without question because of their error. They lose half a point because I saw a server at another table knock over dishes.

Restaurant Environment: 10/10 - A beautifully designed interior and an unpretentious setting. Feel free to laugh and joke around with your friends, this 2-star restaurant certainly doesn’t care.

Value: 9/10 - Quite possibly one of the least expensive Michelin rated restaurants that I’ve been to. The pastas are roughly $20-30. The entire meal, including drinks was less than $100pp. Albeit we did the a la carte approach.

Overall: 9.5/10 - A terrific restaurant, but certainly there’s room for improvement. Perhaps then, they’ll get their 3rd star.

Animal

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:45:52 -0700

Three Months ago, something terrible happened in California, foie gras was banned. SoCal was in a complete cluster fuck looking for that savory buttery avian organ. But lucky for me, I was able to score a walk-in seat on the very last day at one of the best and most innovative places for foie, Animal (But I totally failed at trying to walk in the night before, but that’s another story in itself). PETA supporters, turn away.Animal is an extremely tiny restaurant, with almost a New York City feel. With hot fare and limited seating, reservations are at a premium. The final Foie Gras menu - 6/30/2012. Arguably one of the best items on the menu is the cheapest. The Chicken Liver Toast ($3) marries that perfect blend of sweet and savory. Everything about this little toast was perfect. The sweet compote paired with the smooth pate, then the textural contrast with the crispy toast, amazing. Don’t forget about a bottle of Animal’s House Red. At $20, it’s a steal and a great complement. We first started with a plate of Veal Tongue, Smoked Foie Gras, Pastrami Spices and Crab Apple ($14). Not the best dish to show case foie, but pleasing nonetheless. I’m actually a huge fan of cow/veal tongue but I guess I’m too spoiled with the Japanese yakiniku type from Anjin/Tsuruhashi. With all the spices, it was just glorified Canadian bacon. Here we have the Foie Gras Terrine with Fermented Stone Fruit Jam and Black Pepper Gastrique ($20). Eat it with a piece of toast and a dollop of jam, yum! Now this is foie! Secretly, I was thinking that I could’ve ordered 7 Chicken Liver Toasts at the same price. I know.. I know.. it’s actual foie gras, and there is a tremendous difference. But come on! $3 Toasts?! P.s. Like my plate decoration?Now the best dish of the night. I wanted to save this for the very end, but I’m too excited. Animal’s Liquid Foie Gras Agnolotti with Corn, Burro e Pepe ($19). These little pillows are filled with what pretty much could be considered foie gras gravy. They explode in your mouth and you’re zoomed off in a flavor filled bliss. I was seriously debating whether to order another dish, that’s how amazing they were. A dish that I was pretty excited for, actually completely let me down, the Foie Gras, Biscuit, and Maple Sausage Gravy ($25). I’m an absolutely die hard for Biscuits and Gravy (like the one at Denny’s for $2…). I can understand the concept of the fish, but the Maple Gravy was just wayyyyy too sweet. There just wasn’t a good balance to the dish. And overpowering the foie? No, no, no…Let’s take a quick foie break and order something else that’s close to my heart. Marrow Bone with Chimichurri and Caramelized Onions ($10). In my opinion, a beautiful dish, but that’s actually the most it had going for it. Maybe it was my huge expectations. Come on.. it’s Animal.. they must have fantastic bone marrow. I guess not. I could’ve sworn I had better elsewhere on more than a handful of occasions. Finally we have Animal’s “main” foie dish, Foie Gras Loco Moco with Quail egg, Spam and Hamburger ($36). This dish was hard to wrap my head around. Individually, the items were amazing. The Foie Gras, Spam and Hamburger were perfectly cooked. The hamburger should be more considered as ground steak in patty form. However, collectively, the dish was underwhelming. The rice was undercooked and the sauce tasted cheap. I guess I’ll save my loco moco’s for Hawaii. I really wanted dessert since the other groups next to me were happily enjoying theirs. So to be different, I ordered the Roasted Peach, Ginger Pound Cake and Pink Peppercorn Chantilly. I should’ve went with the Tres Leches cake….

Animal Scores:
Food: 8/10 - Highs and lows, a lot of dishes were hit or miss, but I’ll definitely be back to sample their foie-less menu.

Service: 9/10 - I guess sitting at the bar has its perks, your always attended to. The hostesses also had a friendly demeanor amidst the chaos.

Restaurant Environment: 7/10 - Too cramped, I’m too big to be shoved in small places.

Value: 7/10 - The Chicken Liver Toast was absolutely money at $3, but the Loco Moco for $36?? Pass..

Overall: 8/10

San Francisco: Nopa

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:20:20 -0700

Nopa in San Francisco is pretty much one of those must try restaurants that every city has. Innovative food at reasonable prices, there’s a lot of things going for them. Embarrassingly, I had yet to go, until now. Luckily for me, I came during my favorite meal of the day, brunch.I actually absolutely love the decor of the restaurant. The high vaulted ceilings, the loft like 2nd floor, the clean homely chic look is a win in my book. The Wood Grilled Boudin Blanc with Poached Eggs, Barley, Carrots, Rapini and Artichoke Cream pairs perfectly with that comfortable image I was talking about early. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of the dish itself and if I could point my finger at the culprit, it would be the barley. It was just a bit too watery for my liking. With a name like Six Hour Braised Pork with Hominy, Sauteed Kale, Salsa Verde and Skillet Bread, you better be damn good. The pork was extremely bland, I’m guessing they braised the pork in water for 6 hours. Maybe it’s just me, but if you’re braising something, I’m gonna be expecting levels and levels of flavor - and it just wasn’t there. Now here’s the actual reason I wanted to come to Nopa, their Custard French Toast with Lavender Honey, Glazed Strawberries and Lemon Butter. Right off the bat, the sweetness of the honey smacks you in the face and explains that you’ll be in for a treat. The actual French Toast is thick and cakey, this helps sop up the melted butter and syrup perfectly. I just wish there was more strawberry..

Nopa Scores:
Food: 5.5/10 - I heard their lunch/dinner options were better. I might just give them one last shot.

Service: 7/10 - My friend and I did get their a bit early, and while still waiting for the rest of my party, we didn’t hear them gripe at all. (Except that kitchen was closing for brunch items).

Restaurant Environment: 9/10 - I just love open spaces in smaller cities.

Value: 8/10 - Every item was under $15, not bad at all.

Overall: 6/10

A San Francisco Weekend

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:25:00 -0700

Traveling is always one of my favorite pastimes. And whenever I travel, the first thing that races through my mind is.. “by golly, what am I going to eat?” After a recent trip up north to San Francisco, I wanted to share with you guys some of my delicious quick bites.I actually came up north to rid the city of all of it’s foie gras (before the ban). But funny thing is, I didn’t indulge in a single bite. Well stop #1 was Isa in the Marina District.So hungry…. let’s have some bread.The backroom of Isa is beautifully decorated. The outdoor cabana setting creates a more homely dining experience. Luckily we arrived during San Francisco’s “Dine About Town” event. A beautiful plate of fresh Tomales Bay Pt Reyes Oysters to start. The oysters are served with a Spicy Orange Mignonette. Another first course option during the event was the Dungeness Crab Salad with Avocado, Apple, Grapefruit, and Taragon. The intense flavors of the salad actually robbed the crab of it’s delicacy and sweetness. No bueno.Our final appetizer was a Loch Duart Salmon Carpaccio with Lemon, Creme Fraiche, Cucumber, Egg, Capers and served over Crostinis. A fairly simple dish to construct, and something you’d usually find as a prix fixe option.A small plate of Seared Scallops with Sauteed Asparagus, Garlic, and Truffle Sauce is a choice for entree. You can also have your choice of Truffle Risotto with Baby Shiitake, Hon Shimiji Mushroom and Reggiano. The last dinner entree we selected was the Duck Breast with Red Beet, Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Huckleberry Sauce. I mean come on, Duck Breast, love. Beet, Arugula and Goat Cheese, love. What’s not to love about this dish?Lastly, how could you not end with a classic prix fixe dessert like Creme Brulee. Chef and owner, Thomas Odermatt, of the delicious Roli Roti truck/stand in the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market. You sir, are a gentleman and a saint. The absolutely exquisite Roli Roti masterpiece, the Porchetta Sandwich. Crispy Rotisserie Porchetta, Caramelized Onions, Arugula, Aioli on a Ciabatta? Heaven in sandwich form.And here you thought we were done. Nope! Roli Roti also serves up potato perfection. Rosemary Roast Potatoes. These potatoes are roasted directly under the slow rotisserie of the porchetta and chicken. You know what that means? All the delicious and unctuous fat and drippings leak directly onto and flavor these magnificent potatoes. I can die happy a happy man.As we continue on with our journey through the Ferry Building. We arrive at Hog Island Oyster. What’s funny is, a few years ago, you could kill me and I still wouldn’t eat these. Now it’s pretty much the opposite, I would kill to eat them. Oyster bars make me happy. Unfortunately, Hog Island wouldn’t allow me to eat my Porchetta Sandwich while eating there. That blows! So let’s eat these shelled bad boys quick status!I ordered the beautiful Oyster Bar Mix spread.Naked CowboyHog Island Sweetwater and Hog Island AtlanticsThose little bad boys up top, Redwood Curtain Kumamotos <3. Carlsbad Luna

I love Oysters and I love SF Food!

Ohshima

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:04:32 -0700

When some one tells you to conjure up an image of a great sushi restaurant, what do you see? I’m guessing none of you guys pictured an unassuming restaurant in a strip mall. Well that’s exactly what Oshima is.Seriously located in the middle of no where in the heart of Orange, if it’s your first time coming, you just might miss it.If you get the option, try nabbing a seat at the Sushi Bar. Not only do you get to interact with the sushi chefs, but I hear you get better cuts of fish.Let’s start the meal with something simple, Agedashi Tofu. This classic Japanese starter is always one of my faves. The tofu squares are lightly battered and pair well with the flavorful dashi tsuyu.Next up, we have some cute looking Shishamo (smelt). The fish are fried whole with their roe in tact. This provides a savory burst of flavor while getting a crispy crunch in every bite. I’m usually not a fan of fish fried this way, but this was absolutely wonderful.Now, let me introduce you to slices of heaven, Yellowtail Carpaccio. The Yellowtail is topped with a Jalapeno Sauce.. Sorry, this is a personal moment.. give me a sec. Seriously, this is the absolute epitome of freshness. The minced jalapeno actually does not overpower the fish, surprisingly the jalapenos enhance the yellowtail. It’s now time to introduce you to the tiniest morsels of euphoria. The first being Amaebi, or Sweet Shrimp. The shrimps are uber fresh and kicking until Chef Shige sticks his sharp knife through their head. Like most restaurants, you get to choose what you would like to do with the head, Deep Fried or in Miso Soup.I was not able to sit at the sushi bar, so the omakase is served all at once. Here’s a sneak peek of what I had. I don’t think much descriptions are needed, so I’m going to let these pictures do the talking.An absolutely beautiful slice of Sea Bream (Tai). This beauty had a fresh taste of the ocean. The Sea Bass (Suzuki) was gentle, mild and decadent.Here we have the Opal Eye (Mejina) and the grated yuzu provided strong citrus notes. This beauty was the Bluefin Tuna (Kuromaguro) and was refreshing and clean.Sake Time! Time for a break! And what?! What do we have here?! Mizbasho Ginjo?! Fill ‘er up!Let’s continue on with this marathon shall we? In my notes, I literally wrote “Tidal Wave of the Ocean” for this piece of Amberjack (Kanpachi). Pretty lame..Now we’re diving into the good stuff. Get it? Ok, nevermind. This was a type of Yellowtail, it actually packed a stronger yellowtail than the OG stuff. The Seared Black Cod (Gindara) is one of Ohshima’s specialties and boy is it orgasmic. I really wish I had more. The fatty oily cod is seared and has an absolutely unbelievable taste. The textures, the flavors… amazing…Next up is another one of Ohshima’s specialities, Cherry Salmon (Sakuramasu). This piece of salmon has a deeper flavor than its more common cousin. You haven’t had great salmon till you’ve had this.The Spanish Mackerel (Aji) had a strong oily fish flavor, but was perfectly blended with scallions and ponzu.Finally, we end the omakase with a piece of Japanese Scallop (Hotate). The scallop was buttery, fatty and sweet. A good clean finish. Hooray for coming on my birthday! A Chocolate Bar topped with Raspberries with a few Vanilla Shakes. Rich, sweet and decadent, I’m actually surprised to find such a great dessert at such a great sushi restaurant.

Ohshima Scores:
Food: 10/10 - Not a single dish disappointed. Everything was absolutely fresh and prepared in the best possible way.

Restaurant Environment: 8/10 - Perhaps if I sit at the sushi bar next time, I can fully enjoy the experience.

Service: 9/10 - The servers were knowledgable and welcoming. I just wish you could get the omakase one piece at a time when not at the bar.

Value: 9/10 - 10 piece omakase for under $40?! I’ll take 50 next time!

Overall: 9/10

SWSH Shabu Shabu

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 17:00:19 -0700

Shabu Shabu and hot pot restaurants have been the most recent craze. Inexpensive and easy to operate, they started sprouting up all over Southern California, and most of all in Orange County. SWSH Shabu Shabu is located inside the ever hustling and bustling Asian central Diamond Jamboree plaza. Just getting around the parking lot and avoiding all the Chinese moms is a victory in itself. SWSH offers Happy Hour every day from 5-6:30pm, with drink specials and half off appetizers. Pictured above is their Chicken Karaage. Just your basic Popcorn Chicken, nothing wonderful.Next up, we have some Tofu Nuggets. These probably came out of a frozen bag and were reheated, but for $2.50, no complaint here. Now onto the main event, the Shabu Shabu at SWSH. I love how they give you a raw egg, since it’s always how I’ve eaten hot pot/shabu growing up. They also provide you with the usual ponzu and goma sauces. Split pots! Half regular Shabu and half Sukiyaki.The veggie platter that’s served with each pot. All the basics and usual suspects seem to be there.Here we have the large order of Angus Ribeye. Personally, I never believe ordering the “Kobe” is worth it. Usually these Shabu spots have pretty good choice/prime ribeye and the offering at SWSH doesn’t disappoint. My friend ordered a combo platter of Kurobuta Pork and the Angus Ribeye. I usually stick with my ribeye, but the pork was pretty tasty itself.

The kicker for SWSH Shabu Shabu is that on Monday’s and Tuesday’s, the restaurant offers 40% off a second entree (with a printed coupon).

SWSH Shabu Shabu Scores:
Food: 7.5/10 - A Shabu Shabu restaurant is only as good as their meat. Beautifully marbled rib eye is the restaurant’s center piece.

Restaurant Environment: 8/10 - The restaurant is spacious and modern. It was weird seeing it empty when I went.

Service: 9/10 - Our server was one of my friend’s friend, so service was no doubt spectacular.

Value: 9/10 - Getting that Mon/Tue discount, along with their Happy Hour is absolutely crucial.

General: 8/10 - I’d still prefer to go to Cali Shabu Shabu and Shabu Shabu Bar, but if I’m craving something warm on Mon or Tue, you know where I’ll be.

Church and State

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:03:19 -0700

I’ve once read that Church and State was the best up and coming restaurant in Los Angeles. But amidst all that hoop-la, they’ve received pretty average reviews from peer websites so far. So I decided to take it upon myself to make my own decision.The restaurant is located in an industrial parkway and occupies what was the old National Biscuit Company. Ooh, a biscuit sounds nice right about now. Anyways, avoid the $5 valet and find some street parking. An extra few steps never hurt anybody.Our reservation was altered a bunch of times, and every time they were accommodating.The restaurant is packed with young professionals trying to unwind after a busy work week. Seating is a bit tight. It was even to the point where we thought the table next to us was part of our party.Getting an open view of the kitchen is always exciting and entertaining. One thing that I loved, was the bookshelf they had stocked with (what looks to be used) cookbooks. You don’t really see that anywhere, and I applaud it.We started our dinner with a small amuse bouche, a plate of cheese bread. Very similar to the Pao de Queijo that you receive at Brazilian restaurants. Although a fine starter, I wish they would’ve served something a bit different. We already had bread at the table, do we really want more?Here’s the bread I was talking about. Nothing special, but I love the rustic feel.Ahh, our first ordered dish, the Tarte Flambée with Caramelized Onions, Applewood Smoked Bacon, and Cave Aged Gruyére. Just a fancy way of saying flatbread pizza with Bacon, Cheese, and Onions. At $14, you can almost get 3 Large Pepperonis from Little Caesars. Just saying..Finally something I can’t order at a POS chain. Their Moelle de Boeuf aka Roasted Bone Marrow with Marinated Radish Salad. Everyone raves about how awesome the bone marrow is, but trust me (it’s one of my favorite dishes) and it’s not very good here. The glaze is a tad bit on the sweet side. Here’s an up close of that unctuous bone marrow and radish salad on a baguette. Personally, I believe there should be a strong acid to cut through all the flavors, and the radish salad just doesn’t cut it (get the pun?).I always make a solid effort to remember every dish we order. But shit, they explained the daily special in French. Terrible on my part.Well, here’s something very similar to the daily special before. The Duo de Canard, Roasted Duck Breast, Confit Leg, Quinoa, Globe Carrots, Baby Turnips, Wilted Arugula and Duck Jus. My friend swore this was one of the best ducks he’s ever had and I can see why. The duck breasts were ultra tender, and the confit was fall off the bone and packed with flavor. Not too shabby.A french classic, the Bouillabaisse. A Provencal Fish Stew, Blue Prawns, Manilla Clams, PEI Mussels, Fennel, Tomato, Potato and Leek. Let’s be honest here, I know bouillabaisse’s are supposed to look rusty and hearty, but this presentation is a piece of crap. Dirty plate, tsk tsk. Nothing too spectacular here, let’s move on.Noix Saint-Jacques. What’s that you ask? Well I’m glad you asked, it’s a plate of Sautéed Diver Scallops, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Shitake Mushrooms and Parmentier Sauce. Now, I understand French portion sizes, but this is a bit ridiculous even to those standards. 3 scallops the size of quarters and it’s called an entree? Pass..Braised Pork Belly, what more could you ask for? It was absolutely heavenly and the best dish of the night. That fatty goodness is accentuated with a flavor blasting jus. Just thinking about that crispy/tender pork belly is making my tummy rumble.Weee Dessert!! Here we have a Pot de Créme au Chocolat et Café, a Chocolate Coffee Custard, Créme Chantilly, Sablés Cannelle Cookies. What was the pastry chef thinking? Building a dish based on the alliteration of the letter C? All jokes aside, Pot de Crémes are some of my favorite sweets. A rich custard paired with a crispy cookie, euphoric.Next up, the Gateau d’Opéra, a twelve layer cake with almond meringue, coffee butter cream and chocolate ganache. Not a huge fan of cakes, back to the Pot de Créme I go.

Church and State Scores:
Food: 6.5/10 - A ton of hit or miss dishes. Want better French food? Head to Bouchon.

Restaurant Environment: 7.5/10 - Is the restaurant super cramped? Yes. But for some reason, I like it. The bistro setup makes the meal feel a bit more authentic.

Service: 7/10 - Luckily I had great company or else I might’ve thought service was a bit slow.

Value: 5/10 - Not the most expensive restaurant by any means, and I’m not even going to bash on the French quantity. But I can definitely think of a handful of restaurants I’d rather spend my money at.

Overall: 6/10

Umamicatessen

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:31:20 -0700

Boy these people at Umami Burger sure are expanding fast, with a handful of new locations set to open (including one right downstairs from me in the OC) and even a pizza spot! Do we really need that much of the 5th taste? I decided yes, yes I do. I found myself heading over to downtown LA to sample one of Umami’s newest venues, Umamicatessen.I guess it’s supposed to be some sort of delicatessen/cafeteria/food court. Whatever it is, there’s food inside, and im there.This place was packed!! What’s interesting is, you see a few food stations where I’m guessing they prepare a few of the dishes. And the giant lit tower of porcine? Amazing!So the “restaurant” is pretty much a combination of 3 different ones. The Cure, a Jewish Kosher deli style offering, with classics like Pastrami and Rye and Matzo Ball soup. Umami Burger, you guys all know what that’s like right? And finally, P!GG, basically a complete monument to all things that go oink. Pork everything! Cardiologists around the world are facepalming when they hear about this one. There’s also a Chef’s Tasting Menu, but you have got to be the biggest dumb ass to order the tasting menu at a “deli.” Go a la carte my friend.So I started off the night with an order of the Smooth Liva with Toast and Jelly ($8). I guess it’s a play on the fabulously awesome foie gras and it was definitely a table favorite (although I ate most of it). The liva (liver) was smooth and flavorful. Pair that with the sweet jelly and buttery toast, and you got yourself a winner.My dining buddies all ordered burgers. Pictured above are the Truffle Burger ($12) and Umami Burger ($11).And then we have a tiny small framed girl ordering the Manly Burger ($11)..Juicy, savory, delicious and full of umami.Let me give you a quick back story. When our server came around to ask what I was having, I said everything down this list. That list was the Fried Snacks (100% lard fried). I wasn’t here for burgers. If you look to the right, you’ll see Pork Corn ($3). It absolutely sucked, save your $3 for parking instead of seasoned popcorn. Here we have the Cone O’ Cracklins ($5) with Sherry Vinegar and Sage. The cracklins were well seasoned and packed with flavor, but that’s how pork cracklins should be. So I guess that’s my way of saying, nothing really to look at, move along. Out of all the snacks, this was my favorite. Crispy Pig Ears ($7) with Parsley, Lemon and Brainaise. Mmm.. Brainaise.. an aioli made with blended pig brain. Honestly, I think this was one of the best munching sides I’ve had in a while. I’ll gladly take an order of these over any plain ole fries. The ears are crisp and taste incredible. I know to many this dish is stomach churning, but hey you’ll never enjoy great things if you can’t embrace new experiences. I had completely forgot this dish until pretty much the end of my meal, where I thought to myself, hey.. didn’t I order fries? Well here are those fries, Umamicatessen’s P!GG Style Fries ($10) with Pickled Peppers, Ham Puree and Brainaise. Hey look at that! More Brainaise, must be good.. These fries were absolutely wonderfully mediocre. There wasn’t a component that really “wowed” me. Maybe they need to throw in some bacon or some other porky dish, because the depth is lacking. Want something similar and better? The G-Style Fries at G-Burger will hit the spot.

Umamicatessen Scores:
Food: 6/10 - This is merely based off the new dishes. With surprising starts with the Liva, the rest of the meal failed to keep up.

Restaurant Environment: 6/10 - How can such an open space feel so small?

Service: 5/10 - They forgot a dish… no bueno.

Value: 7/10 - Dinner wont break the bank, but if you’re thinking it’s like a food court. Be prepared to eat at one of the more expensive food courts you’ve ever been to.

Overall: 6/10 - Avoid the wait, it’s not worth it. Just visit your local Umami Burger. Don’t have one? They’ll be there soon, I guarantee it.

Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:47:51 -0800

Something that I’ve reiterated numerous times in my blog is my undying love for ramen. To me, it’s comfort food. Don’t ask me why. So one night, I had this craving, a certain ramen craving. I’m pretty sure you guys know what I’m talking about. Since Santouka (in Mitsuwa) was closed for the night, I went for the next best thing. Shin-Sen-Gumi in Fountain Valley.Now the restaurant itself is pretty tiny. Half of it is basically bar seating. I mean hey that’s great and all in Japan, but I don’t think it really flies here in the states. Enough complaining, let’s start eating! Itadakimasu!I started off with one of my favorite Japanese dishes, Takowasa. Tako = Octopus, Wasa = Wasabi. You get the idea right? The dish is served with a tiny bundle of watercress and green onions which creates a fabulous textural contrast. My only problem with it: Why is it so damn small!? Don’t let the picture deceive you, it was basically served in a tiny sauce dish that you would get at your neighborhood pho restaurant. Next up, another deceiving plate of Gyozas. These mothershuckers were the tiniest Gyozas I’ve ever seen in my life! Look at your thumb (hopefully you don’t have an abnormally ginormous thumb), but that’s how big they were! I’m not sure whether to feel cheated, or just impressed that somebody could wrap such minute things. I’m beginning to feel ridiculously large here. Now I know why Godzilla was so angry all the time. Because the Japanese fed him tiny ass Gyozas. Alright, this is much better. It’s why I’m here. Their Hakata Ramen. One thing I absolutely love about Shin-Sen-Gumi is the ability for you to customize your ramen to exactly how you like it. How do you want your noodles? Harder, normal, or softer? Your soup? Oilier or Lighter? You got it! Then you have your add ins. A must for me is corn.Another must? A beautiful poached egg! In it goes! Just breaking the yolk and having it run down every noodle strand in every bite, euphoric. Our final dish was a clean plate of Tuna Sashimi. For a non-sushi restaurant, it’s surprisingly fresh and flavorful. But you know what, I’ll stick to my DTLA restaurants next time.

Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen Scores:
Food: 7/10 - I say just stick with the ramen. The sides will just leave you hungry and wanting more (literally and figuratively).

Restaurant Environment: 6/10 - Maybe it’s my fault for being ginormous, but I just don’t like small cramped spaces.

Service: 8/10 - As with a majority of Japanese restaurants, service is top notch.

Value: 5.5/10 - Again, the ramen I’ll happily pay for. The sides.. not so much.

Overall: 7/10

Angelini Osteria

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:59:00 -0800

Sorry guys, I know I’ve been slackin’ like crazy. I just haven’t had the time to go out and enjoy delish food. So it’s a loss for me too. But I’m going to try and get back into the groove of things. By the way, I haven’t used my cameras in months, and was a bit rusty. Any how, on with the food..

Before a showing of Wicked at the Pantages, where should one eat? Well I’ll tell you what I did. My friend had told me about a stellar Italian restaurant, Angelini Osteria, in Beverly. Ended up nabbing a 6pm reservation (perfect pre-show time), but showed up a few minutes late. No problem. Not only was there ample parking, but the restaurant wasn’t as filled as I imagined it to be.

So before I got to the restaurant, I did a quick Yelp search and discovered that the restaurant was featured on the show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Reading deeper into the reviews, I got a sense that the Lasagna Verde was what I should order (and what Giada claimed to be the best lasagna ever). I’ll be the judge of that.

When we arrived, we were seated at a tiny 2 person table. A bit cramped for LA standards, I felt like I was dining back in NY or SF again.

Also, nothing too special about their interior decor. Pretty bland if you ask me. What’s funny is that they have actually have more items on the “specials” menu than their original. And trust me, the specials menu is where the better looking food was at. The bread was served with a bit of Olive Oil and Balsamic. Pretty norm.My favorite phrase at a restaurant? “Compliments of the chef.” It can always bring a smile to my face. We were started off with an amuse bouche of a Farro Bean Salad. Very playful and a beautiful start. However, it would’ve have been good for the summer, I went in the dead of winter (in LA standards). Wow, what a terrible picture, yuck! I’m going to place the blame on the wonderful bottle of Napa Pinot that I indulged in. But this was the Beef Tartar Crostino with Arugula Burrata. A perfect blend of flavors and textures. I was hoping there would be more Burrata, but that dollop would do. Each bite packed an umami blast of flavor and then was quelled by the herby arugula.Our next appetizer was a plate of Bone Marrow with Saffron Gnocchetti, Asparagus and Aged Balsamic Vinegar. The Saffron Gnocchetti was a winner in my book and I wished a had a large portion of it. Even though bone marrow is one of my most favorite things to eat, the ones here were pretty unappealing. I wish they gave you some crostini or some type of vehicle to eat the marrow with, as well as a sweet contrast to the saltiness. But hey, that’s just my opinion. Here it is ladies and gentlemen, supposedly the best dish at Angelini Osteria. The Lasagna Verde, “Omaggio Nonna Elvira” with Veal and Beef Ragu. Absolutely delicious! The Lasagna was perfectly done, with a ton of flavorful layers. Add in the contrast of the crispy fried spinach and it’s pretty much everything you’re looking for in a dish. This is one lasagna Garfield would wake up on Mondays for. Finally, we ended the night splitting a plate of their Linguine with Sea Urchin, Olive Oil, and Chives. I’ve always loved Sea Urchin (Uni) pasta since Basta Pasta. Unfortunately for us, we had to leave ASAP since we had a date with Wicked. I only got in a few bites, but from what I could tell, it didn’t even come close to the one at Basta Pasta. It was just missing something that could bind all the flavors together.

Angelini Osteria Scores:
Food: 7/10 - A lot of hit or miss dishes, the lasagna and tartare were winners, but the others weren’t exactly complete losers either.

Restaurant Environment: 6/10 - A bit cramped, and lacking on the decorative side.

Service: 8/10 - Our server tried everything in his power to navigate through the narrow spaces to make sure we were doing well. They even gave me a copy of the specials when I asked for it.

Value: 6.5/10 - Maybe it’s because im starting to get acclimated to LA prices, but realistically the dishes were about the same you’d spend anywhere else. Perhaps even a bit less.

Overall: 6.5/10

G Burger

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:04:05 -0800

With all the talks of Father’s Office, Umami Burger, 25 Degrees, etc., the best burger spot in LA may have been right in your back yard all along. Head over to La Habra and walk into an inconspicuous restaurant, and you’ll find yourself in GBurger.Like I said, no need for flashy signs. The blacked out windows adds a bit of mystery.Each burger is made to order and handcrafted right in front of you. A straight no bullshit counter that proclaims, “we’re here to serve you burgers, not obtain Michelin stars.” A nice little sandbox of condiments. To be honest, the only thing I used was that tiny bottle of BBQ sauce. Let’s start with an order of G Style Fries. The only way to explain this concoction is In N Out Animal Style fries on steroids. The G Style fries are topped with Bacon, Grilled Onions, Cheese, and Thousand Island. How wonderful!Oh what? Did you bring your girlfriend to GBurger? Is she complaining how unhealthy everything is? “How can guys eat this?” kind of thing? Feed her this! The Chicken Caprese Burger - A piece of Grilled Chicken with Fresh Mozzarella, Basil, Tomato, Avocado, and Garlic Aioli. That should keep her satisfied for a while. The wonderful thing about GBurger is the customizations. Sort of like The Counter, but better.. I started with a Bacon Cheeseburger with Bleu Cheese, then added some Teriyaki Glazed Onions and a Fried Egg. Now this is a burger! The patty is perfectly cooked and extremely juicy. The fat slabs of bacon add that flavor punch. Seriously, how good is Bleu Cheese on a burger? Let me tell you, Freaking good!

If you’re feeling daring and can have the heart to take it, try “The G Burger.” It comes with 2 patties and basically whatever you can throw on that sucker. Want some chili fries in your burger? Sure! But don’t say I didn’t warn you..

GBurger Scores:
Food: 8.5/10 - They know what they’re doing when constructing a burger, everything is cooked to perfection.

Restaurant Environment: 6/10 - It’s the classic epitome of “hole in the wall”

Service: 8/10 - I mean there’s not much service, but my second time there, they gave me an order of chili cheese fries free just because they made extra.

Value: 8/10 - After all the fix-ins the burger comes out to around $7-8. Not too shabby.

Overall: 8/10

Tsuruhashi

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:59:00 -0700

Tsuruhashi? Anjin? Tsuruhashi? Anjin? The feud rages on. It’s time for me to put my stamp on this little food quarrel.I should actually rephrase, this feud is mainly fired by a certain group of friends that are true Tsuruhashi zealots. The Yakiniku concept is relatively similar to Anjin. The floor layout, the table setting presentation, and even the menu looks familiar (but how much can Yakiniku differ?) One thing I can absolutely vouch, the service at Tsuruhashi is unquestionably top notch. Even though they are all incredibly busy, they always seem attentive and know exactly when you need something. Enough with that, let’s start with the grub!The Tsuruhashi House Salad. As soon as we ordered the salad, we were asked if we wanted to divide it into 3 separate servings (see! great service!) I’m gonna have to admit though, there isn’t anything quite special about the salad. However, it does serve as a great warm up to all the meat you’re about devour.One of the must order dishes every time you come to Tsuruhashi, the Yukke - which is Seasoned Rib Eye Sashimi with Quail Egg and Apple Slices. The result after mixing everything together is absolutely heavenly. The sweetness of the apples are perfectly balanced with onion slices and savory rib eye. Get it! You won’t regret it!Lookie here, another must order! Their famous Prime Outside Skirt. Ughhhhhh.. these puppies are packed with flavor, but still retain their tenderness (something hard for this type of cut). This was probably plate 1 of many, you gotta keep these coming!Sometimes I feel a bit cheap to get white rice ($2.50 for small, $3.50 for regular), and I just get the Bibimbap instead. Looking back on it, I’ll just get the regular white rice and enjoy the delicious meat with that. Natural Sausage? It’s just damn hot dogs! Delicious damn hot dogs!! I find it kind of weird that Japanese people love ordering dishes like this, oh well, to each their own. They’re good, but $6 good? Nah, I don’t think so.How freaking delicious does this Berkshire Pork Rib look? Well let me tell you, it’s abso-freaking-lutely delicious! Heed my advice, please don’t cook it well done! The cubes of meat are buttery soft, and it even comes a giant bone for you to gnaw on afterwards.While everything is grilling, let me take some time to give you some quick advice:

1. Always use the knob of fat that they provide to grease your grill! Afterwards, you get a unctuous medallion of fatty goodness.

2. If you come Mon-Thu, you can order the Family Set which comes with Rib Eye, Outside Skirt, Boneless Short Rib, and Chicken. I think it’s definitely worth at $27.

3. Ask for garlic to put in your sauce and on the meat! Remember to get the Garlic Paste, and not the Grilled Garlic (which they’ll charge for) unless you want to eat it.

4. Try new things!!! The Pork Cheek, Prime Beef Tongue, Rib Eye Roll are all delicious dishes!

Ok let’s finish up this meal!

Remember when I said to order the Family Set? Well here you go! Look at them apples. Honestly though, if I could switch out the chicken, I’d do it without a doubt. I’m not saying that the chicken is horrible, I’m just saying everything else is just so damn delicious. Let me just leave this here. Prime Boneless Short Rib. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

So.. what’s better? Anjin or Tsuruhashi?

I’m going to disappoint you guys, but I think both places are absolutely perfect. Anjin is more clean cut and tailored towards an “American” crowd. Where the cuts are completely uniform. One think I do dislike about Anjin is the giant crowd. But I also love the convenience of being able to put down your name, and then heading over to South Coast to burn some time while you wait for their phone call.

Tsuruhashi is more rough around the edges. You want meat? You got it! They don’t give a shit whether each slice is exactly 1oz or whatever (not saying Anjin does). You want a wider selection of awesomeness? You got it!

I think Anjin would edge out Tsuruhashi by just a hair, just because of the convenience of location (since it’s closer to me too). But this is in no way saying Tsuruhashi is inferior. You can’t go wrong with either!

Tsuruhashi Scores:
Food: 9/10 - A meaty cornucopia of heaven! Just make sure you bring a good cook that doesn’t overcook your food (Ahem! Me..)

Restaurant Environment: 7.5/10 - Located in a boring strip mall with nothing around, but again. I love yakiniku!!

Service: 9/10 - Shower me with attention! I love it!

Value: 7/10 - It’s not going to be your cheapest meal, but you’ll definitely not leave thinking, “I just spent that much for that?”

Overall: 8.5/10

Musha

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 17:44:42 -0700

After coming back from glorious San Francisco trip, my friend picked me up from LAX and asked what we should do? Well… we’re semi close to Santa Monica, so let’s head there and eat! When she brought up izakaya, I was sold. I know I’ve said this many times, but it’s definitely one of my favorite styles of cuisine. Located at the corner of 4th and Wilshire, Musha is a local hotspot to those that just want to unwind after a lengthy day of shopping. As soon as I got to the restaurant, I put my name down and they also took down my cell phone number. Took a relaxing stroll around 3rd Street Promenade and waited for their phone call. On a negative note, Musha had to sit my friend and I at the worst little table in the restaurant. However, halfway through my salad, they asked if I wanted to change tables (but mainly because they needed our table to sit a larger party - a win win).So that’s the story behind the half eaten Seared Albacore Tuna Salad. The salad was pretty mediocre and what you’d expect. Nothing really tied together, it just felt like a quick salad and vinaigrette with some sliced albacore on top.Lookie here! Tofu Nuggets! With their own Sweet Chili Sauce. Move over McDonald’s these are taking the world by storm. Not really… I don’t understand why vegetarians try so hard to imitate meaty foods. I mean, I guess they were edible, but I’d rather get an order of a 20 piece at the same price thank you very much. Grilled Salmon! I’m gonna say it again, Asian-style fish is the best! Ask for a side of ponzu and daikon!

Musha’s Risotto. Ok, this is pretty damn good. Tossed table side in a wedge of Parmesan. Add in some bacon for that umami twist and toasted bread crumbs for that unexpected crunch.

Musha Scores:
Food: 7.5/10 - This is a bit tough, the food here is a bit average (only thing better was the risotto). But for a Izakaya, it ranks towards the bottom.

Restaurant Environment: 6.5/10 - Packed with people up in the front, and a few scattered tables. Doesn’t have the izakaya bar feel.

Service: 6/10 - Although it worked out in favor this time, asking a patron to switch tables mid-meal is a no-no.

Value: 6.5/10 - Everything I ordered was priced under $10, but when you remember everything is a small dish, it racks up.

Overall: 6.5/10

San Francisco: Wayfare Tavern

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:30:28 -0700

One question I get asked a lot: “What’s your favorite restaurant?” I’d like to clarify that my favorite restaurant is not necessarily the best restaurant I’ve been to. Sounds a bit weird right? Let me try to explain. I’ve had my share of 3-star Michelin spots, best meals of my life? Abso-fucking-lutely. However, they don’t make my favorites list. Why? Because it isn’t realistic. It’s not like im loaded with cash and can pony up $200-300 per meal every day/week/month, nor do I expect my friends to. A favorite restaurant means one that I can revisit anytime and however many times and have the same pleasures as the first time I went. I expect it to be a restaurant where I’m confident in recommending to friends, and am sure that they’ll have a marvelous time just as I did, with or without me. What does any of this have to do with this post? Well.. Wayfare Tavern is one of my favorite restaurants. I know I’ve done this post already, but I just love this place so much. If I were to ever open a restaurant, it would probably be a carbon copy of Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern. Enough with the semantics (you can read about it in the other post), on with the food. The popovers were just as rich and fluffy as I remembered them to be. However, this time, I asked for seconds.The Steak Tartare with French Mustard Dressing, Shallot, Capers, Organic Egg Yolk, Tabasco and Greens. Interesting how they served it with extra toasted popovers instead of the usual toasted baguettes. But hey, it works. I don’t think anybody could be disappointed with this dish. Unless you’re vegan. In that case, please go DIAF! (google it)… Ok fine, I apologize to the vegans out there. You happy?ENext, we have the Wayfare Burger “Le Grand.” What’s the Le Grand for? No Idea. But the burger is a Grass Fed Proprietary Grind, Mt. Tam Cheese, Roasted Onions, Smoked Bacon, and Herbs with a Homemade Brioche. I also opted for the Petaluma Egg for another $2. Again.. what are half of those things? I’m going to be honest and say I have no freaking clue, but together they make a great burger. One can almost say.. a grand burger! One slight faux pas, the burger doesn’t hold together very well, which to me, is a crucial aspect of being a burger. The burgers are served with some deliciously made fries (or perhaps, pommes frites). A little pretentiousness never hurt anybody! The fries have a great crunch and a soft body. Being perfectly seasoned helps a bit too. Creamed Corn! Yay!No Wayfare Tavern post is ever complete without a picture of their now famous Fried Chicken. Made with a Buttermilk Brine, Roasted Garlic, Crispy Wood Herbs and Lemon - it’s still if not the best, one of the best fried chickens I’ve ever had.

The restaurant and the food haven’t changed at Wayfare Tavern, so why should the score? It’s a perfect 10/10 in my book.

San Francisco: Bistro Central Parc

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:55:44 -0700

One thing I absolutely love about SF? Don’t know what to eat? Flip open your phone… wait wait… actually I guess this day in age, it’s slide and unlock your iPhone. Open up your Yelp app, and search your little heart away. Chances are, it’s going to be a great restaurant. That’s exactly what I did, and I came across a gem.Enter Bistro Central Parc to my story, a tiny french bistro in the heart of NOPA. When I say tiny, I do mean tiny, but that just enhances that family style atmosphere. It’s the type of place where you can pop open a bottle of wine, clank a few glasses and laugh your night away.Dinner is served with a few warm French Bread Rolls and butter.What’s more French than French Onion Soup? But seriously, this is the blandest french onion soup ever. The flavor is only kept afloat by the sweetness from the onions. Never have I thought I would have to say this at a French restaurant, but could you pass the salt please?Lookie what we have here, a Brandade of Cod. Just imagine a creamy spinach and artichoke dip witha touch of cod, and that’s what we have. It’s a perfect pair with the french rolls served earlier.Let’s move on to the mains shall we? And let’s start off with a bang, the Tournedos Rossini or simply put Filet Mignon with Foie Gras. This dish isn’t on the regular menu and is part of their daily specials. Now, I’m usually very much against Filet Mignon, but my goodness, this dish was heavenly. The steak is served with a port wine reduction over a soft pillowy bed of mashed potatoes, topped with decadent foie gras and some more crispy fried potatoes. Each bite consists of tender filet, buttery foie gras, and a touch of sweetness from the reduction, perfection.Next we have what they call Risotto aux Coquilles St Jacques, aka Risotto with Lobster Sauce and Scallops. Amazing… what else do I need to say that the picture can’t do? This is seafood risotto to the max. The risotto was a bit too al dente, but hey who am I to complain for a dish that’s less than $18?Finally, we have perhaps the worst dish of the night, Cassoulet de Toulouse. A stew of white beans, different pork items, and served with duck confit. The cassoulet had potential, but when paired up against the other dishes it’s like a minor league player in a big league game, it just can’t stand up.

Bistro Central Parc Scores:
Food: 8/10 - It would’ve been a bit higher if we didn’t order the Cassoulet.

Restaurant Environment: 9/10 - It’s French.. Bistros are supposed to be small in France, that’s what makes it great.

Service: 8/10 - Although our table wasn’t ready by the time we got there, the manager clearly explained that they were trying to get us a larger table, no harm no foul.

Value: 8.5/10 - Honestly, $17.50 for that Risotto? $28 for the Filet? Not too shabby.

Overall: 8.5/10

San Francisco: The House

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:43:28 -0700

I was really debating whether or not to create this post. Mainly because the photos are absolutely horrendous. Please don’t judge..this was after a 6 hour drive to San Francisco, after minimal sleep. Oh well, on with the show..Enter into this story.. The House. One of the most highly touted restaurants in eater friendly San Francisco. The actual restaurant is a bit tiny. On a side note (although this may sound bratty), but when you see someone enter your restaurant with a camera, please give him the most well lit seat. Not the one all the way in the dark back corner.To start off the night, we were presented with a plate of pickled cucumbers.. or should I just call them pickles. Te menu at The House.So here we go with the terrible pics. Roasted Unagi with Avocado Sushi Rice. De-Freaking-Licious!!! Everything I love in sushi all rolled into one! The unagi was sweet and the avocado sushi rice was smooth and creamy.Next up is the Classic Fried Calamari. What can I say about this dish? It’s just calamari, nothing to see here..Ugh, awful pic. Anyways, this is the Angus Rib Eye Steak with Housemade Teriyaki and Toasted Garlic Butter. It’s not quite as amazing as the name puts it out to be.One of their signature dishes, The Grilled Sea Bass with Garlic Ginger Soy. That garlic ginger soy is something out of this world. The Sea Bass is moist and flakey. The sea bass is served with snow peas and rice noodles. Finally, we have the Warm Wasabi House Noodles with Angus Flat Iron Steak. The noodles were absolutely delectable! I think this dish could’ve done without the kimchi-esque cole slaw. The steak didn’t really tie into the dish, it just seemed like a protein that they added in to turn the dish into an entree.

The House Scores:
Food: 7.5/10 - The food here has flashes of excellence, as well as some times of normalcy.

Restaurant Environment: 4/10 - A tiny little nook in the corner of the restaurant next to the bathroom and kitchen? Not a pleasant space.

Service: 6/10 - Had to wait a bit to be seated at my shitty table. No bueno.

Value: 7.5/10 - Entrees under $20, and apps under $10, not too shabby.

Overall: 6/10