Eegees in Tucson, AZ

Its a hundred degrees here in Tucson! What I've learned is that you cool down with an Eegees, a HUGE slushy drink that literally freezes your brain. Its the only way to beat the heat here, along with some COLD SNAP YOGURT (more on that later). But my absolute favorite thing about Eegees? Pizza Fries! Little itty bitty crinkle cut fries with pizza sauce, cheese and ranch! Gimme a break, I'm on vacay! ;)

Arroyo Chop House - Pasadena

Ever since I planned a steakhouse birthday dinner for 20 for my bestie, Margarita, last summer it has become one of our staples when jase and I decided we want a nice steak dinner. As I have stated before, jase is very into being "old man" (i.e. Extra dirty martinis, boat shoes, dinner jacket) and this place suits him perfectly. Not to say Arroyo Chophouse is an old man joint, no no, I'm just saying it's a nice classic change from all the modern wonders of Hollywood.

One of my favorite things here is the pineapple martini ($12). They infuse their own pineapple vodka so it's served perfectly sweet, tart and chilled. Another must get is the garlic bread ($6). Trust me on this one, I don't have a photo, but I have the breath to prove it. Hah just kidding. We also shared a photoless chopped salad ($13). Yummm

What photos DO I have?




A perfect medium rare cowboy rib eye. We split it because it is HUGE. According to them, the reason why the steaks are sooo delicious is because the are the ONLY restaurant in Southern California that serves, exclusively, the highest grade of beef available - USDA Prime. So next time I'm at Mastros, Mortons or Ruths Chris, I'm gonna see what grade beef they have out of curiosity.

Oh, those huge onion rings ($8) were soo good. I hate when the onion ring falls apart and you end up having an onion hanging from your mouth and the breading in your hand, these are perfectly held together rings! And if you're getting potatoes, choose the scalloped ($8).





For dessert, homey apple pie ($9)!! It was practically swimming in a yum caramel sauce. The ice cream to pie ratio was perfect. How could an apple pie that looks like this go wrong? It didn't.

Arroyo Chop House
536 S. Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, CA

Cafe Santorini - Old Town Pasadena

For my birthday last year Jason organized a fantastic dinner party here and I remember telling him drunkely, "we have to come back for the food again, because I think its good, but I can't really taste anything!" Haha, silly me. So this past weekend we went to celebrate a special day and I must say - my intoxicated tastebuds did not do me wrong, it WAS good! I ordered the seafood cioppino and it was the best I've ever had! Succulent seafood, tasty sauce, perfectly cooked linguine. Yummm.

Chick-fil-A

I love exploring out of LA, especially on the weekends cause, let's face it, anytime I can get away from a million cars on a 3 lane freeway with construction, I'm a happy girl.

We ventured out to the IE - inland empire about 30 miles east, and settled in at a fun mall named Victoria Gardens. Did some amazing shopping there, and how could u not? Urban Outfitters, Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Apple store, American Apparel and Jasons fave MAN store - BASS Pro Shop which literally takes up an entire city block.

But the more important story is - what's for dinner? PF Changs, Yardhouse, Cheesecake Factory, yep they have all that, but didn't I see a Chick-Fil-A on the way here??? Chicken sandwich + waffle fry heaven?! I love you! We don't really have many Chick-fil-A's in LA, actually I've never actually seen one. I've had it once on the drive to Arizona and have very fond memories of dipping those nuggets into their rainbow of sauces. Mmm, moral of the story: see chick-fil-a, stop and eat.
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Cafe Habana NYC

Our faaaaavorite food so far! This corn can't be beat! I'm a self-professed corn freak (canned green giant niblets are my fave snack). This corn was amaaazing and easily beats every other corn on the cob. Cheesy, crunchy and a little heat from the cayenne powder, sooo deeelish. We said we wouldn't eat the same thing twice but we might just have to make an exception for this yummy corn!

Dominos New Pizza

Today was the classic case of see it, get it, eat it. Jason and i spent a lazy sunday watching football and the new Dominos pizza commercial came on. they said they revamped the whole thing and created a better crust, better sauce and an all new cheese mix. really? we decided to put it to the test. $5.99 for a medium 2-topping pizza, you really cant pass it up. the only catch is you have to order two. done.

j's : pepperoni, sausage, mushroom. normal cheese, normal sauce.

mine: ham, pineapple, diced tomato. easy cheese, extra sauce.

MMM.

the only real difference i could taste was the crust cause it was garlicky (yum). but the sauce was really tasty. i dont know how different it is from the old one, but the new one is pretty dang good.

Palate

i love date nights. i love date nights especially when i don't have to choose the restaurant. I'm definitely the worst picker ever. i always want a little bit of this, a lot of that, dessert from this one place and omg where was that place with the awesome drink? I really should live in a food court. Jason has to deal with a lot of my spaz so he usually has a place in mind when he asks me to dinner. "What about that one place we used to pass by in Glendale? Plate? Taste?" Palate, i say and i think its funny that when we used to hole up in nearby Eagle Rock we'd drive by ALL THE TIME and never think twice to go. Now that we've moved out of the vicinity, we go back. Obviously i was intrigued, given that Palate is also a wine bar.

I was a tad too overwhelmed by the copious amount of wine that was being offered on the wine list that i freaked out and ordered a "chinese democracy cocktail" instead. Why the freak out, i dont know. just thought a lychee vodka drink would be a good starter. Jason went with his classic extra dirty vodka martini. ice cold please.

For the appetizer, you really can't go wrong with the Porkfolio, a series of smoked meats (prosciutto, salami etc.) that went exceptionally well with my now acquired Savignon Blanc. It comes with homemade crisps which were light, crunchy, airy and perfectly matched the flavorful meats.

Porkfolio

$12

(pardon the terrible photos, it was a dark place and it was embarrassing to whip out my swarovski encrusted 3d hello kittyfied blackberry of a phone. with flash nonetheless)

Moving on the the mains:

I decided early on i'd love the Black Cod with braised celery (omg, YUM), garlic confit, sweet potato (yum) in oyster mushroom vinaigrette (a little tangy on its own, but when coupled with the other elements of the dish it was a perfect bite).

$17

Jason's dish was also great. Day boat scallops with calamari, brussels sprouts, hazelnuts and guava. Hazelnuts and guava were def interesting but whatever the sauce was on that plate, it was moneeey.

$18

Too bad we had a movie to catch cause i would have loved to try their desserts here. i can imagine me and my girlfriends coming here for wine, dessert and girl talk.

Good job, palate i'll be back for more.

Menu Updated Weekly

www.palatefoodwine.com

Animal

It was my dear cousins birthday last night and she opted to do a small dinner of the 4 of us and we met at a new hip, hot, YUM restaurant named ANIMAL. You know, the name is funny but it really ties into their menu. i can honestly say that its one of the few restaurants i know that integrated their name into the food they serve. They pretty much use all parts of an animal, like pig ears, chicken livers and pig tail. It may be unusual, but it really is the combination of the flavors on the dish that really hit the mark. So between to four of us, i think we ordered a good amount of food and we were literally rolling out the front door after the dessert, Bacon Chocolate Crunch Bar (yep, BACON CHOCOLATE. more on that later ... )

For Appetizers we ordered :

Pig Ear, Chili, Lime & Fried Egg ($10)

i really enjoyed this dish! the combo of spicy and sour added to the crunch of the pig ear. i was a liiiitle grossed out about eating pig ear cause thats a dog treat that we give the dog, but it tastes really good!

Poutine, Ox Tail Gravy, Cheddar ($15)

Oooh, Poutine. i don't even know what a poutine is but every poutine i have from here on out will have to live up to the goodness of THIS poutine. Like my cuz says "its like high end chilli cheese fries". Oh man, the tenderness of the ox tail the flavor of the gravy, melted cheese on top of FRIES? forget about it, best thing on earth. MUST get.

Melted Petit Basque, Chorizo, Grilled Bread ($11)

This was yummers as well. Lots and lots of oozing cheese with chorizo sliced thinly like salami and with that homemade thick rustic bread catching all of the fat you cant go wrong. Perfect size for 4 people.

Pork Belly, Kimchi, Peanuts, Chili Soy, Scallion ($12)

FAT at its FINEST. a big slab of pork belly conveniently cut into 4 pieces with a slaw of kimchi and peanuts on top. When you bite into you feel the fat ooze out of the meat and run down your throat, but somehow you're not scared. you're not scared that your pants quite possibly wont fit the next day. you're not scared that your heart might all of a sudden clog up. you're not even scared that the fat has left a film of "natural chapstick" on your lips ( as jason says). because it is WORTH IT.

Entrees:

Balsamic Pork Ribs, Succotash, Herb Butter ($37)

First of all, forgive me for my horrible photo of the ribs. i really didnt do it justice, but if you had two boys hovering over your shoulder with knives and forks, you'd snap fast and not ask to retake also. Second of all, there really was no point for knives and forks because once you get ahold of the bone, the meat falls right off. Seriously, it was perfectly cooked. and the balsamic glaze gave it some unexpected sweetness. I also didnt get a picture of the Succotash cause apparently the boys said "we dont eat green things". Ah, boys.

Foie Gras Loco Moco, Quail Egg, Spam, Hamburger ($35)

Isn't the little quail egg cute? i dont know how they do it here, but the eggs are cooked so nicely. no brown edges or anything. anyways, this was an interesting dish. you can totally taste the foie gras, which is a good thing ( i think. ive never had it before so it was interesting) but it really is all the flavors together that makes this dish. We cut it up into quarters and each took a bite and it was a one bite wonder. delish. and i swear those little red dots are sriracha hot sauce, but i dont think anyone believed me ...

And the Grand Finale, Dessert:

Bacon Chocolate Crunch Bar, S&P Anglaise ($7)

The first time i heard of this dish was on the Food Network Show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and the whole show was about bacon. So Duff declared that this was his fave bacon dish. When i saw it i was like, thats so freakin weird. why would you eat bacon with chocolate? I would never eat bacon with chocolate! So when i saw it on the menu, i was like wait, was this the place on the show?! omg, im totally going to try it. I'm SO glad i did. i think i was probably one of the best desserts i've ever had. Mostly because i usually don't order things that i can make myself. and im so over chocolate molten cake ... ANYWAYS, bacon and chocolate. what a wonderful surprise. crunchy bacon bits on top of a rich chocolate bar with a drizzle S&P anglaise, which my clever cousin decoded as Salt&Pepper anglaise. it was really really good.

Family!

So after all those dishes, i really recommend this place. i feel like my culinary tastebuds have been heightened and you really do feel like your are dining on a dish that could easily win Top Chef. The restaurant is small and open for dinner only, so make your reservations early!

ANIMAL

435 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323) 782-9225

Open Seven Days A Week

Sunday - Thursday

6pm-11pm

Friday - Saturday

6pm-2am

* PS, they use organic/local ingredients and their menu changes seasonally.

B Restaurant & Bar, San Francisco

Finally, vacay!! Jason and I have been working so hard at our jobs (2 jobs for me) that we really haven't had a chance to hang out so memorial day weekend we took off to our beloved SF.  We had an early flight and got all settled in at noon and decided to explore our surroundings.  Our hotel was on Market street and saw some huge building called the Metreon nearby and walked towards it.  We stumbled across this beaaaautiful glass house of a restaurant and oh my, the food was delissssh :)

Love On

Grey Goose Vodka, Fresh Raspberry Puree, Pineapple Juice

Such a great afternoon delight!

Halibut Ceviche

Fresh Halibut, Mango, Tomato, Avocados, Red Onions

Hands down the best ceviche i've ever had! it was so fresh 

and clean tasting, super refreshing and the homemade

potato chips gave it a modern taste

Truffle Fries

I've never had anything truffle before and one of my goals is to

eat up Spago's Roasted Chicken with Black Truffles, but for now

these yummy fries were a hit in my book! 

The truffle oil drizzled on top was light tasting but gave it great flavor, 

paired with the garlic aioli it was fantastic.

Panini with Prosciutto, Mozzarella and Mustard Seed

w/ baby green salad

Jason love love loves panini, so this was a great for him.

Farfalle Pasta with Pesto Chicken

i usually order pasta with a tomato sauce, but this stuck out to me

and i decided to step out of my comfort zone. i loved it! 

the flavor was bold, the pinenuts added a great crunch and

 the bowties reminded me of my childhood !

it was so nice to have lunch in a glass house, 

we will be back B Restaurant!

Daikokuya - Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

One of my favorite places to eat in J-town is Daikokuya. they are open until at least midnight so it totally fits into our weeknight schedule. there is almost always a wait, which i dont mind cause its just so yummy.  sitting at the bar at Daikokuya reminds me so much of the time when jason and i were lost in tokyo so we ended up at a ramen joint and had the best ramen of our lives.  we might never get the chance to go back partly because we are both so busy, but mostly because we dont remember what that place was called, or even which part of tokyo it was located at.  boo, but at least we will always have Daikokuya ...

i order tuna rolls ($4) almost everytime i see them on a menu cause they are my fave. 

i drench them in lo-so soy and some wasabi, yummmmy.

these gyoza (5.95) pork & veg dumplings, are the best things ever!

they are shaped differently than normal gyoza because they are made in-house fresh everyday, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. perfecto.

aah, the long awaited Daikokuya Ramen (8.50).  A tonkotsu soup base made of boiling pork bones, fat and joints it is super flavorful and soothing.  Combined with the special ramen egg noodles, pork belly, bamboo shoots and my favorite part: the perfectly marinated hard boiled egg, this bowl of goodness truly hits the spot.

(i usually dont like photos of half eaten food, but i just had to show how perfectly boiled this egg is ... )

Go get some Daikokuya!

Review: Pizzeria Mozza - Los Angeles

Jason got us reservations at Pizzeria Mozza on Friday night and i was totally stoked because this place takes advance reservations and its rare that you can get a table the day of, but we lucked out cause someone cancelled. yay!  Created by Mario Batali and Nancy Silverton, Pizzeria Mozza is a more casual version of their adjacent Osteria Mozza.  With almost 20 different gourmet pizzas, its hard to choose just one or two while you have equally enticing antipasti as well.  We ended up with ...

Mozza Caprese ($12)

sooooooooo good. 

the mozzerella was fresh and silky and the tomatoes were the sweetest tomatoes i have ever tasted. they're still on the vine! the pesto on the mozzarella was light which i loved because it didnt have an overpowering "pesto" taste.

Fried Potatoes, Ceci & Herbs ($8)

i dig potatoes. any kind, any way. these are probably my favorite on earth surpassing Mcdonald's French Fries (a toughie to beat).  Roasted perfectly on a bed of fried Ceci (garbanzo beans), amazing.

Prosciutto di Parma, Rucola, Tomato and Mozzarella Pizza ($15)

This is why Pizzeria Mozza is the BEST place for gourmet pizza in LA. 

This is why their advance reservations can reach up to one month. 

This is why Mario Batali is amazing!

i obviously couldn't resist a fine heap of prosciutto and when it tops fresh mozzarella and the best pizza crust i've ever had, it is pure perfection on a plate. we also ordered an equally amazing Panini with Mortadella, Prosciutto di Parma, Finnochino & Aged Provolone ($14) which i didnt get a decent photo of because it was devoured so quickly.

i also have to note that the bartenders here are amazing with wine pairings as i have overheard a couple of conversations around the bar that centered around the wine.  with a huge wall full of whites and reds, its hard to resist. for some odd reason, i actually resisted and ordered a special prosecco with grapefruit and lemon peel. it has a bellini kind of feel, but fresher and more tart. delicious.

i am counting the days until my next Pizzeria Mozza experience and i should probably make reservations. like now.

Review: Katsuya - Glendale

love love LOVE sushi. its absolutely my faaaave food and i would eat it three times a day, seven times a week for a whole month if i had the chance (or the funds).  and the funny thing is im not even a sushi snob.  i'll eat those assorted ones in a box that you can get at Mitsuwa, i'll try out a 4-5 star place that people love on Yelp and i'll even get takeout from Kabuki to savor all by myself for lunch (not something im proud of, but it makes me happy).  

When Jase and i feel like classying it up, we head to Katsuya. i know there are many people that dont really like Katsuya, but for some weird reason their Special Katsuya Roll ($15) has got me hooked. I really really love cucumber and this one has it all over my fave cuts of fish. i poke out the avocado cause i. hate. it. dont ask me why, and no im not weird.

Jason usually orders Shishito Peppers ($7) as an appetizer and he says Katsuya has the best ones. Im not much or a pepper fan but these are good compared to all the other places we've had them at, so yay for the peppers. i have no idea how they prepare them, to me it looks like someone went a little crazy with the torch that is used for creme brulee. but i could be wrong, they're probably just roasted.

MMmmm, the Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice ($13). Yum. Love. but 4 is not enough ...

this is the Sushi Lunch ($22) which comes with a green salad and miso soup. i think its a good idea cause you never know what youre gonna get its just random pieces of sushi and its a good add on cause you dont have to keep on ordering roll after roll.  this time we got cali rolls (which i poked the avocado out of) and last time we got tuna cut rolls which were awesome.

So it was a great sunday lunch. I just feel like i have to spread a lil love to Katsuya cause it gets such a bad rap and sometimes i feel like the people judging it so much and so hard aren't really enjoying the experience.  I mean, it is a designer restaurant - the decor, the ambiance, the location all come into play.  We all know that the sushi is never going to be as good as Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo or everyone's best kept secret sushi place, but it is what it is: LA Style. and Katsuya does LA style well. 

Review: Gyu-Kaku - Pasadena

i. am. so. full.  we went out for a sunday dinner and im so full that i cant think about anything else other than the fact that i am FULL. Gyu-kaku is japanese style grilling and its a lot of fun because you grill everything yourself.  We ordered our staples: the Harami Skirt Steak Miso, Garlic Butter Shrimp, Filet Mignon, Bacon wrapped Scallops and Assorted Vegetables (totally have to get because of the corn, love corn, and sweet onion to eat with your beef).  but boo, they sold out of my favorite thing ever: Japanese Sweet Potato :( We also tried the new stuff that they have like the Kalbi Soup (i thought it was ok, jason killed it so im assuming he loved it) and the Spicy Tuna on Cripy Pancakes, which i LOVED because it reminded me of the Spicy Tuna on Cripy Rice from Katsuya.  love Katsuya. ah. another meal, another day.

The great thing about Gyu-kaku is you get to sample a lot of different cuts of meat and seafood because they serve 3-4oz portions of each order. The servers are all very nice and knowledgeable about the menu and grilling times and how much you should order.  For first timers they also have set menus so you can try their specialties from appetizers to desserts without having to over think it.  For the two of us it was about $65 :) Yummy times indeed.