Sound Bites 20.0: Northern California

I'm A few weeks ago, HC and I drove up to San Francisco and "wined and dined" (ok, not always wine) our way around northern California.  Here are some of our favorite places from our road trip.


San Francisco

If you like cheese... 

• Cowgirl Creamery Sidekick Cafe & Milk Bar serves breakfast until 10:30am.  We ate these very filling breakfast items:  

  

  Baked Egg Sandwich / Cheese Toasties

• Baked Egg Sandwich with sauteed mushrooms, Gruyere & herbs.  Added pancetta bacon 
  I had to get this because I love mushrooms.  I almost questioned adding pancetta, but everyone thought I was crazy not to, so I did it and I definitely don't regret it.  
• Cheese Toasties - open-faced grilled cheese made with Calbot Clothbound Cheddar with caramelized onions & maple mustard
  Not as small as the name implies.
• Poached Egg on cheese grits
  I thought this was a side item, but it was filling enough to be a meal.  
• Ferry Plaza Farmers Market takes place at the Ferry Building every Saturday (8am - 2pm) and Tuesday & Thursday (10am - 2pm).  I wish we hadn't eaten so much for breakfast because some of the cheese stands were generous with their samples.  

If you want some oysters without the long wait...

• Hog Island Oyster Co. actually has a stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.  You can order from their Raw Bar or even take some home!  
  

If you like creative and tasty bar bites...

• ABV has a standout food menu.  What we ate: 

  

  Goose Salame / Kimchee Fritter

• Goose Salame
  I've never tried goose in the form of salami before and it was great.  Glad it wasn't just the meat alone. 
• Kimchee Fritter
  I thought this would be in the form of several small fritters, but I guess it was listed as a singular fritter, and it was...one big fritter. 
• Falafel Lamb Dog
  So, I thought this was going to be a hot dog of some sort.  I have to admit that I was disappointed when I saw it arrive in the form of two corn dogs because I dislike corn dogs, but to my surprise, it was delicious.  Using falafel to replace the corn bread (which is what I hate about corn dogs) was genius.  This was one of my favorite dishes here.  I was actually craving it the rest of the night.   

If you want good cocktails...

Gran Cobbler / Cool Runnings / Coffee Cup /
El Vampiro / Spanish Negroni

• Forgery has been open for almost two months now.  It's not really close to much, but don't let that deter you because the drinks are great and so are the bartenders.  We drank:
• Gran Cobbler - Gran Lusso Vermouth, raspberries, absinthe
• Cool Runnings - Appleton VX Rum, Byrrh, grapefruit, nutmeg
• Coffee Cup - Coffee-infused Bombay Gin, Pimm's, Thai chile, ginger ale
• El Vampiro - Fidencio Unico Mezcal, Manzanilla Sherry, Creme de Cassis, salt 
  It was my cousin's birthday, so the bartender surprised him with his name in his cocktail! 
• Forged & Bound - Wild Turkey 101 Rye, Montenegro, Galliano Ristretto, green chartreuse, bitters 
  Yes, there was a snake in HC's drink.

If you like toast...

• Trouble Coffee has a damn good cinnamon toast...and coffee, grapefruit juice, coconuts, and a small assortment of pastries.   Hear the fascinating story behind the shop on This American Life. 
  

Sonoma

If you want to pack a picnic...

• Lazzini's Market has a great selection of made-to-order sandwiches, local wine and beer, and the kind of snacks that would make any Whole Foods customer happy.  We got this to munch on with our wine later in the day:
• The Godfather sandwich - hot BBQ tri-tip, pepper jack (HC swapped out the cheddar cheese), pepperoncini, red onions, BBQ sauce and mayonnaise on a soft French roll
  The amazing smells coming from the BBQ grill outside may have been a factor in us ordering this sandwich, but I'm glad we did because the tri-tip was SO good.  Definitely want to try their other BBQ items next time. 

If you like bubblies...

• Iron Horse Vineyards has a great collection of sparkling wines that you can enjoy while taking in their gorgeous view.  My favorites wines were: 
• 2010 Ocean Reserve - 100% Chardonnay
  I usually hate Chardonnays on account of their butteriness (One time I had a Chardonnay that was so buttery it tasted like popcorn. Gross).  I didn't even notice a hint of butter in this wine.  $4 from the sale of each bottle goes to National Geographic's Ocean Initiative.  I love Nat Geo photos and ocean photography, so this bottle was practically begging me to buy it. 
• 2010 Rainbow Cuvée - 69% Pinot Noir, 31% Chardonnay 
  Its release celebrates diversity. 
  

If you want to have wine by a stream...

• Arista Winery has a peaceful Japanese garden along with other spaces where you can relax with your wine.  We enjoyed their: 
• 2014 Ferrington Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley
• 2013 Smokey Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel
  

If you want to impress someone...

• Gary Farrell Winery's Terrace Tasting allows you to enjoy a stunning view of the Russian River Valley from their terrace with a wine flight and cheese pairing.  If you can't get a reservation, the view from the tasting room is still impressive.  
  

If you really love beer...

• Russian River Brewing Co. has pretty much the biggest beer sampler I've ever seen in my life.
  
    

Carmel Valley 

If you have a special event...

• Holman Ranch* is popular for weddings, but they're also equipped to handle events like corporate retreats and relaxing getaways. We: 
• explored the wine cave and got to try some wines from the barrels.  The cave naturally provides cool temperatures, which are effective for storing and aging wines. 
  
• toured the vineyards and the lovely property.
  
• dined at the restaurant they own, Will's Fargo Steakhouse.  It reminded me of The Hitching Post II.  Will's Fargo doesn't just serve steak, they also have: 
  
• French Onion Soup
  In the past I've found this type of soup to be overly heavy on the cheese and extremely salty, but I really liked this version.  Not too salty and the cheese was good.  I actually wish I had more soup when I finished it.  
• Goat Cheese Ravioli, garlic, tomato, Parmesan cream sauce
• Roasted Free Range Chicken, "Sauce Marchand de Vin", potato gratin, mixed salad
  I wouldn't normally order chicken at a restaurant, but this one was actually pretty tasty and I liked having a break from the meat with some salad and potato.
• Warm Truffle Cake, Holman Ranch olive oil ice cream 
  I overheard a guest raving about the ice cream on the way to the restaurant. 
• went to the game room and joined some other guests playing pool and throwing darts to the soundtrack of a jukebox.  I can see why this room is known as the groom's favorite room.  
  
• slept in charming, western-themed guest rooms.  The tranquility of the ranch reminded me of camping...but with the comforts of a hotel. 
  
• ended our stay with a morning hike.
  

More about Holman Ranch:

• Local Adventurer
• Thee Getaway Gal

Song Pairing:
Gooey by Glass Animals

* Holman Ranch was a media sponsored trip. 

Sound Bites 19.0: Central Florida

The last time I was in Central Florida was about 20 years ago.  A lot has changed over the years (hello Wizarding World of Harry Potter!), but some things stayed the same (like my unwavering love for Epcot).  Revisiting the places I went to as a teenager was even more fun as an adult, and part of the fun was discovering new food and drinks.  Here are some of my favorites. 

Food:

• mug of Clam Chowder, Oyster Roll (Celebration Town Tavern) - the restaurant is located in Celebration, a town that thinks it's in New England and is so perfect and clean it's no surprise that it was developed by The Walt Disney Company.  Now I've seen cups of chowder on menus before, but I've never had the soup come out in an actual cup.  I have to say, I liked it.  Having a handle made it easier to pick it up and scoop every last bit of clam chowder.  It was creamy and hearty.  I don't usually eat oyster crackers, but I really loved the saltine cracker flavored ones served here.  The Oyster Roll was overflowing with delicious fried oysters on a delicate split top hot dog bun. 
• Chicken Filet Sandwich, Chili Tots (Moonlight Drive-In) - eating a somewhat disappointing burger the night before turned me off to burgers that day (even though Moonlight's burgers sounded great).  The better-than-Chic-fil-A sandwich was ideal with its perfectly crispy and moist chicken.  And how have I never had chili tots before?  Loved it!   

• Braised Pork (Be Our Guest Restaurant, Magic Kingdom) - since we were unable to get dinner reservations, the quick service lunch was the next best thing.  We ordered our dishes on a touchscreen, and our food magically (well by a homing beacon rose) found us.  The 8-hour Braised Pork, chef's favorite, was extremely tender and the gravy was good on everything.  The dishes were a bit inconsistent with one out of three having hardly any gravy, but the server was nice enough to bring out a whole bowl of gravy (yes, I was jealous!) just for Jennio.  I was glad she shared some of it with us.  With three elaborate dining rooms based on Beast's Castle, we couldn't stop ourselves from taking photos of everything.  
• Pineapple Float with Orange Vanilla Dole Whip Swirl (Aloha Isle, Magic Kingdom) - pretty much an Orange Julius Dole Whip in pineapple juice.  Drool....  Wish Disneyland had this.  Oddly, you're not allowed to bring in Dole Whips, or any food for that matter, into the Enchanted Tiki Room, which is one of my favorite pastimes at Disneyland. 

  

  Jennio holding Dole Whip float

• Italian Chili Cheese Fries with Granma's Classic meatballs (Jimmy Meatballs Truck) - I feel like meatballs are the drunk food of the moment, so having them on top of fries with our Cigar City beers was perfection. 

Drinks: 

• Butterbeer (Butterbeer Cart, Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure) - tastes like butterscotch whipped cream atop cream soda.  It was so good, I had to have a second one before the night was over, regardless of the high sugar content.  Worth it.  
• Real Pineapple Milkshake (Moonlight Drive-In) - like having an Orange Julius milkshake, but with pineapple and pineapple pieces.  Mmmmmmm....
• Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Beer (Sommerfest, Epcot) - refreshing for the warm Florida weather.
  
  
• Cookie Dough brown ale (Cigar City Brewing) - if Disneyland was a beer it would be this.  It smelled and tasted like whatever they pump through the air on Main Street.  I regret not bringing a growler of this home.  

Song Pairing: 
Believer by American Authors

Sound Bites 13.2: 1886 Bar @ The Raymond - Winter Cocktails 2014

I get a little excited whenever the season changes because that means 1886 has a bevy of new cocktails to try.  And try we did when HC, Jennio, and I were invited to preview the winter menu inspired by Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are.

Hot: 

• Czech Mate - Becherovka, along with house made tamarind syrup and orange bitters.  Served warm in a signature toddy glass.
  Warms you up like a toddy should.  Love the giant fancy mug.  
• The Snowbird - A blend of rums, accompanied by a hot chai latte.  Garnished with cinnamon. 
  I can imagine drinking this by the fireplace.

Stirred:

• From Prussia with Love - Blood Orange infused vodka, with Lillet Rouge and orange bitters.   
• Memphis Bound - Fighting Cock Bourbon, two kinds tinctures, and garnished with jalapeno bacon. 
  Makes me think of cowboys, especially with the use of Memphis barbecue bitters.  I liked the spicy kick from garnish to drink.  The only downside?  One piece of bacon is never enough for me.
• The Bull's Eye - Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Nocino, and Crème de Cassis.
  Slightly sweetened Manhattan...that I can actually drink (since I'm not usually a fan of Manhattans).  

  

  From Prussia with Love / Memphis Bound / The Bull's Eye

Shaken: 

• Rico Suave - House made fruit and spice mix, served with a Bavarian Hefewizen. 
• Sao Paolo Fix - Cuca Fresca cachaca, muddled lime, and imported preserves. 
  Loved the St. Dalfour French blackberry jam at the bottom.
• Moroccan Exchange - A blend of rums, with exotic North African spices.
  Wonderful aroma and great mix of savory and sweet.  
• Wild Inside - Saffron Infused Gin, mint, and pomegranate.  

  

  Rico Suave / Sao Paolo Fix
  Moroccan Exchange / Wild Inside

Food: 

• Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower with mint-cucumber dip -  
  Nice vegetarian option. 
• Steamed Mussels, angry lady sauce, Chinese sausage - 
  Why don't more mussel dishes have Chinese sausage?  It added a nice touch of sweetness.  Broth was so good, we got extra bread rolls to sop it all up. 
  

Song Pairing:
Wake Up by Arcade Fire
The song always makes me think of the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are.


Past 1886 Posts:

• Sound Bites 13.1
• Sound Bites 13.0

Sound Bites 18.0: Beach Hopping @ Hermosa, Redondo, Manhattan Beach

Hermosa Beach

HC, Wing, and I started out with "mimosas in Hermosa" (the theme that inspired us to go to the beach in the first place) at Scotty's on the Strand.  Scotty's is a cute diner with a nice view of the beach and was the least fratty place (one pub offered 32oz mimosas! :x ) we could find.  Oddly, a waiter started putting down new place settings before we even paid the bill.  There were other empty tables around, so I didn't really understand the need to rush us out of there.  Maybe it was because we only ordered mimosas and a plate of fried clams, which were decent, but made me wish we had ordered their hash browns instead.


Redondo Beach

We decided to do our own lobsterfest with Quality Seafood's great September Lobster Special.  $18 for a 1/4 lb lobster, giant ear of sweet corn, large baked potato, and melted butter.  If you're thirsty, you can even add $2 to get a Pabst tallboy!  This is way more affordable than the lobsterfests I've been too AND you get bigger sides.  This is the last weekend before the special ends, so check it out, especially if you missed all the other lobsterfests.  Just make sure to go to the register where they sell the raw seafood.  We made the mistake of waiting in the long line for cooked food.  We just assumed the longest line would be for the affordable $18 lobster special.  I was surprised people were totally unaware of the lobster deal.

After lunch, we quenched our thirst nearby at Naja's Place.  With 88 beers on tap, it was hard to decide what to drink.  Apparently, it gets rowdy after lunch.  The bar was so crowded when we left, I almost ran into a girl dressed up as a cupcake.  I didn't ask...


Manhattan Beach

HC introduced us to Fishing with Dynamite.  I loved the seaworthy decor and the artwork, as seen behind my refreshing Innocents Abroad cocktail (the sparkling cocktail w/ Starr, passion fruit, lavender & Thai basil reminded me of a passion fruit mimosa).  In addition to our afternoon drink, we had a few "snacks"...

Snacks:

• 1/2 Dozen Peruvian Scallops - some of the best scallops I've ever had
• Sampler Platter - each oyster on the bar.  Wing and I raved about the Kiwi Cup and Coromandel oysters (both from New Zealand), so we were easily persuaded to order more.  Also, loved the ponzu sauce.  I want it with all my oysters from now on. 
• 1/2 Dozen Kiwi Cup & Coromandel - I wanted to try the Kiwi Cup oyster as soon as I read the name.  It turned out to be my favorite oyster off the sampler.  It was crisp and clean.  Wing loved the Coromandel, but I found it a bit salty, though not as salty as the Sweet Petite, which made my mouth pucker.  It was not sweet, merely petite
• Pretzel and Chocolate Bread Pudding - because HC can never leave without dessert.  I'm not really a fan of bread pudding, but this dessert changed my mind with it's mixture of hot salted caramel and cold house made ice cream.  Plus I love pretzels. 

  

  Scallops // Kiwi Cup // Bread Pudding

HC Recommended:
We were too full to try these since we did each have a whole lobster for lunch!

• Maryland Blue Crab Cake - in - house dill pickles, whole grain mustard remoulade
• Key Lime Pie - graham cracker crust and kaffir lime meringue

I see a lunch or dinner here in my future...

It was a fun beach hop, but due to scarce free parking, next time I would park at Manhattan Beach and then make my way over to the other beaches.  However, if we stop at Fishing with Dynamite first, we might never make it to the other beaches.  

Song Pairing:  High Living by Toro y Moi


More Fishing with Dynamite Reviews: 
EstarLA 
Gourmet Pigs
Kevin Eats
LA Weekly
ShopEatSleep 

Sound Bites 17.0: Littlefork @ Hollywood

Located half a mile from Pantages Theatre, Littlefork is a new pre-theatre dining option.  The interior seems to be a modern take on an east coast beach house, which is a refreshing departure from the overused industrial look of almost every new restaurant in downtown LA.  Fortunately, the food there isn't trite at all.  Here are some of my favorites.

Drink:

• James & York - rum, port, lime, pineapple, chesapeake & creole bitters, molasses.  Tasted like a tiki drink. 
  
• Longman & Eagle Old Fashioned - Buffalo Trace bourbon, cherry & orange & Old Fashioned bitters, Demerara sugar, citrus zest.  
OK, so this isn't on the menu, but it's my favorite Old Fashioned and I'm so glad Littlefork imported Dino Balocchi (of Longman & Eagle fame) from Chicago, where I first had this great version of the classic cocktail.  

Food:

• Pickled Beets, Radishes, Brussels Sprouts - they're delicious and come in cute little jars.  The jars line the wall behind the hostess by the entrance, so decoration and pickling are going on at same time.  I wonder if the restaurant lets you buy them to take home...
• Clam Cakes - house tartar sauce.
  Like fluffy little clouds.  So good I got seconds.
  
• Chowder - clams, bacon, oyster crackers.
  I liked how the soup wasn't too thick, and the potatoes and clams were just meaty enough without being overwhelming.  This would be perfect on a chilly / rainy day.   
• Brisket - three mustards.
  The mustard drops looked like little chocolates.  The brisket was tender and flavorful.  It looked like a deconstructed sandwich.
• Duck Breast -braised greens, maple cider sauce. 
  Supple and well-seasoned.  I'm glad it wasn't overly salty, which is how it tends to be at many non-Asian restaurants.
• Maple Eggs - crispy bacon. 
  The sweet eggs and bacon came out in fake eggshells sitting in an egg carton.  Loved the presentation and the dish.
  
• Apple Cider Donuts - apple butter. 
  Clearly the crowd favorite. It looked so pretty covered in sugar crystals.  So delectable with salted caramel and apple butter.  I wanted the entire dish for myself.
  

Littlefork has a lovely patio that I can't wait to enjoy when the weather warms up.  And I hope to try their new brunch menu soon. 

Song Pairing:  Binary Mind by Ra Ra Riot


More Reviews:
Eater LA
E*star LA
Gourmet Pigs
LA Times
LA Weekly
ShopEatSleep


*Media dinner

Sound Bites 16.0: Asiana Grill Yoshinoya @ LA

Growing up, my mom would take us to Yoshinoya for beef or chicken bowls.  I hadn't been there in years (Jennio is a big fan), so I was very curious when we were invited to check out the menu at their new spinoff, Asiana Grill Yoshinoya, by USC.  

I was surprised by the bright, cheery colors and the inviting atmosphere.  It definitely felt more like a sit-down restaurant compared to Yoshinoya's fast food seating.  With free wifi (only at the USC location), I could definitely picture students coming in to study or hang out with friends.

Boasting 180 different combinations of cooking style, protein, and sauce, Asiana Grill is kind of like the Chipotle of Yoshinoya.  If you're like us and have trouble deciding amongst all the choices, you can also have the beloved Original Beef Bowl (you can have it with mushrooms too) or the Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Bowl (which I'm eager to try next time since I love pineapple!).  Here's what Jennio and I had: 

Drink:

Cucumber Lemongrass

• Apple Blossom Green Tea - served hot.  Smelled lovely
• Lychee Lemongrass Flavored Water - nice light flavor.  Wasn't overly sweet
• Cucumber Lemongrass Flavored Water - really good.  Tasted like a lemonade with cucumber.  Roxanna Navarro, marketing assistant for Yoshinoya America Inc., said this was a favorite for most people. I can see myself drinking this on a hot day. 

Food:

• Chicken Wings - crispy and addictive even without the spicy Gekikara dipping sauce.  Like the other appetizers, this would go great with beer.  Unfortunately, alcoholic beverages are only offered at the Fullerton location
• Great Yellow Bun with Charbroiled Chicken Breast - baked fresh daily and served with Asian Cabbage Salad (Napa and green cabbage with shredded carrots, chopped parsley, vinegar and mirin). 
  We had the slider version of this, so we could get a taste of their famous Yellow Bun, which reminded me of a less sweet Hawaiian Bread.  I was surprised by how juicy the chicken breast was.  I hope they add the slider form to their menu because this would be so good with Chicken Wings and beer. 



Chicken Wings / Great Yellow Bun / Lots of Soup / Big Platter

• Lots of Soup with Grilled Chicken Thigh and Ponzu Sauce - lightly sweet Shiromiso base served with grilled white rice cake and fresh vegetable medley (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and cabbage). Topped with scallions. 
  This was pretty much a huge bowl of miso soup with crispy rice.  Even though Lots of Soup seems peculiar to some people, it's actually one of the most popular dishes on the menu.  It was comforting and good on a cold rainy day.  I wish the soup was piping hot because it cooled down pretty quickly, but then again, we were busy taking tons of pictures...
• Big Platter with Udon, Grilled Shrimp, Ponzu sauce - served with plump steamed white rice (when we were there, they offered Jennio choice of rice or udon.  Not sure if they're still doing this), fresh grilled vegetable medley (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and cabbage) and romaine spring salad mix with sliced cucumbers, julienne carrots, scallions and a light Sesame Miso dressing. All topped with Daikon sprouts, sesame seeds and a garnish of red ginger. 
  I was jealous as soon as I had one of Jennio's shrimp.  They tasted great and not in the least bit overcooked.  The grilled udon noodles had a nice salty grill flavor.  Tasted like it sounded, heh.  Jennio said the vegetables tasted like they do at Yoshinoya, which I don't mind.  I actually like Yoshinoya's brightly colored veggies.   
• Mini Cheesecake with Daffy Apple Crush Topping - prepared daily, dipped in rich melted chocolate. Add Daffy Apple Crush topping to your dessert at no additional charge. 
  Smaller than it appears on the menu picture, which is good because it was just enough sweetness to the end the meal without feeling too full.
  
   

When he's not checking in at the 2 locations, Roy Alamillo, corporate chef for Asiana Grill, is testing new recipes.  With his infectious enthusiasm, he discussed some of the dishes he hopes to roll out later this year, such as miso-glazed salmon, sliders, and the substitution of ramen for rice in Lots of Soup. 


More Reviews:
Daily Titan
Sasaki Time

Sound Bites 2.1: Starry Kitchen Nights @ Tiara Cafe, DTLA

Starry Kitchen Nights is the return of Starry Kitchen in the form of a dinnertime popup (sort of?) at Tiara Cafe. Wing and I went Halloween weekend and, sadly, Nguyen Tran wasn't dressed up in one of his famous costumes, but it was probably for the best because he was crazy busy with customers, but not too busy to enthusiastically greet us (wonder if he ever has an off day because he's always such a ball of energy) and point out his f-ing favorite dish.

Unfortunately, there were only two of us, so we couldn't order the extremely popular (you have to reserve it ahead of time) Singaporean Chili Crab.  Being Wing's first time at Starry Kitchen, I had to have her try the other deliciousness on the menu.

What we ate:

Top: 1 - 2, Bottom: 3 - 4

1. Singaporean Chili Crab sauce over rice - a fiery hello from Chef Thi Tran since we didn't order the crab.  The sauce was so spicy, but so good that I am currently gathering a team of eaters to return and obtain the crab in its entirety. 
2. Pineapple Beer Chicken Wing Soup - my all-time favorite chicken soup.  I pretty much went back to Starry Kitchen every time they had this on the menu.  Just when I didn't think it could get any better, it arrived to our table...in a clay pot!  It's probably their best version I've had so far.  Wing loved the fresh pineapple and oh so tender chicken as much as I did.  Nguyen thought I was coming in the day before when they had run out of soup, but, luckily, they had more that night.  I think I would have cried if they were out.  
3. Claypot Carmelized Striped Bass + Pancetta - Wing has a theory that everything tastes better in a clay pot and I concur.  I'm used to having the catfish version, but Starry Kitchen's striped bass version is definitely better.  It was so delectable with the accompanying white rice.  And I'm so addicted to the sauce that even though we finished all the fish, I wanted to get the white rice packed up with the rest of the sauce poured on top.  What?  I ain't gonna waste no tasty sauce!  Jennio ate my leftovers the next day and agreed upon the savoriness.  Nguyen pointed out that this is his f-ing favorite dish on the menu and it's now definitely one of mine.  
4. House-Cured Roast Pork Belly XO Fried Rice - okay, we probably over-ordered for 2 people by the time we got this, but it was good and, by the way, it tastes f-ing good with the Claypot Bass sauce.  

Song Pairing: 
Hip Hop Hurray - Naughty by Nature
Because I always hear something old school whenever I'm at Starry Kitchen


More Reviews:
LA Times
kevinEats
Marian the Foodie

Sound Bites 15.0: TasteLA 2012

Dinner & Drinks

Favorite bites of the night (clockwise):

• Rustic Canyon's Grilled Loin Back Rib with cannellini beans & salsa verde
• Haven's Cola-Glazed Berkshire Pork with smoked creamed corn, Garrotxa cheese, thyme
• Chocolate Hazelnut (gluten free) and Blueberry Earl Grey Fonuts 
• Tom Bergin's BBQ Oyster

Labor Day Picnic

Favorite bites of the day (left to right, top to bottom):

• Sweet Rose Creamery's Bacon with Cinnamon ice cream sliders - okay, so I mostly ate the bacon and ice cream.  Still good!
• Huckleberry's chocolate mini cupcakes
• Bouchon's macarons and brownies
• Haven's Lamb Slider with leek onion jam, tzatziki, onion sprouts, rosemary bun

More Photos:
Cocktail Confidential
Dinner & Drinks
Labor Day Picnic

Sound Bites 13.1: 1886 Bar @ The Raymond - Summer Cocktails

Since my last post, 1886 has become my favorite Pasadena bar and my go-to whenever a wedding ends early (there are A LOT of weddings in the spring and summer.  Also, why waste a good outfit?).  I love the food, cocktails, bartenders, atmosphere, and ease of parking.  So naturally, I was thrilled to reunite with HC and Fiona to try 1886's new summer cocktails.

Vacation Cocktails: 

• La Brigada - spicy chicharrón, smokey mezcal, homemade agave liquer, fresh pineapple and lime served over crushed ice with a shard of frozen coconut water. 
  When Lacey vividly described the inspiration behind this drink (a family trip to La Paz), I was instantly transported to Hawaii and all I could think was "this tastes like a luau..." and extra chicharrón please! 

  

  La Brigada / Tranquilizer (this cup is larger than it appears)

• Tranquilizer - overproof rum and Batavia Arrack with coconut and pineapple. 
  HC calls it a boozier piña colada.

Not for Kids:

• Strawberry Paleta - "pop shot" made using -300°F liquid nitrogen, fresh CA strawberries, cream and rum.
  I love this alcoholic dessert.  I'm glad we each got our own.  
• BBC - Bols Genever Basil Collins. 
  Reminds me of a soda...with my one of my favorite spirits.

Drinks on the Porch:

• Rosebud -  homemade hibiscus liqueur, Benedictine, fresh lime juice and Reposado tequila, topped with Fever Tree’s lite tonic water. 
  Everyone likes a pink cocktail, says Brady.  After having this and his version of a Cosmo (with hibiscus liqueur, people!), I concur. 
• Pimm's #6 - Karlsson's potato vodka and their summer Pimm's recipe topped with homemade sparkling lemonade.

  

  Pimm's #6 / Southern Belle Whistle

• Southern Belle Whistle - hand-crafted soda pop with fresh yellow peaches, floral, sweet black tea and 1886 Buffalo Trace bourbon. Sealed with bubbles in a bottle and served with a wedge of lemon.
  There's a time and a place for this and it's a warm late afternoon on 1886's patio.  

Something a Little Stronger:

• Xocolate - Reposado tequila, Italian vermouth, crème de cacao and a hit of Mexican mole bitters. 
  I was impressed by how chocolatey it tasted even though I knew it was all alcohol.
• Dutch Kills - Bols Barrel-Aged Genever, Italian vermouth, bitters and a dash of apricot liqueur.

Bites:

• Yellowtail Collar "Hamachi Kama" - miso glazed, soy sauce to dip, roasted shisito peppers. 
  We've had this before, but I don't know what they changed because this time it was downright addictive.  We were trying to pick every last piece of meat off the bone.  
  
• Crisfield Bay Soft Shell Crab - crispy blue crab with jerk sauce and seasoning.  

Song Pairing: 
Lilikoi - Paula Fuga


More: 
Better photos in Caroline on Crack's post

Sound Bites 14.0: Oahu, Hawaii

My first time in Hawaii was filled with eating, beaching, and exploring.  I was surprised by the Japanese influence on architecture (some of those apartments and houses looked like they were imported from Tokyo), the lush vegetation (Oahu felt like buildings and streets were just plopped down into plant life, whereas LA has always felt like greenery was struggling to survive in the city), the strong sunshine (I got sunburned sitting in traffic on the way to North Shore), and the beautiful, blue, smog-free skies. 

Here are some of my fond memories of full bellies:

Breakfast: 

• Coco Puff  (Lilha Bakery) - I'm not usually a fan of coconut, but my friend said this bakery was famous for coconut cream puffs and, I have to say, they were deliciously sweet with a chocolate surprise in the center.  

  

  Right: Coco Puffs. They are larger than they appear

• Portuguese Sausage Breakfast (McDonald's) - after my first time having Portuguese sausage, I instantly became

  

  Top: McDonald's. Bottom: Sunny Side Bakery

  a fan.  I still can't decide which I love more:  SPAM or Portuguese sausage. Unfortunately, I accidentally ordered the meal without SPAM, but it was still good.  I love how rice is offered almost everywhere on the island.  The included soy sauce was great on the eggs! 
• Fried Rice Special with Vienna Sausage, Portuguese Sausage, Scrambled Egg; Pear and Peach Combination Pie (Sunny Side Bakery) - 3 of us shared this.  I can't even imagine one person finishing the Fried Rice Special alone.  In hindsight, we should have ordered the egg fried instead, but the scrambled style didn't detract from the tasty fried rice.  Surprisingly, it was the first time we had seen a different preserved meat on the menu:  Vienna sausage.  The bakery is known for their pies and no surprise, we ate it all in its flaky goodness before I could snap a shot.  First time having Hawaiian Sun (I tried Passion Orange drink).  I'm officially addicted.  

Lunch:

• Udon with Okra, Curry Udon with Chicken & Eggs (Jimbo's Restaurant) - friend

  

  Top: Udon w/ Okra. Bottom: Curry Udon

  loved her cold thin udon (first time I had ever seen thin udon).  The simplicity of my Udon with Okra allowed me to appreciate the fresh noodles (made daily, says their sign) although it would have been nice if the okra pieces were cut bigger or left whole.  Jennio's Curry Udon was divine in scent and flavor. 
• Poke (Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors) - not only do they have a good selection of wine, beers, and liquors, but they always have delicious poke!  Wish we had had more time (and stomach space.  This was pre-lunch) for a rice bowl. 
• Long Rice Chicken (Helena's Hawaiian Food) - one of my favorite Hawaiian dishes.  I could eat a huge bowl of it and have this as a replacement for chicken noodle soup. 
• Shrimp Scampi (Giovanni's Shrimp Truck) - best shrimp scampi I've ever had (so good we ate this at both locations) and loved how they topped the rice with garlic.  We could have scared off vampires after this meal.
  
   

Dinner:

• Steamed Ahi Belly (Sushi Ten) - never seen this on a menu in LA before.   I was unused to the
  
  oily sauce the fish was sitting in, but by the end, I wish I had more belly and sauce. 
• Hula Dog (Hula Dog, formerly Puka Dog) - they were very friendly there even though we rushed in 10 minutes before closing.  How did I order my dog? 
1. Taro and bacon bread:  this was a special.  I don't usually like taro, but for some reason I loved taro everything in Hawaii, especially this bread with bacon bits!
2. Polish sausage
3. Garlic lemon secret sauce - mild
4. Pineapple (love pineapple anything!) relish, lilikoi mustard:  sweet and tangy sauce that burst out with the first, and ensuing, indulgent bites
• "Award Winning" Side Style Famous Fried Rice, Pan Fried Island Pork Chops (Side Street Inn) - a mountain of delicious fried rice with char siu, Portuguese sausage, bacon, and veggies.  I regretted not ordering the "Works", which included lup cheong and kim chee.  Ketchup seemed out of place on the pork chops plate, but worked surprisingly well with the crispy chops.
  
   

Dessert: 

• Dole Whip (Dole Plantation) - wish Disneyland served whips with fresh pineapple pieces and in a pineapple cup / coin bank!
  
• Passion Fruit, Lychee, Raspberry with Dark Chocolate Chips Mochi (Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream) -
  
  great flavors and loved that some of them were dipped in chocolate.  Don't know why I haven't seen that here. 
• Pineapple, Coconut, Lemon Flavor with Azuki bean, Vanilla Ice Cream Shave Ice (Matsumoto Shave Ice) - cute shop (yes, we all bought something there. Great merchandise!) and featherlight shave ice with flavors you can actually distinguish, so it's not just coloring. 

Drink:

• Mai Tai (La Mariana Sailing Club) - lovely tiki hideaway that made a great Mai Tai.  Luckily, they start serving drinks early (11AM).  Unluckily, they close early (9PM).  
   
    

Song Pairings:
Mixtape 2.0: Ni Hao Hawaii