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Pier Del Sol - Special Olympics 2016

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Pier Del Sol - Special Olympics 2016

The Special Olympics Southern California offers year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 26,006 athletes in 11 Southern California counties train and compete in 12 Olympic-type summer and fall sports. There is no cost for athletes to participate in Special Olympics.

I'm extremely excited to support Special Olympics Southern California at the 20th annual Pier del Sol fundraiser event on October 9th at Santa Monica. It's a fantastic event hosted once a year with family fun events featuring rides, entertainment, food, silent auctions and more.

 

Below is a little more about the mission and vision of Special Olympics Southern California:

“The mission of Special Olympics Southern California is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Our vision is to provide sports and training programs for any individual with intellectual disabilities who chooses to participate, thereby improving their lives and the lives of everyone they touch.”
— Special Olympics Southern California

Here are all the awesome food that I got to eat. For $175 a ticket, you get spoiled with some of the best restaurants of Los Angeles, meet the athletes (even sing with them), go on rides (for free), get 12 game tickets, and knowing that all proceeds goes towards the programs.

Oysters from Providence / Connie's & Ted is always a favorite stop.

Live music to celebrate the 20th annual Pier Del Sol. 20's themed.

One of my favorite games! Watching awesome special Olympic athletes play.

Children are super competitive.

12 tickets, 12 chances!

Can you guess who won?

Can you guess who won?

Yup..

My brother wins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nook Bistro - Los Angeles/Sawtelle

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Nook Bistro - Los Angeles/Sawtelle

Nook Bistro is the perfect neighborhood spot to get your grub on. When we arrived, it immediately felt like a place you would need to be in the know to find. The restaurant is tucked away in a plaza and extremely easy to miss. So make apple maps or google maps your best friend.

Manhattan

Yes, they have a full bar with a big list of cocktails for you to try. I've decided to switch it up tonight by sipping a Manhattan instead of my usual Old Fashion. It was perfect for the evening. And I honestly just wanted the Luxardo cherry. It's a great treat to have once the drink is finished.

Chicken Meatballs

This was new on the Happy Hour Menu. Generous sized meatballs in a delicious marinara sauce.

Shrimp Tacos

Lightly fried tortilla filled with blackened shrimp, cabbage, roasted poblano pepper, avocado crema. The shrimp had a lot of flavor and packed a lot more wow than how it looks. This item is also in their happy hour.

New Zealand Green Lip Mussel Pan Roast

The New Zealand Green Lip Mussel is cooked with andouile sausage, oven-dried tomato, garlic, herbs and white wine saffron broth. My favorite part was dipping that bread into that saffron white wine broth.

Crispy Fried Calamari

This calamari is fried then tossed in a citrus-soy vinaigrette and served with a wasabi dipping sauce. Fried Calamari is always a go to in my book no matter how overdone it is on menus.

10oz Prime Rib Eye

The prime rib eye is seared to a perfect medium rare served with brandy sauteed apples, mushroom demi-glace, and crispy buttermilk onion rings. Every post workout meal should look like this. Pair this with a glass of wine(s) for the ultimate satisfaction.

Shrimp and Grits

These Spicy Gulf shrimp is prepared with Logan's Turnpike Stone ground grits and linguisa sausage. The sausage was nice and smokey which went really well with the creamy grits. The shrimps were plump and cooked perfectly. If everyone had shrimp and grits, the world would be a better place.

Scallop Risotto

These large dayboat scallops are pan seared and served on top of a shiitake and english pea risotto, slow dried tomato, and shellfish broth. It's fantastic when scallops get a beautiful caramelized sear like this, makes them that much sweeter.

Key Lime Pie

Silky Key lime pie with a blueberry compote and whipped cream. Goes great with a cup of black coffee.

I recommend making reservations.

11628 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 9, Los Angeles, CA 90025

 

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Le Pain Quotidien

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Le Pain Quotidien

Le Pain Quotidien (The Daily Bread) is a Belgium cafe serving baked good as well as their known tartines. I came to this restaurant for the first time when I worked a block away. I was immediately hooked on their cappuccinos. During that time, Starbucks was the only coffee shop that I really knew of. But after having a hot cup from Le Pain Quotidien, it opened up my palate to explore different espressos out there. Besides their coffee beans, I also very much enjoy their food. It's simple, but tasty. It's also not heavy like the American traditional breakfast items.

Here are a few breakfast items that we enjoyed during a lovely Sunday brunch.

Rustic Tuna Tartine

Sliced bread with a slather of hummus topped with tuna, white beans, diced tomatoes and basil pesto. Refreshing with the brightness of the lemon juice. This is a guiltless pleasure, like most of their dishes.

Chicken Chorizo Omelette

A nice and fluffly omelette filled with chicken chorizo and cheddar cheese. I like the like greens to lighten up the dish.

Prosciutto Ricotta and Fig

It sounds so simple, but everything married beautifully. There's no greater breakfast than having prosciutto. I've been obsessed and have been saying yes to everything prosciutto. The dried figs add a nice texture to the soft bread and prosciutto. I also love the arugula. Arugula pairs extremely well with sweet and savory dishes like this. This tartine was ringing as a top hit at our table.

Quiche Lorraine

This wasn't the best quiche I've ever had, but it was still tasty. Served with mixed greens and sliced watermelon radish.

Total for everything was a little over $70 for 4 without tip (only 2 cappuccinos ordered). A little steep, but compensated for good food and good times.

Find a store near YOU:

http://www.lepainquotidien.com/finder/locations/

 

 

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Kings Row - New Menu - Old Town Pasadena

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Kings Row - New Menu - Old Town Pasadena

I've been to Kings Row multiple times the past few years. I am pretty excited to share a few of the new items that Kings will start to serve. To keep this review brief, you can find Kings Row on 20 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105. You can also stumble through the back which I prefer on Mercantile Pl. Keep in mind it's first come first serve. All food and drinks are to be ordered at the bar.

As always, don't forget about their pig roast every 3rd Thursday of the month.

New cocktails launched

There actually wasn't a drink I didn't like. I recommend going with a group of friends and try a bunch of these together. My favorite was their American Gods Old Fashioned. Made with citrus sugar, you really taste the orange peels that they used to create the distinct flavors.

Food:

Great place for food, drinks, and hanging out. They also have live music from time to time. Kings Row is a solid place to go to if you want to hang out in Pasadena. I'll probably be back twice in August. Maybe I'll run into a few of you.

 

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CHIM! Thai Street Food - Pasadena

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CHIM! Thai Street Food - Pasadena

Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines to eat. I love the varieties of chili and spices used in the dishes that can really make me sweat in the hot summer heat or to comfort me during winter chills. Either way, Thai food is craveable during any season.

CHIMS! Thai street food is a newer restaurant here in Pasadena, CA. When my colleagues and I think about where to eat for lunch, CHIMS always get a unanimous yes (Not even kidding). So with that said, I've been here many times. And I've tried many things on their menu which I am highly fond of. Delicious green curry to spicy eggplant. They also have this delicious grilled beef that was marinated in chili and lime juice with sticky rice (heavenly).

Tucked away in a small plaza on 910 E Union St, Pasadena, CA 91106

I'll share more of these items with you as the days go by, but I just want to show you something I had lately.

Su Ko Thai

Su Ko Thai

A soup based noodle dish. Rice noodles, ground chicken, fish balls, shrimp, imitation crab, fish cakes, green bean, sprouts, peanut and chili lime juice. The soup was perfectly balanced from salty to the tartness of the lime juice. This was something to sweat over and compliments well with an iced Thai tea or a young coconut.
Extra spices are served at the condiments bar if you would like to help yourself like I did. I love my food spicy. Eating it up while I still can.

Mango Stick Rice

Mango Stick Rice

This mango sticky rice is one of the best I've ever had. Sweet ripened mango with delicious steamed sticky rice. The sticky rice has the most exotic floral fume that I've never tasted in mango sticky rice. If you have room, I highly recommend you ordering this. If not, order it for the table to share. A definite dish to order when mangoes are in season.

You can find CHIMS! Thai Street food on 910 E Union St, Pasadena, CA 91106.

 

 

 

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