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Water Grill - DTLA Brunch

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Water Grill - DTLA Brunch

Just in, Water Grill (Click for location) spotted in Downtown Los Angeles is not serving brunch. Located on 544 S. Grand Ave, you will find popular brunch items such as Poached Salmon Rillettes (love), to Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (amazing), and Crab Benedict (jumbo lump blue crab yo).

Aside from a tasty menu, they are also serving delicious brunch cocktails worth getting your day spinning. Their popular jaw dropping WG Bloody Mary dressed with an old bay salt rim, chilled blackened shrimp, and thick cut bacon will make you order another just for more bacon. Another popular cocktail is their Ramos Gin Fizz with gin, fresh citrus, egg white, orange blossom, milk/ shaken with vigor and charged with soda. The First Class Flight is a bottle of bele casel extra dry prosecco with carafes of oj, grapefruit & daily agua fresca.

Cappuccino

Water Grill DTLA 544 S Grand Ave Los Angeles, CA 90071

 

 

 

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Big Catch - Alhambra

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Big Catch - Alhambra

Back here again, but it never get's old. Some of the best happy hours in THE AREA serving up $1 oysters. The Big Catch in Alhambra is definitely my favorite location. It's open and airy. Bar seating is open to the outdoors which lets in a nice breeze.

In case you didn't know, Big Catch is part of the EMC Seafood Group. So everyone that loves EMC for their oysters can also enjoy the same quality here. Kumamoto's are the most popular, but I also really love Kusshi.

Take a peak at their raw bar to eye everything you want to order.

This maine lobster is waiting for you.

Their famous Lobster Roll with tarragon butter, sea salt, stuffed inside a grilled brioche bun.

Dirty Fried Rice - Shrimp, Calamari, Salmon, Green Onion, Egg, Lobster meat, Cajun Sauce. Salmon stood out the most, it was perfectly cooked.

Sashimi Sampler - Salmon Toro, Yellowtail Toro, Toro, Sweet Shrimp (Amaebi). Don't forget to eat the shrimp heads. They also used pickled grated wasabi. Sashimi and sushi are extremely fresh. Something I recommend ordering when you come. They also have plenty of seafood creations to try.

2 S. Garfield Ave. Ste. 100, Alhambra, CA 91801

Tel: 626-282-8590

Hrs: Mon-Thurs 11:30am - 12am

Fri-Sat 11:30am - 2am

Sun 10am - 12am

 

 

 

 

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Napa Valley Grille - Westwood

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Napa Valley Grille - Westwood

I've been to Napa Valley Grille before and find how crazy time flies since it's been a year the last time I talked about it. Last year during my first visit, it was for their grand reopening after an amazing 2 million dollar renovation. Now I am back to try a few additions to their menu. 

Here are the new items on the menu:

Dinner Menu

  • Grilled Ancho-Crusted Albacore Tuna
  • Seasonal Harvest Salad
  • Caesar Salad
  • Crescenza Cheese & Serrano Ham Tartine
  • Oven-Roasted Jidori Chicken Breast
  • Bucatini Pomodoro
  • Grilled Prime New York Strip
  • Grilled Wagyu Tomahawk Chop 

Sides:

  • Creamy Polenta
  • Sautéed Brussel Sprouts
  • Charred Marble Potatoes
  • Sautéed Wild California Mushrooms
  • Cavatappi Mac and Cheese

Desserts:

  • Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie
  • Warm Sticky Toffee Date Cake
  • Strawberry Vanilla Mascarpone Cake

Charcuterie - Prosciutto, duck salumi, soppressata, housemade brandied chicken liver pâté, seasonal jam, and charred rustic bread

My favorite bite was a slab of chicken liver pâté on top on the rustic bread with a smear of their jam.

Grilled Ancho-Crusted Albacore Tuna -peppercress, pink peppercorn, lavosh, dill sauc

Prime NY Strip - 14 oz, charred onion-thyme jam, green peppercorn-cognac jus. Cooked Medium Rare.

Charred Marble Potatoes - white truffle, crème fraîche, chive

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts - crispy pancetta, sherry

Strawberry-Vanilla Mascarpone Cake - strawberry jam filling, mascarpone cream

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Chew Noodle Bar - Anaheim, CA

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Chew Noodle Bar - Anaheim, CA

Chew Noodle Bar just opened a few weeks ago and still going through with their soft opening. Their Chef, Amy Pham, competed on Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen (such an intense show). They are currently serving a course menu for $15, but will have a full menu out soon. 

Here's what I had:

Short Rib Gyozas - Very tender, flavorful and decadent. 

Short Rib Gyozas - Very tender, flavorful and decadent. 

Smoky Shishito Peppers - Flash fried with a mild yuzu aioli.

Smoky Shishito Peppers - Flash fried with a mild yuzu aioli.

Spicy Shoyu Ramen and Tonkotsu.

Death by Affogato - Perfect dessert and wake-me-UP.

Death by Affogato - Perfect dessert and wake-me-UP.

918 S Magnolia Ave Ste B Anaheim, CA 92804

 

 

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Caffe Primo - Santa Barbara

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Caffe Primo - Santa Barbara

I don't normally take time throughout the year until the end because of how hectic work can be. And I honestly don't have anything planned for myself to begin with. I am ready to leave 2016 behind. It was tough, and for most of the hard times, it lingered for months like mold rotten behind a wall you don't know about. I just couldn't save myself from it and it sucked my soul for the rest of the year. Come 2017, I'm going to make sure I don't let that happen again.

We decided to take a short trip to Santa Barbara this winter. More so for the scenic route since I really didn't want to drive down to San Diego again. The drive is just not enjoyable. The weather was gorgeous in Santa Barbara and I immediately fell in Love with State street downtown SB. The buildings were pretty much all Spanish style. Super tall that it casted a shadow from the sun which was the only con I can give. Not really doing much research on restaurants, I relied on yelp to find a satisfying Italian place to lunch.

Without much luck, a lot of restaurants were closed and some seemed like closed for good. That's when we stumbled upon Caffe Primo. Tall glass windows casting tons of soft light into the dining hall. It created such a warm welcoming vibe that I was ready for. And, Italian. Something I was craving. I just want to slather noodles in my mouth big bites at a time. It's one of those months. 

Each table was greeted with a small vase of fresh flowers. This easily enlightened the mood. Santa Barbara you are winning.

A lot of water was needed to stay hydrated throughout the day. Especially with all the coffee we've been drinking.

Caesar salad. Delicious, but the wrong dressing was mixed. This was actually a balsamic dressing. I didn't want to return this because it would go to waste. And it tasted fine so we didn't mind.

White truffle angel hair pasta. Succulent shrimp with a white truffle cream sauce. Everything was cooked perfectly. The sauce was nice and creamy. The avocado was a new twist, but added an extra layer of creaminess that worked well with the tartness of the tomato. The white truffle was subtle, but you knew it was there. I would definitely order this again.

Short Rib Pappardelle. Braised short ribs that will melt in your mouth tossed in a red wine mushroom ragu. Topped off with Reggiano for that nice bite. This is so classic and excellent for the weather. Extremely comforting.

Done and

done.

516 State St Santa Barbara, CA 93108

 

 

 

 

 

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