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Sushi Roku Pasadena 16th Anniversary

November 17, 2016

Happens only once a year for all of us. Birthday's are special. Especially at Sushi Roku, they go big by offering their dinner menu for 50% off (food only). I've been eating here for many years now, but only found out about this big shebang last year. Rounded up a small group and rushed towards the bar seating area since they were booked for the night.

Sake for the table. After this bottle, we did some sake samplers (recommended).

And here are the slew of foods we ordered to celebrate Wednesday

and the 16th Anniversary of Sushi Roku. I swear I am here all the time it feels like home.

Shishito peppers, nasu dengaku, and hanabi are always my go to for appetizers when I'm here. Oh! and fluke kumquat sashimi in a yuzu vinaigrette. The sushi you see are yellowtail, ankimo, salmon, toro and uni. Orders of salmon cut rolls are always welcomed. Some baked crab handrolls are always satisfying. And surprisingly, the chicken Karaage was very tasty with a bowl of hot rice! For dessert, we had their warm butter cake with vanilla ice cream and 3 unique mochis with flavors: pistachio, strawberry chocolate chip, and passion fruit.

One Colorado 33 Miller Alley Pasadena, CA 91103

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Big Catch Seafood - Downtown Alhambra

November 15, 2016

Do you guys remember how Downtown Alhambra used to be like? It was nothing. Besides the Edwards Renaissance or Johnny Rockets, and ok from time to time Diner on Main, there was pretty much nothing to go there for. In a huge leap of a decade, it's evolved into this whole beast of, perhaps, gentrification.

There are so many new restaurants on Main street it's become the new location to hang out and mingle. Big Catch just opened their doors the past week and boy does this change up the scene. Downtown Alhambra now has an innovative restaurant that doesn't just serve great food, but also provides an amazing ambience for date nights, hang out with friends, celebratory dinners, and just a great destination to wow your families in town.

Below are a few, but not limited, of the different dishes I got to try.

Dirty Fried Rice

Truffle Sliders

New England Clam Chowder

Oysters : Around 7 oysters to pick from.

2 S Garfield Ave Ste 100 Alhambra, CA 91801

**Recommend to make reservations.

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Chicken or the Egg - Playa Vista

October 31, 2016

Have you been to Playa Vista? It's almost like the pretty step sister to Culver City. The area is a newer development with tons of new condos/townhomes and big businesses like Google, Youtube and Fox. I came through this area when stopping by "Chicken or the Egg" and I am definitely glad I did because now, this neighborhood is going to be one of my few weekend stops.

Going back to Chicken or the Egg, like the neighborhood, this restaurant is also new in town. Their chef and partner, Hunter Pritchett, was also involved with a few known restaurants of Los Angeles, Song of a Gun and Mendocino Farms. At CoE, they take high importance of the quality of the chicken they use. From their menu, they are proud to use Pitman Farms Marys Organic Free-Range chicken and noted that it is the highest quality chicken in the world. The eggs used are also sourced locally from Chino Valley Ranch just east of Oxnard. They are organic cage-free vegetarian fed. Their chickens are also gluten free.

Here is a glimpse of their menu:

They have an awesome soft drink selections. From soda pops or ice teas and lemonade for you to customize your drinks like this arnold palmer.

Bacon, Egg & Cheese with Cabot Cheddar Crisp

Chicken Cobb w Maple Mustard

Sweet & Smoky Cauliflower

Spicy Tater Tots

Reason the Road was Crossed

Crispy Chicken and maple brussel sprouts

12150 Millennium Drive, Suite 101 Los Angeles CA 90094

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Pata Salada

October 12, 2016

Met my friend Bernadette for dinner at Pata Salada a few nights ago. It's always an exciting experience to eat together. Mainly because I try to force her to have a drink or two (or 5) with me.

Pata Salada prides in their seafood creations and dishes from the region Jalisco. With heavy emphasis on the region the food came from, they also have a big focus on the Tequila as well. Their tequila comes from 100% blue agave made in and around Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. They not just carry 10 different tequilas, which is considerably a lot for a restaurant, but have over 70. Over 70 Tequilas to drink from. You can't tell me you can walk into a place that carry that many let alone 20. We were very pleased to taste a few of their starred dishes, tequilas, as well as a few new items they launched this week.

Our super sweet server being extremely patient as we snapped a few.

The tequila flight comes with 3 - 1oz pours.

I was relieved to taste different flavors in a crudo. This one in particular had their fish in a "Leche de tigre" or tiger's milk, which is a Peruvian term for the citrus-based marinade that cures the seafood in a ceviche. The crudo is dressed with avocados, sweet cherry tomatoes, avocado and basil.

The ceviche was packed in a cocktail glass mix with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, chili and lime. The ceviche was served with a side of blue corn chips.

Generous portions of guacamole mixed with pepitas, cherry tomatoes and ques fresco.

There is nothing I love more than the flavors of charred shellfish. These mussels are served LuLu style with chile lime butter. Mussels are served table top on a hot skillet so be careful.

Fried quesadilla stuffed with oaxaca cheese, mushrooms and huitlacoche.

2 sizeable drinks to have while we snack on our appetizers before the entrees. The blood orange one is their El Picante de Mango. Made with El Tesoro Reposado, Mango, chipotle and lime. Extremely delicious and I would even order this virgin for a nice sunny brunch. The lighter one, I believe, is their El Relajado. El Jimador Blanco with combier, agave and lime. Both super refreshing to have.

This pork shank was brined for 2 days before they slow cooked, then fried. Served on top of a chile morita orange salsa with rice and beans, and blue corn tortilla. This $59.95 handsome hunk will feed 2 or more. Depending on how many other dishes you order, I recommend ordering this with a bigger group of 4+ so you can try other items.

Their whole seabass was cooked with huacho salt, garlic chili lime butter with more garlic on top. Grilled lemons are served for a smokier citrus flavor. Rice, beans and blue corn tortillas are served.

Kahlua and Coffee Raspado is what we needed to pick us up from a night of feasting. Frozen coffee shaved like granita then topped with some creamy parfait. No complaints there.

Must come back for more tequila.

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Casa Chocolate - Mid-City Los Angeles

September 13, 2016

I know a lot of people that hate LA because of traffic. People who live on the west side would take an our or more just to get to work that's a few miles away. And on the weekends, you are lucky if there isn't any traffic. All native LA residents know what it's like to drive out to Santa Monica, West Hollywood (oh god), Beverly Hills, Culver City, and so on. So when I am actually out towards that area, it gives me an incentive to find a local restaurant to eat.

I had to run some errands one Sunday morning and found a small cafe tucked in a small plaza. It's called Casa Chocolate.

5450 W Pico Blvd, Ste 501 Los Angeles, CA 90019

I instantly fell in love with their displays. It's simple yet catchy. From the photos of the doors, to the self serving water with lemon and orange slices, to the ketchup, and the array of classic hot sauce and sweeteners.

They have a huge menu with tons of variety. Prices are also very decent especially for the location. I stuck with their traditional house favorites.

Ordered 2 cappuccinos. One for John and one for, well, me. Espresso from Groundworks.

Amazing take on the classic dish - 2 farm eggs cooked to your liking, I had mine over easy. Black pinto beans cooked perfectly and not overly starched, everything served over a corn tostada, topped with ranchero sauce, green tomatillo salsa, avocado salsa, sour cream and queso fresca. So flavorful and so delicious. Loved the char onion and serrano on the side. A must order.

Ranchero steak omelette. FULL of flavor. The beef was perfectly marinaded, extremely tender, and smokey from the char. Cooked with onions, peppers, and mushrooms, folded inside the egg with monterey jack, ranchero salsa and queso fresco. John ordered this, but I am going to make sure I get dibs on this next time. Served with a side of fruit, ranchero sauce and green tomatillo.

Enjoy when you are in the area or passing.

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Wine & Dine

Sushi Roku Pasadena 16th Anniversary

Big Catch Seafood - Downtown Alhambra

Chicken or the Egg - Playa Vista

Pata Salada

Casa Chocolate - Mid-City Los Angeles