Big Catch Seafood House - West Covina

July 30, 2016

I love raw oysters, carpaccios and all that good stuff. But there's something I find extremely satisfying about grilled seafood. The charred bits on the shellfish that you "accidentally" consume. Big Catch Seafood in West Covina offers a variety of seafood prepared in different ways. You have the raw, the fried, boiled, grilled, and even stuffed in a sandwich. Most importantly, they have beer and lots of it.

We ordered a few things to try, and will definitely be back for more. I always recommend going in a group to try more items on the menu.

Grilled lobster served with cajun rice and daily vegetables. The lobster was meaty, sweet, and smokey from the char. The charred shell brought an amazing depth of flavor to the lobster. Don't forget to break down the heads and pour the hot juices over your rice. I can eat this all day. Honestly, hard to share because you can't just have a few bites ;P

Tilapia gets overlooked all the time. The taste of tilapia is subtle, but it can hold up to a lot of marinades and sauces. It really is a blank canvas if you want to test a few flavors on fish.

Recommended location: 112 Plaza DrSte 1465, West Covina, CA 91790

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Kings Row - New Menu - Old Town Pasadena

July 27, 2016

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.

Pig Roast

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

Underworld

In Watermelon Sugar

The Pearl

The Crossing

The Beach

Knots and Crosses

Ulysses

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:

Classic Double Cheese burger

Naan stuffed with provolone

Thai Chile-Lime

Chipotle Honey and Hot Wings

Fried Chicken Sandwich

Crispy Apple Hand Pie

Fries with cheese whiz

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

July 10, 2016

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.

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.

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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Chang'An - San Gabriel

July 6, 2016

Alhambra and San Gabriel is known for cheap eats. I hear people say it all the time "it's so cheap!" or "Everything is so delicious!". Like, literally calm down. Everything has been inflating the past few years. Chicken rice isn't $3.99 anymore, but would be $7.99. And if you are saying I'm not eating at the right places, and that you are still paying that little, then something is definitely wrong with that chicken.

I've given up with some restaurants in 626 even though I still eat around here a few times a week. Competition have really stepped up the last few years. There's a lot more Taiwanese restaurants as well as dumpling houses and hot pots. But what surprised me the most was Chang'An.

Chang'An is located in San Gabriel on 227 W Valley Blvd, Ste 358. Chang'Ans concept is something I envisioned a few years ago. I thought it would be creative if classic Chinese food was presented in an ambitious way where you would find in fine dining restaurant. You will definitely find that here. All the dishes were not just tasty, but insanely beautiful.

I tried a lot of food that day. I liked everything I had so enjoy the photos:

I love the herbaceous flavor of crown Daisy, but I've never had it uncooked. The sesame dressing complimented the salad perfectly. I know a few people who aren't fans of crown Daisies that can definitely appreciate this salad.

Rubbed in cumin and charred to perfection. Perfect pairing to beer :P

These were large lumps of scallops. Served individually so there's no commitment to those who don't eat scallops. Sitting on top of rice noodles, it is drizzled with minced garlic and soy.

Stir fried pea sprouts - one of my favorite chinese vegetables.

few fried dishes: Fried tofu, Chicken Jidori, Fried Kabocha with salted egg yolk (Must Order)

Beef Tataki - Seared with House Special Yuzu soy.

Delicious fatty pork belly. You must eat the skin and fat.

Served with stir fried sweet pea sprouts.

Vanilla Ice cream with grilled Japanese sweet potato. Sweet potato desserts is on the rise. This is definitely a good version of what I've had.

These are mini rice balls filled with black sesame paste in sweet rice wine sprinkled with osmanthus flowers. A very sweet delightful way to end an amazing course.

Make sure to check them out if you haven't:

227 W Valley Blvd, Ste 358 San Gabriel CA 91776

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Magnolia House - Pasadena

June 27, 2016

When people say Pasadena, the first thing I really think of is Old Town. It's until recently the past few years that people are starting to reach their endeavors elsewhere. The Paseo has really become that place along with the few around Colorado and El Molino. But to go even further, you now have Lake Ave booming with new restaurants and concepts. From Sunlife's Acai Bowls, to Sugar Fish by Chef Nozawa, you have classic old school fine dining like Smitty's and not so long ago Del Friscos that just made it's way on Lake about a year ago.

With that said, there's Magnolia House. It's tucked away on the corner of Lake and California. It's a great hang out spot for the local workaholics to get away after a dysfunctional 8-5. Trust me, I know a few.

Magnolia House launched a few cocktails that will sure help you escape the monotonous cycle of the case we call Monday's. But I like to just accept the fact that I will use any excuse to grab a drink.

I'm not a cocktail person, but I will honestly say I enjoyed each and every one of these sippers. I've been drinking old fashions pretty consistently lately as my beverage of choice. I would easily pick any one of these, especially a hot humid day like the ones we've been facing in LA.

These finger licking wings are available for Happy Hour. For $6, you get 3 pieces, fried and doused in Korean sweet and spicy sauce with a side of pickled chili cucumbers.

Beer Cheese sauce with vegetarian toppings. Vegetarians are safe as this contains no meat.

Local yellowtail, yuzu vinaigrette, Pickled red onions and micro shiso. Would love more citrus kick from the yuzu, but the portions of the yellowtail were generous and lump-sum. On the Happy Hour for $9, you get 3. Loved these bites.

The sweet onions are, obviously, caramelized and mixed with smoked gouda. Fried and served with a dipping sauce of greed goddess. Sounds pretty amazeballs to me. Happy Hour, $5 you get 3.

You can always find fresh oysters here as well. 6 for $16 (not on Happy Hour) served with mignonette, horseradish, and cocktail sauce. Get your afrodisiac on. It's always a great topic for conversation. Haha..

I say yes to everything pork belly. Don't even ask me. They use a heritage duroc pork served with cherry puree, pickled lady apple, frisee, and french breakfast radish. The pork was briny from the cure, but that fat is just melt in your mouth stuck in the back of your neck goodness. Paired nicely with the cherry puree, apples, radishes, frisee, basically everything to cut down the richness of the fat.

The brussells sprouts are cooked down with smoked bacon and tossed with a cilantro pistachio pesto. Topped off with a fried egg with Pecorino shavings. All vegetables need to be eaten this way.

Yup, you should plan your next happy hour accordingly. Remember to invite me when you do. Every excuse to drink remember? Happy grubs!

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Wine & Dine

Big Catch Seafood House - West Covina

Kings Row - New Menu - Old Town Pasadena

CHIM! Thai Street Food - Pasadena

Chang'An - San Gabriel

Magnolia House - Pasadena