Mi Piace an Italian Kitchen- Pasadena

I love Old Town Pasadena. There is always something to do whether you want to shop, meet for tea, eat great food or go out on a night on the town. Mi Piace is located right in the heart of all the action in Old Town. Mi Piace has the perfect setting for a great meal whether you choose to eat inside or outside. The look and the feel is modern chic and their lounge area is fun and classy.
Saturday I got a chance to hang out with one of my favorite couples while eating awesome food. Initially I ordered the Braised Short Ribs but they were all sold out. It was a bummer. BUT...... I really enjoyed my lamb osso bucco over a mushroom risotto. My lamb was slow cooked to perfection and I can genuinely say the risotto was the best I ever had. There was layers and layers of flavors and I enjoyed every bite. We also ordered the Veal with the bone in topped with Morel mushrooms. I have never tasted a veal cooked so perfectly. The veal was on special for the night. So I am not certain if its on their regular menu but if it isn't, it should be.
I've been to this restaurant several times and I have never been disappointed. I really recommend this restaurant. It's fun, good food and a good environment.
I also recommend the Shrimp Scampi and the Bolognese.


Two thumbs up!

Casa Lupita- Castaic Ca

Casa Lupita is located in Castaic, Ca a town where a lot of truckers and people traveling off the grapevine tend to stop. This city is the first sign of life coming into Los Angeles County. Seven years ago I happened to stop in this seven table restaurant for some breakfast and have been in love ever since. It's a family owned restaurant where everyone knows each other. I usually stop in for breakfast but I happened to be traveling during the evening and decided to go in for dinner. I enjoyed the Shrimp rancheros and carne asada taco's. They bake their own tortilla chips and make their own salsa. I love the chips because they are always warm and fresh. The truth is... their chips are the best tortilla chips I have every had. They are light and crispy with the perfect amount of salt. You can tell that there is a lot of love put into their food. Good old fashion beans and rice served with almost every dish.
There is a Denny's located next door. My suggestion is to pass Denny's and go into Casa Lupita's. You will not be disappointed and you will save money.

Back to Maru for Dinner- Valencia

This is my second review on Maru. Every time I go to Maru I go straight to the sushi bar. I kept saying that one day I would eat off their dinner menu. Well WALLA after four years I finally took the leap!
I had the Japanese curry lamb cooked medium rare topped with a tangy cilantro relish on top of a crispy rice cake. I don't know about you but I cannot get enough of Japanese Curry. I kept sopping the crispy rice cake in the curry sauce. I love Japanese Curry in soups especially. We also ordered the Beef Sukiyaki which is a soup served in a cast iron bowl with thinly sliced beef, cabbage, glass noodles or udon noodles in a sweet savory broth. Some people eat Beef Sukiyaki with a raw egg, which we requested. I couldn't help ordering something raw so we ordered the halibut sashimi served with a citrus ponzu sauce. The halibut was very delicate and light and hit the spot. Last but not least of my favorite is the chocolate lava cake, mmm mmm mmmm mmmmmmmmmmmm! Not too many people can master the chocolate lava cake but Maru nails it! It has a perfect balance that is unexplainable. The molten chocolate in the inside is so moist. The chocolate lava dessert isn't too rich where you feel you need a glass of milk after each bite.
Dinner, sushi, dessert you will not be disappointed.

Nieuport 17 Tustin, CA

I was trying to get better pictures of the restaurant and food but I was at a meeting. However, this place was quite a surprise. I love going to restaurants where waiters wear traditional vest and ties. The t-shirt and black pant look is getting really old and dull to me.
Nieuport 17 offers an elegant dining experience with fire places and comfortable seating.
I enjoyed their Seabass with ginger and citrus flavors. The Seabass was served with plain white rice and peas. I assumed their sides would be modern but this place is ALL Traditional!
I could see myself visiting this restaurant once more. I would love to try their desserts but unfortunately I didn't want to appear to be greedy at a corporate meeting.

Order your Fried Turkey for Thanksgiving

By rootdeep at 2009-10-18


If you reside in the Los Angeles area and would like more information on how to get a Fried Turkey for Thanksgiving email jasmineskitchen@gmail.com. All orders must been in no later than November 23, 2009

Easy short cut- Roasted Bell Peppers

I didn't feel like firing up my grill nor turning on my oven since it was already 90 degrees in my house. Instead of paying $8 for a jar of roasted bell peppers, spend $2 and do it yourself. Just place the bell pepper on the flame and turn with tongs every few minutes until you get the perfect char.

Kyushu Ramen Vs. Nippon Ramen

2009 has been a great year for me as well as Japanese food. For some reason I can eat Japanese food at least 3 times a week. Not sure if it's because it's innate or it's just the best food in the world to me. A few months ago while eating at Kyushu Ramen a guy was sitting next to me and swore up and down that Nippon Ramen was better. So I decided to check it out for myself.
I don't know where to begin but his taste buds were sadly mistaken. Maybe I ordered the wrong things but the Ramen was watery at Nippon. I had to add Japanese Curry sauce to my soup. I also ordered the Gyoza and it was the most gummiest gyoza I have ever had. I also ordered the Yakisoba which is like ordering an American hamburger although it's not a hamburger. The Yakisoba had a gel like glaze on top like oyster sauce. It didn't look right when they brought it to our table. When we asked if this was the right dish the staff looked at us and walked away. Not to mention the staff kept asking us every five minutes for the soy sauce. Unfortunately, we needed it because the food was inedible. I'm sorry to be so mean about Nippon Ramen but I can't help it. It was a waste of money. I had to go to Jack and the Box afterwards.

There is no comparison with these two restaurants. Kyushu Ramen is the best hole in a wall Japanese place in the valley.
My suggestions are the Japanese Curry. The Japanese Curry is the most soothing flavorful soup you'll ever have. It's like curling up with a good book on a rainy day.
I also suggest the fried chicken appetizer, chicken gyoza, plum wine and the fried banana wonton dessert.

Rosemary Honey Lavender French Toast

I thought I'd share a typical Sunday Breakfast in my household with you. French Toast has always been my favorite over pancakes and crepes.
When I first headed to the the store I was looking for Brioche but all they had was Challah bread. To be honest Challah tastes a lot better.

1 loaf Challah Bread (Wholefoods)
3 cups heavy cream
1 egg
3 tbsp Moiselle Spices (found on my website)
1 vanilla bean seeded
1 tbsp vanilla bean extract

Preheat Griddle 375 degrees. Spray or butter griddle

Whisk all ingredients together.

Cut Challah bread into 1 inch slices and soak bread in mixture for 5-10 seconds.

Place on griddle until golden brown on each side(3-5 minutes).


Lavender, Rosemary Syrup
In a bowl place 4tbs honey with 1 sprig of rosemary and 2 tsp lavender. Microwave for 35 seconds. The rosemary and lavender will infuse in honey.

Drizzle over french toast.

Tyler Florence- Texas Style Chili

Every recipe that I have tried of Tyler's has been phenomenal! Unfortunately, I didn't have enough masa. The consistency should of been a little thinker but the flavors were there. I didn't have to change or manipulate this recipe at all but I did add a roasted poblano pepper. This is definitely the ULTIMATE comfort food.

Tyler's Texas Chili
Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence
Prep Time: 20 min Inactive Prep Time: hr min Cook Time: 2 hr 20 min Level:
Intermediate Serves:
6 to 8 servings Ingredients
3 dried ancho peppers, stemmed and seeded
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
2 tablespoons whole coriander
1 tablespoon cumin seed
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 onions, chopped
3 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 canned chipotle chile, chopped
1/2 jalapeno pepper, chopped
2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, hand crushed
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons masa harina
1/2 tablet Mexican chocolate (about 1 1/2 ounces)
Grated queso fresco, for garnish
Cilantro leaves, for garnish
Lime wedges, for garnish
Directions
In a small dry skillet over low heat add the ancho peppers, oregano, paprika, coriander, cumin, and chili powder. Cook until they begin to smell, about 2 minutes. Put the spices into a spice mill or food processor and grind until they are powdered. Set aside.

Heat a large heavy bottomed casserole over medium heat; add 3 tablespoons olive oil and the onions. Cook until the onions are soft and beginning to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Pat the beef dry and season it with salt and pepper. Add it to the pot and cook, stirring frequently, until it has browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the toasted spice mix, the garlic, chipotle, jalapeno, tomatoes, cinnamon stick, and sugar. Season with salt and stir well. Add some hot water until the meat is just covered with liquid. Return to the boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the meat and shred it with a fork. Return it to the pot, stir in the masa harina and chocolate, and cook for another 10 minutes, uncovered, to thicken. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with the queso fresco, cilantro, and lime for garnish.

Family Style Greek Chicken- From Jasmine's Kitchen

This is a very tasty yummy healthy dish to make. The best way to serve this dish is family style. Just dig in!

8 Chicken drums (or any part of the chicken you desire)

Dry Rub
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon tumeric
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon dry basil

Mix dry ingredients in bowl and season chicken with rub. Grill chicken on low heat if using gas grill. Make sure chicken is cook thoroughly.

Salad Ingredients
2 Persian cucumbers sliced
4 tomatoes sliced
1/2 red onion sliced
1 cup feta cheese
1/2 cup kalamata olives


Greek Dressing
1 1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp honey
salt & pepper to taste
whisk all ingredients in a bowl


To plate:

On a large platter lay grilled chicken in center. Then, carefully arrange salad on top and all around chicken. Last, lightly pour salad dressing on top of everything.

Controversy for Jamie Oliver's new reality show

Jamie Oliver "The Naked Chef" has always been my favorite Celebrity Chef on the Food Network. His accent alone would be enough for me to watch his show. I kid I kid!! His show inspired me many years ago to have my own garden with fresh herbs and grow my own vegetables.

So why the controversy?
Jamie is set to drop in on one of "America's Most Unhealthiest Cities" Huntington, West Virginia. I guess once you've been coined as one of America's fattest and unhealthy cities, how are you able to live this label down?

For starters I am glad that ABC has decided to pick up a show like this. I'm not sure how many people will watch this show but I am rooting that the show reaches a large mass of people. A lot people aren't aware how delicious fresh garden vegetables can be. I don't know about you but I cannot eat canned corned or canned green beans. There is a HUGE difference in flavor. I won't even begin to speak about the fast food epidemic America is plagued with.

When I visited Texas last month I was shocked to see the lack of vegetables and fruits in grocery stores. In California you have an entire section for vegetables and fruits. The stores that I visited only had a few tables. It looked very weird to me. Almost as if it were the damaged food section in store. You know the grocery cart in the back of store where you can find discounted items because there is a dent in the can.

All is takes is a little education or a show to see the light.
So please people set your TiVo's, DVR's etc... and support Jamie Oliver on his new journey to help people become healthy eaters.

Alton Brown - celebrates 10 years on Good Eats!

Boy did his real personality really come out in this interview.

Awww I felt bad for Sandra Lee. I used to feel the same way until I saw her Chefography story. She had a tough life and I empathize with her. Sometimes putting the human behind the tv image is needed. I assumed a lot of things about her until I heard her story. As he mentioned a lot of the Chef personalities barely know each other. Often, they are stuck in a room and have to pretend everything is all chummy.

Anyway check this out. Gotta love Alton Brown!!

Gourmet Magazine closes its doors after 69 years

I am saddened to hear that November will be the last issue for Gourmet magazine.

In an e-mail obtained by Gawker, Conde Nast CEO Chuck Townsend said Gourmet will live on through television and books. "Gourmet magazine will cease monthly publication, but we will remain committed to the brand, retaining Gourmet's book publishing and television programming, and Gourmet recipes on Epicurious.com," he wrote. "We will concentrate our publishing activities in the epicurean category on Bon Appétit."
It is rumored that the employees that work at the magazine are all now packing and have to leave their office by the end of the month. I know the financial news media has said we are starting to get out of the recession. I don't know....when something like this happens to the culinary world, its just devasting.

Whenever I am traveling I always make it a point to pick up a Gourmet Magazine. Instead of reading Gossip magazines I enjoy reading recipes that give me an inspiration to go home and cook. I really hope Bon Appetit steps it up. The last Bon Appetit magazine I purchased was full of adds and nothing really interesting in it.

Dan's Sub- Woodland Hills, Ca

Dan's Subs is located in Woodland Hills, Ca on Ventura Boulevard (West side part of the valley). Dan's subs has always been one of my favorite places to eat for lunch. If you want to get a good seat, I suggest getting there early before the lunch crowd sets in because the line is usually out the door. However, they do have a good system going on there if you decided to get your order to go.
I always enjoy their wall of fame with autographed pictures of Tiger Woods and many other famous Hollywood figures.
I always order their classic warm pastrami sandwich with everything on it. The pastrami is sliced very thin and the bun perfectly warmed. Dan's sub makes their own Italian sauce to place on top. YUMMM! I apologize that I can't recommend another sub sandwich but once I like something its hard for me to deviate from what "I know is good!"

I apologize for the pictures. Taken with camera phone.

Quick Pizza/Flat Bread in 30 minutes or less for 2

The other day I was extremely hungry and didn't have much time to waste. ;-) As I was driving home I stopped by Albertson's (Grocery Store). In front of the door display, I saw pre-made Naan Bread. The instructions read 5 minutes in the oven. Then, a light went off in my head. My husband had purchased me a cookbook on pizza all around the world. I noticed a lot of the recipes called for making your own naan bread as the crust. Since I am not a baker and don't claim to be the cookbook sat in the cupboard for over a year.
I knew at that moment I had a bunch of stuff in my refrigerator that I could put on my "gourmet pizza". The trick is to pre-cook your ingredients first and then place on top of the Naan bread and place in the oven for 5 minutes. For those of you that appreciate a flat bread style pizza, you will surely enjoy this recipe. I know I will use this recipe as an appetizer for guest.

Ingredients:
2 pieces naan bread
4 tablespoons tomato sauce
1 tsp oregano
8 slices of pancetta
8 shrimps (grilled)
4 slices peppered salami
8 kalamata olives
1/4 - 1/2 cup of any type of cheese you desire for each pizza (buffalo mozzarella and burrata cheese)
1 tbsp chopped basil (sprinkle on top after pizza has been cooked)
or 1 cup of arugula salad and drizzle olive oil on top.

Directions

Preheat oven 400 degrees

On a baking sheet place foil on top. Then place your meats pancetta, pepperoni, salami and put in oven. Depending on how you like your meats I prefer 4 minutes on each side. (I like mine extra crispy.) If you like vegetables such as onions, bell peppers and mushrooms lightly sautee ingredients with olive oil in a skillet while your meats are in the oven.
Remove meats from oven and place to side. Do not turn off oven. Next, place two tablespoons of tomato sauce on each Naan Bread and sprinkle oregano on top. Then add your cheese. Place your other ingredients on top except your fresh herbs or salad (basil and arugula.) Place in oven for 5 minutes