Jasmine's Kitchen

Valentines Day

2012-02-13T16:57:00.000-08:00

Todays blog is dedicated to Valentine's Day, my 2nd favorite holiday.
I am such a hopeless romantic that I look forward to this day more than my birthday. For the last several years I have spent my Valentine's Day in Napa but unfortunately a special project that I am working on has me elsewhere. But don't think I won't be on the next plane smoking to get my annual Winter trip there because the mustard's this time of the year is absolutely breath taking. If you are a romantic such as I, if you can whisk your girl away and take her there, she will forever be indebted to your royal highness (for about two weeks).
Many guys don't want to subscribed to this holiday and there are some women out there who believe that this day should not be dedicated to them. Yes we know you love us 365 days of the year but guess what!!! we all want to feel loved on February the 14th!!! Its the one day out of the year that WE want to feel romanticized, see you in a suit, get a little tipsy, have orgasmic food and take our worries away.I'm sorry but I deserved to feel love and I feel sorry for those that don't take this one day to connect with a special someone. Hello!!! we want to purrrr like kittens. It doesn't take much so here are some suggestions by Jasmine's Kitchen.

If you live in LA... and you can get a reservation at the Le Petit Emeritage. They have a private roof-top setting which has a beautiful view of LA. Think its too cold? They have blankies and I have pictures to prove it. See my twitter page @JasminesKitchen

Providence- Looking for an upscale restaurant with Michelin Stars? This is your place. I love seeing a man in a suit and tie. Such a turn on. I am almost certain that there are some pretty orgasmic dishes on their prix fix menu.

Hire a private Chef. I know quite a few, let me know and I will place you with the right people. Imagine... a private dinner in your home. They cook, you set the ambiance, they leave and you..... can play footsies under the table.... HAHAHHAAAA

Marrakesh- Feeling adventurous (be prepared to save your appetite) but you get to sit on couches and pillows and just relax while watching belly dancers. You can also eat with your fingers.

Have the day off?
Go to Wholefoods or Bristols farms and go on a picnic. It has won me over many times over. Get a bottle of wine, get your favorite foods, truffles, and pick up cupcakes from Sprinkles.

Flowers are always nice, a bath for two, a foot massage, we just want to feel appreciated.

Jasmine's Kitchen travels to Paris for Christmas

2012-01-16T13:20:00.000-08:00

I have often been told from others that they did not enjoy Paris and they had horrible food experiences. Well never listen to others. I am not sure what they are talking about because I enjoyed the best Croissants, coffee, wine, duck, desserts, foie gras, beouf, one can imagine. There was not one day where I was dissatisfied.
Maybe I just have an impeccable eye for knowing how to pick a good restaurant.
Here are a few tips about picking a restaurant in Paris: look at the menu, become familiar with ingredients in French, always view the menu prior to going into the restaurant. Yelp it or even find out who the Chef is before going. Last but least see how many local people are in there? Don't go somewhere because its located in a touristy area.
I've always wanted to go to Paris since I am huge fan of French Cuisine. So I decided that when I had time off that I would travel overseas and enjoy some of the best food in the worrld. Christmas in Paris is one of the best places to be. The town in decorated with lights, the Eiffel Tower is lit up (like one huge Christmas Tree) and there is Christmas in the Park, literally. I was able to enjoy Chestnuts on an open fire, mulled wine, the best cheeses, the best wine, charcuterie and take a vegetarian cooking class with La Cucina. See my slide show below

Personalize a photo slideshow

My Trip to Fresno-My Favorite Good Eats

2011-12-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

Okay I will come clean. :-) I spent 9 months in Fresno working on a project. To my surprise I had some of the best food in my adult life.
Someone on the Food Network (Guy Fieri) needs to pay a visit and put them on the MAP. Since he can't do it, I will. I have even tweeted about. #Fresno
The Tri-Tip melts in your mouth, the Mexican Food is comforting, groceries are affordable and all of my co-workers could get down in the kitchen.
I had to workout extremely hard just so I could eat all the good food! Here are my favorite eats in Fresno.

Hofbrau (Downtown location)- You can enjoy custom carved meats such as Pastrami, Cornbeef, Turkey, Beef, Rueben, Ham and Knockwurst. My favorite is their Pastrami. Hofbrau dips the sandwich in au jus with your choice of Swiss or American cheese. It looks simple but it packs a POW of home comfort food. There is a pickle bar with mustard's and horseradish. Check it out, you won't be sorry!!

Salaam Seafood- I am going to put it out there. I have yet to find a good soul food place in Los Angeles. I know that we like to keep it healthy but I am sorry, I am no fan of smoked turkey in my greens, beans or anything dish that calls for hammocks.I have also found that its all about the main dish in Los Angeles and the sides go by the wayside. In Fresno, pride is definitely in their soul food. The main dish, the sides, the lemonade all makes you do the "Happy Dance" while eating.
I have never had Basa (Fish) until I tried it here at Salaam's Seafood. Delish white fish! Their fried fish has flavor, its crispy and the good thing its re-heat able. How many times have you gone to a place and its sopped with grease and there is no flavor? Salaam has the perfect fried fish that makes you want to come back every week. In LA this would put you behind $10 or $11. In Fresno, less than $6.

La Estrella~I am sure at this point you are all sick of me bragging about this quaint little town and how good the food is but DAMN... I had no clue really what Chili Verde was until...da da daaaaaaaa... La Estrella. Look at the pictures! I have to admit I only had it 3 times because I was scared of my waistline. The meat just melts in your mouth and the beans are slowed cooked. There's no sparring flavor here. I would garnish it with cilantro, lime and onions. OOOOHHHH WEE!

My other favorites:

Dog House Grill- Across the street from Fresno State. Try their bbq ribs and roasted chicken. Finger licking good.

Sam's Deli- Italian Deli with all the best meats, anti pasta's, marinara's, desserts and an AWESOME WINE SELECTION.

Quality Meats- When I say the best Breakfast Country Sausage in the World, I mean it. I have never had a flavor such as theirs.
Quality Meats bbq's their tri-tip for 16hours. I have also purchased their beautifully cut pork roast for less than $5 and can feed a family of 4 for at least two days. Their hotlink sandwich with Pappy's BBQ sauce is a gluttons haven! The entire staff is friendly and helpful.

B&K Thai Food- This place is a hole in the wall but I tell ya....I went to B&K every Friday and they know my name. I would call in my order and have seating arrangements with all of my friends. Its sad but true. LOL. They will be missed!!! My favorites, Combo fried Rice, Spring Rolls, Pad Thai Noodles, Curry Chicken and Thai Beef Salad.

Great Article by LA Times-Chef Nancy Silverton on salads

2011-10-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-master-class-nancy-silverton-20111006,0,2766363.htmlstory

Sunday's Dish of the week- Pork Roast

2011-10-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Need this recipe? Email me at jasmineskitchen@gmail.com
These are my BEFORE and AFTER pictures and YEP... it is true Sunday GRUB and can feed a family of 4 for many days.

Cost of the entire meal $9.00

Lucini Salad dressing-Bold Parmesan and Garlic

2011-10-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

You can find it in Wholefoods. Its my favorite and you can eat it with any type salad. It will cost you $6.99 and you get about 3 uses out of it but its worth every penny. Yes... its expensive but once you try it, you will LURVE it.

dinnertool.com

2011-10-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

You can now find jasmine's kitchen on dinnertool.com
The link has been added to our page on the left side.
We are always delighted when someone approaches us. It makes me smile and inspires me to keep doing what I am doing. Its not always done in vain.

http://www.dinnertool.com/page/friends

Nic's Martini Lounge- Beverly Hills

2011-10-16T08:23:00.001-07:00

Ahh! Today was a special day to meet up with a special friend that I have not seen in a while and have cocktails and appetizers. It was a delight that I didn't have to pick a place to eat because we've always had similar taste and TASTE my friends is very important to me. Special Note: A friend will get cut from picking out places to eat if they make too many wrong decisions with me. I am very particular where I spend my money.
A few days before we were set to meet I decided to check them out online and I have to mention how I love and appreciate that they put the dress code on their website, "Upscale, yet Casual". I figured I'd put on something kind of, umm, shabby chic. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of my friend and I because I was so excited to see her. All of the pictures I took of the food were half eaten and that is a tell tell sign that the food was delicious.
What we ordered with my honest opinion:
Famous Oysters with sauteed spinach- A must order...A had a perfect twist of twang and savory.
Gnocchi- With morel mushrooms. For years I have been begging my brother in law to ship me morels when they he goes morel hunting in Minnesota but to no avail my request have been ignored :-)... oh yes, I was ranting....The gnocchi was shaped like tiny scallops. It was the first time I have seen gnocchi shaped this way but there's nothing wrong with changing it up. They were perfectly tender, not too doughy and not to potato-ey and the cream sauce was delicious. The only thing as my friend suggested that would be a nice touch, asparagus tips. Not a lot but just enough to make it complete.
Grilled Octopus- the grilled octopus was made with feta cheese, tomato, garlic, lemon and basil. The hostess recommended that we try their Octopus as it is the most tender in Beverly Hills. Indeed she was right! It melted in your mouth and it was not chewy at all. The dish was pretty so so. I think the feta cheese throws it off a tad bit. However, the way it was prepped I have to give the chef praises for it.
Tuna tartare on brushetta- I think this was my favorite appetizer on the menu. I didn't really need the crustini. I could eat an entire bowl of the tartare.
Spinach salad with bacon- what tied the dish together was the grapefruit and goat cheese. Never thought about pairing it with grapefruit which in my mind said... hey! We are eating something healthy despite the bacon. LOL
Cocktail of the evening (I forgot to photograph) FALL HOOK UP- it was made with homemade apple cider and Stoli Applik. I really enjoyed my martini. It wasn't too sweet but had a perfect balance of a martini and a warm fuzzy feeling of fall. The apples that were used were nice. This drink isn't served in a regular martini glass but served on the rocks....I say... it gets a thumbs up from me.

There's so much to add about this place I could go on and on but check out their website. I give it 4stars. I want to try out the VODBOX so I can put on the faux fur jackets. okay... my blog ends here. xoxoxoox
http://www.nicsbeverlyhills.com/nics_2006/martini.html

Casa Del Mar-Santa Monica

2011-07-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

Casa Del Mar Hotel has always been my favorite hotel in Santa Monica. I had the best time last Friday night.
Before I went to Casa Del Mar, I thought I'd check out Shutters next door because I heard good things from two different sources. Well... I don't know what to say but it was the worst food I have ever eaten. I would never recommend eating there. $39 for a "Small seafood platter", which consisted of 3 Shrimp (frozen and uncleaned), 3 oysters, 3 clams and an ounce of crab. Really? Yes Really. We also ordered the fish tacos for $14 dollars which by the way had no flavor. Matter of fact you couldn't pay me $14 dollars to eat it again and last... lamb sausage. I am not sure if the person in the kitchen is a Chef but Shutters ought to be ashamed of themselves and just say you are paying for ambiance. After my horrible experience at Shutters I decided to change my fate and go to Casa Del Mar....my sure ace in a hole and satisfy my poor hunger pains.

When I arrived at Casa Del Mar I was pleasantly surprised with the best bottle of Persecco and catching The Leftover Cuties perform. You may recognise the Leftover Cuties from the show The Big C on showtime. Anyways... the singer and band = AMAZING. Her voice is unique and beautiful. The band is talented and what else can you ask for period.
I am a huge fan of live bands and people that can actually play instruments. We'll just call them "Real Artist".
I ordered chicken wings which were lightly battered and fried with a nice dipping sauce, some oysters and as mentioned before the best bottle of Persecco. I promise to provide the name .... I wrote it down somewhere :-)

Sorry for the negative review on Shutters but even after a few days my feelings are still the same.

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog with Sauteed Bell Peppers and Onions
*Quick Tip* Purchase thinly sliced bacon
constantly turn on low heat

Pomegranate Blueberry Cocktail with Persecco
2 ounces of POM pomegranate juice
5 blueberries
1 TBSP of lemon juice
1 cup of Persecco
Ice

Grilled Shrimp w garlic Butter

2011-06-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

If you want the recipe.. email me
jasmineskitchen@gmail.com

Back to Daisy Mint

2011-06-22T22:56:00.000-07:00

Twice in a month to Daisy Mint in Pasadena.
A Must Do!
Try their honey pork with a Green Apple Slaw and
Duck Pineapple Curry. What??? Yes it works people and its very good.

City Tavern- Culver City

2011-06-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

Want to TAP your own beer at your table and eat Gourmet Comfort Food?
Is that even possible?
This place took me by surprise.
I walked in... and I didn't have to think if I was going to dine here.
Chef Jessica Christensen is talented and knows her flavors. Imagine going to a restaurant and not having to salt or pepper your food. She is absolutely perfect!
I tried the Special-pulled pork sandwich with a Texas style BBQ sauce, warm bacon salad, brussel sprouts, oysters on the half shell.
Check out the picture I took of the oysters. HAHA!!!
For dessert I had the Smores... an adult Smores.

The next week I took my friends and we had a blast and poured 80 ounces of IPA and Hefenweizen beers.

Passing through Fresno

2011-06-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

So I have been told that Fresno has the best BBQ.
Well I CONCUR! I visited Fresno Last week for a few days and for those of you that don't know what BBQ is... make the drive and feast for a week. There is nothing like Fresno BBQ... did I just say that again... I think I did. I ate bbq 3 days in a row and it was yummy yummy yummy to my big ol tummy.

Since my friend is a Fresno-ian Native... we went to the best places in town.

Quality Meats located on Chestnut and Clinton has the best Tri Tip out there. It is slowly bbq'd for 16 hours, thinly sliced with a homemade savory bbq sauce. It simply just melts in your mouth like butter.

Ruben's Ribshack- located on Clinton and Fresno Avenue
You can smell this place a mile away.
Ruben's has the best beef brisket>>> EVER>>>>
The first time I had brisket was when I was a teenager and it was tough and chewy. After that experience I stayed away. Well Ruben does it right. He cooks his Brisket for 16 hours on a huge smoker and makes his own sauce.
He was so kind that he gave me bbq sauce to go.
what I loved about Ruben's is that he gives free samples.
His food has SOUL.
Try his bacon green beans and peach cobbler.
The Best Dive in Cali

How could you go wrong in Fresno with the quality of beef when cows are in their backyard?

So worth the four hour drive :-)

Montrose/La Canada Farmers Market

2011-06-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Farmers Market located right outside of Pasadena is in Montrose.
Great place to bring your children with plenty of entertainment (petting zoo.) The food is scrumptious and made with a lot of love. I love that there is a lot of different cultural foods. All you have to do is pick a region...lol... As you can tell that is hard for me to do.

Recommended Vendors:

Pork and Cheese Papusas
Lamb Gyro
and Home Made Sun Dried Feta Cheese (to die for)

Gazpacho

2011-06-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

just made my first batch of the summer...yummy!! nothing like a cold soup with creme fraiche.

note: always use heirloom tomatoes and shop for the best organic veggies.
best places to shop...Wholefoods or Bristol Farms

Culinary Romantic Destinations to visit in California

2011-02-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

Napa Valley- Enjoy the best food and wineries on the West Coast. It's the best time of the year to visit Napa.

Santa Barbara- Great Seafood and many wineries to visit.

Big Bear- Rent a cabin or enjoy a b&b...If its not snowing and you can't get on the slopes enjoy a beautiful hike. I had some of the best pumpkins pancakes a few years back.

or have a staycation at your favorite hotel. Just to name a few of my favorite hotels that are romantic and have good food are the Peninsula, Mondrian, Hotel Sofitel, Bacara resort in Santa Barbara, Best Western Elm in Napa,

Money Saving Meals for the family

2011-02-06T22:03:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd throw out some dishes that save money and can last the family a few days. These dishes make great left overs for sacked lunches throughout the week.

Chicken Enchilada Pie
Lasagne
Chili (Chicken, Turkey or Beef)
Pork Pot Roast
Spaghetti

What to do for Valentine's Day

2011-02-02T21:00:00.001-08:00

Valentines Day is MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY!!
Some don't subscribe (mostly men) to this Holiday but for me, its a day to give free love.

If you live in Los Angeles and have no idea where to take you honey, boo, sidekick, friend or foe.... I have a few places that I can suggest for good food, romance and entertainment.

Food and Live Music

La Louisianna in Los Angeles (Creole Food) best R&B and Jazz
Redwhite and Bluezz (Pasadena)

Food Connoisseurs

Tom Collichio- Craft
Church & State (Modern French and romantic atmosphere)
Asanebo (Sushi)
Red Medicine (Vietnamese with a twist) open till 2a.m. and fabulous drinks

Learn how to make Honey Glazed Buffalo Wings with Jasmine's Kitchen

2011-02-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

Jasmine's Kitchen Cookbook- Purchase it NOW on Amazon- "Cooking Tempting Foods"

2011-02-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

Purchase the Book NOW on Amazon

Jasmine's Kitchen- Cooking Tempting Foods

maple glazed ham w roasted tomato, egg on brioche

2011-01-17T12:29:00.000-08:00

For this recipe I pulled out my Griddle. (375 degrees)

I roasted the tomatoes in my broiler (500 degrees) with Olive Oil, Garlic, Salt, Pepper and Fresh Thyme for 7 minutes.

Then I toast the brioche on my griddle with butter.

Dipped Ham Steak in Maple Syrup and placed on griddle (2 minutes on each side)

Over easy eggs completed on the griddle as well

A delicious breakfast/ brunch concoction.

Food and Skin Care!??

2011-01-11T13:14:00.000-08:00

When people say, "You are what you eat" I think really? I'm a pig, I'm cabbage, I am a stinking rose (garlic). :-)
In the last year or so I found out that my body does not respond well to Dairy Products or spicy food (of course these food items are my favorite). As a child I never had breakouts, zits, pimples or acne. You can say I have been lucky up until recently.
Whenever I crave a glass of milk with cookies I know at some point I am going to pay for it. Acne followed by blemishes. Yikes!! Of course having brown skin doesn't help my situation because my blemishes look black or dark, dark brown. Call me vain, but not cute when its on the tip of your nose. For Christmas I was Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer reincarnated. For the past few weeks I have been trying to get rid of this blemish that makeup can't cover up.
In a desparate and last attempt, I went online and googled home remedy for facial blemishes. The searches directed me to ehowto.com
Does it work.... YES!!!!!!!!!!
Here are the instructions

•No, you are not making Greek food. You are getting rid of the bacteria on your skin. Cut a slice of lemon and prepare a fresh clove of garlic by taking off the skin and cutting the clove in half.

•2
Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser such a Cetaphil. Squeeze the slice of lemon into your palm and pat on your face (especially on the blemish or active area).

•3
Rinse your face. Now, take the half clove (this is a fresh clove with juice) and rub the clove on the blemish, squeezing the juice onto the area. Wait a minute. You will feel tingling.

•4
After about a minute (you may wait longer, depending on the sensitivity of your skin) and up to five minutes, rinse your face with luke warm water.

•5
Know that garlic is an antioxidant with huge quantities of Vitamin C. These nutrients will kill off the bacteria surrounding the blemish.

•6
Wake up and notice the difference in your skin. You may smell like a garden, but your face will be free of bacteria.

My Favorite Sparkling Wines- Chandon

2010-12-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

The New Year Holiday is vastly approaching and I am certain there will be Sparkling Wine and Champagne at the party. I know most of it is dry and bitter and often times gives a slamming head ache.
However, Chandon is one of my favorite brands and I am starting to see it in stores now. I only used to see it at the winery in Napa but now I am seeing it in the Grocery Store alcohol refrigerator.
The good thing is that its affordable and its tasty, light and crisp.
When you visit their winery they always pair it with Oysters on the half Shell. The winery also has good nightly entertainment.
So if you're ever in Napa, check them out!

Well ladies and gentlemen....

Happy New Year from Jasmine's Kitchen!!!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

Hope you all enjoyed Christmas! It was very relaxing to me. It was the first Christmas in years that I took it easy.
I began a new tradition in my household. Having a holiday brunch instead of a dinner. I found it to be less intense than having to make a full course dinner.
However, I did decide to make a Ham and have added one more ingredient to my "Holiday Ham". I added canned peaches which actually sealed the deal. I also made collard greens, potato salad, rolls and cranberry sauce. My brandy infused wine of choice was "Angelica" by V. Sattui. I didn't go all out this year as I usually would but realized that simplicity for the holidays is more joyous!
I watched football and got in a 3 hour nap.
Well I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas as much as I did.

Goat Cheese and Chive Risotto

2010-12-19T23:09:00.001-08:00

I made this for Dinner tonight and it was delicious!!!! Enjoy and hope you love the picture.

Ingredients:
2 cups Arborio Rice
2 Shallots minced
4 garlic cloves minced
1 carton Wolfgang Pucks Chicken stock
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoons goat cheese
2 tablespoons fresh chives
1/2 cup Parmesan pecorino cheese
salt to taste

Learn how to make this recipe. Email: jasmineskitchen@gmail.com

La Louisianne in Los Angeles

2010-12-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

I apologize that I have no photos for this post YET. My battery died and wasn't able to catch one good photo.
La Louisianne is a Creole Soul Food Restaurant located on the boarder of Culver City and Ladera Heights in Los Angeles.
If you are into old school music such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and The Gap Band or Jazz you are in for a treat. The restaurant has a live band everyday of the week.
I have been visiting this restaurant since I was 15 years old. Since my recent visit I noticed the food is much better and they have added new items to the menu.
On Mondays (during Monday Night Football) you can get red beans and rice and fried chicken for $2.00. I plan to be there before the season ends :)I have missed it every year and I am determined to make it this year.

What to order:
Fried Chicken
Shrimp Etoufee
Fried Oysters
Fried Pork Chops
and
Gumbo

Truffle Tarts by my favorite Tyler Florence

2010-12-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups fine chocolate wafer crumbs (from Oreo cookies or chocolate wafers)
6 tablespoons melted butter
1 recipe Dark Chocolate Truffles, recipe follows, whipped but not shaped into balls
6 fresh raspberries, plus extra for serving
Directions
Use a fork to mix together the chocolate wafer crumbs and butter. Spray the cups of a 6-muffin tin with a vegetable spray. Line the cups with strips of parchment or waxed paper, cut so that they are as wide as the diameter of each cup and long enough to overhang the sides (you'll need this overhang to remove the tarts). Use the bottom of a small glass to press the crumbs over the bottom and sides of the muffin cups, building the sides up to only about 1 1/2 inches. Place a raspberry in the center of each crust and with a pastry bag or small plastic bag with the corner snipped off, fill the tarts with the truffle mixture. Smooth the tops and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

Dark Chocolate Truffles:
1/2 cup heavy cream

8 ounces good-quality (70 percent) bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup cocoa powder, for dusting

In a saucepan, bring the cream just to a simmer over low heat. Pour the cream over the chocolate in a bowl and let stand about 10 minutes to melt the chocolate. Add the vanilla and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool for 1 hour at room temperature. Then beat the chocolate at medium speed until it gets thick and light colored. Spread over the bottom of a baking dish and smooth the top. Refrigerate about 2 hours, until firm.

Pour the cocoa powder onto a deep plate or shallow bowl. Use a melon baller or small ice cream scoop to scoop out balls of chocolate; place them on the plate with the cocoa powder and roll between 2 forks to completely coat with the cocoa powder. Then use the forks to carefully transfer them to a parchment or waxed lined baking sheet.

Yield: 15 to 20 candies, depending on size

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Inactive Prep Time: 3 hours

Ease of preparation: Intermediate

Splurge on Luxury Sushi at "Asanebo" in Studio City

2010-12-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

I was craving Sushi and since I was in the Valley I decided to google Sushi in Studio City. Asanebo was the first name that appeared. The first thing I did was scroll down to see how many stars the restuarant had.
I read one Yelp review and someone said it was "Rilly Rilly good". For someone to deliberately misspell really, I thought to myself, It must be REALLY REALLY GOOD!
Let me say this first... Asanebo has two Michelin awards
and second... be prepapred to pay $$$$ (Top dolla, baht, Euro, dinero, yen)
As I have mentioned twice on previous blogs that Maru is my favorite sushi in all of California. Well Asanebo has pretty much taken over the reigns.
I don't know about how most people judge their sushi or sushi chefs but I am very critical before I casually eat at a sushi restaurant.
First, the sushi chef has to be Japanese. Second, if I am sitting at the sushi bar and if the sashimi is sloppy or too thick, I won't order from the bar. There is nothing more annoying than chewing a large portion of raw fish. The sashimi must be delicate and the sushi chef must take pride in their food.
Okay... back to my review ( I went on a rant there for a while :0) )

I called to make a reservation and they were completely booked but the sushi bar was open. When I sat down, I sat next to a guy that frequents the restaurant every Friday. He was able to make a few suggestions before paying his bill. He said everything is good and he spends 1/3 of his paycheck here at the restaurant. lol!
Before leaving he gave me a good tip, most of the dishes can be half orders which can save you a lot of money if you plan to try everything on the menu. In my case I can't help it.
If I am visiting a restaurant for the first time I do like to taste a lot of things so I know what to order for my next visit.
Unfortunately everything I tried (which was a lot) was exquisite. When I do return for my second visit I won't know what to settle for.
Asanebo has a lobster and black truffle sushi pairing that is so delicious that you plainly want to luxuriate in it.
I ordered a spinach salad with portabello mushrooms and I really didn't think much of it at first until I tasted the vinaigrette. (Lets just say I learned a little secret to my new dressings). I will no longer use olive oil.
I also tried the Sea bass with a creamy pink peppercorn sauce. I am now a new fan of Pink peppercorn. It explicitly heightens the flavors of any dish. It's almost like a light mint note.
They have also united kumoto oysters with caviar. How could that not be good?

I'm pretty sure by now you realize that this isn't your average sushi restaurant with Philadelphia Rolls, California Rolls or Spider Rolls.
The sushi at Asanebo is lavish, deluxe and rightfully splendid!

5 stars and two thumbs up!

Top Chef All Stars

2010-12-01T21:07:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about the season. Tonight I was able to watch tonights episode and noticed everyone bragged about who had the best season. Hands down Season 6 was the best. I was a little disappointed with season 7 after seeing all of the talent on season 6.
I am rooting for Tiffany, Carla and of course Fabio. Fabio is hilarious. He always makes me laugh because of his brutal honesty. However, the girls went really far and doubted themselves in the end. I hope they can prove their natural skills.
I can't wait to see what this season brings. (Hope they beat Jamie... didn't care for her attitude)
One of my biggest dreams is sit in Padma's seat and be a judge on the show

Hatfield's

2010-12-01T18:32:00.000-08:00

My friend Chef Ryan recommended this place several months ago but I wasn't able to fit the visit into my schedule until recently. I also saw the owners of Hatfield's on television last week which really compelled me to check out their establishment.
First and foremost the restaurant itself is simple and beautiful. Its not too small and not too large. The decor is really nice, simple and comfortable. There isn't a bad seat in the house. I love restaurants where you can see into the kitchen and watch everyone cook.
We ordered from the appetizer menu and I really enjoyed the croque madame (yellow tail sashimi, prosciutto, sunny side up quail egg on grilled brioche. The brioche was the most perfect brioche I have had. It was crispy but melted in your mouth. I hope that they keep this on their menu.
For dinner I decided to order from their prix fix menu so that I could enjoy multiple dishes instead of one.
Unfortunately I didn't write down all of the dishes. When I looked on their website I realized that the menu has already changed.

My first course was crab wrapped in a crepe. It was really savory but needed a touch of acid. They paired it with beets (not a personal favorite food of mine) but it seemed to work for the most part.
My next course I wasn't a fan of. I decided to be adventurous and try Skate Wing for the first time. I decided to google it and it looks like its apart of the Sting Ray family. Unfortunately it wasn't done right. I'm uncertain on how they prepared it but it tasted like it was boiled in water. It was overdone and mushy. It lacked texture, acid and flavor. They did however pair it with fried oysters but it didn't work for me. There was too much going on. I noticed it wasn't on the menu tonight. I'm hoping the next time I try Skate Wing that it will be prepared differently.
However, I enjoyed the short ribs. The short ribs were spoon tender and packed a lot of flavor in the entire dish. The potatoes were silky smooth and creamy.
For dessert they had a chocolate and peanut butter crunch. Awww so delicious.

A must try: Passion Fruit Pisco sour with egg white cocktail

Overall I had a great experience my waiter David was awesome. He made a lot of fantastic suggestions for wines and cocktails. He also suggested my appetizer, dessert and main entree. Thumbs up to the David who made my overall experience enjoyable.

What to do with all of your left overs

2010-11-29T10:26:00.001-08:00

Turkey you can.....

Make turkey and cranberry sandwiches with Dijon mustard and romaine lettuce. Choose a nice artisan bread such as ciabatta, rosemary herbed french roll or an onion roll.

Make Turkey soup. Just add chicken stock, carrots, sweet white corn, broccoli, dry basil, peas and a little butter. Garnish with cotija cheese and Italian Parsley

Make Split Pea Soup if you had Ham for Thanksgiving.

Make a Turkey Panini with Fresh Basil, red onion and brie cheese

Make Turkey pot pies

Don't let food go to waste!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-29T08:38:00.001-08:00

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! I sure did. I visited my family in Minnesota and had one of the best Thanksgivings in years. All the food turned out perfect. I even received more Holiday praises on my youtube site for my Holiday Ham. If you are looking for an alternative for Christmas check out my Holiday Ham.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wNOk-Tgx2k

Flat Matea Goes to the Filling Station- Culver City

2010-11-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

Since 2008 I have been loving Culver City. Culver City was once a quaint little town that my cousin and I would walk 5 miles to go see a movie. We loved going to the theatre in Culver City because it was quiet and we didn't have to come home as early. We loved walking for miles and talking and having fun. I could honestly say that Culver City was one of those places that brings back special childhood memories.
Yesterday I didn't want to eat near my home and was looking for something different. I kept saying, "I want to eat at a Gastropub". Yes, it the new "thing" here in Los Angeles and yes its "food trendy" but I am happy that Los Angeles is finally getting on the bandwagon. Don't get me wrong I love my food trucks and hole in the walls but going to the Filling Station has the make and feel of a gourmet pub (I guess essentially that's what it is for all of us chic ladies).
HMMMMM HMMM HMMMMMMM.
We ordered the breakfast flat bread that had smoked apple bacon, over easy egg, tomato and argula salad on top. Look at the picture it's fantastic! How could Matea and I pass on such a delicious meal. We also ordered the Hanger Steak and Eggs with Herbed butter. The steak was juicy and flavorful. The salted crust was music to my ears. The Argula salad tossed with lemon juice gave the savory meal its balance. Not to mention the home potatoes that were simply seasoned with salt, pepper and butter. The potatoes reminded me of something my mom would make.
I was also a little curious as to why someone would have deviled eggs on the menu, so I ordered that too. It was tasty but a little dry. I think I will skip the eggs next time. To finish off a great meal we ordered fruit with ricotta cheese and honey. It was slices of heaven in my mouth. Never knew Ricotta cheese and honey mixed well.
Opps I am sorry, I didn't tell you who Matea is....
I'm sure you're probably wondering why I am taking a picture with "Flat Matea". If you're not familiar with the story "Flat Stanley", "Flat Matea" is on vacation here in California and I have been her chosen to be her chaperon. Yesterday we had a fun packed day. We went to Magic Mountain, the Filling Station and the Santa Monica Pier. For the next few weeks you will see more and more pics of "Flat Matea" and I eat our way through each town in Los Angeles.

Bird Pick- Tea & Herb

2010-11-14T01:26:00.000-08:00

As some of you know I love tea and visiting tea houses. For the past few weeks I have been on a "tea kick". Tea is my coffee when I wake up in the morning.
Tea is a great source of caffeine and is good for detoxing.

Bird Pick- has many different teas you can choose from. Perusing around the store was fun. I was able to see all kinds of teas that I have never seen before such Chrysanthemum, milk teas, lavender and Pu-erh teas in their natural form.
One of my friends purchased a Pur-erh tea from Bird Pick and I have been addicted. Since I can't work out at the present time this tea has kept me energized throughout the day.

Bird Pick has every type of tea you can imagine. It's a Tea Lovers Heaven. However, you will pay a pretty penny for this great find. 1/4lb bag of Pur-erh will set you back $30. Not sure how many cups I will get out of it but I do not plan to waste one leaf.
Bird Pick has several locations. The one I visited is in the new Santa Monica Mall.

Tea Lovers you will ADORE this place.

Wine Cheese and Cracker Night- Wine of the Month

2010-11-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

Peju Winery is one of my favorite wineries in Napa Valley. The last time I went wine tasting I was able to pick up a bottle of their 2006 Zinfandel.
The Zinfandel was very peppery but not as bold as a lot American wines you get in Napa. It's straight to the point and goes down smoothly. What I like most about Peju's wine is that I am never disappointed.
I went to Wholefoods last night and picked out a local Salami mixed with wine, an Italian dry salami (piccante), an aged (gouda) "houda" cheese and a truffle tremor cheese. The truffle tremor cheese had a double layer of brie and goat cheese. It was absolutely beautiful!
My favorite crackers are made by LA Panzanella. What I like most about their crackers is that it doesn't take away the flavors of the cheese or meats you are eating. Its light and crispy and not too doughy. You can find these crackers in your local Wholefoods or Oakville Grocer in Napa Valley.

Roasted Halibut w/Dijon Mustard Creme Sauce

2010-11-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

Looking for a dish less than 30 minutes to make and delicious?
This recipe is for you :-) I give it 4.5 Stars. I substituted the red snapper for halibut. Since I am not a lover of capers I added a little lemon instead.
I followed the instructions to the T and it came out perfectly flaky.
Thank you Ina Garten!!

4 (8-ounce) fish fillets such as red snapper
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces creme fraiche
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons drained capers
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. (You can also use an ovenproof baking dish.) Place the fish fillets skin side down on the sheet pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.

Combine the creme fraiche, 2 mustards, shallots, capers, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Spoon the sauce evenly over the fish fillets, making sure the fish is completely covered. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish, until it's barely done. (The fish will flake easily at the thickest part when it's done.) Be sure not to overcook it! Serve hot or at room temperature with the sauce from the pan spooned over the top.

Crumbs Bake Shop

2010-10-31T22:14:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine suggested I try Crumbs. Since it was my girl friends birthday I decided to buy an assortment of different flavors. To be honest I was really excited about trying Crumbs because they have locations in Los Angeles as well as NYC.
To say the least, I am still a Sprinkles fan and no other cupcake compares. Crumbs is very dry and the cup cakes are huge. Their frosting are elaborate and definitely makes your mouth water when reading the descriptions.
I tasted
Crumbs classic red velvet, cookies n cream, dulce de leche, baba booey and chocolate strawberry.
I wasn't happy at all. The cupcake itself as mentioned before were dry and lacked flavor. I felt like I was eating a grocery store cupcake that you bring to a Halloween office party. I wasn't impressed with the frosting flavors. I prefer to buy store bought frosting (Betty Crocker) and add my own cookies :-)
Unfortunately $36 dollars wasted.

agave nectar- natural sweetener

2010-10-31T21:36:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently introduced me to agave nectar which I have been using in my teas. I have been reading in recent articles that its healthier and a lot of vegans will substitute it for honey.
In my honest opinion a little goes a long way and if you have a sweet tooth what better way to reduce your sugar intake and reduce calories.

100,000 view on Taco Video

2010-10-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

Today we are celebrating a milestone in Jasmine's Kitchen. Yesterday we hit 100,000 views on our taco video! Thanks everyone for their support....

cut and paste the video to your browser

http://www.youtube.com/user/jasmae44?feature=mhum#p/a/u/2/KvnhUm4hkWU

Real Cajun- Donald Links

2010-10-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Donald Links Cookbook- Real Cajun is a must buy! Just made his pork pot roast. DELICIOUS!!!

Katana's Hollywood- The Ultimate Japanese comfort food

2010-10-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Last week was my girlfriends Annie Bday and what better place to celebrate your birthday in Hollywood. Its right across the street from my favorite Hotel, The Mondrian and the Sky Bar.
Our party sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the beautiful evening weather. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me but I did happen to have my cellphone which caught the highlights of the evening.
I have never been disappointed at Katana's. The food is solid and yummy. I have tried pretty much everything on the menu. Here are some of my favorite dishes just so you can have an idea what to order when you go ;-)
~Kobe Beef Tataki with Garlic Ponzu Sauce
~Miso with Clams
~Tuna Carpaccio with wasabi soy truffle oil
~Lamb chop marinated in soy garlic

You never have to worry about this place having a lack of seasoning.

New Orleans and whats new in Jasmine's Kitchen

2010-10-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Its been a while. I apologize that I haven't blogged pretty much most of the summer. A lot has happened since then. In July I got really sick and it lingered for more than 2 months. During my recovery I started a new job and needed to get situated. As soon as I was back on my feet I was in a car accident that has had me on bed rest. Go Figure I had a stroke of bad luck!!

I hope you all enjoy the slide show. I was lucky to had scored tickets to the opening game of the NFL season in New Orleans. As you can tell I enjoyed a lot of good food. I also came home with a Slamming recipe on BBQ Shrimp and its to die for. If you're interested in the recipe you can always email me at jasmineskitchen@gmail.com

xoxoxo
Jasmine

My Little Farmers Market- Although not for Sale

2010-07-26T09:13:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures of my grapes I am growing on the patio and my cherry tomatoes. I've noticed that the cherry tomatoes are far more sweeter than the ones I purchase in the store.

My Birthday- A.O.C.

2010-07-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

As a lot of you know I have been sick for the past 3 weeks. Sorry that I haven't been able to update my blog as of late.
A few months ago while my friend was visiting LA I snagged a magazine called "My LA" which features a lot of the good restaurants here in LA. I ran across this restaurant and went online to see the reviews. Everyone had nothing but good things to say. I was a little nervous because it was my first time and it was my birthday and I didn't want to take any chances.
The food was divine and I am so happy that I chose this place. The restaurant is located on 3rd Street close to a lot of my favorite places to eat. The decor is very straight forward which is really nice. You can either pop in after work or throw on a nice dress. My clothing didn't quite fit in with the crowd but that's not me anyways. LOL. I like to stand out sometimes with my BIG ol Hair and spiky heels.
The menu was awesome. We had a cheese tasting which included one of the best Gouda cheeses I have ever tasted. It was called Noord Hollander. They accompanied it with a dried fig in which I added a coppa, sopressata and cacciatorini salami.
This restaurant is the type of restaurants that serves small plates so you can share. It's really nice when you order a lot of different dishes because if you don't like one there's always something that will trump the other.
Okay back to what we ordered; we ordered the stuffed rabbit. Yes... stuffed rabbit. I was a little nervous because I have never tried rabbit before. The chef did a good job with this dish. It tasted like a tease to Thanksgiving dinner.
I also ordered the halibut with a carrot puree and creme fraiche. The halibut was perfectly cook and to me was the best on the menu. The carrot puree tasted like it had a yam mixture but I may be mistaken.
We also had the lamb skewers which were tender and juicy.
and last...for the birthday girl I had the chocolate french toast with hazlenut and coffee ice cream for dessert. It was really good and worth every single calorie.
This restaurant has made it in my top 7 restaurants in Los Angeles. I am looking forward to going to Tavern (the owners other restaurant) in Brentwood.

Moiselle Catering-Fair Housing Elegant Luncheon

2010-06-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

Moiselle Catering catered a sit down elegant luncheon for the Fair Housing Council in Santa Ana.

On the Menu

Artisan Bread with fresh herbed balsamic vinegar and oil

Arugula and mixed green salad served with a peach mint basil slaw drizzled with Passion fruit Vinaigrette

Rosemary & Garlic crusted Filet Mignon served with a special mustard barbeque sauce

Asparagus and Hollandaise sauce

Garlic mashed potatoes

Special Thanks to: Svenje, Adolfo and Ingrid and all the Fair Housing Council committee

Star Chef Event- Pasadena, Ca

2010-06-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

Wow.... can't believe its been a full year since I started the blog full-time. Last year was the start of me documenting my favorite restaurants, favorite dishes, wines and much much more. The Star Chef Event was the first blogged event on food from Jasmine's Kitchen.
This Year it was the 90th Anniversary for Rosemary's Child Non-Profit organization. If you'd like to know more about Rosemary's Child please google it. There is so much to give to these youth and young ladies growing up in todays world.
Yesterday was a full packed day. After catering an event across town I took a quick nap, raced to pasadena to enjoy all of my favorite vendors of Pasadena, my friends, the music and raffles. Of course I didn't win the trip to New York but I was very appreciative to be around adults and just relax for a good cause.

Cornish Hen Marinated in Balsamic Vinegar

2010-06-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

Cornish Hen Marinated in Balsamic Vinegar. I used to use this recipe 10 years ago when I owned a clay pot. Since then, I have misplaced my clay pot and use a turkey bag for this recipe which works just as good.
The Balsamic carmelizes and gives the cornish hen a sweet flavor. The turkey bag allows the for the cornish hen to stay moist and succulent. Once the fresh ingredients are added to this recipe its a keeper!!

Ingredients
1 cornish hen
3 cups balsamic vinegar
1 white onion julienned
1 whole garlic chopped in half
4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 cup olive oil
salt and pepper

Directions
1.Place all ingredients in a ziplock bag over night and refrigerate.
2. preheat over 375f
3. place all ingredients in the turkey bag and lay in casserole dish, twist and tie, poke six wholes on top and tuck in excess bag into the dish.
4. Place in oven

Cook for 45 minutes.

The pictures aren't the greatest (taken from camera phone)

Minnesota Graduation Weekend

2010-06-08T18:00:00.001-07:00

I flew to Minnesota last week for my sisters HS graduation. My family decided to have a family dinner at a party hall where we could all sit and enjoy dinner together. With the help of my sister-in-law Serika we prepared Bolognese meat sauce with Orchiette noodles and baby brocolli, shrimp alfredo, caprese salad, bruschetta and desserts from my Big sister Kenya. For my ingredients I went to Cosetta's (located downtown St. Paul), Wholefoods and Kowalski's both located on Grand. I went to Party City in Roseville for my designer plastic ware.
Here are some of the pictures from that day. I also took a picture of my favorite house on Grand just in case someone wins the lotto and buys this house for me. LOL

Sex and The City Party

2010-06-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

I guess you can call me the Carrie Bradshaw of the food world from Sex and the City. My friend Miko Farr and I hosted a Sex and the City Party where we got dressed up and rented a limo, took pictures, served cosmos and had fabulous food. On the Menu we had Strawberry Lemonade, Citrus water, Cosmos, Sangria, crab cakes, macaroni and cheese, shrimp cocktail, fruit salad with mint and orange zest, chicken satay, and cupcakes from Dots.
Here is a link to all the fun!! Cut and Paste to your browser

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14849402@N04/sets/72157624055230219/show/

Best Day to Grocery Shop

2010-06-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

Best day to grcoery shop in Los Angeles is Tuesday. Tuesday is the day when all fresh meats and produce arrive. You will also find great deals such as 2 for 1 specials. Not only will you save money but you also have a fresher selection to choose from.

Mario Batali Book signing

2010-05-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

Several months ago I added myself to mailing list for Mozza. Normally I don't like to be bombarded with Spam mail but I am so happy that I did. Two weeks ago I received an email that Mario Batali would be at the restaurant in person signing his book. I was so excited with anticipation to meet one of my favorite chefs. After eating at his restaurant several times and writing numerous blogs on my favorite pizza I knew I'd have lots of questions.
Of course I thought I'd be a chatter box but when I met him I couldn't even get two words out of my mouth. I guess my shyness overcame me. :-)
It was a honor to meet him.
The sad thing was Mozza was closed for a private party. I was sooooo hoping that it would be open so I could eat my meat lovers pizza.

Little Next Door

2010-05-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! One of the best French Breakfast places I have ever eaten at. After going to the Mario Batali Book signing we decided to find a place to eat since Mozza was closed for a private party. We decided to drive on 3rd street and noticed this place popped out. The blue colors were vibrant and electric. The restaurant has an outdoor patio for all the looky loos and the people that want to be seen. Indoor seating is available and is still a nice place to eat because there beautiful skylight coming through the roof. I adored the midnight electric blue they painted on the walls. It was such a comfortable place to sit and eat.
The French decor was beautiful. It wasn't pretentious or over done. It reminded me of being in the South of France in LA. For a moment I was in heaven. Even the waiters were French.... (lots of eye candy ladies) :-)
The restaurant makes their own pastries, jams, sauces, nicoise olives, and dipping sauce.
I am so happy we ate here because the food was perfect!
I ordered the Perrigold omelet. Phenomenal!!!The omelet was simple but elegant it had Black truffle and brie cheese. It was served with scalloped potatoes and a green salad. I wanted to eat the entire plate but decided that I will return instead.

Good times with Friends-bbq with Kurt and Svenje

2010-05-16T22:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were invited over to Kurt and Svenje's for a bbq.
They smoked tri-tip, pork loin and salmon. There's definitely a technique to smoking meats. Boy was it yummy and now I want a smoker. hehehehheeee
Saturday Svenje taught me a sauce she learned in cooking school. It was served with the tri-tip and if I could drink this sauce I would.
Everything was so delicious that I could not stop eating. I woke up and ran 4 miles because I felt so guilty.
Love good times with friends!!

Crate and Barrel

2010-05-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago was the first time I went to a Crate and Barrel. Ten years ago I didn't appreciate the full scope of what this store had to offer. Now, you can't keep me out of there without having buyers remorse. I'm definitely a kid in a candy store when I go in there. Since I have a spending problem when I go in there I make sure that they box all of my items so I can feel special. :-)
Crate & Barrel is a great store for finding cooking gadgets that save time. You can also find beautiful dishware, good knives, durable cookware, serving platters and much much more. There are so many great ideas in this store especially if you like entertaining.
I purchased a few pieces for my Sex and the City event coming up at the end of the month. I can't wait to showcase my new pieces.

Wholefoods gives out complimentary burgers and hotdogs

2010-05-16T21:39:00.001-07:00

Saturday Wholefoods was giving out complimentary grilled veggie dogs and hamburgers. After shopping at Crate & Barrel I stopped by Wholefoods for a quick bite but noticed two ladies out there grilling food. I assumed that there was a cost. To my surprised when I asked, they replied that it was complimentary for "Customer Appreciation Day".
I thought that it was awesome because I have never tried a "Veggie Dog" before and what better way to try one.
Well, it wasn't too bad. I think if I hadn't known it was a veggie dog that I wouldn't of known the difference. However, there was a little after taste that threw me off.
The good thing is that I didn't feel guilty for eating a hot dog. It was all Veggie!!!

Mother's Day at Mel's Diner

2010-05-09T23:17:00.000-07:00

Mel's has been around since 1947. It's a 24 hour joint that delivers all the time. There's a juke box where you can choose all the oldie but goodies. You can always get a great milk shake and breakfast anytime of the day. Since today was Mother's Day most of the popular places were busy. I was glad to run across Mel's after running four miles today. I also enjoyed watching some of the mothers there with their children.
Just know... no matter what... you can always get a solid fast meal at Mel's Diner.
P.S. if you're ever hung over, try their five alarm breakfast. :-)

Nino's First Communion Party

2010-05-09T22:44:00.000-07:00

I was honored that Chef Nikita and her husband Chef Leone asked me to assist their son Nino's first communion party. It was a beautiful day in sunny California and I was looking forward to seeing my first, first communion party.
On the menu:
Caprese
Meatballs
Manicotti
cannoli
fruit salad
green salad with homemade terraza dressing
fried chicken
greens
cornbread muffins
macaroni and cheese
Red Sangria
White Sangria
Strawberry Lemonade

Chef John Leone's mom made the manicotti, meatballs and cannoli. There is nothing like mom's homemade cooking. I've never had manicotti taste so good in my life. Usually I won't eat it because the ricotta cheese seems too grainy. I am not sure what she did but it was light and flavorful. It was fluffy and so tasty. Her canolli was out of this world. She told me her secret ingredient and I know she could sale these off the shelves in a heartbeat. I know I claim I'm not a dessert eater but I could not help but eating three in a row. (Thank goodness for the gym). It was such a sin to help in the kitchen on Saturday.
Saturday did not feel like I was cooking but just a lovely day in the kitchen. I had a lot of fun and look forward to working with them.

Cinco De Mayo at a taco truck

2010-05-09T22:19:00.000-07:00

Too bad Cinco De Mayo happened to be during the week day and in the middle of me dieting. This year wasn't like last year where I had a fiesta at my house. The day got so busy that I almost forgot to eat. Last year I had 3 different types of tacos, homemade guacamole, tomatillo salsa, beans, grilled jalapenos and grilled onions.
This year was so busy that I barely made it on time for lunch. At the last minute I went to my local taco truck and ordered 3 carne asada tacos and my favorite orange soda.
I am happy to say that my taco video is now at 61,000 views on youtube.
Check out my website where you can watch my video on how to make tacos, guacamole, shop for ingredients and dance. JK on the dancing part...LOL

www.jasminescookingshow.com

Chicken Stew with Pimiento Olives

2010-05-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

Medium
Cook time: 1hr 30min
Prep Time: 15 min
Chicken Stew with Pimiento Olives over Basmati Rice

9 Chicken Thighs
1 32oz can Roasted chopped tomatoes
1 cup white wine
1 cup chicken broth
6 garlic cloves minced
1 bell pepper julienned
1 sweet Maui onion julienned
5 sprigs fresh thyme (remove stems)
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup Pimiento Olives sliced
Dry Seasonings
black pepper, garlic salt, tony chacherre's
Directions
Wash and clean chicken. Pat dry and lightly season with dry seasonings and fresh thyme on both sides and set to the side.
Chop onion, garlic and bell pepper and set to the side.
In a large pot add olive oil. Turn heat to high. Once heated place chicken thighs skin side down. Brown 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Then turn over.
Turn heat to low.
Next add wine,chicken broth, bell pepper, onion, garlic, tomatoes, sugar and bay leaf. Cover and cook on low heat for 1hour 25minutes. Last 5 minutes add Olives.
Serve over Basmati Rice.

Enjoy!!!

Takami Sushi- Los Angeles

2010-05-02T19:09:00.001-07:00

So... we decided to celebrate one of my best girlfriends birthday at Takami Sushi Downtown, Los Angeles. Interest sparked when I was reading through a food magazine on cool locations to eat at. The restaurant is located in a high rise building. The view is absolutely gorgeous with a view of Downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant has a lounge area where there is a live DJ and dance floor. After eating you can walk over to the other side with a ticket they give you when you first arrive. The crowd is pretty young..... a little too young for me. It was funny watching all the girls in the middle of the dance floor and all the guys standing around them. It literally looked like a shark tank.
The Food
Not impressive. It was so so. I had the Takami Edamame (sauteed in garlic, butter and soy sauce) It was a little too tender. I like a little bite to my Edamame. When its over steamed it tends to be mushy but because I was hungry I pretty much ate the entire bowl. LOL
I also had the halibut carpaccio- my halibut was sliced too thick. If the meat isn't sliced thin enough it becomes a little chewy. It was topped with Yuzu sauce which is nice and tangy but because my meat wasn't cut right it was hard to enjoy it.
I tried my friends lobster salad. All I could taste was mayo. I believe that was what I ate although it said it was served with creme fraiche (aka sour cream). It wasn't light at all. The lobster was nice and sweet. It was served in a martini glass and the presentation wasn't all that spectacular.
Takami is a nice place to go but the food is alright... Would I go again... don't think so.
To make things worse on ride down back to our car in the elevator someone smelled really bad which really made me want to gag at the end of the evening. Just my luck!!

I will post more pics when my friends sends the rest :-)

Catering with Chef leone- UCLA

2010-04-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

I was invited to cook again with Chef Leone. We hosted a party for the Dean of the Arts department at UCLA. The party went without a hitch. Time went by really fast. We made crab cakes with remoulade, fontina savory tarts, fillet Mignon with blue cheese mousse and arugula salad. These were the only two pictures I took. Sorry I wasn't able to upload more pictures because I was cooking majority of the time.
Next time I promise more pictures. :-)

Ivan Kane's- Cafe Was Hollywood, CA

2010-04-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Ivan Kane's- Cafe Was/Fourty Deuce is located in Hollywood, Ca off Sunset & Vine. I was really excited about going to this restaurant because it has a live jazz band nightly. There's nothing like listening to great music and enjoying good food. Before I went to Cafe Was I read a lot of reviews on *yelp* and I noticed either the diner enjoyed their experience or just hated it.
I'm not sure what to make of my experience. I guess I will break it down so that you can make your own opinion.

Ambiance: A little over the top. I kind of felt like I was at the Rio in Vegas that wants to mimic Mardi Gras in New Orleans except that this restaurant wants to take you back to the 40's. However, it was fun and romantic all at the same time depending on the occasion. The layout was great. Most of the seating focused on the band which was located in the middle of the restaurant.
Service: The service was great. The hostess was able to sit us on the balcony instead of outside. The bartender made our drinks pretty stiff and there was no need to order a second.
Food: It was disappointing. It's suppose to be "French Inspired" or a French Bistro. I don't think heavy food constitutes French Food. I'm not sure who created this menu but I feel like I was eating at the Del Taco of French food. I really wanted to like the food, I promise. For appetizers I ordered the lobster roll and the fried frog legs. The lobster roll was deep fried with potatoes and carrots. I'm not sure if I was eating a chimichanga or a bad egg roll but it was bad. They should rename the roll. I think Chimichanga is a better fit. Most lobster rolls are delicated and light.
The Frog legs had no salt and was served with barbecue sauce. I wasn't feeling it. There was only three little pieces. It was not enough to be an appetizer but more like when a chef gives you a complimentary tasting.
For my main course I ordered the scallop with pork belly. My scallops were cold and the pork belly was pure fat with no meat. The texture just didn't sit well with me.
We also ordered the braised short ribs which was a disaster. First, it was not fork tender. It was dry and tasted like an overcooked brisket. Second, the fried onions on top were over powering and saturated in oil. It tasted like store purchased fried onions in a can. The sauce was really thick. A few months ago I purchased a premade demi-glace and realized when it comes to glazes and sauces you can't really cut corners.
I also ordered a side of macaroni and cheese with truffle oil. Dismally it was blah and I could of made a box of macaroni and cheese and added my own cheese and poured truffle oil on top and got the same thing.
Too bad this place didn't get to third base because at the end of night I ended up going to Jack n the Box. Go figure!!

Roscoes Chicken and Waffles- Hollywood

2010-04-17T21:34:00.002-07:00

I'm finally blogging on the famous "Roscoes Chicken and Waffles". I believe this is one of the first restaurants I went to when I moved to Los Angeles when I was a teenager. I remember when Roscoes was 24 hours and my friends and I would go there on the weekends because you were always guaranteed good food.
Before I went time this I worked out for 3 hours because I knew that I would be eating a lot. Since I am a creature of habit once I find something on the menu its hard for me to deviate and try others specials.
I always order the #9- 3 fried chicken wings and a waffle, side of collard greens and a Sunrise.
Lets start with the Sunrise drink, its a mix of lemonade and orange juice. You get a mix of sweet and tangy. Some people mix it all together or just let it be. I prefer to just let it be.
Roscoes Fried chicken is always fried to perfection with the perfect amount of seasoning and crispiness. A lot of my friends order the fried succulent chicken breast. The chicken is always juicy and never saturated with oil.
And their famous waffles- I can never eat the entire waffle but its always moist with a perfect amount of crisp. You really don't need butter and syrup because its good on its own but their waffles are unbeatable.
On our visit we ordered a side of beans and rice, mac n cheese and cornbread since I haven't tried these items before.
To my surprise the beans and rice were really good and favorful. Usually when going to a soul food restaurant the sides aren't really flavored.

If you like sweet and savory food you will loooove Roscoes Chicken and Waffles. You're always guaranteed comforting good honest food.

Craft-Tom Colicchio

2010-04-17T21:34:00.001-07:00

Craft is now one of my new favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. Craft is located on Avenue of the Stars and Constellation Blvd. In the last few years I have been a huge fan of the show "Top Chef". I have never had any interest in the judges because its all about the contestants and the drama. Tom Colicchio always seems so serious on the show but now I know why. Gosh darnit, whew.... his food is fantastic. I ate so much at his restaurant that my tummy hurt.
After I got home I looked him up on Wikipedia and unbeknownst to me he is a winner of 5 James Beard Foundation Medals. What an accomplishment!
Since my camera isn't working I was able to capture a few on my camera phone but my best friend has the main pictures on his camera. I promise to upload once he sends them to me.

This is what we ordered:

As a starter the chef gave us small shot glasses filled with curry carrot soup with creme fraiche. It was smooth and opened the palate up for more food to come.
Kumamoto oyster- Their oysters were fresh and sweet and had a simple mingnonette sauce.
Gnocchi- This was the only thing on the menu that I tried that I wasn't a huge fan of but it was still made to perfection. I was looking for a more garlicky flavor.
Duck Breast- was brought out in a small cast iron skillet with dates. The skin was nice and crispy and the meat was tender and didn't dry out after it cooled down. I enjoyed it very much as my main course and would recommend this dish if you love duck.
Scalloped Potatoes My best friend had the scalloped potatoes and the were nice and creamy. They were layered perfectly and wasn't overcooked or undercooked. The cheeses that were used were nice and strong which gave it a nice homemade taste to it.
carrot- I couldn't get enough of the carrots. My best friend ordered these as well. I didn't take the time to figure out what they seasoned the carrots with but I think I ate more than half of his order. The were seasoned perfectly and perfectly tender.
braised short ribs-My best friend ordered this as his main course. I only took a few bites but it was spoon tender. They give you the perfect portion. The wine sauce was great and was full of flavor. Since I had short ribs earlier this week, this would had been my first choice.
Spinach bacon salad- This yummy delicious salad caught me by surprise. I never go to a restaurant thinking that their salads are going to blow me away. Well this one did. I'm not sure what kind of bacon they used (maybe pancetta) but it was nice and crispy and had a great smokiness to it. They fried little onions on top. The best surprise is that the had a soft boiled egg that looked like a radish, so the yolk just completed the salad.
Desserts we ordered the Monkey Bread and the Beignets. The Monkey bread was out of this world, full of gooey Carmel and macadamia nuts. The Beignets came with three dipping sauces chocolate, honey and something else. They were nice and airy. It didn't feel like you were eating anything but just tasting it.

Craft also gave us a goody bad with a chocolate brownie with cherries and cookies to go. At that point I couldn't eat anymore.
This place is awesome!! A must go!
It's definitely in my top 3 places to eat in LA.

Jamie's Food Revolution

2010-04-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

As you all know Jamie Oliver is one of my favorite "Celebrity Chefs". To be honest when he hosted the show "Naked Chef" over ten years ago he inspired me to use fresh herbs and ingredients in my cooking. I would say he was the start of my "Food Revolution".

I don't know if anyone has had the opportunity to watch Jamie's Food Revolution but I have caught the last two episodes and I have literally been brought to tears just watching the resistance that the people in the town have given him. Now I know that most of it is edited so that it catches a reaction and sparks the attention of the viewer but I honestly believe that these people that participated on the show really did not want change.
I have several friends and family members that have children and I cannot believe how health and fitness has gone down the drain. I remember not having a choice whether or not I wanted to eat my vegetables. My mother never gave us desserts so I never grew accustomed to liking cake, chocolate, candy or sodas. To be honest I could do without it now. However, I don't discount that there are moments when I do enjoy a good dessert when dining at a nice restaurant.
I remember being in middle school and high school and being excited that Taco Bell was going to be an option on campus. Then I realized after the hype had surpassed that it was just as terrible as the cafeteria food.
The sad thing is that there aren't healthy choices or good food to choose from so why not order french fries. At least you're guaranteed that it will always taste the same.
I have also heard that kids are not required to take P.E. I honestly can't wrap my mind around the philosophy. Every time I pass by a High School and I see little girls half my age bigger than me it boggles me. It seems like all these parents do nowadays is just let fast food feed their children and let video games babysit. But who am I to judge.... I don't have children.
So I apologize in advance if I offend anyone.
There's so much information on the Internet on healthy foods that there is no excuse why people don't cook healthy.
I don't claim to be or eat the healthiest food but french fries and pizza is not the answer. Can you believe that these school consider french fries as being a vegetable??? I know that this country is in a recession and education has fallen by the wayside but I encourage everyone to at least donate a little time in their children's health and nutrition.

TAKE ACTION
sign the petition!!!! There's only 345k....SAD PEOPLE!!!!

http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution/petition

http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie-olivers-food-revolution

or text Jamie 22288

Happy Easter!!

2010-04-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

This was probably one of the best Easter holidays I've had in a long time. I took my time cooking and listening to music while drinking a great bottle of wine from Peju in Napa.
I have been saving this bottle of wine for two years. It's actually one of their table wines which was a varietal mix. I couldn't believe how delicious it was. I remember it was my first tasting of the day and knowing that it would have to be a special occasion before I'd share this beautiful bottle of wine with anyone.
Every year I make deviled eggs and try to find a new recipe. Well I think I have finally created the best recipe that is unique and flavorful. Deviled eggs tend to be dry and lack any kind of excitement if you don't think outside the box. I minced red onion, celery, bell pepper and added cumin, mayo, cream, red wine vinegar,relish cayenne pepper, dill and salt & pepper and paprika for garnish. The bonus flavor was the cumin which I never thought would of mixed well but it did. I really wanted to top it off with caviar but couldn't find any at the last minute since they closed down the local Bristol Farms store. :(
I also made yams with my special spices and asparagus with a bechamel sauce.
Last but not least.... I fried another Turkey!! It was extra succulent and crispy. It was so delicious.
What a great day!!

"Catch" Casa Del Mar- Santa Monica

2010-04-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday I had a "Me Day" where I did everything I wanted to do. I guess we all need to relax and have time to soak in your own thoughts, right. :-)
Not sure what happened to my camera phone but I only have one picture of myself at this restaurant which is located in the Casa Del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica. I'm a little disappointed because the pictures of the restaurant are beautiful. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a nice scenery of the ocean. It's nicely lit by natural sunlight and every seat has a view of the ocean. The colors are cream and brown which gives perfect lighting inside. All the seating is comfortable with a modern chic look and feel to it. The hardwood floors are distressed but it doesn't look too contrived.

About the food: I ordered a beef braised sandwich with horseradish and arugula salad on top. It needed a lot more seasoning and the meat was little tuff. I didn't care for it much. I also ordered the raspberry tart with raspberry sorbet. The dessert was definitely a comforting dessert and very good. I think they did a great job on the dessert.
Years ago I used to come to this place for happy hour and they had some of the greatest prices for happy hour. I will be back!

Francos Italian Restaurant- Los Alamitos

2010-04-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

This restaurant has a great lunch menu. It's located close to Los Alamitos High School. I find it rather humorous at times when you go a restaurant and they don't cook real Italian food. To my surprise this little place located in a strip mall has some of the best Italian food around. You can tell that they put a lot of pride, heart and soul into their dishes. I tried the salmon with a tomato basil sauce with fresh Parmesan cheese and I also tried an Antipasto chopped salad a few weeks ago. The tomato basil sauce was so delicious that I kept soaking my bread in the sauce until it was all gone. I also devoured their antipasto salad which was on their appetizer list which could had fed 2 people but my appetite that day allowed me to finish most of it.
When I came back the second time they were remembered me. LOL

Panama Joes - Long Beach, Ca

2010-03-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

It's been years since I've been Long Beach. To be honest ten years ago Long Beach was the place to be. A friend of mine had a boat and on the weekends we'd pull out of Long Beach and stop at various ports and just have a blast drinking margaritas and eating good seafood.
Every time I attempt to come to Long Beach there is just too much traffic leaving from my house to go there. Now I know... you have to get an early start.
My sister-in-law suggested this place after visiting here over the Thanksgiving weekend.
To me the food wasn't memorable. The Bloody Mary Bar is what's happening!!
When you order, they give you a pitcher of ice and Vodka. Then you go over to the Bloody Mary bar and make your own bloody Mary's. I added worcestershire sauce, horse- radish, hot sauce, celery, salt, pepper, pickled green beans, onions and any other seasonings that were out there.
This place was up my alley! We sat outside on the patio and just enjoyed the beautiful weather and enjoyed good conversation. What else can you ask for?

Dots Cupcakes- Pasadena

2010-03-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

Some friends recommended this place over Sprinkles in Beverly Hills. I don't know... I have to disagree with their opinion. I tried several of the cupcakes at Dots and they were completely dry, no moisture and tasted like they came out of a box. There was only flavor in the frosting. My issue with only having flavor in the frosting is once the frosting has been eaten where's the flavor? I want to be able to eat the cake portion and still enjoy every bite without the frosting. That's just my opinion. Since most of these cupcakes don't have preservatives, why not go all out??
I noticed that there is a lot of these cupcake shops popping up and although I find them really cute I think my sister should go into her own cupcake business. Her "Black Bottom Cupcake" would blow them all out of the water. I'd rather my cupcake just be the sin of all sins with 800 calories in each one.
My suggestion: Instead of making a bunch of different flavors just focus on 4 or 5 flavors and make them wickedly tasteful and moist.

Tropicana Bakery and Cuban Cafe- Downey, Ca

2010-03-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

The other day I thought I was going to faint because I hadn't eaten all day. As I was sitting at a stop light I saw the Tropicana sign to the right of me and decided to stop in for lunch. Well I am certainly glad that I did. As I walked in I was greeted by a really pretty Cuban girl wearing a straw Havana hat. (Now I think I need to add a Havana hat to my wardrobe, lololol).
Whenever I try a new Cuban restaurant I usually will try their oxtails which is the indicating factor if I will return for a second visit. Well, it looks like I will be returning. Their oxtails were falling off the bone. Their black beans were some of the best that I have tried in a restaurant. They make their black beans the same exact way that I make my own. Garlic, onion, bay leaf and salt pork. They also had my favorite soda, Jupina (which is a pineapple soda). They also had some other things on their menu that I haven't seen at other Cuban restaurants so I am looking forward to bringing some of my friends.
At night they have a live band and entertainment while you eat and drink. The seating there is also really comfortable with leather chairs and couches in the bakery area. I can honestly say that this place is very inviting but also has a very classy look to it.
For a while I watched the pastry chefs make cakes and decorate desserts. This place was very impressive. They made all types of desserts such as tiramisu, flan, cookies, breads and potato balls.
There was also a really nice lunch crowd. If you are single this is the place to be. :-)

Sweet Baby Rays bbq sauce- The sauce is the boss!

2010-03-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

In 2003 a friend of mine turned me onto Sweet Baby Ray's Bbq sauce. I remember buying all types of bbq sauces trying to find the perfect one. I wasted so much money over the years. After I tried Sweet Baby Ray's I rarely ever make my own unless I am going for a more distinct flavor. Sweet Baby Ray's has the perfect savory taste. Its not too sweet, smoky, tangy or vinegary. There is nothing more annoying than a bbq sauce that has too much of one ingredient. I remember years ago not wanting to have bbq at a friends house because I knew she would only buy bull eyes bbq sauce. (That is probably one of the worst sauces I have ever had. Honestly I wish they'd discontinue it). So a mutual friend and I got together and volunteered that we'd go to the store and pick up the sauce. My friend wasn't too happy at first because she had purchased 12 bottles of Bullseye Bbq sauce. We told her we promise that her bbq party would be a success if she just trusted us.
Later on...
It was no surprise everyone raved about the bbq that night.
Everytime I am in a grocery store and I am buying bbq sauce and I see someone looking for bbq sauce I just tell them don't waste their time, buy Sweet Baby Ray's. LOL... plus its the cheapest sauce on the shelf!! You can't beat that.

Quick Tip: Always wait to apply bbq sauce till the end. Typically wait until the last five minutes of cooking before applying. If you apply it before it will burn the skin and your meats will not cook thoroughly. You don't want to risk the chance of samonella poisoning. Also use a paint brush when applying bbq sauce, it spreads more evenly.

Oinksters- Eagle Rock, Ca

2010-03-21T22:20:00.000-07:00

As you all know my television is permanently set on the Food Channel all day, week and year long. As my television was playing in the background I heard Guy Fieri mention that Oinksters has one of the best Pastrami sandwiches ever. Of course I must of had dog hearing from my shower because I jumped out and had to rewind the episode to see what he was talking about. For those of you that have visited my blog in the past I love Pastrami sandwiches not because of the yummy flavor but because it really does remind me of living here in California. You cant find pastrami anywhere else in the country that taste so good.
Last night I had a sudden urge to drive 30 miles from my house to check this place out at 10p.m. (BTW: they close at mid-night). Since I hadn't eaten since 2p.m. I was starving. I ordered the Oinksters Pastrami sandwich which had caramelized onions, gruyere cheese and red cabbage. What a great combination. The bread was toasted to perfection. The meat was so flavorful that I ate it extremely slow because I wanted to taste the flavors in the meat. I typically put a generous amount of mustard on my pastrami but it didn't need it.
The sandwich comes with french fries and their very own garlic aioli dip. They also make their own mustard and ketchup. The ketchup had a beautiful red color to it and had a hint of cinnamon in it. It was addicting.
I couldn't stop eating....lol.... my tummy hurt so bad because I ate too much.
I'm definitely going back.

Falcon Hollywood- Hollywood, CA

2010-03-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

Falcon is a very beautifully decorated restaurant and bar with Hardwood floors, romantic dim lighting, comfortable seating and a good DJ to set the mood. We were invited by our friends the Hays since they frequent the restaurant a few times a year.
Too bad for us that night poured cats and dogs and it was Oscar Night. Who would had known that driving a block in Hollywood could take you twenty minutes.
Well, it seemed like nothing went well that night when it came to service. Our waitress was horrible!!!! Not only did she totally screw up our order she charged us for 5 meals for 4 people. She also let me order a side of vegetables when the same exact vegetables came with the meal. We had to get the hostess several times to get her to come back when we needed things such as drinks. The first time around she only brought half of our drink order and we had to wait 20 minutes for the other half. At the end of our evening we had to speak to the general manager who said that she was new and that she was French. After he said that I think I mentally checked out because I couldn't believe someone would use that as an excuse why the service was so horrible. He also tried to blame it on the fact that it was Oscar night and they were catering to a lot of celebrities which I did not see one. LOL!!!
When you have bad service it tends to over power the food but the most memorable thing on the menu was the Blue Ginger Mojito. It was probably one of the best cocktails I have ever tasted. The drink is so good that you forget that there is alcohol in it.
As far as the food. It was a little better than average but I think they were having an off night. My friends always have a good time. I am willing to give them another try on a less busy night and a request that there is a better waitress. Too bad we hardly saw her I would have taken a picture of her. :-)

Cyrus- Healdsburg, Ca

2010-02-28T22:15:00.000-08:00

Cyrus- Wow!!! We arrived at 8p.m. and left a little after midnight. Although it was a eight course tasting menu, I know we ate more than eight courses over a four hour period. I was exhausted by the end of the meal but it was well worth the $$$$ and time. I have been wanting to go to Cyrus for over a year. I saw an episode of "In wine country" on what an amazing experience you will have at this restaurant. I was impressed by their caviar on the episode and the restaurants presentation.
The restaurant was also featured on Bravo's Top Chef reality show last season. The first time I called to make a reservation they were completely booked. When I called this year they were booked but we were placed on the waiting list and happened to get the time slot and day we requested. We were so happy and delighted that we finally were able to see if Cyrus was all show or really an amazing experience.
One of my favorite dishes that we tried was the Tasmanian Trout. I have never been impressed with regular trout but I fell in love. At first I thought it was a salmon or tuna but my taste buds were really off base. It melted in my mouth and was delectable. It was very light and had a fresh refreshing taste and made it a great starter dish.
I was also impressed with the Caviar. Although we ordered the least expensive caviar on the menu it was the greatest flavor I have ever tasted. It was fresh and had a light ocean flavor that wasn't too fishy. They paired it with a goat cheese but this was not any goat cheese. The Chef utilized a technique called gastronomy. The goat cheese appeared as a powder on your plate but as soon as you touched it, it turned into a soft cheese. It was awesome!!! Almost like a magic show.
I was also impressed with their artisanal cheeses. Our favorite was a blue cheese soaked in wine. By the time we got to the cheese pairings we were full but we made room and really loved their selection.
We had a lovely time at Cyrus and recommend that you splurge on a meal like this at least once in your life. From the wine selection to the desserts this Chef really makes food enjoyable. Just be prepared to eat for a really long time.
To finish the night we were provided with snacks to go in a beautiful Cyrus gift box. After I arrived home from our Napa trip I opened the box and chocolate brownies were wrapped beautifully. I couldn't imagine it tasting less than perfect. Since there was four, I ate 3 and gave the other one to my husband so he could at least try what I was bragging about.
Cyrus also gave us our menus which had our names written on the menu. It was a nice personalized touch.
This place will always have great memories and hope one day I can go again.

castello di amarosa-calistoga

2010-02-17T20:28:00.000-08:00

Castello Di Amarosa is located in Calistoga, Ca. Castello Di Amarosa is owned by V. Sattui. Castello Di Amarosa is a Castle Winery which produces mostly Italian Style wines. I have only tasted here once which was in 2008 when my sister and husband came to visit. (I included a lovely pic of them from that visit.)
By the time we made it to the winery this time around we were a little burned out. As you can see this winery is stunning. One of these days I plan to attend one of the Black tie Ball events. I have always wanted to attend a Ball and look forward to attending my first one here.
One of my favorite wines at this winery is the late harvest gewurztraminer. Its perfectly sweet and gets to the point.

V Sattui Winery-St. Helena

2010-02-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

V. Sattui is located in St. Helena, Ca.

V. Sattui has many fond memories for me. The first time I saw this place was ten years ago with one of my best friends, Norma. That day, we decided to take the "Napa Valley Wine Train". On our way through Napa Valley on the Train we witnessed a wedding take place. I remember saying to her, "If I ever got married it would be here".
V. Sattui Winery is one of the most beautiful, fun, picturesque places you'll visit in Napa Valley, not to mention this winery has won many accolades. I love this winery because it has picnic grounds to have a picnic with others and enjoy great wines. They also have a great gourmet cheese deli. I recommend tasting and buying their artichoke cheese spread. Once you have one taste you can't help but eating the rest. For those that don't enjoy garlic, I wouldn't recommend it but since I enjoy garlic I don't mind it seeping through my pores :-)
I especially enjoy V.Sattui's dessert wines. My favorite is the Angelica. The Angelica is a muscat wine infused with Brandy. A little goes a long way. To me, it is to be sipped slowly. The Angelica has a smoothe finish and sweet taste but not a burning sensation that most brandy's give. My sister and her husband are also big fans of this wine. I just learned that they only have a limited batch so I will be ordering a case soon. Every time I take someone to this winery they fall in love with their wines, the grounds and all that it has to offer.
One of my favorites was the 2005 Gewurztraminer. Unfortunately they sold out. I have tried several of their new ones but I haven't been impressed with their recent gewurztraminers. On my visit I did purchased a semi sparkling moscato and cannot wait to open this bottle of wine with loved ones.

This winery gets 5 stars!!!!

Van Der Heyden Winery- Late Harvest Syrah

2010-02-17T19:55:00.000-08:00

Van Der Heyden is a Dutch winery. Van Der Heyden is probably the best boutique/ family winery in Napa Valley. Don't let the outside fool you. The winery is literally a trailer. At first you are turned off and it looks as though you are entering into something scary. Every wine you have here is made with love and perfection.
My husband and I found this winery when traveling on Silverado Trail. Days before we went to Van Der Heyden last year we had heard grand reviews on the local radio station about Black Stallion which is located next door to Van Der Hayden. Since we are on the topic I will quickly mention Black Stallion winery. Its beautiful and I am sure they spent a lot of money building the facility but the wine is not. It is overcrowded and the wines were too robust and strong. I had an instant headache from drinking the wines. Every wine I tried, I quickly discarded. I will never go back. The staff was unfriendly and it was extremely cold inside.
Okay back to Van Der Heyden....
Since my husband is half Dutch we took his mother here last year so this year we couldn't wait to bring our friends, the Hay's. We forewarned them about the winery and that its not this elaborate place but they had the best tasting wines ever.
Van Der Heyden is the only winery that makes a Late Harvest Syrah, which is a very hard wine to make. They are also the only winery in the world to produce a late harvest Cabernet.
Just recently when Minnesota lost to New Orleans we shared our only bottle with our dear friends, the Heeren's. They loved and enjoyed it just as much as we did.
On this trip we had purchase another bottle and can't wait to share it with someone else. Every wine you try here you will be impressed. As you can see from one of the pictures this winery's wine has won many gold and silver metals.
xoxoxoxoxo to Van Der Heyden!!!

Alpha Omega Winery

2010-02-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

Alpha Omega is located in Rutherford, Ca in Napa Valley. I really loved this winery. We got special treatment which made our wine tasting experience for the weekend memorable. Upon Arrival our wine pourer took us on a tour to the inside barrel room where all the wines are tanked. She gave us in depth information on our wines and the history of the wines and wine makers.
This boutique winery had some of the best wines I have ever tasted. I am not a huge fan of Chardonnay wine but they had one of the best Chardonnay's I have every tasted. Wine Spectator gave this winery 96 points out of 100. I'd have to agree!! :-)

truett hurst winery

2010-02-17T17:30:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better than going to a free wine tasting. I always recommend to lovely couples visiting Napa Valley to make sure they head over to the Sonoma side especially if you are on a budget. Majority of the wineries in Sonoma Valley are free.
Truett Hurst is located in the Dry Creek Valley.
Truett Hurst winery is picturesque and fun. Their complimentary cheeses and crackers were a nice touch to their wonderful wines. We really enjoyed their petite sirah selection.
As you can tell we had a wonderful time at this winery and hope that you find this beautiful place on the hidden path.

Topel Tasting Room

2010-02-17T17:26:00.001-08:00

Topel Tasting Room is located in Healdsburg, Ca in the Healdsburg plaza. We decided to stop here before going to Mirepoix for our Valentines dinner. It was nice because it was a younger crowd and staff. Topel gave away complimentary sugar and chocolate cookies which was a nice touch. Most of their wines were Syrah's, cabernet's and pinot noirs.
I can't say that any of the wines were memorable or good enough for my taste to purchase. I did like one of the names of one of the wines, "Bird Song". I thought it was very elegant.

mirepoix-windsor, ca

2010-02-17T17:13:00.001-08:00

Mirepoix is located in Windsor,California. Mirepoix was recommended to me by my wedding planner. I asked her for something romantic and cozy. Mirepoix is a house and has limited seating which I very much appreciated. I didn't want the hustle and bustle of a huge Valentines crowd and waiting forever for service. Mirepoix's restaurant is a mirror image of how I would want my restaurant to be, 8 tables or less and a small bar area for great wine. Unfortunately I wasn't impressed with the wine. I tried two different wines and they were disastrous. I noticed the chefs were drinking a bottle of rose. So I asked the waitress if that were available to drink and she said that they were finishing it because the previous guest didn't like it.
My one recommendation is to find a sommelier because their wine selection does not match the menu.
Mirepoix's prix fixe menu consisted of oxtail soup with beet foam, foie gras, duck, scallops and all the wonderful rich organic foods that wine valley has to offer.
My favorite was the dessert, rose water creme brulee. There was a perfect balance between the custard and the rose water. The rose water was not over powering and made the dessert feel light and beautiful. Everyone pretty much licked the sides of the ramekin. LOL...
I also enjoyed the oxtail soup, it reminded me very much of oxtail soup that my family makes. It was very comforting and savory. I wish I had a larger portion of the oxtail soup but it was just enough to quench my appetite. I have never enjoyed beets and this was the first time in my life where I could tolerate the flavor and not feel sick to my stomach. However, I could do without the foam personally. (That's more a personal opinion and experience due to the fact my mother forced me to eat it as a child with liver, yuck).

I'm still indecisive if I would come here again given that are so many restaurants to choose from. However, I loved the decor. The restaurant inspired me to make my own rose water creme brulee. I still have some in my wine fridge from France.

Baked Scampi- Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa Recipe

2010-02-01T17:40:00.000-08:00

This Recipe gets 5 stars!!!!!! It's a guarantee hit!! I tried it the other day and was pleasantly surprised how well it turned out.

Baked Scampi

Ingredients

2 pounds (12 to 15 per pound) shrimp in the shell
3 tablespoons good olive oil
2 tablespoons dry white wine
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1/4 cup minced shallots
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 extra-large egg yolk
2/3 cup panko (Japanese dried bread flakes)
Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Peel, devein, and butterfly the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Place the shrimp in a mixing bowl and toss gently with the olive oil, wine, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Allow to sit at room temperature while you make the butter and garlic mixture.

In a small bowl, mash the softened butter with the garlic, shallots, parsley, rosemary, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, egg yolk, panko, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper until combined.

Starting from the outer edge of a 14-inch oval gratin dish, arrange the shrimp in a single layer cut side down with the tails curling up and towards the center of the dish. Pour the remaining marinade over the shrimp. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the shrimp. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until hot and bubbly. If you like the top browned, place under a broiler for 1 minute. Serve with lemon wedges.

Curry House- Los Angeles (off Sawtelle)

2010-02-01T16:44:00.000-08:00

After returning home from visiting family in Minnesota I decided to stop at the Curry House in Los Angeles off Sawtelle. I ordered the Chicken Curry Udon. As I've blogged before I am a huge fan of Japanese curry soups and have frequented several restaurants.
My take on "Curry House" Chicken Curry Udon;
I would say that their curry was very flavorful and their chicken portions were not small. Most Curry houses seem to skimp on the main ingredient which can become frustrating. I enjoyed that it came out in a beautiful cast iron bowl and it was piping hot. On the side I ordered fried shimp to dip into my curry soup, which made it even better. My only complaint is that they flavored the broth with apples. Since I usually don't like my food to be sweet unless its a dessert I prefer my soup and food to be on the savory side.

Kyushu Ramen in Van Nuys is still my favorite and I can't wait to go back!

i-cugini brunch- Santa Monica, Ca

2010-01-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my little sister Dee Dee. We spent her 15th birthday at I-Cugini in Santa Monica. I-Cugini has one the best brunches in Los Angeles according to the reviews online. I beg to differ.
However, I-cugini does has one of the best views of the ocean and has the best location in Santa Monica.
Unfortunately Dee Dee isn't turning 21 but I enjoyed my mimosas while listening to 94.7 (The wave) live jazz band.
I-cugini brunch consisted of wood fire pizzas, ready to order fresh made pastas, seafood, a chocolate fountain, Prime rib and much, much more!
Here is my opinion.... The Hyatt has the best brunch in all of California. It's more affordable and the food seems to make sense. When I arrived I was excited to be able to eat "All I can eat" Beef carpaccio. Dismally, the beef carpaccio was flavorless. There was no salt or pepper and the ingredients that topped the beef did not make a difference. I dabbled a piece of the salmon and it was extremely dry. I was able to make it edible by adding the pesto sauce on top with lemon.
There was also three seafood pasta dishes brewing and the shrimp and octopus paella was a complete disaster. However, I did enjoy the mussels in marinara sauce.
There is one other thing I enjoyed and that was the ricotta quiche. It was fluffy and light. It melted in your mouth.
The pizzas weren't too bad but I'd give them a 3 out of 5 (the only thing holding me over..lol).
Once the band stopped playing the food became the main focus and I wasn't impressed for $50 per person.
My suggestion is to go to the Hyatt in Westlake Village and enjoy the fresh seafood and classical pianist. Your bill will be about 30% cheaper.

Chino Latinos- Minneapolis, Minnesota

2010-01-18T21:36:00.000-08:00

This was my second visit to Chino Latinos. Honestly, I have never been had dinner at Chino Latinos but appetizers. If you are looking for great prices Chino Latinos is the place to be. I would say their after hours menu is "Recession Friendly". The portions are generous and the food hits the spot especially if you have been out most of the evening and partying with friends. My brother and his friends all came along for the ride.
We ordered:
Mexican Bel Grande (Mexican Pizza) $3
French Toast of the Dead $3
Crab Ball $1
Donkey Punch $4
Our total bill after ordering several donkey punch drinks $24 for four people.

We were happy and full and ready for our next location.
My favorite on menu was the French Toast of the dead with rum carmel sauce and bananas.

Harry's food and cocktails- Minneapolis, Minnesota

2010-01-18T21:08:00.000-08:00

After the game a few friends and I headed over to the Harry's located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The decor is very modern with hardwood floors, high ceilings, dim lighting, see through kitchen where you can see the hustle and bustle of the staff.
The one thing I was excited about trying on the menu was the crispy fried frog legs. I have only tried frog legs once before but Harry's was sold out. I couldn't believe it, guess it tasted like fried chicken. LOL In its place I tried the crispy shrimp with an Asian sweet and sour sauce. It wasn't the frog legs but it was a great substitution.
I decided to order the Scallops with orzo, wilted spinach and mascarpone cheese. The wilted spinach was a nice touch to the dish, it gave the dish texture. My friends and I were all laughing because the scallops were huge! We wondered which farm they came from?? I was actually full after eating two scallops.
The scallops were seared perfectly and very well seasoned however, I wasn't a huge fan of the roe that was on top of the scallops. Although it gave it more of a seafood flavor, I believe a little goes a long way.
I also ordered the lemon cheesecake to go. To die for.

Louisiana Cafe- St. Paul, Minnesota

2010-01-18T20:47:00.000-08:00

Louisiana cafe is located on Selby in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a little girl I remember Selby Avenue being the street that divided the affluent from the non affluent. Now, fifteen years later Selby has changed little by little with new restaurants , markets and stores.
On Sunday my sister and I decided to have breakfast at Louisiana cafe. To my surprise the cafe did not have grits as an option. I assumed that if you have a "southern" cafe that grits would be an option. Since I was heading off to the Vikings game I didn't want to order anything too fancy off the menu because I was a little hungry. The blackened catfish breakfast was tempting but I will have to save it for my next visit.
I ordered the crab cake Benedict which was very tasty and delicious. Although I say that this dish was tasty I am mostly complimenting the crab cake. The hollandaise sauce could had been a little lighter. Almost tasted like the hollandaise sauce that you purchase out of a packet and add water. I wasn't a big fan of it but the egg was poached perfectly and the crab cake was extra crispy and well seasoned.
I also ordered a short stack of pancakes.... nothing special.
Louisiana cafe is a decent place to go if you are looking for a place to eat on Sunday. I would asked to be seated at the window so that you can enjoy the sunshine and fully enjoy your cafe experience.

Old Dutch Dill Potato Chips- Roseville, MINNESOTA

2010-01-18T20:24:00.001-08:00

OLD DUTCH DILL POTATO CHIPS
I have loved these potato chips since I was a little girl growing up in Minnesota. I assumed that you could find these chips anywhere in the country. Unfortunately, the company does not sell their product on the west coast. Every time I visit Minnesota I pick up at least two bags. I have even had someone ship me a few bags. ;-) (I am forever grateful).
Here is my opinion. Lays makes the best Classic potato chip however their dill pickle potato chip cannot compare to Old Dutch's Dill Pickle Potato chip. Old Dutch's Dill Potato chip is perfectly seasoned. There is the right amount of tanginess and isn't too sour. There has been times when I have had taken plain Lays Potato chips and sprinkled dill and pickle juice to try and capture the flavor on my own. The sad thing is it gets too soggy. :-) Old Dutch has captured the perfect flavor of this combination without the sogginess.

Please sell your product nationwide, trust me... you will gain marketshare!

NYE2010-Moiselle Spice featured at Union Bar Aria Hotel-Las Vegas

2010-01-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

When I first created Moiselle Spice Breakfast Blend for my Signature Spice line little did I know that my spice would be used a rimmer to a cocktail drink. "Heat of the Moment" was created by Mixologist Mike Monrreal at the Union Bar in the Aria Hotel. The drink has been selling like crazy.
"Heat of the Moment" has fresno chilies, patron, passion fruit puree, agave nectar, lime juice and our breakfast spice rim. Note: This drink goes down smoothly so be careful because you would never know there was alcohol in the drink :-) Moiselle Spice Breakfast Blend gives it a perfect sweet, savory finish.
If you are in Las Vegas and happen to stop at the Aria Hotel, stop by the Union Bar and ask for "Heat of the Moment". You will definitely LOVE this drink!!!

Jean Georges Steakhouse-Las Vegas

2010-01-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

I am not a fan of Prix Fixe mixed menus here in America. I believe it works best in Europe. I believe you should have a choice to choose what you want to eat from the restaurants regular menu. I understand that restaurants are trying to turn tables during the holidays but I find it quite lazy.

I was looking forward to eating at Jean Georges Steakhouse until I saw the menu and my jaw dropped to see the price. $350 per person. Wow!! I have been to many 5 star restaurants with outstanding food and have never paid a fraction of this price.

When the hostess saw my reaction she quickly offered us a choice to try a few things off the menu instead of the entire menu.

So I decided to try the tuna tartare with caviar. To my astonishment it was one of the best tuna tartares I have ever eaten. (My favorite hands down was at G. Garvin restaurant in LA that is no longer around.) The best touch to the the dish was a black pepper chip to scoop up the tuna tartare and caviar.

We also had the Kobe Beef Ribeye. For those that have tried Kobe Beef its very fatty and has a buttery texture. I believed they should have used a filet mignon Kobe Beef instead of a ribeye. Sometimes fat on fat can make you feel nautious. Well at least that happened to our guest and the party next to us. Everyone took a few bites (edges of the steak) and that was it.

This would be the main reason why I am not a fan of Prix Fixe menus because there was only one choice of steak and this was a "Steakhouse".

Another annoying thing was the music. Usually I do not pay much attention but the music was horrendous and put me in a bad mood. I have never been to an establishment and the music turned me off. It was loud and obnoxious to say the least. I don't want to eat caviar and listen to a song of a person screaming classic rock songs that I have never heard. Don't get me wrong I love classic rock but I don't think any of the songs were in the top 40 during its time period.

Will I return..... Not during a recession.

The Original Pancake House- Las Vegas-New Year

2010-01-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

The Orginal Pancake House has been around since 1953 and has over 100 franchises throughout the U.S. After a long night of gathering with friends and family for the New Year we decided to fill up at the Orginal Pancake house.
The Orginal Pancake House orginal founder has put together a menu of authentic and ethnic pancake recipes.
After long contemplation I decided to try their signature dish which was their Apple pancake. The apple pancake takes 18 minutes to bake. The also have 3 others that take 18 minutes to bake such as the Dutch Baby and the German which is more of a savory pancake.
The Apple pancake is a pancake that is smothered in apples, and a cinnamon glaze. The apple pancake was dismal to my taste buds. There was too much egg in the batter and felt like I was eating bastilla without the meat. I ate 4 bites and I was done. Some people have an infinity for eggs but for some reason I can only eat one and then I feel nauseated.
To their defense The Original Pancake House does use quality ingredients. I should have went with my first choice which was the German.
A good friend of mine did suggest this dish after the fact but it's okay. I will give them one more try when I return.

Hog Island Oyster Farm- Tomales Bay, Ca

2009-12-27T23:26:00.000-08:00

About a year ago I was watching a special on Hog Island Oyster Farm and knew that this was definitely a place I wanted to go. Hog Island Oyster Farm is located 40 miles past San Francisco on Tomales Bay. Tomales Bay is absolutely breath taking and a very romantic place to be. There are a few vineyards along the path and b&b's. If you are bike rider (cyclist) this is the perfect bike path for windy roads and big hills.
I had never heard of an oyster farm let alone one being so close to home in California. How could I pass up the opportunity to see what this place had to offer.

Looking back, I wish I was a little more prepared because I didn't know what to expect.
At Hog Island Oyster you can purchase a small, medium or large amount of oysters.I ordered two dozen kumamoto oysters which is a very small, sweet, fruity and buttery tasting oyster. I don't think you should add extra ingredients to this oyster because it taste great all by itself.
The Kumamoto oyster is originally from Kyushu, Japan. The Kumamoto Oyster takes three years to develop. I also ordered a half dozen of the Sweetwater Oyster which was larger in size but had a more seafood flavor and needed a little extra ingredients. I'd suggest bbqing the larger oysters.
At Hog Island Oyster Co. you're are provided with shucking tools and a few basic ingredients such as lemon and hot sauce. If you decide to fully utilize the picnic area BBQ pits are available. This place was the perfect family outing. Most of the families there brought their own BBQ supplies as well as other foods to BBQ.
One of the couples had champagne. Champagne and oysters would had been perfect! I just sat there in awe wishing I would had brought more things like my very own Mignonette sauce or fresh horseradish. I even saw some people grilling dungeness crab. I am hoping that the next time my family visits we can all go picnic here. I was told in the summer time you must call a few weeks in advance to reserve. I can only imagine how busy it gets during the warmer days.
What a beautiful place and nice place to visit after Christmas!!

Point Reyes Vineyard- Tomales Bay

2009-12-27T22:54:00.000-08:00

Point Reyes Vineyard is located on Highway 1 (Tomales Bay), 40 miles north of San Francisco. Be prepared to travel some windy roads because this is not a straight path.

On our way back from Hog Oyster Island we ran across Point Reyes Vineyard. On our way up the path to the tasting room we ran across some really cute animals on the property. (We will just call them, little Betsy cows)

Point Reyes Vineyards has some really tasty wines. I was able to purchase a late harvest wine (dessert wine) and Red Zinfandel (Belotti Vineyard). The Red Zinfandel notes were very flowery and light. I appreciated how light this Zinfandel was, it was not too bold. Point Reyes Vineyards has a few unfiltered wines and thankfully this one was filtered. I am not a fan of a lot of tanums in my drink.
I am looking forward to inviting a few friends over for pasta after the New Year and serving this wine.
By the time I got to the last part of my flight which was the Late Harvest dessert wine I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. I was a little tipsy by then but I did purchase it anyway. The reason was because there isn't a lot of wineries that can pull off a late harvest wine and I know the difficult process in making a late harvest. So I decided to purchase it and will do the review on it later after I drink it.

I suggest anyone traveling to Tomales Bay to stop by and pay this winery a visit. The primary wine in this winery is Sparkling. Unfortunate for me the winery ran low of sparkling wine so they were not pouring it. This boutique winery has wines that are over 10 years old and have aged well.

Mayflower (Dim Sum)- Milpitas, Ca

2009-12-27T22:22:00.000-08:00

Dim Sum is a wide range of light Chinese dishes. Dishes are served in small portions and often in bamboo steamed baskets. Dim Sum has always been fun to me especially if you go with the right people. My husband I are were invited by my friends that live in the bay area on Christmas. Mayflower was packed!! I couldn't believe how many people were out eating on Christmas. Unbeknownst to me, the Chinese culture doesn't really celebrate Christmas like most here in America. I think this is awesome for people like me who could careless about Christmas. (I know...Bahhh humbug)
Mayflower is very big in size and probably holds up to 400 people at once. This place was awesome inside. The restaurants has tanks filled with fresh seafood such as shrimp, lobster, crab and geoduck clam. I have never seen live shrimp or geoduck clam so this was very exciting to me.
My favorite dishes are Chinese broccoli and whole fried shrimp. I even got to try a sticky rice wrapped in leaves that was really good. I haven't been to many dim sum places but this was the best one I have been to.
I don't go to many Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles because I believe the best Chinese food is in the Bay Area. So I hold out until I travel up north. I am excited to see what else is out there.

North Beach Pizza- San Francisco, Ca

2009-12-27T21:22:00.000-08:00

For the past 3 years I have been trying to get over to North Beach Pizza. Sadly, there is never any parking or some parade going on when I try to go there. :-)
Thankfully it was raining and luck seemed to be on myside. I pretty much got valet parking.
As I have blogged before I love New York Style Pizza which is typically a thinner crust pizza. San Francisco style pizza reminds me of New York. Nevertheless, North Beach Pizza has a medium size crust that isn't too thick where I would get irritated. Chicago style pizza is just disturbing to me. The thought of eating all that dough makes me sick.
Okay back to North Beach Pizza.... The sauce has good robust flavors which is not too tomatoey, too tangy or too thick or too thin. I like for my pepperoni to be a little crispy on the edges. I also like for my mozzarella cheese to be a little salty and stretchy. I don't believe you should have to salt your pizza. The best touch to a pizza is a light sprinkle of oregano which is often available in most Bay Area pizzerias.
This place gets 2 thumbs up and I also suggest their minestrone soup if you are cold, ITS YUMMY!!!

Cafe Bizou- Pasadena

2009-12-27T20:37:00.001-08:00

Cafe Bizou is a seafood and steak restaurant located in Pasadena, California off Raymond and Holly. Last Wednesday we decided to have dinner with our friends before the Christmas Holiday began. To our surprise it was quite busy. Since we all arrived at different times our total wait time was 20 minutes. Not too bad without a reservation and for a party of four. I'd definitely say that Cafe Bizou is a warm and cozy place to be. It's a little bit off the main strip in Old Town Pasadena but close enough to park in the main lots.

For the month of December Cafe Bizou has a Lobster and Steak special. You can order a three course meal for $26 dollars which includes a seafood soup (lobster bisque) or salad, main course of lobster, steak (fillet Mignon) served with a brandy peppercorn sauce or seafood pasta and a choice of dessert.

The food
Lobster Bisque- had a great flavors, it was blended very well and was very balanced. I wish it had a few more pieces of lobster.

Lobster and Steak- Lobster was grilled but nothing special. It wasn't prepared in a special way. It was served with just butter and a few slices of lemon. The fillet Mignon (medium rare) had a brandy pepper corn sauce that was quite delicious and tasty.

Desserts- I originally ordered the tiramisu but it was sold out so I ordered the banana dessert, my guest ordered the sorbet and flour-less cake. I am not a fan of flour-less cake. I have yet to taste one and like it. For some reason the chocolate tasted rotten and felt like mush. I have never had a dessert that I wanted to actually dispose of right away. Thank goodness for the sorbet to clean my palate.

Overall, I would come here again. I appreciated the ambiance and the price of the food.

What's on the Menu for Christmas

2009-12-20T23:14:00.000-08:00

As many of us prepare for the holidays, we all wonder what's on the menu.

Jasmine's Menu

~Herb Crusted Prime Rib with Horse Radish cooked medium rare
~Collard Greens
~Corn Bread Souffle
~Twice baked potatoes
~Fresh baked Rolls
~Brussel Sprouts

~Dutch Apple Pie with Devonshire Cream
~Serrano Hot Chocolate Milk
~Red Wine by Stryker (Zinfandel)

For any of these recipes please contact Jasmine's Kitchen: jasmineskitchen@gmail.com

Jasmine's Kitchen assist Chef Nikita Leone party for celebrity

2009-12-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend Jasmine's Kitchen assisted Chef Nikita Leone with a birthday party for a high profile celebrity.

This was a great experience for Jasmine's Kitchen and indeed fun.

Not a lot of pictures were taken unfortunately because there was a lot of work that needed to be done. Six hours of straight cooking. No time for breaks as our guest kept coming back for seconds and thirds.

On the adult menu was Nikita's famous Macaroni & Cheese, Fried Chicken, Roasted Vegetables and Potatoes, Orange scented Mint fruit salad and Classic Caesar Salad.
On the kids menu; Chicken fingers, fries, mini burger sliders and baby mac & cheese.