King's Fish House- Calabasas

I love King's Fish House! If you're looking for a place to eat that always has the freshest catch of the season, come here. The last few times I have visited I have tried 4 different types of oysters and was fortunate enough to eat fried soft shell crab this time around. Another great thing about this place is that you can have your fish prepared any way even if its not on the menu. (Ask for fried catfish, yummm). My favorite side dish is the macaroni and cheese which is creamy and has a nice crust on the outside. I believe its panko bread crumbs to be exact.

I had to take a photo of the key lime pie because it was the best tasting key lime pie that you can imagine. This is how it is suppose to taste, HEAVENLY!!!!

I love the Calabasas location because the weather is always perfect during the evening and there is outdoor seating. I would also suggest eating at the bar. You can sit and watch oyster shucking and drink great beer on tap. The staff is always pleasant and can't imagine anyone not enjoying their experience.

This place gets two thumbs up!!!

Grilled Bratwurst

Bratwurst aka "Brats" is a sausage constructed of beef, pork or veal. Brats derive from Germany and are usually grilled or cooked in beer. I never heard of a bratwurst until I moved to Minnesota when I was 9 years old. Since then I serve them at every bbq. The best way to eat a "brat" is to have it with plain mustard and no bun.
In the future I will attempt to make them from scratch and keep you posted. Until then, Johnsonville is the way to go.
Grilling tip: Grill on high heat to get nice char all the way around without overcooking the middle.

Thelma's Morning Cafe- Santa Clarita

Let it be known that Chef Luiz cooked under one of the greatest Chef's ever for 20 years... Wolfgang Puck. Thelma's Morning Cafe is one of Santa Clarita's hidden jewels. Thelma's serves a fantastic breakfast and lunch menu.
Unfortunately for Santa Clarita residences Santa Clarita's cuisine is saturated by corporate food chains. However, if you are a real foodie you will undeniably enjoy eating here.
I frequent Thelma's on a regular basis and can say that every breakfast and lunch dish has been exquisite. Chef Luiz has a modern chic twist to his seafood eggs Benedict and a new uptempo huevos rancheros. Everything is gourmet and delicious and I have yet to find a cafe in Los Angeles like Thelma's.

This place gets a thumbs up and much more!

Julie & Julia

I finally went to go see the movie! I was waiting on a few friends to see it together but I had to go all by my lonesome. I'm not a movie goer but I was really excited about seeing Julie & Julia and was afraid if I waited one more week I would be out of luck.
My Thoughts:
I thought the movie mirrored a lot of aspects when it came down to my own personal path to cooking. Its funny when I meet people and they tell me how much they hate grocery shopping and cooking. Grocery shopping to me is like going into Gucci or a vintage store and finding something that makes me feel really pretty. Cooking takes a lot of love and patience. It is the most rewarding thing in the world to me. Call it crazy but its therapeutic.
Its funny when the character Julie becomes frustrated in the kitchen because something didn't turn out. I react the same way after I've spent hours working on a technique or accidentally fell asleep and the house smells like wood chips. It happens to the best of us. I love how she started her blog and wondered, who was reading it? I often wonder the same thing. Who is out there reading my blog or watching my videos? Is this all in vain? Of course I have to answer myself and say, "No, its not all in vain because I love cooking and eating."
Many occasions I have spent half my paycheck on special ingredients just like Julie in the movie. Once you start using fresh ingredients and your palate opens up its hard going back to eating ordinary food.
Okay back to the movie... I really liked the movie. I was hoping that the movie would go deeper into Julia Childs personal life. It only touched the surface. Apart of me understands how she just loved eating and felt she was French. She had the most adorable personality. It was genuine, authentic and refreshing. I know I will buy one of her cookbooks and most likely enjoy quite a few recipes from her. I will keep you all updated.

Bon Appetit!

Sirloin & Chuck Burger Recipe

This is one of my favorite recipes from Alton Brown from the food network. I guarantee you will not want a burger prepared another way! Every time I think about hamburgers I think of Eddie Murphy making a joke during his stand up comedy about burgers. After eating this burger you will become a true "Burger Snob". The video is hilarious!!!! Here is the link to the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvoBCr7E5qo

I attached a photo of the burger I prepared and ate last night.
If you are nervous about pulsing the meat yourself, an alternative is to have your butcher grind the meat for you. Do not let them tell you they have their own mix because they can get lazy sometimes and it's not going to taste the same. Trust me!

I suggest going to your local Albertson's, Wholefoods or Henry's in the west part of valley.

Enjoy!



Ingredients
8 ounces chuck, trimmed, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
8 ounces sirloin, trimmed, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
In separate batches, pulse the chuck and the sirloin in a food processor 10 times. Combine the chuck, sirloin, and kosher salt in a large bowl. Form the meat into 5-ounce patties.

Heat a cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Place the hamburger patties in the pan. For medium-rare burgers, cook the patties for 4 minutes on each side. For medium burgers, cook the patties for 5 minutes on each side. Flip the burgers only once during cooking.

Labor Day- (Farr-b-que) Weekend

Like most of you I enjoyed my holiday with friends and family. Every year my dear friends celebrate their anniversary and throw a "Farr-b-que. Ribs are placed on the smoker and lots of southern home cooking is prepared. On this special day we listened to music, played cards, and enjoyed each others company. Here are a few pics from that day.

Maru Sushi- Valencia

Believe it or not I brought my appetite to Maru. Hands down this is the best Sushi ever. Maru Sushi is located in the Valencia Township Center in Valencia, Ca. By far this place never dissatisfies. Just read the reviews online.
I always request the same Sushi Chef because he is one of a kind. He always surprises me with something new and not on the menu. His sashimi skills are phenomenal. The way he delicately slices each piece of sushi and masterfully prepares each roll, how can you resist.

My favorite dish on the menu is the Tuna Carpaccio Salad. It is prepared in a citrus sauce with delicately sliced tuna, mixed greens, roasted garlic and jalapenos. This dish is exquisite!

I tried a few new items that I have never tried before. One was the belly of a blue fin tuna, which is called Toro in Japanese. Toro melts in your mouth and is one of the best sashimi/sushi you will ever try.

I also tried the Ankimo which is considered the Japanese Foie Gras. I was a little nervous about the texture but after taking one bite into it I was happy that I made the selection. Ankimo is the liver of a monk fish. Ankimo is appreciated all over the world especially in Scandinavia and France.

This place also makes their own sorbet. To clear my palate and top off a wonderful meal I enjoyed Maru's strawberry sorbet.

5 out of 5 stars~

il-Pastaio- Italian Beverly Hills

Wow! Wow! Wow! This place is delicious. I cannot wait to go back. This was some of the best Italian Food I have ever tasted. The owner Giacomino Drago has brought Sicily to Beverly Hills. If you are a foodie I recommend reading his bio on his website, pretty interesting.

I am a big fan of beef carpaccio and il Pastaio beef carpaccio reminded me of a restaurant that I once visited in the South of France. I couldn't stop eating it.

For my main course I had the "Pappardelle" Homemade Wide Green Fettuccine Pasta in a Venison Porcini Mushroom Ragu. At first I was a little hesitant about the venison but the flavors were so delish that I didn't think about what I was eating. I am a huge fan of the Pappardelle noodle. In Italy a festival in the city of Gemmano is held every August honoring the Pappardelle noodle. I think I may have to go back to Italy in August just so I can attend.

This place gets 5 stars!!!

Guantanamera- Cuban Food in Burbank

Who doesn't like listening to live music while eating some of the best Cuban Food on the west coast. Guantanamera Restaurant is located in Burbank close to the 5 freeway. My friend Steve M who is from Cuba recommended this place to me a few years ago and I have been a fan ever since.
Last Friday I was able to go with Steve and a special group of friends for a birthday party. I definitely could not pass this party up since there were a lot things on the menu that I have never tried. I left the ordering up to my friend since I usually order the same thing every time, oxtails. For those of you that do not know what "Oxtails" are, its the tail of a beef animal often slow cooked, braised or stewed. Guantanamera's oxtails are slowed cook with Cuban spices served with black beans and plantains.
Cuba is the birthplace of the "Mojito" and that is exactly what we ordered! YUMMMMMZZZ.
We ordered several dishes on the menu; pulled pork slow cooked in cuban spices, Camarones (shrimp) garlic, beef and potato empanadas, rice, beans and plantains. I'm always impressed on how sweet their plantains are...they are always perfect! Other Cuban restaurants that I have visited in the past don't pay special attention. Ripeness is a key factor.
If you are on a budget and looking for an inexpensive date night I highly recommend this restaurant.

This place gets a thumbs up with a twist and a snap!

Beso- Eva Longoria's Restaurant

This restaurant has been on my hit list for quite a while. Since my brother was out visiting from Minnesota I figured why not try something new together. For some reason I was under the impression that Beso had more of a Mexican influence but I was wrong. I felt like this place was "pushing steaks" for the main course.
Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the Chorizo and Shrimp flat bread we ordered but it was pretty good; well executed. Of course, we both ordered steaks. My brother ordered the filet mignon and I ordered the rib eye with the bone in.
The filet mignon was ordered medium rare and was very buttery in texture; can't complain. My rib eye which could have fed a family of four was a little too fatty, had no flavor and needed a lot more salt. I was a tad bit disappointed to say the least. The steaks included three different sauces; chimichurri sauce, cabrales cream (cheese but it tasted like mustard), and bbq sauce. Although the chimichurri sauce was pretty good I have a philosophy that a steak should be able to stand alone without sauce or anything to drown it out.
The waitress recommended two desserts, the "Churro" and the "Nutter Butter".
They were not disappointing at all. The Churros were soft, warm and crispy at the same time. It was very authentic and much better than some street vendors out there. My brother ordered the nutter butter which I only had one bite of because before I could think about taking my next bite, it was gone....... Delicious treats don't last long!!!!
As you can see from the pics above this place is absolutely gorgeous. I didn't get a chance to go to the bar area but I'm looking forward to going back on a Friday or Saturday. I can go on and on about the architecture/decor but this is a food blog. However, if you are looking for a romantic place to go or a chic place to hang out in Hollywood, this is your place! The dress code is strict. They almost did not let us in. Jeans and shorts are not allowed but since it was a Monday and not as busy they were lenient.

Food: 3 out of 5 stars
Ambiance: 5 out of 5 stars

Natalee- Thai Food

Jasmine's Thai Beef Salad below




It's really hard to find good Thai Food but I was able to find a little gem off Robertson in Los Angeles. Whenever I test out a new Thai place I always order a Thai Beef Salad. If the Thai Beef Salad is not to my liking I will not return to the restaurant. Call it picky but I know if they can't make this dish right nothing else will taste good.
When I visited Thailand some years ago I was able to enjoy a delightful drink called "Thai Ice Tea" which is typically poured over ice in a translucent plastic bag. Here in America we drink it out of a tall glass with lots of crushed ice. Either way... it taste good and cannot imagine it without my Thai Food. Thai Ice Tea is brewed black tea with condensed milk and sugar. Some Thai Ice Teas include tamarind or star anise giving it a aromatic sensation.
On my luncheon we ordered Thai Beef Salad which was phenomenal. The skirt steak on the Thai Beef Salad was grilled to perfection with the perfect amount of dressing. We also ordered Pineapple Fried Rice, Chicken Satay and just to be greedy shrimp Tempura (which is not Thai).
Another thing that is hard to find in Los Angeles is good fried rice. Every time I am visiting the Bay I have to get Fried Rice. Well this place had the perfect Fried Rice and I don't have to travel too far to get it.

This place gets two thumbs up and I am looking forward to going again when I have a Thai Food craving!!

I also included a pic of my own Thai Beef Salad that I made a few months ago. If you are interested I can include the recipe. Just email jasmineskitchen@gmail.com

Flooky's in Woodland Hills

Flooky's is a place that is guaranteed to hit the spot when you are hungry. They don't advertise or have a website but everyone knows about them. They are not shy about putting seasoning salt on their fries or hash browns. They serve breakfast all day long.
Whenever I am in Woodland Hills I always have to stop by and pay them a visit. I always order the Breakfast Burrito (the bb with everything on it). The breakfast burrito has ham, bacon, sausage, egg, hash browns and homemade salsa. OMGOSH!! Pork, pork, pork. Always yummy to my tummy.
I took a moment and spoke with the owner Tony who said that his wife makes the salsa fresh everyday and they go through 15 gallons a day. WOW!

I give this place a big thumbs up for price and taste.