What are you Grateful For?

Right Downtown
on Main Street!

Hadley Evarts, my best friend from high school, was visiting me in LA for Spring Break.  I took her to all my favorite Los Angeles spots.  Shopping at the Promenade, hiking to the Hollywood sign, watching the skateboarders at the Venice Boardwalk.  We had a week full of activities.

My Hearty Romain Spicy Salad

 Seasoned vegan meats wok, white onions, 
green onions and chili flakes,
romaine lettuce, garbanzo beans, 
red bell peppers, and persian cucumbers, 
and chimichurri dressing. 

(with Hadley's hand sneaking in)

Along with the busy site seeing, I gave her taste buds a tour of the city.  Hadley loves to fuel her body with healthy and hearty food.  Throughout high school she was vegan, and at one point, even raw.  I took her trip as an opportunity to try Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe, an organic and locally sourced cafe in the heart of Downtown.   I have driven past it several times, and wanted to try the macrobiotic dishes with an Asian twist.  

I tried the Hearty Romaine Spicy Salad.  I haven't seen many "spicy" salads, in my life, so I thought I would give it a try.  The romaine lettuce was crisp and the garbanzo beans made it pretty hearty.  The seasoned tofu wok was really the highlight of the salad.  It was salty and savory, and quite filling.  I love chimichurri sauce, and it made a great salad dressing. The salad already had a oil base on it, so when I started getting to the bottom of the bowl, the lettuce was pretty saturated.  But I would definitely order it again if I was craving salad and spice.

After showing Hadley some of the classic USC spots (Bacaro and La Barca), I wanted to treat her to another renowned LA vegan restaurant. After picking up our other high school friend, Meggie, I took us to one of my favorite under-the-radar streets in LA.  Larchmont Blvd in Central LA is a trendy village with lots of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

At the north end of the street is Cafe Gratitude.  Cafe Gratitude is collection of vegan, heath and sustainable conscious restaurants with great atmospheres.  With the other location on Rose in Venice, they truly identify with the culture of the neighborhoods around them.

We sat out on the heated patio decorated with string lights.  This is the perfect atmosphere for a first date.  The servers are all friendly and very personable.  Ready to give the spiel about the restaurants' mission and provide lots of recommendations of their favorite dishes.

The names of the menu items are all adjectives (I'm guessing on how you will feel after consuming them?)  Last time I visited the restaurant, I ordered the "Humble".

Fortified

It was a great take on an Indian dish, I just wish there were more lentils, and less sweet potato.  The lentils really made it more hearty, while the potato was a little too mushy.

This time I decided to try to getting "Fortified".  The basic dish was quite simple, as I ordered it with the red pepper harissa sauce.  The sauce definitely spiced it up a little, as the zucchini, squash, and broccoli was a little plain.  It was still very healthy and hearty tasting, and I would recommend it to a hesitant vegan eater.

Hadley and Meggie decided to share the "Terrific" and the "Transformed".  The Mexican and Asian mix sounded a little interesting to me, but they loved both dishes!  The almond sauce on the light kelp noodles tasted like a fresh pesto.  And the tacos looked rich and authentic.

Hadley about to feel Terrific

Although we looked over the dessert menu, Hadley had mentioned that she really wanted to try Babycakes sometime during her trip.  She follows the Vegan, Sugar-Free, and Gluten-Free bakery on Instagram, and has be dying to give it a try.  She hasn't had dessert and months (due to her sugar-free diet), and had a craving for some cupcakes.

Meggie with the Transformed

I choose the Larchmont Cafe Gratitude location because it was right up the street from Babycakes.  We headed down there immediately after paying our check.
Hadley tried the special Pumpkin Cupcake.  I didn't get to take a picture because she was so anxious to eat it!  I ordered the brownie with espresso frosting.  It was also very hearty (for containing no eggs, dairy, or wheat flour).  A little dry, but still great for a gluten-free dessert!  Meggie tried the banana bread and gobbled it up.

The three of us had such a great time reminiscing on high school memories, and catching up on the latest news in our lives.  I was truly grateful we were finally able to be back together! What were you grateful for this week?

My Gluten-Free  Brownie with
Dairy and Sugar-Free Espresso Frosting

A Hidden Gem In Kirkland

Over the summer my friend Corinne told me about a new cafe in Kirkland I had to check out.  Located in Downtown Kirkland is the new Deru Market.  The kitchen was originally devoted to catering and take out.  Now, with their recently expanded space, they provide indoor seating.

The espresso bar.

After an intense workout at David Barton Gym in Bellevue, Corinne and I decided to stop by for lunch.  She couldn't stop raving about the turkey sandwich and my mouth started watering, so it was definitely necessary.

The simple, yet versatile
menu.

Deru is located off the main strip of Downtown Kirkland, and in more of the residential area.  It is sandwiched between two industrial workshops, and could be easily mistaken for the back of a factory.  Corinne was pleasantly surprised when she saw that the cafe now has indoor seating and calls itself a market and "eatery".  She thought we were going to have to eat our sandwiches   standing out in the rain.

The inside of the market place is very simple.  White walls with high ceilings and cement floors.  The low hanging light bulbs give it a modern feel, and the shiny espresso machine is eye catching.  Next to the register is a large display case with the freshly made deli salads and baked goods.  All of the salads looked delicious, and the maple glazed oatmeal cookie was tempting.

Freshly baked cookies!

After looking over the menu composed of pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and soup, I decided to get a
combo.  I ordered the half brisket sandwich with a market salad.  The sandwich was delectable.  The brisket was thinly sliced, and slightly smoked.  Although it only had a small amount of meat on it, it was the perfect size for a nice juicy deli sandwich.  The garlicy aioli was spread on the house made focaccia, which was actually my favorite part of the sandwich.  You could taste the olive oil, herbs, and salt freshly added to the bread.

Smoked Brisket Sandwich
(w/o) Beechers cheddar,
arugula, aioli
Market salad

The salad was also tasty.  I like how they used crunchy butter lettuce.  The cranberries and maple dijon dressing were sweet, while the chickpeas added some heartiness.  Corinne stuck with her favorite turkey sandwich.  She really likes the combo of the green apple and famous beechers cheddar.  She tried the butternut squash soup, which she said was very sweet and delicious.

Smoked Turkey Sandwich
Beecher's cheddar, apple, arugula, aioli
Butternut Squash Soup

While we sat and ate our lunch, we watched the ladies next to us as they were delivered a massive piece of the peanut butter chocolate cake.  I could not believe the size of the slice!  It would take at least 3 people to finish.  Not what you would expect from the rationally sized portions of the lunch.  I left the cafe tempted to purchase one of the cookies, but I resisted.  Will definitely be coming back to try the cake.  

Deru market is a great addition to the Downtown Kirkland lunch options.  Eating in the cafe around noon, we watched about 5-6 pairs of women come in for lunch dates.  Definitely a nice new spot for those "ladies who lunch".  The location is a little hidden, but this gem is worth trying.  We just need to get the spread the word!

Corinne enjoying her tasty turkey sandwich.

A Sushi Place You Don't Want to Miss!

I love sushi.  It's light, flavorful, and actually pretty healthy (if you don't overdose).  Unfortunately around campus there aren't too many spots where I can get my craving fulfilled.  Soy, the japanese grill, is a frequently visited spot by most students, but I don't find the rolls to be very fresh.  When I'm about to eat raw fish, I don't like to take too many risks.

 One of my favorite go-to sushi spots is downtown in Little Tokyo. Located right in the heart of the town, Tenno sushi is a great quick stop for dinner.  It's fun, casual, very inexpensive, and tasty!

I was a little hesitant upon passing the restaurant for the first time.  The sign outside the door saying "50% off all sushi" had me a little worried.  But I swallowed my initial assumptions and trusted the advice of my friend Tory (who lives in Little Tokyo).

I was seated by a waiter who looked like a Japanese body builder (interesting combination).  Both the menu and sushi list were quite extensive.  Not only do they offer sushi sashimi, and maki (hand rolls), but there is an entire entree menu as well.  Anything from teriyaki bowls, to grilled salmon, and udon is available.

Sushi Menu

I was amazed by the vast array of specialty rolls they had.  The Pink Lady Roll caught my attention.  It filled with spicy crab meat, spicy tuna, cucumber and avocado.  Then topped with seared tuna, sliced lemon, and ponzu sauce.  Now that's some serious sushi.

Although my eyes were mesmerized but the vibrant pictures of the sushi creations, they immediately focused on the simple sushi menu.  $3.65 for a California roll? That's unheard of!  Its almost $8.00 for some not-so-fresh sushi at Seeds in the campus center.

I decided to start with some vegetable tempura, and then ordered the Spicy Albacore roll for my meal.  Interestingly, the roll actually came out before the tempura.  There definitely seemed to be a lack in communication between all of the employees.  The restaurant has about 10 different waiters running around and serving all of the tables.  We were asked on three different occasions for our drink orders, and the check came out before we even finished our meal.  The food came out quite quickly, but it all felt a little chaotic.  

The roll was great.  I love albacore.  It's very light, but still has that distinct taste from your average tuna.  The spicy kick really vamped up the flavor.

Spicy Albacore Roll

I have mastered my wasabi-soy sauce dipping recipe whenever I go out for sushi.  It is usually pretty heavy on the wasabi, but I like to bring the heat.  The chili's in the roll very chopped very fine, but distinct among  the silky albacore.  I rarely had to dip my pieces into my spicy sauce, the rolls were already so flavorful!
    

Vegetable Tempura

The tempura was pretty average.  About 8 different pieces came out battered and fried.  The batter itself was pretty thick.  I usually like a lighter and crispier coating, but the vegetables inside were steamed pretty well.  The crunchy green beans were the highlight, but overall it was a little disappointing.

Green Tea Ice Cream

For desert I had a scoop of green tea ice cream.  This is my go-to for after sushi.  It's creamy but not too overpowering.  Great palate cleanser after all of the salt.

The whole restaurant and sushi bar is very casual.  They play Top 40 hits the entire night, so it's a quite the lively environment.   And they have karaoke on Friday nights!  I've never had to wait for a table, and the prices are astonishing for what you get!  If you're really hungry you can get rolls and a teriyaki bowl for under $15.  You have to venture a little further than Figueroa and Adams, but Tenno sushi is the perfect college restaurant.  

Katsuya by SBE in Hollywood

If you're looking for more of an exquisite dining experience, my two favorite spots for sushi in LA are Katsuya (Hollywood) and Wabi Sabi in Venice.  Yes, this is the Katsuya featured on "The Hills", and a great star spotting location.  You can never go wrong with the Spicy Tuna on crispy rice or any of the sashimi.  The decor inside will blow your mind.  You can embrace your inner star and feel fabulous with the rest of Hollywood.  The other Katsuya locations offer the same amazing menu, and are great options if you don't feel like dressing up or spending all of your allowance.

Wabi Sabi on Abbott Kinney

Wabi Sabi encompasses the trendy vibe of Abbott Kinney.  All of the sushi is amazing. They also offer an array of small plates and other asian fusion dishes.  Definitely a great local spot for consistently good food and a chic environment.

Guisdos Tacos

About a year ago, my dad sent me this article by Jonathon Gold: http://www.laweekly.com/2011-09-22/eat-drink/jonathan-gold-reviews-guisados/.  Since coming to school, I've been a little hesitant to make my way to East LA.  But I decided to undertake Cesear Chavez Ave. for an authentic taco experience.

My mini sampler of tacos!

After rounding up a few friends, I was able to try the taqueria ranked second in LA's Ultimate Guide to Tacos.  The family run business offers a variety of braises and stews atop their freshly handmade corn tortillas.  For my first trip, I ordered the  taco sampler, a choice of 6 mini tacos from the non-traditional menu. Each mini medallion packed its own unique full bodied flavor.  Bites ranged from the deep rich mole, to the edgy hot tinga de pollo and smooth hongos con cilantro.  I never knew what to expect next.  I ranted and raved about my first experience to my parents up in seattle, far far away up north from the affluent mexican culture in Los Angeles.

After my first taste bud tour of the menu, I was able to hone in on my favorite fusion items from the menu.  I visited the destination a few more times and always made sure to brag about my mouth watering meal to my parents.

This weekend my Dad was able to make a trip down to visit Zoe and me.  Knowing that lunch would be the first thing on his mind aftering departing his midday plane ride, I should
have seen it coming.  First stop: Guisados for some tacos.

The small restaurant is on the corner of Chavez and St. Louis Street in Boyle Heights.  Surrounded by a variety of small tiendas, you would expect to find a good taqueria in the this neighborhood.  The sign is a little surprising at first, as the only somewhat modern billboard on the street. Inside is a simple chalkboard menu with an open kitchen for all eyes to gaze into.

Pescado and Bistek en Salsa Roja

After exploring a good portion of the menu, I was able to make a couple of recommendations to my Dad.  He opted out of the taco sampler, stating that he would be confident with his big taco decision.  I ordered my favorite two (real sized) tacos, the Bistek en Salsa Roja, and of course the Pescado. The Bistek is a nice braise infused with chili's.  It takes just like a saucier and spicier version of my moms shredded steak rancheros.  The Pescado of course is an easy choice for me, as Fish tacos are the meal I will eat before I die.  A light nice piece of white fish is grilled and topped with a tangy cream sauce.  The cabbage slaw adds the perfect amount of icy crunch to the overall texture of the taco.  There are definitely some small hidden chili's mixed in the fresh tomato salsa.

My dad opted for the chicken mole, hongos con cilantro, and the Bistek (I told him it was the best).  Personally I didn't really like the hongos when I tried them in the sampler.  I found then to be a little bland.  But my Dad said they were delicious and were quite spicy.  He devoured the chicken mole and agreed with me that the Bistek was certainly the best.

Each taco is supported by a homemade corn tortilla.  Still warm, the small medallions encompass the true masa flavor.  There's nothing like a fresh pressed tortilla, and Guisado's compliment each of their taco's perfectly.

Guisados is the place to go for authentic tacos.  The vast array of options on the menu will leave anyone satisfied, no matter what you're in the mood for.  I love taking all of my friends here.  Really give them a true taste of what LA is all about, taking a cuisine and putting a authentic twist on it.  

Apparently there is another location in Echo Park on Sunset Blvd., and one coming to DTLA soon!  Can't wait!   

A Healthy Choice

Me with my duo
of "healthy-ness"

With winter rolling in, the California swell is coming.  Although I could wear shorts all year round in LA, the weather at the beach has definitely taken a turn.  Katherine and I have made a plan to try and go surfing as much as possible this year.  In order to accomplish our twice-weekly goal, we knew that wetsuits were going to be a necessity.  I had already purchased mine over the summer, but Katherine was in need of some serious rubber.

We headed to Main Street in Santa Monica to check out ZJ's surf shop.  The manager of the store was surprisingly helpful, and hooked her up with an awesome Roxy suit!  After a little shopping on Main Street, we ended up at the Promenade.  We knew traffic was going to be horrendous, so we decided to take our time, and maybe stall a little with dinner.  

Not a huge fan of all the chain restaurants down 3rd street, I recommended True Food Kitchen.  Tucked away in Santa Monica Place (near Nordstrom), this hidden gem is a great after-shopping stop.  The menu provides many healthy, yet hearty choices, and there is something for everyone.  The restaurants' concept is to take popular trends in dining, and match it with healthy choices.  Although there are plenty of gluten free and vegan choices (shitake and tofu lettuce cups, heirloom tomato and watermelon salad), you can also find a grass-fed bison burger and an assortment of pizzas.  

While looking under the starter menu, the Edamame Dumplings caught my eye.  I wanted to match the dish with something light, so I also ordered their classic Tuscan Kale salad.  

Tuscan Kale Salad
Lemon, Parmesan, and Bread
Crumb

The dumplings were delicious. The outer shell was thin, yet still dense and chewy (almost like gnocchi).  Inside was an edamame puree that was surprisingly flavorful.  I usually find the beans to lack a distinguished taste, but the filling was almost as wholesome as a sweet potato. The best part was definitely the white truffle sauce.  The oil soaked into the dumplings without being too overwhelming and pungent.  The daikon radishes didn't do much for the dish.  They resembled bean sprouts in thai food, but without the crunch.

With only 4 simple ingredients, the kale salad was amazingly complex.  The acidity from the lemon brought out the richness in the green.  I've never liked "dirty" tasting vegetables, but kale was very well complemented with the sharp and salty parmesan.  The bread crumbs also provided some texture to the dish, making it more filling.  True Food Kitchen was the perfect choice for my healthy and hearty vegetarian dinner.

Wild Mushroom Pizza
Roasted Garlic and Tallegio

Katherine had a salad for lunch, so she opted for something a little more dense and rich.  She asked for my advice between the Wild Mushroom Pizza and the Turkey Lasagna.  Although the gluten-free lasagna sounded great I told one of my rules of thumb: stay away from dishes the restaurant makes beforehand, and then just heats up.  Unless you're at an authentic italian restaurant, where they make the dish to order, I would usually stay away from the lasagna.  The whole point of eating out is to get fresh food you wouldn't usually get from your kitchen.  

She was happy with her choice.  The mushroom pizza was the perfect size with the right amount of cheese and crust.  She said that the shrooms really absorbed the flavors from the garlic and the dish hit the spot.  

I always enjoy my dinner dates with my "wife" Katherine.  The healthy choice of True Food Kitchen was a merited change compared to the usual Umami burger and dessert adventures.

Favorite Thai Place

So close to the action, his 

water cup was at my seat!

I always love trying out "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants.  Although they can sometimes be a little grungy,  the food can be surprisingly delicious.  The best cuisine's aren't always  the five-star fine dining restaurants with white table cloths and all male waiters.  Thai Tom in the University District is a great example of a small hidden gem in the Seattle area.

Zoe and I outside Thai Tom by on University
Avenue by UW.

The line can be long for this 7 table and approximately 250 sq. ft. sized restaurant, but it is worth the wait.  Make sure to pay attention when the small Taiwanese women calls your name.  "Zoe" can very easily be pronounced as "Carrie", and then you're out of luck.

If your party is anymore than 3 people, you are destined to wait for a seat at the bar.  Overlooking the "kitchen", you watch as the pantry chef chops vegetables and wraps up fresh spring rolls.  The real fire comes from the single chef slaving over the stove.  At a rapid pace he will whip up sometimes 6 different noodle dishes at once.  Different oils, chopped vegetables, chicken or tofu, and noodles are thrown into the wok pans and fried to thai exquisiteness.  He then uses the counter you are sitting at to plate the dishes.  The steaming noodles sit there, making your mouth water until one of the two ladies working the floor picks them up to be delivered.

Zoe with her Chicken Pad Thai

Most members of my family usually order the Chicken Pad Thai.  It is probably one of the best executes of the popular thai dish in the city, so I can see why. The green onions pack  tangy-ness, while the bean sprouts help tone down the sweetness.  I like how they are mixed in, instead of just placed on top in a giant pile like at most other thai places.  The plate is served with rice, which doesn't make much sense to me because you already get so many noodles!

Chicken Pad See Ew

Although I do enjoy the Pad Thai, my favorite thai dish has always been Chicken Pad See Ew.  I love the consistency of the flat and wide rice noodles.  I love chewy noodles! (That's probably why I like gnocchi so much as well.)  My dish comes with lots of veggies that add the perfect crunch.

Both dishes have small pieces of fried egg and chicken in them.  My only critique is that I wish there were either more bigger sized or more pieces of chicken.  It's a lot of noodles, with not a lot of protein.  But, the chicken that is in the dish is so well marinated, it almost tastes like candy!  The line outside in the rain can be long.  The wooden chairs and barstools are very uncomfortable, and the restaurant only takes cash.  But, Thai Tom is a definite must for any out of town guest you want to woo with a hole in the wall Seattle favorite!

Me with my favorite bowl of noodles!
Chicken Pad See Ew

Black Bottle

JOEY is one of the best options for a decent and casual dinner on the Eastside.  All of their appetizers and salads are consistently pretty good  The service isn't usually the best, but they advocate for a more laid back and bar like atmosphere anyways.  My mom considered trying Lot no. 3, the Pub-like restaurant next to Purple Cafe and Wine Bar (which are both owned by Heavy Restaurant Inc), but decided against it.  Purple is overrated, over priced, and not that fun.  I kind of assumed that Lot no. 3 would be the same   Instead of JOEY, or the expected overpriced pub, we decided on Black Bottle Postern.  This "across the lake" descendent of Black Bottle Seattle, is located right on Bellevue Way across from JOEY.  Opened in February 2011, the gastro-tavern is quickly gaining a name for itself in the thriving Eastside nightlife.  I'd read some reviews of it, and have had it on my "wish list" for sometime now.

The decor was modern industrial style with high ceilings and long wooden tables.  Definitely very causal and not ideal for an intimate night out.  As a great best place to come after work with coworkers for happy hour drinks and snacks, it was quite crowded for a tuesday evening.  Probably due to the somewhat nice weather we were having in Seattle, these Eastsiders refrained from hibernating in their houses and apartments.

After a quick glance over the drink menu, I spotted the "Major Danger" a Strawberry-infused lemon drop.  That is a definite "must-try".  We were greeted by a quirky waiter in his early 30's wearing yellow tinted glasses.   The service was not exceptional.  It looked like they only had two runners, and with a large party at one of the long wooden tables, my Mom and I were only attended to a couple of times.

yellowfin tuna sashimi poke

We ordered three items to share.  Our first choice was the yellow fin tuna sashimi poke.  The poke was thinly sliced and displayed beautifully.  The sauce was quite salty. It could probably use a tablespoon or two less of soy sauce, but the green onion and sesame still brought out some flavor.  I could have done without the large strips of ginger, but that's just my personal liking.    Even my mom said the strips were pretty overwhelming, and she loves ginger!

Both of our eyes and stomaches were directed towards the beef short ribs.  The malbec glaze gave them a nice sweetness and the meat literally fell off the bone.  It was a little fatty, but had a nice overall consistency.  The oyster mushrooms almost acted liked mashed potatoes, as the soaked up all the of the juices from the glaze.  My mom ordered a basket of bread to dip into the juices, but unfortunately the staff failed to bring it.

beef short ribs
malbec glaze oyster mushrooms

Mom and I needed some veggies to compliment our poke and ribs.  We wavered between the taverns' well known "broccoli blasted" and the roasted vegetables verjus.  Even thought the broccoli is all the rage, our server actually directed us toward the mixed vegetables.  If you like a big plate of broccoli then go for it, but otherwise the other dish offers a lot more variety.

roasted vegetable verjus

The medley of veggies ended up being the side as it came out with the ribs.  The vegetables were nicely roasted and not too overwhelmingly oily.  The carrots and peppers could have been grilled a little bit more to my liking, but I still snacked on them like candy.  The veggie that stuck out the most was definitely the parsnip.  I don't have much experience with this root, but the taste was surprising and refreshing.  The white, carrot-like taproots held a certain sweetness matched with the acidity from the verjus.  The combination created a tangy punch that really zinged in your mouth.  A definite shocker for a vegetable.

Now we could not go home without trying the bread pudding.  If this dish is ever on the menu, my family rarely resists.  The bread base was dense and thick.  The spongy texture was perfect to soak up the caramel-like bourbon sauce.  Atop lied giant cubes of bread, with a nice crunchy baked texture.  I prefer the overall crunch of my mom's version due to her thinner slices of bread, but it was fun being able to pick off the large croutons. The best part of the dish was definitely the Makers Mark bourbon sauce.  Very thick and caramely-almost creating a creamy sensation.  I spooned the extra sauce on to each bite, in order to maximize the flavor.  Because of the bread mix up earlier in the night, the bread pudding actually ended up being comped.  I'll take bread pudding over bread any day!

bourbon sauced bread pudding (maker's mark)

My Mom and I really enjoyed our meal at Black Bottle.  Even though the service wasn't the best, the food was such a treat! It's a great new tavern located in Bellevue, definitely an alternative to the popular Palamino, JOEY, Maggiano's, and other large chains available.  The plates are great for sharing, but you could also easily finish one and a side on your own.  The service wasn't the most attentive, but the layout of the restaurant is perfect for bringing large groups.  A definite go-to for happy hour after work with the co-workers or a late night out with friends.


To try next time---
major danger- strawberry infused lemon drop
crispy fried chicken with ginger soy dipping sauce
ceviche and tortillas
chola batura eggplant potato chickpeas hot
roasted baby artichoke hearts & chickpea salad curry vinaigrette
pastrami and slaw crostinis on house marble chocolate rye