Ms. Foodie

GEOFFREY'S, MALIBU

2013-05-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: www.cashmerefrog.com

I took my mom to Geoffrey's in Malibu for Mother's Day. Geoffrey's is located on a bluff over looking the ocean in Malibu, the views are beautiful and the food is really good. Although they are known for their seafood dishes, they have great steak and meat dishes as well. The food and ambiance are both amazing. It's great for any special occasion, and also romantic for a good date spot. A little pricey, but worth it. Check out the dishes we ordered!


My mom, brother and I before leaving to Geoffrey's!

SAUTEED CRAWFISH CAKE
Spicy Cajun Remoulade

This was so good! Might have been my favorite thing we ordered. I loved the spicy cajun cream sauce. It tasted almost like a crab cake, but it was the sauce that made it. Not sure if this is on the regular menu though, it might just be a special for featured events they have at the restaurant.

LOBSTER & SCALLOP CEVICHE
Fresh Maine Lobster, Day Boat Scallops, Mango Habanero Chili Water served with Mini Taco Shells

FILET MIGNON

Cheddar Potatoes, Topped With a Blue Cheese Compound Butter

The steak was really good. Great flavor and cooked just right. Not your typical "thick" piece of filet-this cut was thinner than your traditional filet, which I liked because I think it made it more flavorful. The potatoes were really good as well. We were hesitant to order a steak because Geoffrey's isn't necessarily a steakhouse, but it was well executed.

HERB CRUSTED SALMON
Artichoke Heart Puree, Roasted Tomato Butter Sauce

I ordered this because I saw it came with a similar looking sauce as the crawfish cake lol and I felt like a fish dish. It was really good- the salmon itself wasn't anything special but the sauce made the dish once again.

PAN SEARED CHILEAN SEABASS

Pesto Potatoes, Heirloom Tomato Marmalade, Basil Oil

I loved the presentation of this lol. So pretty and colorful! It did taste good too....the seabass was tender and light, and mixed in with the pesto potatoes made it the perfect bite!

FRESH SPRING BERRY TARTLET

Oh my goshhh.....this dessert! This is the perfect dessert to me. It's not too rich, it's fresh, light and perfectly sweet. I loved the vanilla custard mixed with the berries and the buttery crust. Not sure what the sauce was but it was purple lol. Next time I need to save more room for this because I was so full by the time this came out. Amazing!

My Geoffrey's dinner outfit :)

GEOFFREY'S

27400 Pacific Coast Highway

Malibu, CA 90265

(310) 457-1519

www.geoffreysmalibu.com

MINETTA TAVERN, NEW YORK CITY

2013-04-29T17:15:00.001-07:00

MY SISTER AND I ON OUR WAY TO MINETTA TAVERN FOR DINNER BEFORE GOING OUT ON THE TOWN!

I basically just went to Minetta Tavern for their very famous "Black Label" burger. I have heard about this burger through word of mouth and have seen it featured on food shows on the Food & Travel Channel. Since I consider myself the "Burger Queen" lol (burgers are definitely my favorite food), I had to see what the hype was about this famous Black Label burger for $26. I didn't bother to order anything else, I came there for one reason only lol. Peep my Minetta Tavern burger review below!

BLACK LABEL BURGER $26

Selection of Prime dry-aged beef cuts with caramelized onions & pommes frites

The meat itself was amazing. You could taste the quality in it. It was very juicy and cooked perfectly medium rare. Is it one of my favorite burgers? No. Even though the meat was very good, I think it would have been a way better burger with cheese. I love meat and cheese together and that's why I love burgers. If this burger had cheese on it and some kind of sauce, it would take this burger to a whole other level. There is another burger on the menu called the "Minetta burger", which has cheese on it. I would definitely try that next time just to compare. Even though the restaurant takes pride in the quality of their meat, and I admit the meat is the most important part of a burger, it was still missing some other elements that would have made it all come together better. The bun was just okay- I've had better. The fries were really good though. They also didn't have any other sauce besides ketchup, and I usually like my burgers with a special sauce like an aioli.

Minetta Tavern has a very classic, upscale, "old-fashioned" New York vibe to it. It's dim-lit, has classic celebrity portraits on the wall, and men in business suits at the bar- you definitely get a New York vibe right when you walk in . It's a cool place, try their famous burger and feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts!

MINETTA TAVERN

113 MacDougal St.

New York, NY 10012

212-475-3850

www.minettatavernny.com

TERRONI, LOS ANGELES

2013-04-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

DINING AT TERRONI!

Good times at Terroni in mid-city Los Angeles! I left dinner feeling like I just ate at a restaurant in Rome lol. People were speaking Italian, the food was authentic and delicious, and we overall had a great experience. The pastas were great, take a look below to see what we ordered!

TAGLIATELLE AL RAGU'

Tagliatelle in a traditional Bolognese meat sauce & parmigiano

It was good, but wasn't amazing. The other two pastas you'll see below were better. But still a decent traditional Bolognese.

AGNOLOTTI NE'

Handmade agnolotti filled with braised beef in a butter parmigiano and sage sauce

This was my favorite of the night. The sauce was so delicious. It was creamy, cheesy and buttery and just had overall great flavor. The pasta itself is handmade and it was tender and tasted fresh. The sauce is what made this dish. Definitely recommend it!

BRANZINO

Light and flavorful. Sometimes with branzino it can taste bland, but this had a nice flavor.

TONNARELLI WITH SAUSAGE & SHAVED BLACK TRUFFLES

This seems to be one of their most famous pastas. Our server recommended this pasta, and it was really good. The truffle flavor was strong (and I love truffle). I definitely recommend ordering this pasta if you like truffle, but I did enjoy the ravioli better actually.

Terroni had great service, (we had a great server), the food came out fast, and it all was really yummy. Great Italian restaurant in Los Angeles. Enjoy & ciao!

TERRONI

7605 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323) 954-0300

www.terroni.com

SON OF A GUN, LOS ANGELES

2013-04-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

I have been hearing about Son of A Gun for so long, so I finally decided to cross it off my food bucket list. It is now one of my new favorite restaurants in LA. Everything that was ordered was not only good, it was amazing. The items on the menu are meant for sharing and are small "tapa" style dishes, so you can order more and try more things. Everything was cooked and prepared to perfection- the flavors in everything were incredible. See below!

KENNEBEC FRENCH FRIES

MALT VINEGAR AIOLI

These fries were out of this world. Everything about it- perfectly crispy, every french fry had tons of flavor, and I loved the aioli with it! It wasn't your ordinary "garlic aioli" (which I happen to love), but I liked how the aioli was a malt vinegar flavor. The seasoning to these fries though were amazing. Must order!

LOBSTER ROLL

CELERY, LEMON AIOLI

This bite size lobster roll could have been one of the best lobster rolls I've ever had. We actually had to order another one because it wasn't enough- it was so good. The bread was buttery and grilled to perfection. The lobster had great flavor mixed in with the lemon aioli and the crunchy chips on top added the perfect texture to the creaminess of the lobster. I think what made this so good was the bread though- you can even see the buttery golden goodness from the picture lol. Great flavor all together- this little thing was perfection! Must order!

FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

SPICY B&B PICKLE SLAW, ROOSTER AIOLI

SO yummy! The bread was buttery and soft, the fried chicken crispy, flavorful and cooked perfectly, and I loved the fresh jalapeno and the slaw. The aioli brought it all together to make the perfect sandwich. This sandwich is similar to the fried chicken sandwich at The Honor Bar in Beverly Hills. Both amazing!

SHRIMP TOAST SANDWICH

HERBS, SRIRACHA MAYO

Another tasty bite of perfection. This had a sweet, tangy, and salty kick to it- I loved the fried, crispy toast mixed in with the creamy shrimp, and the tangy/sweet brown glaze sauce. Like everything else, it all just worked together perfectly. A must order!

LINGUINE & CLAMS

UNI AGLIO-OLIO, CHILI, BREADCRUMBS

I think this was my favorite of the night along with the lobster roll. This pasta was EVERYTHING. Spicy, creamy, saucy, and delicious. I've never really had clam linguine before- the saltiness of the clams went really well the the spicy sauce. I can't even explain this flavor in words- it had such a strong flavor in all the best ways possible. I love spicy food so this was heaven for me. I wish I can make sauce like this! My friend who I was with doesn't like his food too spicy, and he still loved this. Highly, highly recommended!

So, as you can see, I said everything is a "must order" because everything was amazing. If you are familiar with my blog, you know I am 100% honest in my opinions and tell the truth about how I really feel about the food- I don't sugar coat or lie. All of these dishes were unique and tasted incredible. The flavors were impeccable. I highly recommend this restaurant. Don't expect a fancy and upscale place though, it's very casual, almost "tavern" like. It's all about the food at Son of A Gun. Enjoy!

Son Of A Gun
8370 W 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782- 9033
www.sonofagunrestaurant.com

PACE, LOS ANGELES

2013-03-25T11:53:00.002-07:00


*ON MY WAY TO PACE FOR A BIRTHDAY DINNER*

Tucked away in the heart of Laurel Canyon is a cozy, romantic, Italian restaurant Pace. I love the vibe there- it's dim, cozy and very charming. I think it's perfect for any occasion. I went for a friend's birthday dinner and we had such a nice meal. Here are some of the things we ordered....

MY FRIEND BROUGHT THIS EXPENSIVE & RARE BOTTLE OF RED WINE. IT COMPLIMENTED OUR MEAL PERFECTLY.

GRASS-FED PRIME DRY-AGED RIBEYE
prime cut and seasoned with mediterranean sea salt
on a bed of arugola
I had a bite of this steak and it honestly was one of the most flavorful steaks. I have to go back and order this for myself because I remember it being very flavorful and cooked perfectly.

HERA'S PIE

pesto, mushrooms, arugula, fresh tomato and fontina cheese

PEACE PIE
fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce, mozzarella and oregano
Both pizzas were good and baked fresh! Loved the crust. I recommend ordering a pizza and sharing it as an appetizer.

TAGLIATELLE CON PISELLI E PROSCUITTO

homemade tagliatelle, english peas, prosciutto,
in a light white wine cream sauce

I loved this! I would order this again. It had the perfect amount of creaminess and very flavorful. The chunks of proscuitto added another great flavor to the cream sauce.

LASAGNA DELLA CASA
homemade lasagna made with homemade ragu, fresh mozzarella, parmigiano and bechamel sauce

Traditional lasagna. It was ordinary-it wasn't amazing or anything special, but if you love lasagna then you would like this.

Pace is a great Italian restaurant in LA. Love the unique ambiance and the food is definitely above average. Enjoy!

PACE

2100 Laurel Canyon Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323) 654-8583

www.peaceinthecanyon.com

ABC KITCHEN, NEW YORK CITY

2013-03-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

ABC Kitchen in New York City is absolutely adorable and the food is great! It's pretty famous in New York and a little tough to get into, but it is a great restaurant choice if you are in the city. It's rustic decor makes it charming and cozy, and when I went it was a Friday night and it was buzzing and packed with people. Creator of the ABC Kitchen menu is the famous chef Jean-Georges, where he is passionately dedicated to creating each dish using only fresh organic and local ingredients. We had a very "cheesy" dinner lol...you'll know what I mean when you check out my food reviews below!

ROASTED KABOCHA SQUASH TOAST, FRESH RICOTTA & APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

They brought this as complimentary from the house, and after my first bite I knew I was going to have a good meal at ABC Kitchen. The salty and creamy ricotta cheese mixed with the flavors of the sweet squash on that fresh toasted bread was heaven. It was such a delightful combination of flavors, a little tart, sweet, salty, creamy, and crispy because of the toasted bread. Great little taste to start off the meal!

HOMEMADE RICOTTA, FIG COMPOTE & GRILLED BREAD

The creamy ricotta is just amazing! You can't go wrong with bread and cheese, and the fig compote added a sweetness that pairs very well with the saltiness of the ricotta. It reminded me of having green apples and brie cheese. The sweetness of fruit works very well with cheese. Great little starter to the meal as well.

CHEESE FONDUE

This was just cheesy goodness. Made with their homemade ricotta cheese mixed with other cheeses, it was very rich in flavor. Once again, can't go wrong with cheese and bread...we were getting a little burnt out on cheese at this point though lol...

PIZZA WITH MUSHROOMS, PARMESAN, OREGANO & FARM EGG

MORE CHEESE! I've never had egg on a pizza before so it was quite the experience. I really enjoyed the "gooey" yolk soaked in with the cheese. I love mushrooms too, so this was a good pizza to me. It was different because of the egg and it didn't have your traditional tomato sauce. A lot of cheese and bread at this point, I was starting to get a full stomach lol.

HOUSEMADE RICOTTA RAVIOLI, HERBS & TOMATO SAUCE

Cheese overload lol, but a great pasta nontheless. The ravioli pasta was silky and melted in your mouth. The tomato sauce had great flavor, and their homemade ricotta cheese is a must try! Simple and great ravioli dish.

RED SNAPPER WITH CHILIES & HERBS, BABY MARKET POTATOES, & SPINACH

This was recomended by our server. At this point I was just glad to see something in front of me not made with cheese lol! A light dish- I wouldn't order it again but if you are a healthy eater that likes fish then you would most likely enjoy this dish.

APPLE PIE WITH CINNAMON ICE CREAM

OMG. The crust on this thing....it was perfection. Flakey and buttery, and I loved the cinnamon ice cream with it! A great apple pie.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MALTED CHOCOLATE GANACHE & TOASTED MARSHMELLOW ICING

Not a chocolate fan like this, way too rich for me. I had a little bite and couldn't do more than that. Not my thing, but I did like the marshmellow icing. It made this chocolate cake unique.

BLOOD ORANGE SORBET

This was the perfect end to a great meal. It was so refreshing to end on this. I love sorbet!

MY ABC KITCHEN DINNER OUTFIT :)

ABC KITCHEN

35 east 18th street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 475-5829

www.abckitchennyc.com

DAN TANA'S, HOLLYWOOD

2013-02-28T15:30:00.003-08:00

ON MY WAY TO DAN TANA'S!!!

I went to the famous Dan Tana's last night for dinner. Dan Tana's is an old Italian restaurant that has been a Hollywood classic for many years now. Many Hollywood celebrities are regulars at this authentic Italian spot. The food pricey but good. This is what we ordered....

ESCARGOT A LA SHIRLEY

I love escargot. I love the garlic flavor. This was good, but lacking flavor a little. Looked a little better than it tasted...I've had better.

CHICKEN PARMIGIANA, TED DEMME

This was out of this world. Probably the best chicken parmesan I've had. It was cheesy, saucy, crispy- all consistencies in one dish lol. The chicken was nice and crispy on the bottom and the sauce had great flavor. I love the very generous amount of cheese too lol. Nothing can never be too cheesy! Highly recommended. I would come back just for this dish. It's the perfect chicken parmesan...

WHITEFISH WITH WHITE WINE LEMON SAUCE

Another great dish. Sometimes with fish it's hard to make it flavorful, but this had so much flavor. The lemon & white wine sauce was rich, and every bite had flavor. The fish melted in your mouth. If you like fish, this is a great fish dish. I really enjoyed it.

SPAGHETTI WITH MEAT SAUCE

The meat sauce was flavorful. I took a couple bites and was satisfied though. It was a little too dry for me- I think it could have used a little more sauce, but it still had nice flavor.

My Dan Tana's experience was a great one. I would definitely go back again and try their famous steak and ceasar salad that was recommended as well. It's an authentic, cozy Italian restaurant in the middle of Hollywood, and if you're lucky you may spot your favorite celebrity dining there!

DAN TANA'S

9071 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

(310) 275-9444

www.dantanasrestaurant.com

NANCY LEE'S PIG HEAVEN, NEW YORK CITY

2013-02-23T17:49:00.000-08:00

My sister, some friends & I went to Nancy Lee's Pig Heaven in New York City for Christmas day dinner. This chinese restaurant was the perfect place for Jews on Christmas, it was packed with them lol! I've heard about their famous pork ribs on the Travel Channel, and it's been on my food bucket list ever since. So being Jewish, I thought Christmas was the perfect night to try it and it was! This quirky little Chinese restaurant has great food, and I will definitely be back again!

RESTAURANT DECORATIONS LOL. LOTS OF PIGS!

THE FAMOUS BBQ SPARE RIBS

Great ribs! Flavorful, tender and I loved the sauce. I remember wishing we ordered more! This was one of my favorite things ordered. It's what Pig Heaven is famous for so this is a must try!

STEAMED PORK DUMPLINGS

As you can see things got messy after the ribs lol. I am not a big dumpling fan, but was overuled by the rest so we ordered them. I wouldn't order again, I just don't like dumplings that much, but if you do like dumplings these were still good....

ME WITH A DUMPLING LOL

CHICKEN LO MEIN

Can't go to a Chinese restaurant and not order lo mein! This was delicious. It was saucy and moist which is how I like my noodles. I hate lo mein that is dry. This one was a good one with great flavor!

SPICY PORK GREEN BEANS
This is also one of my favorite dishes to order at a Chinese restaurant. I love spicy green beans! The pork bits add a lot of flavor and I love how it has a spicy kick to it. Great vegetable dish to order...highly recommend!

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN

Basically the same thing as orange chicken. Not my favorite, probably would order the Sesame Chicken next time. It wasn't bad at all, just nothing special.

Nancy Lee's Pig Heaven is a great Chinese spot in NYC. Everything we ordered was good, and I will definitely be back again for those ribs!

NANCY LEE'S PIG HEAVEN

1540 Second Avenue

New York, NY 10028

www.pigheavennyc.com

JOE'S STONE CRAB, MIAMI

2013-01-17T17:38:00.004-08:00

I finally went to the famous Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach! I have been wanting to go there for ages, and this New Years Eve, I got VIP treatment, skipped the two hour wait and got seated right away lol! You may have heard of Joe's, it's been featured on TV food shows and is quite famous in Miami.....if you love crab and/or seafood Joe's is a must! Be prepared to wait though, it's always busy....check out what I ate at Joe's below!

CHOPPED SALAD
w/ Honey-Roasted Peanuts, Cucumbers, Black Olives, Feta Cheese,
Diced Vegetables, Tossed in Joe’s Vinaigrette (Includes Egg )

Light and flavorful. I loved the honey-roasted peanuts in it, it gave a unique twist to the "ordinary chopped salad". The dressing was a light vinaigrette and I loved the richness of the feta cheese chunks mixed in. It was a good chopped salad and a perfect starter to a great meal.

GRILLED TOMATOES

w/ Spinach and melted cheese

I've never had anything like this before! It was a warm grilled tomato with spinach and melted cheese on top. It's also a great appetizer before your meal. Who knew spinach and melted cheese on a tomato would work so good!

STUFFY'S RHODE ISLAND STYLE, BAKED QUAHOG CLAMS

I don't even know what was in this concoction of goodness but it was delicious! It was cheesy, fried, flakey, creamy and had a bunch of different seafood all stuffed and baked on top of a clam shell. I would definitely recommend this as an appetizer. Super flavorful and so good!

JOE'S STONE CRAB CLAWS

These are the famous Joe's Stone Crab claws! They come chilled with lemon & a mustard cream sauce on the side to dip. They were meaty and amazing. You can taste the freshness and quality of the crab, it had great flavor. I could eat 10 plates of this to myself lol. I loved it!

JOE'S ORIGINAL HOMEMADE KEY LIME PIE

This was on another level! I never order key lime pie but now I am going to start. It was amazing. It was tart and sweet, rich and creamy and I loved the pie crust. You have to order this as dessert even if you are full lol, this pie is famous!

MY SPARKLY ATTIRE AT JOE'S STONE CRAB LOL, NEW YEAR'S EVE IN MIAMI!!!

I can't wait to go back again at Joe's soon. I loved it! It's a must if you are in Miami, and even worth a wait!

BEN'S CHILI BOWL, WASHINGTON DC

2013-01-05T17:58:00.003-08:00

I went on a quick trip to Washington DC recently, and I of course had to stop by the famous Ben's Chili Bowl! You've probably seen it on the Food Network, Travel Channel and other TV show segments, but President Obama is also an occasional patron at this famous chili spot! Open since 1958, the walls are covered with pictures of celebrities throughtout the years who have grubbed at Ben's- it's a landmark with a lot of history and a must-go to when you're in DC! See pictures below :)

Bill Cosby’s Original Chili Half-Smoke - $5.70

From the MENU:

"Our signature dish! Experience the Chili Half-Smoke, originally made famous by Ben’s in 1958 and a favorite of Mr. Cosby’s since the early 60’s. We put this 1/4lb. half pork and beef smoked sausage on a warm steamed bun and top it with mustard, onions and our spicy homemade chili sauce.

Simple, yet so damn good! I usually like my hotdog with chili and cheese, but even though this didn't have cheese, it was amazing and actually I didn't even miss it! It was simple, flavorful and perfect! I loved the sausage instead of just a regular hot dog too. It was thicker and juicier and had good flavor. The chili was the perfect texture (not chunky) with a smokey flavor and had a little bit of a spicy kick to it. I loved the chili mixed in with the mustard and the onions gave it a crunch. It all just worked! Great chili dog!

*ME IN ACTION LOL*

Chili – Cheese Fries (The Works) - $5.70

Can't go wrong with chili cheese fries. I already loved the chili, so mixed with nacho cheese is my heaven! Dirty and messy but so good. If you really like grub food, I don't think you can't get much better than this!

I would definitely go back to Ben's Chili Bowl next time I'm in Washington DC. It's a must-go if you are there because of its history. The chili was great and they have plenty of other items on the menu I need to try! Be prepared to get down and dirty! It gets messy lol.

BEN'S CHILI BOWL

1213 U Street NW

Washington DC, 20009

(202) 667-0909

www.benschilibowl.com

BOILING CRAB, LOS ANGELES

2012-12-06T19:12:00.001-08:00

This meal was so damn good lol. If you like crab, this is the spot! Located on Wilshire Blvd in Koreatown, the Boiling Crab is always packed and you will most likely experience long wait times, but it was definitely worth it! Menu is simple- basic seafood (crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, etc.) with delicious sides and your choice of sauces and marinades. It gets messy so don't dress up! Take a look at the mess I made LOL....

CAJUN SPICED FRIES

Loved these fries! These are my favorite type of fries. We got sides of ranch and it was heaven for me. Perfectly spiced. Destroyed this basket in 2 minutes tops!

1 POUND SHRIMP W/ "THE WHOLE SHA BANG"!

The "Whole Sha Bang" is the type of sauce we picked to marinade our seafood in. It consists of Rajun Cajun, Lemon Pepper, & Garlic Butter and you can choose how spicy you want it. The sauce was honestly one of the best sauces ever! It was so flavorful and the spices worked perfectly together. I could swim in this sauce it was so good lol. You can choose to only get cajun, or garlic butter or lemon pepper alone, but all together is honestly the perfect combination of spices. Get the whole Sha Bang! You won't regret...

1 POUND OF KING CRAB LEGS
It was a sight to see me crack these things with sauce everywhere lol. I don't have patience for the amount of work it takes to crack crab legs when you're hungry, but when I did and the meat came out it felt very rewarding lol. Again, the sauce was absolutely amazing...so much flavor. Anything spicy with garlic I love! One of the best crab I've ever had.

JUST DIRTY. HOW I ROLL...LOL. I NEEDED A SHOWER AFTER THIS MEAL!

NO NEED TO EXPLAIN THIS. I GOT DOWN & DIRTY, THE WAY I LIKE TO EAT! SHIT JUST EVERYWHERE LOL

You won't be disappointed at The Boiling Crab. It's an experience-messy, fun and delicious. It's quite the hot spot though so make sure you are OK with waiting for a table! A tip is to call in advance to see how long the wait is to be prepared. The Boiling Crab is definitely an amazing seafood spot in LA. I will be back soon. Enjoy and don't be afraid to get messy!

BOILING CRAB

3377 Wilshire Blvd #115

Los Angeles, CA 90010

(213) 389-2722

www.theboilingcrab.com

BEAUTY & ESSEX, NEW YORK CITY

2012-11-27T11:40:00.002-08:00

Hidden behind the doors of a pawn shop, lies the trendy yet elegant restaurant Beauty & Essex. Run the by same team as Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex has a more chic ambiance with gorgeous decor and the food is anything but ordinary. I went with a couple girlfriends and it was the perfect night out. Good looking people, amazing food, and a great ambiance. It's also the perfect place to have drinks before having a night out on the town! Most dishes are tapa/shared plates style. We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared everything....See below!

PAWN SHOP IN FRONT OF BEAUTY & ESSEX!

BEET TARTARE FLAT BREAD COMPED FROM THE HOUSE AS A STARTER

TUNA POKE WONTON TACOS

Micro cilantro, radish, wasabi kewpie

Fresh, light and flavorful. Loved the wonton crunch with the fresh poke. The creamy sauce pulled it all together for the perfect bite.

LOBSTER TACOS

Beer battered maine lobster, red cabbage slaw, poblano crema

Loved these. Everything is small enough to be the perfect bite and leaving you to want more. The lobster was hot and fried, and loved the contrast with the cold slaw and cream. Squeeze a little lime on top and it has all the flavors and textures you need.

GRILLED CHEESE, SMOKED BACON & TOMATO SOUP DUMPLINGS

This might have been my favorite of the night. We had to get two orders it was so good. Again, everything you need in one bite. Soup, grilled cheese and the bacon was the cherry on top. It melted in your mouth literally. The cheese was gooey and creamy and together with the hot tomato soup and sprinkles of bacon....heaven! *MUST ORDER*

OVEN BRAISED CHICKEN MEATBALLS

Sheeps milk ricotta, wild mushroom, truffle

These were so good! Loved the creamy, cool ricotta with the hot meatballs. The truffle flavor is always a bonus too. Perfect combo. I recommend this!

ASIAN SPICED RUBBED PORK RIBS

Five spice salt, bok choy, spicy roasted peanuts

These were cool....not sure I'd order again but well executed. I liked the spices!

LOBSTER MAC' N CHEESE

Sicilian style bread crumbs

This was a good mac'n cheese. It was creamy enough and loved the chunks of lobster. I love bread crumbs on top of my mac too!

I will definitely be back at Beauty & Essex. I really liked everything we ordered and love the ambiance there.....sexy! Plus I really wanted to order the Beauty & Essex Burger but they ran out. So I have to go back to get it. Beauty & Essex is definitely a must go in the city, even just for a drink. They have great & unique cocktails. It's a scene so make sure you look swaggy and fresh you may meet the man/woman of your dreams there lol! Bon Appetite!

*CHEERS! *

GJELINA, VENICE

2012-11-23T11:00:00.001-08:00

A night out at Gjelina in Venice! Located on the charming and trendy Abbot Kinney Blvd, Gjelina is a definite hotspot in the Venice area. With wait times that can easily get up to two hours, this restaurant is always busy and quite a scene. It's not unusual to spot some of your favorite celebs dining here either. Gjelina has a casual, rustic vibe to it; the food is American with a Mediterrean flare and the menu varies daily based on what is the most fresh and locally available. Take a look below to see what was ordered!

YELLOWTAIL CARPACCIO

Green olive, cherry tomato, caper & chili

This was light and fresh! You can taste the quality in the yellowtail. Melted in your mouth. Great flavors as well....perfect starter dish to get your appetite going.

BRAISED SWEET CORN

Cilantro, chili, feta & lime

I actually really liked this. It was an interesting mix with the feta. A little jarring at first but it worked. The corn was sweet, and the feta gave it a salty kick and I liked the sweet & salty combo. I couldn't eat much of it because it was heavy but I did enjoy it.

SMOKED MOZZARELLA PIZZA

Confit tomato, jalapeno, arugula, lemon & cortez bottarga

This pizza was ok. The cortez bottarga made it way too fishy for me. I realized I don't like any type of anchovy or fish on my pizza after I ordered this. But the bread/crust was good and everything else tasted fresh and delicious. Would'nt order it again though.

SEARED SHITAKE MUSHROOMS

With Madeira & shallot

Could have lived without this. I love mushrooms, but these were hard and chewy and not even that flavorful. Ordering this was a mistake, there are so many other things I wish I ordered instead...

TUSCAN KALE, SHAVED FENNEL, RADISH, LEMON, RICOTTA SALATA, & BREADCRUMB SALAD

Healthy, fresh and light! Can't really go wrong with a kale salad. It had great flavor too!

Overall it was a "pleasant" experience at Gjelina, but I wouldn't be running to go back there. Nothing really blew my mind, and with all the hype about this restaurant you would think every plate would be amazing. I definitely would go back to try some other things on the menu, and I heard their brunch is good too so I guess I have to give it a second chance! If you have been, I'd love to hear your opinion on Gjelina!

2nd AVE DELI, NEW YORK CITY

2012-10-31T11:02:00.002-07:00

I went to the famous Kosher 2nd Ave deli in NYC recently, and went to town! We went all out on ordering lol. There is an abundance of great deli's in the N.Y.C, but this one is one of the best! Katz's Deli is also known as the "best" deli in NY, but I must admit although I didn't like that they didn't serve anything w/ dairy at 2nd Ave, I liked the pastrami better than the famous Katz's! See below what was ordered :)

FRENCH FRIES!

Crispy and freshly cut! Perfect amount of saltiness!

PICKLES & PICKLED TOMATO!!!!!

I love getting pickles! So crunchy and delish!

CRISPY ONION RINGS

Sooooo gooood!

SPINACH KNISH!

Lots of spinach up in here lol! The dough part was crispy, flaky and delicious. A classic Jewish food originating from Eastern Europe! Must try at any deli. You can get different fillings as well instead of spinach such as potato, meat, cheese etc.

MATZAH BALL SOUP!

Also a must order at a Jewish deli. Soup is good for the soul!

REGULAR PASTRAMI

PASTRAMI W/ COLESLAW & RUSSIAN DRESSING

I LOVED the pastrami at 2nd Ave. I like my pastrami thin cut,, juicy and flavorful and it was all of that. I usually order a pastrami Reuben at a deli, but since they don't have cheese, I had to do without. The pastrami was so good though that I didn't even miss the cheese. Pastrami was perfection!

CORNED BEEF

You can't get a more authentic Jewish deli than 2nd Ave. It's the real deal! You definitely have to pay a visit if you like deli food. You won't be disappointed. And remember, it's Kosher so no milk/dairy and meat, only meat at this place! Enjoy!

2nd AVE DELI

162 East 33rd Street

New York, NY 10016

(212) 689-9000

www.2ndavedeli.com

PESCADOS CAPITALES- LIMA, PERU

2012-10-19T21:03:00.001-07:00

ME IN LIMA, PERU AT PESCADOS CAPITALES!

Mariscos, ceviches oh my! Located in the seaside Miraflores neighborhood in Lima, Pescados Capitales is a very popular restaurant famous for their ceviche and fresh seafood dishes. The entire menu is based on the 7 deadly sins, and every item on the menu has a little abstract story in it's description. The name of this restaurant is a play on words; "pescados" means "fish" in Spanish, and "pecados" means "sins". The menu itself is very unique and creative, and they make reading it fun and entertaining which goes hand in hand with their food too. All dishes were creative and unique and gave your idea of tradional ceviche a twist with fun ingredients and sauces! Check out what was ordered below!

FRESH ROASTED CORN NUTS WITH SALSA

Instead of bread, they bring you fresh corn nuts to the table. Corn is very popular in Peru and I found they bring this out at many restaurants there before they take your order. The perfect salty snack to get your appetite going!

CAUSA

With yellow potato, avocado, creamy shrimp topped with a baby bird's egg

Refreshing, light and perfect for a starter dish. The starchiness of the yellow potato added substance to the dish, and avocado just goes with a seafood tower. I've never had potato in a dish like this but it worked well together with the creamy shrimp and avocado. The hard boiled egg added a nice finishing touch and mixture to the dish as well.

PEREZA

Shrimp & calamari in a cream cheese sauce with olive rice

The sauce had a very cheesy flavor and mixing it with the rice was creamy, rich and delicious. They have some great sauces at Pescados Capitales!

CEVICHE CAPITALE

Sole cubes, salmon & tuna ceviche, with white, red & chinese onions in three chili sauces, served with corn and sweet potato

I ordered this dish. I was so glad I did. It had a citrus/garlic flavor with a spicy kick to it. I prefer a spicy and citrus ceviche over a sweet ceviche. I loved this orange chili cream sauce. It had a kick of garlic to it and it was worked amazing with the sweet potato, and fresh raw seafood. My favorite was the sweet potato and the tuna. Sweet potato gave this ceviche the perfect unigue twist from your traditional ceviche. This is one of their most signature ceviches at Pescados Capitales, and I definitely recommend it.

CEVICHE GHANDI
Shrimp, fish & calamri ceviche with curry and mango chutney, & peach, mushrooms, white onion sweet potato & corn
This was a sweet ceviche. The sauce was light with the flavor of tropical fruit and curry which is a very interesting combo to the taste buds lol. I wouldn't say I didn't like it, but it was different and I think I might prefer a salty/citrus ceviche.

Pescados Capitales was such a cute restaurant. You can sit either indoors or outdoors, but expect to wait if you don't have a reservation. It's supposedly always busy and hard to get into. All the dishes had creative, unique presentations and their seafood is fresh out the sea which is just a couple blocks away :) Lima is known for their cevicherias, and this place is on top! So when in Lima...get your ceviche on!

PESCADOS CAPITALES
La Mar 1337
Lima, Peru
www.pescadoscapitales.com

ENJOYING THE DAY SIGHTSEEING IN LIMA...AT PLAZA DE ARMAS!

ESS-A-BAGEL, NEW YORK CITY

2012-10-06T19:06:00.001-07:00

Travel channel host Anthony Bourdain said that Ess-A-Bagel was his favorite New York bagel. I asked so many people what the best bagel in NYC was, and some recommendations were Ess-A-Bagel, Murray's Bagels, H&H Bagels, etc. H&H I heard was the best but it recently got shut down and bankrupt unfortunately, so I decided to try Ess-A-Bagel...see my review below!

This place finally made me like lox. I ordered a sesame bagel with cream cheese and lox, kept it simple. The lox was like salmon carpaccio; sliced very thin, and it melted in your mouth. The bagel was very doughey, but I liked it that way. They don't toast at Ess-A-Bagel, which some people only like toasted bagels, but I think if it's a fresh bagel you don't need it toasted. I enjoyed it a lot, but I felt like I had a brick in my stomach when I was done lol. Those bagels are huge! This place is definitely a good bagel joint in NYC. The best? Still don't know...I am determined to hit all the best bagel spots and I will make sure to give you guys a final verdict lol...

ESS-A-BAGEL

For locations in NYC, check out:

www.ess-a-bagel.com

JIM'S STEAKS, PHILLY

2012-09-25T12:12:00.005-07:00

MY CREW AND I IN LINE AT JIM'S STEAKS ABOUT TO ORDER!

Another famous Philly Cheesesteak spot in Philly is Jim's Steaks. Open since 1939, this Philly chesesteak landmark is just as popular as Pat's & Geno's among Philly locals and tourists. My friends and I loved the cheeseteaks here. This was everyone's favorite cheesesteak spot, but I think Jim's and Pat's were a close tie for me. We went on a Sunday afternoon, and there was a huge line around the corner. See our fun experience below :)

LOOK AT THE LINE!

LOCATED ON SOUTH STREET

NOTICE THE BUCKET OF CHEEZ WIZ TO THE LEFT...MY SHIT! LOL

GRILLED ONIONS, CHEEZ WIZ, AMERICAN CHEESE

CHEEZ WIZ, AMERICAN, MUSHROOMS

CHEEZ WIZ, AMERICAN, GRILLED ONIONS, PEPPERCINI'S

Jim's makes a damn good cheesesteak. Similar to Pat's, the meat is also shredded which I prefer over the long thin strips of steak like Geno's. The bottom of the sandwiches were soaked with cheez wiz, and throughout the meat you had the melted white American cheese. The bread was soft and fluffty, but toasted a little on the outside too which I liked. You had the flavors of the charred onion from the grill and then you had a little spicy kick from the peppercini's. It all worked together to make the perfect sandwich. I think the quality of the steak is so important in a cheeseteak, and at Jim's the steak was just how I liked: juicy, flavorful and shredded. Messy food is my favorite kind of food lol, and things definitely got messy lol!

CHEEEZZZZ

It was a sight to see watching seven cute girls eating messy foot long cheesesteaks, but girls gotta eat, and we sure know how! BAM!

BROUGHT MY GIRLS TO JIM'S...#PHILLY

JIM'S STEAKS

400 SOUTH STREET

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19147

FOR OTHER LOCATIONS IN PHILLY, CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE:

www.jimssteaks.com

PAT'S VS. GENOS, PHILLY

2012-09-14T23:09:00.002-07:00

Two words: Philly. Cheesesteak. I traveled to Philly recently for a music festival, and being a food blogger I of course had to go to two of the most famous Philly Cheesesteaks spots in the city. Although there are a couple of famous cheesesteak places, when people talk about cheesesteak in Philly, you mostly hear about the Pat's vs. Geno's rivalry. Located on the corner of 9th st. & Passyunk Avenue in South Philly, the two cheesesteak rivalies face off 24 hours a day right across the street from each other. Naturally I had to get to the bottom of it and see which one I thought was better, and like many other tourists, I had Pat's & Geno's back to back at the same damn time lol. Both places use grilled rib-eye steak, grilled onions, a fresh Italian loaf, and three main cheeses to choose from. See below which won in my book ;)

PAT'S KING OF STEAKS

Established in 1930. Two important steps when ordering at Pat's, straight from their menu:

Step 1 Specify if you want your steak with (wit) or without (wit-out) onions

Step 2 Specify Plain, Cheez Whiz, Provolone, American or Pizza Steak

*Pat's recommends Cheez Wiz- A classic Philly Cheesesteak.

I asked the workers at Pat's what the best cheesesteak combination was, and they said Cheez Wiz, grilled onions and American cheese. Done. That's exactly what I did, and it's definitely the way to go. Cheez Wiz might be my favorite thing in life lol. Can't imagine it any other way. It's a must!

The process. Added some peppers...

And of course some hot sauce lol....

This was absolute sandwich heaven for me. The shredded rib-eye steak was perfectly charred and flavorful, and the cheese mixed in perfectly with the shredded steak. Every bite was oozing with cheese with just the right amount. The hot sauce added a spicy kick which I loved. and the grilled onions added even more flavor. There is nothing better than meat and cheese together, (I'm a very bad Jew! lol). The bread was soft and fluffy, but not too bready. I really liked the meat though... I like that it was shredded and not in long strips. Pat's makes a damn good cheesesteak. I was in a state of pure happiness while eating this...lol

GENO'S STEAKS

Started in 1966. Geno's actually recommends Provolone cheese over Cheez Wiz. Also, the steak is not "frizzled" and shredded, it's more in long, thin strips. It also comes wrapped neatly in paper, while Pat's is served open and unwrapped.

How it's served...

Added some ketchup and peppers at the condiment bar. Geno's was also good, but not as good as Pat's. The steak was a little cold, and didn't have as much flavor. Geno's had more cheese than Pat's, which the cheesier the better for me, but it wasn't mixed in with the meat like at Pat's. This tasted more like a grilled cheese sandwich, rather than a cheeseteak...the steak got lost with the cheese and bread. Pat's won because I simply liked the meat better.

After I ate TWO cheesesteaks, I saw this guy wearing this shirt at Geno's and thought it was appropriate to take a picture with him. I'm a FAT BITCH! LOL

So there you have it. The battle of the cheesesteaks, and in my opinion Pat's won. They are both great and a must try if you are ever in Philly though, so don't miss out! Classic Philly experience :)

PAT'S KING OF STEAKS

1237 East Passyunk Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19147

(215) 468-1546

www.patskingofsteaks.com

GENO'S STEAKS

1219 South 9th St.

Philadelphia, PA 19147

(215) 389-0659

www.genosteaks.com

PRIME 112, MIAMI BEACH

2012-09-04T23:29:00.003-07:00

I celebrated my birthday dinner at Prime 112 in Miami. I love a good steakhouse, and the amount of hype I heard about this place, I was expecting to have the best steak of my life. I've been to Peter Lugers, Mastros, Ruth's Chris, and so many of the "best" steakhouses out there, but more than one person swore to me that Prime 112 is the best steak in the country and better than all my favorites, example: Mastros. This is definitely not true. I went during a hurricane on a Friday night, so all the reservations were backed up, the place was jam packed, and the kitchen was slammed and also backed up as well. With that being said, I'm not making excuses for them, but I kind of am, because I wasn't impressed with the food. Not everything was bad, but read below to see my reviews.

CUP OF BACON

Literally a glass of bacon for an appetizer. Heart attack in a glass but pretty amazing nonetheless lol.

BREAD BASKET W/ BUTTER

Different variety of bread, the cheesy buscuits were bomb!

TUNA TARTARE W/ QUAIL EGG ON TOP

This was delish. Very light and flavorful appetizer, and the quail egg mixed into the tartare gave it a twist and made it different. I would order this again.

KOBE BEEF HOT DOG

LOL. As you can see I couldn't take myself seriously with a large weiner to my mouth. As you can see my girls and I like to have fun lol. But anyway, this came out before all of our entrees as an appetizer to split for the table, and the middle of the hotdog was frozen. I know the kitchen was backed up and it could have been an "off" night for them, but that is just not acceptable. The hot dog was literally ice cold in the center. This completely turned me off before our entrees even came to the table. I get how this could have been amazing, but that just ruined it for me. Pretty big mistake on their part.

FIVE CHEESE TRUFFLE MAC

The restaurant smelled of this, and it smelled amazing. I was so excited to try this, especially because of the truffle smell. I was disappointed. Mastro's mac'n cheese blows this one out the water and still I haven't found a better one. It was still good, but I've had way better at several other places. There was actually a flavor in it I wasn't too crazy about, it may have been a certain type of cheese they use. I would order it again though just to see how it is the second time around. Like I said, it might just have been an off night for the restaurant.

CREAMED SPINACH

Creamed spinach is my favorite side to go with a steak, along with mac n' cheese. This one was decent, but still Mastro's creamed spinach is still my favorite by far. Peter Lugar's creamed spinach is a close second. It wasn't bad by any means, but the flavor was off to me.

BONE IN RIBEYE, BLACK TRUFFLE BUTTER ON THE SIDE
This looks way better than it tasted. The meat was tender and melted in your mouth, but the flavor just wasn't there for me. It was cooked perfectly but something was lacking. It was an overall good steak, but again, I've had way better. To say it's the best steak in the country is very far off.

KOBE MEATBALL W/ BUFULA RICOTTA FROM PRIME ITALIAN

This was brought over from Prime Italian located across the street from Prime 112 in South Beach, Miami. I have to be honest, this was probably one of the best things I tried at this dinner. It was the best tasting meatball I've ever had. Props to this! The meat melted in your mouth, the sauce had so much flavor and the creaminess of the ricotta cheese was the perfect mixture of flavor and texture. I love meat and cheese together, it's my favorite food combination lol. I would order this again in a heartbeat over their steak. They literally make this at Prime Italian, and walk it across the street to Prime 112 if someone orders it. I highly recommend this, it's pretty amazing.

MARKET PRICE LOBSTER

This was hands down the best lobster I've ever had. I've recenly realized I'm not much of a lobster fan than I thought because of the chewiness, but this blew me away. I've never seen lobster prepared like this before. It was chopped up and every piece was marinated in an amazing glaze/sauce. Every bite had so much flavor. I don't even know exactly how it was made or what is in it, but I remember loving it. I think it was the most expensive thing we ordered-pretty sure it was $120, but after tasting it I get why it was so expensive. It had a ton of lobster meat too. Incredible!

BRUSSEL SPROUTS W/ CRISPY PANCETTA

Not a big brussel sprouts fan, but this was pretty tasty. Cool twist to your ordinary brussel sprouts.

ROASTED GARLIC MASH

FRIED OREOS W/ FRENCH VANILLA ICE CREAM

If you're anticipating a bad review on this, it ain't coming lol. This was heaven. My perfect birthday dessert. Obsessed with oreos and vanilla ice cream, and the fact that they are fried brought it to a whole other level. It melted in your mouth and I loved the hot fried oreo, with the cold vanilla ice cream together. I can't explain how amazing this was...one of my favorite desserts. Highly recommended!

My blog is a food and travel blog and I'm all about being honest. If I were to say everything was amazing, I would lose credibility, people wouldn't take anything I said seriously and it would be boring to read. I go to places that are famous and known for a reason, and I share my real experience with you, and am not afraid to tell the truth about how I feel about the food. Prime 112 was overall disappointing to me, becuase I had high expectations. Do I think it's a good restaurant? Yes, and I would go back again in a heart beat to give it a second try. A lot of things I tried were delicious, but a lot were disappointing like I said. I still recommend this place. It's hip, trendy, romantic, and fun. It's definitely a Miami hotspot and worth a try. You most likely will see a celebrity there too. Enjoy!

PRIME 112

157 Collins Ave

Miami Beach, FL 33139

(305) 538-9996

www.mylesrestaurantgroup.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEE!!!

SHAKE SHACK, NEW YORK CITY

2012-08-22T13:43:00.002-07:00

A perfect day to me in NYC during the summer is laying out at the Gansevoort hotel rooftop pool and going to Shake Shack at Madison Square Park for an early dinner with my girlfriends lol. Shake Shack is like LA's In 'N Out burger lol. In 'N' Out is probably the most famous "cheap" burger on the west coast, and Shake Shack is also a fast food burger chain in New York City that everyone loves. Shake Shack has more options than In' N' Out as far as burgers/toppings, fries and milkshakes, but the menu is fairly simple too. There is always a long line for Shake Shack so be prepared to wait!

SINGLE SHACK BURGER W/ BACON, THE SMOKE SHACK, & CHEESE FRIES

The burgers were great. I do like In 'N' Out better though.West Coast baby! Jk lol. But I would totally go back to Shake Shack for a cheap, good tasting burger. It was juicy, cheesy and had great flavor. The cheese fries were yummy and the custard we ordered was the bomb.com lol

SINGLE SHACK BURGER W/ BACON

Single cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and ShakeSauce, added bacon

THE CONCRETE JUNGLE

Vanilla Custard, Fudge Sauce, Bananas & Peanut Butter Sauce

Had to try a milkshake type thing at Shake Shack. They have a bunch of different milkshakes, custards & floats. This was great...very rich. Can't wait to try something else next time, you can even design your own!

*ME LAYING OUT AT THE GANSEVOORT HOTEL ROOFTOP IN MEATPACKING DISTRICT. BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY IN NYC!*

SHAKE SHACK

www.shakeshack.com

BIG GAY ICE CREAM, NEW YORK CITY

2012-08-13T17:20:00.005-07:00

Making this post short and SWEET ;) Big Gay Ice Cream is super famous in New York City. They have a truck and a shop in the city, and the ice cream is amazeballs. Their ice cream concoctions and presentations are unique and they have interesting names such as the Salty Pimp, the Mermaid, Cococone, Mexican Affo'Gay'To, the Gobbler, etc lol. They really know how to make ice cream fun! Their toppings are what make this ice cream different...they offer sea salt, cayenne pepper, wasabi pea dust and weird shit like that lol. Not really my "steez" but still interesting. TOne of their more famous cones, the "SALTY PIMP, is a vanilla ice cream cone chocolate dipped with dulce de leche and sea salt. I ordered a more simpler version of that. See below!

THE BEA ARTHUR

Vanilla Ice Cream, Dulce De Leche & Crushed Nilla Wafers

Ok, So I'm not the biggest sweet/dessert person, but this was incredible! It was so good. The ice cream was so creamy and they squirted dulce de leche into the vanilla ice cream which made it even better. With the nilla wafers and the cold flakey chocolate adding a crunch, it was the perfect texture of creamy and crunchiness. The combination of this just worked perfectly and it was the most satisfying treat. Next time I'll be a little more adventurous and try their famous "SALTY PIMP".

If you are in NYC and have a sweet tooth, Big Gay Ice Cream is the perfect stop to satisfy it. Unique and fun way to experience ice cream and it is damnnnn good. Check out their twitter for their truck locations around the city, and below is the shop location. Enjoy!

BIG GAY ICE CREAM

125 E 7th Street

New York, NY 10009

www.biggayicecream.com

twitter.com/biggayicecream

LUCALI- BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

2012-08-07T16:12:00.000-07:00

Lucali, located in Brooklyn, New York could be one of the best meals I've had in a long time. I think I might have to declare that they have the best pizza I've ever had. This place & Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn are my two favorite pizzerias in the world. This is real New York pizza, the ingredients are the freshest, and the flavors are incredible. No need for ranch dressing with this pizza lol, it's that good. Lucali is what I'd like to call a gem spot. Tiny, cozy, romantic, charming...yet still casual. The restaurant is small but always busy. They make he pizza right there out in the open so you can watch it being made. Also, shhhh don't tell lol, but I heard Beyonce & Jay-Z eat there every week. They are my idols so I got really excited when I heard that :)

ARTICHOKE & GARLIC PIZZA

I died and went to pizza heaven. The flavor of this pizza was incredible. The smell of garlic and fresh basil immediately hit me when it was brought to the table. I especially loved the taste of the garlic on this pizza. It wasn't too strong but added just the right amount of flavor. The artichoke melted in your mouth and went perfectly with the fresh garlic and basil. The toppings were simple, but perfect together. This was my favorite of the night. I would definitely order this again next time I go back to Lucali. It really was the perfect pizza to me I don't think I've had any other pizza that beat this. Highly recommend!

HALF PEPPERONI/HALF MARGHERITA

MMM another amazing pizza! Simple, but perfection. Perfect amount of cheese, sauce and toppings. I loved how it wasn't drenched in sauce or cheese, and the flavor is still incredible. You don't need it to be complicated with a bunch of extra toppings when you are using the freshest and best ingredients. Sometimes the simpler the better. I loved how the pizza is super thin and crispy too. I don't like too much dough and bready pizzas as much. The crust was crunchy and you can tell the bread is fresh and made from scratch. The fresh basil also added a nice kick of flavor. Loved!!!! I really don't think you can beat the pizza at Lucali. Pizza made right!

THE OWNER OF LUCALI MAKING THE PIZZA FROM SCRATCH

CALZONE

Lucali's famous calzone. Creamy cheese inside and they brought two bowls of sauces to the table for it- one was a hot pepper sauce (which is pictured on the plate above), and the other is a homemade marinara sauce that was great too. This was the cheesiest calzone! I loved the creaminess of the cheese with the crunch of the fresh bread. Dipped in the spicy hot pepper sauce...so delicious. Although I enjoyed the pizza more, it's definitely worth to try a calzone at Lucali's in addition to pizza! Gotta try both you only live once right ;)

NUTELLA PIZZA

Um, is this ridiculous or what! A dessert pizza! This meal kept getting better and better lol. It was huge first of all, and by the time this came out I physically couldn't put another bite in my mouth I was so full, until I took a bite of this, and it was all over- I forgot I was full lol. It had a layer of creamy, warm nutella, (which is a hazelnut chocolate sauce) and chunks of creamy ricotta cheese mixed with honey to make it sweet, topped with fresh mint and powdered sugar. Warm, creamy, salty, sweet, crispy, crunchy and rich all in one bite :)

NUTELLA EMPANADA

I think this beat the nutella pizza if that is even possible. For some reason, this was just a perfect dessert in every way. It was filled with a sweet, creamy cheese, topped with powdered sugar and drizzled nutella, and dusted with sea salt. I think the salt mixed with the sweet made this for me. I love sugar and salt combinations. It tasted like dinner and dessert in one for me lol. The bread was buttery, warm and crispy. You know they say bread is better in New York because there is something in their water lol. I think that's why New York is known for bagels and pizza! This dessert empanada is a must try. I'm usually not a big sweet person, but because of the sugar and salt mix, this did it for me. No more words to explain the amazingness!

If you love pizza, Lucali's is the best of the best. Similar to Di Fara Pizza, also located in Brooklyn, both places have AMAZING pizza and in my opinion the best, but I had a special dining experience at Lucali- the ambiance is warm and has charm- it's a real gem and it makes you feel like you are in a cozy little restaurant in Italy. I loved everything about it. The pizza is really out of this world. One of the best meals I've had in a long time. I was in pizza paradise! For a foodie, dining with good friends and incredible food is the best thing in life :)

LUCALI

575 Henry Street

Brooklyn, New York 11231

(718) 858-4086

PETER LUGER STEAKHOUSE- BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

2012-08-02T23:34:00.001-07:00

Voted #1 Steakhouse in New York for 28 years straight, Peter Luger's has been on the top of my food bucket list since forever ago lol. Anyone that has ever been to Peter Luger's has said it's the best steak they've ever had hands down, and no other steakhouse in the country compares. Peter Luger Steakhouse was established in 1887 in Brooklyn NY, so it's definitely a New York landmark in my opinion. It has been said that Peter Luger's gets their first pick of the beef that is imported into New York over any other steakhouse, so their cuts are the best. Everything there is simple steakhouse food, and all of it is unbelievable. This was definitely one of the best meals of my lifetime. It was such an amazing foodie experience for me...

BREAD TO START WITH THEIR FAMOUS PETER LUGER SAUCE

Assortment of fresh bread with butter, dipped in their signature Peter Luger sauce, so good!

JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL

SLICED TOMATOES & ONIONS WITH LUGER'S OWN SAUCE
This is my new favorite thing to order. And putting you up on a little secret- below is the sizzling bacon we ordered...if you combine the tomato, onion and bacon in one bite, it's seriously one of the best bites in the world! Heaven!

LUGER'S SIZZLING BACON EXTRA THICK BY THE SLICE

This could be hands down one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. (Get your mind out the gutter! lol). I mean....I died and went to heaven when I took my first bite. You have no idea, I have no words for this. Favorite part of the meal. If you eat pork, this is a must order. The flavor of this bacon was ridiculous, and it was so good with the tomato and onion together. It came four thick slices sizzling on a plate, one for each of the four of us. The flavor of bacon is already so flavorful and juicy, but because this was thick and sizzling, it melted in your mouth. Ridiculoussssss!

USDA PRIME PORTERHOUSE STEAK FOR FOUR

This is pretty much a whole cow on a platter lol. The steak was incredible. Cooked medium rare and flavored perfectly. Simple and perfect. The meat was so juicy and melted in your mouth. You could definitely taste the good quality of the meat. It was charred perfectly too. The meat that was against the bone (which is my favorite) was so juicy and flavorful. It's rare to come across a good steak like this. I think Mastros Steakhouse Bone in ribeye charred, and Peter Luger's both are a solid tie to me when it comes to the best steak I've ever had. The steak juice at the bottom of the platter soaked the meat as it sat there and made every bite so juicy and flavorful. If you are a steak lover, this steakhouse is one of the BEST in the country. You need to experience it.

MASHED POTATOES

Creamy and delicious...you need some form of potato with a steak meal!

ONION RINGS

YUM! Crispy and a great addition to the meal.

CREAMED SPINACH

The flavor of this creamed spinach was incredible. Sometimes there is a lack of flavor when I order this at some places, but this was one of the best creamed spinach's I've had. Creamed spinach is a must for me when I eat steak- it's my favorite side dish. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

GOING INNN ON MY STEAK! NAWING AT THE BONE...NO SHAME! BEAST. LOL

THE AFTERMATH

PECAN PIE

I usually would never order Pecan Pie, but this with their homemade whipped cream was honestly so amazing. I am a new fan of Pecan Pie because of this, I will definitely be ordering it again from now on because of this one. It was gooey & sweet and the crust was flakey and buttery. OMGGG sooo gooooddd.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

So rich. I'm not a huge chocolate fan especially when it's so rich like this. But my sister said it literally was out of this world. She loves chocolate and raved about this even days later lol. A little too rich for my taste though.

DESSERT SERVED WITH THEIR HOMEMADE SCHLAG! (WHIPPED CREAM)

Their homemade whipped cream that they call "Schlag" was soooo yummy with the pies! MMMM!

CHOCOLATE PETER LUGER COINS

Eating at Peter Luger's was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. Being a foodie, nothing gets better than this. I was in a state of pure happiness and food ecstasy lol. I am so blessed to have experienced such an amazing meal with great people! Nothing better to me in life.

PETER LUGER STEAKHOUSE

178 Broadway

Brooklyn NY, 11211

(718) 387- 7400

www.peterluger.com

THE HONOR BAR, BEVERLY HILLS

2012-07-23T13:59:00.004-07:00

The Honor Bar, owned by the Hillstone Group (owners of Houstons, Bandera, etc.) is a trendy/upscale bar with amazing food. Located on South Beverly Drive, The Honor Bar is attached to the famous South Beverly Grill. While offering some of the same food as South Beverly Grill, The Honor Bar's menu is a little more casual and has more comfort food. Everything we ordered was so amazing!

HAND-CUT FRENCH FRIES W/ TWO DIPPING SAUCES

These fries were so good! They had a spicy mayo sauce that was so amazing too. The fries were crispy and had so much flavor. Perfect fries to me...

KALE SALAD W/ PEANUT VINAGRETTE

Emerald kale, fresh herbs, & roasted peanut vinagrette

Never in a million years would I think to order this, but it was SO good. Healthy and had so much flavor. These kind of dishes make eating healthy so easy. I loved the peanut vinagrette! I highly recommend!

HIRAMASA ROLL

Spicy Tuna & Avocado topped with Hiramasa Sashimi, caviar

Light, fresh and delicious. It had a spicy kick to it too which I loved. Great roll!

THE HONOR BURGER

Shredded cabbage, tomoato, cheddar & house-made bun

This was a damn good burger. Burgers are my specialty, and I give props to this one. It was unique because of the cabbage slaw and it was so saucy and juicy. I would totally order this again and again. Definitely a great burger in LA, highly recommend!

DING'S CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH

Crispy chicken, sliced tomato, & vinagrette slaw

Um literally, this was out of this world. Heaven! Everything about this was amazing. The arugula with the sauce, and the vinagrette slaw with the fried chicken and melted cheese...it was the perfect combination of flavors. This might have been my favorite thing ordered. It's a must!

The Honor Bar is very lively and they even have a live jazz band! It's a great place for lunch, or dinner and drinks with friends after work. I loved all the food that we ordered there. I highly recommend this place. Ambiance is cool and it's so delicious!

THE HONOR BAR

122 South Beverly Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

(310) 550-0242

http://www.hillstone.com/

AFTER DINNER AT THE HONOR BAR!

XOXO

LA SCALA, BEVERLY HILLS & BRENTWOOD

2012-07-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

JEAN LEON ORIGINAL CHOPPED SALAD
LETTUCE, SALAMI, MOZZARELLA CHEESE, MARINATED GARBANZO BEANS, LEON DRESSING

This post is specifically for La Scala's famous chopped salad. When people talk about La Scala, you most likely will always hear about the chopped salad. It's light, refreshing, flavorful and perfect. The dressing is light and has a lemon citrus flavor. All the ingredients just work together very nicely. I love that it's light and crisp tasting but it still fills you up. La Scala is just an all around trendy Italian restaurant in LA- there is one in Beverly Hills and one in Brentwood. Another dish they are famous for is their Spaghetti Bolognese. We ordered the Ravioli Di Aragosta which is their lobster ravioli which was great too.

RAVIOLI DI ARAGOSTA

LOBSTER RAVIOLI IN A BROWN BUTTER SAUCE WITH SAGE

It doesn't look there was any sauce but there was. It was a clear brown butter sauce and it was so flavorful. The outer edges of the pasta had a crisp to them and the lobster inside was creamy and melted in your mouth. Nice texture and flavor.Great dish!

LA SCALA

434 N. Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

310-275-0579

LA SCALA

11740 San Vicente Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90049

310-826-6100

www.lascalabeverlyhills.com

ME GOING TO DINNER AT LA SCALA!