Spicey Not Pricey

Affogato & Coffee Close Ups

2018-03-26T20:41:00.001-07:00

As I was watching an episode of the Netflix show “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”, I was inspired by the tantalizing coffee close ups. Jerry Seinfeld will be having a nice conversation with a fellow comedian and they will pan out to a close up of an espresso shot being poured, it is coffee porn! Each close up makes me instantly crave an affogato. If you have never had an affogato before or don’t know what one is, let me drop some knowledge on you! It is simply ice cream; my preference is vanilla, with a fresh shot of espresso poured over it.

The word affogato is Italian for “pour over” and it is fitting that my first affogato experience was at an Italian restaurant. I was out to dinner with my teammates, back when I was in wine sales, and one of the regional sales managers that represented a portion of Italian wine ordered us each an affogato. The wine was great that night, but the affogato was what really stuck with me. There are certain meals, dishes, or drinks that will stick with you and you will find your mind wandering back to them over and over. The affogato is one of them for me. It is the perfect balance of hot and cold, sweet and bitter.

My recent affogato experience was in the Downtown Claremont Village at a place that is set up perfectly for espresso and ice cream harmony- Augie’s Coffee and a la minute ice cream. The two shops share a location and are only separated by a waist high counter top. Augie’s coffee is a coffee house that specializes in small batch, honestly sourced coffee that they roast themselves. While a la minute is liquid nitrogen style ice cream made from the freshest ingredients in KitchenAid mixers. The two stores together are just asking you to order an affogato, making it so easy to enjoy ice cream and espresso together. The photo above is the affogato I ordered!

Again the experience continues to stay with me just as the first time I tried an affogato. If you have not tried an affogato or had no idea what one was before reading this, then my recommendation is to find the nearest place to you that has ice cream and espresso and get your hands on one. I would not be waxing poetically about it if it wasn’t worth the trip. Plus we all need more excuses to eat more ice cream, so hurry out and get one. You won’t regret!

Welcome Back Post- Wine Pairing Basics

2018-02-28T21:09:00.000-08:00

Posts from my Spicey not Pricey blog have been coming up on my Facebook memories from 2012. A lot of things have changed in 6 years but I have been inspired by a few friends to give this another shot. I pulled up the blog and glanced over a few posts. I don’t find much inspiring about a paragraph about a Trader Joe’s wrap that I ate for lunch, although delicious the only joy someone can get from that would be reading it aloud in a Hulk Hogan voice- try it!

A recent trip to the Central Coast inspired me to write about wine pairing for the re-launch post. The picture above is a lovely Chicken under a brick entrée from Ember Restaurant in Arroyo Grande paired with Chamisal Estate Pinot Noir. It was delicious! By no means is this a “perfect” pairing because I firmly believe pairing beverages with food is taste is up to the eater. There are basic rules to wine pairing: acidity in food goes with acidity in wine, a little bit of heat can use a little bit of sweet, fatty red meats go with wines with tannins, sweetness of the wine must be sweeter than the dessert and what grows together goes together. What grows together goes together is always good rule of thumb- the cuisines from around the world usually have a wine from that region that go with them. But really if you like the wine and you like the food and you like them together then it is a good pairing regardless if it follows the rules of wine pairing. A lovely marbled rib eye will taste great with a top notch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon because the intensity of each match well with each other. That same Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon would also taste great with a Double-Double from In-N-Out. That same In-N-Out burger would taste great with a Modelo Lager because In-N-Out is a great burger and can go well with any beverage.

In addition to matching foods and beverages that you love together, a big part of wine pairing is the atmosphere you are enjoying the wine and food. This also makes recreating a wonderful tasting experience difficult. The pairing pictured above was enjoyed at a quaint neighborhood restaurant with my girlfriend. This same wine and food combination would not be nearly as enjoyable in a cramped loud restaurant with questionable company. Needless to say there are so many factors that can make a great wine pairing. Some basic rules can help guide you into making the right decision but ultimately if you have a smokin’ hot date on Valentine’s Day with a good wine and a delicious entrée, there is no way it is not gong to be an enjoyable culinary experience.

At the end of the day the most important thing about wine knowledge is knowing what you like and how to order it or buy it. A classic pairing is not going to be enjoyable if it is not something you enjoy. So drink great wine, eat tasty food and you will stumble into remarkable wine pairing experiences. A great pairing is up to the taster.

Friends with Benefits

2013-01-21T14:50:00.003-08:00

Not the type of friends with benefits you are thinking, I am talking about having a circle people that seem to know everyone and everything. So often people I hear people say its all about who you know, I am now finding that to be true- especially in the hospitality industry that I have chosen to make my career in. Just this past year I have been more involved in my college and I have found all the connections I can make just by being in the right places and talking to the right people. I have landed myself an internship, one of the most enriching and flexible jobs I have ever had, tons of free gifts and much more just for being in the right place. The great thing about being around people that know people is they notice my strengths and the word gets around, next thing I know my skills become in demand. It is great to be in the know and know people and I feel like I am just getting started. Not to toot my own horn but I people have been telling me how successful they think I am going to be. It is great to hear that from people who I have a lot of respect for. It also helps to have friends that have great stuff that they want to share with others.

Welcome Back!

2013-01-16T10:16:00.000-08:00

Ever since I stopped posting on my blog last February on daily basis I have been telling myself I would eventually get back into it. Well through the push of a couple people and a couple subjects to talk or complain I have finally made a new post. My culinary adventures have increased since the last time I was on here giving many opportunities for subject matter that could be considered "blog-worthy". I have went from taking my first real cooking class and still just serving tables in a restaurant to taking a couple advanced cooking classes and finally getting a chance to work in a real kitchen. With those opportunities have come many opportunities and challenges to go with them. I have found that I am not the all knowing culinary master that I once thought I was. It has been a very humbling experience getting a job as prep cook in a major chain restaurant. In addition to that experience in my cooking classes I have finally found things that are challenging to my knowledge and my capabilities, that isn't just burgers and steak that I cook at home. I think my idea of having a daily blog of the things I eat was way too ambitious and very unnecessary, let's be honest I don't eat enough cool food to do so anyway. So this post is the beginning of a different blog that is way for me to share the things I find, the things I eat and drink and things that I find interesting or challenging along way so I hope you find it interesting.

2/20/12- Pot Roast, Sweet Potatoes and Asparagus

2012-02-29T00:35:00.000-08:00

I often take home cooked meals for granted because I live so close to home and can have them pretty much whenever. This meal was one of my parents regular dishes they make because it is so easy- throw a roast in the crockpot in the morning and let that bad boy cook all day. Pot roast has a nostalgia for me because my mom has been making it since I have been eating full meals. It is such a perfect family meal because once it is in the crockpot all the work is done accept for the sides. I must say it is nice to go home have a meal waiting for on the dinner, especially because I am usually the one who does the cooking at home because of my newly acquired skills and knowledge. Eat at home as much as you can because nothing is better than a home cooked meal.

2/19/12- The Spot Turkey Club Sandwich Combo

2012-02-29T00:25:00.000-08:00

This sandwich and chip duo is from The Spot, the local sandwich and smoothie place a couple doors down from my work. The Spot was originally a Robek's but the owner saw a market for sandwiches and wanted to expand. The Robek's franchise wouldn't let him sell sandwiches so he broke away and started his own place. They have a menu with about 7 different paninis, coffee, smoothies and fresh juices. The sandwich wasn't anything amazing but it was a decent sandwich, nothing I couldn't make at home. I like to support places like this because I know the owner cares about his business and wants to succeed. I would definitely return because it is in a convenient location and I would like to see what else they offer.

2/18/12- Bruxie's Belgain Waffle Burger and Irish Nachos

2012-02-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

Those two pictures are the proof one of the best meals I have had in a while, all credit to Bruxie's gourmet belgian waffle sandwiches. I love innovative crazy combinations like this that turn out to be so delicious you wonder why no one thought of it sooner. Their menu consists of all kinds of crazy combinations sweet and savory ranging from mushrooms & goat cheese to s'mores. The best part was definitely the Irish nachos which is criss cut fries as the apparatus for all the awesomeness in the picture above. I don't think I have ever had something so delicious that was served in a plastic basket, the cheese sauce was so creamy. This idea is just pure genius and if it wasn't so far (Brea and Orange) I would be going there on a weekly basis to try all the different things on their menu. It was located in a shopping center with a lot of other trendy modern places as well, I think I have found a new restaurant jackpot. If you haven't been here do yourself a favor and GO NOW!

2/17/12- Sweet Chili Glazed Pork Tenderloin, Zucchini, and Caramelized Toast

2012-02-20T22:38:00.000-08:00

My mom conned me in to taking dinner at home but it ended up turning out quite delicious. I always love cooking pork tenderloin because it is so versatile and always comes out perfect. This time I used a sweet chili glaze got a nice sear on it in a saute pan then put it in the oven until it was cooked to the doneness above (as known as pretty damn perfect). The bread is sweet hawaiian bread, it was meant for sandwiches but I made the best of it and buttered it up then added sugar to caramelize like creme brulee. The caramelized sugar gave it a nice sweetness to go with the sweet chili in the pork tenderloin. Then just sauteed some zucchini real quick, nothing too crazy. I have been working on my plating presentation in my cooking class because it needs some work, this is nicer than usually plate when eating at home. My professor would of docked me a couple points for going over the border of the plate but it's the thought that counts right?

2/16/12- Capri Deli Hot Pastrami Sandwich

2012-02-20T22:23:00.000-08:00

There is two things I judge a deli by- their pastrami and their lunch line, Capri Deli passed the test with flying colors. Pastrami sandwich is one of my quest is to find the best ever made and I must say this one is a contender or even the frontrunner. I got there at 11:30 which happened to be perfect timing because just as I finished my sandwich there was a line of about 10 people, which is impressive for a little deli like this one. Another indicator of a great quick service type place is if people are eating by themselves, I was one of three people eating by myself and probably more would of followed I'm sure. They also have a fridge full of vintage sodas which is always a nice compliment to a delicious sandwich. I would give more indicators but I don't have anymore, bottom-line it was a great sandwich.

2/15/12- Caffe Allegro Penne Explosive

2012-02-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

Caffe Allegro is another one of those tiny little Italian places that I just really love, it seems so much more authentic when the restaurant only has ten tables. Fresh bread dipped in balsamic and olive oil is the only way to start off a meal like this and it only got better from there. Penne being my favorite type of pasta I often gravitate to it on the menu, this one was a good choice. Its a arrabiata (spicy) tomato sauce with spicy sausage with a little basil garnish on top, the Fettucine Carbanora that my mom got was also very good (I had the leftovers for breakfast the next day). The server wasn't very personable but it didn't affect the service too much, overall it was a nice experience. So if you can find more little Italian restaurants like this, go to them you will not be disappointed.

2/14/12- Fresh & Easy Chipotle Chicken Sandwich and Tropical Trail Mix

2012-02-16T19:10:00.000-08:00

This day being Valentines Day and me having to work the dinner shift I was forced to blog about the quick lunch I caught from Fresh & Easy. The best part about Fresh and Easy is the price of their delicious sandwiches, salads and pre made meals, not a single one is over $5 (salads are 2 for $7) and some of them are as cheap as $2.50. This whole meal was just under $6 and it was a very balance meal at that. I have pretty much tried almost all the meals at Fresh and Easy and I am yet to find one I don't like so if you are looking for a cheap, healthy and quick meal stop by Fresh and Easy.

2/13/12- Jamba Juice Coldbuster

2012-02-14T23:12:00.000-08:00

A Jamba Juice smoothie isn't exactly a gourmet meal but I didn't get a chance to catch anything too fancy so I thought this would do (it is my blog after all). I have been fighting a cold lately so I figured I would actually use those dumb powders they put in the smoothies to my advantage for once. The coldbuster is an orange, mango and banana flavored smoothie with immunity and antioxidant boost. It was very tasty and it helped me kick the cold to the curb. Jamba Juice also has a secret menu similar to In-N-Out which they make different combinations with the ingredients they have such as Red Gummi Bear, Skittles, Pink Starburst and Push Up Pop, I personally haven't tried to order any of them I have only heard rumors of them. So next to you have a couple extra dollars and have a sweet tooth grab a smoothie it will do the trick.

2/12/12- Casa de Salsa Jalapeño Cheeseburger

2012-02-13T23:56:00.000-08:00

It's not often I order a burger in a Mexican restaurant but Casa De Salsa is right next to the restaurant I work and people kept talking about it so I thought would try it for myself. As a burger connoisseur this one was pretty good, not call the newspaper or marry the burger good but it was a well put together burger. In addition to the jalapeños on top there was a bleu cheese dressing on the bottom- good tangy, spicy combination. The onion rings were a $2 upgrade from the fries but I will take onions over fries any day of the week two dollars or not. Being the neighboring restaurant to the one that employees me I dont expect too much from them but they have some good stuff going on like the Sunday brunch buffet and all the Mexican classics. If I can learn anything from this meal is that a good meal can come from the most unexpected places, so switch it up next time you go out to eat.

2/11/12- Some Crust Oatmeal Raisin Cookie & Raspberry Pinwheel

2012-02-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

As more of a savory cook and not much of a dessert guy the sweet stuff has been neglected on my blog so I thought I would stop by one my favorite bakeries of all time, Some Crust Bakery. They were making awesome cookies, cupcakes and cakes way before whole cupcake and red velvet phase came in, 1916 to be exact. My personal favorite is the oatmeal raisin cookie I can't find a better oatmeal raisin cookie anywhere at all, it's simply the best. It's nostalgic for me because I use to walk the Claremont village with my family when I was younger and always get an oatmeal raisin cookie. But that's not all they have, they have so many good pastries I couldn't begin to name them all but the one on the left is a pinwheel (kind of like a danish but so much better). They also do custom cookies and cakes for any occasion, they are just a little bakery that has been doing things right for almost a hundred years. So if you are ever in the Claremont village and find yourself with a sweet tooth, stop by Some Crust get one of their delectable pastries.

2/10/12- A Good Day for Eating

2012-02-10T23:37:00.000-08:00

Usually I only get one good deal a day and the others fall into place but this day I got two great meals as you can see above. The first meal was a Cuban Panini from the Corner Butcher Shop, which is a premium butcher shop that also has delicious barbecue and sandwiches. Butcher shops are making a revival with the whole foodie movement that has risen the last couple years. So if there is a local butcher shop by you stop by and see what they have to offer, I am pretty sure they have some kind of specialty that you can't get at a grocery store butcher.
The second two snap shots are from a some what of a new and upcoming brewpub, Lazy Dog Cafe, is similar to Bj's or Yardhouse for having their own beers on tap and being a bar with better than traditional bar food. I got a wedge salad to start it off then ahi fish tacos for the entree and it was great meal. The menu is very eclectic having everything from wok fried items to lamb stroganoff. It is a pretty cool concept having dog bones and dog things all over the restaurant but still keeping up the brewpub identity. Just glancing over the website it looks like it started with a couple cool guys that just wanted to make good food and beer which I admire. So if you get a chance stop the Lazy Dog Cafe it's definitely a rising star in the bar world.

2/9/12- Farmer Boys Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich and Chili Fries

2012-02-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

I often go with the combo when I eat for a blog post but my brother uttered two magical words, chili fries, and the decision was made. These two lovely dishes are from the "original fastaurant" Farmer Boys which is pretty much a quick service restaurant with a drive thru serving breakfast all day and the classic sandwiches and burgers. Bacon and Avocado are the ultimate flavor enhancers and putting them together in one sandwich makes it even better. Ordering a chicken sandwich rather than burger also makes me feel a little more healthy about myself until I eat the chili fries so it all evens out in the end. I am personally not a big breakfast guy but they do serve breakfast all day long which is definitely a plus for a place like this. So if you are looking for a good burger, sandwich or even an omelette you will wait a tad bit longer but it is always worth the wait at Farmer Boys.

2/8/12- Lee's Grilled Pork Sandwich and Thai Tea

2012-02-08T23:36:00.000-08:00

Ever since seeing the Nom Nom Truck on The Great Food Truck I have been trying to find the Banh Mi pork sandwich in other places with no knowledge of where it comes and I have found a couple since then including this one from Lee's Sandwiches. For some reason all Vietnamese style pork sandwiches are really cheap like $3 cheap and honestly I feel like as a delectable sandwich I really think they are selling themselves short but until they realize that I will gladly only pay a couple dollars for it. The sandwich consists of grilled pork, julienne carrots, cilantro and jalapeños and oh boy is it delicious (also like to add sriracha). Unfortunately this meal wasn't as cheap as I thought because for some reason the Thai Tea was $5 but I didn't mind that much because the sandwich was so cheap and it's a great combo. What I also realized is you can get these pork sandwiches at most Pho restaurants (which are everywhere as of lately), so if you haven't tried a Vietnamese pork sandwich try one it's the price to flavor ratio king hands down.

2/7/12- Senor Baja Fish Tacos

2012-02-08T23:13:00.000-08:00

I am on an unofficial quest to find the best fish tacos ever made but it has been on hold lately until I had these delicious fish tacos from Senor Baja. I always say that stuff I eat is top 5 material because I love almost everything I eat but these tacos were pretty damn delicious. I would say outside of San Diego these are the best fish tacos I have had and to make them even better on Wednesdays they are $1, normally $1.65 a steal as far as I am concern a deal the other 6 days of the week. I am not a particularly big fan of fish as an entree in a restaurant such as salmon or tilapia but there is just something about fish tacos that is just so tasty (the fact that they are fried helps). So if you would like to join me on this quest or have any recommendations of great fish taco places let me know I am always in for awesome new places to eat.

2/4/12- Subway Februany Buffalo Chicken Footlong

2012-02-08T22:42:00.000-08:00

It was only a matter of time when I forgot to post one of my meals and 2/4 was the day. Subway isn't the most finest dining place but it is Februany, meaning all their sandwiches are $5 dollars, which is a steal for most of their sandwiches. My original goal was to find the most expensive sandwich and take full advantage of the opportunity but there was so many options I decided one that I haven't had in a while- Buffalo Chicken. I get all the vegetables whenever I go to Subway to get the most for my money but everyone does their sandwich different, I can't really tell you how to order it. So if you didn't know already about the $5 footlong month go to Subway it's worth a Lincoln bill.

2/6/12- Chicken Plate Up in Professional Cooking

2012-02-06T23:06:00.000-08:00

We are finally making full plate ups in class with a protein, starch and a vegetable as opposed to the the last time where it was a just soup and vegetables. This is grilled chicken, green beans and risotto, I predominantly made the risotto which ended up being the best one out of all the groups (I'm pretty proud of that). In the back if you look carefully is an herb & fontina cheese stuff airline chicken breast which was also delicious. It is really cool to be finally making full meals and then eating all your creations right after just in time for dinner. I never would of thought I would have a class where I learn who to make and then eat awesome dishes like risotto but I guess that's the upside of being a hospitality major. But if you haven't tried a well made risotto you should as soon as possible because you are missing out, maybe I will make it for you if you ask nicely.

2/5/12- Super Bowl Feasting

2012-02-06T22:47:00.000-08:00

The best part about the Super Bowl isn't only the game but all the awesome food that people bring to the party, I tried to find one picture to sum up all the delectable ideas available but this was the best I could do. Being a Giants fan I actually watched the game but most of my friends were not doing the same. As the most knowledge about food and cooking in my house led to me cooking these steaks and sausages for my friends but they weren't the only things being eaten on this wonderful day- there was all kinds of chips, dips, popcorn, wings, fries, hot dogs, carne asada and everything. Overall it was just a great day for eating for everyone which a guy like me really appreciates. So eat well and befriend a chef they might cook you a good meal or two.

2/3/12- La Piccoletta Orecchiette

2012-02-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

With 300 seat casual dining chain restaurants being so prevalent you don't often see a little 30 seat restaurant with a short, simple menu doing it right like La Piccoletta. La Piccoletta is in one of the back alley of the Claremont village that has a dining room the size of my bedroom and a kitchen the size of my bathroom making it a very special and intimate dining experience for everyone. The menu is very simple with only a few entrees and appetizers but its all simply delicious. I ordered the Orecchiette (above) and it had sausage, broccoli rabe, peppercinis and butter sauce, it was quite delicious. The best part about the place is you can see the chef make your food because it's an open kitchen, which gives it more a personal feel. So if you haven't to La Piccoletta and you can find it check it out, it's a little taste of Italy.

2/2/12- Mix Bowl Pad Thai

2012-02-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

I often feel guilty when going to Thai restaurants and only ordering Pad Thai because it is so stereotypical (it's like ordering a cheeseburger everywhere you go) but Mix Bowl's Pad Thai is so tasty I just couldn't help it. Mix Bowl is the best Thai food in Pomona and one of the better Thai food places I have been to in the area. They have a very large menu with every Thai dishes you can think of and the best part is they are until 2 am making them some the best food available at that hour. I got that beautiful dish and a Boba milk tea and as far dollar to flavor ratio this was close to the top, $6.95 for the Pad Thai and $2.75 for the Boba. So if you don't have a local Thai food place or haven't had Thai in a while check out Mix Bowl.

2/1/12- Shogun Assortment of Rolls

2012-02-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

This one was a little pricey but it was definitely spicey, you pay the price for good sushi and Shogun is one of the best. I take in the amount of people in my family that I have convert to liking sushi, I was originally the only one and now everyone likes it. I would give the names of the rolls but each individual sushi place has their own names for the rolls with the exception of a few common ones. Of the bunch my favorite was the one in the back that was a spicy tuna roll with seared albacore on top, the seared albacore alone was worth the price of the roll. The great thing about sushi is it's easily sharable, three of us shared these four rolls and it was the perfect amount of food. I personally like the spicy tuna rolls but everything is good in my opinion so if Shogun isn't your local sushi place, go to yours and enjoy.

1/31/12- Z Pizza Small Italian Pizza

2012-02-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

I have exhausted a lot of my quick service restaurant resources to eat at so I had find a place that wasn't one of my regular spots; Z Pizza just might become one of my regular spots. Quick service pizza places are starting to become more popular and Z Pizza is one of the better ones. They have all kinds of pizzas, salads and sandwiches, I got the Italian because I really didn't know what to order and it was pretty delcious. It had a basil pesto instead of the usual tomato sauce which gave it a good twist and you can never go wrong with artichokes on anything. If you are looking for a good, quick and fairly inexpensive pizza check out Z Pizza there is new locations opening up all the time.