Instead of bread service, this restaurant serves flavored popcorn before the main meal. We got pizza flavored popcorn, and it was really awesome.

We started off with a Bloody Mary. They were no specialty cocktails on the menu, but we decided to get some anyway.

My friend and I have been into Macaroni and Cheese dishes lately, so when we saw the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese on the menu, we could not resist. There were large chunks of lobster throughout the whole dish, and it was really well balanced with the richness of the cheese.

For the main course, my friend and I split a burger. There were so many specialty burgers on the menu, but we ended up going for the Gold Standard, which was a burger made with a dry-aged patty and bacon. It was cooked perfectly and really satisfying for a relaxing late lunch.

This place packs really stiff drinks. I ordered a Blackberry Manhattan and it was one of the strongest Manhattans I have ever had. It was perfect for a chilly night out on the patio.

We ordered the bacon wrapped jalapeño and "Mac n' Cheetos" for starters. The jalapeño was extremely spicy but offset by the rich bacon wrapper. The Mac n' Cheetos was possibly the highlight of the night for me. It was so creamy with an added spice and crunch from the Cheetos topping.

For the main course, my friend and I decided to split one of the specials - the New York Strip. It was glazed in a smokey bourbon sauce and it was cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed my night out with the girls at this unique and laid-back restaurant.

My friend and I made it to Las Vegas around 11:00 a.m. and the first place we visited was a restaurant called Fleur by Hubert Keller for some brunch and their lovely Bloody Mary bar! The Bloody Mary bar was so much fun. We were able to build our own cocktails out of a huge variety of ingredients – my friend ordered her Bloody Mary with bacon infused vodka! I went the spicy route with jalapeño infused vodka. Our favorite part of the entire drink was the addition of shrimp! The two of us have a major shrimp obsession so we were very happy.

After brunch, my friend and I took a taxi up towards the center of the strip and walked around. I really like to pick up Jello shots from Fat Tuesday with added whipped cream.

The dinner was definitely the highlight of the trip. We met up with some friends at Stripsteak at the Mandalay Bay resort for a really fun night! The waiter gave us a complimentary trio of duck fat fries, all with different dipping sauces.

For the main course, my friend and I split the 10 ounce filet mignon rare-plus, and we both absolutely loved it. It was packed with flavor and perfectly cooked – evenly red throughout. I love eating steak with this girl because we both prefer ours cooked very minimally.

Another friend in our dinner group ordered the ahi tuna, which was surprisingly tasty. It was perfectly seasoned, and it was delicate and hearty at the same time. He was so happy with his dish! We ordered the macaroni and cheese and bone marrow for the table to share. The entire experience was so much fun with truly exciting food. The restaurant was really beautiful and such a great place to hang out with an amazing group of friends!

 

 

My friend and I had time for one last stop before having to get back on the road. We originally wanted to try out Burger Bar, an upscale burger restaurant by Hubert Keller, but we instead opted for the Irish pub next door called Rí Rá. We ordered their wild wings, and they were so satisfyingly spicy and comforting paired with their blue cheese dipping sauce.

We had a really great time in Las Vegas and we look forward to doing another little trip again soon. We will try to cram even more food in next time!

I checked out a tavern restaurant in Newport Beach called the SideDoor first and had their Pear Sour and some small bites. The Pear Sour was a fruity spin on a whiskey sour, but made with pear brandy instead. I always appreciate whenever sours are topped with foamed egg whites.

For food, I chose the lamb empanadas and the Stilton potato chips. The empanadas were really flaky and delicate, with a mild, comforting flavor. They went well with the Stilton potato chips, which had more of a strong, but not overpowering, blue cheese flavor.

Next up was a place called Dublin 4 Gastropub in Mission Viejo. I loved the waiter – he shook my hand and had an Irish accent! It seemed that the Irish coffee was the restaurant's signature cocktail, so I decided to order that, even though I don't even like coffee. I ended up being really happy with my pick though. It was warm and comforting, with homemade whipped cream on top.

The last dish of the night was the Wild White Shrimp, served with thyme polenta and paprika butter. I was already so full by this point, but I enjoyed this dish nonetheless. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and the polenta was flavorful and creamy, and a perfect compliment to the shrimp.

Our first stop was at Planet Dailies, a great restaurant for appetizers and cocktails. We ordered the Pisco Sour, Grace and a jalapeño margarita. The Pisco Sour was great, very much like a whiskey sour, topped with foamed egg whites. I advised my friend to order the Grace, because it is pretty easy to drink and not too strong. The pear flavor is really refreshing on a hot day such as this one.

For food, we just shared the fire-roasted Brussels sprouts and the tater tots. The Brussels sprouts were cooked just right, so that they were still soft and juicy without being mushy. The tater tots were actually completely different from other tater tots I have tried – they were about 3 times the size of a normal tater tot, and they were filled with both mashed and stringy potato pieces.

Next, I walked over to the farmers market and explored around. We ended up stopping at Monsieur Marcel for some wine and a cheese and charcuterie (assorted meats) platter. I love variety, so I picked diverse cheeses and meats. For cheeses, I ordered the Humboldt Fog goat cheese, a Cantalet cow cheese and a Pecorino sheep cheese. For meats, I picked the prosciutto di parma (pork) and the duck liver mousse. The Humboldt Fog and the duck liver mousse were my top favorites of the plate.

What I had next was something I had been looking forward to for a few months now – Bennett's Cabernet Sauvignon sorbet! My roommate had shown me a picture of this a while back, and ever since then, I have been so excited to try it. It tasted just like a glass of red wine – but cold, refreshing and slightly sweeter. This was definitely the highlight of the day, and I don't even like ice creams and sorbets usually. It was a really nice pick.

The final food stop on our stroll today was at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, just next to the movie theater. I saw a picture online of their sweet shrimp with fried shrimp heads, so that is just what I got! The quality of seafood was fantastic, and the fried shrimp heads were crispy and delicate.

The water shows at the Grove are beautiful at night. People-watching and listening to the music and fountain made for a great end to the day.

What I love about the Bazaar is the tapas-style ordering – you can get so many different small dishes and get to try a bigger variety of items. I tried a cone that was José Andrés' take on bagel and lox. I love how the salmon roe represents the lox on a bagel. I decided to revisit some old favorites with the other two dishes. The "Organized Caesar Salad" is wrapped up and topped with quail egg yolks and puffed croutons, and it all falls apart into an actual mouthful of salad when you bite into it. The jar contains a mixture of egg and potatoes called "Tortilla de Patatas," and the crunch and salt flakes in it really bring the whole dish together really nicely.

 

 

My absolute favorite dish at the Bazaar is the Philly cheesesteak. I never visit this restaurant without ordering this amazing sandwich. Nothing could be better than a puffed roll filled with molten cheese topped with Wagyu carpaccio slices.

The Bazaar has a way of making all problems and stresses disappear. I had a truly amazing time and look forward to another visit to the best restaurant in the world!

The first lunch was at a restaurant called Bella Cuba, located in a little plaza with other various multi-culti selections. My friend recommended the ropa vieja or the shredded chicken, but I saw oxtail on the menu and I was sold. The menu described it as stewed in a creole sauce with Cuban spices. The meat fell off the bone without a knife and had a really nice, bold flavor. We also ordered a round of sangrias, which were really fruity with finely chopped apple and orange chunks.

For the next lunch outing, my friend introduced me to a hole in the wall shop called Taqueria el Zamorano for some Mexican food. Just seeing the place, I knew the food would be good. For drinks, I ordered their nameless green juice, which I found out later was made of spinach and pineapples. The flavor was beyond unique, and so refreshing on hot day while eating lunch on the patio outside. Interestingly enough, they only made that juice because they had a cucumber lemonade that they had to temporarily halt because of some cucumber recall. The jamaica was a little sweeter, and also a great drink for sitting outside.

 

 

For food, I decided to order individual tacos for some variety. I selected the pescado (fish), camaron (shrimp) and cabeza (beef head) tacos, and they were all so good. This is probably one of the best Mexican restaurants I have ever been to. The fish and shrimp were battered and deep fried, and covered in a spicy pepper sauce, topped with cabbage and salsa. The cabeza meat was similar in flavor and texture to a braised short rib.

Whenever I visit Tom Bergin's, I never skip out on the Brussels sprouts and fried pickle chips. They make their own pickles in house and use the brine as backs or chasers for their whiskey shots – whiskles!

I resisted the whiskle shot this time and got a daiquiri to match my friends' fruity cocktails. My daiquiri was sweet with a full, lime flavor, and reminded me a lot of Disneyland's non-alcoholic version of a mint julep.

The Big Foot Lodge was really homey, with a log cabin feel to it. It really did feel like a lodge in the forest. My friends recommended a drink called the Toasted Marshmallow, which was a creamy cocktail topped with a marshmallow that the bartender set on fire.

Before I drove up to LA, my friend kept raving about the Griffin being one of his favorite bars, and now I understand why. It felt like Hogwart's on the inside, with lots of dark wood, benches and fireplaces. It was more or less a pub, with casual bar appetizers. We opted for their tater tots. It was nice to kick back with drinks and pub food and enjoy the atmosphere. I always love the time I spend with my LA buddies.

I headed back to OC for a light dinner with my parents. We decided to try out the new TAPS Fish House & Brewery restaurant at the Irvine Market Place, and it was completely different from the one in Brea. The interior was very modern with clean lines and sleek furniture and wall decorations. The best part of the restaurant is their daily selection of fresh oysters. They restock their oysters every day, so the selection is always freshly caught and varied.

My mom ordered the crème brûlée to share for dessert, and the waiter torched it tableside for us.