Danish Pancakes Yum

Paulas Pancake House  is a staple here in Solvang. We stopped here as soon as we dropped our bags off at the inn we were staying at.  There was a huge line when we got there and we were starving, luckily for us the line was only for large parties our little party of two were seated right away. We didnt even need to see the menu we came what most come for the Danish Pancakes. A little thicker than a crepe the fact that it takes over the whole plate does not matter it is so fluffy and light you will have room for the whole thing. I was not a fan of the sausage it had a gamy taste so I ordered a side of thick bacon.  Even the maple syrup is light and pure not like the thick dark syrup back home.  If you stop through Solvang def stop in for breakfast here. Can be found right on the main rode probably the place with a line in front.

Solvang Danish Town

Solvang Danish Village has a plethera of wonderful bakeries and coffee shops and candied apple stores and chocolate shops and delish ice cream parlors.  This is my fiance and I second trip to Solvand Danish Town and we loved the second time around just as much as the first.  We knew to leave early this time because everything closes pretty early. So a suggestion even if you are going back to your hotel and coming back out for dinner Get Your Pastries Early because everything will be shut down later. I repeat everything except for a few restaurants and wineries.

Old LA Staple "Round Table Pizza"

 Oh yes Round Table Pizza king supreme 6 slice. My fiance loves Pizza so we like to go around town and try out different pizza. Round Table is an old classic staple in Los Angeles so I wanted to take him there and let him taste. I remember there used to be straw hat pizza when i was little then Round Table started popping up in the late 90's. I'm not sure if it is the same company but for those who remember straw hat pizza it taste the same. I love the signature crust its thin but not cracker thin.  The topping are scrumptious.  There are many locations but we popped into the one in temecula,ca while visiting family.  He loved it but I don't think there has been any pizza he hated lol.

Callender's Grill Wilshire Champagne Brunch

Callender's GrillWilshire by Screen Actors Guild is light years better than your normal Marie Calendars.  I have been going here for years as it right by my union Screen Actors Guild. This was the first time however that I have been for their Sunday Brunch. It was wonderful and even had a piano singer during our dining experience. Only $23 you get a variety of hot and cold eats, an omelet station. turkey and roast carving station, salad bar and of course Marie Calendar famous pies slices at the dessert station. You cant have brunch without endless mimosas. It was wonderful less expensive than Shanghai Reds or some of the other $40-$50 brunch's we were used to and it had just as much food.  Love Love and will be back.

Cooking At Your Table Korean BBQ style

So my fiance and I stumbled into Gen Korean BBQ House in Torrance friday night. It was packed we waiting for a long while but once we sat down and saw and tasted it was well worth the wait. When we arrived to our seats we realized it was brunch style so two set prices $14.99 for lunch and $19.99 for dinner. There were 4 to 5 small plates waiting for us ranging from sweet potato salad to other pickled assortments. We were encouraged to try four meats off the menu of 37 selections to start the night off. We had a beef night we ordered steak, hawaiian steak, korean bbq short ribs, and a pork chops. My fiance knows I love hands on events so he was smiling from ear to ear as I eagerly grilled our meat for us at the table. I did let him get some grilling time in on our second round of meats but I was in child heaven getting my hands into everything, Not to mention the huge bowl of salad they started us off with had the most amazing dressing ever. We ate the whole bowl which I didn't think we would. Because our meat selections were so thinly sliced and so tender might I add we just ate and ate and it took us a while to get full. But when we were full we made sure to stop there is no taking home its tempting to finish your plate but just put the chopsticks down when enough is enough lol. We will def revisit and try out some of the chicken selections and we will probably go with a group to enjoy the experience even more in a different way.  Maybe for a birthday or just because we love to find new places eat and share with others.

Botega Louie for Brunch

So my fiance and I were downtown shopping and we decided to stop by Botega Louie on the corner of 7th and Grand for brunch.  My breakfast was yummy. I had egg, smoked bacon, garlic roasted breakfast potatoes and toast with a mimosa.  My fiance couldn't resist getting a pizza, its his favorite food and we don't have a lot of gourmet pizza spots in our neighborhood so he opted for a half peperoni and sausage pizza with fresh mozzarella and fresh tomato sauce. 

 The service was extra friendly and the day was lovely so the bright lights from the sun filled the room that has large windows all around the venue.  It reminds me of a gourmet kitchen in New York so I love going there to remind me of times past.

Order from your table IPAD @ Stacked

Stacked in Torrance is a perfect place to go to when you want to eat get your food pay and go without hardly waiting. Perfect if you are grabbing a bite before movie for example. At your table you will find an ipad that you can scroll through the menu to pick your appetizers drinks food and dessert.  You literally begin to stack your ingredients on your burger, pizza or salad.  There are a variety of cheeses, meats, sauces lettuce and bread to choose from to stack to perfection.  Each person takes turns at the ipad then you push the send to kitchen button and you are done.  In a few your waiter will pop up at your table with your meal.  You can also pay right when you finish ordering or you can wait to the end of your meal either way you dont have to flag down a busy waiter you just swipe you card and go.  There is also a button to split the check and you can use multiple cards as well as call for a waiter and pay cash.  If you pay at the beginning and decide you want dessert you simply swipe your card again and stack your ice cream sandwich etc... and hit that send to kitchen button again. I love the fast service and the hands on approach to this restaurant. They also have happy hour and a full bar. Ilove their skinny fries with the curry ketchup or aiola sauce

Edendale in Silverlake

So I had such a wonderful time at Edendale in Silverlake this sunday morning. I celebrated my bday with a 11:30 brunch with friends.  Everyone had a wonderful dish from Shrimp and Grits, Chicken and Waffles, English Muffin Sandwich and some fancy salads topped off with some Mimosa's.  The  weather was nice so we had brunch on the outside patio. The manager and hostess were so helpful as well so that made everything run smoothly.   The building itself is so cute it used to be a old firehouse that they turned into a nice grill. They also have a bar that is frequented for their dinner hour that starts at 5pm

Santa Barbara Breakfast with a Kick

 

 The Cajun Kitchen in Santa Barbara was a great surprise for breakfast and lunch. The prices were inexpensive and the portions were massive. I would have to say it was a guilty pleasure definitely somewhere I would not go to everyday because of all the extra butter fried goodness.  I had a New Orleans omelet filled with cheese Louisiana hot sausage bell peppers and onions.





My fiancé had a catfish po boy sandwich piled high he couldn't even take a bite. The thick fries looked wonderful and were overflowing on the plate.

Santa Barbara Fishouse

After walking around the wharf for a while on this perfect sunny day we ended with some fish and shrimp at the Santa Barbara Fishouse.  It was a nice laid back atmosphere. We just walked in but I would suggest having a reservation if you are going for dinner on a Saturday night.  The fish and shrimp taste fresh and the warm appetizer bread was yummy.

Brazil Cafe in Santa Barbara

 

For my birthday weekend my fiancé and I drove up to Santa Barbara. While we were on the famous State Street where the streets are lined with shops, eateries and tourist, we stopped at Brazil Café as recommend by trip advisor.  It was a nice and popular place it filled up quickly. Luckily the service wasn't slow.  There was also a capoeira class going strong in the back studio of the restaurant. So we dinned with African drums and chanting in the background which was cool. I got a beet salad with avocado, grilled tri tip and mango dressing. It was delish and just the right portion. Mostly everything was organic and even gluten free at Brazil Café. Donovan got the tri-trip sandwich with salad and French fries and he ate up every bit so I think its safe to say it was delish as well.  We might hit it up again tomorrow before we leave unless we venture to try another lunch spot at the harbor or back at state street. Either way it was a feel like a beach town eatery would have it reminded me of my days in Santa Cruz.

Slow Cooker for Thankgsiving

Slow Cooker Recipe

Cream of Potato Soup
Sliced Potatoes
Three cheese
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Dump all into slow cooker and set on high for 3 -5 hours

Garnish with your fav herb on top after you plate your thanksgiving masterpiece.

Aroma Cafe in Studio City

So Aroma Café in Studio City on Tujunga is the perfect lunch spot for a quick bite before or after an audition in the valley. Whenever  I have to travel to the valley or north Hollywood for an audition or rehearsal I try and link up with my friends who live out that way because otherwise I would not see them. I live in the southbay and even though its the same distance south from mid city folks just like to drive north instead of south. I got a Mexican tortilla salad that was lovely. It had black beans, avocado, grilled chicken, tomatoes, tortilla strips on a bed of lettuce all plunged into a fried tortilla shell with a nice tortilla dressing on the side.  I like to dip my salad in the dressing in case I don't eat it all that way left overs wont be soggy.    

Ocean & Vine Sunday Brunch

Recently visited Ocean and Vine at the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica for my friends birthday brunch. I hadn't been there since my high school prom and many of the ladies lunching were from my high school so it was a nice reunion with the hotel, which had been renovated since then.

The food and ever flowing mimosa were perfect for a sunday brunch with the ladies.  There was a large variety of meats from seared pacific salmon to chicken coq a vin, veggies, seafood and  pastries. Not to mention an omelette bar and waffle bar fully stocked with whipped cream, strawberries and warm syrup.  FYI if you liked bacon they have a smoked jalapeno bacon that is to die for. You might be there for a while if you are like us to let the never ending mimosa settle with the food. lol

The Original Farmer's Market

Visiting the original Farmers Market by the grove always brings back great memories of my grandma. We used to go there all the time to eat and shop before the grove existed. She used to make her own cough syrup and she would get her ingredients from the market (liveroil, rock candy, vodka).


I had an audition the other day and decided to stop by the farmers market for lunch on my way home. I went to The Gumbo Pot which is a little taste of new Orleans. I got a plate of collard greens, fried red snapper and cornbread with their homemade tarter sauce. It was delish and had lots of flavor. I will go back there to take my fiancé to test it out, since he is a southern boy.

There is always plenty of fresh desserts to try out at the many bakery stands at the farmers market. I usually like to pick up some callah bread for home and a big cookie for my fiancé.  They have fresh meat markets and fresh ice cream shops. Its like taking a step back into the past where folks new the local baker meat butcher and candy maker. Everything is fresh and taste wonderful. Many folks pass right by the farmers market and go straight to the Grove. I would urge you next time you are near 3rd and Fairfax to spend a day shopping and eating at the Original Farmers Market.

Magnolia Bakery in LA

Ok so I have only been to Magnolia Bakery during my years in NY. We used to wait in a line around the corner near Hudson on the way home from grad school. Low and behold there is a Magnolia Bakery in Los Angeles. It is near The Grove and Beverly Center on
8389 w 3rd Street.  I was so excited I got a vanilla cup cake with strawberry buttercream and I got their banana pudding that I used to love for my fiancé to taste when I got home.  I cant have sweets all the time but every now and then I will cheat a little and now I know there is def a sweet place to sneak away too. Yay and the verdict is in just as yummy as New York. If you haven't had a cup cake, cake, flavored cheesecake and or banana pudding try it at Magnolia Bakery.  Plus its so cute inside, take some time out get some coffee and sit inside and enjoy your sweets.  Open until 10pm.

Bonello's New York Pizza in Cali

So my fiancé loves pizza its his favorite. But after living in New York for a while I cant just get pizza hut or dominoes or those other chains.  If I am going to have pizza its needs to be new York style or it needs to be gourmet wood brick oven style.  Bonello's New York Pizza in Lomita is one of our fav spots to grab a quick pizza bite. They have the best pizza sub with drink and salad combo that we split. The pizza sub is huge def. big enough for two. From the crust to the sauce to the fresh mozzarella and fresh basil its just fresh everything for your mouth.  Beats the pasty dry chain restaurant pizza any day.

My Fav dessert at Bossa Nova

My absolute fav dessert at Bossa Nova is the banana xango. It is simply delish. Crusted fried pastry with a banana infused custard filling with a side of French vanilla ice cream sprinkle of powdered sugar and chocolate dazzled on the plate. Can you say dessert heaven. I don't eat dessert a lot but I def. make room in my tummy to order this greatness whenever we go to Bossa Nova on sunset. It is everything. Try it next time you visit.

Islands

I cant believe that I have never reviewed Islands. Its just great for a quick burger without the fastfood bad feeling you get when you have burger and fries. Its a laid back spot and I love their fries and big wave burger, pretty plain and simple for me but they have burgers that have all kinds of delish ingredients on them. My fav islands past time is when I was in Aint Misbehavin a musical in long beach. The cast of Aint would get together after every rehearsal and walk across the street to the pike and go to islands. Such fond memories we created there and really bonded over those burger and never ending fries and their cheese fries with a side of ranch yummm. Pretty inexpensive and great for a quick bite with friends and they have a nice happy hour menu. I give it 5 delish stars.

Night on the Town with some Good Eats

 

                                                                               

 El Flordita was a great night out on the town last night. The food taste like someone had their grandmother in the kitchen. We had a shared meal for two a bill of $60 not bad and had some food left to take home. We had Filet Mignon, Shirmp, Chicken and bell peppers with rice and beans and plantains. Sooo good and sooo authentic. Before our food came we headed to the dance floor to learn some salsa steps from the dance instructor who was really good. Then half way through the meal the live band started and they were amazing. Dinner dancing and live music the perfect Saturday night to celebrate our friends

Italian in palos verdes

Found some yummy Italian in the south bay with a wonderful girls night out happy hour price on Tuesdays. In the shopping center with khols on crensaw and pch. Nice skinny girl portions with flavor flavor flavor. Find it and let me know the name!

Kitchen 24

Never been disappointed at kitchen 24. My fav spot especially for a good later night fix. The waffles are to die for not to mention the applewood Bacon. Today I got a Turkey burger with the garlûc fries. Can I just say yum. It was so big I had to cut in half to eat. Def will try another burger next time. Mmmm and mmmm

A little Argentinian 1810

Best little place in Pasadena. It was my first Argentinian food experience and it was lovely. The atmosphere was nice and romantic with candlelit tables. The salmon was yummy and the garlic mash potatoes were silky smooth. I would def recommend trying this place out. Right in The heart of old town Pasadena.