Fonz's @ Manhattan Beach, CA

Went here with a large group last weekend.  I haven't been here for a while as my husband & I weren't impressed.  It was much better than the past.  I had the Lobster salad which was very good and the Seafood Risotto, also good.  It likely helped that we brought very nice bottles of wine in and just paid for corkage vs. off the menu.  That may have lifted my spirits to enjoy the place more.

All in all, I'll give Fonz's another try.

Union Pizza @ El Segundo, CA (next to Bristol Farms)

Went here on a suggestion and waited for a Chicago Deep Dish.  I thought this was very good, although I haven't had true Chicago deep dish much.  I will definitely order from them again.  You can call ahead and order, sit outside with your own beer/wine (no corkage), or have them deliver. 

All in all, this may be my new pizza place.

Cliff's Edge on Sunset @ Silver Lake, CA

Went here last night and unfortunately, it was raining.  This place has a large uncovered patio that I'm sure everyone wants to be seated in.  While some seating was covered, we opted for inside.  Place had a ski cabin feel to it and we were seated at 2 tables for 2 pushed together.  Both tables were unbalanced and their solution was to wedge the 2 table tops together, something that eventually came undone.

We had a smattering of items and all were good, not great.  Some were just OK.  The Roasted Brussels Sprouts were under cooked and very hard; the Chickpea Fritters were good but a bit gooey/doughy in the middle, and the Squash Blossoms had too much cheese to even notice there was a Squash Blossom.  For entrees, which we shared, the Flat Iron Steak was good but nothing special, the Skate Wing was good, and the Crispy Polenta was the star of the night.  Also had the Bread Pudding which was classically good. 

Reviews on some sites have been negative, but we thought it was fine for the price ---- $200 for 4 people and we all had drinks. 

All in all, I'll go back again and likely order other items to give them a try.

Sabra Beirut Mix @ El Segundo, CA

Went here for lunch yesterday.  It is located near Grand/Sepulveda and there are several other restaurants in the complex.  The area caters to the office buildings nearby so lunch was crowded.

I had my favorite Baba Ghannouj and a Greek salad.  Neither was great.  Baba Ghannouj wasn't very flavorful and the salad was over dressed and oily.  While the food wasn't memorable, the cook using his bare hands to put grilled chicken on a bed of rice was.  Yuck!

All in all, I will not go back, but do want to try Five Guys and Which Wich.

Hotdoggers @ Manhattan Beach, CA

This place opened a few months ago.  The signage is somewhat confusing as it refers to Rad BBQ but it is in fact a hot dog place similar to Pinks.  Atmosphere is nice, they spent some money on the decor and there is parking which is nice.  It is located across from the Manhattan Beach Target.  The location has been somewhat doomed with a revolving door of restaurants trying to make it a go before closing and unfortunately, I think Hotdoggers will be next.  The building footprint seems large but the dining area seems small, leading me to think the kitchen is too large.  Price points aren't too high so they will need to make it on volume and while they are trying to get a liquor license, my check was just $11 so that's a lot of dogs. 

I had the plain sauerkraut dog with onion rings.  It was okay, not the memorable.  In fact, the onion rings seemed to have too much flour or cornstarch and so were a bit gummy to eat.  I did not get their more unique dog offerings so maybe those would have been better.  The place is fine, just doesn't stand out.

All in all, if you like hot dogs, go now as not sure this place will make it. 

Sauerkraut dog & onion rings

Father's Office @ Culver City, CA

Went here for lunch today.  The place opens at noon and there is a line waiting to get in.  The place filled up in no time and I had to wait to order.  I got the beet salad which was good, but nothing special. Atmosphere is great, with nice outdoor seating.  They are known for their burger which I've had before and thought it was just okay, but then I'm not a burger person.

All in all, great place for a beer and some small bites.

Hampton's @ Manhattan Beach, CA

My husband & I went to this place on Monday night, for me the second time.  He's heard very bad things about the place but my first experience was okay.  Keep in mind this is a new restaurant and they are still working out the kinks.

We had the crab cakes (good, not the best I've had), pork sliders (good), and the beet salad (good, a bit too much cheese).  I thought they did a great job even though they were busy.  They give you a flat bread with lots of cheese/garlic on top which for me was over cooked.  They offer a lot of fish for grill or blackened which I suspect would not be good, at least not until they work out kinks.  Cooking fish to order takes practice, perhaps this is what the people who had bad experiences had.

All in all, I'll go back for the more casual food.

Hamptons @ Manhattan Beach, CA

Went to this new place in downtown Manhattan Beach.  At the site of the old Sun & Moon cafe and across from MB Post.  It is very much a New England seafood place with lots of lobster on the menu.  I had the lobster roll and it was good, not great.  The bread was wonderful -- lots of butter no doubt but soft and sweet.  The lobster salad needed a bit more flavor either from lobster not being in season or in need of some spice and likely salt.  I saw the lobster mac & cheese which looked good but very rich.  The overall atmosphere is nice.

All in all, I'll go back and give them another try.

Mendocino Farms @ Marina del Rey, CA

OK, so I went here again today for lunch.  I went much earlier to avoid the line.  I still like this place but wouldn't order the same sandwich.  Today, I had the Pork Belly Banh Mi which I'm relatively certain did not contain pork belly.  It was more like over cooked, tough pork rib meat than the juicy, succulent and tender pork belly I expected.  Further, they put thick slices of raw jalapeno on the sandwich which was over the top.  Thinner slices would have given the sandwich the kick it needed.  I also tried 2 side salads and will someday order the spinach salad with figs. 

All in all, I'm less impressed than the first time but hopeful this place will get better.

Bin 73 @ Marina del Rey, CA

Saw this relatively new place in Sunset magazine.  It is a small plates / large wine list place very near the water on Washington Blvd.  It was good.  I shared a cheese plate, stuffed peppers, truffle mac & cheese, and a small pizza with a friend.  My husband had the breakfast sandwich.  Wine list was good size and dinner menu had lots of interesting items on it.

All in all, I'll go back and hopefully be as lucky as today to get close parking.

Mendocino Farms @ Marina del Rey, CA

Went to this relatively new sandwich place yesterday.  It is quite the talk of the town.  The line was long and it took 20 minutes to order & pay and another 20 minutes to get our food.  I had the signature Papa Mario's Italian deli sandwich and my friend had a 'build your own' steak sandwich.  Both were good and the salads and other menu items looked good as well.  I'm not sure it was good enough for the wait, but the atmosphere was intriguing. 

The entire outdoor mall area surrounding the place was quite nice and worthy of a visit -- Loft, Black/White Market, Pinkberry, CPK, etc.

All in all, I'll give Mendocino Farms another try, albeit at a less busy time.

Tabla @ Portland, OR

Tabla Ravioli

I had dinner here last Wednesday night and it was amazing.  It is located a few blocks north of Burnside on 28th.  I did the 3 course meal and started with a spring vegetable salad which was okay.  Then I had the Truffle Fettuccine which was by far the most awesome meal I've had.  Think buttered noodles from your mom, but then up the ante with whisper thin noodles that are freshly made on site and a hint of truffle flavor.  Delicious!  Next was the house ravioli, also freshly made noodle, with a perfectly poached egg inside and ricotta.  It was amazing. 

All in all, I will return for the truffle noodles again and again.  Next time it will just be a full portion instead of a tasting portion!

Spring Vegie Salad

 

 

 

Truffle Fettuccine

Davis Street Tavern @ Portland, OR

Went to dinner here last night.  It is basically at 5th and Davis.  It was just OK.  We started with a beet and pear salad which was good, but salty.  Then I had the Sea Scallops that were carmelized so a bit sweet.  My husband had the pasta special with dungeness crab, sugar snap peas, and tomatoes.  Both were okay, not spectacular. 

All in all, I likely won't be coming back.

Crab pasta

Sea Scallops over coconut polenta and kale

Nostrana @ Portland, OR

Had a fabulous meal at Nostrana Friday night (14th & Morrison).  We started with a very fresh asparagus soup and perfect bread.  I had the goat cheese stuffed papperdelle with pesto cream and my husband had the pasta with Pork ragu.  They were both delicious and freshly made pasta. 

All in all, I will definitely be going back again and again.

Goat cheese stuffed Papperdelle

Pasta with pork ragu

Flat Tax, PLEASE!

I'm always in a bad mood in April because I do my own taxes.  It sickens me the amount of money I send to the government, but I don't mind paying taxes, I mind doing taxes.  I pay the government a lot, so why is it that they make me read obscure tax code and spend a lot of time figuring out how much more I owe them then they have already taken from me? 

I have a dream that if we televised every member of the senate & congress doing their own taxes, they would quickly pass a flat tax law.  Stop legislating social issues in the tax code, just pick a few flat tax % levels and assess.  I would imagine 90%+ of the IRS could go away, saving taxpayers millions.  The industries surrounding tax preparation would find another service to provide.   It is the right thing to do.   But just when I thought my tax anger was passing, I picked up the new Real Simple magazine and read these stats:

$163 Billion - The total cost of preparing and filing ... tax returns in US, based on hours of labor lost.  OK the basis of this estimate is somewhat executive math, but even if the amount of cash spent in software programs, H&R Block establishments and accountants was only 10% of this number, it's still ridiculous. 


3.8 Million - The number of words in the US tax code.  Taxes have been made far too complicated for no real purpose.  A simpler tax code, with no real deductions, would yield the same net amount without all the hubbub.

My Book, the saga...

So I am now in the process of editing my book after the first external read.  My friend went through my story with a fine tooth comb, as they say, and I'm incorporating a lot of her excellent feedback.  The book is 340 pages right now, and essentially, my friend liked it.  My plan is to complete the edit by May 11th and then turn it over to a friend for a second read.  From there, who knows? 

It has been a fast timeline -- ideation mid November, serious writing start Jan 3rd, story completion Feb 14th, first draft completion April 4th.  I hope to get to a point to potentially publish by end of June.

Aimee's Bistro @ Redondo Beach, CA

Finally went to this restaurant last night.  I've seen it for years, but just haven't made it in.  It was very good.  A family atmosphere, we were seated in booth, which was lucky as there are some less than desirable tables in the middle.  I had a butter lettuce & gorgonzola salad which was perfect, then scallops and pasta which was not overly sauced (although the scallops could have been washed better), and my husband had the gnocchi which was very good.  For dessert, the apple tart, made to order, is by far one of the best desserts I have had in a long time.  Filo dough on the bottom, marzipan and thinly sliced apples.  The photo doesn't show it off well as the ice cream is melting but it is delicious. 

All in all, I will go back as many times as I can get my husband to make the drive down there.

Gorgonzola salad

Scallops & linguine

Gnocchi with artichoke hearts & red peppers

Apple tart

Irving Street Kitchen @ Pearl District in Portland, OR

Went here Saturday night and it was good.  Oregon is the land of Pinots and I don't care for them, so I am usually limited to my Cab choices.  The bartender selected one for me and poured me a taste from a 'spigot'.  This place buys wine direct from wineries and gets them in kegs vs. bottles.  It is primarily a green play, but they also get cheaper wine = less bottles, less weight, less transport/labor charges, etc. 

Well the first wine had somewhat turned and I created quite the stir in the bar group as they never did figure out what happened.  Second wine was good and I had the Artichoke Pasta which was very good although the deep fried artichoke chips could have been left off. 

All in all, I'll go back.

Park Kitchen @ Pearl District in Portland, OR

Went here this weekend.  I've heard many good things, but this place is just far enough off beaten path that I haven't tried it yet.  It was good, not great.  I had the recommended Salt Cod Fritters (mushy balls of starch that just weren't good.  they should have been a third of the size and then maybe), Parsnip & Almond soup w/ Lamb (good but not great.  To me, this was more of a heavy and plentiful sauce around ground lamb not really a soup), and Flank Steak & Blue Cheese Salad (the best by far.  almost too much steak but perfectly balanced with strong blue cheese).

I didn't have dessert but maybe if I try this place again.  All in all, I may go back but only if others want to.

Salt Cod Fritters w/ vinegar

Parsnip & Almond Soup surrounding Lamb and vegies

Flank Steak and Blue Cheese Salad

Red Medicine @ Wilshire & La Cienega Los Angeles

Went here last night with some friends.  This place has gotten a lot of hype but I have no idea why.  I took only one photo, not that it mattered.  Most of the dishes were covered in chicory & frisee lettuces (see photo) or various herbs so all the photos would have looked the same.  I'm not kidding, the food was far beneath and you had to dig for it.  The only truly good dish was the Akaushi beef.  The Pork shoulder, not great, a bit dry, like you need to slam some water during the chewing process.  The Pork Rillette starter was accurately described by my friend as canned cat food; although it didn't taste bad, nor did it taste great.  The Dungeness Crab dish was the worst styled plate I have ever seen (photo).  My friend again hit it on the head saying it looked like it was wrapped in brown used coffee filter (instead of the cinnamon crepe it was wrapped in).  This dish was very salty but okay.  

We also had the Amberjack (okay but no flavor), the Charred Leeks (a hunting mission under the chicory and I think devoid of leeks), and Spring Rolls (nothing special).

All in all, I won't go back.  It was far too pricey and just not good.

yes out of focus but that actually helps it look better

chicory