food – Page 8

Save the Date: dineL.A.’s Restaurant Week

January 15, 2015January 16, 2015Leave a comment

Get excited! dineL.A.’s Restaurant Week begins on Monday January 19th! The 14 day event showcases some of Los Angeles’ best restaurants. If you’ve been dying to try some of the cities best culinary destinations, this is your chance! The participating restaurants offer Prix Fixe menus for lunch, dinner, or both. While you might not get to try the exact dish you planned, you will still get to sample some of the best the restaurants have to offer.

Don’t forget to Dine.Snap.Win! If you dine at one of the participating restaurants, snap a photo, and use the hashtag #dineLA, you will be entered for a chance to win a prize!

Some of the restaurants that I’m excited to visit this year include, Badmaash, Brilliantshine, Night + Market, Pono Burger, The Church Key, and Willie Jane.

[photo of my main course from Bouchon last year]

Some of my favorites from previous years include, Bouchon, Chaya Venice, Culina Modern Italian, East Borough, and Plan Check.

For the full list, visit http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela-los-angeles-restaurant-week

Friday Favorites: Food

January 9, 2015January 9, 2015Leave a comment

This Friday, I want to tell you about some food dishes that I am OBSESSED with! Whether you like to go out to a nice dinner, a bar with friends, or sit at home and watch Law & Order SVU all night (no? just me?), I got something for everyone, so read on!

The “Calamari New Style” at J Trani’s in San Pedro, CA is absolutely the best calamari dish I’ve ever had! The lightly battered squid is fried and tossed with a sweet thai aioli, micro greens, and a balsamic reduction. It sounds simple, but the flavors taste so complex once they hit your taste buds. Even though this is on the menu with the appetizers, I usually order one for the table for everyone to enjoy and one for myself that I don’t have to share! It’s that good. If you’re not a complete selfish fatty like myself, enjoy this as an appetizer and order one of their delicious pasta dishes or pizzas for your entree; you won’t regret it!

If you’re not in the mood for a sit down, formal dinner, I suggest you visit the Alibi Room in Culver City, CA. This is a cool and casual bar with a fair drink selection, plenty of seating, a nice patio, and THE BEST BAR FOOD, EVER. Why is it the best bar food, you ask? Roy Choi of Kogi BBQ food truck, Chego, A-Frame, Pot, Commissary, and so much more, curates the menu. If you’ve ever visited Kogi or Chego, then get excited because this place will definitely have some of your favorites! My go-to are the Flaquitos: homemade refried beans and cheese sandwiched between two crispy corn tortillas, and then covered in red onion, salsa roja, and salsa verde. It’s light, delicious, and something I can recommend to my veggie friends.

And sometimes, you don’t feel like leaving your house at all. In that case, I highly recommend the Marinated White Fish Vera Cruz from Trader Joe’s. The fish is light with great flavors, and most importantly, easy to prepare! It’s marinated in a blend of olive oil, tomatoes, green olives, chiles, onions and capers. All you have to do is thaw and throw it in the skillet. I recommend cooking the fish almost all the way, then throwing in the other ingredients, so they don’t overcook. These make great fish tacos, burritos, or on a plate with some black beans and rice.

Holiday Gift Guide AND Giveaway!

November 28, 2014November 28, 201414 Comments

I am planning to do a revamp of my blog at the beginning of the new year! I want to include giveaways, favorites lists, and more! To kick things off a bit early, I wanted to create a Holiday Gift Guide! Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday! My wish list is quite long, but so is my gift list! I wanted to share some of my favorite things including great gift ideas for your loved ones! The best part of it all is that I am hosting a giveaway featuring some of the items from this post!

You can enter by going to my Instagram account, following me, liking the Holiday Giveaway post, and tagging a friend! I will pick a winner on December 6th, and I will send you 7 of my favorite gifts this holiday season (p.s. everything pictured above)!

P.S. Since you were so nice and visited my blog, if you comment on this post, you will also be entered to win!

FOR HER:

I have always thought Kate Spade gift items were “cute,” but as of late, I have a completely different appreciation for all things Kate Spade. The notebooks are perfect for your sister’s office, the tumblers are perfect for your friend that always has a coffee in hand, and the stationary is perfect for your mom or mother-in-law. I will be giving away the striped ‘live it’ notebook you see above!

I have been obsessed with this bag for so long. It is the first thing on my wish-list this year…in every color. Guys, listen up! Rebecca Minkoff handbags are always a safe gift for the woman in your life, whether that’s a sister, girlfriend, mother, or mother-in-law. You’re welcome.

I’m obsessed with Ashley Brooke Designs! Her mugs are everything! There is a phrase for everyone! My personal favorites are ‘I Woke Up Like This’, ‘Everyday I’m Hustling’, and ‘Hello Sunshine’! The mugs are perfect for your favorite tea or coffee lover and the tumblers are great for the office!

Heartbreak Coffee is the brainchild of two lovely ladies from Long Beach, CA. They are opening their first coffee shop early next year, but have been conquering the coffee world for the past year via Instagram! Their beautiful vision along with their great tasting brews, make their coffee beans the PERFECT stocking stuffer for the coffee fiend in your life! One of their special roasts will be featured in the giveaway!

Are there cuter tote bags in existence? No Way Jose! This tote bag is the perfect hostess gift! Better yet, fill it with your favorite rose for a personal touch! Enter the giveaway for a chance to win this tote!

Do you love crumpets like I love crumpets? The strawberry jam and fig jam from M. Greenwood Jams are the best toppings for toast, crumpets, or an empty spoon! Even better, the mother and daughter duo are local artisans in Los Angeles. Not only are you supporting a wonderful small business, you are getting the freshest, most delicious jams filled with seasonal ingredients! Enter my giveaway for a chance to win a jar of their jam!

Julie Ann Art has a card for every occasion: Birthdays, Christmas, Congratulations, anything you can think of! The one thing they have in common? They are all hilarious, some, even a bit cheeky! You will have a chance to win some Christmas cards in my giveaway!

FOR HIM:

Nixon watches are my go-to gift for the boyfriend. It’s not from Target, and it’s not a Rolex, but just right! The one pictured above is my favorite of all that I have given him, but they have gold, silver, matte black, and much more!

For whatever weather you’re in, this is the best flannel for your dad, uncle, grandpa, boyfriend, best guy friend, anyone! Pendleton flannels are amazing! They come in so many different colors and will last FOREVER!

For the voracious reader in your life, The Tipping Point is an amazing book! My dad read through it in days, and I am about to pass it on to the boyfriend very soon. In addition, the author, Malcolm Gladwell, is a brilliant man who has written several other amazing books. My suggestion? Buy a copy of each of his books and use them as stocking stuffers!

If you know one thing about me, you know I love food. If you know two things about me, you know I love food, but hate jerky. That is, until now. Three Jerks Jerky is filet mignon beef jerky. That’s right, jerky fit for a king! It is my boyfriend’s favorite! I will be giving away 2 flavors!

Forever21 has some awesome stocking stuffers for anyone and everyone on your list! Among them is the gentlemen’s ice tray. Win it in my giveaway!