Where to Eat in......

LOSER

2009-11-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

I am such a LOSER...straight loser..since August I have been to several places such as Houston, Texas, Memphis, TN, Greenwood, MS, Ensenada, Mexico, Catalina Island and even to Beijing and Shanghai, China. I've let you all down and yes, I suck tremendously. I will work over the next coming weeks to put up some stuff for you all!

My food pictures from China will definitely WOW you plus the fish taco pics from Ensenada, Mexico aren't too shabby either!

MIAMI.....2009

2009-08-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

I have been EXTREMELY LAZY with this blog and people have been on my case about it. I promise...I am about to upload some stuff on Miami...hell, I'll just do it here (If you need more details...just let me know):

Villa Habana
3398 SW 22nd Street
Miami, FL 33145
305-446-7427

WOW oh WOW....come here if you are strapped for cash and want a fabulous Cuban meal with great attentive service. They have these "lunch" specials that run until 10pm at night...now that's a lunch for you. I had the Cuban fried chicken, moros rice and plaintains here. The fried chicken was hot and juicy..full of flavor. The moros rice is a combination of white rice and black beans. This mixture was so delicious that I was literally almost ready to lick the plate! I finished off the meal with a dessert called natill. On the menu it's listed as "wheat"...now, wheat does not sound like a dessert I am interested in eating but honey, let me tell you how delicious this creamy concoction was...the waiter said I MUST sprinkle cinnamon on it...AMAZING!!!!!!!

Wet Willie's at Hard Rock Casino and Hotel
http://www.wetwillies.com/
Hollywood, FL

Umm...not too sure what to say. Wet Willie's is a bar that serves only frozen drinks that look like margaritas and daiquiris. I ordered what I saw the locals order which was Call a Cab and Shock Treatment. Let's just say that the drink was stronger than those guys on the wrestling show. Ending up throwing that $8 drink in the trash! I am sure the other flavors are better. Stick to the basics like Weak Willie (non alcoholic) or a Strawberry one.

Jerry's Famous Deli
http://www.jerrysfamousdeli.com/
1450 Collins Avenue
Miami, FL 33139
305-532-8030

We went here for breakfast the second day of the trip. Breakfast was rather blah....nothing special about a $10 breakfast...I received 2 pancakes, a sausage link, 3 strips of bacon and since I don't like eggs, I asked for toast instead. The meal was so so, I've had better breakfast from Denny's and have paid way less. I did frequent this restaurant again a couple of days later for a slice of strawberry shortcake which was heavenly!!!! Fresh strawberries and plenty of moist cake layers with preserves and whipped cream. Desserts are definitely a plus here.

Manolo's
http://www.churrosmanolo.com/
7300 Collins Avenue
Miami, FL 33141
305-868-4381

When you hear Manolo....I know you think of shoes but not in this case! Manolo's is an Argentianian restaurant that serves up tasty empanadas and other favorites such as spinach pie, milanese and yes...CHURROS!!! I had the pleasure of having some of the best empanadas ever. The empanadas here are baked not fried like you find in other restaurants. They are quite filling and as usual, I over did it by ordering three...two would have been enough! They also have traditional desserts which was berry delicious like their sugary peach cake which I am sure was heaven sent!!! Prices are very reasonable. My only regret is I didn't get to try the milanesa considering I did eat here twice. They do serve pizza but on pancetta bread which looks quite delicious for a couple to share. Order the cream churros and the caramel ones...you can thank me later!!

Le Boudoir
http://www.leboudoirmiami.com/
186 SE 12th Terrace
Miami, FL 33131
305-372-2333

This little gem set in a condo building was quite a delight. I was trying to be "healthier" and thought that a salad would be in order. I went here and ordered their B-Cobb salad. Although this is a cobb salad, there are no eggs which is great since I don't like them. The salad was about $15 but it was worth it. It was filled with luscious blue crab and shrimp along with spring greens, fresh tomatoes and diced sweet mango in a balsamic vinegarette. I thoroughly enjoyed this salad and would definitely eat here again. I also had a raspberry torte here that was delicious and not too sweet.

Tapas and Tintos
http://www.tapasandtintos.com/
448 Espanola Way
Miami, FL 33139
305-538-8272

We were looking for a place to eat paella and found a place that was way across town...ended up just asking the local bartender in the hotel where to go and she recommended this place. The place is packed and we end up at an outdoor table which is a pretty good thing until it starts RAINING...fortunately we were under an umbrella and the rain hardly phased us! We ordered the seafood paella here that was full of shrimp, fish, calamari, whole lobster and some other seafood I am forgetting. The paella had a great flavor but my friend felt we needed some more rice. I was fine with it and will order it again. I am interested in going back and trying the tapas like the croquettes and other items like the squid ink rice. I had a mango daiquiri here...umm, too strong..Miami loves to get you with the heavy handed drinks!!

Clevelander
http://www.clevelander/
1020 Ocean Drive
Miami, FL 33139
877-532-4006

We ate here on the last night of our vacation. We were looking for a "reasonable" place to eat and we stopped by several places before deciding to eat here. All I really wanted was a snack and this place hit the spot! I order three shrimp tacos for $9 and an order of sweet potato fries with chili salt. The tacos were great and it was an ample serving considering South Beach prices. The sweet potato fries.....I probably should have kissed the cook because these were faboulous...lightly fried and golden orange in color. They were thin unlike most sweet potato fries I have had previously. The chili salt on there is definitely a plus!! This was probably my cheapest meal in South Beach! Will go back again and will try the other items. Had a rum runner here and it was very good. Rum on top so I could mix it in myself. (my request)

Charlie Crab (West Palm Beach, FL) July 2009

2009-07-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

place holder

Lobster Shanty (July 2009) Cocoa Beach, FL

2009-07-03T19:11:00.001-07:00

Lobster Shanty
2200 South Orlando Ave
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 783-1350
http://www.cocoabeachlobstershanty.com/

I went here on Tuesday with one of my coworkers. We went for the early bird specials which are from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

I looked at the menu and decided to get the crabcake and fried shrimp dinner. It came with either soup or salad bar or soup and salad....greedy me paid $1.50 extra so I could have both. The clam chowder here was pretty good..every bite had tasty clams. The salad bar is all you can eat and it's stocked with the typical iceberg, mixed greens and spinach. There is also pasta salad, several meats and fruits on this salad bar. The meal comes with a side dishe and I opted for the rice. I should have selected the sweet potato since that is what other people were eating. The rice was ok but I've had better. The waitress brings us some corn fritters...I really didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised to receive a hushpuppy like ball of corn meal with real corn kernels inside lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Ok, my coworker and I ate all of the fritters and we even asked for more....too bad we didn't get anymore! We didn't need them anyway!

My fried shrimp was typical. The tartar sauce was pretty good and I judge a lot of seafood restaurants based off of their tartar sauce! The crab cake was a small fried one but it was very good.

I'd definitely come back to this place again for dinner. Price was under $20 so mark this one as reasonable and a good value!

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion (July 2009) Orlando, FL

2009-07-03T19:08:00.000-07:00

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion
7760 West Sand Lake Road
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 352-4844

Ok, this by far might have been one of the best damn restaurants I have ever been to. I know I don't normally comment on chains but this is a chain without the chain feeling...you know what I mean. I am typing this report from the Orlando airport and it's 6AM so forgive me for whatever errors are here! Last night I was contemplating where to eat...Black Angus? Bojangles Fried Chicken (hey, I have to get it where I can get it good) or some other local restaurants. I remembered before I left California that I wanted to try Roy's. I had passed by this restaurant a few years ago and I was thinking...wow...let me check this place out.

Well, I perused their website and noticed that they have a Summer Prix Fixed Menu...Aunt Kenna loves Prix Fixed menus...no suprises when the bill arrives. I decided to take a stab and drive to the restaurant. I remember I probably needed reservations. I called and they told me I could eat at Chef's area or I could wait for a table for over an hour. Umm, when I am hungry, waiting is not an option. I told the hostess when I arrive I will make my decision. I arrived about 30 minutes later. They have free valet parking...what a concept! I really didn't need valet so I parked my own rental. I went inside and noticed the dark lighting and a lot of noise....chatter of people talking and the chefs creating art in the kitchen. I was quickly seated at the Chef's area. This area is really counter seating around the kitchen...imagine being belly up at a sushi restaurant. It was kinda like that but better because so much action was taking place from the grilling of fine steaks and seafood to the frying of chicken tenders for the kids to the making of fresh sushi right in from of your face to the sounds of salads being tossed in various sauces.

My waiter comes over and asked me for my drink order. I remembered on their website that they have Lychee Caipirinha. This year is the year of Brazil (my statement) and I opted for that drink. I am used to having caipirinhas in smaller glasses. Well, I received a huge glass as if this was lemonade....I couldn't drink it all but it was certainly very refreshing.....on to the food...the real reason you read these reviews...

The Prix Fixed menu was appetizer, entree and dessert. I opted for the crispy shrimp lumpia, Kobe beef meatloaf and the Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle which is one of the signature desserts here.

The waiter brought me some meat wontons compliments of the chef...I like that..special touch from the chef! The lumpia was quick fried and stuffed with clear noodles, mushrooms and other veggies plus a shrimp with the tail at the top of the eggroll skin. This dish was served with sweet and sour mango sauce which I couldn't get enough of..it was great. The second dish was the Kobe meatloaf. I have to admit..I know why Kobe beef costs so much. One bite and you will be hooked. This meatloaf was more than savory. Two ample sized pieces with mushroom gravy probably cooked in sherry and other seasonings. The meat was served with broccoli and scalloped potatoes...not like your mom's. Check my photo for more details!

The finale was the dessert..now I have had similar creations on cruise ships but this baby was flawless. A flourless chocolate delight oozing with hot molten chocolate accompanied with fresh raspberry sauce and yes....vanilla ice cream.

I ate everything that was presented to me and I even tried to lick the plate...yes I did.

The meal with one drink, tax and tip was $56 and I am going to tell you that it was certainly WORTH IT.

I might have to name this gem ROTM....we'll see..still early but it's high on the list.

I don't have any service awards on my blog but this restaurant HANDS DOWN has the best service. The waiters are warm and generous and the managers are just great. Normally I eat alone and the service is kinda blah but the staff even the chefs checked on me to make sure I was enjoying my meal...again, hands down..best service ever.

Trevor's Blue Toucan Caribbean (Cape Canaveral, FL) July 2009

2009-07-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Trevor Blue Toucan Caribbean Restaurant
8501 Astronaut Blvd.
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
321-784-5300
http://www.trevorsbluetoucan.com/

Ok...as usual, I am running around trying to figure out where am I going to have dinner this evening. I remembered passing by a Caribbean restaurant yesterday. As luck would have it, some how my rental turned into the parking lot and ended up in front of this restaurant. I get out of the car and enter the facillity to be immediately greeted by Tudor and a lady I imagine is his wife. Tudor escorts me to my table, hands me a menu and he tells me about some of the items they have to offer. I peruse the menu and saw the familiar jerk chicken...you know...Jerk Chicken!!!! I am a lover of seafood and I was torn between a seafood dish and jerk chicken. I asked Tudor what should I do and he recommends the jerk chicken which I gladly obliged. The chicken comes with soup or salad plus two side dishes. I opted for the salad and for my sides I selected cabbage plus rice and beans.

The salad arrived loaded with crisp greens, fresh tomatoes, sliced onions and yellow bellpeppers. A caddy of dressings was also available for my enjoyment. I quickly ate my salad in high anticipation of my chicken.........

A few moments later Tudor comes around the corner with a plate of luscious smelling chicken, rice and beans and cabbage. I took a quick bite and pulled out my camera to take a pic...well, my flash alerted Tudor!!!! Haha!! I'm no food critic..just a lover of food I explain. I continue to eat. I was trying to be proper and use my fork but at some point in the meal, I just had to put the fork down and pick it up with my hands!! That's the way chicken is done! The chicken was served with three side sauces of mango salsa, jerk sauce and a special sauce called "fireball". I am always leery of any sauce with the name fire in it. The fireball was quite savory...just don't use a lot..perhaps a few drops will do the trip. The cabbage here is quite delicious...I almost asked for a side to go but hey, I can't always be greedy now can I?????

I kept on eating and the chef Trevor comes over. He's from Montego Bay and everybody knows I love Jamaica! I think I am really from there but no one will admit it...mom....dad??? Trevor explains to me that he makes all of the food there including the sauces. This is a rarity in restaurants these days since everything out there is processed..not here...you can't get this kind of chicken in a freezer bag..no way my friend.

I finished up my dinner and Tudor asked about dessert. I really didn't need it but hey, I haven't met a cake I didn't like. I walked over to the dessert case and picked out coconut cake. They also have other desserts such as mango cheesecake, Caribbean marble cake, carrot cake and other desserts.

I know this is a bit early as this is the first of the month but I might have to name this ROTM....you know...Restaurant of the Month. Service was great and the chef was very pleasant. Do make it your business not to pass up this gem the next time you are in the Cape area.

Fifth Street Steak and Seafood (June 2009) Oxnard, CA

2009-06-17T21:36:00.000-07:00

PLACEHOLDER!

Nona's (Every Darn Wednesday) Camarillo, CA

2009-06-17T21:35:00.002-07:00

PLACEHOLDER

Saffire (June 2009) Camarillo, CA

2009-06-17T21:35:00.001-07:00

PLACEHOLDER

LUNA'S MEXICAN (June 2009) Oxnard, CA

2009-06-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

PLACEHOLDER!!!

Bistro 13 (June 2009) Camarillo, CA

2009-06-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

PLACEHOLDER...I WILL BE BACK

Daphne's Greek Cafe (Camarillo, CA) June 2009

2009-06-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Daphne's Greek Cafe
http://www.daphnesgreekcafe.com/
2390 Las Posas Rd.
Camarillo, California 93010
805-389-0575

I generally do not comment on chain restaurants but this is one I have never been to before. Well, on Saturday I was in Camarillo visiting some folks and I was driving on Las Posas. I was going to grab some "real" fast food but I saw Daphne's Greek Cafe and decided to eat there. I walk in and immediately I am confused...it's always like this at new restaurants for me. I ended up ordering something on a picture. I know, pretty lame but that's what I did. I ordered the gyro and shrimp combination plate. This plate was served with freshly sliced gyro meat, 6 crispy shrimp, greek salad and rice. The price of the combo was $8.79 plus tax and it was also served with 4 pita wedges.

Ok, ths skinny...the food was delicious. I admit it. I was really hungry and I devoured the tasty meat on the pita bread with the sauce that comes with it. HOWEVER, when I finished, I was still hungry.....ok, this might have just been one of those freak days where nothing would have filled me up. I will go back here again but next time, I will order the gyro sandwich. The rice here is very flavorful and the greek salad is good also.

Jetty Restaurant (Lompoc, CA) June 2009

2009-06-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

Jetty Restaurant
(805) 735-2400
304 West Ocean Avenue
Lompoc, CA 93436
http://www.jettyrestaurants.com/

Apparently this place is a local seafood favorite. I've been here before and as usual, I never behave...always over do it here! I ate dinner here on Wednesday night. They have these specials between 4PM and 6PM. Choices include steaks, grilled halibut and other items. I ordered the grilled halibut and did an add on of clam strips. Clam strips are always chewy but I love them! The early bird special comes with soup or salad. I opted for the clam chowder. In my opinion, this place has some of the best clam chowder ever and it even beats some of my favorite seafood restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area...yes I said it..hands down, the Jetty's clam chowder is loaded with tender clams. It really loaded..every spoonful has clams not like other watered down chowders at a certain unnamed location in Malibu near the Ventura County line....yep..you know already.

My chowder was delivered and the waittress tells me it also comes with shrimp cocktail! Yes, I'm in shellfish heaven! I quickly eat my thick and rich chowder and polish off my shrimp cocktail. My grilled halibut arrives accompanied with an ample sized baked potato and the add on clam strips. The halibut was thick and lightly dusted with seasoning and a pat of butter. There was also savory tartar sauce which I really like here.

This place has all you can eat fish and chips on Tuesdays if you so desire. I will be back again to try the crab legs and other seafood.

Price was reasonable. Everything was $18.48 which is a steal compared to other seafood restaurants. Will be going back!

La Botte Italian Restaurant (Lompoc, CA) June 2009

2009-06-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

La Botte Italian Restaurant
812 North H Street
Lompoc, California 93436
805.736.8525
http://www.labotteitalianrestaurant.com/

Well, today is another glorious day and I am just now arriving back home from a business trip. On the way home, I stopped by La Botte in Lompoc for dinner. I had been passing by this place all week and finally decided..ok, let me check the place out. Well, I get there and didn't see many cars. I failed to realize the parking is in the back.....my dad used to say if a lot of cars are in front of a restaurant that was a good sign however he didn't say anything about cars in the back?? I digress! I park the shopping cart (you already know if you know me personally) and get out. I enter this huge wooden door to be greeted by a woman known as Mama Caterina. Mama Caterina is the owner of the restaurant and there is a sign stating that she makes all of the desserts herself. I'd glad to see she is plus size diva....a sure sign the food must be good. There were three tables that were occupied but as a few minutes passed, droves of people start entering the facility.

My waitress came over and brought me some water and the menus. I quickly browsed the menu. I must admit, I'm not a huge Italian food fan but this place was worth the visit. I ended up ordering the farfalle con salmone. This is one of my favorite pasta dishes and everywhere I have been it has been served quite different. This restaurant has loads of savory smoked salmon and shockingly..green peas! I love green peas so this was just a great mixer for me. The pasta was al dente and the sauce smooth and flavorful. I am used to this dish served rather spicy. I have a similar rendition that I make except I use Russia's favorite vodka and shrimp for that surprise taste!

I had the side salad which is pretty common everywhere with mixed greens, slivers of carrots and ranch dressing on the side. The house bread here...oh my goodness, I ate the entire serving. I was so ashamed..no I wasn't! It was warm and crispy. I wanted some to go but hey, I had enough for me and probably two other people.

It's still early in the month and I'm thinking this might be restaurant of the month. I like the fact that Mama Caterina is actually WORKING in the restaurant going table to table. There was another older woman there working and I wonder if she was Mama Caterina's mother or aunt. Never ask a woman's age...just don't!

I will be back to dine here when I am back in the area.

HC Seafood (Oxnard, CA) May 2009

2009-05-31T16:28:00.000-07:00

HC Seafood
3920 W Channel Island Blvd.
Oxnard, CA 93032
(805) 382-8171

Ok, I have been to this place several times. I was supposed to eat lunch with a friend today but I was late leaving church...well, you know how church can be! Ha ha! I ordered the usual here which is the grilled salmon meal. It comes with two nice sized fillets of grilled, piping hot salmon spiced with pepper and other seasonings, french fries, cole slaw, garlic bread and a bowl of clam chowder. The meal costs $10.50 which is 55 cents more than it was 2 years ago. At the current price, it's still a great meal. I ordered some extra garlic bread for a total of $11.70 which is a steal in reality!

I really love the salmon here. You can get grilled halibut or shark if you'd like. They also have the traditional favorites such as fish and chips. The fish here is breaded in panko bread crumbs. I don't like the tartar sauce here. Use ketchup instead..they should really look into making their own sauce instead of the generic bottle trash you can get at any large warehouse store! Yep, I said it..the tartar sauce SUCKS! But..the fish is delicious! I'm just used to original homemade tartar sauce!

The clam chowder leaves much to be desired...a bit watery but edible!

I've been eating here for years and plan to eat here for more years! This restaurant has outdoor seating so don't wear your best threads...be sure to slap the fool who is feeding the birds while you are there!

Picanha Churrascaria (Burbank, CA) May 2009

2009-05-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

Pichanha Churrascarria

269 East Palm Avenue

Burbank, CA 91502

Phone: 818-972-2100

http://www.picanharestaurant.com/

Ok, I just drove about an hour to eat at this place today. I wanted to go to Fogo de Chao in Bevelry Hills with some coworkers but we changed our plans to go another weekend. Anyway, I hopped in my shopping cart (Scion) and hit highway 101. I arrived a little after 5:30 PM I was very hungry since all I had previously today was a little potpie and a handfull of wheat thins...not exactly the lunch of champions!

I enter the facility and the hostess seats me. My waitress Anna comes over and asks me if I've been there and my answer is no. Well, she explains the concept and off I go to the buffet to fill up on salads and side dishes. This salad bar is fairly decent. They have the typical romaine mix, iceberg mix and side salads like pasta salad, tuna salad, cucumber and tomato salad and shockingly tabouleh which I actually ate. They also a hot food side with some Brazilian and American side dishes like black beans, mashed potatoes, rice, sauteed zucchini and other stuff including curry chicken soup.

I ordered the traditional Brazilian capirinha drink...this drink is not for a "social" drinker..leave it alone at all costs....just kidding, it's made with cachaca which is basically sugarcane rum. It's good and it quickly becoming one of my favorite "spirits"...heehee! A bit on the strong side so be careful!

The gauchos start coming around with the meat. You have to put up this small item if you want meat or not. I'm not much of a beef eater so I had a small slice of the tri tip which was very delicious. Also had lamb (sorry PETA!!!), spicy chicken, parmesean chicken, linguica and another type of sausage. They serve 15 types of meat but I was too full to try anything else...even being full, I had dessert. Brazilian flan...it was ok..a bit too browned on the bottom but otherwise ok.

I spent a total of $48 which wasn't bad at all considering you can literally eat until you pass out if you so desire. The cost for the dinner is $29.95 I will be coming back here again and bringing out of time guests.

May 2009..in a quick post

2009-05-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

I have totally been neglecting my blog and people are complaining that I am not giving them their fix..ok...do I look like a street pharmacist?? This is work...not some quick fix production here! Just kidding!

I've been a lot of places this month so I will just list them and come back and comment on them later.

MINI REVIEWS IN ( )

May 1st-4th Jamaica
Royal Decameron dining hall in Montego Bay (buffet meals all the time, great callaloo and steamed vegetables here)
Jerk Chicken from Wayne off the street-Gloucester Street Montego Bay (I can't say enough but to eat this chicken if you can!
Rick's Cafe-Negril (great view of the sunset, food not worth the price...eat at your hotel, better deal than rick's)
Beef Patties from the guy on the beach-Negril
Peanut brittle from some guy on the beach-Negril

May 10th Encino, CA
Stevie's (delicious grits and catfish, hey, I am a southern girl you know!)

May 15th-18th Saint Louis, MO
Cheesecake Factory (they're all the same...good salisbury steak and potatoes!)
Coco Louco Brasil-Central West End (capirinhas and pastels here are wondering, see Sarkan if you dine here)

May 18th-???? Houston, TX
Lupe's Tortilla (TexMex restaurant....umm, I'll stick with the Mexican food in Oxnard..it's so much better)
East Star Chinese Buffet (probably one of the best Chinese buffets...they had catfish on the buffet..I was in heaven!)
Chabuca's International (woowah...loved the ambiance of this place, food is great as well. It's a brazilian restaurant)
Pappas Seafood House (great crawfish, not sure what kind of seasoning they use but it's a bit spicy) !
Saltgrass (margarita pie...enough said!!)

I've got my work cut out for me but I am going to go ahead and name Chabuca's as the restaurant of the month....delish but you don't know that yet!

Carnival Cruiseline (San Diego/Ensenada, MEXICO) April 2009

2009-04-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

I am copying this from another place I blog....

Quick Recap:

Thursday: I took the Amtrak from Oxnard to San Diego. This was a little over 4 hours. I arrived in San Diego about 12:15 PM I walked two blocks to the cruise terminal and got my stuff all geared up. I was on the ship by 1 and I was eating lunch by 1:30 PM. I walked around the ship and got acclimated..found the dance spots, the bars, restaurants and what not. I went back to my room and took a nap until dinner time. I did the early dinner at 6:00PM. I arrived on time and was seated at a table for 13.....I was the only person there for about an hour...didn't bother me at all!!! Ha ha, I met some table mates from Las Vegas and they were really cool. Late, but cool! I walked around a bit and went back to my room to sleep so I could see the 10:30 PM welcome show...umm, I didn't wake up till 2AM!! I told yall this was the SNOOZE CRUISE!!

ETA: For dinner, I had pan seared tilapia and some of the best macaroni and cheese known to man...please don't tell my mom!

Friday: We arrived in Ensenada, Mexico. I was debating taking a tour but decided..not to because I had already been there before and I promised my mom I wouldn't get off the ship....everybody so scared about what's happening in these border towns. I just took some pics from the ship. This was my chill out day! I was so happy they had grits from breakfast everyday!!!! That was a truly southern girl's highlight!!! I listened to some reggae on the sun deck and walked over to the adults only deck called Serenity. Got jealous and went to my room to put on my swimsuit!! Ha ha, I soaked in the hot tub for an hour or so. That was probably way too long!! Anyway, it was cool cause everybody talked to me! I got out of the hot tub and went back to my room and showered and SLEPT again until dinner. I ordered a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from room service just for the heck of it. I also ordered what they called the Mexican Mama drink...I think if I had lit that thing up, the whole ship would have been in flames! Anyway, I went to dinner for formal night! LOBSTER!!! Oh yeah and it was delish! This night I had some new tablemates from Huntington Beach. I watched one of their Vegas style shows which was very good! Anyway, after the show I decided to go listen to some people sing kareoke...by this time, I had had another drink so I was good and ready to sing!!! Well, I mustered up the courage to go sing Doing the Butt by EU Band.....oh lord...why did I do this. I had about 10 blonds from Southern Cali come up and me my backup singers!!!!! They were drunk and I was already tipsy as hell!! Anyway, I barely made it through the song but I did it!! They did a great job too...the next day, people were telling me how much they enjoyed the song and everytime they'd see me, I'd shake my butt and laugh!!! Ha ha, after kareoke, I went over to the Romeo and Juliet Club to listen to some live music. Ended up having another drink here and decided to hit the dance floor.....I did not stop yall!! Folks kept coming over telling me about my dancing...what can one say!!!!! I decided to be a real cruiser and I went to the Midnight Buffet which was Mexican food. They had these really good salmon enchiladas or whatever they were...SO GOOD!!!! I went to my room, watched tv and fell asleep!

Saturday: This was Fun Day at Sea. I had my usual grits again! This was pretty low key for me. I played bingo for $800..too bad I didn't win! Also watched the ice carving demo and the Hairy Man contest..I about died laughing on this one! I went back over the the adults only deck called Serenity and chilled out for a while. I ran into folks I had met and talked briefly. I went to the debarkation talk just for the heck of it! I ate way too much this day...they had some macaroni there that tasted way better than some people I know that really know how to make it!!!! I need to go on a diet now!!! I went to the sit down dinner and gave my facebook info to my tablemates to keep up with me. I did kareoke again and this time I did Jill Scott..A Long Walk..I won't do that again!!!! It was fun though! Also went back to Romeo and Juliet but I didn't dance. Just listened to music. Hit up the late night dining for a slice of pizza and headed off to bed!

Sunday: Woke up early and had breakfast by 7. I was out of my room by 7:45 AM and off the ship by 9AM which gave me plenty of time to get to the train station! I am back home!!!

I'll be back to clean this up with FOOD ONLY!!!!

Mandarin House (Camarillo, CA) April 2009

2009-04-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Mandarin House
4585 Pleasant Valley Rd
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-987-6465

I will be back for a full review but this place serves the QUICKEST meals I have ever seen. One of my friends lives in Camarillo and she introduced me to this place. I've already been back less than a week of the introduction....

PLACEHOLDER..I'll be back!

Pho Saigon (Port Hueneme, CA) April 2009

2009-04-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

Pho Saigon
805-240-9334
826 N Ventura Rd
Port Hueneme, CA 93041

I typically don't go to Vietnamese restaurants..I'm just not that adventurous but I am working on that. I'm a changed woman...!!!! My coworker called and suggested that we eat at this place and I ok the recommendation. He told me that we needed to leave early because the place fills up. Well, I had no idea but that place was FULL..folks standing at the front waiting to sit down for a hot plate of whatever the speciality is!

I ordered a number 33 which is the shrimp fried rice and I ordered number 1 which are the eggrolls without the salads. Their shrimp fried rice is the best shrimp fried rice I have had in Ventura County. Now admittingly, I get our fried rice from Chinese restaurants but honey, the Vietnamese have got this art down packed. I don't know what they put in there but I went back the next day for a carry out order. The rice is $8.50 which is considerably more than other restaurants but once you taste it, you'll know why.The eggrolls reminded me of the crispy lumpia you can find in Filipino restaurants except these were longer/thicker and filled with a bit more mushrooms and cabbage plus meat.

I am definitely going here again this week for lunch...trust that. Say hello if you see me!

Lobster Trap (Oxnard, CA) April 2009

2009-04-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Lobster Trap
805-985-6361
3605 Peninsula Rd
Oxnard, CA

I ate at this restaurant last week with an old friend I haven't seen in months. It was great catching up on old times with her. It was also funny watching her flirt with the waiter...I got to find her a man!!! Anyway, on to the skinny! I've never been to this restaurant but I read the reviews and wasn't sure what to expect. I had my trusty gift certificate so it really didn't matter!

First off, the view from this place is magnificent. Great view of the harbor.

We settled into a cozy booth to review the menu. I saw crab cakes on the menu and decided to order these as an appetizer. For my meal, I decided to be a glutton....I ordered the fried plate with fried shrimp, beer battered shrimp, calamari and clam strips. My friend order prime rib....as usual, I have no idea but she was licking her fingers in public...must be a good sign!

The crab cakes arrived and they were on top of what appeared to be some type of guacamole concoction. Ok, I've had several crabcakes in my life and I am used to the Maryland/Virginia/East Coast crabcakes. Umm...these crabcakes I had were the worst I've ever had. Something wasn't right and I didn't want to know what it was. When I say they were the worst, they were edible by all means but I'm used to that flaky, white crabcakes from the East Coast. Save you $10 and don't order these!

My fried platter could have fed the mulititude! This plate was massive...french fries piled up to make a fat kid like smile all day long. This plate is really for two people! Cost was $16.95 and I would say it's worth it.

Not much more to say about this place. I will try it again in the future. Stay away from the crab cakes...go to Maryland instead!

Safire (Camarillo, CA) April 2009

2009-04-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

Safire
4850 Santa Rosa Rd
Camarillo, CA 93012
805-389-1227
www.safirebistro.com

Happy Easter! Ok..it's still early in the month and I am already naming this hotspot Restaurant of the Month. For a place to be named ROTM so early is a pretty good indicator that I'll be back there again. I really need to go some place where the owner will start putting my reviews on the wall...nah, that will never happen!

Anyway, we went there for dinner tonight. I had no idea there were going to be Easter specials. There was a three course meal for $29. Lucky me, I had my $25 gift certificate from restaurant.com, a website that is fast becoming my bestest friend!

I ordered the shrimp cocktail, bbq salmon and the lavender scented vanilla bean panna cotta....fancy huh...you didn't know I had that in me did ya???? The other half ordered prime rib. I'm not a steak eater so I have no real comments except he ate the whole thing and he did not complain..that should answer the mail for you!

The shrimp cocktail consisted of three jumbo shrimp served with cocktail sauce and a little bit of horseradish. It was served in a large soup bowl filled with ice...that's classy baby! The bbq salmon was served a top of a bed of yukon mashed potatoes and melted leaks and spinach. I love spinach so this dish was a hit for me. The bbq sauce on the salmon was savory.....I almost wished that it was chicken I was eating but oh well, I did order the salmon. My dessert reminds me of flan but with a slight gelatin taste. This dessert was topped with strawberry slices and caramel sauce on the plate.

Now, the food was definitely the highlight for me..but the real surprise was the margarita. I typically don't drink on Sundays (don't ask!!! just kidding!) but I decided to be brave and I ordered the Caribbean Margarita..this drink took me to Jamaica all over again. I literally thought I was lounging in the warm waters of Negril..ok, back to reality! The margarita was freshly prepared and guess what, COCONUT RUM in a margarita...who would have even imagined this. Definitely, probably...maybe the best damn margarita ever. I am sure I'll be going there again just to sample this smooth and silky concoction. Probably tomorrow..any takers???

The bill was about $76 with tax. This place is somewhere in between upscale and kinda urban chic..you decide. I will try it again soon. Who knew we could get this type of food in Ventura County...I'm tired of driving to LA!

Du-pars Restaurant (Oxnard, CA)

2009-03-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Du-pars Restaurant
2420 E Vineyard Ave
Oxnard, CA
www.du-pars.com

Ok, I was hungry yesterday around 4:00 PM I ate breakfast and after a long day of working and shopping, this girl needed some nourishment! I didn't really have any idea of where to go so I just hopped in my shopping cart (what some call the size of my car!) and went riding. I remembered that Baker's Square was now a Du-pars so I decided to try them out. I am glad I did this. I walked in and saw a familiar face...it was Ron from the old Uncle Herb's restaurant in Oxnard.

Anyway, I was seated and I noticed that they have a Beat the Clock menu between 4PM and 6PM. The menu consisted of fish and chips, tri tip, macaroni and cheese and a chicken dish which is escaping me at this moment! Whatever time you arrive is what you pay. My waittress was Billie and she was a hoot. She reminded me of Alice....without the grit and attitude. They wear those old fashioned white uniform dresses and aprons. Anyway, I decided to go the cheap route and ordered one of the Beat the Clock specials. I ordered the fish and chips which is served with cole slaw and french fries. Since this is Lent season, I suspect a lot of people will order this next Friday. Even I might go up there for that again. I ordered at 4:35 PM so I paid $4.35!!! The Beat the Clock menu requires you to order a drink. I opted for a Coke. The meal comes with either a salad or soup. The soup choices were chicken noodle, split pea and a ham soup. I went for the salad. I need the greens! The salad was a fresh salad with mixed greens not the usual iceberg mix most places serve. There was shredded cheese, beets, tomatoes, red cabbage and croutons in there. Ample size salad and I was satisfied with it. The fish and chips arrived piping hot. I had two pieces of fish, practically half a plate of fries (yes, I ate them all), orange wedge and a fresh roll. For the price, it's a great deal. The fish was hot and the batter was crispy the way I like it! Their tartar sauce is homemade....I might have to go buy some for the fish I make at home!!

I finished my meal and the total was about $7 or so. I opted to get a slice of their freshly made pies...pecan pie...I'm a southern girl..not from southern Cali!!!!! I ate this at home and let me tell you it was enough for two but of course...I didn't share. What kind of woman do you think I am????

I know it's a bit early in the month but I might have to label this as restaurant of the month because of the specials. I will go again and try their meatloaf. This place specializes in food that takes you back to sitting in the kitchen with grandma when she was prepping the meatloaf and getting ready to make pork chops???....!!! Maybe it was only my grandma!!

My HOUSE part II (Oxnard, CA)

2009-02-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another edition of my house part II! It's that lovely place in that city by the sea serving up the finest takeout known to man!

As I previously stated, I'm not much of a cook but I've mastered a few items........just a few:

Garlic Green Beans..so simple, your five year old can do this! You must start with the freshest of fresh green beans. Do not use frozen beans as the effect will not be the same. Wash and trim the beans. Get a skillet and put the beans in there and kinda "toast and roast" them in olive oil. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Add in a little garlic..I like a lot so keep adding it!!! Once the beans are sauteed, add a little water and cover the beans. Within 10-15 minutes, you have a masterpiece..someone will swear you're a master but we know...you're not! These beans are always a highlight when I make them so let them be a highlight to your family!

Oxnard: El Portal

2009-02-28T06:04:00.000-08:00

I ate here last night. I purchased one of those coupon booklets from a local high school. Kenna always supports the kids cause hey, I was a kid before and I'd be asking everyone to buy this and buy that! Anyway, El Portal is a small Mexican restaurant in an Oxnard shopping center. It's behind the Carl's Junior off Vineyard:

2311 N Oxnard Blvd
Oxnard, CA 93036
(805) 485-5400

I enter the restaurant and look up at this huge board full of Mexican specialities. I go the punk route and pick the Picadillo enchiladas. Well, I ordered water because I need it! No soda for me! Anyway, the food took about ten minutes to prepare. I received a piping hot plate of 3 ground beef enchiladas, rice, beans, sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo. These enchiladas were stuffed with seasoned ground beed, diced potatoes and carrots so I guess you could say I got my veggies! They were topped with that infamous red sauce and lots of gooey cheese. Shockingly, the older I get, the less I like cheese so I scraped that off. These enchiladas were flavorful and full of meat. I was not disappointed...I actually cleaned my plate. The rice was seasoned but I was expecting the traditional Spanish style red tomato based rice. I guess the rice there is a family recipe.

The meal wasn't expensive at all. I added an order of chips and my total was $8.52 I noticed that they sell umm..yeah..adult beverages so I decided to have a daiquiri. It was $3.50 which is pretty cheap compared to paying the $6-$8 elsewhere. I guess it's the daiquiri stimulus package??

I finished my meal and watched some tv there. The staff was friendly and they thanked me for coming in when I left. I'll definitely return here again to try their seafood dishes. The place is nice and has a cozy, at home kinda feel to it.

November 2008 (Oxnard, CA)

2008-11-17T17:28:00.001-08:00

Pho So
..details coming shortly!

Oxnard, CA (October 2008)...MY HOUSE!!

2008-10-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, my house..it's a quaint little restaurant with intimate seating for six under a modern chandelier and modestly art deco furnished place..garage parking is available for a small fee. The restaurant boasts an open exposition kitchen so you see everything in plain view. Fine dining at it's best yet in a casual and comfortable vibe....shoes optional.. There's outdoor seating for the elite who like to be noticed by the local paparazzi.....The chef has many years of culinary experience..trained by the best......

Ok, enough of my BS!!!!! I'm not much of a cook. Many would say I'm horrible but guess what, that's ok. Today I prepared something that even a child can make. Grilled shrimp..yes, grilled shrimp is about the only thing I can make and cannot mess up.

I have one of those Sunbeam Rocket Grillers...they used to be $100 and now you can get one for about $30. They work very well. Anyway, since I didn't go to any restaurants today, I thought I'd share my recipe...so simple even a caveman can do it!

Use the largest shrimp you can possibly buy..I typically buy the colossal shrimp about 10-12 shrimp per pound. If I am lazy, I use Old Bay seasoning. Sprinkle a little or a lot (if you are a braveheart) of the Old Bay seasoning onto the shrimp. I put my shrimp on skewers approximately 3 to 4 to each skewer. Get the grill hot and ready. Place the shrimp in the griller and within 3 to 4 minutes...you have a wonderful masterpiece. People will think you're some culinary genius when we really know...you're not!!!!!

Sometimes I use the Lawry's marinades like lemon pepper. I've tried their mesquite version and it's quite delicious. I made a horrible mistake of marinating cod and trying to grill it..never do this...I marinated the fish ALL DAY..it was a hot bubbling MESS!!!! I had to throw it away cause I know my husband wasn't going to eat it and neither was I!!!!

Join me next time as we take culinary travels through......the quaint restaurant in the city by the sea...MY HOUSE!

Palmdale, CA (October 2008)

2008-10-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

I am always always always in Palmdale on business..funny I never blogged about it. Anyway, I was here this week on a brief business trip. I ordered room service so I can only speak about two restaurants:

Famous Dave's
1205 Rancho Vista Boulevard
Palmdale, CA 93551
661-225-9616
www.famousdaves.com

My colleague and I go here for lunch a lot. I had the chicken strips and catfish strips lunch with cole slaw and corn. I love there cole slaw..pretty crunchy and sweet. The catfish is nothing to ring home about but it's ok. I didn't order ribs this week but they are very good here along with their hot links!

Carinos Italian
1173 W. Rancho Vista Blvd.
Palmdale, CA 93551
661-947-9700
www.carinos.com

This was my first time going here. The place is a chain but the food...not a chain! The bread here is quite tasty. It's rosemary infused and served traditional style with the olive oil and pepper mix. I ordered the cedar plank salmon with sauteed green beans and angel hair pasta. I opted to get less tomatoes on my pasta though. The salmon was very tender and flavorful. They bring it out still on the cedar plank which at that point is pretty damn crispy!!!!!!!!!

Jamaica Mon!!! Couples Negril FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! October 2008

2008-10-17T07:59:00.001-07:00

The hubs and I went to Negril, Jamaica for vacation. We stayed at the magnificent Couples Negril! This is a food blog so I'll only talk about the food but...this resort is fabulous and we will be going back in 2009 if I am not pregnant !!!!!!!!!!! Our house keeper was rubbing on my stomach so maybe that was some kinda magic potion...I dunno!!!! Just kidding!

On to the delectables:

Couples Negril has four restaurants: Otaheite, Lychee, Heliconia and Cassava Terrace. There is also a Beach Grill that serves fast foods in the daytime and during the wee hours of the night.

Our first night, we ate at the Jamaican buffet at Cassava Terrace. I am really trying to stay away from buffets since I generally lose my mind there but I did ok. The buffet is only three times a week and it's either Jamaican, Carribean or something else. The other nights are a la carte menu. The Jamaican buffet was absolutely great. Loads of succulent peppery shrimp cooked in a skillet the size of my car! My husband raved about their curried goat. He ate two plates. I don't do goat but he said it was pretty good. They also had whole roasted pig. I normally don't like to look into the face of something I am about to eat but I figured, hey he can't see me anyway!!! I had a few slices of the pig and it was delicious and quite savory. I am not into greens too much but there was callaloo (local spinach) and cabbage on the buffet. This was one of the best vegetables dishes ever. I made the mistake of putting some of the Grace hot sauce in there thinking the hot sauce was like my usual Louisiana hot sauce....not so...Grace is probably ten times hotter! BEWARE!!! The carrots and broccoli were tender and great too. It's weird since I am not into veggies that much but it was really easy for me to eat my veggies there. Perhaps a move to Jamaica could produce a healthier me...what say you??? We also ate the breakfast buffet here at Cassava Terrace daily. The breakfast always had hot pancakes and the best damn crispy bacon ever. Of course there're the normal breakfast fare of eggs, sausage, oatmeal, fruits, cereal and other dishes.One of the cooks got word that my husband likes curry goat so one morning, they made it for breakfast for him. Thought that was pretty nice of them to do that. They have morning smoothies as well. I had the passionate couple smoothie one day. Pretty good. I just wish I could have this kind of service at home daily...

On to Heliconia, we ate dinner here on a Friday night. We were told they were going to have lobster that night but they didn't. We went during the 10th anniversary party so all the goodies would be served on Saturday night. Heliconia menu changes often which is a good thing! I ordered the tuna, scallops and shrimp kebabs over blue cheese and cracked pepper rigatoni. I don't care for blue cheese very much but let's just say, I cleaned my plate. Mom would be so proud of me! I received two kebabs loaded with tender seafood and seasoned artichokes (damn vegetables again!!!). The tuna was thick and moist. The scallops and shrimp were very flavorful. I've never had this style of rigatoni but the sauce was savory to my mouth! My husband has the same thing except he didn't have pasta, he had rice and veggies. He also added a braised lamb shank which he said was good. I didn't taste it so I don't know!

Otaheite is the premier restaurant at Couples Negril. You even need to make a reservation to eat there. Well, we had a reservation and guess what, we didn't go. My husband looked at the menu for Otaheite and then the one for Lychee..well, Lychee looked pretty good so we made the decision to go to Lychee. I had to call and cancel our reservation and it was sad because the lady on the phone kept asking me if I was sure...well damn, I wasn't so sure after she kept asking me. Oh well, guess I'll find out next year!!!

Lychee was a fabulous choice. This is an Asian fusion restaurant. Now, I am always leery of fusion anything but kudos to the husband for this choice. We went there on our 6th anniversary and it was a great dinner to remember compared to other anniversary dinners!!!! Our first choice was an appetizer platter for two....chicken drumstick, eggrolls, wontons, beef stick and something else I am forgetting. There was a lady sitting next to me that wanted to have this delivered to her room at midnight...well shoot, deliver it to us as well!!! The second course was soup. I had a beef noodle soup that was steaming hot. We opted out for the salad. It had eggs in it and I don't like eggs. I ordered the evening special which was honey teriyaki glazed salmon......ok, another great decision. The salmon was a great size and it was filled. The glaze was slightly crispy..just how I like it!!! It was served with grated vegetables and rice. The hubby had some lamb dish. It was ok...if you like lamb, there is plenty around this restaurant! For dessert, hubby had tapioca pudding (ok, we travel thousands of miles for tapioca...give me a break!!!!) and I had the fried ice cream. Now I thought this was going to be the traditional Mexican fried ice cream which is the ice cream rolled in cornflakes....NOT SO...this was a breaded clam shaped dessert stuffed with strawberry ice cream. I ate the whole thing!!!!! If you go there, try their lychee inspired drinks. We had Lychee Sunrise, non alcoholic and it's very good!

10th Anniversary Party
There was a huge anniversary party while we were there. There was just too much food to name. I had a lot of crab legs, steamed shrimp, creole seafood, mussels, lobster and lots of other stuff *healthy right??*. The Cassava Terrace restaurant was turned into a massive buffet for at least 500 people. Huge ice sculptures decorated the place. There was an Asian food station, veggie station, cold seafood station, hot seafood station, jerk chicken and pork station, pasta station, bread and salad station, fruit station and I am sure I am leaving out something else. I have pics to prove it. They had a room.....I repeat a ROOM full of desserts. I had what I call flan (can't remember what the locals call it) and other desserts! This was the best damn party I have ever been too...felt like a celebrity. There was a cocktail party prior to the dinner which had tons of sushi, trapeze artists and ballerinas all over the place.

Beach Grill was open everyday from 11AM to 6PM then again from 11PM to 5AM. This was the place to go get beef patties, hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, sandwiches, jerk chicken and other delights whenever you felt like it. I must admit, we were eating like 4 and 5 meals a day but somehow I didn't gain any weight...I actually lost some pounds...could be all the walking I did and all the water I drank plus walking up and down three flights of steps is good cardio for anybody!!

I tried a lot of alcoholic concoctions on this trip from Hummingbirds to Governor House to Dirty Bananas and other drinks.

OFF TOPIC but useful info:
Sunrise Liquors in the Montego Bay airport has the best prices for liquor. I bought some Appleton rum at the Hilo supermarket in downtown Negril...well, it was $3 less at the airport.

Souvenirs...buy them at Times Square Mall at a store next to the smoke shop...cheapest store in the area with really good prices. Shot glasses are $0.75 compared to the $3 everyone else wants. Shirt quality is good too and they have XXL for those like me who need it!! You can get embroided shirts here for a good price.

Jungle Club......a happening place to be if you like to dance all night long. We went there and it was pretty fun. Just don't look at the snakes when you walk in! http://www.junglenegril.com/ Pretty reasonable to get in about $7 for ladies and $9 for men. Afterwards, there are plenty of people out there selling jerk chicken, drinks and other stuff if you'd like.

Runaway Deli at the Montego Bay airport has frozen Jamaican patties if you want to take some home.

Oxnard, CA (September 26th, 2008)

2008-09-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

CJ's Barbeque
http://cjsbarbecueonline.com/
480 S. Victoria Avenue
Oxnard, CA 93035
805-815-3024

Let me just say.....this place NEVER lets me down...NEVER! This is a small eatery in town and let me tell you, it is always overflowing with folks...that should tell you that they are obviously doing something right or they are putting liquid crack in the food. I vote that they are doing something right! I typically go to CJ's Barbecue after church..you know, get the soul fed and then the stomach! Amen! I went to CJ's on Friday night and I ordered the usual, my usual is half a pound of fried catfish, green beans and macaroni and cheese. Now, I must remind you that this is a southern joint. Don't come up in there expecting low fat, low carb or whatever. You might as well...go home! Their catfish is probably the best catfish one could have ever tasted. Now my husband makes good catfish but this place, it's crispy, evenly coated and for the real kicker...it's not dried out like some other places. The macaroni and cheese is homemade and baked like I like it. I typically walk in through the back door and I noticed the macaroni shells in a package..certainly not that crap you get at an unnamed chicken restaurant....Kindly Fried Chicken....The green beans are always a hit with me. I don't think they are canned beans just doctored up since canned beans typically have that odd color and slightly mushy, their green beans are seasoned with smoked meat. With the dinner, there's always a nice toasted, buttered roll. The half pound catfish dinner costs $9.99 sometimes I eat it all and others, well I'll take some home. They also sell desserts such as pecan pie (delicious and you would be remissed if you didn't have it), sweet potato pie and other items. They have peach cobbler but I am sorry CJ...it's missing a key ingredient and I am probably biased since I hail from the south...umm....only I know what the key ingredient is!!!! Regardless, if you're ever in Oxnard, do yourself a favor and go to CJ's..they even have SWEET TEA for all you Californias who can't get tea like momma used to make..you know, the tea made in the backyard..sun tea...maybe only my mom did that????

Enjoy

Duh...I failed to mention the BBQ!!! I am not much of a BBQ person but my grandma and mom came to visit me. Well, let's just say they licked the bones clean....enough said!

Oxnard, CA (September 24th, 2008)

2008-09-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Thai Corner
2131 N. Oxnard Blvd
Oxnard, CA
805- 983-8885

I ordered take out from this restaurant on Wednesday. This was my second time coming here. Rarely do I frequent Thai places...I guess because sometimes I forget they exist? I know, shame on me. Thai Corner is simply put....in a corner off the busy Oxnard Blvd in Oxnard. The restaurant used to be an Arby's many moons ago. The location is large and well decorated with traditional fabrics, artwork and pictures. Now on to the food...I wasn't sure what to order and my husband is pretty picky when it comes to certain foods. I wanted an appetizer so I ordered the angel wings. Unfortunately, they were out. The order taker suggested that I try the Royal Shrimp so I did. This was a slightly spiced shrimp cooked in a wonton skin served with a sweet chili sauce. I was surprised at the size of the order...quite impressive for a dish that was $8.95

For my dinner, I order the Garlic and Pepper Chicken.....moist, succulent chicken in a medium brown sauce with crunchy peppers and onions. There were also fresh cucumbers slices in there along with cilantro for an extra kick. For the hubby, I ordered pepper steak..a unique cocktail of pineapples, seasonings and flavorful steak. Let's just say he ate the whole thing ....

I will definitely return to this restaurant again. Now I know where they are..that hidden gem of a corner!

Men Can Cook Contest-Ventura County 9/27/08

2008-09-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Men Can Cook contest (sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Xi Kappa Omega Chapter of Ventura County!) was GREAT!!!! We had some last minute emergencies with some of our men. Anywho, I told one of my sorors "what will be, will be" and there it is! We always have different kinds of food. There are three categories: Best Entree, Best Side Dish and Best Dessert. Those are selected from a distinguished panel of judges. The judges are not just folks off the street. They are restauranteurs, graduated from culinary schools and whatnot! The judges were Antonio Anderson from Enoteca Toscana Wine Bistro in Camarillo, Martha Garcia from Tomas Cafe in Oxnard and Chef C. Gerard Turbush owner of Jala Fresca in Simi Valley. We also have something called the People's Choice Award where the people get to select their favorite item.

Anyway, the winners:

Best Entree: Beef Burgundy by Charles Simpson (ok, I don't even like beef but this was off the chain for real!)

Best Side Dish: Soul Food Pancit by Charles Jones (oh my God, I am about to run to this man's house just to get more of this..this dish was filled with succulent chicken and shrimp, pancit is a traditional Filipino dish and Mr. Jones hooked it UP....ALL THE WAY UP!!!!)

Best Dessert:Banana Pudding by Joshua Weaver (what can I say, I am a sucker for banana pudding...let me just say I had banana pudding for breakfast today and I am not ashamed of it either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

There were second runner ups as well such as Earrington Gentry who was 2nd runner up for entree with his delicious bbq ribs. Sidereck Ross was 2nd runner for side dish of jambalaya. That jambalaya was smokin' hot...I don't know what he put in it but a sister was SWEATING!!!!!!!!!!! The runner up for dessert was George Sellers who make this homemade buttermilk pie. I admit, I had never heard of this but this pie had a great flaky crust and a smooth filling. I should have had another slice doggone it!

People's Choice Award went to Bernie Canilao for his homemade lumpia....whoosh, I don't want to tell you how many I ate since that is between me and the lumpia!!!

All the men who win in the Best category win a nice trophy and a nice set of pots and pans. The runner ups receive serving dishes. The People's Choice Award received a trophy and an electric cooker.
Be sure to attend the contest next year!

Camarillo, CA (September 22nd, 2008)

2008-09-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

Crab House Restaurant

(805) 987-497-9350

350 N Lantana St

Camarillo, CA

http://www.thecrabhouse.net/

I had the pleasure of eating lunch here today with one of my friends. I've been here before but it's been at least a year or two. Anyway, we arrived and there was only one other group dining today. The server was friendly and he brought us fresh bread...the bread looks like a big roll but it's very fresh and it was served warm with garlic butter (or so I think is garlic butter) on the side. I looked at the Lunch Specials and decided to order the seafood linguini. This dish was $9.50 and it was loaded with bay shrimp and baby scallops. The pasta sauce was this creamy garlic sauce that was flavored well..not overpowering like some places. There was probably enough pasta for two but being greedy...I ate the whole thing. Service was prompt and the prices are reasonable. I added a cup of New England Clam Chowder for 1.99 which was a good compliment to my pasta dish. My friend ordered the lobster fettucine...the lobster was fresh and juicy...it was moist and flavorful as well. I will try that the next time!

I will return here again for lunch and perhaps dinner.

Ventura, CA (August 2008)

2008-09-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

Charlene's Urban Tapas and Wine Bar
546 E Main St
Ventura, CA 93001-2629
Phone: (805) 652-2255
will post the website

This is a new restaurant in Ventura on the happening scene of Main Street. Charlene's is a wine bar..the place is really swanky and cool. I went there last month on a Saturday with some girlfriends. The menu is limited to only tapas but there is enough on there to appease even the picky eaters. I had the jerk shrimp over gouda grits....let me say, I am not a cheese lover and I wasn't sure I'd like gouda in my grits but oh....gouda is the way to go. The grits were smooth, not lumpy and stiff like some people make. The shrimp was fresh and quite flavorful...I would have preferred a couple more shrimp but I have to remember tapas are simply that...just an appetizer not a meal. I ordered their southern sangria...the serving size was quite ample and my mind was satisfied. I will be going back here again. There is live music during the week and on weekends. The place is cozy and well decorated..I met the owners and they kinda seem like you're dealing with your brother and sister...very nice down to earth people. Check them out and order the collard green egg rolls if you dare!

Camarillo, CA (September 20th, 2008)

2008-09-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

Chester's Asia
http://www.chestersasia.com/
2216 Pickwick
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-482-6564

This is another one of those gems of a restaurant. I've been eating here for YEARS since I moved to California. The hubby and I went here tonight for one of their family style dinners. We had wonton soup, appetizers (fried shrimp, paper wrapped chicken, eggroll and bbq ribs), three flavor chow mein, shrimp fried rice, sweet and sour shrimp and kung pao chicken. We ended up taking most of the food home which is good so I am not cooking tomorrow! Total bill was only $41 which is decent. We could have shared with at least two other people..thank God it was only us! You will never be disappointed here...go and try it!

Ensenada, Mexico (December 2007)

2008-09-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

Mango Mango
Ensenada, Baja California
Av. López Mateos No. 335, Plaza Hussong's
Tel: (646) 178 - 3883 NexTel: 152*131549*3.
eventos@mangomango.com.mx
www.mangomango.com.mx

I went on a cruise last year and did a cooking class at this restaurant with their head chef. The class was great and I learned the secret to making salsa.....MAKE IT YOURSELF..don't buy it! Ha ha, who knew it could be so easy. During our class, the hubs and I were able to order drinks so we ordered mango margaritas..be careful....these can hurt but then again, I wasn't driving so I just kept drinking them and they were very delicious! Hubs had the strawberry and mango mixed and he loved it. I'd like to go back here again just to see what it's like at night. I believe it's a club then!

Tucson, AZ (March 2008)

2008-09-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

I will post this shortly....I have to find my info!

Austin, TX (Jan/Feb 2007)

2008-09-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

I ate at this place called Houston's. Umm, it was really good. The wait there is long but definitely worth it. Here's info on the restaurant:
Houston's
2408 W Anderson LnAustin, TX 78757-11041 512 451 7333www.houstons.comI waited over 40 minutes to eat here...it was worth it!! The place is a chain but it doesn't taste like chain food. There are others throughout the states including Memphis, Boston, Kansas City, etc..

On Saturday I went to the Alamo Drafthouse. This is a movie theatre where you can actually have your dinner in the theatre! what a concept! The food is decent. Nothing special though and it was reasonably priced. You can also order "drinks" with your dinner too!!! I will definitely go back here again if I go to Austin. (also in Houston and San Antonio)http://www.drafthouse.com/many locations in Austin to serve you.

New York, NY

2008-09-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

Maggie Brown
455 Myrtle Ave
Brookklyn NY 11205
718-643-7001
http://www.maggiebrownrestaurant.com/index.php
This place was really good. It's really tiny and it was packed. Food is reasonably priced and you get a lot. I had the Maggie Brown Fried Fish Club. It was a huge sandwich. I could have shared...but I didn't. I also had the sangria there. Very light drink with fresh fruit.

Garrett Popcorn
242 W 34th St. - 1 Penn Plaza
On 34th between 7th & 8thNew York, NY 10119http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/(apparently the only one in New York, the rest are in Chicago)I love cheese popcorn...love it! Beware, if you eat the popcorn here, go home first and wear a shirt you don't care about or get naked cause it's gonna be all over you!!! Very good cheese popcorn...expensive though!

Dani's Grocery
97-01 23rd Avenue
East Elmhurst, NY11369
Nothing special about this place...I wanted some Jamaican beef patties and this place had them for like a $1.25 They were cold but the guy will heat them up for you.

Empire Sports Bar (inside the Marriott Laguardia Airport Hotel)
102-05 Ditmars Boulevard
East Elmhurst, New York 11369
The burgers are huge here...for $14 they better be!!! Hot wings so hot, I had to ask for bread to soak up the spices!!

Chef Ho's (I went here many years ago...I will post the info later)

Orlando, FL (June 2007)

2008-09-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Palmera's Restaurant
(Puerto Rican cuisine)
6917 Municipal Drive
Orlando FL 32819
This place is kinda like a hidden gem. Kinda off the beaten path but the food is authentic and the service is kinda like having your mom serve you...the lady scolded me (in a friendly) manner cause I was too full to finish my food! Anyway, I went there two days in a row for lunch. Their fried chicken is delicious and is seasoned very well. Probably the best I have ever had. The beans and rice are to die for! Empanadas are good too. I had a cubano sandwich. It was ok but I am not into shreded pork sandwiches. Tried something called mofongo....umm...acquired taste but it's plantains with garlic and pork skins. My coworker loved it but I didn't. Anyway, here's a review:
http://orlandocitybeat.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/orlent-restaurants-palmeras-s,0,2375928.story?coll=orlnatent-headlines-top

168 Chinese Restaurant
7721 Turkey Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 363-1688
This place was...ok, nothing spectacular

Little Rock, Arkansas (June 2008)

2008-09-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

West End Smokehouse and Tavern
215 N. Shackleford
Little Rock, AR
http://www.westendsmokehouse.net/
Interesting place. Food was ok. Had shrimp but it had cornmeal on it????? The place is like a Jillians. They have a live band but this night it was a heavy metal band...I had a headache!!!!

Seattle, WA (March 2007)

2008-09-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

JOEYS
901 Fairview Avenue
North Seattle, WA. 98108-4457
Phone: 206-749-JOEY
http://www.joeysrestaurants.com/joey...20Lake%20Union
Umm, I had Alaskan king salmon here and some calamari and other stuff

Lola's
2000 4th AveSeattle, WA 98121
(206) 441-1430
http://www.tomdouglas.com/lola/index.html
This place was kinda weird...but the food was decent. Go only if you like weird stuff...ha ha, they serve food family style which is decent.

Grazie Ristorante
23207 Bothell Everett Hwy
Bothell, WA 98021http://www.grazierestaurant.com/graziehome.htmI went there for lunch one day and it was a good reasonable meal! I had spaghetti and it was good considering I am not a spaghetti eater.

Kwajalein/Ebeye (August/September 2007)

2008-09-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

Litaki Fast Foods
Ebeye Island, Kwajalien Atoll, Republic of Marshall Islands, Micronesia
I really don't think this place has an address but...once you get off the boats, turn left towards the main road and walk straight, make a left near the store there...Litaki's is on the left about a block's length down. There is nothing fast food about the place...not sure why they say that...I ate there last Sunday and it was really good. It's a Filipino/Japanese/Marshallese restaurant. I had a shrimp dish there with garlic rice and some beef lumpia. Food was superb...service is nothing but smiles. Waitress comes to your table sits down with you until you are ready to order...cool. The lady with me was from a place called Kosrae. She ordered grilled tuna cooked medium..she let me taste it and it was really good. Kinda covered with a vinegarette sauce but it was good. They also give you this hot coconut pudding stuff. I tasted it and it was very sweet! Good though!

Honolulu, Hawaii (Aug/Sep 2007)

2008-09-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Ala Moana Shopping Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 3253
Honolulu, HI 96814
Tel 808-949-GUMP (4867)
Fax 808-952-0400
This is a chain restaurant and surprisingly...very good. Food service is quick but the server in Honolulu appeared to be stoned...then again...maybe I was the strange one. I ordered the Boat Trash (fried shrimp, mahi mahi and lobster)..everything was good except the lobster. It was too tough so I didn't eat it. I ordered a drink called Peach Rock and Roll or something like that that came in a glass you can keep. That was really good. I spent $40 on lunch so that was ok considering it was a lot and I had one adult beverage.

Tapa Cafe
Hilton Hawaiian Village
2005 Kaila Drive
Honolulu, HI (Waikiki area)
808-949-4321 ext. 26.
Due to a stupid mistake by the hotel (I got in late at 4AM from my international flight and these bozos gave me the key to someone else's room..imagine..4AM..someone enters your room...yeah..just like that), I got free breakfast at this place. Well, it was worth me staying up the additional hour and a half to eat it. ...it's a breakfast buffet but it had great things on the breakfast menu such as grilled salmon, rice, miso soup, sushi among the traditional breakfast items. Cost is $23 a person but worth it in my opinion..I drank so much damn guava juice there!

Ala Moana Shopping Center
http://www.alamoana.com/
1450 ALA MOANA BOULEVARD
HONOLULU, HI 96814 (808) 955-9517
This is truly a great place to shop from the cheapos like me (Sears, Old Navy)to the discriminating tastes (Armani, Hermes, Prada, etc..). It's the largest open air mall and it's pretty cool!

Wailana Coffee House
18620 Ala Moana
Honolulu, HI
808-95-1764
You eat here because it's CHEAP..I got the breakfast special for $5.75 this morning...I couldn't even eat it all!!! Mai Tais are like $3-$4 here which is NOTHING.....

Tapa Bar
Hilton Hawaiian Village
2005 Kaila Drive
Honolulu, HI (Waikiki area)
808-949-4321 ext. 26.
They have live Hawaiian entertainment every night. I caught the show there last night and it was really good. Drinks are really good...think Hawaiian pina coladas and daiquiris with the umbrellas and the weird names!

Hatsuhana
808-946-8287
2005 Kalia Rd
Honolulu, HI
This is a Japanese restaurant located in the Hilton Hawaiian Village area. Two in New York and one in Hawaii. I ate there enroute to the Marshall Islands. It's ok...not great but ok. Food prices are reasonable like lunch specials for $8-$10. The Japanese sweet potato is very good..it's purple but tasted really good. I ordered the combo lunch plate or whatever it is called and it cost $16 and came with miso soup, salad, rice, cali rolls, tempura and chicken teriyaki.

Southern Cali...all the dern time!

2008-09-19T21:41:00.000-07:00

Marmalade Cafe
http://www.marmaladecafe.com/
140 Promenade Way Suite
Westlake Village, CA 91362
Tel.: (805) 370-1331
This place is not too shabby. Food's really good. I had halibut here which is probably "too meaty" a fish for me but otherwise very good.

Twin Palms Pasadena
101 W. Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91105-2027
(626) 577-2567
http://www.twin-palms.com
Food is pretty good. Atmosphere is relaxed and not too pretentious like a lot of LA spots. Service is good and very attentive.
We ordered the Dieter's Delight (umm, nothing about that is for someone on a serious diet!)
I ordered the Mediterrean chicken. That was good but I didn't care for the lemon butter on it. The red cabbage was delicious!
Margaritas were ok..I've had better...head to the border!

*Update, since I am in SoCAL, I will be updating this a lot.

San Francisco, CA (March 2008)

2008-09-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

House of NanKing
919 Kearny St
San Francisco, CA
415-421-1429
This little gem is in Chinatown and it is truly one of those hole in the wall places where you will think twice about going in but...go in..it's safe! If Peter is there, tell him you have no dietary restrictions and see what he comes up with for you! I was in San fran in March and I was with a group of folks and we went in for a family meal. All kinds of stuff from shrimp cakes to chicken with sweet potatoes and apples (it's really good I promise!).

Scoma's
Pier 47
San Francisco, CA
http://www.scomas.com/

I hate this place so much because it is located in SAN FRANCISCO!!!! Just kidding, I love Scoma's! Everytime I am there, I make it a part of the trip. Everything they have there is great. We love their cioppino!Order it and ask for a to go container because you're going to need it. I always get the seafood platter and nearly die because I try to finish it all!

July 2007 (went to a wedding reception here)

Hong Kong East Ocean Restaurant
http://www.hongkongeastocean.com/
3199 Powell Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
I went to a wedding reception on Saturday here and had a ten course meal!! Check this out:
Course 1:Hong Kong East Ocean Assortment Platter (this had roasted pork and chicken, jellyfish, sirloin steak, seaweed and octopus)

Course 2: Golden Craw Claws (this was a crab claw with minced shrimp fried up into a huge crispy thingy)

Course 3:Stir fried cuttlefish, scallops and jade greens (jade greens are really broccoli..who would have thunk it...this dish was great!)

Course 4: Royal Shark Fin Soup with Crab Meat (I didn't like this one..but my husband ate his and mine)

Course 5:Braised Fresh Abalone with Sea Cucumbers (this was ok..abalone is kinda bland though)

Course 6:Braised Lobster with Cream Sauce (now this was a tasty treat!!!!)

Course 7:Cracking Peking Duck (this was served with these little sandwich thingy with some onions and hoison sauce!!)

Course 8:House Smoked Fillet of Black Cod (I love this one too!!)

Course 9:Fried Rice with Garlic and Seafood (another good one!)

Course 10:Chilled Mango Pudding (this came out in the shape of a lobster..it was so good..I had two!!)

Course 11: (not really)wedding cake!!! lemon!

Chicago/Milwaukee (May 2008)

2008-09-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

Phoenix Restaurant
8349 W Lawrence Ave
Norridge, IL 60706
(708) 453-8100‎
This place is funny...like going to your mom's kitchen. Mostly homestyle American food. Pretty reasonable and it's good.

The Original Mama Mia's Pizzeria
4638 N Cumberland Ave
Chicago, IL 60656
Phone: (773) 625-8500
I didn't go here but I ordered it for delivery. Pretty good...if you like cheese...it was ok.

IPic Entertainment at Bayshore Town Center
5800 N. Bayshore Drive
Glendale, WI 53217
414.963.8779
They have a restaurant called Ovation Restaurant. I went to the Sequel Bar and that was cool! The place is a movie theatre/bowling alley/bar kinda place. The food was really good although we just ordered appetizers.

Memphis, TN (May 2008)

2008-09-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Highlights from my Memphis trip:
Round One Restaurant
6642 Winchester Rd
Memphis, TN 38115
(901) 367-1801
http://www.roundonerestaurant.com/
I went here Saturday night with my brother and cousins and we had a blast. Had a few drinks and I even tasted alligator for the first time. It was pretty good. The place is really nice inside, kinda has this swank appeal. Service is great and the staff is attentive. I will definitely go back here again!

Sunday night went to Beale Street which is like the "happening" street for Memphis. Lots of live music, good smelling food and interesting people to laugh at!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beale_Street
We stopped by one club there...I can't remember the name of it but it was cheap to get in and I was like...umm....ready to go..never mind, I remember now.The club was called Superior Bar. I can't even rate the place since I was there less than 30 minutes. I am out of the loop on music. I understand they do kareoke during the week.

Dodge's Chicken Store
(901) 396-5557
3923 Elvis Presley Blvd
Memphis, TN 38116
I've been here before. They sell these HUGE smoked turkey legs...so tasty!!!!

San Juan Capistrano, CA (June 2008)

2008-09-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

Ciao Pasta Trattoria
(949) 496-5002
31661 Camino Capistrano, Suite 201
San Juan Capistrano, California 92675
http://www.ciaopasta.net/
This restaurant is across the street from a huge mission. Lovely street filled with lots of history! I had the Farfalle al Salmone which is bowtie pasta with smoked salmon, onions and vodka sauce. This was really good. Too bad I couldn't finish it all!!! Oh well! There's next time!

Washington,DC (July 2008)

2008-09-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

whew, I am home and still tired as heck but I'll survive I suppose...anyway, I went to DC for my sorority's 100th anniversary! It was great. Lots of ladies all over town in their pink and green. Chances are high you probably saw me...or at least thought you did.....anyway here goes the highlights:

THE METRO....not a club...a transpo way of life!I love...love..love the metro! Spend many of days riding the blue, yellow, orange and red lines of this magnificent transportation system. Cheaper than taxis..I wish I knew this the first day I was there since I spent so much on taxis!!!!http://www.wmata.com/

The White House Tour
Umm, this was kinda corny...and to think I gave up my information to get into OBAMA's house...ha ha!! The tour lasts about 20 minutes and it is literally the basement of the White House..no upper rooms for you!!!!!

The Capitol Tour
This was GREAT!!! I traveled with my friend and she contacted our state representative. We had a personalized tour...better than the docent tour. Tour lasted about 1.5 hours and it was worth it. Lots of great history. I took a lot of pictures in here. Maybe I should upload some of them.

Smithsonian
FREE...need I say more..this was great and it was topped off when one of my clients called me and took me to lunch in the Smithsonian Castle....got to know someone and have one of those "id" cards to eat in that area. Pays to know folks in high places.

Mount Vernon, VA 1st President George Washington's House
This was an awesome tour. I loved it. Price was reasonable $13 and it includes a tour of Washington's home, a movie presentation and many other things. They have his burial site here and that was quite interesting. Also, there is a slave memorial and burial ground...umm, I think I felt the ancestors there. It's weird...knowing you are walking on someone's grave site. Thank God for our ancestors though they paved the way.http://www.mountvernon.org/Many of you know I like food...ha ha, that's what Mr. O says so here are the places I dined:

Jaleo
2250 A Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22202
Tel (703) 413-8181
Fax (703) 413-5566http://www.jaleo.com/
I went here the last time I was in DC. Pretty good sangria and Spanish tapas. Try the monkfish...who knew I'd like such an ugly fish.....Their menus change frequently so ask if they can make your favorite dish. They have three locations but I visited the one in Crystal City.

Clyde's
5441 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Phone: 301.951.9600
http://www.clydes.com/
What can I say about that crabcake...impressive is what I should say. The price is right...$10.95 for one and that's really all you need. Try the crab bisque..you won't be disappointed..tell them mrsk sent ya! They have several locations but we took the metro to Friendship Heights (I think that's where it is).

Georgia Brown
950 15th Street
Washington, DC 20005
http://www.gbrowns.com/
Ok..what kind of "soul food" restaurant doesn't have peach cobbler....I digress..I didn't eat much here...had the crab cake appetizer and a side of mac and cheese...umm..not impressed..the crab cake at Clyde's was much better and importantly...BIGGER. I was hungry when I left. The watercress salad was good though. I met a lady here who looked exactly like me...I took her picture so maybe I'll post that and you tell me if we do or not. I had a watermelon margarita here that was so potent...I'm pretty sure I was lit after leaving the joint! Boy was it pretty though!I had drinks and appetizers at the hotel lounge which was cool.Also went to Union Station I think and met up with one of my friends. This place is a big food court but I had a little snack...

Aditi India Kitchen (in Union Station)
I had some samosas here and they were spicy and I loved them!! They give you 2 for $2 which is a great price. They also have your usual Indian specialities like curry dishes and naan. I think I saw mango pudding here as well.SHOCKINGLY.....I never had the opportunity to hit any nightspots..we were pooped by the end of the day so we just fell out by 11ish..next time, I want to dance and sip the bubbly!I hope someone will read this! I plan to come to DC again..there is so much I didn't see. I did come there for my sorority's event which I am sure you DC peeps saw us on the news!PS..ladies if you are looking for the Italian Vogue magazine...better call first.....

Indianapolis, IN (stuff to do!) (August 2008)

2008-09-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

I was in Indy in August for a party..actually, I didn't even go to any restaurants but here's a quick recap of what I did:

Into Salsa
http://www.intosalsa.com/
363 N. Illinois St. Ste. 202 (Above Acapulco Joe's)
Indianapolis IN 46204
Email: mail@intosalsa.com
Phone: (317) 496-4196
My friend rented out this dance studio and she hired two instructors to teach us Latin dances. It was great. I'm outta shape so I am in a little bit of pain after dancing...ha ha ha!!
After the party, a large group of us walked The Canal:

Canal Walk
801 W. Washington St
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-233-2434
http://www.discovercanal.com/

There are a lot of museums and interesting buildings along this canal. The canal was a passageway for commerce in the early 19th century. Good place to bring a date, families, dogs and whatnot. They have a tribute to veterans there which is really nice.

Southern Maryland and bits of DC (September 2008)

2008-09-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

Well, as usual, here are my restaurant highlights!

The Naughty Gull
http://www.naughtygullpub.com/
455 Lore Road,Solomons, MD
410-326-GULL

I was in Solomons this week on business and I ate at this place...the food is excellent...I had the seafood platter which had scallops, shrimp, flounder and crabcake...I had it broiled and it was excellent! I would definitely recommend this place if you are in the area. I wasn't too crazy about the side dishes but the seafood was very fresh.

Panera Bread
http://www.panerabread.com/
45250 Worth Avenue
California, MD 20619(301) 863-8305
This is a chain restaurant but they have really good salads, soups and sandwiches. I suspect you can find these places anywhere.

Mexico Restaurant
http://www.mexico-restaurant.com/
11735 Rousby Hall Rd
Lusby, MD, 20657
This is also a chain but it's pretty good. Prices are very reasonable. I had a chicken burrito and enchilada here. Ask them to put half the sauce or else you'll be pushing it to the side like I did! I have to admit...they have the best damn daiquiri I have ever had!!!!

Isaac's Restaurant
http://www.isaacsrestaurant.com/
155 HOLIDAY DRIVE
SOLOMONS, MD 20688
410-326-6311
My conference was at this hotel and this restaurant provided the lunch everyday....the food, very very good especially their salmon fillets and the clam/crab chowder!

Saphron Restaurant
http://www.saphronrestaurant.com/
135 Central Square Drive
Prince Frederick, Maryland 20678
410.414.9903
Hands down, this is probably one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. It's a husband and wife team that own this place. There was a book in my hotel called Landmarks and this restaurant was listed in there as one of the best new restaurants...well, it is. I had the Mediterrean Seafood Pasta...wow...mussels, scallops and shrimp all over a bed of wide noodle tomato pasta with garlic and white wine sauce. the seafood here was very fresh...actually, I think i saw them cut the head off of shrimp and it was still moving!!! ok..maybe not but it was GREAT!!! I will definitely drive to eat here again.

Finn & Porter Alexandria
http://www.finnandporter.com/alexandria/
5000 Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA 22314
I ate breakfast here since this is where I was staying. Breakfast wasn't bad at all. Buffet style but very very good...I was surprised to see lox on the menu but I guess that's how it is! Would recommend if you are staying at the hotel there.

Carlyle
http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/carlyle/
4000 Campbell Avenue (formerly South 28th Street)
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 931-0777
I've been here before. Had the crab cakes here..very good with minimal filler. Also had the calamari and the blue crab fritters. I would go here again!

There is more I could say but I am way tired!!

(Trip dates 9/13-9/18/2008)

Hey gang!

2008-09-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hey world, I created this blog to chronicle places I've dined at....I know, I guess I am an unofficial food critic but what the heck, I am here to help you!!! I will probably blog about my travels but not so much!! Some of the info is old so I'll post the dates of the trips. I've been writing these kind of reports for a while so I'll try to update as much as possible! My comments are kinda limited. If you need more info, post a comment and I will give more details!