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truffle

Napa Valley Grille - Westwood

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Napa Valley Grille - Westwood

I've been to Napa Valley Grille before and find how crazy time flies since it's been a year the last time I talked about it. Last year during my first visit, it was for their grand reopening after an amazing 2 million dollar renovation. Now I am back to try a few additions to their menu. 

Here are the new items on the menu:

Dinner Menu

  • Grilled Ancho-Crusted Albacore Tuna
  • Seasonal Harvest Salad
  • Caesar Salad
  • Crescenza Cheese & Serrano Ham Tartine
  • Oven-Roasted Jidori Chicken Breast
  • Bucatini Pomodoro
  • Grilled Prime New York Strip
  • Grilled Wagyu Tomahawk Chop 

Sides:

  • Creamy Polenta
  • Sautéed Brussel Sprouts
  • Charred Marble Potatoes
  • Sautéed Wild California Mushrooms
  • Cavatappi Mac and Cheese

Desserts:

  • Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie
  • Warm Sticky Toffee Date Cake
  • Strawberry Vanilla Mascarpone Cake

Charcuterie - Prosciutto, duck salumi, soppressata, housemade brandied chicken liver pâté, seasonal jam, and charred rustic bread

My favorite bite was a slab of chicken liver pâté on top on the rustic bread with a smear of their jam.

Grilled Ancho-Crusted Albacore Tuna -peppercress, pink peppercorn, lavosh, dill sauc

Prime NY Strip - 14 oz, charred onion-thyme jam, green peppercorn-cognac jus. Cooked Medium Rare.

Charred Marble Potatoes - white truffle, crème fraîche, chive

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts - crispy pancetta, sherry

Strawberry-Vanilla Mascarpone Cake - strawberry jam filling, mascarpone cream

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EMC Seafood - Arcadia

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EMC Seafood - Arcadia

I've been to EMC a few times before and happy to share their recent grand opening at the Santa Anita mall (Arcadia, CA). I knew a lot of people made their way out to Koreatown and wait in a line over an hour. Wait no more! Well maybe a little bit... but at least you don't have to drive as far depending on which way you are coming from. They are known for their oysters. From Kumamotos to Kusshi, $1 dollar happy hour oysters, their famous uni pasta, and of course more seafood creations. See full menu HERE (Santa Anita).

Here's a glimpse from the media night I attended. (Thanks to everyone that joined the fun when I went live on Instagram!)

Wine, always red. I don't even care if I'm having seafood.

Wine, always red. I don't even care if I'm having seafood.

Yogurt Brulee

With berry compote. This is temporary.

400 S. Baldwin Ave. Suite 2215 Arcadia CA 91007

 

 

 

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Big Catch Seafood - Downtown Alhambra

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Big Catch Seafood - Downtown Alhambra

 

Do you guys remember how Downtown Alhambra used to be like? It was nothing. Besides the Edwards Renaissance or Johnny Rockets, and ok from time to time Diner on Main, there was pretty much nothing to go there for. In a huge leap of a decade, it's evolved into this whole beast of, perhaps, gentrification. 

There are so many new restaurants on Main street it's become the new location to hang out and mingle. Big Catch just opened their doors the past week and boy does this change up the scene. Downtown Alhambra now has an innovative restaurant that doesn't just serve great food, but also provides an amazing ambience for date nights, hang out with friends, celebratory dinners, and just a great destination to wow your families in town.

Below are a few, but not limited, of the different dishes I got to try.

Fried Oysters

Fried Oysters

Truffle Salmon Roll 

Truffle Salmon Roll 

Crap Dip

Crap Dip

Oysters : Around 7 oysters to pick from.

Oysters : Around 7 oysters to pick from.

Hokkaido Scallop

Uni Pasta

Uni Pasta

Tomahawk Rib Chop - USDA Prime.

Tomahawk Rib Chop - USDA Prime.

Hickory Smoked Salmon

Hickory Smoked Salmon

Vanilla Creme Brulee

Vanilla Creme Brulee

 

2 S Garfield Ave Ste 100 Alhambra, CA 91801

**Recommend to make reservations.

 

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Pier Del Sol - Special Olympics 2016

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Pier Del Sol - Special Olympics 2016

The Special Olympics Southern California offers year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 26,006 athletes in 11 Southern California counties train and compete in 12 Olympic-type summer and fall sports. There is no cost for athletes to participate in Special Olympics.

I'm extremely excited to support Special Olympics Southern California at the 20th annual Pier del Sol fundraiser event on October 9th at Santa Monica. It's a fantastic event hosted once a year with family fun events featuring rides, entertainment, food, silent auctions and more.

 

Below is a little more about the mission and vision of Special Olympics Southern California:

“The mission of Special Olympics Southern California is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Our vision is to provide sports and training programs for any individual with intellectual disabilities who chooses to participate, thereby improving their lives and the lives of everyone they touch.”
— Special Olympics Southern California

Here are all the awesome food that I got to eat. For $175 a ticket, you get spoiled with some of the best restaurants of Los Angeles, meet the athletes (even sing with them), go on rides (for free), get 12 game tickets, and knowing that all proceeds goes towards the programs.

Oysters from Providence / Connie's & Ted is always a favorite stop.

Live music to celebrate the 20th annual Pier Del Sol. 20's themed.

One of my favorite games! Watching awesome special Olympic athletes play.

Children are super competitive.

12 tickets, 12 chances!

Can you guess who won?

Can you guess who won?

Yup..

My brother wins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Irvine, CA

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EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Irvine, CA

All you Los Angeles natives out there have been crazing over EMC. And if you aren't not from LA, the chances of your friends taking you hear is pretty high. Just like the poke craze, ice cream donuts, and even F'ing churros, you know have tons of restaurants serving up their own raw bar. EMC was one of those top hitters that made it popping first with their location in K-town. It's like 10PM and my friends would still want to head out for Happy Hour. Well wait no more because they also have one open in Irvine. I'm not sure how long the wait can get considering how packed the location in K-Town gets, but those of you that huddles in one car for this, that live out of LA can worry no more.

14346 Culver Dr, Irvine, CA 92604

Best part yet is that they are conveniently right off the 5 on Culver. Not even a mile off the exit to find yourself the grand restaurant waiting for you to devour everything they have.

And they have a lot:

Lobsters are still alive. Oysters are still shut. Sea Urchins just laying there, looking dead, but you know they are hella alive and waiting to be popped out of their shell. Whole f'ing branzinos. I can go on and on, but it won't be fair for me to relive this moment at home.

Ginger Beer making it's way.

Crispy Garlic Brussels Sprouts. I know. Before you start talking about how I am ranting about the seafood, and I start showing you a bowl of sprouts. Because these were so delicious! Just so perfectly cooked and extremely flavorful. And, I am a huge advocate about having some kind of greens with your meal. Like a big steak with a piece of broccoli. That good balance talk, you feelin' me?

We had 1/2 a dozen of Kumamoto oysters and 1/2 of Kusshi. Fresh, sweet, perfectly shucked, with cocktail sauce and jalapeno lime. Always a must order.

I know. Here I go again. Now, what the F does fries have to do with anything? These are fries with truffle mushroom aioli. Like shut the front door who the hell comes up with this stuff? That garlic you see right THERE is some good umami-mouth-gasm right there. Fried so crispy with soft centers, ooooo that just gets me right here *points at my heart*. And for the record, it's on the starters menu so it ain't no side dish psssshhh (I literally did the hair whip).

The glorious Uni pasta. Also, that one Uni pasta that everyone talks about. It really does live up to the rave. The spaghetti was perfectly cooked and coated in a cream, Fish Roe, Chives, and Dried Seaweed concoction. The fish roe did it for me. I love-love-loved the texture that it gave the noodles.

If this is the only thing you came here for, by all means do it. If you want to eat a lot of other items, make sure you get this to share. It's a heavy dish even though a delicious one.

Toro Toro Roll - Ground yellowtail and albacore belly inside, topped with chu toro and caviar on top. The kind of fishes you want to eat simply. A touch of wasabi and soy sauce to compliment the fattiness of the fishes. Cleanse your palate with some ginger after before headed for your next bite.

Lobster roll definitely winning. Served with a slice of lemon and melted butter. I am sensitive to butter. Makes me really tired if I have too much so I just use a tad. But what's really a tad when it's melted? Feels like you can easily pour the whole thing on, no regrets. The lobster is cooked in Tarragon Butter, Sea Salt, and stuffed inside a Brioche Bun. Thumbs up for the flavor combo.

We also ordered their black pepper filet mignon to those allergic to seafood. Delicious, tender, and perfect with the bowl of rice it comes with. We also had their crispy pepper calamari that's served with spicy aioli shown below:

14346 Culver Dr, Irvine, CA 92604

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