Sunday, November 30, 2014
Friday, November 28, 2014
Chef Jose Andres' Zaytinya (Washington, DC)
When I go to DC, naturally I have to try one of Jose Andres' restaurants that I have not been to yet. Having tried Bazaar in LA and Jaleo, I went with Zaytinya, his Mediterranean restaurant.
The restaurant sent out a couple of spreads with their fluffy, airy pita bread that's served warm. We got the Htipiti (marinated roasted red peppers, feta, thyme, $7.50) and Hommus ma lahm (hommus, spiced ground Jamison lamb, pine nuts, pickled wild cucumber, mint, $9)
You know how sometimes the simplest things turn out to be the best? Same with these. I was glad they sent these out since I may not have ordered them otherwise, but my cousin and I loved both spreads. My cousin was particularly addicted to the htipiti. It was so flavorful, yet luscious thanks to the feta, and the fluffy, delicate pita was so good.
Our next course is something I must order every time I see it on the menu:
Seared halloumi cheese, dates, pomegranate, orange, mint ($9.50)
I love halloumi cheese and I liked this rendition combined with the thick, sweet dates.
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:13 AM 1 comments
Labels: dc, haloumi, hummus, jose andres, mediterranean, truffle, turkish coffee, washington dc, zaytinya
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Pumpkin Kouign Amann at B Patisserie (San Francisco, CA)
Because fall is the season for pumpkin desserts, I'm reminded of the absolutely amazing pumpkin kouign amann that I had last year at Belinda Leong's b.patisserie in San Francisco.
Secondly, the kouign amann at B Patisserie is really, really good. It's better than Dominique Ansel's DKA, if I can be so bold to say so. Top all that off with the fact that sometimes you'll find seasonal fillings. Like pumpkin. Like delicious, creamy pumpkin filling.
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:55 AM 0 comments
Labels: b patisserie, bakery, belinda leong, granola, kouign amann, pastry, pumpkin, pumpkin dessert, san francisco, sf, sfo
Monday, November 24, 2014
Brisket, Biscuits, and Honey Butter at Sweet Cheeks Q (Boston, MA)
In the Fenway/Kenmore neighborhood of Boston is Sweet Cheeks Q, a barbecue joint from Top Chef finalist, Tiffani Faison. It's noted to be the most expensive bbq place in Boston, but possibly also the best.
You can order meats by the pound or get a tray with 1, 2, or 3 meats (the last one is called the Fat Cheeks Tray) that comes with two sides.
Above anything else, though, you have to - absolutely must - get the biscuits with honey butter.
If you eat nothing else at this place, the biscuits need to be the one thing you do try. They are warm, buttery, flaky biscuits that are heavenly with that honey butter. Oh, that honey butter ... No one will blame you if you just come here and eat a bucket of biscuits.
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:14 AM 0 comments
Labels: barbecue, bbq, biscuit, boston, brisket, fenway, honey butter, ribs, sweet cheeks, tiffani faison, top chef
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Fun, Modern, All Day Dining at Recess Eatery – Apparently Glendale Rocks
by guest blogger @iam_robot
Guess What? There’s a legit modern-dining in Glendale and it’s been there for 5 freakin’ years. Being a Glendale transplant for 15 years, I am deeply ashamed to never have heard Recess Eatery until two weeks ago.
Below are the dishes presented to me:
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:25 AM 0 comments
Labels: glendale, guest blog, recess, recess eatery, sevan abdessian
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Holiday Gifting: Handmade Toffees from B.Toffee
Looking for holiday gifts? Local, artisanal, and most importantly delicious products like B.Toffee would make a great gift. B.Toffee was started by Betsy Thagard and 2009 and the toffees are handmade in Newport Beach. The caramelized sugar is topped with a blend of Guittard and Callebaut chocolate, and finished off with a layer of pecans.
The texture of this toffee is perfect. It's crunchy but in between bites the chocolate melts in your mouth. The caramel is neither too hard nor too sticky. I never thought I would like a toffee this much but I'm kind of addicted to these things. Feel free to send my some for Christmas.
You can order the toffee online at https://btoffee.com/ or check their website for a list of stores that carry them!
Need more gifts? Check out this post for other local foodie gift ideas!
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:31 AM 0 comments
Labels: artisanal gifts, b toffee, chocolate, gourmet gift, holiday gift guide, local product, los angeles, newport beach, sweets, toffee
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Brunch at Kirkland Tap and Trotter in Somerville (Boston, MA)
The burger at James Bear winner Tony Maws' Craigie on Main was so popular, he opened up Kirkland Tap and Trotter to make more accessible burgers. But the two burgers will remain distinct, though, keeping the Craigie burger "sacred." Instead, Kirkland Tap and Trotter will serve their own version along with other casual fares.
At any rate, I've been wanting to try KT&T for a while, and I got the chance to join Boston Brunchers for brunch one weekend.
We all started by sharing some orders of the Sticky Bun ($5)
I liked the (relatively) lighter consistency of the bun, and the amount of nuts they've put in between the folds!
I had a hard time choosing what entree to get since there are a few that sounded interesting and delicious, but since this is my first time here, I decided I should try the burger.
Grilled grass-fed cheeseburger, kimchi Russian dressing, Emmenthaler cheese ($12) with fried egg and house-cured bacon (+$2)
Posted by gourmetpigs at 7:43 AM 0 comments
Labels: boston, brunch, burger, french toast, kirkland tap and trotter, somerville, sticky bun, tony maws
Monday, November 17, 2014
Cattle Ranch Tour with Certified Angus Beef
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:35 AM 0 comments
Labels: abbie nelson, angus cattle, cattle ranch, certified angus beef, five star land and livestock, ranch tour, sacramento, seedstock, wilton
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Ticket Giveaway! LA Weekly's Sips and Sweets on December 7
Think holiday shopping is stressful? Then you should go to LA Weekly's Sips and Sweets presented by Keurig, where you can shop through LA's artisanal vendors while eating sweets and cocktails prepared by LA's finest.
Oh, and you can even go for free if you win the ticket giveaway below. Lucky you.
Posted by gourmetpigs at 7:56 AM 9 comments
Labels: contest, event, food event, giveaway, holiday shopping, la weekly, pastries, shopping event, sips and sweets, sweets, ticket giveaway
Thursday, November 13, 2014
B&G Oysters (Boston, MA)
There's no lack of oysters in Boston, but B and G Oysters in the South End from prolific restaurateur Barbara Lynch is one of the best places to get some.
The oysters here are market price, but you can fill your stomach with the rest of their seafood-focused menu, like a tuna tartare bourride with citrus, soft yolk, chicharron crumble ($16)
But don't miss the Fried oysters with housemade tartar sauce ($15)
Posted by gourmetpigs at 7:29 AM 0 comments
Labels: b and g oysters, barbara lynch, boston, boston restaurants, fried oyster, oyster, oyster bar, seafood, south end
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Lunch Prix Fixe at Mario Batali's Del Posto (New York, NY)
One of the things I love about New York is the lunch prix fixes, allowing you to try some of the city's best restaurants for a lot less money. When I went with my mom and my aunt last time, we tried Del Posto's lunch: $49 for three courses (with an option to add pasta for $10). With three of us, we got to try a lot of things!
The lunch started with some complimentary finger sandwiches and Cauliflower soup
Bread service
The menu at Del Posto is seasonal, of course, though you might still find some mainstays like this
Vitello Tonnato (olive crostone, caper shoots, lime cells, lemon basil)
Vitello tonnato is a Piedmontese dish of veal slices served in a creamy tuna sauce.
Cotechino (stewed pistachios, chopped Preboggion - that's just mixed green leafy vegetables)
Cotechino is a pork sausage, but the distinction is that this pork sausage is typically made by boiling over low heat for a few hours. It gives a softer flavor than many other charcuterie.
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:28 AM 0 comments
Labels: bastianich, chelsea, del posto, italian, lunch, manhattan, mario batali, new york, NYC, pasta, power lunch, prix fixe, travel
Monday, November 10, 2014
Kali Dining: An Underground Dinner with Chef Kevin Meehan
When I saw foie gras on Kevin Meehan's Kali Dining menu, I knew I had to go before I moved away. Kali Dining is an underground dinner party that takes place at different locations throughout the year. The menu is set (at $65 when I attended) and this time it was in a beautiful home in Marina del Rey.
We got there and mingled while watching chef Kevin Meehan and his team at work. The dinner is BYOB and there were plenty of wines to go around. The dinner party was pretty small, no more than 20. Meehan makes a great host too, chatting and joking with everyone.
We started with the long-awaited amuse bouche of foie gras truffle
Next amuse: Egg yolk poached in ash oil
Posted by gourmetpigs at 7:31 AM 0 comments
Labels: foie gras, kali dining, kevin meehan, supper club, truffles, underground dinner
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Where to Dine in Mammoth: Rafters at Sierra Nevada Resort
Now that snow season is upon us .... Where do you eat when you go to Mammoth? For many people, the answer is probably back at their condos. The thing is, there isn't much by way of dining out in Mammoth, and while I've gone out there a few times now, I haven't tried many places noteworthy. The Sierra Nevada Resorts is looking to change things.
There are three different restaurants at Sierra Nevada Resort, and we tried the one called Rafters, which serves modern American cuisine and a large wine list.
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:52 AM 0 comments
Labels: lamb shank, mammoth, mammoth lakes, mammoth mountain, Rafters, Sierra Nevada lodge, sierra nevada resort, ski, snowboard, southern california, steak, travel, wine
Friday, November 7, 2014
Blue C Sushi's Conveyor Belt Empire
As usual, the items on the conveyor belt are color coded, each color referring to a price point. You can find the more popular nigiri sushi like salmon and tuna, along with fusion rolls like the
If you don't want to grab sushi from the conveyor belt or don't see the item you want, you can always order them from the sushi chefs or servers. I had quite a few of the freshly made nigiri sushi that they made directly, including Madai (seabream) with shiso and lemon, albacore, and Seared black cod with yuzu.
Madai with shiso and lemon |
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:45 AM 0 comments
Labels: blue c, blue c sushi, california, conveyor belt, fashion island, hollywood, kaiten sushi, newport beach, sushi
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Late Night Happy Hour at Fleming's Steakhouse
If you've shied away from dining at a steakhouse because of the price, head over to Fleming's Steakhouse for their "late night happy hour", which isn't all that late. Called "8 for $9 til 10", you can get 8 items for $9 each from 8-10pm. They also have a "5 for $6 til 7" which may be an even better deal, but the offerings are better for the later night menu.
The same deal is available at all Fleming's locations nationwide. Even better, at most Fleming's locations you also get happy hour prices on some drinks (8 wines and cocktails) including a flight of single malt scotches for $9! Alas, Boston doesn't allow alcohol happy hour (poor me) so I can only show you the food offerings.
First of all, even though you're only there for the cheaper food at happy hour, they still serve you the housemade bread - served with tomato basil butter and Chardonnay-infused gorgonzola sauce.
The $9 items that are offered are the same full size that you'd get from the regular menu and includes things like the Filet Mignon Flatbread (danish blue and monterey jack cheese, red onion confit).
The filet mignon was unusually tender for toppings you'd find on a flatbread. This is a steakhouse and it's filet mignon after all! This was probably my favorite of the things I tried.
For the $6 flatbread during the earlier happy hour, you get mushroom and artichoke instead of filet mignon.
I didn't have the stomach room to try everything and had to skip the prime burger, which I am sure would make a great affordable dinner if you get off work late one day!
Instead, that evening I tried the lobster lettuce wraps (North Atlantic lobster, crumbled bacon, crisped onion strings, orange-fennel slaw, tarragon dressing)
Posted by gourmetpigs at 7:19 AM 0 comments
Labels: backbay, bar, boston, cheap, deals, flatbread, Flemings, happy hour, late night, steakhouse, wine
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Boston: Where to Drink in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA
One thing I like better at MIT compared to Caltech is that there are more good bars I can walk to. Granted, I walk farther here than I did in Pasadena ... But anyway, here are my top three cocktail bars near MIT / Kendall Square!
1 Kendall Square b300
Cambridge, MA 02139
West Bridge isn't only one of the best restaurants in town, but also has a solid cocktail program. While the menu is relatively small and only a few items rotate every season, you can always find something interesting with fresh and unusual ingredients, like the Amarillo by Morning made with hay-infused bourbon, hickory, benedictine, and sarsaparilla. In most of the cocktails you'll find a touch of fresh produce, like cucumber or beet infusions. Cocktails are $11 each.
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:03 AM 0 comments
Labels: bar, cambridge, cocktail, cocktail bars, commonwealth, craft cocktail, craigie on main, Kendall, Kendall square, MIT, west bridge
Monday, November 3, 2014
Certified Angus Beef and Wine at Bogle Winery
Not a bad setting for lunch, eh? |
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:09 AM 0 comments
Labels: angus beef, beef, bogle, sacramento, sacramento delta, vineyard, wine pairing, winery
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Chef Jose Andres' Barmini (Washington, DC)
Chef Jose Andres not only has a group of some of the best restaurants in Washington, DC, but also one of the best cocktail bars in the city. Barmini is a small, beautiful bar right next to Minibar. You have to be seated and most of it is reservation-only but they do allow walk-ins if there are seats available.
The drinks here are more expensive than usual, but everyone that comes in gets a free welcome cocktail. The night I was there, the welcome drink was a 19th Century Cocktail: bourbon, lemon, creme de cacao, lillet rouge
There are quirky details that I love here, like this suspended chair, and other things you'd see later.
Posted by gourmetpigs at 8:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: bar, barmini, cocktail, D.C., dc, drinks, foie gras waffle, jose andres, washington, Washington dc bars
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- ChocoChicken (Los Angeles, CA)
- Chef Jose Andres' Zaytinya (Washington, DC)
- Pumpkin Kouign Amann at B Patisserie (San Francisc...
- Brisket, Biscuits, and Honey Butter at Sweet Cheek...
- Fun, Modern, All Day Dining at Recess Eatery – App...
- Holiday Gifting: Handmade Toffees from B.Toffee
- Brunch at Kirkland Tap and Trotter in Somerville (...
- Cattle Ranch Tour with Certified Angus Beef
- Ticket Giveaway! LA Weekly's Sips and Sweets on De...
- B&G Oysters (Boston, MA)
- Lunch Prix Fixe at Mario Batali's Del Posto (New Y...
- Kali Dining: An Underground Dinner with Chef Kevin...
- Where to Dine in Mammoth: Rafters at Sierra Nevada...
- Blue C Sushi's Conveyor Belt Empire
- Late Night Happy Hour at Fleming's Steakhouse
- Boston: Where to Drink in Kendall Square, Cambridg...
- Certified Angus Beef and Wine at Bogle Winery
- Chef Jose Andres' Barmini (Washington, DC)
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