Gobble Gobble - Annual Thanksgiving Bash at J & J's....

Being away from family for the holidays is never easy...so over the past few years, I've been hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for friends who's families are far away. We've become family to each other here in LaLaLand so it was pretty sad to know that the tradition is coming to an end as this is our final Thanksgiving in L.A...J & I are making the big move soon and so I vowed to make this thanksgiving bigger, badder and better!
As tradition would have it, I always make my turkey "asian style". Yup, you heard me...instead of traditional stuffing, it's all about sticky rice for me! I was inspired by my friend D-Kuo who first introduced me to this phenomenon. Stuffing my bird with sticky rice (consisting of shittake schrooms, chinese sausage, dried baby shrimps) and slathering my bird with hoisin sauce and basting every hour on the hour has become an instituition in my home. So how do I top last year's turkey fest where I served up 2 turkeys (15lbs each)? Well, i went to my local Ralphs and fished out a 24-pounder and decided that I was going to make the biggest turkey I can find!

Asian-Style Turkey with Sticky Rice Stuffing

Ok, so that was the turkey and the stuffing...but no Thanksgiving is complete without ooey gooey mac and cheese....gourmet style, of course. I've been working hard over the past year to perfect this dish...it's so simple, yet...it's NOT! I was determined to replicate the mac and cheese I had at Violet...sooo good! So I decided, to load up on cheese (white cheddar, sharp yellow cheddar, gruyere, asiago, mozzarella, parmesean and pecorino romana). I paid extra attention to my roux and decided to add some leeks and nutmeg to the concoction....2 hours later, tada! 2 lbs of Mac n Cheese delight!

Ooey Gooey Mac n Cheese - there were 2 more pans of this stuff...yum!

Other sides included a homemade cranberry sauce made with freshly squeezed OJ, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar (this is so simple, takes so little time and is a bizillion times better than that canned crapberry sauce). Steph brought over a shrimp potato salad and a zucchini casserole, Rinny made some string beans and Thanny brought over a delicious raspberry chocolate mousse cake. All in all, it was one of the best Thanksgiving - we had leftovers for 4 days (and I still have a whole pan of mac n cheese that it not yet baked and frozen in my freezer).

Gobble Gobble and Happy Thanksgiving - let the holidays begin!

C5 (Crystal Five) - Toronto

J & I have been quite busy these past few weeks visiting my family in Canada - we spent a little bit of time in Toronto and the reminder in Montreal. While in Toronto, we met up with my cousin Angelina where she treated us to a new restaurant, C5. Located in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal of the Royal Ontario Museum, C5 provides a beautiful panoramic view of downtown Toronto. The decor is simple, modern, clean and contemporary. Ceiling to floor windows, artsy sculptures and an open kitchen concept defines C5. The service was terrific where our waiter was both well-versed with food and wine. They have a regular menu as well as a tasting menu. We opted for a la carte dining since we wanted to try as many dishes as we can.

Charcuterie Plate: Smoke Salmon, Pate, Foie Gras Bonbon & Salami with Bread Chips

Excellent starter dish and easy to share - the pate and the foie gras bonbon were delish!

C5 Raw Tasting: Tuna, Hamachi & Hadai Sashimi, Summer Breeze Oyster & Beef Tartare

Fresh fish, beautiful presentation and a great conversation piece

Black Cod with Lobster Hollandaise Sauce over Lobster Lentil Salad

Beautifully seared black cod with a light yet creamy hollandaise. The lobster flavor comes through in this dish without over-powering the cod.

Piglet Trio

J enjoyed this dish, however the pork belly pales in comparison to the one we had at Craft L.A.

Overall, we enjoyed all the samplings from C5. Unfortunately the dessert was not too memorable (no pic and no recollection of what it was). The three of us were mostly impressed by our mains - the complementary bread and amuse bouche were also delicious. Dining in great company overlooking a beautiful city is hard to beat.

Crystal 5 @ the Rom.

100 Queens Park, Toronto (enter from Bloor street, across from Lobby)

416.586.7926

www.rom.on.ca

www.c5restaurant.ca (C5’s site is still under construction)

J & J Cucina - The Pot Continues to Stew...

It's been a while since I've had a chance to blog...been busy preparing for our upcoming trip to visit our families and actually have been doing a lot of home-cookin'! Inspired by the change in weather and the fresh fall ingredients, here are a few dishes that J and I have been enjoying.....

1) Braised Beef Short Ribs

I found this recipe from Gourmet and absolutely loved it!!! I've tried this dish a few times (sometimes with ox tail) but this finally came out the way I imagined! J did not speak during the entire meal, except to gaze up from his plate to say "Oh wow...this is good...mmmm". I couldn't stop laughing cause he has never reacted like this before. I think this dish will be making another appearance very soon! But this is something that you really invest a bit of time and care into...as J said "You can really taste the love you put into this...it has soul!"



2) Lemon & thyme baked chicken

Simple, quick and tasty - this is a no frills dish that definitely pleases. Tossing a bit of fresh lemons and sprigs of thyme with the pollo and then baking for about 40 minutes. A great mid-week meal (served alongside some mashy tatters)....

3) Stuffed Chicken Breast with Potatoes

Another quick and easy dish that requires no time...actually, we got some help from our local Ralph's (hehe...). They have some terrific stuffed chicken breast in their poultry aisle...tastes homemade! A go-to dish for us after a long day at work and a workout at the gym...

4) Miso-glazed black cod with spinach

This was a HUGE hit! I was chatting with one of my coworkers and she mentioned that I should give this recipe a try. Simply mix some yellow miso with sake and coat it over some fresh black cod and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. After a quick bake, the fish is juicy and moist and melts in your mouth like butter. Be sure to pick a fresh cut of black cod...it makes all the difference in the world. I recommend going to Whole Foods cause they are so great with their fish and shellfish.

5) Crab Cakes, Meat Loaf and Sides from Whole Foods

I know that this is all about homemade cooking, but I have to give props to the unbelievable pre-made food at Whole Foods. J and I are devout followers of their meatloaf (both meat and turkey) and also loved their crab cakes. This place definitely lends a HUGE helping hand...should not be shy to accept help every now and then!
6) Mixed Berry Dollar Pancakes

J has been spoiling me with these little morning treats....as I was sitting there drying my hair and getting ready for work, he walks in with a plate of yummy pancakes...ok, I'll stop here...no more braggin ;)


So that's pretty much what's been cooking at J & J's...we're always trying new dishes and ramping up for holiday cooking and entertaining....can't wait!!!

Kaya Sushi - Part II

I know I already wrote about this place but I didn't feel like I did it any justice. This is Kaya...our favorite place for both Japanese appetizers and yummy non-traditional sushi/rolls. Be prepared for a long wait...but don't worry cause the wait is SO WORTH IT!

Agedashi Tofu

This is the best agedashi tofu in all of L.A - 4 stars all the way! It's light and fluffy, fresh and perfectly cripsy, laid over a sweet and light soy sauce and generously garnished with bonito flakes.

Dragon Roll II

Spicy tuna roll topped with unagi and avocado

Baked Cheesy California Roll

Topped with baked mozzarella cheese and roasted pearl tomatoes

Fisherman's Dynamite

This is an amazing baked dish with scallops, salmon, shrimp and mushrooms - make sure you order a side of rice to soak up the sauce!

Sukiyaki (Beef)

J and I always get this cause we love the flavors and they load it up with gobo, tofu, napa cabbage and heaping amounts of beef - yummmy!

I cannot say enough about Kaya. This is our GO-TO place. Granted it's not your traditional sushi house, but the fish is always fresh, the BEST Amaebi EVER - even beats NYC's Tomoe...I am craving it as I write!

I love Kaya and soo glad that it's only 10 minutes away from home :) Oh yeah, don't forget to beat the drums on your way out...compliments to the chefs!

13400 Washington Blvd

Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Tel. (310) 577-1143

http://www.kayasushi.com/

Taverna Tony

Taverna Tony will always have a special place in my restaurant repertoire since this was the site of J&J's first date... :)

J made the bold move of selecting this Malibu resto for our first date despite the danger of garliky tzatziki...ever since that time, we've been back three times and will continue going at least once a year on our special day!

Sentiments aside, why else am I a HUGE fan of Tony's? Not only is it hidden in an unsuspecting plaza among all the infamous Malibu joints, but it's cozy, the atmosphere is lively and there's nightly belly dancing! Woohoo! Oh yeah, did I mention the food was absolutely incredible? (oh yeah, this place is also LITTERED with celebs...I never notice anyone, but even I couldn't help but recognize a few famous faces....)

We've tried numerous items on the menu - the Flaming Saganaki Cheese is NOT to be missed (highly recommended if going with a group of friends...the portions are HUGE at Tony's and this appetizer may set you over the top even before your entree).

Since the menu is so vast, I can never decide on what to order...I usually go with the Taverna Combination Platter (Dolmanthes, Moussaka, Pastichio, Spanakopita, Tiropita and Baby Lamb). I ordered this on our first date and I kinda saw J's eyes widen...he was polite and didn't say anything, but I can definitely sense what he was thinking...hehe...probably wondering what he was getting himself into....

Taverna Combination Platter

(Spankopita, Tiropita, Baby Lamb, Moussaka, Dolmanthes, Pastichio)

Lamb Loin Souvalki

Rack of Baby Lamb

Every dish is a HIT here - you really can't go wrong. Whether you go with the meat or the seafood (such as the Swordfish), the food never fails to deliver and consistent every time. I would challenge you to order the combination platter and try to finish it all! I've always walked out with a doggie bag!

I'm already looking forward to our next date at Tony's....maybe this time I may stray from the combo platter... :)

23410 Civic Center Way

Malibu, CA 90265

Tel: (310) 317-9667

http://tavernatony.com/

Gonjiam - KoreaTown

Looooove this place! Loved it so much, I went twice in one week. Diana loved it even more cause she went three times! This little hidden gem serves up one of the BEST bossam I've ever had...and not to mention the boiled beef....so tender, so flavorful and quite healthy! We tried this place with D & D and D's mom - this place is hidden in a little plaza, so pay attention otherwise you'll miss it. Tucked right next to a Korean karaoke joint, Gonjiam is a typical tiny mom-pops place...cute little tables and chairs that look like tree trunks (just like the ones at Beverly Soon Tofu). The service was quick and friendly and the menu is in both English and Korean...and if anything, they have pics on the wall to help you out!

D had heard about the boiled beef (aka: beef head)...yup, that's right. It's the meat from the head of the cow...trust me, it's GOOD! It comes with a side of soy dipping sauce and delicious green onions. Oh yeah, their marianted banchan is really good too - esp their spicy green onions :)

Boiled Beef with pine nuts and green onion

(HIGHLY recommended)

Bossam - we tried both pork leg and regular pork (I liked the regular pork)

Budaejiggae - a spicy stew made with hot dogs, Spam, rice cake, kimchi and ramen

(This was a stew that soldiers made during war times - I enjoyed this, however D told me that it could be better....I believe her!)

Dumplings - oh yeeahh...how could you go wrong? These were the biggest dumplings I've ever seen! We had these twice...I also really liked their spicy kimchi dumplings.

Another dish we had (my second time there) was the beef soup (no picture). We loved it and would definitely order it again. This soup comes in individual portions...it's light and the broth is extremely tasty. They use the same meat as "boiled beef"...(aka: beef head)!

I cannot say enough about this place - the fact that we went twice in one week speaks for itself. The fact that D went three times in one week also speaks volumes....I can't wait to go back :)

Gonjiam
4653 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 469-4648

J & J Cucina...what's cooking?

Lately I've been inspired to sharpen my cooking skills...I am a firm believer that peeps who love to eat should also know how to feed themselves...
So here's what's been brewing in our kitchen these days.....

Grilled pork chops with onions and applesauce

Pan-fried quail with ginger and green onion

(Just like the way mom made it...)

Panko crusted chicken breast

Soy and citrus marinated tilapia with sweet grilled onions

Pork spare-ribs in black bean sauce

(Another taste of home cookin')

Spinach & Asparagus Quiche

(Specially made for C's Bday Brunch)

J's Gut-Stuffer Lasagna

(This is probably one of the best lasagnas I've ever had...sorry mom....!)

So that's what's been cooking (the highlights at least)...yes, we've been busy and definitely trying out new recipes and revisting ones we love. I guess the main theme has been hardy home-cooking...the weather is changing in SoCal and we are craving meals that really stick! As it gets a little colder, we'll be breaking out the hotpot...or trekking to LuGi :)

Mama Mozza-ria!

After waiting one whole month, the day finally came for Mozza! Yes, I had to call a month in advance to get this reservation...and I finally realized why!

We invited Derrick and Diana along with Derrick's mom to join us for our long-awaited outing....We arrived promptly for our reservations to find out that the place was OVERFLOWING! Not only was it packed, there were tons of people waiting. When we checked in our party of 5, we were informed by the hostess that our table was not yet ready. It didn't really bother us too much since we were not in a rush and we were in great company. I also realized why I was not able to add another person to my party...there was no way they could fit anymore people in there! (I had tried calling a few hours prior to add on another guest but was turned down...)

Twenty minutes had gone by and we saw no signs of anyone leaving...the hostess came rushing up to me and apologized profusely and offered our entire party some prosecco....ummm...hmmm...helllo! Of course! The staff and service was terrific - within 2 minutes, we got our drinks and they even brought over a few bottles of water.

We were busy chatting amongst ourselves and realized that we had waited close to 45 minutes. Once again, the hostess came over to apologize and informed us that our table would be ready in about 5 minutes. She also said that they would take care of us by offering us some appetizers....this is quite unprecedented and definitely a nice surprise/compromise :).

When our table was finally ready, we were seated immediately and our server rushed over to refill all our glasses (to the rim) with prosecso (Prosecco di Valdobbiadene)....WOW! I had not even had any of their food and I was already impressed! Within 5 minutes, as promised, our appetizers came...

Eggplant Caponata

Chunks of marinated eggplant, slightly spicy, with pine nuts, olives, garlic and onions. Soooo perfect with the little bread sticks and a fantastic starter.

Fried Squash Blossoms with Ricotta

They gave us 2 servings of this appetizer....it was unbelievable. The ricotta filling was light and fluffy and despite it being fried, I can taste the freshness and sweetness of the blossom. This is a MUST have!

As we were busy chomping down our appetizers, we placed our order for the infamous pizzas....

Here's what we had....

Prosciutto di Parma, rucola, tomato and mozzarella

This was my pick - I loved it! The saltiness of the prosciutto complimented the peppery taste of the rucola. And the crust...omg...the crust...is divine. Thin, crispy, yet tender and chewy and sweet! With every bite, I was completely blown away by how this crust came to be....

Chanterelles, fontina, scallions and guanciale pizzette

THIS WAS MY FAVORITE!

I don't think words can describe how delicious this pizza was - the flavors of all the ingredients were a perfect balance and the crust....omg..the crust. Underneath the pizza, there was a fine drizzle of olive oil which enhanced the pizza. I didn't want to share this pizza and almost ordered a second one!

Margherita with mozzarella, basil and tomato

Simple and standard - I enjoyed this pizza, however if it weren't for the crust, it would have been pretty blah.

Fennel sausage, panna, red onions and scallions

This was J and Derrick's FAV! It must be a guy thing...I really enjoyed it too and would definitely order this again. I think the guys were kinda craving more and wanting to try another pizza....so we also ordered the Oregano salami, mozzarella, tomato and fresno chillies. This was also a huge hit and although I just took a quick bite, it was definitely tasty!

And of course...for dessert.....last but not least.....

Vanilla Panna Cotta with fresh berries

I think this dessert was gone in less than 2 minutes. As soon as it hit the table, we attacked it...I was still chomping at my last bite of the Oregano salami and practically swallowed it whole to get to this panna cotta....oozing with the taste of fresh vanilla beans and served with fresh berries and a delicious almond-lemon cookie. To die for...

Chocolate Terrine

I am not a huge fan of chocolate, however this was a beautiful dessert. J totally inhaled this and was in heaven!

So that was our experience - I loved every minute of it...the atmosphere was quaint and cozy, the staff was accommodating and the crowd was just a happy bunch of people. Yes the place is small. Yes, you have to make reservations 30 days in advance. Yes, you may have to wait even if you have reservations. But like I said, it is sooo worth it! And I would do it all over again...in a heartbeat...just for that crust alone!

Mozza Pizzeria

641 N. Highland Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90036

323.297.0101

http://www.mozza-la.com/

Craft L.A.

Being huge fans of Top Chef, J and I were eager to check out Tom Colicchio's new resto. With all the buzz from his NY restos, we were excited to find out that he was going to get "Crafty" in L.A. We invited the Bhaktas to join us on this little adventure.....

As we walked into Craft, we were immediately drawn to the simple and modern decor, the soft lighting, the adorable and comfy terrace and the friendly staff. The hostess was so friendly and knew that J & I ran into a little mishap on our way there. She recommended that we grab a cocktail as they prepared our table. The Bhaktas had already started with some Chimay beer and wine while J & I waited for my East meets West martini (a lychee and strawberry vodka martini). Soon after my cocktail arrived, we were promptly seated.

We were seated at this super cute little booth for four and immediately greeted by our waiter. As we were contemplating over the menu, he brought over a selection of breads. The Bhaktas choose some olive bread while J & I had some ciabatta. After placing our order, we received an amuse-gueule - I believe it was a crostini topped with chopped eggs and herring (I think...it was kinda noisy and I didn't hear the description). Regardless, it was pretty terrible...over drenched in olive oil and difficult to swallow. We were a little worried at this point, but were still optimistic.

Amuse-gueule: Crostini

As we washed down the greasy crostini, our appetizers arrived (phew!)....and we were PLEASED!!! Yes indeed, that amuse gueule became a distant memory as the Pork Belly & Madras Curry, Baby Beet & Gorgonzola Salad, Ricotta Tortellini & Artichoke and Chittara Spaghetti Carbonara hit the table....

Pork Belly with Madras Curry

This is the BY FAR the BEST pork belly I've ever had. This should be the poster-child for pork - perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside...lightly seasoned and accompanied with a sweet curry sauce. This is perfection...the epitomy of PORK.

Baby Beet Salad with Gorgonzola

This was a healthy portion! The beets were incredibly fresh and the gorgonzola was not at all over-powering. Even B's hubby (who doesn't like beets), really enjoyed it and raved about it :)

Chittara Spaghetti Carbonara

The most TENDER and fresh tasting pasta! Loved it!

Ricotta Tortellini

These little pillows of pasta were a huge hit - not at all heavy and just bathing in a light soupy-sauce :)

By the time we finished our appetizers, we were already pretty stuffed! Craft definitely serves up a healthy portion and the great thing is that everything is served family-style.

The mains: Alaskan Halibut with salsa verde, Local Wild Sea Bass wrapped in prociutto and black grapes, Roasted Guinea Hen and Local Roasted Chicken. We also ordered a side of sweet corn, corn agnolotti with speck and baby broccolini (we actually ordered the assorted mushrooms, however with the mass confusion, I think it was mistaken for the corn agnolotti....hmmmm). Well, luckily it was a nice mix-up because the agnolotti was delicious...the taste of sweet corn wrapped in a delicate pasta dough...yum!

Alaskan Halibut with Salsa Verde

This was perfectly cooked - the fish was tender and juicy and it was not hindered by any heavy sauce. We really tasted the freshnest of the fish it all its glory

Local Farm Chicken

One of the best roast chicken dishes in town! I normally never order chicken (cause I'm a chicken snob and I am always true to the asian-style chicken), however I would definitely order this again!

Guinea Hen

I've read a lot of rave reviews about this hen, however it does not come close to the Local Farm Chicken.....

Local White Sea Bass with Black Grapes

After trying the Alaskan Halibut, this fish unfortunately did not measure up. It was a little too "meaty" for my liking and the prosciutto wrap was too over-powering.

Sweet corn (upper left), Corn Agnolotti with Speck (upper right) and Rapini

Amazing sweet corn - I am so glad we ordered this because it was UNBELIEVABLE! Yes, it's simple, but it was great! The rapini was a little salty and pretty basic (should have been the mixed mushrooms instead!) and the Corn Agnolotti was a nice surprise!

We knew that Craft would be generous in their portions, but we were totally blown away. We were unable to finish any of our mains (except the halibut and the sweet corn) and were so stuffed that we couldn't even fit in dessert. After discussing with everyone, we agreed that we over-ordered and should have ordered 3 appetizers (instead of 4), 2 side dishes (instead of 3) and 3 mains (instead of 4). We ended up asking our waiter to pack our leftovers to go (great lunch for the next day!).

All in all, we really enjoyed Craft. The love of food and fine ingredients is so apparent here and the atmosphere is not at all stuffy (given the location). The service was impeccable and the attention to detail was spot on. We received a wonderful little complementary petit fours sampler along with a blueberry corn muffin packaged to go for breakfast the next morning. This is service and customer appreciation! Please unpack your knives and make yourselves at home!

10100 Constellation Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Tel: 310.279.4180

http://www.craftrestaurant.com/