Recipe: Smoothie Kick

If you're needing that little boost to get your day started and you don't want to crash and burn with coffee, then here's your healthy and tasty fix.

SMOOTHIE with Vitamix

I'm not an expert on what's the best smoothie. I only like to mix up anything blend-able in my fridge. Luckily, we went grocery shopping, so we had quite the variety. 

Ingredients in the Vitamix

Almond Milk

2-3 Blackberries

1 apple

1/2 Beet

7-8 Strawberries

1 tbsp Ginger

1 Mango

2 Carrots

A couple ice cubes

And la voila! 

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My portions are good for 3-4 servings.

It's easy to make!

It's healthy!

It's nutritious!

Enjoy!

Now go and make one yourself!

Food Review: Fish House (Santa Barbara, CA)

(photograph from fishhousesb.com website)

FISH HOUSE IN SANTA BARBARA 

My first thought when I passed by this gorgeous restaurant was Pacey's restaurant in Capeside in the last episode of Dawsons' Creek. So chic yet filled with character.

This place is big and appropriate to have right by the ocean. =0)

(photograph from fishhousesb.com website)

Came here one weekend, and down the street we found this cozy "big" place.

Yelp had some good reviews and I liked that Yelp gave prices on certain items. After reading their reviews, we opted for take-out!

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The drive from our hotel was about.... one minute. =0)

Sorry for the lack of food photos (or any pleasing ones), but we were hungry!

No plates, so we made do with our take-out boxes.

Food we ordered:

Ahi Poke .......................... $12.95

(drizzled in sesame soy dressing, with ripe avocado, cilantro, cucumber salad, crispy wontons)

Lobster Macaroni and Cheese .............. $12.95

(Fresh Maine Lobster and macaroni pasta blended in a three cheese sauce, topped with panko bread crumbs and baked golden brown)

Sesame Wonton Crusted Mahi Mahi ........... $24.95

(Hawaiian mahi mahi rolled in sesame seeds and crispy wonton, served with pineapple-fried rice and sauteed seasonal vegetables, topped with roasted red pepper beurre blanc)

Everything tasted fresh and flavourful! I couldn't have enjoyed it more than I did. This was my first time trying Ahi Poke and I fell in love! It was soft and melted like butter! Surprisingly, the lobster mac and cheese took third place. It's not hard to see that since we are by the ocean and fresh fish is right there!

Overall, I absolutely loved this restaurant and would go again and again!

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5/5 stars

Price .............. $$$

Food Review: Diddy Riese (L.A)

How about a snack review!

Cookies anyone? Maybe.... Ice Cream Sandwiches too?!

Well, this is probably BETTER and CHEAPER than any Sprinkles cupcake or In-N-Out's' milkshake to satisfy ones sweet tooth.

Ice Cream Sandwich ........... $1.75

(Your choice of any 2 cookies, 1 scoop of ice cream)

A single Brownie ................... $0.75

A single cookie ..................... $0.35

3 Cookies .......................................$1.00

Ice Cream; 2 scoops ....................... $1.75

Ice Cream Sundae ................................... $1.75

Cookie Sundae ........................... $2.00

Hawaiian Shaved Iced ........................... $1.00 ($1.50 w/ scoop of ice cream)

Their cookies are soft and chewy! Just the way a cookie should be.

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But not only does the product and low cost lure one into the store, the store itself is old school (founded in 1983) and located in the heart of Westwood Village by UCLA. Perhaps, this is where the "Freshman 15" came about! ;O

And the choices are endless......

Ice Cream Flavours

Vanilla Bean

Cookie Dough

Rocky Road

Mint Chocolate Chip

Strawberry

Chocolate

Espresso Chip

Butter Pecan

Strawberry Cheesecake Chunk

Peanut Butter Cup

Chocolate Chip

 Cookies & Cream

Cookie Flavours

Chocolate Chip with Walnuts

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut

Peanut Butter

Double Chocolate Chip

White Chocolate Chip

Oatmeal Raisin Nut

Chocolate with White Chocolate

Sugar Cinnamon

Candy

Chocolate Chip

The ice cream comes from Dreyers. Very good! 

So what are you waiting for?! Make the trip and leave with a big and bright smile! =0)

Food Review: Five Star Seafood Restaurant 半島海鮮酒家 (San Gabriel, CA)

Heading down to San Gabriel for lunch, we go to a more familiar place.... DIM SUM, it's been a while.

Of course, being from Toronto, I didn't expect much from this place. hehe

We get to the top floor: big space!

The space is nice and pretty clean. 

The food is rolled out and lots of choices might I add.

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The plates are a good size and the food smells pretty good. Now... for the taste test:

The chicken feet: Just as good as any Scarborough (Toronto) restaurant

One of my favorite jelly cakes: Taste exactly like the one I had in Hong Kong... except it was a lot less sweet (not bad in my books).

But the taste test comes with a mouth full of "Egg Tarts"

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I like the flaky skin. It's not too oily and the filling tastes just like a real egg tart. hehe 

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the everything. 

Even the waitresses had a little "fun" in them while they were rolling their carts and making their dish items the best to buy.

So, if you're in L.A and looking for a good dim sum restaurant, look no further and head out to San Gabriels' FIVE STAR SEAFOOD RESTAURANT!

=0)

Food Review: IN-N-OUT (L.A)

Franchise or no franchise, 

IN-N-OUT 

is a burger joint that serves up delicious burgers.

You might yourself, why is this place so famous/popular? Is it just the hype? Are their burgers REALLY the best? Well.... to native Angelenos, YES! But for people like me, who are just visiting, YES!

Why?

It's not your typical fast food joint that works like a fast food joint.

Their stuff is FRESH TASTING. I love that you can see how the make everything through their open concept kitchen and windows (photo below). 

Their burgers aren't frozen and pre-made and they taste that way.

"Double Double"

Double meat patty and two slices of cheese (photo above)

Cheeseburger (photo above)

Different meals, I've tried the single and the double, and I've got to admit, the single cheeseburger is already very filling. The double is only for when you're hungry-enough-to-eat-a-horse.

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When I had my first bite, I was expecting "fast food" burgers... i.e. flat burger patty, very weak looking lettuce and tiny circles of tomatoes. But that's not the case. It was like I ate a burger at a friends' bbq. And the bun isn't flimpsy but tough enough to hold the burger until the last couple of bites.

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Aside from a great burger, I love how they package it for you. It's snuggled into a pouch so you can easily take it out of the bag and just go at it. And cute, but not as necessary, they have a reading section on the burger pouch about how they began and what's In-N-Out about!

And it doesn't hurt that the prices are fast-food BEST!

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Double-Double - $3.30

Cheeseburger - $2.25

Hamburger - $1.95

French Fries - $1.60

Shakes - $2.05

For me, the best thing about coming is on a Cheat Day! Then I get to order a well-deserved regular milkshake (and only costs $2)! And it's sooooooo great! It's thick and creamy and all the bad-good stuff you love!

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This hyped up spot actually was true to its gossip. I loved it and I would come back every Cheat Day I can get!

Thanks for the love In-N-Out!

Food Review: 208 Rodeo (Beverly Hills, CA)

It was a very special treat from my sister. We had a girls day out! We ate breakfast at a very classical and trendy looking restaurant called 208 Rodeo on Rodeo Drive.

This quaint restaurant had a jammed packed patio. This is the perfect location for people watching while enjoying your meal. 

Today, we went to 208 Rodeo for breakfast. It's a typical breakfast menu with your fruits, pancakes/waffles and eggs -made different ways.

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Our table ordered a variety of items

208 Benedict - on a toasted croissant, Canadian bacon, marinated grilled tomato, poached egg, tarragon hollandaise sauce & a side of cut fruits ($13)

My Eggs Benny dish: I loved how decadent this dish was with the croissant. The hollandaise sauce was pretty creamy -not the best I've had but pretty close. Since I've had my share of Eggs bennys' I thought the chef did a good job.

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El Huevos Rancheros - black bean puree, roasted tomato salsa, corn tortilla, sunny side up eggs, melted cheddar cheese, cilantro, avocado ($12)

I had a taste of this and this was VERY GOOD! It wasn't overly salted and it was super filling. The black bean puree was smooth and very tasty.

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Shakshuka on a skillet - broiled sunny side up eggs served over a Mediterranean roasted tomato & bell pepper confit with whole wheat toast ($12) 

The sauce reminder of a red sauce for pasta. It looked really good and appetizing, but it was too tomato-y. Overall, it was a so-so dish. 

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The whole experience, especially my first time in L.A let alone 90210, this restaurant was a lot of fun. There's a walkway that runs past it and flows down a very elegant (and wide) walkway where you can watch passerby shopping. Surrounding this little niche of restaurants are many other that are just as nice, but only 208 Rodeo gives you the high-rise corner view that really makes it great to sit and enjoy from.

My first time was very good. Only complaint, an automatic charge of 15.5% taxes added to your bill if under a party of 6 (over 6 they charge 18%). I wonder if all Beverly Hills restaurant do the same thing?!

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Food Review: Sushi Stop (L.A)

Not wildly surprising that Los Angeles has its fill of sushi restaurants. And why not? Healthy and tasty all combined in one meal! =0) 

And after living there for a few months, I've learned that Angelenos love their sushi; and Sushi Stop is a perfect place to have it.

Here's why:

Easiest menu to read. 85% of the items only cost $2.75 (for a sushi roll) and nothing cost over $6.00 a plate. What a steal!

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I've gone plenty of times, and I've stuck to my favorites:

Seaweed salad - a good size portion

Spicy Tuna Tartar - very spicy

and Sushi Rolls (Salmon & Avocado Roll, Spicy Scallop Roll)

Though I never went in to eat, (always getting it for take-out) the restaurants look very cute and authentic. It's small, but with a big bar table that wraps around the chefs making the food. 

And for the price and the quality of the food, I'm thoroughly impressed. It's probably not the best of the best, but this is definitely cheap AND good sushi and with many options to choose from.

Loved it! Would go all the time whenever I'm too tired to make a meal.