Prime Rib Dinner on Christmas Eve at the Onodas

My mom cooks a mean prime rib every Christmas Eve. This year she cooked a nice roast and we had a mish mosh of people come over to celebrate. The other menu items included: bacon wrapped scallops, shrimp cocktail, lumpia eggrolls, brie and fig jam pastry puffs, spinach and cheese pinwheels, oven roasted brussel sprouts, creamed corn, garlic mashed potatoes, salad, baked salmon, red velvet cupcakes, bailey’s cheesecake, and cake.

Grace: beauty or charm of form, composition, movement, or expression

Today I had the lovely experience of trying Neal Fraser’s restaurant Grace. I enjoyed the 5 course Anniversary Tasting menu that was served at the bargain price of $55 per person. The only photo that came out was of the dessert course, which was my favorite course anyways. We ended a lovely meal with three butterscotch filled doughnuts that were perfectly fried to perfection with a smooth, sweet creamy filling.

7360 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles

323-934-4400

www.gracerestaurant.com

Girls Night Out at Fraiche and the Arsenal

The girls and I celebrated the holidays and Marsha’s birthday today at Fraiche in Culver City. I had been about a year ago and it was just as I remembered, quite delicious. I shared the beet salad with Jennifer and Marsha of course ordered her raw oyster assortment. I ordered the Lamb Spezzatino with Ricotta Gnocchi and Gremolata. It was liked Braised Shortribs. The lamb just fell apart under my fork. The ricotta gnocchi was excellent as Fraiche makes their own fresh ricotta which is also included with the baby beets. Marsha had the monkfish and Jennifer had the Branzino en Papillote. Both tasted great. Fraiche is a great restaurant for friends and a great date place as well.

Fraiche Restaurant

www.fraicherestaurantla.com

Date Night at The Lobster

Kirk and I along the pier

Kirk's pan roasted Maine Lobster with cream sauce and lobster mashed potatoes

Tonight I wanted to take Kirk out to a nice dinner. I had been wanting to try The Lobster which is right on top of the pier over looking the ocean. It is somewhat of a touristy place, but I really enjoyed the food and the view (and the company). We started off with a raw oyster sampler which was yummy. I had the scallops with lobster home fries and a Jim Bean cream sauce. The scallops were cooked perfectly. The home fries were interesting...kind of like breakfast potatoes with pieces of lobster. Kirk had the Maine pan roasted whole lobster with lobster mashed potatoes. It is the kind of food that makes me close my eyes when eating so that I can really savor and experience the taste without extraneous sensory stimuli distracting me :) A great meal to end a great weekend.

The Lobster
1602 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
www.thelobster.com

Venezuelan Arepas at Coupa Cafe

Today, Sarah and I hung out in her neck of the woods in Beverly Hills on Canon Drive. Located on a cute street, Coupa Cafe is a Venezuelan restaurant serving my new favorite food (tried it in NYC for the first time thanks to my friend Mac - see NYC blog), arepas. Arepas are sandwiches with various types of ingredients with a cornmeal griddle cake at the bread. Crunchy texture on the outside, soft cornmeal on the inside. Coupa Cafe also serves up crepes, coffees, desserts, pizzas, salads, and breakfast items. Sarah and I shared two kinds of arepas (one with a chicken salad and one with a shredded beef). We also shared a Venezuelan holiday specialty (can't remember the name) which tasted and looked like a large tamale. I really enjoyed the arepas and now have a place to go to when craving them. The best part is, you can have lunch there and then go shopping on Rodeo or Beverly Dr which is down one block.

Coupa Cafe
419 North Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.coupacafe.com

Dessert Party at Linda C's

The Sweet Spread

The Savory Spread

My Favorite: Linda C's Signature Red Velvet Cake

New Edition to the Lineup: Bread Pudding with Bourbon Cream Sauce or Creme Anglaise

An Assortment of Lemon Bars, Snowballs, and Brownies

Marion, Linda C, Doris, and Jessica

Today was the annual dessert party hosted by Linda C at Aunt Marion's house in Carson. Every year I look forward to this gluttonous event of decadent made from scratch desserts and tasty savory appetizers. This year there were the good ole' reliable favorites of red velvet cake (my favorite), coconut cream cake, bailey's mint chocolate cake, and chocolate bundt cake. New editions to the line up included a delicious bread pudding (amazing!) and a extremely moist and tender bbq pulled pork sandwiches. I think I gained 10 pounds....well worth the yumminess. Linda C outdid herself as usual. Unfortunately the event is probably going to take a hiatus...sniff sniff. I will be craving that red velvet cake!!!

Plate Lunch at the Loft with My Whitney Boys

Eric "aka" bottomless pit

My yummy Kalbi plateAlex, Henry, and I

Eric, Mac, and Gary

The day after Thanksgiving used to be the day that all my Whitney friends and I would get together. Even after moving away to college we would always come back to Cerritos and get together for a meal, often meeting new girlfriends, hearing about the latest news, and always telling the same stories and same inside jokes that we've been telling for the last 14 years. Today was a nice surprise as Eric, Mac, Gary, Henry, Alex and I had lunch at the Loft in Cerritos. The difference in today's lunch was that it was the original group (sans a few people and without their wives/girlfriends). Now, I love the women in their lives (Joni, Adrienne, Jo), but there is just something different about them when the ladies aren't there. They definitely don't hold back with their comments. But that's what I love about them.

Japanese-French Small Plates at Orris

Since my last disastrous dating escapade (NOLA 08'), I was feeling a little hopeless about the prospects of meeting someone that could redeem my faith in the opposite sex...yes, I know I am being dramatic. But after what I feel like was a whole 2 years of failed dating, I think I may have gotten it right for a chance. It is still early, so don't be trying to ask me when the wedding is or anything. If you're lucky, you may get to meet him. He is pretty wonderful (Kirk, if you are reading this, don't get a big head ;). Ok, I digress.....I am writing about Orris which is one of the first dinner dates with the Kirkster. He actually took the first photo which I thought he did quite well, so I am giving the props all to him (he is a avid amateur photographer too!) We ordered a bunch of small plates. Started off with the Beets and Cheese. I am becoming more and more a huge fan of beets. I used to hate eating them when I was a kid because I think I had only eaten ones out of the can. But the ones at Orris were clearly fresh and thinly sliced using a Mandolin. The cheese was quite mild. Next we had the Red Snapper Carpaccio. It was warm, which was interesting...strong ginger flavor. Kirk chose the scallops with mushrooms which was excellent. I am now into scallops as well after having that awesome scallop (singular) at Providence. I chose the Salmon croquettes well because I loved "ko-rok-ke." It had pieces of Ikura on top that just burst in your mouth. For dessert we decided to go with the creme brulee and both decided it was not creme brulee, but really a custard/pudding. It did not have the texture of flan at all..in fact it didn't seem like they even baked that sucker. It tasted good...I just didn't care for the texture. If you are ever out in the Sawtelle area, Orris is a definite must try. You never know what you're going to get there.

Salmon Croquettes

Creme Brulee with Fresh Fruit

Scallops

Red Snapper Carpaccio

Beets and Cheese