Holy Guacamole!

 

I decided I should make a festive app for Cinco de Mayo. I had a couple friends over Saturday night before going out to The Bungalow so I thought the perfect app (and one of my favorites) would be guacamole. I am also an avocado fanatic so my decision was easily made. Growing up, avocados were a staple at my house. We always had a half dozen on hand for that Sunday sandy or a last minute appetizer before a nice dinner on the patio. I followed this recipe but feel free to tweak the veggies, making sure you always include avocado, lime juice, and a dash of salt. I added red peppers instead of tomatoes to give it a nice crunch. Guacamole is easy to make and as an added bonus, it is pretty healthy. Thanks WebMD for these fun facts: Avocados are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins C, K, folate, and B6. Half an avocado has 160 calories (skim over this part), 15 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fat, and only 2 grams saturated fat. One globe contains more than one-third daily value of vitamin C, and more than half the day’s requirements of vitamin K.

Ole Ole!

The Chef’s Sister

P.S. I'm back

Hi friends! It’s been a while since my last post and when I say a while, I mean over a year! I thought I would start my comeback with a quick rundown of my favorite dishes from the past year. It’s hard to pinpoint the best of the best but below is a list of a few of my favs and the menu items that won me over.  

Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas – Brisket

I waited in line with my dad for over 2 hours (we even got sprinkled on) just so we could try the world-renowned brisket at Franklin Barbecue. No surprise there -- the brisket was to die for. Anthony Bourdain has even featured the restaurant on his show, The Layover.

 

Mamacitas in San Francisco, California – Scallop Tacos

Best bite of the year. My friend in SF loves texting me photos of these tacos to make me jealous. #thanksbutnothanks #teleportmenow

Umami Burger in Los Angeles, CA – Truffle Burger 

I do not frequent burger joints but this is one of my favorites (up there with Father's Office). I have yet to try Plan Check in west LA but I heard it is great too.

Lemonade in Los Angeles, CA – All the side dishes and their refreshing assortment of lemonade
Whenever I'm in the mood for a healthy lunch, this is my go-to place. The side dishes are so innovative and appetizing. Lemonade makes it fun to eat healthy.

Oscar's Cerveteca in Venice, CA – 5 Spiced Pulled Pork Sandwich with Patatas Bravas (i.e. cute and crispy potatoes)
I love Latin food and this restaurant does it right. Everything was great but the 5 Spiced Pulled Pork is a must. The dipping sauce was spicy and it was the perfect accompaniment to the sandy.

Bartolotta in Las Vegas, NV – Chef's selection
One of the best meals of the year. I went there for a business trip and I was impressed by the fantastic food (don't forget to order a dessert), service, and ambiance. The fish is fresh, flown-in from the Mediterranean. I could get use to that... 

Amour Patisserie in Los Gatos, CA – All the sumptuous desserts
All I wanted to do was take a photo shoot of the desserts (I love taking photos) but my nephews swooped them before I got a chance!

Last, but not least, I would like to thank my coworker, Jennifer Song, for designing my logo and favicon. You are the best!

xo

The Chef's Sister

Huntley Heaven

It’s been a while since my last post, but I’m on 2-week break from work with some free time so why not have a little food fun?

My friends and I went out to dinner for my girlfriend’s birthday at The Penthouse Restaurant at The Huntley Hotel. The restaurant is the mirror image of LA Chic – beautiful chandeliers, white swanky décor and one of the most spectacular views of the ocean and Santa Monica. It’s a must see if you want to experience LA glamour. When we arrived, the birthday girl told us about their famous cocktail – the Aperol Smash (muddle grapes and mint, Ketel One vodka, fresh lemon juice, and a splash of soda). The cocktail is not too sweet and tastes incredibly refreshing. The only downfall is that after 2 sips, the drink is gone and you are left with ice and a sprig of mint. Needless to say, we ordered more (with less ice). For dinner, we ordered several appetizers and one pasta entrée. My favorite dish was the spicy cheesy cauliflower and my least favorite was the crab cakes – they tasted more like meatballs.  Next time, I'd love to dine here during brunch because my boyfriend loves Eggs Benedicts and I love the idea of complimentary fresh donuts. All in all, we had a great time! Here's a picture of us posing in the lobby before we called it a night...

Cheers!

The Chef’s Sister

Food and Design

Cook magazines in my parent's kitchen

Being at home makes me appreciate my mom's keen sense of decorating. In some ways (key word: some), she reminds me of Martha Stewart. One of her recent projects was framing old Cook magazines that she has collected over the years (see photo above). If you're not particularly crafty, you could get it professionally done. Here are a few tips if you would like to do it on your own:

1. Find a classic frame with matting at HomeGoods, Target, or Pottery Barn.
2. Use a professional cutting machine
3. Tape the back of the magazine to the top of the matting
4. Use a leveler to hang proportionally

If food isn't your thing, you could hang a collection of Vogue or Sports Illustrated magazines in your bedroom. In the words of Martha Stewart, "It's a good thing." 

Bacon & Arugula Frittata

While at home, my dad cooked up a storm -- short ribs, risotto, you name it. It was wonderful. On one particular morning, I decided to assist my dad with a bacon & arugula frittata. The recipe is from Williams-Sonoma Tools and Techniques. My parents bought this book for my aunt and me. It is a must for amateur chefs and it explains how to do everything from filling a pastry bag to working with fennel. There are also various recipes including the bacon & arugula frittata. The recipe and my review are below:

Bacon & Arugula Frittata

5 large eggs

Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper

4 strips of thick-cut bacon

2 cups (2 oz/60 g) arugula (rocket)

1. In a bowl, combine the eggs and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Use a whisk to beat the mixture just until well blended. (Too much air will affect the frittata's texture.) Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Place an 8-inch nonstick ovenproof frying pan over medium heat. Add 4 strips of bacon to the pan. Fry the bacon until the edges are crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Cut the bacon crosswise into 1-inch pieces. 

3. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the frying pan, and over medium heat, saute 2 cups of arugula until just welted. Sprinkle the bacon over the arugula.

4. Add the bacon and arugula to the frying pan. Pour in the beaten eggs.

5. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the frittata has gently risen and is set, 8 - 12 minutes. 

6. Slide the frittata out of the pan onto a cutting board. Using a chef's knife, cut the frittata into wedges. Garnish with torn basil leaves, if desired, and serve right away. 

The frittata was absolutely delicious and I will definitely make it again (without my dad's assistance). It is perfect for a fun brunch with your friends and it's semi-healthy, thanks to the arugula (my favorite leafy green due to it's spiciness) and lack of carbs. I caught myself attempting to turn up the heat while cooking the eggs which is not suitable for a frittata (thanks dad for the warning). Please note that the more you beat the eggs, the fluffier (aka pretty) your frittata will be. If you are vegetarian, you can omit the bacon or follow the vegetable or southwestern frittata recipe in the book.

Divertitevi!

The Chef's Sister

Rudy's Bar-B-Q

Howdy y'all! I'm in Texas for the week so I had to have BBQ. I don't normally like to review chain restaurants but this one is worth it. Rudy's Bar-B-Q is located in various locations in the southwest, but I've personally been to the Austin location. It's on the 360 loop in Austin, Texas. Keep going on that loop and there are some fantastic homes, a beautiful lake, and an absolutely stunning view of the sunset at Oasis on Lake Travis. I thought about reviewing the Oasis but the food wasn't worth a post. The ambiance, however, is absolutely spectacular. So check it out if you are in Austin. 

Back to good ol' Rudy's. Upon entering the restaurant (which is attached to a gas station and general store), you know you have entered the Lone Star State. There is a huge sign that says "The worst BBQ in Texas". I don't think my boyfriend was happy when he saw that sign but my family and I knew better because we had been there before. On to the food - it's definitely not vegan friendly but why would you have traditional BBQ if that was the case? My mom and I ordered the lean brisket, my boyfriend ordered the extra moist brisket (A++ rating but an F for healthiness), my dad ordered the turkey, and my aunt ordered the chopped beef. We drenched our meat with Rudy's Bar-B-Q "Sause" which is tangy, sweet, and flavorful. We accompanied our meal with potato salad, cole slaw, cream corn, pinto beans, and new potatoes. I loved all the sides, particularly the cream corn and potato salad but wasn't a fan of the new potatoes. Please note that there are no plates so you eat your food off of a slab of butcher wax paper. Towards the back of the restaurant, there is a long sink similar to a horse trough to wash your hands after the meal and claim a sticker that reads, "I have clean hands". It's definitely a fun experience and totally worth a visit. 

Shutters on the Beach - Coast

Over the weekend, my friend and I decided to venture over to Santa Monica for some shopping. Naturally, we were hungry after our long stroll along 3rd Street Promenade. We wanted to go to a fun place to eat so I suggested Coast (at Shutters on the Beach) for brunch because a) I love the decor of the hotel and b) the restaurant is situated on the beach. As you can see, I did not list the food as a positive attribute because I had recently visited One Pico (also at Shutters on the Beach) and although the ambiance was great, the food was mediocre. I figured the two restaurants shared the same food quality standards and were overly priced. Fortunately, I was slightly wrong. We ordered the Bulls-eye Breakfast Skillet with roasted eggplant, spicy tomato, and sunny side eggs. The dish came with a crispy slice of bread with goat cheese. Overall, the dish was unique and healthy with a garlic-y finish. Plus, anything with spicy marinara wins points in my book. We also ordered the Eggs Benedict with potatoes and it was above average, but still not one of my favorite Eggs Benedict of all time (more on that in a later post). We complimented our entrees with mimosas. The orange juice was fresh but at $12 a pop, it wasn't the best deal in town. I told my friend about this amazing drink I had with my dad at Casa Del Mar at the Veranda Lobby Lounge across the street. We promptly left our seats, took a quick stroll along the beach (it was way too cold for comfort) and walked across the street to Casa Del Mar. As I'm told, Shutters and Casa Del Mar have the same owner. I couldn't remember the name of the grape fruit concoction I had a few months back so we decided on the First Glance cocktail with grapefruit juice, orange juice, and various alcohols. It wasn't the drink that I had fallen in love with back in the day as it was too tart for my taste buds but I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to ordering it again. After visiting Casa Del Mar, I decided to research the hotel (I know, I'm weird) and noticed that they have a brunch special which looked rather appealing. And for $16 extra, unlimited mimosas and a beautiful view? I think yes.

Has anyone been to the restaurants at Casa Del Mar or Shutters? What did you think?

Thanks for visiting!

The Chef's Sister