things that will soon be shared with fat gwyneth

lisa's bon appetit in torrance
red velvet vday cupcake
cute and super dense/moist
mmmm cream cheese frosting

beef lasagna special
looks like a mess
but was sooo good

of the tons of times we've gone to lazy dog
we've never ordered full-on dinners!
bleu burger topped w/ bacon and bleu cheese butter
yes, bleu cheese BUTTER

caeser w/ grilled salmon
i'm convinced this is one of those secretly
INSANELY bad-for-you salads
surprisingly, the salmon was not overcooked
and was delicious!!
but i'm thinking it was probably soaked
in a vat of butter before "grilling"

tadoodles!
how have i never heard of you!
this is from a coloring book i saw

these are the real things!
so tadoodles are markers/crayons for 18months+ age kids
see how they are shaped for tiny hand grippage?
how f-ing cute are these?

the ashtray outside cho dang in torrance
get it?? anyone?
the pea!

jerry's famous deli @ del amo
i THOUGHT i remembered jerry's being GOOD
NOPE
sweet potato fries were tasteless :(

"cajun" chicken salad was WHACK
actually the chicken part was decent
but what in the world is cajun about this?
also barely any eggs and the dressing was terrible

WHERE, you ask, did i get this delicious steak?
mrs. wong's kitchen
filet, cab sauteed creminis, baked potatoes w/ cream and bacon,
steamed broccoli and olive oil grilled zuchini

mini brown sugar mochi squares

they taste like yummy boba balls

ucc cafe in walnut
crepes filled w/ vanilla ice cream
w/ strawberry syrup and fresh fruit
fruit and ice cream were good
crepe was not so great

chocolate harumaki
WHERE have you been all my life?!
fried egg roll wrappers
filled w/ fluffy, rich, whipped cheesecake
w/ chocolate ice cream and bananas

shufeng garden in rowland heights
warning: no one speaks english here!
did a lot of embarrassed pointing and nodding lol
some cold dishes:
sliced shredded beef and sliced pig ear in hot oil
cucumber chunks in sesame oil and salt
SO GOOD!!

the most intense mabo tofu i have ever had!
my tummy was THE BUMPS after this

fried pork intestines w/ TONS of chilis
sooo gooood ahhhhh!
but also ridiculously intense and = the bumps

joey under my fresh-out-of-the-dryer blanket :)

rascal's in torrance
the only other place (besides lisa's)
where i believe in the chinese chicken salad

i am a sucker for chili cheese fries

good enough?

more eats @ barbarella bar in silverlake
mmm cheeseburger

best fries ever

thai curry mussels
broth was delicious

random things @ lazy dog in torrance
lettuce wraps!
not bad but the stuffing pre-mixed
so you can't pick which things you DON'T want

sundried tomato-artichoke dip
not bad? not great

wedge salad
HOW can you water down blue cheese dressing??
why?!

side of sauteed spinach

usually so good and i love veggies
but nearly-brown and overcooked that night :(

new banana custard & cream dessert
soooo good
gobs of caramelized banana, liqueur and custard
w/ graham cracker, tons of whipped cream
and chocolate & raspberry drizzles

the prettiest vday flowers in the world

caprese @ bay cities deli in santa monica
w/ sundried tomatoes and pine nuts

bowtie salad was meh

bbq tri-tip sandwich
looked really good was too much
not that enjoyable :(

the godmother!
genoa salami, mortadella coppacola, prosciutto and provologne
w/ the works and spicy
loved this

crabs @ pacific seafood on redondo pier
so fun to eat

k stew!
delicious

crab guts + crab brains + rice + hot sauce = i want it now

the aftermath

ginormous pelicans!
they came toward me when i knelt down to take this photo
prob thinking i had food
i about died

mf-ing jose andres!!!

as sweetheart as you would expect santa to look
except instead of eating your cookies
and leaving supernintendo games
this bff of hotness anthony bourdain makes cute-ass fun eats
@ the bazaar in sls beverly hills for restaurant week
i can't believe he was there!

my beautiful hendrick's & tonic
@ bar centro
please note the magical ice ball

a dirty martini
w/ magical liquid olive and brine air

air bread filled w/ cheese
topped w/ kobe beef or mushrooms

"canned seafood"
how f-ing cute..
kumamoto oysters w/ olive oil, lemon,
black pepper and sea salt

eel and black sesame rolls in cucumber

tuna w/ avocado and fritos?
delicious

a caprese
tomatoes and pesto were AMAZING
and the liquid mozzarella balls..
DELICOUS!

vanilla cotton candy around foie gras
i found it questionable
steve enjoyed :)
made right by our table in a cotton candy cart

salmon roe cone w/ creme fraiche
a play off lox & cream cheese
LOVED THIS ONE

mini foie gras sammies w/ dried apricots
again, steve loved

sea scallops w/ tomato-almond sweet pepper sauce

apple pastry
w/ milk ice cream
that milk ice cream was WOW

hot chocolate mousse
w/ pear sorbet & salty hazelnut praline
by far hands down my favorite part of the entire dinner
and now my FAVORITE dessert EVER
final verdict: simple, fun and a great experience
**BONUS: we saw T.I. going into the bathroom
(and yes, he remained sexy while doing so)

barbarella bar in silverlake
really nice inside!
some post-beer sampling glasses

empanadas
filled w/ brie and gooey gruyere
oh man sooooo good

charcuterie
salamies, sausages, serrano & other dried/cured hams
PLUS manchego and spanish goat cheese
w/ dabs of fig & quince honey puree

tuna tartare w/ avocado and masago

spanish pizza
w/ serrano ham, figs, manchego & arugula

the spanish goat cheese from the charcuterie was SO GOOD
we needed more!

mac and cheese
super gooey, hot and peppery

more dim sum @ east gourment in rosemead
SIU MAI!!
you have to scream it like the cantonese cart ladies

steamed eggplant w/ fish cake and chilis

vegetarian bean curd rolls

shrimp & veggie dumplings
hot and fresh and chewy delicious

the insides
don't know what these veggies are called in english
but they are my faaavorite

kimchee & tofu @ iccho in torrance
meh

rainbow roll
pretty but also meh
shrimp and red snapper were SO dry and terrible