Mexican Night Dinner

At the resort we’re staying they have theme nights every night and tonight’s theme is Mexican.  We had tacos, ceviche, grilled fish, arroz con pollo and flan. 

Off to Cabo

Second time for the Little Guy and third for us.

We love going to Cabo.  Food is great, people are friendly and it’s very relaxing.  Whenever we go to Europe, we are always on the go -- as we have to cover as many museums/attractions as we possibly can.  In Cabo, it’s all about food, drink, beach, pool, eat, drink, sleep… and the cycle continues for a week.  What more could be relaxing than that.

Toddler Art Class: Celebrating Springtime

~ snapshots of Little Guy’s crafts from pre-school ~

Lunch Date

Meeting hubby halfway for a late lunch at Paglaccis Tratoria Taverna. 

On the table...

Risotto Ai Frutti Di Mare -- Shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams and mussels

Piccata di Pollo -- Grilled chicken in lemon caper sauce. Served with a side of roasted fingerling potatoes and spinach

Play-Doh

We’re trying to make a blue dinosaur here :-)

April blooms

A snapshot of the flowers blooming in the garden this time of year.

Murshroom & Marsala

It’s meatless Monday! French baguette topped with parmigiano-reggiano and mushroom soup. 

The mushroom soup is cooked with garlic, chopped shallot, bay leaf, lemon zest, lemon juice and a cup of marsala wine.

Roast Beef

First,  I cooked the beef in broth with diced tomatoes on low fire for two hours.  Then the following day, I  poked six garlic cloves into the meat, rubbed it with salt, placed on a roasting pan and then on to a 350-degree pre-heated oven for an hour.  

So tender, juicy and delish!

La Fogata

We’re having Mexican food for breakfast today at La Fogata in Sherman Oaks.

And, while husband is in line to order the food, the Little Guy and I are taking some snapshots. Here's one of them...

Picnic on the Kitchen Floor

The Little Guy likes to picnic on the kitchen floor which he calls “micmic.”  So cute when he says, “sit Mommy” while he runs to the pantry to grab more stuff.  When “micmic” is over, he would wave, “bye Mommy, see you” which means Mommy, it’s clean-up time… haha!

Filipino-style BBQ

Now we’re in a Filipino restaurant Kalye Hits in Universal City to pick-up some Filipino-style BBQ … grilled pork isaw (intestine), chicken heart, grilled chicken liver and grilled gizzard.

Thai Desserts

From the birthday party in Chinatown, we stopped by in Thai Town at Bhan Kanom Thai to pick-up some yummy sweet treats.  Mango with sticky rice is one of  my fave.

Birthday Party

In Chinatown to attend a friend’s granddaughter’s first birthday.

Sushi Night

At Okumura on Ventura Blvd in Encino to feast on sushi and sashimi.  It’s vegetarian sushi for the Little Guy.

Cheers to Friday and looking forward to a beautiful weekend!

Nam Tok

… is a dish native to Thailand.  The rice, I roasted until toasted and  then grind to a coarse powder in a mini food processor. The beef was grilled medium well, sliced thinly across the grain and placed in a mixing bowl. Two tablespoon fish sauce,  juice of five limes, chopped shallots,  a pinch or rock salt, a good cracking of pepper, chopped mint leaves and roasted rice were added onto the beef.  Mixed well and then placed on a bowl layered with lettuce leaves.

Burger for Lunch

This is “She’s Smokin” from Baby’s Badass Burgers which is made of smoked cheddar, bbq sauce, crispy onions and bacon.

Beef Goulash "Viennese style"

... is one of the few dishes I cook two to three times a year.  I seldom repeat cooking the same dish twice.  I’m always looking for new ideas… new recipes. But Goulash is an exception which I have been  cooking for almost a decade now.

Rock Fish with Lemon, Artichoke and Capers

Growing up, we live just a few steps away from the seashore and we eat seafood every day.  And tonight’s dinner is fish… yay!  Rock fish with capers and artichoke and cooked in lemon butter sauce.

Sunday Brunch by the Lake

At Lakeside Café in Encino for brunch…  our usual routine after hearing mass.  On the table, Amestoy omelet and classic benedict.

There were migrating geese and turtles on the lake.  It’s a beautiful Sunday morning!

A rose

…beautiful rose on our walkway...

Organic Hainan Chicken Rice

We had lunch at Green Zone in Monterey Park.  Organic Hainan Chicken which I have been craving for a while now.   Also on the table –  prawn tofu wrap, salmon triangle, mini shrimp rolls, wonton/dumpling soup and  grilled pork chop.  YUM! 

Lum Ka Naad

Friday night dinner is thai food at Lum Ka Naad in Encino.

On the table...

• Khao Soy
• Fish Soup with Tamarind Leaves
• Green Curry
• Salt Mackerel Fried Rice
• Thai Iced Tea

Run, Run

AM: We’re running late!

PM:  And, he ran past me to the climber when I picked him up from pre-school.

Selfies

…before the Little Guy fell asleep.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

It’s raining in Los Angeles today.  We need this rain as we are facing one of the most severe droughts on record.

Colorful Easter Eggs

Since there was no Easter egg hunting at the zoo, we decided to hunt for eggs in our garden.  

Easter at the Zoo

Just a quick visit at the zoo to see the bunny and take a few snapshots.  It was way too crowded and there was no Easter egg hunting. 

Sunday Brunch at GC Marketplace

Where we ended up after driving on Ventura Blvd from Studio City to Encino, then back to Universal City.  Deciding where to eat brunch can be tough ‘ya know.

Been here for lunch several times and food is always delicious.  Now, we’re here to try the brunch menu…

On the table:

- House Cured Salmon and Poached Eggs (on a crispy hashbrown topped with sour cream, red onion, capers and tobiko caviar)

- Crispy Griddled Pork Belly (with poached eggs on top of brioche toast. served with a bacon hollandaise, onion confit)

- Buttermilk Pancakes

Southern BBQ at Gus

Taking a culinary trip down to South Pasadena for some delicious  Southern BBQ – Memphis baby backs, Southern fried chicken and  beer-braised Texas brisket.  Also on the table…  fried catfish & chips, cast-iron baked cornbread and sweet tea garnished with mint. Burp!