Soup Season is Here

Where did Fall go?  The weather is so cold right now!  That means it’s soup season!

Pho Linh, Cupertino
Located across the street from De Anza College.  This place is brand new, and it’s pretty good.  All the ingredients are fresh.
Coconut Juice
Not overly sweetened, with generous chunks of coconut.  Mm!

Pho with Chicken
Coming from Disneyland, I was in a healthy mood.  So I opted for chicken over my usual beef order.  The chicken strips were tender, the broth was rich and tasty, and the noodles were fresh.  Overall, it was a good bowl of pho.

Garnish
Basil, Bean Sprouts, Lime, and Jalapenos.

Japanese Nights Out

The best thing about Japanese food is that I can eat it everyday. Why? Because it's not the same foods everyday. It varies from sushi, sukiyaki, shabu shabu, izakaya, yakiniku, and so on.


Juban, Menlo Park
This is a yakiniku house where you get to cook your food on the grill in front of you.

Edamame

Namuru
Bean sprouts, daikon, spinach, and soy sprouts

Chicken

Boneless Kalbi Short Ribs

Grilling the food

Grilled Shrimp


Gochi, Cupertino
Japanase fusion tapas
Calpico Shochu
This drink is like childhood, but with an adult twist. I could swim in this.

Lychee Shochu

Grapefruit Shochu

Saba Carpaccio

Gyuniku Reishabu Salad
Shabu beef salad

Chicken Karaage

Yakiudon

GNO - Girls' Night Out

Alexander's Steakhouse
My girls and I went to this fine dining restaurant before my chef friend left the establishment (and is now at the new Rosewood resort. I'll hopefully blog about that place soon after I find the time to visit it.)

Entrance
The entrance features to aged meats and the high end cuts. Many are Wagyu selections from Japan.

The menu!

Complimentary Rose Champagne and a glass of a Red Bordeaux

Scallop appetizer
Made special from my chef friend. So generous! So tasty! The watermelon bits provided a nice texture with the scallops.

Hamachi Shots
Fresh hamachi and ponzu sauce. They recommend you take it exactly like a shot.

Palate Cleanser
Mandarin orange and ginger gelee
Melange a Trois
Beef 3 ways. 1) Kobe beef panini-pressed patty melt. 2) Braised Short Ribs. 3) Filet Steak with blue cheese crumbles.
And, a splurge with seared foie gras on top.

Filet Mignon

Bone In Aged New York

Mashed Potatoes

Mac N' Cheese

Beets and Greens

Creamed Spinach

Birthday treat for the "Birthday Girl"

Green Apple Cotton Candy!



Overall, a delicious and satisfying meal. Get ready for a splurge!

On a side note, the waiter/sommelier generously gave me a taste of the Louis XIII Remy Martin. The most delicious thing I've ever tasted!

(These pictures are courtesy of my friend, Alicia :) )