Vegas

Memorial Day weekend was sibling bonding time in Las Vegas. My memory card was acting up, so not all of my photos came out. Here are the survivors:

Ichiza
Japanese tapas off the strip. Great small plates to get a variety of flavors. They have daily specials written all around the walls of the restaurant.
Kirin Ichiban
Japanese beer is a stable pairing for Japanese food. Kirin on draft is a must.

Chicken Karaage

Yakiudon with Pork

Buta Kimchi
Fried pork and kimchi

Tsukune
Grilled chicken meatballs

Grilled Eggplant

Grilled Salmon Belly



Enoteca San Marco
Mario Batali's restaurant in The Venetian Hotel. If you want great pastas, this is the place to go.
Masarati
I was going to order a Negroni, but the description gave me no choice but to order this drink. It's Batali's favorite cocktail with Gin, Campari, Grapefruit Juice

Prosciutto di Parma
Melt in your mouth good!

Rigatoni
With pork belly and swiss chard

Bucatini al'Amatriciana

Pizza


Settobello Pizzeria Napoletana
Located in Henderson, this pizza place has the Naples pizza certification. Meaning, great pizzas!

GWO - Girls Weekend Out

My girl friends and I took a trip up to the Pacific Northwest. Here's our foodicle adventures:


British Bankers Club (BBC), Menlo Park
Before we even left, we met in Menlo Park for a pre-flight drink and snacks.
Long Beaches and a Stella

Nachos and Fried Calamari
Nothing spectacular, but definitely repeatable.


Aladdin's Gyro-Cery
One of the best late night snacks in the University of Washington district (U-Dub, located on the Ave - as the locals would say). We ordered the Lamb & Beef Gyro. Moist chunks of lamb and beef. The lettuce and tomatoes provided a nice contrast for freshness and texture. The yogurt sauce was nice and creamy. The best gyro I've had so far.


Breakfast at Alki Cafe on Alki Beach

Mimosas
Breakfast with friends make mimosas obligatory. Being on Alki beach make mimosas obligatory.

Omelette with Roasted Potatoes and Toast

Smoked Salmon Omelette with Roasted Potatoes and a Biscuit
Generously filled with salmon and cream cheese.



Pike Place Market
A visit here is a requirement.
Piroshky
Russian bake shop featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations.

Sauerkraut filled Piroshky



Spring Hill
James Beard nominated Chef Mark Fuller's restaurant. It lives up to its hype.

Pinot Noir
Selecting a bottle of wine of the table is no easy matter. After getting a gauge of what everyone was ordering, I selected an Oregon Pinot Noir, 2006 Primarius.

Seared Scallops

Roasted Duck Breast

Rainbow Trout with Hazelnut Brown sauce

Irish Coffee
Nothing like a whiskey with a touch of cream and coffee to end a great meal. Topped with homemade whipped cream


Brunch at Blue Hour, Portland, Pearl District
On the journey back down to the Bay Area, Portland was a necessary foodie stop. I highly recommend Bluehour if you happen to be in the area.

Breakfast Pizza
Topped with bacon, potatoes, fontina, eggs, and a caramelized onion sauce. So delicious!

Fried Egg Sandwich
With slow roasted pork leg and gruyere. Fries on the side.



Voodoo Donuts
A Portland requirement!

Cap'n Crunch & Oreos

Cocoa Puffs & Fruit Loops

Grape!

Cream of Portland

Fight Night!

Manny Pacquiao on Pay Per View. That naturally means that my friends and I would gather to watch the fight. That naturally means that my friends and I would eat.

Bite Size Potato Skins
Roasted baby potatoes filled with a mixture of sour cream, cottage cheese, and creamy horseradish. Topped with bacon bits and chives.

Potato Cheese Pancakes
I used the filling from the potato skins to make pancakes. Inside each were mozzarella chunks. Topped with mozzarella and pesto sauce.

Fried Chicken ala Schnabel
My friend, Danielle, made her fried chicken. Delicious! Crunchy and with a nice taste of a mustard rub. Mm!

I Have a Chef Friend

I love cooking, and I love eating even more. As a foodie, I feel accomplished that one of my best friends is a chef. Here's a typical meal:

Grilled Pork Ribs
Grilled perfectly through and still moist and tender.

Sauteed Brussel Sprouts and Bacon
Many claim that bacon makes everything better. I don't know about everything, but I do know it does wonders to brussel sprouts.

Roasted Potatoes

Garlic Bread

An LA Weekend

I spent the weekend in LA for my sister-in-law's bachelorette party. I didn't go all out because of the wedding that's coming up. Naturally, I want to look my best in the pictures. Here are a few of the things I enjoyed:

An LA landmark -- Roscoe's Chicken n' Waffles
This is the second time I've been here and it was just as good. I tried something different this time - 3 wings and greens. The greens were cooked in chicken broth, which gave it a nice taste. And the wings were perfectly fried. Ooh wee, tasty!

Curry Chicken Salad
We ate at the Urth Cafe on Melrose. Growing up I loved getting the curry chicken salad at Trader Joe's. I haven't seen it in years. When I saw this selection, I looked no further. This is the half portion. Creamy and delicious!

Bread
Since it was a to-be-seen spot in LA, the servers asked if you wanted the bread (carbs!) or not. I'm a Bay Area foodie, of course I want the bread!

Seared Ahi Tuna
We ate at Magnolia on Sunset Blvd. The mashes potatoes were creamy to the point that they were silky. The ahi tuna was good, but it wasn't spectacular.

Dole Whip Float
A must get at Disneyland. It's on the way to the Indiana Jones ride. If I could swim in this, I would.