Tonkatsu Kiyoshi @ 7780 S Jones Blvd, Las Vegas

 




It's been a busy month, with two Japanese restaurants in the area that I haven't tried yet, I am thrilled and filled at the same time....

I can always have Tonkatsu for any meal; it's comfort food for me and if you go to Japan, they make it so light and crunchy, you almost can't believe that its fried.  Almost...

But alas, we're not in Japan, and for the most part, Tonkatsu here is a heavier, oilier version of the original, and if you're lucky, the Pork doesn't taste like your belt.. or is as thin...

And then Tonkatsu Kiyoshi come into town, and all is good.  Located in an area that no matter where you live, takes a butt long time to get to, since it's in a residential-ish area with rudimentary access (Vegas, could you hurry up and upgrade the road conditions already)?  I was a little trepidatious at first, I really didn't want to go if it was just another L&L BBQ or Ross J's... (no offense)...

Red Farm @ 2170 Broadway, New York

So short and yet to the point:  there was talk about Red Farm, a reinvented Chinese restaurant that  looked from the outside, anything but Chinese.  Luckily, I was staying on the same block on the Upper West Side, so I was able to get in a grab a bite to eat.

Practically at the footstep of my hotel was Red Farm, a modern interpretation on Amer-Chinese cuisine.  Most notable was this one appetizer which I recommend anyone in the vicinity go right now and order: Katz's Pastrami Eggroll. Seriously, a cosmic revelation of two decadent items from vastly different regions and styles rolled (literally) into one dish, I kid you not, this should be copied and distributed as the next best trend in Chibrew cuisine.  

$2,000 Tasting Menu in Spain....

Sublimotion Eng from Sublimotion on Vimeo.

Restaurant with photobooth for food?!?!

Cook @ 1310 Main Street, Saint Helena

SO during the wedding weekend extravaganza, there was wine tasting, wine making and general whining on the part of yours truly that there was no scheduling for fine dining.... (for a non drinker such as myself, Napa can be a bit isolating...)

Fortunately, having been to the region on several occasions, I knew of a local place that served the most excellent Pasta dishes, which in the midst of a drunken stupor, is terribly satisfying, if not falsely sobering.

Cook is a gem of a restaurant; in the midst of all the hob snobbery and high end restaurants, this place has got all of the local vibe with a sense of humbleness that permeates throughout the restaurant and the food.

Restaurant Etiquette

60 Second Tasting Menu - The Elm

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Tasting Menu in 60 Seconds

'How to Eat a Hamburger' a scientific approach (by Japanese scientists)

Movie Trailer: 'Foodies'

Sage: Braised Veal Cheeks

Braised Veal Cheeks with Blue Corn Hominy Succotash, Pickled Sweet Corn and Black Garlic Glaze 

'The Walking Fed': A Week of Decadence -Day 1 Dinner

For the evening of my first day in Denver, the evening repast was relatively light; which would be the only one of the entire trip.  This was just fine with me, as long as there's dessert, I'm a happy camper.   

The dish prepared this evening was Clams Thai style.  For me, throw 'Thai' in front of anything and I'm good to go..   Apparently, I thought taking pictures of Clams boiling in a pot of water was 'artistic'....clearly there was wine involved.

The broth was made with Crab Oil, Lemongrass, Thai Basil and whole lotta other lumpy things that I couldn't for the life of me, be able to identify to you other than the taste was fabulous! There was Palm Sugar for sure for sweetness, Fish Sauce for tanginess and Chili Peppers for nuclearness.

'The Walking Fed': A Week of Decadence -Day 1 Lunch

I spent a week in Denver with my college friend Pi, who is a renown Chef in the Denver/Boulder area. His restaurant was called The Elephant Hut; currently, he is in the midst of building a new restaurant in the heart of Denver. In the meantime, he had invited me to come over and had planned a truly glorious (gluttonous) feast of which I am still recovering from to this day.  I'm posting the highlights of this culinary journey (*burp*) with the hope of conveying to you my most memorable foodie trip of the year.

As I arrived just in time for a light Lunch, Pi had prepared a Green and Red Papaya Salad...with only one Chili, (just for me cuz seriously, in Thai Cuisine the prevailing preference is 'nuclear'...please pronounce it a la former President Bush - 'newkular').  Normally I shy away from this dish; it just does't come in 'mild'.  But with Pi at the helm, this Chef is spoiling me to the point of no return. 

With the crunch of thinly shaved Papaya, the citrus acid notes, the sweetness of Palm Sugar and the sharp bite of Bird Pepper Chili, this salad incorporates every taste sensation in each bite.  Full of refreshing yet almost hearty flavors, it was at that moment that I decided that I would build my tolerance for the spicier foods in order to open the door to wider range of dishes.  Which also means I'll bringing a towel with me wherever I eat...whatever, who said you had to look pretty while you eat (*belch*). Yeah...definitely not me.

Bu I've gotten ahead of myself as the Papaya Salad was only one of three highlights; a beautifully seared Black Pepper Ahi Tuna Steak, sliced and arranged in a rosebud was served as the protein for the trio dish and the finish, a Micro Green Salad.

I would have eaten several of these dishes in a second, the Tuna was the perfect ratio of sear to raw, (as good quality Tuna should always be served Sashimi style) and the sauce paired perfectly with its protein; a light Soy Citrus blend that adds a robustness to the dish rather than trying to mask its 'piscine' essence.

It was a melodic foray into what would be five days of non-stop foodie madness.  Oddly, I have never consumed so much Seafood in such a short time period, (in Denver no less)  but leave it to Pi to have the best in town.  There's a lot of Meat too so look out for the series, 'The Walking Fed'!

F&B Documentary: 'Spinning Plates'

Fried Chicken with Caviar: an animation odyssey from David Chang of Momofuku

Do you think they're allowed to watch this, much less eat Fried Chicken at Vogue?

Video: Ice Cream Sandwich Pie Machine by El Celler de Can Roca

little fork @ 1600 Wilcox Ave, Hollywood

It was a Hollywood Sunday afternoon; the sunny haze drenches the low rise buildings with a 70's sunshine cellophane like film.  I pass by a partially opened door and peek into what I gather is a congregation of sorts, latin music comes through as does the sounds of fans furiously expunging the body heat emanating from the bodies squished inside a brick & mortar sardine can.

Parking at a street meter, (forgetting that there's always valet in LA) I get a pedestrian view of the restaurant and it's arrival; amidst a diverse neighborhood (both in architecture and use) little fork's exterior seems rather sparse, even nondescript to the glancing eye.

But walking towards the monolithic structure, with a discerning eye, you can see the subtle nuances of small yet deliberate details that defines minimal theory; the light grey concrete facade in a smooth, honed finish is a shade lighter than your average dull, cellblock variety, a line of vertical windows serving as the only architectural fenestration into the main dining room define a visual language, albeit a nominal one.  With the only ornamentation being it's name: electrified luminous neon tubing of 'little fork' in lower case  script ... minimal monolith juxtaposed with 'bodega deli' signage hints as to the mangeables you'll find inside..

FOOD PIC WARS!!!!

Manga Burger @ Bachi Burger

Jaleo by Jose Andres @ Cosmopolitan Casino & Hotel

Jaleo has is my favorite dining experience on the Strip; apart form the most excellent food, I love the ambience of the restaurant and service is impeccable.  Chef Jose Andres has a magical take on Tapas, a direct influence from his mentor, Ferran Adria of El Bulli.  His restaurant in LA, The Bazaar, has more of an avant garde conceptual Tapas line-up, while Jaleo has both traditional and contemporary dishes in a stylish casual environment that promotes a convivial dining experience.  It's a great place to take friends and special enough for that romantic evening.