Month: June 2015

I’ll get to acting like Billy Bob Thornton for a Steak at Morton’s!

RibEye Steak

Live Action Quick Tips

Did you know….

While the beef cow is still alive, different parts of its body perform more work or bear more weight than other parts. All of this strain and exercise can make those areas more lean and tough. The more tender cuts of meat are located in sections of the cow that didn’t perform as much work or bear as much weight, such as the upper rib cage. This is the section of beef rib which provides such popular cuts as prime rib, standing rib roast, bone-in rib steaks and the boneless rib eye steak. When the rib section is trimmed but not separated, it is sold as a standing rib roast. If the rib section is separated into individual ribs but not deboned, it is sold as rib steak. Only when the rib bone is removed and other undesirable tail pieces are trimmed away can it be sold as a rib eye.

Because a ribeye steak contains significant ribbons of saturated fat or marbling, it become especially tender during the cooking process. The fat between the muscle tissue slowly melts into the meat, creating a very smooth and satisfying texture. This is why rib eye steaks are ideal for direct heat cooking methods such as grilling, broiling or pan frying. Slow roasting a rib eye steak would only cause the fat to render out of the meat, leaving a very tough and dry piece of beef in its wake. Most ribeye steak recipes call for at least a two step cooking process; a quick hot sear, followed by a slower direct heating method. Steakhouse cooks typically grill ribeyes on a grate over hot coals or gas burners.(wisegeek.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Morton’s Steakhouse – San Jose, Ca

Average Cost

Above $61 for full dinner menu unless you can get there for Happy Hour at bites start at $7

Rating (1-10)

8.5

Recommended Dishes: 

Ribeye, Crabcakes- ask for extra mayo

Miniature Crab Cakes Served with mustard mayonnaise sauce

So it’s Happy Hour time and I am in the mood for something elegant in flavor today and delicate to the bite.

What better place to have a couple of drinks in a ritzy setting than Morton’s Steakhouse in Downtown San Jose.

Time for some live action eating! Let’s talk about it..

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You’ll need a Romantic Room after Dinner at Pasta Moon!

skirt steak, salmon, lasagna

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Did you know….

Cross-cultural influence on the early identity of the Italian peninsula was amplified by Italy’s proximity to the great kingdoms of the Etruscans, Greeks and, later, the Saracens from the Arab empire making contact across the Mediterranean. Though the origin of the Etruscan people is uncertain, the major contribution of the Etruscans to Italian cuisine was a kind of porridge eventually called pulmentum, a mushy-grain dish that was a predecessor to the cornmeal-based polenta popular throughout Italy and internationally (once corn arrived in Europe from America). The maritime Greek nation popularized the kind of fish chowder recognizably called bouillabaisse in French and brodetto throughout the south of Italy (Root 1971). The Arabs were especially influential in the south and especially Sicily, where the origins of dried pasta production can be traced. A predecessor to the modern lasagna, called lagana, existed in ancient Rome and points to an older customs of making dough out of flour and water, but the technology of the kind of dried pasta in extensive use today has clear Arab origins (Capatti and Montanari 2003). Other notable imported cultures include the Germanic Lombards who left their mark in the north of Italy as well as the Hapsburg Spanish influence especially on the rich and savory aspects of Neapolitan cuisine (centered around the city southwestern port city of Naples) .(randomhistory.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Pasta Moon – Half Moon Bay

Average Cost

$31-$60

Rating (1-10)

9.5

Recommended Dishes: 

Lasagna, Skirt Steak

So it’s been a long time coming and me and my fiance are finally getting married…..

Time for the rehearsal dinner and we wanted to make sure we ate somewhere romantic and elegant that would set the occasion off perfectly.

Thanks to our dear friend Tigist, we found a perfect spot for a luxurious experience of decadence and scrumptious grub at Pasta Moon in Half Moon Bay!

Let’s talk about it..

Continue reading “You’ll need a Romantic Room after Dinner at Pasta Moon!” →

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Talk to me later when I’m eating a Baconator!

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Live Action Quick Tips

Did you know….

The history of Wendy’s began with the dream of one man: Dave Thomas. Born in 1932 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, he was adopted at birth by Rex and Auleva Thomas. When Dave was 5 years old his adoptive mother died, and he spent a great deal of time with his grandmother while his father traveled around the country looking for work. At the age of 12 Dave found work at The Regas, a restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee. He lost the job, but this experience would have a lasting impact on him and his dream of starting up his own restaurant.

History of Wendy’s – The Beginning
History of Wendy’sAfter Dave lost his job at The Regis he got another job at Walgreens as a soda jerk, but that didn’t last either after his boss found out he was not yet 16 years old. These setbacks didn’t deter Dave however, and when he was 15 he and his father ended up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Dave landed a job at the Hobby House Restaurant. His family would relocate but Dave stayed behind to continue working at the Hobby House Restaurant, dropping out of high school in the process.

At the age of 18 he joined the Army and when he came back resumed working in the Hobby House Restaurant. In 1956 Dave, together with his boss Phil Clauss, inaugurated The Ranch House Restaurant and it was at this point that he first met Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the three entered into an agreement and Dave ended up owning four KFC restaurants. During this time, the KFC branches were struggling, and Sanders, impressed with Dave’s work at the Hobby House restaurant, offered him a business partnership deal if he could turn them around. Not only did Dave manage to make a profit with the restaurants, but he made enough money to open more restaurants.

In 1968, at the age of 35, Dave sold his KFC restaurants back to Kentucky Fried Chicken and the following year, finally realized his long cherished dream of opening his very own restaurant. In 1969, Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburger Restaurant was opened in Columbus, Ohio.(fastfoodmenuprices.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Wendy’s – San Jose, Ca 95116

Average Cost

Under $10

Rating (1-10)

8.5

Recommended Dishes: 

Son of the Baconator, Baconator, Any of their burgers, Chili

If you love fast food then I’m sure you have your favorites..

Taco Bell for those crunchy delicious tacos, McDonald’s for those ridiculous scientific created fries or Popeye’s for that delicious creole style chicken.

The main issue with fast food is the eerie feeling in your stomach you feel after. It is usually so good while you are gorging it down your throat but an an hour or so later you feel like gagging.

I usually feel like this with most fast food places but there is one place that I go for a fast food burger that makes me feel like I grilled the burger myself and tastes even better than most gourmet restaurants.

That’s Wendy’s Old Fashioned Burgers! Let’s talk about it..

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I’ll Place all Bets on Grilled Chicken on a French Baguette!

Southwest Chicken Sandwich - Grilled Chicken Breast, Crushed Avocado, Tomato, Onion, Cilantro, Jalapeño Peppers and Chipotle Mayo on a Toasted French Baguette

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Did you know….

Southwestern cuisine—from the region that covers New Mexico, Arizona, the bottom of Colorado, and Utah—looks and sounds a lot like Mexican, born of Spanish influence on indigenous tribes like the Hopi and Zuni. It relies heavily on regionally available produce in its fresh and preserved forms: squashes, blue corn, chiles like the Hatch and Chimayo. Green chile is king; sopaipillas, a kind of fried bread, are as commonly found as tortillas south of the border. Preserved in amber until the early ’80s, Southwestern cuisine was mostly a tourist attraction to non-natives—just another stop on the road trip after the Grand Canyon.(firstwefeast.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Cheesecake Factory – San Jose, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

9

Recommended Dishes: 

Southwest Chicken Sandwich, Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp, Chicken Potstickers, Spinach Dip, Cheesecake!!

It’s Friday people and time to get rid of the exhaustion from the work week and begin the weekend relaxation!

Today may be a burger night..a pizza night or maybe a salad night.

But if you are in the mood for a combo of slight spice, mixed with tender chicken and a baguette crunch that locks in all of this phenomenal entertainment then the Southwest Chicken Sandwich at Cheesecake Factory is the choice for you.

Let’s talk about it…

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Words can’t express, Thai food at its best!

Tom Kha Kai, Calamari in Garlic Sauce, Chicken in Thai Basil

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Did you know….

Coconut oil, high in saturated fat, has many a use in the kitchen from frying to candy making while coconut milk is a highlight to many cuisines characteristic of the tropical islands. Coconut milk is popular with curry dishes, quite often infused with the spice. In Burma, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand curry and coconut milk go together like butter and toast in the Western world. It’s a pretty simple recipe. Coconut milk is cooked over a high heat so that the milk and cream break down allowing the oil to separate. The curry paste is added at that point and mixed well, and then all other ingredients from seasonings to vegetables and meat are added and left to simmer to steep and converge. A delicious dish!

Coconuts trees bloom up to thirteen times a year and though it takes a year for the coconuts to mature, new fruit is constantly being produced. One full-blossomed tree may produce 60-180 coconuts in a single harvest.(milk.gourmetrecipe.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Siam Thai Cuisine – Cupertino, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Tom Kha Kai Soup, Calamari in Garlic, Chicken with Thai Basil

If you like spicy flavorful food then Thai food is a delectable treat for you!

The savory nectar of rich and exotic flavors is what makes Thai food one of my favorite dishes!

One of my favorite places to go to get my injection of this sinful pleasure is Siam Thai Cuisine in Cupertino, Ca. 

Let’s talk about it…

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You’ll need a Bib and a Fork to Eat this Pulled Pork!

Roasted Pulled Pork with house made bbq sauce & celery seed slaw on a burger bun

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Did you know….

The process of smoking pork was created when the Spanish settlers first arrived in the United States. They watched natives building a smoky fire underneath their game, and took notice of how the process kept bugs away and preserved the meat. This is said to be the first known barbecue process. Over time, the process evolved, with the migration of Africans and Europeans to the South. Pigs became a main source of meat for people in the Southern colonies, due to their cheap price tag and easy maintenance.

Paired with a little barbeque sauce, cole slaw, and a bun, pulled pork makes for one of the best sandwiches out there. In Mexican cuisine, pulled pork is refered to as carnitas and is paired with onions, cilantro, beans, and guacamole, and makes for a delicious taco.(thedailymeal.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Flavor – Half Moon Bay, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

8

Recommended Dishes: 

Pulled Pork Sandwich(Ask for BBQ Sauce on the side), Any of the burgers(Ask them to add you favorite sauces, mayo, mustard and ketchup)

Something about pork makes most people happy…

Maybe it’s because of the nursery rhyme “This little piggy went to market..”

Maybe it’s because of the great acting a pig did in Charlotte’s Web..

Or maybe it’s because we just love the oink sound a pig makes..

Whatever it is; pork can have people that are fast asleep running to the kitchen for that aroma lingering delicious smell of a this great tasting savory meat of desired sensation!

Let’s talk pork sandwich!

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Holy Moly! Please Give Me More Rangoli!

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Live Action Quick Tips

Did you know….

What Indians eat varies by region and religion. Northern Indians eat more flat breads, while those from southern India prefer rice. In coastal states, such as Kerala and Bengal, fish dishes are popular. Chicken and mutton (sheep) are eaten more often in mountain and plains regions. While many Hindus avoid eating beef, Muslims avoid pork. In addition, many Indians—particularly Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains—are vegetarian.

Spices are used in many Indian dishes. When it is hot, spices such as chili peppers and garlic help the body sweat and cool it down. In colder weather, spices such as cloves, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, and nutmeg help warm the body.

Indian cuisine is varied, but many dishes are cooked in a similar way. The preparation starts with frying onion, ginger, garlic or spices such as cumin seeds in oil at a high temperature. Meats, vegetables, flavorings such as yogurt, and spices such as turmeric then are added. The dish then simmers at a low heat until the ingredients are cooked. At the end of the preparation, leafy herbs such as cilantro and flavorings such as lemon juice are added.

This style of preparation may be linked to the traditional use of cow dung. For centuries, families would cook by placing a pan on top of patties made from cow dung. Like the charcoal used in modern-day barbecues, dung initially produces a high heat, but then burns slowly. Although middle-class and urban Indians have electric or gas stoves, many rural households still use cow dung (waste)(foodbycountry.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Rangoli Indian Restaurant – San Jose, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Vindaloo, Garlic Naan

It’s Friday and boy has it been a long week…………….

At least there was a great NBA game Thursday night and I got to watch an all out battle between Curry and Labron!  I’m looking forward to Sunday to watch Game 2 and sure you guys are as well.

Outside of that, there was one more event that I still think about day in and day out, and that is the fantasizing meal that I had at Rangoli Indian Restaurant.

Let’s talk about it…

Continue reading “Holy Moly! Please Give Me More Rangoli!” →

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I’m singing ‘Hakuna Matata’ for this Chicken Enchilada!

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Live Action Quick Tips

Did you know….

There is much evidence to suggest that enchiladas come from the Mayans. The dish was first associated with the region of Mexico by the Yucatan in pre-Columbian days. Corn tortillas were a staple of the Mayan people and there is evidence that the first enchiladas were tortillas that had fish rolled in it. The enchilada is similar to papadzules a traditional Mayan dish, which also comes from the Yucatan region. In this dish, corn tortillas are dipped in pumpkinseed and rolled around chopped boiled egg. It is then smothered in tomato sauce. This dish was primarily food for the nobles and was said to be served for special occasions.

When the Spanish Conquistadors made their way to the Western Hemisphere they documented the variety of foods the indigenous people ate. Tortillas, made from flattened corn bread were originally called tlaxcalli, however it was the Spanish conquistadors that named it the tortilla. Throughout the later centuries, the Mexican people continued to enjoy this dish and the enchilada can be found in a wide variety of cook books dating all the way back to the first Mexican cook book published in 1831 called El Cocinero Mexicano.(historyofthings.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Speedy Tacos – Sunnyvale, Ca

Average Cost

Less than $10

Rating (1-10)

9

Recommended Dishes: 

Tacos, Enchiladas, Chicken is their best!

So it’s Tuesday and I have survived the Monday’s and need an energy spark to get me through the rest of the week.

Something tasty..

Something gooey..

Something with a punch!

The light bulb illuminates and time to go..

To the land where creamy sauce and cheese overflows…

Time for a visit to Speedy’s Tacos..

Continue reading “I’m singing ‘Hakuna Matata’ for this Chicken Enchilada!” →

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The Mona Lisa ain’t got nothing on this Pizza!

Patrizio Pizza which contains Pepperoni, Prosciutto Cotto, Roasted Garlic, Oregano, Chili Flakes, Mozzarella,Parmigiano Reggiano, and Crushed San Marzano Tomato Sauce .

Live Action Quick Tips

Did you know….

“Purely an Italian-American creation, like chicken Parmesan,” said John Mariani, a food writer and historian who has just published a book with the modest title: “How Italian Food Conquered the World.” “Peperoni” is the Italian word for large peppers, as in bell peppers, and there is no Italian salami called by that name, though some salamis from Calabria and Apulia are similarly spicy and flushed red with dried chilies. The first reference to pepperoni in print is from 1919, Mr. Mariani said, the period when pizzerias and Italian butcher shops began to flourish here.

Pepperoni certainly has conquered the United States. Hormel is the biggest-selling brand, and in the run-up to the Super Bowl this Sunday, the company has sold enough pepperoni (40 million feet) to tunnel all the way through the planet Earth, said Holly Drennan, a product manager.(todayifoundout.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Pizza Bocca Lupo – San Pedro Square Market

Average Cost

Around $14

Rating (1-10)

9

Recommended Dishes: 

The pizza of your desires!!

Boy Oh Boy do I love pizza!!

If it weren’t for me trying to manage my weight then I would eat pizza for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between!

I love pizza when I’m sober..

I love pizza when I’m buzzed..

If I were hiking at the top of Mount Everest and needed a snack it would be pizza..

If I jumped out of a plane skydiving at 50,000 feet and needed a snack in the air; it would be pizza..

My last request on my death bed would be a hot slice of oozing cheese on a pepperoni pizza!

Let’s talk about it…

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