Rosalind’s Ethiopian Cuisine, Los Angeles

On a mission to try a new cuisine, I came across two Ethiopian restaurants online, Little Ethiopia Restaurant and Rosalind’s Ethiopian Cuisine.  The reviews for Little Ethiopia were really good, but when we got there, it was really empty inside.  However, just a few stores down was Rosalind’s which had a good number of people inside.  I took that as a sign and went to Rosalind’s.  From the pictures below you can see that we ordered a combination plate with different meats to try.  I recommend this if you are having a hard time trying to decide what to get.  It comes on a plate of Injera, which is a flatbread that is rather spongy. It kind of reminded me of miniature rolled up carpets.  Because the plates already come with it, it may not be necessary to order a separate order of Injera.  We also ordered sambussa as an appetizer which was really good. I also loved their salad which had a very simple but tasty dressing.  Ask the waitress about their special Ethiopian wine and beer which is definitely worth trying.  I can’t say you’ll fall in love, or like it enough to go twice, but if you’re and adventurous eater and want to try new cuisines, then Rosalind’s is a great choice

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Il Pastaio, Beverly Hills

A “romantic” girls night out and catching up with my friend Mona at Il Pastaio.  I’ve been here twice and liked my experience both times. The food comes in smaller portions that are just the right size for one person, but not ideal for sharing or if you just eat a lot. But the idea is to get multiple courses so it will be satisfying.

I tried the soup aka Zuppetta: mussels and clams steamed in a spicy tomato and garlic broth. It was really good but salty, so I asked for lemon to even it out. And what I was impressed by the most is the authenticity of the Italian-ness. There were many Italian people dining there and I figured, if they like it, it must be good and authentic!

The ambiance is just right, whether you are on a date or with friends. The prices are up there, but its on Canon Drive in the heart of Beverly Hills so you’ve gotta expect that. If you’ve never been, and you’re looking for a nice restaurant in the area, you can’t go wrong with this place.

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My trip to Oahu, Hawaii

Here are some pictures of my trip to Hawaii not too long ago.  I stayed at the Olomana Gardens doing a program similar to WWOOF’ing. If you’re not sure what that is, visit www.wwoof.org.  Its a great way for people to travel if you are on a budget, want to get into farming and organic living, or simply want to live with a family rather than on your own because you get to experience the true culture of the place you are visiting.  This was my second visit to the Olomana Gardens and I had a blast! Every night I ate like a KING because I was making fantastic meals for the whole gang and topping it off with a nice glass of wine or beer. Everyone would pitch in, whether it be side dishes, wine, freshly baked tortillas, etc.  I most definitely left the calorie counting back in LA!  I’m so happy and grateful for all the experiences and most importantly the friendships that I made.  I can’t wait to go back!

The Kitchen, and the great people at Olomana Gardens

My Bedroom, which really was converted from a Van lol

Gorgeous organic papaya freshly picked from the tree

Imagine having a picnic while enjoying this amazing view. Words cannot describe how it felt.

Potlucks are the best! You get a taste of everything!

Our "backyard"

The best spaghetti I've ever made in my life all because of the love and "aloha" that went in it as some called it, also the fresh oregano didn't hurt either ;)

Freshly caught Tilapia!

On the last day of my trip, I spent the whole day making chili guava peach jam :)

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Tofuya BBQ, Los Angeles

Tofuya BBQ

11267 National Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90064

(310) 477-6075 ‎

If you’ve never done all you can eat Korean BBQ you must try this!!! It is so much fun. You get to order as much as you can eat, but…you have to cook it yourself! If you ask me, I think that’s the fun of the whole experience.  I’ve been to several Korean BBQ restaurants, and this is just one example, a little place called Tofuya BBQ, not to be confused by Tofu Ya, both of which are on or near Sawtelle!  I’ve listed the address and phone number of the one I went to because it can get very confusing if you try to look it up on your own.  This place gives a ton of meat and was about 16.95 per person.  Other places generally tend to be a few dollars less than that.  The place was clean. Service was good.  I do recommend it.  However, I’ll be sure to review some others in the future. If you know of any good ones I should check out, I’d love to hear about it.

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BRÜ HAUS, Los Angeles

BRÜ HAUS, cool little crowded gastropub on Wilshire Blvd.  Easy to get into, AND they serve really cool food.   As for food, they had a variety of exotic sausages. Unfortunately they were out of stock on a lot of them. My first choice was the habanero tequila chicken, but I had to settle with the duck and somethingerother.  I definitely want to go back and try the other cool stuff that they had.  The great thing is, if you’re not too thrilled about it, instead of driving somewhere else, you can always just go next door in either direction where bar hopping in LA is actually doable!

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What Kind of Burger Are You?

Fatburger

www.fatburger.com

I was on my way to my favorite burger joint (In N Out), then got persuaded to try something different. It had been a while since I’d been to Fatburger and so I figured I’d go.  I actually really liked it, except I forgot to ask them not to put relish. I don’t like that stuff. I think the most exciting thing was that they had a soda machine with like a million flavors, like Peach Sprite, and Cherry & Lime Lemonade.  The burgers are good too. Real meaty. Real Tasty. Oh and if you’re trying to watch your carb intake, they’ve got a salad version as their “lettuce wrap.”  I guess the advantage of going here as opposed to In N Out  is that you have more options of what you want on your burger like bacon, eggs, mayo, relish, etc., plus their burgers patties are bigger too, of course, their prices are a tad higher.  Still, its good to switch it up sometimes.  What do you think, are you an In N Out fan, or do you prefer other meatier burgers over the taste of In N Out?

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Guido’s Ristorante, Santa Monica

I went to this place on recommendation.  We ordered the Ravioli Di Aragosta and Eggplant Parmigana.  I liked the Eggplant Parmigana because it had a good amount of melted cheese on top, but overall was not very flavorful.  The Ravioli Di Aragosta is their homemade ravioli with stuffed lobster in a champagne cream sauce.  That type of dish is just so much for one person to take in because it’s just so heavy.  So between the two of us, we split the eggplant and ravioli and still had some left over.  I must say that others told us that this was a really great place to go to, but honestly I wasn’t all too impressed.  The atmosphere was a little dark and somewhat old school Italian mobsterish, but I guess it’s cool if you’re into that!

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The Penthouse @ The Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica

This next restaurant/lounge is a super fun place to go and one of my favorites in Santa Monica.  I find myself going here quite often because it suits every occasion, whether it be just to get drinks with friends, or celebrate a birthday. But the best feature of The Penthouse is the absolutely GORGEOUS decor.  Overlooking the ocean, it is THE perfect place to go to early in the day for brunch or late enough to catch the sunset and breathtaking views.  The nightlife alone gives it a different feel. We ordered a cabana, had a beautiful dinner, and followed the music to the dance floor.  I ordered the New Zealand Snapper that comes with potato gnocchi and steamed clams.  I have to admit, it was very light and delicate. The fish had a slightly crispy exterior but coated in a delicious white wine and garlic sauce.  The gnocchi was made to perfection.  Of course, the servings are rather small. But if you want the best bang for your buck, order the crab cakes. They’re the best. Everything was of excellent quality. Oh, and apparently I got a little overzealous when they brought my food because I forgot to take a picture of it! Doh!

Braised Short Rib

Brick Pressed Jidori Chicken

Crab Cakes

Cauliflower Gratin

Strozzapreti

Happy Birthday Crissy!

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