24 January 2010, Late Lunch

My day started off @ 5:45am because it was time to hit up the Mountains!! Crazy storms lasted through the whole week and Snow was everywhere @ the higher elevation.  But damn.. traffic was a bitch trying to get out to Mountain High that morning.. anyways.. our fun in the snow finally ended around 2pm and it was time to head back.  The first 45min on our way back was a tough one, why?? because we were trying to decide what to eat, and where to eat.  Well I wanted seafood and my gf game up with a good idea.. "how about Boiling Crab?"!!! ohhhhhh whaaaa?!!!!! let's go!

We finally arrived and my brother dropped me off at the front so we can get our names down for seating, "Jordan, table for 11 was set" but it was going to be about an hr wait... =(

If you haven't been to Boiling Crab, word of advice, be prepared to wait for a table, but trust me.. it's worth the wait!

Let's take a look shall we: (we didn't get much, but hopefully our next visit to Boilng Crab will make up for this post)

 

Gumbo - sz Small

If you're wondering what a Gumbo is, or what's inside this gumbo? shiiiit, I don't know! haha.  I know it comes with sausage, some seafood and rice. It's real good! This is my second visit to Boiling Crab and second time getting it, but there won't be a third time.  I'm over Gumbo now.. I recommend the Gumbo but it's filling.  If you don't wanna get full so fast, don't get this.. save all that extra space for the crabs, lobster, shrimp and whatever else Boiling crab has on the menu.

  

 Shabang Flavored Corn & Sausage

If your wondering "wth, corn & sausage @ boilding crab?" well my gf's little sister is very picky and does not like Seafood at all, so we ordered her this.  She ate the corn and only one piece of sausage because she didn't like the sauce.  I do not recommend this meal, why? because why even bother going to a seafood restaurant if this is all you want?

 

King Crab Legs - The whole shabang

I'm so thankful my gf ordered this!! my gumbo was getting old quick!! Look at the shabang sauce.. look at it!!! We ordered an extra side of steamed rice and I love putting about 3-4 scoops of rice in front of me and spreading that shabang sauce all over it! I recommend cracking out the legs for the meat, place a few scoops of rice with the sauce spread all over it and just go to work!  Heck, I'd even recommend cracking all the meat out of the legs, throwing them back inside the bag and dumping all the rice inside... Shake it all together and eat it that way.  Yeah I haven't done that yet cuz thats straight up "fat man status" haha.  I'm all talk, I could never do that.

Alright guys.. thats  all I have from Boiling Crab.

Boiling Crab (off Brookhurst)

714-636-4885

23 January 2010 PM.. Sushi!

YOGA in the morning was already put to waste with a good lunch that my parents made, might as well keep going and Eat HARD again for dinner =)

The gf and I decided it was going to be Sushi for the night! I made one suggestion but she rejected it because "we've already been there".  My gf and I have this little rule going on that "we're not allowed to hit up the same restaurant within 1 year".  Sounds like it sucks but actually it's a good idea, and I don't have any problems with it.. well sometimes I do haha.  The great thing about our rule is that we're always trying something new!

So I suggested Sushi West in Long Beach and it was a go! When it comes to picking up some quick Sushi very close to the house, Sushi West would probably be considered my go to spot.

Lets get to it:

Edamame for an appetizer, can't go with that..

Spider Roll

Dragon Roll

Caterpillar Roll

One thing I like about Sushi is that I could walk away not feeling too full, but yet i'm satisfied.  I took one bite per roll that included a dip of low sodium soy sauce.  Eff that two bites per roll, stuff that shit! haha. I couldn't really consider anyone of them to be more favorable over the other, but if I could only order one, it would be the Caterpillar Roll.  If you were expecting a break down of each bite, sorry.. I won't always do that but you hurry up and find out yourself!

Word of advice, bring cash because this place does not take credit cards.. wack!

Sushi West

4105 Atlantic Ave

Long Beach

562-424-5004

Friday 22 January 2010 PM

Hole in the walls are usually the best places to hit up, and this past Friday was definitely one of those nights! For quite some time now, I've been craving "Pupusas", if you don't know what that is, check pictures below and try one ASAP!  So on this evening my gf and I along w/ our good friends were off to the unknown to fill up our empty stomachs.  Actually, my gfs has had the idea to eat at a SALVADOREAN restaurant for quite some time now and finally this was it!

Parking is a bit tough, I recommend parking parallel on 7th street, so good luck when you guys go.. No maybes just go!.. Anyways, so the name of the place is called La Ceiba Restaurant, located on 7th street and Walnut in big bad Strong Beach..

Upon entrance we received a very warm welcome from a lady I believe was probably the owner.  She was also our server w/ excellent service, and since we've all never been to a Salvadorean Restaurant, we were throwing all sorts of questions to her left and right about the menu, but she didn't mind, gladly answering all.  The dining area was probably about 30' x 25' that included a small bar and a karaoke machine in the corner behind our table.  So far so good..

So let's cut to the chase here, this blog is mainly about my pictures, not all my BS:

 

So our waitress started us off w/ samples.. Going clockwise from the top left:  Tamarindo, Horchata, Jamaica, and the last I don't remember. haha, sorry there.  All four samples were tasty, but we all went with the Horchata.  We were sold because our waitress said Salvadorean Horchata was made from morro seeds, which made it taste different from Mexican Horchata which used sweet rice.  Personally, I would go with a Salvadorean Horchata because it didn't taste too sweet like most Mexican Horchata's I've tried.  

This is a Pupusa, a Salvadorean stuffed masa flatbread. 

The two Pupupas on the left side were: Pupusas de Rebueltas - mixed with cheese and pork.

The one on the right was the: Pupusas de Queso con Calabaza - cheese and squash 

My craving has finally arrived and I immediately starred it down.  Letting it know you wouldn't stand a chance with me!  

Pupusas con mesa de arroz - filled w/ rice and "extra" which I have no clue.

The bread was a bit crispier compared to the other three but still awesome.  All Pupusas were served with curtido which added flavor to each bite. I guess curtido is sort of like a pickled cabbage relish thingy.. 

Tamal de Elote con Crema

My gf ordered this and it was yummy! I liked the corn flavor w/ the crema.

Tamal de Pollo

I don't remember taking a bite out of this.  Tamale's aren't really my thing, but my gf enjoyed it.  Try it out guys!

  Platano Frito con Frijol y cremea - Fried bananas w/ beans and sour cream

Our friends ordered this and right when our server placed it on the table, we told her we wanted the same, but to go! haha.. I love fried bananas. I know you all do also so try this out as well.

Pollo con Tajadas

This plate was on the house!! Like I said, our server was excellent.  This dish was under their Hondurian Food menu.  Yup they serve Hondurian food too.  This was probably the best plate! And I don't even know what was exactly in it! haha, except that it was a pollo served with some kinda sauce that reminded me of a fish taco (in my opinion it did) w/ sliced bananas that tasted like fries.  Although the Pupusas were good, this plate was freakin the best.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Pollo con Tajadas!

Overall, I gave this hole in the wall an A+.. I could go on and on about each bite but I don't want to make this blog anymore boring.  All I can say is to try this place out ASAP.  And if you do, invite me because I wanna go back.   My buddy left La Ceiba Restaurant feeling like a celebrity because of their friendly hospitality.  Before we left, people at the bars were asking us if we wanted to do karaoke. Haha.  Cool little place, friendly people, and yummy food, what more can you ask for!

La Ceiba Restaurant
1436 E Seventh St
562-590-3186

slickdeal..

If your out in Irvine between now and the 31st, Einstein Bros Bagels are offering a free Bagel..  Print this out and hit it up!

http://bagels.static.contextoptional.com/einstein_coupon2.html

22 January 2010, AM

I used to see Einstein Bros Bagels all the time when I used to drive to San Diego for work twice a week.  I don't know why but I always decided to pass this place up.. I guess because Jamba Juice was right next door and an Original Matcha Green Tea Blast always sounded good for a long drive.  Anyways, work decided to send me down to San Diego today and I took the opportunity to finally stop by and check out the bagels.  I was overwhelmed by the many bagels they had and I don't even really like bagels but damn, they were looking mad yummy!

I was debating between a cinnamon bagel or a breakfast sandwich, and after a few minutes I decided to go with the Bacon/Egg & Cheddar on a Florentine Spinach Bagel.  You know those times when you're really hungry and when you finally get something to eat, no matter what it is, shit taste good! Well not in this case.. haha.. I've been up since 6am, and it was already 9am.. I was hungry!! But the awesome taste of this bagel wasn't out of hunger.. shit was bomb!! The first thing I thought of after that first bite was, "This is probably the best bagel I ever had"!  Maybe it was the bacon & cheddar, maybe it was the egg, maybe it was the spinach florentine bagel, but it wasn't just good out of hunger.  I highly recommend this place, especially if you like bagels.  At the time, I wasn't sure if Einstein Bros Bagels was located anywhere else besides Point Loma, San Diego, but I did a Google search and found out they have one in Irvine!

I even got a small Matcha Green Tea Blast next door at Jamba to compliment the salty breakfast haha! But if a Jamba isn't near by, go for WATER! Water is good for you!

Here are the pictures from that memorable Friday morning breakfast on the job!

http://www.einsteinbros.com/

Introduction

When I first heard about blogs and realized what they were all about, I thought they were pretty lame to be honest.  Why would anyone want to blog online about their life? Isn't that what a diary is for? I mean who cares right..  Well, for the past year or two, I've been following a few blogs which changed my whole perspective on this online blogging thing..

Sending out an mms or an e-mail attachment to my friends & family of what I was eating and at what location started to become a drag after a few years.  It was getting old,  but I couldn't stop! I just continued on anyways because sending pictures of food at that particular point in time was , for me, the only way to share them.

Eventually, everyone around me started telling me to make a blog.. and here it is! The purpose of this blog is to share my thoughts and experiences behind the great dining that I do to those who I know, and eventually to those who I don't know as this blog progresses. On occasion there will be times where I may step away from just posting food and share other interests that may be going on in my daily life.  Feel free to read or skip to the next plate!

I enjoy cooking but I'm no top chef, nor do I really have much knowledge for spices so don't expect a whole break down of all the dishes I will be posting.  I'm just gonna tell it how it is and take it ONE BITE AT A TIME..

Let's do this...

p.s. Fuck typos, this ain't an essay..