BAY AREA EATS, FOOD + BEVERAGE, HOTELS, PBFW, TRAVEL, VISIT PEBBLE BEACH

pebble beach | pebble beach food & wine 2019

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I had the pleasure of staying at The Inn at Spanish Bay for one night in one of their newly-remodeled rooms. This resort is the central location for Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival which took place April 11-14 of this year. I was lucky enough to attend the first two days of this event.

The king-sized bed was pretty comfortable.
It was really windy and cold that day so the windows had condensation on them so there really was no view of the ocean unless we opened the windows.
The fireplace was so cozy! It has a timer on it so you can leave it on before you go to bed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwVjWGlnll3/

VIP Opening Night Reception @ The Inn at Spanish Bay [+$495]

The opening night was very exciting. Barilla held their Pasta World Championship qualifying round & I was able to witness 8 chefs cooking their dishes for the judges. I was able to photograph & sample them as well! The winner was chosen to be the US representative for the World Pasta Championships which will be taking place in Paris this October.

The Barilla competition in the Grand Ballroom @ The Inn at Spanish Bay

For more info about the competition + contestants please click here.

  • All 8 Pastas created by the chefs
  • The competitors for the US qualifying round for Pasta World Championship.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwKsRH2HXnv/
The Grand Ballroom also had various wine + food vendors for tasting as well.
Right outside the Grand Ballroom was this Driscoll’s display.
Kettle One’s fairly new botanical line was also at the opening event.

Friday, 4/12 Lexus US Chef’s Table Lunch @ Pebble Beach Equestrian Center [+$250]

There were cooking demos, wine seminars, lunches, dinners, after parties that were taking place in the Pebble Beach area all weekend. Each event was located in different areas of Pebble Beach, at different times. There were many different options to choose from but I knew I wanted a lunch & dinner for sure!

I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the Chef’s Table’s Lunch with the Lexus Master Chefs: Ludo Lefebvre, & Dean Fearing.

This event was about a 15 minute drive from The Inn at Spanish Bay. Parking was readily available & free so that was a plus!

The event started at 12 with wine & passed small bites. The actual seated lunch started 30 minutes afterwards.
The prettiest setting + decor!

The event was an open kitchen concept with rows of communal tables. I was able to get up close & take photos of these talented chefs plating their dishes. My favorite dish was the Cast Iron Seared Lockhart Quail by Chef Fearing + the Fourless Chocolate Cake by Chef Ludo. AMAZING!!

The Master Chef himself, Ludo Lefebvre plating his flourless chocolate cake course.

Scroll through my Instagram post below to see the menu & the four course lunch. Of course, there was a wine paired with each course.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwLmLRvH7iI/

Cooking Demonstration: Aviary Live From Pebble Beach @ The Inn at Spanish Bay [+$150]

The Aviary, which is known for their innovative cocktails in Chicago was having a “cooking” demo of their cocktails. I haven’t been back to Chicago in so long but I really did want to check out The Alinea Group restaurants & cocktail lounges so I thought it was the perfect demo to check out before dinner.

The Aviary team demo-ed the cocktails + we were able to taste them. They also gave us the coasters to take home.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwQzrNwHqDs/

Dinner: Big Bottle Party – Bubbles, Burgundy & Bordeaux @ Casa Palmero Board Room [+$1250]

The Big Bottle Party took place at Casa Palmero Board Room. The space was decorated beautifully & I was excited to try all the food + wine.

They passed hors d’oeuvres & bubbly for the first 30 minutes. I really enjoyed the potato croquette by Chef Antonia.
The menu. Truly a BIG BOTTLE PARTY!

My favorites of the night were the seafood tostada by Chef Antonia, & the fideos a la tumbada by Chef Gonzalo Guzman of Nopalito in SF. The tostada had well-balanced flavors & the seafood tasted really fresh. The angel hair pasta had a nice kick!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwTffamHtNN/
  • Chef Gonzalo Guzman | fideos a la tumbada
  • Chef Ryan Mcllwraith | roast duck breast + confit duck leg croqueta
  • Chef Javier Plascencia | squab, Baja olive mole
  • Chef Ramon Perez | fresh cacao, lime raspado, cajeta

I had a lovely time at PBFW this year & hope that I can make it back next year. I wasn’t able to stay for the Lexus Grand Tastings on Saturday + Sunday. I think those events are what most people stay for so they can have a taste of food created by 30+ celebrity chefs + over 300 different wines from all over the world. Maybe next year!

Thank you Barilla Pasta & Dawn McCoy for providing this amazing opportunity!

***

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FOOD + BEVERAGE, RESTAURANTS, REVIEWS, TRAVEL, VISIT VEGAS

LV | the factory kitchen opens in las vegas

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the factory kitchen is now open in las vegas! i was lucky enough to attend their opening party on 1/16/19.

their first location is in los angeles, & it is named after the street address of that location.

the front of the restaurant has red neon sign of the restaurant name
the factory kitchen in las vegas is located in restaurant row at the venetian

cute little area to sit & chat
they are ready for service!
restaurateur Matteo Ferdinandi, chef Angelo Auriana during the pasta demo. they mentioned that the idea of the factory kitchen was first discussed in the bay area!
media dinner menu. they use fresh, seasonal & locally-sourced ingredients.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bswj3RbH6Cw/

i loved the handkerchief pasta aka mandilli di seta. it was cooked perfectly & the pesto was well-balanced.

the prosciutto wasn’t too salty & went well with the creaminess of the cheese.

the porchetta was crispy, fatty & well seasoned.

i recommend their cannolis! i am usually not a fan of them but these had great texture & it had a savory component to them which balanced out the sweetness from the cream.

The Factory Kitchen

3355 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(In The Venetian)

+++

The Factory Kitchen

1300 Factory Place #101
Los Angeles, Ca 90013

***

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FOOD + BEVERAGE, RESTAURANTS, TRAVEL, VISIT KOREA, VISIT SEOUL

seoul | march 2018

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as some of you may know, i went on an epic trip all over korea in march. in about two weeks, i was able to hit up 100 restaurants/cafes in korea & about 15 places in osaka, japan.  i am finally getting around to starting a series of blog posts from that trip.

i try to go back to the motherland once a year. so far, success! here are some places in Seoul that were worth going to. leave a comment if you are interested in more posts from my korea travels!

usually, this is my first stop when i arrive:

뚝배기집

12 Jong-ro 16-gil, Jongno 1(il).2(i).3(sam).4(sa), Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

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it’s so simple & they have only four items on the menu: kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae, soon tofu, doen jang jjigae with snails. this is a perfect place to come for breakfast, all under ₩6,000 ~$6USD.

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광장시장| gwangjang market

88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno 4(sa)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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nearby in this jongno district, is the gwangjang market which has a lot of food stalls. think dumplings, knife-cut noodles, and the drug kimbap [literal translation]. they also have restaurants, as well as shops that are not food related.

***

큰기와집 | keungiwajib
62 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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my newest discovery this past season was this michelin-rated raw soy sauce crab specialty place. if you want this at a lower price-point and at 3am at night, you can also try pro soy crab. i used to go to pro soy crab all the time but after visiting this place, i haven’t gone back.

***
하동관 코엑스| hadongkwan

513 Yeongdong-daero, Samseong 1(il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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another place, i frequent is this gomtang spot. there are multiple locations. i’ve been to the original location but frequent the one inside Coex mall because of its central location.

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원조닭한마리 | wonjo dahk hanmari
13 Nonhyeon-ro 10-gil, Gaepo 4(sa)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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dahk hanmari is chicken soup with the option of noodles at the end. the broth was flavorful and perfect for the weather in march. i had this once before at a different place in korea but it wasn’t as good as this one.

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별양집 | byeol yangjip
17 Teheran-ro 43-gil, Yeoksam 1(il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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i love intestines, mainly large intestines so i was on the search for some good intestine bbq place. i found this place via google maps and it did not disappoint.
***
garak market
932 Yangjae-daero, Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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usually i like to go to the seafood market because it is a good place to get fresh seafood. you first go to one of the many seafood stalls and pick out what you want. lobsters, korean flounder/halibut, abalone, and octopus are some of the things i like to eat prepared raw there. some of the lobsters are huge!  after they kill & clean the seafood for you, you are lead to a “restaurant” where you can eat the freshly prepared seafood. there you can purchase alcohol and also they can cook your seafood if you’d like. they can prepare maeun tang [spicy seafood soup] with the bones/lobster claws or even steam parts of the lobster, etc, etc. they were undergoing renovations since the last time i’ve gone, so things may be a little different now.

***
blind alley

76 Cheongpa-ro 47-gil, Cheongpadong 2(i)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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this next place is a cafe where you can hang out with raccoons, a mini pig & a corgi. the corgi & pig are in the cafe seating area while the raccoons are in a separate room where you can feed them treats or ice. i didn’t know they loved ice so much! am i the only one that thinks raccoons are cute?!

***

c. through cafe
403-3 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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this coffee shop makes amazing latte art but only during the weekends and ONLY if they are not busy. i tried to go once on a weekend, but they said they were too busy to do their crazy latte art. this latte was ₩30,000 but can you really put a price on art?

***

rain drop – 레인드롭

57-12 Dongsomun-ro 22-gil, Dongseon-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

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there are so many cute coffee shops in Seoul but i loved this place! their latte art is also next level. they use meringues to make their art 3D.

***

Mnd coffee

81, Duteopbawi-ro 1-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04333, South Korea

 

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this next cafe, is a hidden gem. i specifically went for their wave toast. it’s a very simple toast, mainly sweet cream sandwich between two pieces of bread, topped with cream cheese that is in different colors. they have other photogenic toasts but i wasn’t able to try them.

***

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BAY AREA EATS, FOOD + BEVERAGE, RESTAURANTS, SF EATS, TRAVEL

SF | where i like to eat in san francisco

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i get asked this quite often, so i’ve finally decided to put together a short list of places that i like to go to in the city. these are some places that i would take friends from out of town.

if you see it on my instagram more than once, you know that i really do like it!

bakeries

b. patisserie


they have THE BEST kouign amann. i prefer their original flavor but they also have seasonal flavors. their chocolate chip cookie is also quite good.

b.patisserie

2821 California St.
San Francisco, CA 94115

 

arsicault bakery


their almond croissant & ham & cheese croissant are a must. but i think everything there is pretty tasty.

arsicault bakery

397 Arguello Blvd.

San Francisco, CA 94118

 

golden gate bakery


i love their super eggy egg tarts with their flakiest crusts. you have to check if they are open because they always seem to be on vacation. sometimes this site is updated to show if they are open or not.

golden gate bakery

1029 Grant Ave.

San Francisco, CA 94133

*

noods

marufuku ramen


there is always an hour+ wait for this place because it is one of the better ramen spots in the city. i prefer the chicken paitan over the tonkotsu, but you should see for yourself!

marufuku ramen

1581 Webster St. Ste 235

San Francisco, CA 94115

 

quan ngon vietnamese noodle house


the star of the show is their chicken pho with the wide noodles. their chicken isn’t dry & their broth is very flavorful. sometimes the noodle to soup ratio is off, but if you like noodles, this shouldn’t be an issue.

quan ngon vietnamese noodle house

2511 Noriega St.

San Francisco, CA 94122

*

casual dining

swan oyster depot


cash only & i recommend going during off peak hours [around 3-4pm] during the weekday. their crab back, crab cocktail, & oysters are my go-tos.

swan oyster depot

1517 Polk St.

San Francisco, CA 94109

 

house of thai

the tom yum was flavorful and not too sweet. i also recommend getting everything spicy because they do not do things mildly !!!

 

house of thai

901 Larkin St.

San Francisco, CA 94109

*

tasting menus

avery

one of my favorite restaurants in SF. @chefrodneywages is very talented & i absolutely loved everything on the menu. my favorite dish is probably the hokkaido snow beef with bbq sauce.  & the caviar bumps are delicious & fun to do!

avery

1552 Fillmore St.

San Francisco, CA 94115

 

wako

my favorite sushi restaurant in SF. my favorite is their “uni taco” because their uni is sweet & the nori is extra crispy. i always get a few extra of those after the omakase is over.

wako

211 Clement St.

San Francisco, CA 94118

*

dessert

u :dessert story


not only are their desserts photogenic, but they are actually tasty! i recommend the pandan crêpe cake & the oolong cheese tea. their cheese foam is so creamy, just the way i like it.

u :dessert story

3489 16th St.

San Francisco, CA 94114

****

if you ever happen to try them, leave me a comment & let me know your thoughts! also, if you would like to see any other lists, please leave suggestions in a comment.

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BAY AREA EATS, FOOD + BEVERAGE, PRODUCTS, REVIEWS, SERVICES, SF EATS, SUBSCRIPTIONS, TRAVEL, VISIT SF

SF | Dinerlist app launch

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Compensation for this post was provided by Dinerlist. Opinions expressed here are my own.

dinerlist has just launched in the san francisco bay area. to celebrate, at the bottom of this post, there will be a link for a chance to win an iphone x!

it is an app that helps people find new restaurants, bars, and cafes in their immediate area without having to look through millions of photos and reviews; it also shows any deals/promos that the establishment might be having.

dinerlist might entice you to try that one restaurant you always pass by but never thought to go into. or  it may even get you to try a new menu item at a place you’ve already been to, which was the case for me.

i was looking through dinerlist and came across mr. t cafe. i go there occasionally to get their twister potato fries or egg puffs. i saw on dinerlist that they had a 10% off drinks promotion so i decided to go and try their drinks this time.

 

i thought, why not try their drinks at 10% off?

 

i got two drinks [instead of one] because one was 10% off. here shown are the milk tea with seas salt & strawberry milk tea.

download the app & try it for yourself and see what items you would try through their promotions.

itunes
google play

** when you download the app + link to facebook account, you will be entered to win an iphone x! **

a Rafflecopter giveaway

winner will be announced 1/15!

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SERVICES, SF EATS, SHOP, TRAVEL, VISIT SF

SF | museum of ice cream – san francisco edition

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this very instagrammable museum of ice cream is sold out.

 

it used to be a bank before it was converted into a very pink & colorful museum dedicated to all things ice cream. this door does not open.

 

during the month of October, salt & straw featured their sea salt caramel flavor with a magic coffee shell. i like their salted caramel flavor and the coffee shell added a little extra something to their regular flavor.

ice cream, DUH! here you will be able to sample a scoop of ice cream, mochi ice cream, cotton candy, unicorn milk soft serve & pop rocks.

i didn’t ride the unicorn like most people. but i did try unicorn milk!

it was quite creamy and not too sweet. it was the perfect bite. the pink is a white chocolate shell.

they have the famous sprinkle pool here but i only went in mid-calf deep with socks on. i just couldn’t get myself to dive in. but if you do, they have a station where you can “dry off” with an air dryer.

 

the swings are the last exhibit. there are three of them but i think i liked the whipped cream “exhibit” the best.

 

the museum of ice cream is a place where adults can be kids again!

***

museum of ice cream

1 Grant Ave

San Francisco, CA 94108

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LA EATS, RESTAURANTS, TRAVEL, VISIT LA

LA | april mini travel diary

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creme

new[ish] soft serve similar to the one in Japan.

ritter’s steam kettle cooking

look for the renovated mcD’s. the chef of palace station’s oyster bar started his own restaurant.

there are multiple locations & i got a chance to preview the one in alhambra. i really enjoyed the chowder fries.

tea master la

went back to my favorite matcha soft serve place in little tokyo

somi somi

they have new flavors: ube & black sesame! sadly, they got rid of the banana & chocolate for now.

***

creme

3726 w 6th st
los angeles, ca 90020

 

ritter’s steam kettle cooking

1800 w valley blvd.

alhambra, ca 91803

tea master matcha cafe and green tea shop

450 e 2nd st.

los angeles, ca 90012

somi somi

620 s. manhattan pl. #208-A

los angeles, ca 90005

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HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, TRAVEL, VISIT NYC

NY | March Photo Diary

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went to NYC last weekend.

it was such a short trip but better than nothing i say!

we stayed @ the W in Midtown. booked it through booking.com

i found a great last minute deal [under $200/night].

 the decor is somewhat dated. and i could not find a usb plug anywhere. it can be quite noisy; you can hear the cars honking and new yorkers love to honk their horn all day!  but i think the noise in unavoidable in this busy city.

the staff is nice & accommodating.  for the price, i thought it was worth it. if you don’t mind a little noise then i think this is a good place to stay. the hotel is located close to the subway, so it is not hard to get around.

inside the lounge area of the w.

waiting for the metro

grand central terminal

fearless girl in front of the charging bull #wallstreet. i heard this installation is on display until april 2, but they are trying to make it a permanent statue.

photo diary isn’t complete without food photos, right?

here are a few highlights:

had sushi zo in NY.

it’s my favorite place in LA & so we had to try their NY location. overall it was a great meal but i was sad that they did not have the uni-ika spaghetti nor abalone. they now have an location in Bangkok as well. what about the bay area?!?!

black on black on black [black sesame on black chocolate cone + @oreo] #nyceats #softswerve #icecream #newyork #hjtravelgram

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it was too short of a trip. i must go back soon!

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LA EATS, RESTAURANTS, TRAVEL, VISIT LA

LA | restaurant review: the butcher | the baker | the cappuccino maker

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bbcm cafe for short.

the space is absolutely gorgeous! there is also an outdoor patio area as well.

they roast their own beans.

latte. mango pudding. chai latte. kouign amann

everything is made fresh daily!

love the decor. i am also in love with their marble plates.

the food is beautifully plated, not to mention quite delicious.

a few recs:

the spaghetti is simple yet tasty. the noodles are on the thicker side and not too saucy.

the small potato bites are like crispy seasoned home fries.

you can’t go wrong with a red & golden beet salad. the goat cheese complements the beets well and the fried beet chips add a little texture to the dish.

can’t wait to try some of these beans! [colombian dark. sumatra espresso. guatemala medium]

also, i need to go back during brunch hours. their ricotta pancakes look amazing.

tip: there is F R E E parking behind the building [sunset plaza].

***

BBCM Cafe

8653 Sunset Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

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HOTELS, SERVICES, TRAVEL, VISIT LA

The Standard DTLA

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Happy 2017!!

I had a terrible experience with @Airbnb this past trip to LA.

When I got to the rental, someone was already staying there.

End result: could not find a last minute replacement through them. I had three dogs with me so that made the task extra difficult.

Luckily, discovered that The Standard is pet friendly [& they stay for free!].

there is valet and two self parking lots behind the hotel. the lower level is cheaper by a few dollars.

when I was there it was $20 for valet, $15 for one of the lots & $10 for the other.

the back of the hotel. there is a small seating area with a fireplace and foosball.

the ‘huge’ room

420-square-foot, king platform bed, tons of natural light, open plan room with soaking bathtub, sitting area, extra closet space, and extra-long desk.

the shower/tub divides the room & bathroom. there is a separate room with toilet.

next to this tub is where the tv/minibar/closet space is. Overall, very roomy for a couple and their two small dogs + medium-sized dog. 🙂

The hotel is surprisingly pretty quiet. You may hear doors shutting and an occasional siren, though. But that’s just expected in LA.

Hopefully, next time I can try the 24/7 restaurant, Hermanos coffee shop, and maybe even the salon. I’ve been to The Rooftop (but it’s been ages!) which has nice views, music, and drinks.

They have a thing called “Standard Time” where you can pick your check-in/out time (for a small fee).

I’ll probably skip the Airbnb next time (I’ve had WAY too many horrible experiences) and just book a room here next time.

#NotSponsoredJustGrateful

got to enjoy walking around DTLA near the hotel.

***

The Standard Hotel DTLA

550 South Flower Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071

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