Joe's Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Las Vegas

5/5 stars

You guys. Joe's is AHmazing. Stone crab is perhaps the best crab I've ever had. It's meatier than Dungeness and sweet and alllmooost as good as lobster (and that's saying a lot)! And the horseradish mustard the crab is served with is absolutely perfect. I've never had crab with mustard before and it's a terrific idea.

The service was also exceptional which was surprising because this is a tourist joint. I mean, it's right next to the fountains in Caesars Palace. A millions thanks to Neil & Eric for making our night. We were here for my sissy's whirlwind bachelorette party and we only had time for one nice restaurant so I'm relieved Joe's exceeded expectations.

My only word advice: don't get the steak. Trust me. I would complain about how dry my steak was if I wasn't so enamored with the stone crab.

Oh, actually, I have one more piece of advice: Get the mac n' cheese. It's probably the best mac n' cheese I've ever had. Perfect balance of cheeses and the gooeyness is stunning. I'm dying for the recipe!

Pappas Burgers - Houston (Hobby airport)

4/5 stars

Bleeping pleasantly surprised.

We only sat down because my mother-in-law wanted to. I was going to have Wendy's. Boy was I happy when Pappas Burger kicked Wendy's burgers in the butt.

It was just a really, really, really solid burger! Like, a real cheeseburger. Like, something you would make at home! The bread was nice and squishy, the not-too-thick beef patty was cooked perfectly, and it was just an [American cheese] cheesy, drippy mess. American cheese is the only cheese that belongs on burgers, IMO. I slapped on some mayo and ketchup and ate the whole thing even though the burger was the size of a dinner plate.

Service was nice & efficient too!

Positano eats: La Sponda

Positano couldn't be prettier. I've wanted to go to this visually stunning place ever since Only You with Robert Downey Jr (*swoon*). Positano was planned, La Sponda (Via Cristoforo Colombo, 30, 84017 Positano SA, Italy), on the other hand, was not.

That is... until I saw this photo on Instagram and just had to have it (I guess I eat with my eyes first): 

Not only was the spaghetti vongole as delicious as it was pretty, the restaurant itself was the most beautiful restaurant hubby and I have ever been to. It was also the only Michelin-starred restaurant we went to in Italy.

Ask to sit outside if you can, where you'll overlook this:

Everything was perfect: the attentive service, the well-executed food, the gorgeous view. Even the dinnerware was whimsical. But my favoritefavorite part was this happy little champagne cart that a jolly man pushed around. I mean, how can you not be jolly pushing around a cart like this:

Of course we had to get something from the cart:

Pink just felt like the right color for a celebration at La Sponda. It went well with my vongole, hubby's John Dory, and this silky eggplant:

La Sponda is not easy to get to, because Positano is not easy to get to, but I think... that's what makes them even more magical. You count your blessings here. 

Oh, and the olive oil is stunning. 

Rome eats: Pane & Vino

I really like sandwiches. But I loooooooooooooooooooooove porchetta sandwiches. I literally hunted down porchetta sandwiches when we were in Italy. One of the best eats near the Colosseum is Pane & Vino (Via Ostilia, 10, 00184).

It's a teeny tiny shop with a very friendly, English-speaking owner. His porchetta is delivered fresh every morning. Get the special porchetta with everything and just... eat in silence. And, if you're like me, grin like a fool.

Rome eats: Hostaria Romana

You want to eat with locals? You want to eat trippa alla romana? You want a simple, unfussy, non-touristy place to rest your feet after playing tourist? Eat here: Hostaria Romana (via del Boccaccio, 1, 00187).

They're known for their fish and their carbonara, but we went bucatini amatriciana, fettuccine with mushrooms, and trippa alla romana. The food was cozy, peasant-like. Bonus: the waiters gift you little plates of delicious (albeit salty) things, like beans, croquettes, and even pasta (!), while you wait for your dinner. We got lucky and were seated by the windows (make reservations) and got to see Roma grow dark.

You know what the perfect thing to do after dinner at Hostaria Romana is? Walk to the Trevi to see it glow: 

Rome eats: La Prosciutteria Trevi

You like pig, wine, and rock n' roll? Welcome to La Prosciutteria Trevi (Via della Panetteria, 34A, 00187).

This place is run by some bad-ass ladies who build a mean board. Said board is made of olive wood and every inch of it is covered with Italian goodies: meat, cheese, grilled veggies, more meat, and bruschetta.

The music is fun, the place is itty bitty, and the wine is gooood. Try the lambrusco.  It's not sweet at all, but dry, fizzy, and berrylicious. It goes perfectly with the board. By the way, the one that we ordered was a medium and it was already over 2 feet long. Yeah, it comes in bigger sizes. Have fun 😉!

I recommend going here when Roma is napping (i.e., not at lunchtime and not at dinnertime). 

Rome eats: Taverna Trilussa

Do you get get giddy when your dinner is served in the pan it was cooked in? Because I do. I don't need any plates, dude. Just give me that steaming hot pan of magic pasta water tossed with cheese and freshly ground black pepper!

Taverna Trilussa (via del Politeama, 23/25, 00153 Roma, Italy) is a bustling bistro in hip Trastevere. Reservations are a must. They have a romantic outdoor area, but we sat inside, past the ham stumps. 

It seems like every other restaurant in Roma is known for their charcuterie. We ordered the prosciutto with creamy, dreamy mozzarella di bufala and the sampler. 

And if you're the kind of person who likes to put an egg on it, here's some #yolkporn for you: 

That's bombolotti (mezze maniche) alla carbonara with glistening ridges and a happy pool of yolk at the bottom of the bowl. Yum-o. 

Rome eats: Roscioli

Ah, Rome. Where the pasta is almost too al dente, almost too salty, and for sure bleeping delicious. You'll eat rustic pasta with just pecorino and ground black pepper doused in the pasta's own water and you'll say "Please, sir. I want some more."

#1 on the list is Roscioli (via dei Giubbonari, 21/22, 00186 Roma, Italy). I can't ever imagine traveling to Italy and not eating here.

Roscioli was so tasty, it was the only restaurant we went to twice during our 14-day vacation. You read any foodie list on Rome and Roscioli is at the top of the pack. Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain, me: we all say go faster. Actually, first you must make reservations. The deli moonlighting as a restaurant is tiny, with less than 20 tables. If you can, ask to sit in Daniel's section. He's charming and knows his prosecco, champagne, and sparkling wine. And he doesn't try to sell you the 100 Euro bottle. Instead, he finds you a small producer that's in your budget and somehow nails your taste buds with just one look.

I studied the menu months before our trip and already knew what I wanted to order before we sat down.

Must order: La matriciana o amatriciana (bombolotto paffuto pasta tossed with campanian region tomato sauce, crispy pig cheek, and roman pecorino). It tasted like it had heavy cream, without the heaviness. I'm not sure how they sauced each individual pasta so perfectly without making it saucy, but this was so delicious, I wanted to order it again for dessert. It was in the top 3 things I ate in Italy.

Do you know what echire butter demi-sel is? Yeah, I didn't either. Then I ate it and now I want it forever in my life. The burro e parmigian "Francescana" is short pasta rigatone with echire butter demi-sel, 3 kinds of parmesan cheese made from red cow (aged 36 mos), bruna alpine (aged 30 mos), and classic reggiano hills (aged 36 mos). Wait until you see the pool of butter at the bottom of the bowl. I dare you not to squeal.

Burrata con perle di tartufo (burrata cheese from andria with winter black truffle pearls) + selezione di prosciutti italiana = party in your mouth. If you can, travel to Italy in October. Two words: truffle season.

This is real carbonara (large spaghetti tossed with crispy pork cheek, malaysian black pepper, paolo parisi eggs, and roman pecorino). It's decadent, but not heavy at all. Eating it makes you feel giddy and naughty. Slurp it like you slurp ramen.

And finally, if Rome had a pasta mascot, it'd be cacio e pepe (fresh pasta with roman pecorino, cacio from moliterno, pecorino di fossa from sogliano del rubicone, and mayaysian black pepper). This is adulting. With adult mac n' cheese. Oh, and bubbles (another small producer). Cin cin!

The Italy Series

Hubby and I celebrated 5 years of bliss with an epic trip to Italy. It took about a year of planning, but we were rewarded with a flawlessly delicious 14 days in Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and Tuscany. Do you know how many food articles, Instagram photos, Mario Batali, Eater lists, Tripadvisor reviews, and Rick Steves I had to sift through to make sure that every single meal we ate and every hotel we stayed at was The Best? A bajillion.

So, for anyone who wants to vacation in the Tastiest Country in the World, look for my upcoming posts. I already did the legwork and traveling for you. I'll start with the food, because that's the most fun 😍

The Colosseum is kinda a big deal

Have you seen Robert Downey Jr. in Only You? You go do that and you'll want to go to Positano, too

Capri, we're kinda in love with you

Tuscany is so beautiful, it must not be real

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers - Broken Arrow, OK

5/5 stars

We were only in Oklahoma for 3 nights, but we went to Freddy's 3 times... because Freddy's is AWESOME!

Truly one of my favorite burgers. It's certainly not gourmet or In n' Out, but it's the smush-iest. As in, they smush the heck out of their burgers so it's nice and thin. It's got a nice crust, but is still incredibly juicy. The cheese is ooey, gooey perfect. You take a bite of the burger and then wash it all down with some sweet tea and it's just delightful.

The frozen custard is like... a thick, creamy brick. Actually, they call it a "concrete." Anyway, I know bricks can't be creamy, but well... a frozen custard concrete from Freddy's just *is*. Just try it and you'll get it. I had mine with peanut butter and marshmallow fluff and I highly recommend that combination. I'm nuts about marshmallow fluff :)

Thank you, Pioneer Woman, for telling us about Freddy's!!!

(2015)

Elote Cafe & Catering - Tulsa, OK

1/5 stars

I should've turned around and left as soon as I smelled this place. It sort of smells like rotting garbage...

1. My margarita was WAY WAY WAY too sweet!
2. The corn tamales were even sweeter than the margaritas! They tasted like dessert!
3. The elote tasted like it was previously frozen. The mayo was no bueno.
4. My father-in-law and I got horrible food poisioning...

Yelp fail.

:(

(2015)

Burke Williams Day Spa - Orange, CA

5/5 stars

Camille was, hands down, one of the best massage therapists I've ever had. She was very meticulous and worked long and hard on my knots. She did wonders to my back!

This Burke Williams was on the smaller, narrower side and I thought it was a bit odd that the lockers were right by the saunas. Not a lot of privacy for changing and stuff. But even though it was small, it had everything I needed: aromatherapy towels, razor blades, body lotion, face lotion with spf, and lots of fluffy towels.

The place was also decorated nicely for Christmas. I appreciated the fire, hot cider, lemonade, Christmas cookies, and magazines. Lots of comfy places to sit and rest your feet.

I felt extremely at ease!

(2015)

Javi’s - Santa Ana

3/5 stars

Yeah, surprisingly yummy for airport food!

The chips reminded me of Chevys and I mean that in a good way. I love thin tortilla chips fresh from the fryer. The salsa is super spicy (pro), the margaritas were super weak (con). Another con: the service was fairly slow. Thankfully, we weren't in a rush to catch a flight. It would've been a major problem if we had been.

The steak in the tacos was cooked really well! And they were generous with the meat. It came with tomatillo salsa and guacamole. I also liked the fluffy, flavorful Spanish rice.

Expensive, but at least it was good airport food.

(2015)

Napa Rose - Anaheim

5/5 stars

It's hard for me to a review a place like Napa Rose. It's just so darn special to me. The first time I ate there was when my guy proposed. To be honest, I remember our server, Wendy, SINGING TO US, but I can't remember what anything tasted like that night because of sheer gleefulness!! However, I certainly remembered every time after that :) We've been 5 more times since and it just keeps getting better.

The staff is outstanding: Chef Gloria, Chef Andhi (who has gifted me a lamb chop), David, Saucy, Kym, and Ryland. They're sunny, talented, and enchanting. Def Mickey Mouse material. Bonus: everyone there knows their wine.

My most recent meal there was just 5 days ago. We treated our parents to an early Christmas present. And gosh, did Chef Gloria deliver the treats! She made sure that I got things I've never had before. The standouts included:

* The amuse bouche! It was an extremely tasty sweet potato puree with creme fraiche, chives, and maple-glazed bacon. It was one of the best bites of the meal.

* A delicate sea bass with black garlic and baby scallops

* An intensely comforting pot of chicken n' dumplings that you just want to hug

* Being surprised with shaved white and black trufflestrufflestrufflestrufflestrufflestruffles :) It was an early Christmas gift from the Chef! I blushed like mad.

* The best hot chocolate in the world (no joke)

* My all-bubbles wine pairing :)

We had *so* much fun. Probably too much fun. Thank you for always making us feel so special, Napa Rose.

(2015)

The Standard, High Line - New York, NY

4/5 stars

The service at the hotel was one of the best parts. Terrell at the front desk was kind, out-of-his-way helpful, and a gentleman. Thank you, Terrell!

I got upgraded to a King with a huge, rectangular, container-ship-like bathtub. The bathtub was the best! The hotel even included bubble bath :) It was super nice being able to soak your feet after a long day of walking and exploring the city. It would be large enough for two. But you'd have to come here with someone you're comfortable showering in front of because the wall between the bathroom and the bedroom is glass.

The rooms were tiny and mostly clean (mine needed better vacuuming). I also thought it was strange that there weren't any electrical outlets near the bed or the desk/banquette bench area. This is a business hotel after all. More outlets, please. Other than that, I loved everything about this hotel: the bed (it was super duper comfortable), the tall windows, the many bars and restaurants open until 4 AM.

We had drinks at the Plaza and it was very relaxing. The servers there were nice and patient. We asked a bunch of questions, trying to understand the differences between the bars at the hotel. There are, like, 5 or something. The Plaza is pretty, like an outdoor garden. The perfect place to chill since it was VERY warm for October. Tip: the margarita was way better than the sangria.

Next, we tried drinks at the Standard Grill. Now they know how to make a good cocktail. If I had the time and the people to help me drink it, I would've gotten one of the $65 champagne punches. I settled on the Professor & Mary Ann (gin, strawberry-champagne shrub, lime, prosecco) and it was delicious. Unfortunately, the service here was aloof. The bartenders and servers at the Grill were more interested in flirting with each other than paying attention to us. I didn't try the food, but someone I was traveling with got some food to eat in their room and HATED it. Apparently the octopus didn't taste fresh at all (soft... mushy... super fishy-smelling). Yeah, octopus isn't supposed to taste like that. She also didn't like the marinated beets.

We also checked out the Top of the Standard. It was a nice rooftop bar, fantastic view, but we didn't stay. Not really our scene. We didn't make it to the Biergarten unfortunately. Next time :)

(2015)

The Rum House - New York, NY

3/5 stars

It was our last night in NY and we wanted to do something fun so we decided on a piano bar. I yelped and found The Rum House. It wasn't bad! The drinks could use work, but our server was very nice (she's a cute, young woman with awesome, big, black hair).

We arrived 10 minutes before the music started and were able to snag the last two seats in front of the piano! Score!

I loved the pianist and the vocalist was flirty and fun. It was a very chill evening.

I had the Imperial Punch (el dorado white rum, pineapple, cinnamon, lime, angostura bitters, myer's dark rum float) and the Fair Maiden (brugal anejo rum, lime, mint, and cucumber). I can't remember having rum and cucumber before. It was a great idea! P.S. The Dark n' Stormy was on the too-sweet side.

(2015)

The NoMad Bar - New York, NY

5/5 stars

I am in freakin' love.

I had ONE night to see a dear friend and her wonderful husband. They wanted to take me to drinks after dinner so, being me, I googled "best cocktails in NY" and discovered The Nomad. I suggested The Nomad to my friends and got this email back: "you read our minds! we're planning to take you to the NoMad. it's suuuper awesome--very classic new york place."

Color me stoked.

Nomad was dark and beautiful. I was clearly underdressed, but no one treated me that way. Our server was very sweet and even gifted us delicious french fries complete with mayo & ketchup (the only way to eat french fries IMO).

I honestly want to try every.single.drink on the menu. I mean just look at these concoctions:

FORBIDDEN DANCE
Genever gin, aquavit, amontillado sherry, vanilla, velevt falernum, orgeat, pineapple, lime, and nutmeg

DANGER HAUS
fino sherry, suze, grapefruit oleo saccharum, fresh cranberries, cucumber

SHUTTLECOCK
cabernet franc, moscatel sherry, maraschino liquer, yellow chartruese, lemon, blackberries, mint, and orange

HAIR TRIGGER
venezuelan rum, fernet branca, ginger, lime, cucumber

YAYA COLADA
angostura bitters, blackstrap rum, foro amaro, toasted coconut, yaya carrots, and pineapple

MASS A-PEELLE
venezuelan rum, amontillado sherry, squash, lemon, and spices

Yup. I want to try every single one. Life goal. But it was a school night, so I settled with the START ME UP (bourbon, rum, strega, honey, ginger, lemon, and orange bitters) and then shared a nightcap with my two friends. Our server even brought us 3 straws :)

I wish I could remember what it was, because it was amazing, but our server selected it for us and I can't recall the name.

I didn't want the evening to end.

(2015)

Shake Shack - Queens, NY

4/5 stars

I almost missed my plane for Shake Shack. But I just had to see what all the fuss was about and if the Shack was really better than In n' Out.

I was in NY for work and it was fun asking folks who they thought was better. Everybody had an opinion and sometimes, it was a heated discussion :)

I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla frozen custard shake and ate the whole thing on the plane.

First of all, that's a tiny burger dude! I think it's smaller than In n' Out's cheeseburger.

Meat: you could tell that Shake Shack's juicy meat was made from high quality beef, but I prefer thinner patties.

Toppings: In n' Out's super fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, grilled onions, and pickles are better. Regarding the sauces: In n' Out's is a basic thousand island, but Shake Shack's was an interesting ketchup-mayo with just a hint of spice. I really liked it.

Buns: In n' Out's squishy buns were my favorite hamburger buns, but I also loved Shake Shack's soft potato bun. Tie here.

Fries: Shake Shack's crinkle fries win, especially with ketchup mixed with mayo.

Shake: I got hooked on frozen custard when I was in Oklahoma so I was excited to try Shake Shack's vanilla frozen custard shake. Unfortunately, it wasn't as good as the stuff I had in OK. In n' Out's secret menu Neapolitan shake is my favorite.

The flight attendant walked by and asked me what I thought. The truth: it was really good, but I'm an In n' Out girl :)

(2015)

Tony’s Di Napoli - New York, NY

4/5 stars

Finding a non-touristy restaurant near Times Square is difficult. We got lucky with Tony's.

Tony Di Napoli's was loud, informal, and hearty with super friendly service. It was comfortable. Kinda like a Buca di Beppo, but with talented chefs. Because we can't get lobster fra diavolo in SF, I had to have it here. I almost ordered a salad to go with it, but our attentive waiter advised against it. I didn't mention the meatballs I wanted to order too. Or the chicken parm.

So I sipped on a frozen bellini while we, a table of 2, waited. Soon, we were delivered a mountain of al-dente linguine with what felt like a bushel of fresh, perfectly-cooked seafood (and a whole lobster!). There was enough food for 4.48790 people. You were right, I told our waiter. He gave me a cheeky wink.

The calamari was especially good. The shrimp was succulent and the soft-shelled lobster was easy to dig into. I got red sauce everywhere.

(2015)

Santina - New York, NY

3/5 stars

If this is the Almafi coast, sign me up!

Santina wasn't on my to-try-in-NY list, but I was tired from a very long day at work and didn't want to venture far from the High line. My friend recommended Santina so that's where I went. Later, I learned that Santina belonged to Chef Mario Carbone of the famed Carbone. I wanted to go to Carbone. I still do, but I have to say: Santina was okay. I hope Carbone is better.

Santina was packed with business men in suits and women out with their friends for the night. I loved how lively it felt, with its bright colors and tiki-decor, all tucked inside tall glass walls. The next table wasn't going to be available until 10:30 PM, but we were lucky enough to snag the last two seats at the bar. I'm glad we did, too, because the service at the bar was amazing.

We started with a cecina (a wispy chickpea-flour crepe) because I have never had one and I like trying new stuff. It was served with an almond-studded guacamole and a darkly-red, roasted salsa.

One of my favorite things about Santina was the ceramics: vibrant dishes, bowls, and drinkware. My Manganelli punch was served in a darling, ceramic pineapple with a hat.

For dinner, we ordered the blue crab pasta and the rigatoni norma. Unfortunately, our two pasta dishes were EXTREMELY salty. They weren't I-don't-eat-as-much-salt-as-my-husband salty. They tasted like you were eating spoonfuls of salt. I'm guessing it was an accident, but since we were hungry and the food had taken an hour to arrive, we powered through. I was extrememly disappointed because you could tell that if the salt catastrophe hadn't happened, these entrees would've been delicious. The blue crab pasta was chock-full of delicate crab. You were even given two tiny, adorable claws. The rigatoni norma with its eggplant and tomatoes was tasty and silky.

We tried to wash all the salt away with two awesome cocktails: the Manganelli punch (tequila, banana, pineapple, and cinnamon) and the Amalfi Gold (bourbon, orange, ginger, and creme de peche). I would've ordered more if I wasn't feeling a bit under the weather.

(2015)