Food Maker, Chef, and Traveling Diner
Sometimes catching up is the perfect medicine for a busy holiday season. Amongst this crazy holiday season I was grateful to take a night off to have a girls’ night with my sweet friend Bryn. We looked online for a new place to eat and …
I’ve been writing now for three years 2011 and 2012 about Oshogatsu, which is traditional Japanese New Year celebrations. Of course my family is American so we do things probably very different than in Japan, but I love these customs and I hope to keep …
El Gallo Bakery has been a family favorite my whole life. This amazing little bakery is set in the heart of East LA where families and friends line the street on Christmas Eve for their favorite sweets to eat on Christmas morning. El Gallo has been making Mexican Sweet Bread “Pan Dulce” the same way since my grandma started going there when she was 25 years old (Granny will be 80 in June). That’s a long time to be making the same tried and true recipes. We stopped in this Christmas Eve to get some of our favorite pumpkin empanadas and see what else looked good. We waited in about a half an hour line to make sure that we would get them fresh for Christmas morning.
El Gallo has a variety of different offerings, from fresh made breads, sweet bread and cookies to lots of other delicious things to try. Though we do tend to stay with our family favorites, a new cookie here and there will appear in the bag. As time has progressed the prices of such delicacies have changed as well, but for a special occasion there is something very special about El Gallo’s delicious Pan Dulce. If you’re ever in the area, stop by and try their scrumptious offerings, you’ll have a hard time comparing anything else.
Cheers
-Unrivaledkitch
The year flew by and I hope each and everyone of you had a great set of holidays. I’ll be catching up on my blogging in the next week so please stay tuned. Thank you for your support and a healthy and happy 2013 to …
Holiday time is upon us. I’m sure that everyone’s kitchen is so busy this time of year—I know mine is. Maleeya celebrated her 2nd Hanukkah this year and I decided to whip up a few delectable dishes to make lighting the candles a little more …
We had plenty of delicious food while we were in Vegas, but there was one dish in particular that, if I didn’t blog about it, it would be a crime. On our last night in Vegas, Brandon’s grandpa wanted to take us to a nice dinner. He decided to make reservations at SC Prime in the Suncoast Hotel & Casino. The SC Prime is a gorgeous restaurant with a beautiful view. The décor is simple and elegant and the food is straightforward. A seemingly effortless endeavor was made by the waiters to make each and every customer feel welcomed and well taken care of.
I ordered the veal chop with mixed vegetables and pommes puree topped with chanterelle mushroom sauce. The veal chop was so moist and tender. I don’t often eat veal, but for some reason it caught my eye on menu and I decided to order it. I’m very glad I did because it was one of the best dishes I’ve had. Brandon had a really wonderful Chilean sea bass dish that was really cooked well. The fish had an outstanding crunchy crust and in the middle it was soft and tender. We really enjoyed our dinner. It was a brilliant experience.
Earlier in our trip, Brandon and I found ourselves at the Red Rock Resort roaming around because I’d never been there before. I enjoyed looking around and playing a little bit of penny slots. We decided to stop into The Yard House I’d never been to a Yard House before, but it was a very interesting experience. Brandon and I had two different beer flights, which are small tastings of six different beers. Brandon had the Belgian flight and I had the house flight. There were lots of delicious beers to vary in flavor and richness. They have so many different types of beer on tap I don’t even think they count. There would always be something new to try and I love that. Both tastings had a good balance and we also ordered some truffle fries to go along with our beer. I liked the atmosphere and the classic rock playing in the background. The customers seemed to be well taken care of and our bartender was very polite. Overall, we had a great time sipping beer and enjoying each other’s company.
During our trip we also drove the scenic route of Red Rock Canyon to see the beautiful sights of the desert. I think natural wonders are always something to keep an eye out for on a nice trip. There are plenty of hiking trails and stops along the route to look out into the mountains. It’s nice to take your time and enjoy the fresh air and unique rock formations.
Though I’ve been to Vegas many times, I’m always amazed by the new things that I see every time I go. I’m sure we’ll have another trip soon and I look forward to the new adventures ahead.
cheers
-Unrivaledkitch
I love this time of year! It’s so busy and crazy, but there is just so much love in the air that it makes all the craziness worthwhile. I just got back from an impromptu trip to Las Vegas with Brandon. Brandon’s family lives in …
My sister always says that I make really good salads and I always shrug my shoulders and say, “Whatever! It’s just a salad.” But sometimes a really good salad is hard to come by. Some are just too traditional, others just run of the mill—lacking …
I’m so grateful that my family was all able to be together for Thanksgiving. I’m amazed by how much love and gratitude we have for each other. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, of course. There’s nothing better than bringing people you love together over a huge meal. I was very fortunate to have Brandon with me to help with the Thanksgiving traditions and not to mention my craziness in the kitchen. We all pitched in to make a great day for everyone—I think Maleeya really enjoyed herself. I’m still in a food coma after all the cooking and eating. I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving with some very special people. Enjoy the holiday weekend with lots to be thankful for all holiday season long.
My dad and mom brought:
Spinach dip, pimento cheese dip and ranch dip with crackers, sliced baguette and crudités (raw mixed veggies)
Two-layer Jello
Honey baked ham
Green bean casserole
Menu
Fresh Citrus and Herb Sweet-Brined Turkey with Roasted Zucchini, Black Olive and Scallion Stuffing
Turkey Breast Stuffed with Sausage and Mirepoix Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes with Irish Butter
Roasted Fall Aromatic Turkey Gravy
Spiced Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Kabocha Mash
Candied Yams with Homemade Roasted Marshmallows
Roasted Haricot Verts
Herb Roasted Mushrooms
Roasted Red Potatoes
Cranberry Relish
Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella and Smoked Paprika Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Mixed Green Salad with Balsamic Marinated Vegetables and Buffalo Mozzarella
Roasted Cauliflower, Broccoli and Zucchini Gratin with Spicy Sausage and Pancetta
Creamed Corn with Red Onions, Chives and Turmeric
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Butternut Squash and Crispy Pancetta
There’s really nothing like fall flavors. I love the combination of spices, hot foods and rich flavors that fall and winter have to offer. So as I get ready for Thanksgiving, I look for new ways to make some of the classic favorites into new …