ChefsGirl

Author Archives: chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Mochi Cream (Mitsuwa Shopping, Torrance, CA)

Posted on by

My cousin treated us to desserts from Mochi Cream after eating at Santouka (click here for review) at the Mitsuwa Shopping Market. At first glance, I thought “Oh yum…Mochis”. I’ve always liked mochi since it has a sweet, chewy texture and filled with either ice cream or cream or both. I was delightfully surprised to find that Mochi Cream has THE best mochis I’ve ever had. Normally, when you eat them in the restaurants, they’re lightly powdery with a sweet, chewy tapioca texture with ice cream on the inside and yeah, that’s great, but these mochis had another level of flavor.

 

IMG_3233e

Mochi Cream stand. 

 

IMG_3211e

Selection of Mochis. 

 

IMG_3230e

Green Tea Mochi. 

 

There was a sort of paste or powder on the inside, depending on the flavor that you get. Each flavor was almost unique. Some fruity mochis had fresh fruit inside. Some had bits of chocolate. My favorite was the green tea mochi since it was jampacked with green tea matcha flavor. There was matcha on the outside and it even had a powder or a paste coating the cream inside. Other flavors that I tried: Peach Yogurt, Caramel Macchiato, Double Mango.

When you order them, they initially are frozen. You can eat them while they cream is still frozen or you can wait until it’s thawed out. I liked both ways. When it’s frozen, it’s like ice cream encased with a delicious sweetness. When it’s thawed, it’s a soft pillowy dessert that gushes with cream as you bite into it. YUM! I love that Mochi Cream’s mochis all have a uniqueness and authenticity about them. If you’re gonna make dessert, go all out right?

I took these to the Oakland airport with me and flew to New Orleans, LA and they held pretty well. I ate them that night. I wouldn’t let it go any longer since it is a cream product and should be refrigerated.

spoonspoonspoonspoonspoon

Rating: 5/5

 

 

Saigon Seafood Harbor Restaurant (Sunnyvale, CA)

Posted on by

When I asked the locals for the best dim sum place, Saigon Seafood Harbor is the best around! It’s known for authenticity in food and in service… If you’re familiar with the asian food service industry, you’ll know it’s  subpar at best. There’s an ongoing joke in my family about one time when we requested 3-4 xiu mai trays for our 6+ person table. The waiter replied “Later! Later!” because they wanted to accommodate other tables also so we could only have one. Never in the history of my restaurant going have I ever been so blatantly ignored. Since then, we’ve learned that going really early in the morning or at slower hours of the day, you’ll get better service and as many orders of xiu mais your little heart desires.

 

IMG_3370e

Entrance of the Sunnyvale location. 

 

IMG_3372e

 

Tofu Skin.

 

IMG_3373e

 

Xiu Mai. 

 

IMG_3375e

 

Har Gow. Shrimp dumplings.

 

IMG_3377e

 

Cai Lan. Chinese broccoli.

 

IMG_3380e

 

Roasted Duck. 

 

My favorites are the xiu mai, tofu skin, taro puff, xiu mai rice noodles, and cai lan. These are my usual must-haves when I order dim sum. We also ordered the Roasted Duck and that was delicious. It was seasoned perfectly and had a nice crispy skin. If you’re looking for dim sum in the area, I would highly recommend Saigon Harbor Seafood Restaurant. Just be sure to avoid primetime hours for quicker and more polite service!

spoonspoonspoonspoon

Rating: 4/5
Click to add a blog post for Hong Kong Saigon Seafood Harbor on Zomato




Gong Cha (North Valley, San Jose, CA)

Posted on by

Bubble tea. Boba tea. Milk Tea. There’s a variety of different names for these delicious drinks and they can be found all over the U.S.. I’ve noticed they’re always the best in cities with larger asian populations. Unfortunately, New Orleans has a few, but none of them compare to places I’ve tried out of state. On a recent visit to San Jose, my cousins took me to a hot spot for bubble tea. They’re known for the *NEW* Milk Foam addition to the bubble tea. I was curious to find out what the hype was all about.

 

IMG_3237

 

When we arrived, there was a large crowd of people waiting for a drink. We waited about 15 minutes before we got to the front of the line to order. The drinks are very customizeable. You can choose 0, 30, 50 70, or 100% sweetener and between 0, 25, 50, 100% ice cube level. That was the first time I’ve seen this much customization for a drink!

 

IMG_3239e

 

 

IMG_3327e

 

 

I’m not much into sweet teas so I chose 70% sweet. I would’ve chosen less, but my cousins encouraged me to add more. We ordered 25% ice, which I regret now, since the drink didn’t retain much coldness afterwards. I would opt for 50% or more ice level next time, but to each his/her own. That’s why customization is an awesome thing!. I’m a simple bubble tea drinker and normally just order an iced Jasmine tea with tapioca so I opted for the Milk Foam Green Tea with tapioca to change things up a bit. Some recommended that I mix, then drink first while others recommended that I taste the milk foam, then mix. I chose to do the latter and it was interesting. The milk foam was slightly savory and after mixing the drink, it balanced everything really well. It’s like adding salt to your hot chocolate. So good! The wait is a bit much for a drink, but definitely delicious and I’d go back again!

spoonspoonspoonspoon

Rating: 4/5 spoons

 

 

Santouka (Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA)

Posted on by
I’ve been on a little hiatus and doing some traveling, but I definitely haven’t forgot about my readers! I have some great places to share from San Jose, CA and Chicago, Il!
First stop…Santouka in Los Angeles, CA.
For those who aren’t familiar with ramen, it’s a Japanese style noodle soup containing homemade ramen noodles, Chashu pork, seaweed, and boiled egg. Every restaurant has their own take so occasionally you’ll see different cuts of meat or a sous vide/soft boiled egg instead. Imagine pho….but Japanese style. Quick and fairly cheap eat.
Santouka is located inside of the Mitsuwa Shopping Center. Ramen is pretty popular here in the Bay Area and there’s almost one on every corner. There’s actually another ramen place right around the corner from the Mitsuwa Market called Kahoo, but we decided to try Santouka first…

IMG_3207e

Consistently long line at Santouka inside of Mitsuwa Market. 

 

 

IMG_3208e

Cute display menu. 

The setup is cafeteria style so you’ll have to get in line. While waiting, there’s a super cute display case that makes ordering simple. You can choose from Shio (Salt), Miso (Soybean Paste), Shoyu (Soy), or Tokusen Toroniku Ramen (Pork Choice Ramen) for your Ramen broth of choice. There’s a variety of combo meals that includes the ramen bowl and a small side or you can order a la carte.

 

IMG_3216e

Spicy Miso Ramen. Pork Broth. Miso paste.

 

IMG_3221e

Seaweed and Bonito Flakes Bowl. 

 

IMG_3219e

Shio Ramen. Mild, creamy soup. Salt-seasoned. Pickled plum.

 

IMG_3222e

Braised Pork Bowl. 

 

Once everything is ordered, find a seat to enjoy your food and your number should be called shortly. We waited approximately 15 minutes. Not bad of a wait considering there were so many folks ahead of us.

I ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen. You can also order the regular miso ramen and flavor to taste with their chili paste (extra 0.50 cents up charge). The broth was homey, simple and satisfied by ramen craving but the Chashu was extremely fatty and so was the broth. The broth was mainly on the fattier side due to the chili paste so next time, I would order the regular Miso Ramen and flavor to taste with the extra side of chili paste. The spice was perfect, in my opinion, but I tend to eat most things on the spicier side.

The rice bowl was simple and some would say it’s a bit plain or dry but pouring a few spoonfuls of broth into the rice bowl was quite homey and moistened it up a bit.
Overall, I enjoyed my experience. There’s a bit of a line, but service was surprisingly quick. The ramen was a quick, cheap bite, but I did wish my broth and Chashu was less fatty. Regardless, it was a great bowl of ramen and sometimes you just want a little bit of that “hominess”.
TIP: Make sure to bring cash. CASH only here!
spoonspoonspoon spoon point 5
Rating: 3.5/5 spoons

 

Click to add a blog post for Santouka Ramen on Zomato

Balise (Lafayette Square/Historic District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on by

Justin Devillier does it again! His original restaurant, La Petite Grocery, is a more refined restaurant with delicate, rich French flair. The new Balise is more of a communal hangout/bar type of restaurant with the same refined flavors but with more of a bold and masculine flair. There’s more of a bachelor’s hangout kind of feel, but can be laid back and romantic at the same time. The service was great. The waiters are very knowledgeable and make great recommendations!

 

IMG_0696eFancy Rose Lemonade. 

 

IMG_0698e

Gulf Shrimp. Uni. Clam Vinaigrette. Fennel. Saffron Mayonnaise.

 

 

IMG_0701e

Chilled Roasted Beets. Sheep’s Milk Ricotta. Red Vein Sorrel and Spiced Pecans.

 

 

IMG_0710e

Crab & Camembert Gratin. Lemon and Fines Herbes.

 

 

IMG_0715e

Cauliflower Soup. Fried oysters. Black Truffle.

 

 

IMG_0719e

Cheeseburger. Sharp Cheddar. Caramelized Onions. B&B pickles. Comeback Sauce. Hand Cut Fries.

 

Balise’s menu is very different from La Petite Grocery in that it has more small plates on the menu. First, we ordered the Gulf Shrimp, which attracted us since there was uni, clam vinaigrette, saffron mayonnaise, and fennel. Somehow, every component and flavor profile meshed together so well. It was refreshing and interesting at the same time.

For our veg, we ordered the Chilled Beet Salad with spiced pecans and ricotta. A touch of ricotta for richness and the spiced pecans added a ton of flavor. I wish I could make this stuff at home.

I ordered the Crab & Camembert Gratin, because I can’t turn anything crabmeat down! Camembert is a type of cheese, similar to brie. It was yummy! I took the bread and topped it off with some of the crab au gratin.

Next, was the Cauliflower Soup topped with a crispy, fried oyster showered in black truffles. DE. LISH. I sometimes wonder why they give you such small portions, but due to the law of diminishing returns, small delicious bites are meant to leave you yearning for more. I can still remember those few bites of soup…

Despite our fine dining tasting menu that we created,  I am always craving a burger. So we ordered the burger as our main entree. haha..It definitely hit the spot. What makes this burger is the juiciness and the sauce. They call it the Comeback Sauce. It tastes like a remoulade and a buttery aioli at the same time.

What a great meal! If you’re looking for a laid back bar with fine dining, then Balise is for you. It’s worth trying at least once, but keep it mind, it is fine dining so it may be a little on the pricier end. Our whole meal with alcoholic beverages was around $111, but we left completely satiated.

spoonspoonspoonspoonspoon point 5

Rating: 4.5/5
Balise on Urbanspoon


 

Blaze (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on by

Blaze is a new concept that has reached the NOLA scene. You can create your own 11-inch personal pizza and it’s ready in 180 seconds! It’s very similar to Chipotle or Subway. The menu has a few signature pizzas ready to order for $7.95 and you can customize them by adding more toppings  (including meats!) for no additional charge.

 

IMG_2752e

Our Pizza Maker crafting our pizzas!

 

IMG_2754e

A bunch of cheeses, toppings, and meats. 

 

IMG_2760e

 

Before the Blaze. 

 

IMG_2762e

Our friendly pizza maker. 

 

IMG_2765e

The finished product: thin, crispy, flash-fired pizzas!

 

Our pizza makers were especially friendly and helpful. I ordered the Meat Lover’s Pizza and added fresh mozzarella, mushrooms, and basil. My fiance ordered the White Top pizza and added chicken, garlic, jalapenos, and spinach. The pizzas were flash-fired quickly and out came two thin, crispy gourmet pizzas. You can top it off with your sauce of choice. We added olive oil to the Meat Lover and Pesto to the White Top pizza. The crust was thin and crispy but still had a nice bite to it. The pizzas are pretty large considering they are a “personal pizza”, but I can probably eat a whole one with no problem if I was hungry enough.  I only ate half of the pizza tonight as a snack.

Next time I’m craving a quick late night bite, I know where I’m going. I love that Blaze opens later than most fast food joints: Monday- Thursday til 11PM and midnight on the weekends. Also, they serve draft beer! Since my fiance often gets home late from work, we’re always looking for late night joints for dinner. Blaze will have to be one of the top on our list now (especially since it’s only a few minutes away from our home!).

 

spoonspoonspoonspoonspoon

Rating: 5/5 spoons

 
Blaze Pizza on Urbanspoon

 

Hot Spot (Fairfax, VA)

Posted on by

In Washington, D.C. Asian cuisine is limited, but there a few unsuspecting spots if you venture a little further out. Hot Spot is a “hot pot” place located in Fairfax, VA. For about $22.99 you have the choice of broths, meats, veggies, and get to create your own dipping sauces at the sauce bar. Next, it’s easy. You just cook your selections in the broth, dip into your specially made sauce, and enjoy! To learn more about Hot Spot’s hot pot style, check out their website: http://www.eatdrinkhotspot.com/

IMG_1115e

 

IMG_1116e

 

IMG_1099e

Fresh broths.

 

IMG_1104e

Fresh Seafood and Meats. 

 

IMG_1109e

Veggie plate. 

 

IMG_1111e

Hot Pot. 

 

We had a party of 6 and after a whole day of museum going and site-seeing we were starving! For an all-you-can-eat restaurant, the selections are very fresh and the broths are flavorful. On the other hand, every time we ordered more vegetables or meats, the same portion size would come out each time (even if we put down an order of 100). That would have to be my only complaint, however, I do understand from their standpoint since they are all-you-can-eat BUT they should supply enough for a large table who is sharing, since it can be frustrating to have to order multiple times during the meal. Regardless, this has to be the best hot pot restaurant I have every been to. The quality, freshness, and service was on point. I wish I could’ve brought this Hot Spot home to Louisiana with me!

 

spoon spoon spoon spoon

Rating: 4/5 spoons
Hot Spot on Urbanspoon

Tan Tan (Chinatown/Sharpstown, Houston, TX)

Posted on by

Houston has a ton of late night food options and Chinatown probably has a majority of them. One of the more popular spots has to be Tan Tan. My mom and I drove in from New Orleans around 12:30 AM and were looking for something good to eat. We’ve been to Tan Tan and they’re well-known for their hot pots. We ordered the Seafood Hot Pot…

IMG_2420e

Great late night food option. You’ll even see families out here!

 

IMG_2421e

Hot pot veggies. 

 

IMG_2424e

Seafood selection. 

 

IMG_2428e

 

 

The server brought out a huge plate of veggies and a plate filled with an array of seafood: shrimp, fish, mussels, oysters, fish balls, etc. The veggies were fresh and I loved that they provided a lot, but I can’t say the same for the seafood. The amount of seafood was okay, but the quality was subpar. The fish seemed freezer burned. The shrimp and mussels seemed somewhat chemical-like, as if they put something on it to preserve it. The only thing that I could eat on that seafood plate was the oysters, fish balls, and imitation crabmeat.

I’ve been to Tan Tan in the past and I know their stir-fry and appetizer dishes aren’t bad. I would never order anything that is “fresh” here again, but then again, they didn’t advertise “fresh” on the menu. Just Seafood Hotpot. I will be back to Tan Tan, but for safer options like the fried rice or egg pancake. I’m just disappointed that considering they are known for their hot pot, they failed. Tan Tan continues to be a decent late night option, but be cautious of the quality and freshness of seafood and meats.

 

spoonspoon

Rating: 2/5 spoons