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Category Archives: Uncategorized

Paladar 511 (Marigny, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on January 9, 2017 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Hidden in the Marigny, Paladar 511 is an American fusion restaurant that was so delicious, I dined with them two meals in a row! On a cold Saturday night, my friends and I arrived for a 4-top reservation. First thing we ordered was a Hot Apple Cider to warm us up. It was delicious and just what we were craving on an atypical 30° F kind of night. (We ordered it again the next morning for brunch!)

Dinner

Hot Apple Cider. 

Grilled Broccoli. Walnut. Radish. Sieved egg. Paper-mustard vinaigrette.

Wagyu Hangar Steak. Tomatillo. Fingerling potato. Cipollini onion. Creme fraiche.

Pan-seared Cobia. Saffron Broth. Israeli couscous. Black eyed peas. Field Peas. Caramelized Fennel

House made Raviolo. Egg yolk. Ricotta. Maitake mushroom. Porcini Cream. Truffle Pecorino.

House made Pappardelle. Spicy Pork Sausage Ragu Basil. Parmigiana.

Duck Confit Agnolotti. Delicata squash. Pepitas. Caramelized onions. Sage.

Buttermilk Panna Cotta. Louisiana passionfruit. Gingersnap cookie.

Lemon Cream Tart. Candied satsuma. Vanilla syrup. Whipped cream.

The restaurant nearly takes you out of NOLA and you could almost find yourself feeling as if you’re in NYC or SF. There’s little Cajun and Southern influence in the food so if you’re looking for local cuisine, you won’t find it here. I would particularly pay attention to their pastas, which had to be my favorites. For dessert the Panna Cotta was the table’s favorite! It was lightly sweet and balanced well with the tart passionfruit.

FAVES: Tuna Crudo, House made Raviolo, House made Pappardelle, and the Duck Confit Agnolotti. Panna Cotta for dessert!

LEAST FAVES: The protein dishes (steak) tended to be on the blander and not-so-memorable side, but they weren’t terrible. I would stick to the pastas! Brunch was so-so.

TIPS: Paladar 511 is more of a tapas-style dining experience. Be sure to bring friends to order and share with!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Paladar 511 Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Brunch at Paladar 511

Dinner was so great that we had to return for brunch! We were particularly eyeing the Korean Steak & Eggs, since there’s a lack of Korean cuisine in NOLA. We also ordered the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes.

Hot Apple Cider. 

Yellowfin Tuna Crudo. Avocado. Pistachio. Fennel. Cumin-lime Vinaigrette.

Brunch: Korean Steak and Eggs. Braised Short Ribs. Shiitake Mushrooms. Rice. Fried Egg. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. House made Kumquat Marmalade.

We repeated another order of the Tuna Crudo because it was the highlight of our meal from the night before. Aside from that were the mediocre Steak & Eggs, but the Lemon and Ricotta Pancakes were outstanding. I love the balanced tartness from the Kumquat Marmalade. Paladar 511, you’ve done an excellent job and I can’t wait to come back to see what’s new. Please keep the pastas as your mainstay! Loved them all!

Rating (for brunch alone): 3.5/5 spoons




Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: agnolotti, brunch, hot apple cider, lemon ricotta pancakes, marigny restaurants, new orleans, New Orleans food, paladar 511, panna cotta, pappardelle, passionfruit, raviolo | 2 Comments |

Breathless Resort & Spa: Entertainment and Travel Guide

Posted on December 12, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Quick Tips for traveling in Cabo San Lucas:

  1. AT THE AIRPORT: If you have driving arrangements for pickup with your resort or pickup service (AMstar is the main one with Breathless resorts), go past everyone trying to pull you aside and claim they are your company. They are amateur scammers trying to draw you in for timeshare presentations at other resorts in exchange for limited excursions. If you don’t mind the timeshare presentation, then it’s fine, but for me time=money and I’d rather make memories when I travel than to watch a presentation. Walk straight through the double doors and search for someone holding your company’s name or your name!
  2. TIPPING: Tipping is a little different in Mexico than the U.S. For dining and transportation. they honor the American dollar so be sure to bring plenty of ones! $2-5 is the standard tipping rate, but more is OK as well. I’ve seen many people to be very grateful for $5, but I’ve also tipped more generously for above-and-beyond service ($20+)
  3. LANGUAGE: Spanish obviously! Most people are fairly fluent in English, but it’s good to know a few basics in case you need directions or help. Taxis and drivers oftentimes don’t speak English.




 


 

While staying at the Breathless Cabo San Lucas resort, what else is there to do besides hanging out at the “breathless” infinity pool all day?

 

The resort is a short walk among some touristy gift shops, luxury stores, and the marina. While crossing the marina, we came across the sweetest man named Jorge Galliana, captain of the Dory Nemo. Look for him along the marina. He offered the most affordable (about $25 USD) boat tour to the Lover’s Arches and to the best snorkeling area in Cabo San Lucas. It was a smaller boat with a glass bottom and his tour was intimate and personal. I loved it! I would highly recommend it as it’s probably way more personable and more affordable than the “all-inclusive” touristy boat tours that they offer at stands along the marina. I felt like V.I.P. with Mr. Jorge.  He operates directly from his boat and is his own boat tour vendor so there aren’t extra fees and catches.

 

 

They say you didn’t go to Cabo unless you take photos of the Lover’s Arch and spend time on Lover’s Beach so be sure to get a tour! They also say there’s a cave where two lovers go in, and 3 come out ? Good luck to all you honeymooners!

 

A few of our snorkeling clips…

 


GOLF

If you’re a golfer, then Cabo del Sol has magnificent views! I dabble a little bit in golf, but since my neck and shoulder haven’t been cooperating with me, I love to tag along with “The Chef” and catch the fresh open air and lovely views. There’s also quite the treat mid-round…free tacos!

 

Beef, Shrimp, and Fish tacos! 

 

 


NIGHTLIFE

 

At Breathless Cabo San Lucas resort the entertainment crew was amazing! The Purple Nightclub on the rooftop kept guests entertained with different shows and interactive classes. One night they offered a pub crawl, where transportation is provided and Leslie (same name as me! ha!), the hostess, took us from bar hopping with other resort guests. Pub crawl cost? $20! My friends and I thought it might be a bit weird or boring, but it turned out to be so much fun. Nightlife in Cabo is amazing! Here’s a list of bars that we went to from my favorite to least and descriptions of each (or at least what I can recall ?):

  1. Lavaquita: This was my favorite! The music was a mix of modern and old school classics. The theme appears to be….cows?? ? Lots of good fun though! This club also has a tall, climbing tower where you could dance and overlook the crowd. We had a lot of fun with it, but not for long since the dance floor is pretty fun too!
  2. Mandala: Stripper pole fun! Good music and great entertainment for those who want a shot at pole dancing.
  3. The Nowhere Bar: This bar is a bit small but lots of fun. The music is a mix of 90’s and 2000’s with a mix of Mexican boy band lol. The dance floor has colorful light up tiles!
  4. Pink Kitty: This club was not as packed as some other clubs, but was super spacious. The whole club consists of tables along the walls and in between the tables is ALL dance floor. We loved the extra space for more dancing! The music was great. Great music, extra dance room = 2 thumbs up!
  5. Cabo Wabo: Live music bar. This is great for a chill hangout spot and a few beers. It’s not ideal for bachelor or bachelorette parties, but I would still check it out anyways if you are in the area.
  6. El Squid Roe: This place looks like a pinball machine! It has a fun feel, but unfortunately, my group got here later in the night so it wasn’t as action packed. The girls definitely made it more fun with free jello shots and entertainment so they were definitely trying!
  7. Abolengo: Abolengo is less dancing and more sitting. It wasn’t my favorite because there were lots of tables and nonexistent dance floor. I’m guessing this is more of a restaurant by day.

Clubs that we didn’t make it to: Mango Deck, The Office. Those were the two spots we wanted to go to, but couldn’t because it was out of the way. I “blame it on a-a-a-a-a-a-alcohol” (as sung by T-Pain and Jamie Foxx). Regardless, all of the bars included in the pub crawl were a ton of fun! In case you are not in a pub crawl or group, the clubs are all within walking distance and are really easy to get to. Which clubs were the best? Honestly, it’s all in the company you keep and my hubby and I were in a great company ?

 


 

What a great trip to Cabo! It was my first time in Mexico and first time snorkeling. As far as tips and things to do in Cabo, just go with the flow and see where Cabo takes you! Meeting new people and sharing in the experience was probably my most favorite part of this trip.

¡Hasta Luego mis amigos! Until next time!




Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: abolengo, breathless cabo san lucas resort, cabo bar hopping, cabo del sol golf course, cabo nightlife, cabo san lucas, cabo wabo, dory nemo, el squid roe, golf in cabo, lavaquita, lover's arches, lover's beach, mandala, snorkeling, the nowhere bar |

Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort

Posted on December 7, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

I’ve been on a little hiatus in Cabo San Lucas! My hubby, “The Chef”, and I’s honeymoon in April to the Dominican Republic was a little crazy since I was bound to a wheelchair and forbidden to drink alcohol due to the medications that I was taking for a foot injury. What better than to plan a joint honeymoon with a couple of good friends at Breathless in Cabo for a second chance! 

Breathless is a very new all-inclusive resort that was built only one year ago and is linked with AMresorts. It’s also the fun big sister of Secrets, a more mellow, relaxing, and more secluded resort. The mommy and daddy of AMresorts is Dreams, a family-friendly resort. If you’re going with a group or looking for a ton of fun, Breathless is the place to be. It’s central to everything and is only a 5 minute walk away from the downtown nightclubs and bars.

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THE VIEW: The room options indicate ocean view and marina view but I’m pretty sure they are all the same. To my surprise marina view is spectacular and you get the ocean in the background as well.

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There’s a ton of action going on in the marina. You’ll see charter boats pulling with fresh caught fish and if you’re lucky, you may even get to feed a sea lion!

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THE FOOD: There are at least 5 restaurants and 1 buffet at the resort. I didn’t expect much from an all-inclusive resort, but the Breathless restaurants far surpassed my expectations!


BITE Restaurant was probably my favorite only because it’s primarily tapas and there’s a lot of variety from day to day. The view is nice and the location is basically central to the resort. There was even a night where they offered a Spanish buffet with fresh Paella made on the spot in the hugest Paella pan I’ve ever seen! The wings and onion rings are definitely a two thumbs up. I also enjoyed the Breakfast Chilaquiles. Pop on in any time of day! It’s a different menu every time.

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SPUMANTE Italian Specialties was probably my most favorite as far as finer dining. I am amazed at the quality of the food! The seafood Paella was loaded and surprisingly the Spaghetti and Meatballs was the best I ever had! I SWEAR! I loved that it wasn’t drenched in marinara but instead lightly coated in a white sauce.


SPOONS is a breakfast and lunch buffet located by the adult pool and bar. It’s a great spot to meet your friends in the morning. Don’t forget about the bottomless mimosas and unlimited drinks from the bar! You can basically order anything you want. On my last morning there I was craving ceviche because they had served it around noon the other day. Unfortunately, it was too early and ceviche had not been prepped. One of our servers named Martin went above and beyond and found me some Aguachiles (we may recognize this as Shrimp Ceviche in America). Loved it! Ceviche in Cabo is my fave. I’m not going to lie…I think it was more the memory of the ceviche than the ceviche itself, but either way it was delicious! Our hostess Dalia was also great. We were pretty rowdy for only a group of four and she remembered us for our demand for “shots!” every 10 minutes. It was really nice how special they made us feel during our stay at Breathless.

There were a few more restaurants. One was named Kibbeh for Mediterranean food and the other was La Bibloteca for Mexican food, but La Bibloteca is the ONLY restaurant that you have to pay for. It’s 20% off if you are staying at Breathless Resort. We definitely wanted to try it, but we were going with the flow and we never made it there. Next time!

NEXT BLOG: ENTERTAINMENT, NIGHTLIFE, AND TRAVELING TIPS FOR CABO




Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: aguachiles, amresorts, bite, breathless cabo san lucas, breathless resort, cabo san lucas, ceviche, food, Italian, spaghetti, spumante |

Johnny Sánchez (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on November 3, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Johnny Sánchez is a Chef John Besh and Chef Aaron Sánchez venture for authentic Mexican food. I’ve been a couple times and my most recent dinner was mainly small plates. I ordered the Camida Bay oysters. Those are one of my faves! I loved the mignonette that came already on it.

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Beef Barbacoa Flautas. Guacomole. Crema. Valentina. Queso Fresco.

My flautas were great and flavorful, but I will say they are pricey for what they are. Every dish I’ve ordered here including the Plato de Carnitas and Fajitas were all so-so that’s why I highly recommended eating family-style dining here. It’s fun to eat a little bit of everything and due to the deep flavor profiles, it’s easy to get bored of your one dish. I wouldn’t call this authentic Mexican, but more of a modern take. It’s great for large groups and very family friendly. Service was wonderful and accommodating!

What to LOVE: Happy hour is 3-6 PM with $2 tacos and half off drinks!

What NOT to LOVE: $$$ Tacos are definitely pricier when it’s not HH. Small plates and appetizers are more tasty! Sharing entrées or family-style dining is recommended.

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Rating: 4/5 spoons
Johnny Sánchez Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: aaron sanchez, camida bay, flautas, john besh, johnny sanchez, mexican, New Orleans food, oysters |

Part & Parcel (SoMa, New Orleans, Louisiana)

Posted on November 2, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Another great addition to the up and coming South Market district (SoMa) area where Blaze, Company Burger, and a few other local favorites reside, popped up the latest and greatest Part & Parcel. Part & Parcel is a Root Restaurant Project that sells house-made charcuterie, sandwiches, and foods, but on another level. This restaurant isn’t as upscale as Root and Square Root, but the sandwiches and foods are surprising at an upscale level minus the formal attire with a casual-but-sleek bar feel.

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Stuffed Shells. House-made ‘Nduja Ricotta. Pancetta. Herbed Béchamel. Toasted Pine Nuts. 

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Happy hour item: Bruschetta. Sundried Tomato Pesto. Goat Cheese. Fresh Basil. 

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The Godfather. House-made Meatballs. Sicilian Red Gravy. Mozzarella. Sweet Peppers. Gracious Bakery Sesame. 

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T.A.S.T.E. Sandwich. Fried Turkey. Avocado. ‘House of Greens’ Sprouts. Tomato. Fried Egg. Chipotle Aioli. Gracious Bakery Ciabatta.

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Sneak Peek!

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First, we ordered the Stuffed Shells, which appeared to be so delicate but turned out to be a wonderful surprise. The shells were al-dente but roasted which gave it a nice chewy texture and the stuffing had such an airy filling with a smooth finish. This dish surprised me the most! The Bruschetta came out next and what makes this great bruschetta is that every component was perfection from the airy lightly-crisped bread to the deep and flavorful Tomato Pesto atop it. 

Our sandwiches The Godfather and the T.A.S.T.E. came next and boy was I surprised! The Godfather was a solid meatball sandwich and is great but a little too heavy for me. The T.A.S.T.E. (turkey, avocado, sprouts, tomato, egg) was basically a California Club…on steroids! It has to be my all-time favorite Turkey sandwich EVER. When you turn something so simple into something so amazing, that’s when you know you’re great! Kudos Part & Parcel! You’ve changed the way I look at sandwiches! 

LOVES: Top notch ingredients and well thought out foods. One of the longest happy hours in NOLA 3-7 PM!!

What not to love: Nothing!

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Rating: 5/5 spoons

Part and Parcel Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato



Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: chef philip lopez, food, happy hour, new orleans, nola, NOLA food, part and parcel, Root, soma district |

Honest Biscuits (Pike Place Farmer’s Market, Seattle, WA)

Posted on October 31, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

After exploring Pike Place Market for some breakfast, Honest Biscuits seemed really appealing! I can always go for a simple biscuit with white gravy! The area is hidden away in a little corner at Pike Place but there’s plenty of places downstairs to sit and enjoy your biscuit since the restaurant itself is restricted to just a couple of tables and a small bar seating area.

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Biscuit Menu. 

 

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My first impression wasn’t the best because the cashier was the worst. Luckily, the large, pillowy, yet lightly crisped biscuit helped us to forget the lack in customer service. The white gravy was amazing and had a little bit of a kick to it. The wait was a bit long for a biscuit (about 25 minutes) and they may have initially even forgotten our order, but it’s good. I enjoyed their biscuits, but I’m not sure I’d return until a few kinks in service are fixed.

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Rating: 3/5 spoons
Honest Biscuits Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: biscuits, honest biscuits, pike place, pike place market, seattle, seattle eats |

Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar (Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA)

Posted on October 31, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

My friends and I stopped by Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar for a bite and beer. It’s a small oyster bar setup very much like a bar where you grab a drink except it’s for oysters! We don’t have anything like that down South so I am a bit jelly. Usually, our “oyster bar” is another bar setup in a full-service restaurant but having an actually bar restaurant dedicated to servicing different types oysters from different coasts around the U.S.

 

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Fresh Oysters.

 

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More fresh oysters calling your name…

 

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Beautifully plated.

 

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Bottoms up!

I ordered the Shucker’s Dozen Platter, which is the chef’s selection of oysters. Our selection of oysters were the Fat Bastards, Shigoku, Virginica, Kusshi, Kumamoto. The selection was excellent! I was a bit jealous of how flavorful these oysters are compared to the Gulf Coast oysters. Gulf Coast oysters tend to be much larger, but they’re more on the blander side compared to East and West Coast oysters. It’s amazing the amount of flavor that these tiny little oysters can hold. Luckily, some of these oysters are offered in New Orleans too.

What to love: The excellent oyster selection and oyster bar concept.

What NOT to love: They tend to be pricier here so I would come here for drinks and an oyster snack, but it’s not the best if you’re hungry and on a budget.

 

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Rating: 4.5/5 spoons
Taylor Shellfish Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: food, oyster bar, oysters, seattle food, seattle oysters, taylor shellfish |

Din Tai Fung (University District, Seattle, WA)

Posted on October 7, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Are you a soup dumpling fan? I sure am! On a recent trip to Seattle, I just had to try Din Tai Fung (DTF). The Hong Kong and Macau locations were awarded a Michelin star in 2014, but since we can’t just hop onto a plane to China right now, the Seattle location will do!

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Bar Seats available. 

 

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Soup Dumplings. Hot and ready even before menus were given!

 

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Dumplings. 

 

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Pork Chop Fried Rice. 

 

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Sautéed Spinach with Garlic. 

 

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Potstickers. So beautiful! Perfection. I could never make potstickers like these!

 

There was a bit of a wait of about 40 minutes on a Sunday afternoon, but the restaurant is located in an outdoor mall and you’ll receive a text/call whenever your table is ready. Once we got in, soup dumplings were hot and ready to serve even before we got our menus. SO worth the wait! They were delicate morsels of homey goodness. Refined but still made me feel at home…

We also ordered some Potstickers, Sautéed Spinach, Pork Chop Fried Rice, and Shrimp and Pork Wonton’s in Spicy Sauce. I really loved the Potstickers which were visually so perfect, you almost don’t want to eat them but when you do, they are SO good. My next favorite was the Wonton’s in Spicy Sauce. The Spicy Sauce wasn’t ridiculously-spiced…just a small kick. That sauce was sooo good with rice.

Was it well worth the wait? Indeed! I don’t get many soup dumpling choices in NOLA but everywhere I’ve traveled, I always fit in soup dumplings and these are one of my favs!

 

spoonspoonspoonspoon spoon point 5

Rating: 4.5/5 spoons
Din Tai Fung Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: din tai fung, food, michelin star, seattle, seattle eats, soup dumplings |
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