Happy Birthday to ME!  I turned 27 last month and it was…quite epic.  I started the night out at Border Grill and they were AMAZZZZING.  I had a party of about 20 people and although i had to do a formal reservation with my credit card number as security~~ it was all worth it.  The managers who helped make it possible (Sonia and Amy) were absolutely incredible~ so accommodating, doting, friendly…the best!

I know there are some people who knock Border Grill because it’s not super authentic (which I agree with), but I can’t help it…I still love it.  If you’re looking for grandma’s Mexican or Cuban food.  But if you want a more upscale restaurant for girls night out or a date night~ I highly recommend Border Grill!

Below is the Strawberry Cilantro Margarita I ordered.  YUMMM

Complimentary Ceviche <3

Quinoa Fritters

Oysters with Black Sauce, Yellow Sauce, and Green Sauce

Skirt Steak

Chicken Quesadilla

Carnitas

complimentary dessert <3 Flan!

This recipe looked so delicious I couldn’t help but repost it!!

Can you believe that tomorrow will be June 1st!? I’m pretty darn excited and wanted to start it off right… with some watermelon mojito popsicles!! Yesterday we went to a BBQ/first birthday party and Zan brought some ingredients to make watermelon mojitos. They were enjoyed by many and as I was sipping mine, I thought of a great idea! A mojito popsicle! The problem is alcohol doesn’t freeze! Unless… you add just a little (2oz with every 3 cups juice) and it’s mixed with fruit! Tada!! You can also make this recipe without alcohol too… it’s your choice. Also, you’ll be happy to know that I bought the popsicle tray and the skewers from the Dollar Store!! It came with a plastic red and blue top, but I took that off for a reason Read below for the how-to!! Have a wonderful week!

 

Ingredients (makes about 10 medium size popsicles)
3 1/2 cups cubed watermelon
Handful fresh mint leaves
3 Tablespoons Agave (or you can sweeten them with regular sugar)
1/2 lime
2 oz. light rum
1/2 cup club soda

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, muddle the watermelon and mint together until the watermelon is a juice consistency with some small chunks. Once it’s fully muddled, remove the muddled mint. Add the 3 tablespoons Agave, 2 ounces rum and squeeze the 1/2 lime into the watermelon juice. Pour half of the mixture into a cocktail shaker… unless you have a shaker large enough for all of the watermelon. Shake until combined and put into a separate bowl with a spout. Do the same with the other half of the juice. Add the club soda to the shaken juice and stir. Fill the popsicle tray up and add a skewer (cut to size) in the center. To garnish, place a small mint leaf in each of the popsicles… These will need to freeze overnight because of the rum. They also melt a little faster, so make sure you serve them with a napkin!

Looking for a creative way to celebrate Memorial Day… or another outdoor summer get-together? Good! Because we have a new Summer BBQ theme for you today, complete with ideas for a Make-it-Yourself hot dog station (which keeps things easy on the host!), creative & affordable food presentation ideas, and free BBQ themed printables…

This theme is super easy to pull together – promise! Aside from the shopping, which we did most of the day before, the entire theme that you see here and here was put together & shot in a single day – including the design of the free party printables!

One of my favorite elements from this shoot was a $7 plastic picnic tablecloth that I picked up in the camping aisle at Target. We used this one tablecloth to embellish everything (from vases to soda bottles to the drinks tub) and still had so much left over!

I also loved using corn chips as filler for the corn-on-the-cob sticks and Hot Dog Sign display… probably because the method for putting these together seemed to be one handful of chips for the vase, one handful for my mouth, one handful for the vase, one handful for my mouth… you get the picture. =)

Check out full details and more pics (+ links to download the printables) at the full theme gallery… click here or on the image below to visit.

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If you’re looking for authentic Mexican Tacos, Titos is the place!  Get the original tacos with cheeeeeese.

Everything else…was just A-OK.  Nothing I couldn’t live without.

Enchilladas were yummy but very salty.
All Beef Burrito with Cheese was aiiite
Tamale was ok
GUAC was terrible.
Rice was not great

Honestly, I would totally go back and keep going back, but would only order the Tacos with cheese.  THAT I couldn’t get enough of.

Although I didn’t try it, here’s a review on the burger there.

From Serious Eats:

[Photographs: Damon Gambuto]

During the decade and a half I’ve lived in Los Angeles our beleaguered Downtown has been fighting to come to life as a residential community. For years developers have taken the “if you build it” approach to neighborhood-making without thinking through what one needs to build for them to come. Lofts developments sprung up offering plenty of urban chic, but with nary a supermarket to be found.

Finally, they’ve gotten the message and have started to pursue the critical mass of useful and cool businesses that make city life a redeemable enterprise, One of the local lodestars of high-end, urban convenience is Bottega Louie. The soaring, all-white interior once housed the flagship store for Brooks Brothers, but now is one of the more well-regarded mid-priced eateries in LA. In my experience the expansive (10,000 square feet!) and majestic Italian restaurant and market has delivered solid food in one of the more lively environments in town. I’ve enjoyed more than a few lunches there, but it wasn’t until just recently that I stopped in for a weekend midday meal to try their burger.

On Bottega Louie’s brunch menu the burger warrants its own special boxed-off section even though there’s only one version available; they call it, quite simply, Hamburger. The patty is touted as Kobe beef and is served with Bibb lettuce, Brandywine tomato, and red onion. There is the option to add sharp cheddar which I declined thinking that the beef would be rich and flavorful. Oh, silly me.

The basics of this basic hamburger were just not properly handled.

The patty—an eight ounce round—was given a severe charring which created a good crust, but that’s about where my interest ended. The “Kobe” beef was bland and surprisingly dry. After one bite I was wishing for the extra fat and flavor of the cheddar I opted out of. The bun was an attractive, flavorful one, but it had a hint of sweetness that was too pronounced for me. The basics of this basic hamburger were just not properly handled.

That said, the lettuce and tomato were notably fresh and delicious. I don”t normally go into much detail about the veggie toppings on my burgers, but the tomato choice of this one got me thinking about my favorite styles of lettuce and tomato for a burger. I think Bottega Louie’s choice of the Brandywine is spot on. It’s an heirloom tomato that turns up even in many ordinary supermarkets here in Los Angeles, but its flavor is anything but. Although it sounds like a tautology, the Brandywine tomato has a really “tomato-y” flavor. It’s the tomato flavor my mind summons when I hear the word, and it’s perfect for a burger. The Bibb lettuce I’m less convinced by, but still it’s a solid choice.

The fries were crisp and flavorful skinny cuts that managed to balance the crunch with a smooth interior texture. They were the high point of my burger lunch—though a restaurant with the aspirations of Bottega Louie shouldn’t be content with that being the case. The word is the owners are hoping to export the idea to other locations. With so many tasty things on their menu a price point that is manageable (though by no means cheap), one imagines they’ll do so successfully. But they’ll do even better if they rework their burger.

[Photo: Robyn Lee]

It’s Cinco de Mayo, and you invited friends over for margaritas. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, you may be tempted to pick up a bottle of margarita mix instead of making fresh margaritas (or tangerine-ginger margaritas). Which mix is best? We braved a sugar-and-tequila headache to taste eleven different versions.

The result: none of these mixes are as good as freshly squeezed juice, or even close. Though there are a few bottles that will do in a pinch, we recommend you enlist your friends to help you squeeze limes instead of buying any of these mixes. We’re not sure why margarita mixes need to be so sweet; the best we tried balanced the sweetness with adequate acidity. The worst were syrupy, salty, and full of strange off flavors. For the most part, those with alcohol included in the mix should be avoided.

Ripe Pure Squeezed Agave Margarita Mixer

We were excited to see this in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods. It’s made from fresh fruit, not juice concentrate—they say there are ten limes and two oranges in every bottle. But it’s not as tart as if you’d started with fresh limes, and we found the tang of orange juice a bit out of place. Ripe’s mix has a nice brightness that many mixes don’t, but we really wish it weren’t so sweet. If you have a soft spot in your heart for Minute Maid Limeade, this might be the mix for you. (Available online, $8.95)

Williams Sonoma Margarita Mixes

Williams Sonoma’s mixes are created by Stirrings, but they’re pretty different from the Stirrings mix. The WS Lemon-Lime version is made with key lime concentrate, orange juice and lemon juice, natural flavor, and cane sugar. It’s much more puckeringly-tart than any of the others we tried, but it has a bit too much orange-juice-concentrate flavor (remember Sunny Delight?). Though it’s a bit more like a screwdriver than a margarita, we liked this mix. Now, can they make a straight-lime one? (Available online, $14)

If you’re looking for nontraditional flavors, choose the deliciously tart-and-fruity Mango version over the way-too-sweet Pineapple version.

Freshies Cocktail Mixes

Freshies’ Fresh Lime Margarita Mix is nicely tart, with a hint of slightly-funky orange flavor, and it’s a little less syrupy-sweet than many of the others. Get it super cold (by shaking or spinning in a blender with ice) and pour refreshing margaritas by the pintful. They recommend mixing with Anejo tequila and Cointreau, which certainly brings the drink up a notch. (Available online, $6.25)

Skip the Tangerita flavor though; it tastes like canned orange juice.

Trader Joe’s

We liked the sour touch in Trader Joe’s margarita mix, but there’s quite a bit of sweetness there too. “It’s like Country Time lemonade,” quipped Ed Levine, and he’s about right. Keep the booze out of it and your kids could sell this stuff on the driveway. The directions on the bottle suggest you add the same amount of triple sec as tequila (an ounce of each for every two a ounces of mix), but we’d dial that down quite a bit, and dial up the mix. Three ounces of this mix with 1 ounce of tequila and 1/2 an ounce of triple sec works better.

Stirrings

The Simple Margarita Mix from Stirrings is made with key lime and cane sugar, and it’s distinctly limey, with a bit of bitter peel on the finish. It lacks the freshness we hoped for, and the addition of “natural triple sec flavor” may be where they go wrong. It’s not bad, just too sweet. An extra squeeze of lime might help. (Available online, around $8.)

Skip These For Sure

We sampled José Cuervo’s Golden Margarita, which was so potent it makes you squint, with a strange aftertaste we couldn’t get rid of. The Jose Cuervo Light Margarita is a little better, especially if you ice it down really well, but it’s still on the sweet side, and you don’t get to control (or see) how much booze is in it. The zero-calorie version is wildly sweet.

And yes, we tried Skinny Girl of Real Housewives fame. It was tart and light but bizarrely salty, with a strange off-flavor from the tequila. “This tastes oddly oniony” said one taster. Skip.

3988 Barranca Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92606

This place…oh maaannn…it’s SOOO freaking delicious.  You will never eat at another fish market/grill/restaurant again.  I guarantee it!  The fish is fresh and perfectly cooked.  The kitchen/restaurant is impeccably clean and you can see the chefs cooking through this glass wall.  You can choose your own plates, sides, combos and it’s truly perfect everytime!

CFG gets REALLY packed, but the line moves fairly quickly.  The food also comes out in a decent time frame and is always hot!  In the back, there’s a sauce bar where you can get dipping sauces and extras to make each meal tailored to your taste buds. =)

Here’s what my party ordered:

White Ruffy with Cajun Seasoning over Rice with Cole Slaw and bread

Ahi Tuna with Cajun Seasoning over Fries with Cole Slaw and Bread

Grilled Zucchini

White Ruffy with Garlic and Butter Seasoning over Rice with Cole Slaw and Bread

Whenever I go to restaurants or food stands and they don’t have melted nacho cheese, I refuse to order cheesy delicious food.

Here’s the recipe on how to make it from Serious Eats:

PROCEDURE:

Add cheese and cornstarch to large bowl. Toss to combine. Transfer to medium saucepan. Add 1 cup evaporated milk and hot sauce. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with whisk until melted, bubbly, and thickened (about 5 minutes). Mixture will look thin and grainy at first but will thicken and come together after heating. Thin to desired consistency with additional evaporated milk. Serve immediately with fries, tortilla chips, burgers, or hot dogs.

Don’t let Trader Joe’s brainwash you into thinking their Two-Buck Chuck is the only game in town when it comes to inexpensive wine. There are plenty of affordable bottles out there that aren’t utter plonk. Over at The Huffington Post, Alex Milling has compiled a list of some of her favorite wines for everyday occasions. They made not be the best wines you’ve ever had, but that’s not the point — what’s important is that they certainly won’t be the worst.

Get the list after the jump.
Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir 2008, $5.95: A Chilean Pinot Noir that is dark and easy-going with a well-balanced blend of spicy cherry and earthy flavors. Enjoyed with Kate while procrastinating studying and contemplating the confusing nature of males.

Rex Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon NV, $4.97: From the Central Coast of California this Cabernet is very smooth with a cedar and oak start and a deep fruity finish. Enjoyed with Lucia while watching ‘Love and Other Drugs.’

Andre Brut NV, $4.99: A California sparkling wine composed of a refreshing mix of white varietals. Enjoyed on countless occasions, particularly excellent when celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Barefoot Pinot Gris NV, $6.99: A bright California Pinot Gris that is bright, light-bodied, and offers crisp apple and citrus flavors. Enjoyed with Margaret during breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anything in between.

Trader Joe’s Coastal Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $4.99: Another favorite from the Central Coast of California that is simple with subtle notes of peach and citrus. Enjoyed on a spring break road trip in northern California.

From Oh Joy:

Last weekend, Bob’s bosses and co-workers came over for dinner, and I had to get into top notch hostess mode. We served slow roasted pork belly, sous vide duck breast, grilled brussel sprouts, homemade cheesy tater tots, and my favorite frozen key lime pie. However, I was at a loss for finger foods. After a call out on Twitter, a ton of great suggestions came to my rescue, and I decided to make these Mini Spinach Dip Bread Bowls by Picky Palate.

They were super easy and super tasty…here’s how:

You’ll need:

13.3 oz roll of refrigerated french bread loaf, like Simply Pillsbury {I ended up using Whole Foods pizza dough because one of our guests is allergic to corn which is found in many canned doughs}

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 Cups baby spinach, coarsely chopped

1 clove fresh garlic, minced {I used 2 cloves}

3 oz softened cream cheese

1/2 Cup light sour cream {I used regular sour cream as I prefer most things as full fat}

2 Tablespoons fresh shredded parmesan cheese

1/8 teaspoon Chile Pepper or Cayenne Pepper

1/8 teaspoon Garlic Salt

1/8 teaspoon Sea Salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Here’s how:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray 10 muffin cups with non stick cooking spray.  Unroll package of french bread loaf and slice into 10 equal size slices, about 1 inch thick.  Press each slice into about a 3 inch round, I did this by pressing in between my hands.  Press into the bottom and up sides of the muffin cup.  Set aside.

2.  Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat.  Cook and stir spinach until wilted, about 3 minutes then add garlic, cook and stir for another minute then turn heat off.

3.  Place cream cheese, sour cream, cooked spinach and garlic, Parmesan Cheese, Chili Powder, garlic salt, salt and pepper into a medium bowl.  Mix until well combined.  With a medium cookie scoop, scoop dip into each of the centers of bread bowls.  Top evenly with shredded cheese and bake for 15-17 minutes until just turning brown on edges. {Since I used pizza dough, cooking time took closer to 20-22 minutes} Remove and let cool for 3-5 minutes before removing from oven.

The final cups are tasty, savory, warm, and delightful. Since they are muffin sized, they’re definitely not bite-sized and can get messy. As an alternative, I made mini muffin sized versions for our party which were nice two-bite versions. But for having at home or for more casual guests, the full sized muffin tin is just perfect! — Joy

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// ]]>Tucked into nearly all of the ubiquitous strip malls in Los Angeles is some sort of fried dough purveyor. From the old-school with pink boxes to the gourmet bakery to that uniquely California mash-up, the Chinese food and doughnut shop. This town is nuts for doughnuts.

[Photographs:Rebecca Fishman, this page; others Katie Robbins, unless noted]

But come spring, L.A.’s doughnut mania reaches a fever pitch when Glendora’s famed Donut Man, 74-year old Jim Nakano, starts selling his seasonal strawberry specialty. To make these ephemeral beauties—available as long as Southern California’s strawberries are ripe, juicy and bursting with flavor—Nakano slices his signature airy raised doughnut in half and stuffs it full of scarlet berries that he’s soaked in a sweet, gooey glaze.

In honor of prime doughnut season in Los Angeles, we bring you our favorites from long thin churros to massive chocolate chip filled doughnut bombs, all in the slideshow.

(Mind you, this list is limited to doughnut specialists or take-out bakeries. We’ll save our sit-down fried dough picks for another list.)

My only twist would be to add a little red onion and arugula to the dish and WahLa!  YUMMMMY dinner!

Here’s something I found that you guys would enjoy as well =D  Give you some holiday tips!

(From Project Wedding)

Lucky Charms

Posted on March 16th, 2011 by Jeannie. Filed under Favors.

I look forward to every holiday, in part to see the creativity and projects people in the blogosphere come up with. All of these sweet ideas could easily transfer to weddings or an Irish-inspired soiree.

Love this festive Lucky Charm favor from eighteen25 – they also have full instructions!

Strawberry Plant Favors via One Charming Party

Ingenious idea of using a real clover on this DIY card made by Chelsea Fuss for JustMommies

One Charming Party does it again with these fun St. Patty’s Day goodies. They have printable downloads right on their site too!

check her out: http://www.maangchi.com/

From Craftzine

Amanda of Amandeleine made Oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies. She says:

It’s exactly what it sounds like. Make cookie dough. Scoop dough. Smoosh around a double stuff Oreo in its entirety. Bake. Eat.Yeah.

So I’m just going to drop this recipe in front of you guys and back away slowly. You don’t need me. You just need these cookies.

Valentine’s day, I come home after a long day of work… to a house that’s been COMPLETELY decorated with mood-lighting and romantic music to match.  He also had a few surprises for later that night that melted my heart!

First:  Straw heart for my wine!  Anyone who knows me, knows i LOVE LOVE LOVE My straws.  i can drink cough medicine through a straw if there were enough of it… moving on…

Second: such an adorable table~~ including my hello kitty box!!  (which couldn’t be opened till later)

Third: Markel served each course with a different wine <3

Seared Scallops over mixed greens

filet mignon au poivre

Hazelnut/chocolate semi-freddo Dessert! (handmade by Markel with love, including the melted chocolate!)

Fourth: I got to open my hello kitty box!

Fifth… “OMG”

BEST FREAKING NIGHT OF MY LIFE!!!  After 2.5 years, Markel is still the most romantic bf alive xoxoxoxo

Happy belated V-day everyone!!

Martha Stewart Valentine’s Cookies

These homemade Valentine’s Day treats are straight from Martha Stewart. They are the sweetest way to say “I love you” to everyone special in your life. Here are few ideas on how to wrap them up with love. A very special thank you to Diana Marie Photography for coming over, along with her super sweet sister who went to culinary school, to help with the baking and shooting of this fun little DIY. We also whipped up a custom little napkin and a fun little banner to liven things us a bit.

Photos by Diana Marie Photography

Makes several dozen, depending on cookie size

Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
4 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup pale-pink or white sanding sugar (optional)
Petal dust in pink, orange, and violet tones (optional)
2/3 cup apricot or strawberry jam, slightly warmed (optional)

Directions

1. In bowl of electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into large bowl. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture to mixer bowl, alternating with buttermilk, until combined. Wrap dough in plastic; chill until firm, 1 hour or overnight.

2. To color white sanding sugar, if using: Place a few tablespoons in a small bowl. Mix in petal dust with a toothpick, a bit at a time, until desired shade is reached. Colored sanding sugar will last indefinitely.

3. Heat oven with two racks centered to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. On lightly floured surface, roll chilled dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut out hearts using any 1- to 3 1/2-inch heart cookie cutters. If desired, cut centers out of some hearts. Transfer with spatula to baking sheets. Chill for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if using. Bake until just golden but not too brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack. Continue with dough; reroll scraps.

4. To make sandwich hearts: Brush bottom heart lightly with jam; cover with a second heart with center cut out; jam will adhere hearts. Fill cut-out area with more jam. Cookies will keep, in an airtight container, at room temperature for 1 week.

My biggest goal in the next few years is to hit up each and every restaurant Jonathaon Gold has recommended.

Jonathan Gold’s 99 Things to Eat in LA Before You Die

The following are seven things you likely didn’t know about your favorite morning brew:

1. Black

Black coffee has ZERO calories, so drink up (so long as you follow the 3-4 cups per day guideline). I bet all you diet revelers are basking in the glory of your hot cup right now, but sadly, most of you rely on the sugary, foamy concoctions courtesy of your local barista – which can oftentimes contain more calories than your lunch. Read on…

2. Sweetened

Despite the lack of calories in an untouched brew, 30% of coffee drinkers (in the United States) add sweeteners (pssst… you’re ruining it!). But if you HAVE to use sugar, use a REAL packet or spoonful of granules – artificial sweeteners alter the taste of coffee. And if that’s your purpose, WHY ARE YOU DRINKING COFFEE?

3. Caffeinated

Dark roast has LESS caffeine than light roast. That said, espresso has 1/3 the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. My question? Why doesn’t it feel like that? I am bugging out of my mind after drinking an Americano. Alas, it’s true (it’s a Jedi coffee mind trick). Two pots tomorrow, then. But dark roasted blends are also more dehydrating. *sigh* OK… two more bottles of water too.

4. Spicy

Culturally speaking, not all of us around the world drink coffee the same way. While the U.S. is a cream-and-sugar average kind of place, people from different locations add unique ingredients to their daily drink: Middle Easterners use cardamom to spice up their brew; Ethiopians pinch in some salt; Moroccans add peppercorns and Mexicans add cinnamon – both to the grounds and once it’s brewed. And those Austrians? WHIPPED CREAM. Yes, please.

5. Healthy

There is a perk (pun intended) to this vice in moderation. Regardless if you drink regular or decaf, both have the powerful benefits that can prevent premature aging, heart disease and certain cancers. Those rich antioxidants found naturally in coffee protect your cells and your body.

6. With… Papers?

It was required BY LAW that a husband make coffee for his wife daily or she had just cause for separation. At least, in the ancient Arab times. Huh. I think some of us will be printing this trivia out and hanging it on the fridge for “someone” to see.

7. Berry Good

Coffee isn’t really a bean – it’s a berry. That fruit is cultivated and handpicked from a tree throughout various tropical locations around the world – mostly South of the Equator – and that berry contains (usually) two beans. These “green beans” are dried and then roasted in varying styles to make the brown coffee bean that you are accustomed to seeing and purchasing. And making into a cup of amazing coffee, of course.

Restaurant.com | $25 Gift Certificate for $2

Today is the last day that the Restaurant.com Gift Certificates are on sale for 80% off! That means, you can get a $25 Gift Certificate to a variety of restaurants for only $2.

Use code MEAL during online checkout.