The Veggie Grill

I will be the first person to say this but I really and truly am a MEATatarian. I know in this day and age its all about being health conscious or politically correct but let me tell you that meat is something that I refuse to live with out. Let me explain why.

First off, it carries a flavor that is so enticing that you can dream about it while waking up on one Sunday afternoon. (yes I dream about meat)

But really, its the things you can do with it. You can bake it, fry it, broil it, saute it, coat it in bbq sauce, and just about whatever your sweet little heart desires. Up until just recently I would refuse to set foot into any eatery that did not serve meat. That is until I found...Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill you ask? Is she completely loony? On what planet would a vegetable taste remotely satisfying on a grill. Well Veggie Grill has done it. All I can say is that they have managed to completely imitate the taste of meat SO well that even I had to stop and think..is this really NOT meat?

Check out some of their fantastical dishes.
















DONT FORGET THEIR sweet potato fries...







Well, to cut to the chase..you just have to try it! There really is no other way to say it but TRY IT. DONT knock it, Till you Try it. This time even a meat eater can give a veggie eater TWO thumbs up! WOOT WOOT!

Boiling Crab V Claws

Ok so the age old question is...which is better? Boiling Crab OR Claws

Well, its a toss up really. Top 3 Reason's to go to Boiling Crab.

1.) The Seasoning.."The Whole Shebang" I mean just the naming convention is intriguing!

2.) The Seafood..Fresh crab, shrimp, and crawfish..

3.) The Mystery...the fact that NOONE knows the mystery behind the amazing flavor..

















Top 3 Reason's to go to Claws..

1.) NO wait - boiling crab you must arrive before 6PM or be prepared for an evening of 2 hour waits.

2.) The Seasoning - ALMOST identical to boiling crab..maybe someone that used to work at Boiling Crab stole the recipe and opened up a Claws?

3.) The Hospitality - they are extremely attentive. They will check on you at least 20 times to make sure you are fully enjoying the experience..I didn't see the same degree of personal attention at BC.






Well there you have it folks. Yes one can say seafood is just seafood. But i say.. this is a delicate meat that must be prepared exactly perfectly otherwise why you wasting my time! ESPECIALLY the seasoned shrimp heads for all you shrimp lovers out there!

Check them both out and let me know what you think!



"If it looks good...EAT IT!" ---Andrew Zimmern

How to Cook the Best Smoked Salmon

Have you ever ate smoked salmon? Well i have! and let me tell you it is the best food ever...


Want to know what tops it?

this Caribbean dish called Salmon Choka..the reason for this name is because the Salmon includes choka. What is choka you ask?

Choka -- Tomato, garlic, onions, and alot of HOT PEPPER SAUCE from the habenero pepper.












Anyway..

This is what you need to make it.

2 cans of Salmon (if you are hungry)im starving!

1/2 an onion (chop it)
4 Cloves of garlic
2 Roma Tomatoes
a pinch of black pepper
1/2 a cabbage

THIS is HOW you make it.

Step 1:

Saute the garlic for approx 40 sec
Saute onions until they are soft
ADD
Tomatoes (until they are mushy)

THEN ADD CABBAGE
Keep cooking until it gets a bit soft but still a bit crunchy. ( i like crunch in every bite!)

NEXT
ADD SALMON (the 2 cans you have sitting next to you idiot)

keep mixing, keep mixing

THEN! ADD SALT (lawrys seasoning salt that is..and black pepper)

keep cooking (2min)

THEN

COVER the pot! WAIT! its almost done!

THEN..datatatata

SERVE

make sure to eat with roti or rice or bread

and kiss ur wifey or hubby for being so wonderful! :P

Chinese Food Antics

Have you ever tasted something so delicious that you dreamt about it? Well, I had dinner at china Bistro today and let me tell you..it was one of the best meals i have had in a very long time...

In order to fit into my " Best Meals" category you have to have the following...

1.) Food that tastes so good that you want to eat until you blow up.

2.) Complicated flavors that send your taste buds into euphoria.

3.) A dozen or more options for you to select from so you can decide on the perfect dish.

I ordered Orange Chicken with a kick, house special fried rice, and 2 amazing premier martinis.. (happy hour ofcourse) if you go there from 4-7 you can enjoy a lovely few hours of bliss...

Anyway, my recommendation is that China Bistro is a spectacular restarunt for a orange county newbie. You can get a taste of Chinese while enjoying an eclectic atmosphere.

The best thing about this place is that the food is AMAZING, the customer service is second to none, its cost effective, and nearby. I have visted this place frequently and have yet to be disapointed.

If you are looking for an affordable, tasty restaraunt i suggest trying it out, Go to China Bistro to learn more!

Gorgonzola Kobe Beef Burger Heaven

Do you like succulent juicy red meat? Because if you do this is the burger eat! I discovered it at this trendy little hot spot in Irvine called Opah. Let's just say that it was on of the most amazing burgers I have had in a very long time. Let me describe it to you in the utmost detail. First you start out with a tender Kobe steak that is marinated and cooked until the juices are ready to burst. Next, you have gorgonzola cheese that is strategically placed on the meat so that every crevice is covered in cheese. In addition, the entire burger is loaded with grilled sweet onions that are drenched in special sauce.. If you choose to be a conessieur you might even decided to add some sizzling bacon to your feast. If you have never been to this hot locale before then be forewarned, this burger is not made for the faint of heart. With 1/2 a pound of meat it will make sure to put some hair on your chest! Each bite you take brings a thousand new taste sensations to your tounge. I know all this might sound a little over the top but it really is true. So after having a heavenly dinner last night I have decided to take on the difficult task of cooking some good old steak. I know its not quite as romantic as the kobe beef burger but I am hoping that I can at least get a few pats on the back!

If it turns out nice I will make sure to post up some pictures of it! stay tuned for more adventures in the fascinating, fattening, but unbelievably tasty world of red meat!

Procrastination..your worst enemy

I know..I know..i lag! Procrastination really is one of the worst things that can come into your life! I mean you keep telling yourself that you will do it. But you dont! So here is the plan...

1.) DRINK WINE

ok dont become an alcoholic or anything but seriously it makes you relax.. the reason this is important is that you dont keep second guessing yourself.

2.) Always try new things

If you dont think outside the box how the hell can you create anything new?? I mean I came up with a SEAFOOD RISOTTO but with a hint of pasta roni.. The only way to create something new is to think outside the box. I am a firm believer of always going and trying something new even if it sucks.

3.) Dream Big!

Even though some of us suck at cooking..doesnt mean we cant cook! It just means that we need a little boost of confidence. Sometimes all you need is to try out a weird spice or maybe just a dash of good ole' fashioned mommas recipes...


This post didnt have any recipes but I just want everyone to have the motivation to not give up. Cause thats when food starts suck!

The Art of Chinese Cuisine

I know I am supposed to be learning to cook and showing you how to do what I do. But! Sometimes I get lazy...ok alot of times I get lazy! The way I look at it, I cooked breakfast yesterday so today I get a break! I decided to meet a girlfriend of mine at this wonderful chinese restaraunt named Chinez. (Sorry they dont have a proper website but their food is magnificent!) You can pronounce it however you like but I prefer...Sheeenezzzz. It's not French! My exquisite french taste likes to tell me otherwise. Anyhow, I entered this wonderful establishment with a sense of awe. The reason I was so amazed was because not only were they able to create a wonderful ambience but they were able to capture my nose with the most intoxicating scents. I mean, there was sweet and sour chicken, mandarin chicken, fried rice, egg flower soup, chili sauce( a must have at any chinese food establishment) and ofcourse WINE!

So after I had taken in the sheer joy of this place, I sat down and gawked at the menu. First, I decided I must order a glass of their finest wine...well since they were a chinese restaraunt they only had like 4 choices...I chose the merlot. Can't go wrong with the merlot, right? After we ordered our tantalizing wine, we were craving some CREAM Cheese wontons. Now, before you knock it, you have to try it. These wontons LITERALLY melt in your mouth (not in your hand). They are both crunch and soft and filled with sumptuous flavor. Next, we ordered some Chinez fried rice. Let me explain to you exactly what this entails. Chinez fried rice is a concotion of the following: beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, rice, green onions, and a little bit of spice. This might seem like any old fried rice, but wait! It is the best fried rice that you have ever tasted in your life! This is a rice to be reckoned with and I am not kidding! It is spicy, flavorful, full of meat and just plain good. So after we munched on this fabulous dish we became extremely full so in any case decided to take a pause and let our belts loose. Next time, we will visit the world of mandarin beef. I have tried this delicacy...and it was absolutely heavenly...here is a sneak peak if you dare.. and I promise that I shall try to create these unbelievable meals on my own...soon...