Burger Blogging - 8 oz.

I've mentioned before that 8 oz. Burger Bar is my go to place for a great upscale burger, so it's surprising that it's taken me this long to blog about it in "My Quest to Find the Best Burger."  The meat is ground in house using only humanely raised hormone free beef, the bacon is house-cured, the ketchup is made with heirloom tomatoes, and the pickles are homemade.  Are you sold?  I am.

The "8 oz"

While my photo is of the 8 oz burger, I'm going to base my review on the "Melrose" burger since it is what I normally order.  The menu describes the "Melrose" as "6 oz house blend, wild baby arugula, garlic roasted tomatoes, and red onion marmalade."  YUMMY!

Scoring:

1. Bun: based on texture, taste, and the way it complements the burger. Things that just won't do are: too 8 OZ : 4

2.  Meat: looking for good texture, flavor, quality, and seasoning.

8 OZ: 5

3.  Juiciness: applies to the overall juiciness of the burger including the patty, the sauces, and anything else that makes the burger juicy.  But beware being too juicy might drop the score down.  I want to be able to pick up my burger.

8 OZ: 5

4.  Cheese: mmm... cheese... do I need to explain this one?

8 OZ: 4.5 (you have the option of adding cheese, I often add the bel paese or the cave aged gruyere.)

5.  Fixin's:  Everything else that comes on the burger from lettuce to caramelized onions and roasted tomatoes.  Whatever it is it better complement the burger and be delicious.

8 OZ: 5 

Overall factors are:

1.  The Perfect Bite:  how well everything on the burger comes together.

8 OZ: 4.5

2.  Creativity: use of unique ingredients and pairings.

8 OZ: 4.5

Total Score: 32.5 out of 35

Now, there is a good chance 8 OZ gets such a high rating on my Burger Blogging O' Meter, because I just love the place so much.  It is the home of my first gourmet burger... well, that's not 100 percent true, I tried 25 degrees in the Roosevelt Hotel before 8 OZ but was unimpressed.  Or maybe the high score is because 8 OZ is about more than just good burgers.  It's got a damn good Moscow Mule for one (with fresh ginger juice, swoon), and the non-burger items on the menu are just as good (if not better I dare say) than the burgers.  You simply must try the short rib grilled cheese.  This is not a request, but more of a demand.  You can thank me later.  Also I'm a big fan of the tuna melt - olive oil poached albacore, white cheddar cheese, add garlic roasted tomatoes, all on crispy grilled sourdough.  I'll happily pay 9 bucks for this tuna melt.

Tuna Melt (please excuse the bad photo, this is pre-new camera)

Overall, I guess you can say I'm just a big fan of 8 OZ Burger Bar.  Check it out when you are on Melrose, I'm pretty sure you'll like it.

peace, love, burgers, and happiness

Brightening up the House with Basil

Summer seems like the perfect time to finally get started on that (indoor) herb garden I've been wanting.  I've been using the excuse of not having a patio for too long.  Plus, buying basil at the store gets expensive and goes bad quite fast.  I purchased my basil plant at Trader Joe's for something like two dollars and some change.  What a steal.  I couldn't grab that thing fast enough and add it to my cart.  Since then it has become something like my baby, or at the very least a well adored pet.  (Yes, I do know that I have too much time on my hands.)

I'm hoping the little guy does ok positioned by the window admiring the view of the apartment building next door.  Every now and again I take him outside for a little sunshine in the apartment "courtyard" (more like a walkway).  If I can't keep this plant alive, which is described on the label as "a hearty plant that you don't need to worry about too much," then I'm pretty much doomed when it comes to taking caring of any other living things.  Wish me luck!

peace, love, gardens, and happiness!

Happy Birthday Momma!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful and wonderful mother!  Thank you for everything.  I love you!!

peace, love, birthdays, and happiness!

The Perfect Soup

I can't get this soup off my mind since I made it, it was so good that thoughts of making SOUP, well just this soup, are constantly floating through my mind.  I'm not normally a soup kind of girl, it's never filling enough as a meal and too filling as an appetizer.  And if I'm gonna spend some time in the kitchen I want to come out with elaborate results, not just a pot full of stuff in water.  But since first trying Ribollita, during the Tuscan cooking class Sabrina and I took, my taste buds were hooked.  Ribollita is a Tuscan soup that literally means "reboiled."  My findings while searching the web for a recipe led me to believe that often Ribollita contains a mix of veggies, a leafy green, white beans, possibly pancetta, and sometimes stale bread is mixed directly into the soup.  No recipe stood out to me, so I decided to take my best shot at making this soup sans recipe - after all the basic idea of the dish is to throw together leftovers in a pot.  It was easy and delicious, very delicious.  In fact, I ate it so fast I only snapped a few shots on my iphone and wasn't going to share the recipe until I made it again and took some better photos, but I'm just too excited.  I simply must share.

Michelle's Vegetable Ribollita:

serves 4

Ingredients:

1 large carrot

1 zucchini

1 yellow squash

½ onion chopped

6 cloves garlic

1 can Italian flavored chopped tomatoes

2 to 3 cups chopped kale

about 2 cups vegetable broth

1 cup water

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

red pepper flakes to taste

Instructions:

1)   Heat olive oil in a pot.  Chop all vegetables.

2)   Put carrots and onions and minced garlic in pot and sauté until slightly soft.

3)   Add zucchini and squash and sauté for about 2 minutes.

4)   Add vegetable broth and water.  Season with salt, pepper and red pepper. Cook for 5 minutes.

5)   Add canned tomatoes with juice.  Bring to a boil.

6)   Add chopped kale and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until squash and kale are tender but not soggy.

7)   Top with parmesan cheese and serve with toasted French or Italian bread.

And if my calculations are correct (which I think they are) when made with veggie broth and before adding the parmesan cheese and bread, each serving only has about 120 calories in it!  It could be the perfect diet food.  And I managed to eat it as a whole meal (with copious amounts of bread, naturally).

Enjoy!

peace, love, food, and happiness!

Tuscany: Date Night.

My friend Sabrina and I like to eat, talk food, and experiment with cooking.  So when a Groupon for a cooking class at Chefs, Inc. came up, we jumped on it.  While the initial decision to take a cooking class was a quick and sure one, deciding on what class to take was the exact opposite.  We agonized over which class would, 1. be the best value for our money, 2. offer the most amount of take home knowledge, and 3. accommodate Sabrina's many (and I mean many) food preferences.  Any kind of Spanish or Mexican was out due to the fact that the food might be spicy.  (Love her, but even the addition of pepper can sometimes push her over the edge... come on!)  Any class that had a chicken dish was out.  She's got this weird thing against chicken, I still don't quite understand it, but chicken is boring anyways.  And then there was our many scheduling conflicts on both ends.  But finally, finally, we came to a joint decision on Tuscany!... date night... oh well, so what if we are the only non-couple, couple there.  Which turned out to be exactly the case, but still, we were a perfect pair.

We both agree that the class didn't offer enough hands on cooking for our taste.  We pretty much got booted out of the group making the soup, but we ending up doing most of the Olive Oil Lemon Cake.  And we grilled bread...

Not quite what we had in mind as far as fulfilling our "take home knowledge" quota... but hey, that bruschetta that everyone seemed to love so much (mainly, because we were all starving) couldn't have happened with out us... (or the people that chopped the tomatoes, but they don't really matter as far as this story goes.)

Three Tomato Bruschetta - bread grilled by master bread grillers, Michelle and Sabrina.

So we pretty much dumped some ingredients into a bowl for a cake, grilled some bread, and sat and drank wine.  Good thing the rest of the class didn't mess up the other dishes too bad, and that we got the class for half off.  All in all we did leave full, and I learned, not by actually making it but by reading the recipe book, how to make a fabulous Tuscan peasant soup called Ribollita.

Ribollita, courtesy of everyone but us.

Braised short ribs in a wine reduction.  We did "help" put these in the oven.

Our masterpiece! Olive Oil Lemon Cake.

But most importantly I got to spend time with Sabrina, and anytime we are together is a good time! 

peace, love, cooking, and happiness!

Burger Blogging - San Fran Edition

While in San Francisco I visited Pearl's Deluxe Burgers, which came recommended by Crystal's roommates and Yelp. 

It's a small place but the burgers pack a punch.  I especially like that there are so many different burger combinations on the menu.  You can even upgrade your meat to Estancia beef (grass fed cows).  And they tout they have Buffalo burgers which apparently is healthier and has less fat, I have yet to try Buffalo meat, although I am open to it.  I really wanted the burger with blue cheese, bacon, and other goodies on it, but for some unusual reason I had it stuck in my mind that I had to try to eat "healthy."  Ha! At a burger place!  What was I thinking?  So I ordered the mini Pearl burger, and immediately regretted not getting the full size.  If I'm gonna eat a burger then I should probably just eat a BURGER.  And I didn't get fries.  I know, I don't even know who I am anymore.

My thoughts on the Pearl burger:

I wish I got the regular size, not because the mini was actually all that small, but because I was hungry.  It was a pretty good basic burger.  Not gourmet, more of a hamburger shack kind of burger, which can often be the best.  The cheese was very melty and the whole thing was kinda messy (not a bad thing!).

Scoring:

1. Bun: based on texture, taste, and the way it complements the burger. Things that just won't do are: too soggy buns and too dry buns.

PEARL'S : 3.5

2.  Meat: looking for good texture, flavor, quality, and seasoning.

PEARL'S: 3

3.  Juiciness: applies to the overall juiciness of the burger including the patty, the sauces, and anything else that makes the burger juicy.  But beware being too juicy might drop the score down.  I want to be able to pick up my burger.

PEARL'S: 4

4.  Cheese: mmm... cheese... do I need to explain this one?

PEARL'S: 3.5

5.  Fixin's:  Everything else that comes on the burger from lettuce to caramelized onions and roasted tomatoes.  Whatever it is it better complement the burger and be delicious.

PEARL'S: 4.5 (because I ordered a basic burger and it came with the basic things)

Overall factors are:

1.  The Perfect Bite:  how well everything on the burger comes together.

PEARL'S: 3

2.  Creativity: use of unique ingredients and pairings.

PEARL'S: 4 (not for this burger, but because the restaurant has so many burger options)

Score: 25.5 out of 35

If you are in San Fran, Pearl's is a good place to hit up if you want a good burger (hold the frills) for a good price.  I would definitely like to go back and explore more of their options!

peace, love, burgers, and happiness!

Maxim Hot 100 Party

One of the things I love about Los Angeles is the Hollywood night life, even though when asked I insist that I am more of a local bar kinda girl then a Hollywood scenester - which is completely true.  But every once in a while you gotta take advantage and hit a hot party.  This works well for me since my roomie gets invitations and gets us on the guest list, something I tend to fail miserably at.

Last night we went to the Maxim Hot 100 party... with some effort... as we arrived late, 9:45pm (gasp!), and they closed the list we were on.  Some wandering around and looking lost eventually paid off for us and we made it inside!  And I must say, our effort was worth it!  Mainly because of the open bar and free food carts... free food... yum.  But the best part for me was meeting Jake from "The Bachelor" (yes I know I'm a dork).  "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" is my guilty television pleasure and even though Jake was never a favorite of mine his friendliness made me really like him.  He was really approachable, or I was drunk, one of the two or both.

And yes, he was with Vienna.

peace, love, parties, and happiness!

TO DO: San Francisco

Exploring new cities is the best, and San Francisco is one of the best to explore!  With it's mix of natural beauty and city life, it's truly one of the prettiest cities, and one with a lot to do!  You can see the Golden Gate Bridge, tour Alcatraz Island (which always fascinated me because I love the movie "The Rock"), check out Ghiradelli Square, and of course take a ride on a trolley car (if you can bear the wait in line).  But this wasn't my first time crossing the Bay Bridge, so I took a different route as a tourist and hit up the local hotspots with my friend Crystal who lives in the city - very conveniently near all the shops and restaurants on Haight Street.

So here is my "Livin' like a Local"-  Guide to San Fran:

The public transportation in San Fran is pretty awesome (and the parking is not) so take the bus...er... Muni to get around.  For father travels around the bay area use the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).

On Wednesday's and Sunday's visit the Heart of the City Farmer's Market and pick up some of the freshest looking produce I have ever seen and take in the wonderful cityscape background.

I fell in love here because they have a stand dedicated to one of my favorite things to cook with... mushrooms!  All different kinds!  I nearly died, you can't find this at the Studio City Farmer's Market.

Be a tourist for a day if you're a local, or just be a tourist if you're a tourist and scour Chinatown for cute trinkets and deals, or pick up some bamboo to add life to your apartment.  Did you know that San Francisco's Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and North America's oldest Chinatown?!

Swing by Pearl's Deluxe Burgers to satisfy your hunger and marvel at the burger options, or satisfy your sweet tooth with a rich and creamy shake.

*be on the lookout for my review of Pearl's for my Quest to Find the Best Burger

After a long day of exploring quench your thirst and rest your tired feet at Toronado located on Haight Street.  It's fabulous, if your definition of fabulous is a laid back, cash only, local beer bar with an awesome selection of beer (no Bud Light here), which my definition of fabulous most definitely is.  If you don't like beer (what is wrong with you?!) then this is not the place for you.  But if you do, and like good beer at that, then this place is heaven.

I like my beer dark, Crystal likes her's light.  Options for everyone!

The next morning fight your hangover with a hearty breakfast at Kate's Kitchen.  Make sure you try the cornmeal buttermilk pancakes and check out the specials board.

Finish off your time in the city with a relaxing day at the park, if the weather is nice, and if it's even close to nice take advantage of it!

Awww, I miss it already!

Helpful tips: lots of places are cash only, so bring some!  And wear comfy walking shoes.

peace, love, San Fran, and happiness!

Burgers! Burgers! Burgers!

Love burgers like I do?  Then you will be excited to hear about DineLA.com's Best Burger in LA Contest!

Sure it's no small time blogger's Quest to Find the Best Burger(ahem, as in MY quest)... but I was excited nonetheless, especially since everyday they are offering discounts at LA's top Burger joints!  So looks like the next few weeks will be full of burger eating heaven... just in time for swimsuit season...

Check out the Facebook page to vote for your favorite burger from May 19th thru 31st and enter your email to receive the Daily Deal email with discounts to the featured burger havens.  Some of my favs are on there! 8oz, Father's Office, The Apple Pan, Stout Burgers and Beer... yumm... and those are just some of the ones I've tried!  There are plenty I haven't even gotten to yet.... so if you'll excuse me, I've got some burgers to eat.


Peace, love, burgers, and happiness!

Indy's Spring Break

In March my mom came to visit and brought her little bundle of fur along with her - Indy, the Bichon Frise.  So without further ado... here are pictures of Indy's Cali Spring Break.  Why?  Because who doesn't love pics of cute puppies?  Seriously, if you find someone let me know, I would like to know what is wrong with them.

Indy at work

Indy at the beach

Indy and Mom

Indy taking a little break from shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond

Indy at the Farmer's Market

Indy in heaven

Indy bra shopping

He's a happy little guy who loved his vacation, but I'm sure I loved having him around more.

peace, love, puppies, and happiness!

Vegan Banana Pancakes

After resolving to only eat fruit for breakfast as some kind of diet / desire to eat healthier, I woke up craving pancakes more than I have ever craved pancakes in my entire life.  I checked my kitchen only to discover that indeed I had a box of pancake mix... but not a single egg in the fridge.  Sigh.  But I would not give up that easily on my dream of having pancakes that morning!  And I most certainly would not walk the two whole blocks to the store for one measly egg.  Yes, I may be lazy, but I am also innovative... I came up with Vegan (only by circumstance) Banana Pancakes - single serving size with strawberries (thanks roomie) and banana slices.

The pancakes turned out so good!  I was pleasantly surprised at how moist and fluffy they were!  Way better than using a box mix!

Recipe (one serving):

1/2 cup whole wheat flour or white flour (I used mainly whole wheat with a little bit of white flour)

1/2 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

dash of cinnamon

1/3 cup (or more if needed) almond milk (or soy milk)

1/2 banana (ripe and mashed)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together.  In another bowl, combine all other ingredients.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir well.  Add more almond milk if batter is too thick.

Cook on medium-high heat in a skillet till browned on both sides.

Top with left over half of banana and whatever else you like! Enjoy!

peace, love, pancakes, and happiness!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I enjoy celebrating just about every holiday, in fact, I can't think of one that I don't enjoy - any reason to celebrate anything is a good day in my book.  So when I almost let Cinco De Mayo slip by me without any notice - a holiday that generally consists of celebrating by eating and drinking - I really let myself and my Mexican heritage down.  But at the last second I picked myself up and threw together a taco dinner.  Now, even though I mentioned my Mexican heritage, don't expect this to be some fancy traditional taco dinner, I don't speak a lick of Spanish and my idea of a traditional Mexican dish is cheese enchiladas.  So I picked up a few items from the store and let whatever was in my fridge and pantry do the rest.  The result was some yummy chicken tacos and a fantastic black bean and corn side dish.

The only thing missing was a cerveza, but I'm trying to cut back on my weekday drinking (being unemployed seems to create an occasion to enjoy a beer or glass of wine everyday).  The tacos were simple.  I marinated chicken tenders in lime juice and coated them with a packet of chicken taco seasoning from the store.  I generally am against using packets of seasonings as I view it as cheating in the cooking process, but I am slowly revising my stance on that.  They are a quick and easy fix for when your cooking time is limited, and they also cut down on cost, since most of the time I don't own every single spice and herb that is already in the packet.  AND they made these chicken tenders damn tasty!  But the key is the lime juice to make a little bit of a liquid marinade and get the spices stick to the chicken.  Then just grill 'em up!

My accompaniments to the tacos were some diced up tomatoes, diced jalapeno, lettuce, shredded monterey jack cheese, plain greek yogurt (substituted for sour cream - saves calories, tastes pretty much the same) mixed with a little bit of Tapatio hot sauce, and sliced avocado.

While I cheated with the taco shells and used store bought shells, I created a homemade side dish that stood out - spicy black beans and corn. Yummy!

Michelle's Spicy Black Beans and Crunchy Corn Recipe:

1 can black beans

3/4 cup to 1 cup frozen corn

1 diced tomato

1/2 diced onions

2 to 3 garlic cloves

pinch of chile powder

Tapatio to taste

*Heat a little bit of olive oil in the bottom of a saucepan.  Add diced tomatoes, diced onion, and chopped garlic.  Cook until onions soften up, sprinkle with a dash of chile powder.

*Add thawed corn (I just heated it up for about 45 seconds in the microwave), stir.  Add one can of rinsed black beans.  Be sure to rinse them!!  Stir.

*Add salt and Tapatio hot sauce to taste, stirring occasionally until beans are warm.  Serve hot.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Peace, love, fiesta, and happiness!