The Prado Chipotle Hummus

Picture courtesy of ephemeron.net

I know you've read many posts and many reviews of the various foods Matthew and I have eaten at The Prado. Yes, I can say that The Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park is our favorite restaurant. We have eaten inside the fancy shmancy restaurant, which is great, but our favorite (and my parents, too) is eating outside in the cocktail area and load up on their wonderful appetizers. One thing I don't think I mentioned is that no matter if you eat inside or outside, every table always gets a complimentary hummus and flatbread starter. I was so lucky to have found the hummus recipe from Chef Jeff Thurston. If you love hummus, you'll love this recipe because it has that unexpected chipotle kick in the background.

INGREDIENTS (makes 2 cups)

Source: Chef Jeff Thurston, The Prado, San Diego, California

• 1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped garlic
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or more to taste
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lime juice, or more to taste
• 2 1/2 teaspoons canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, chopped
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/8 bunch cilantro, cleaned and chopped
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil blend
• Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Put beans through a meat grinder on a medium die, or puree them in a blender or food processor.

In blender or food processor or in bowl of an electric mixer, combine garbanzo puree, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, chipotles, kosher salt and cilantro. On low speed, mix ingredients well while adding oil in a slow, steady stream. Season with salt and pepper, and add more citrus juice if needed.

Serve with flatbread for dipping.

Oysters Rockefeller

My husband is currently in Virginia Beach, VA, and he recently paid a visit to the Seaside Raw Bar. It's a little whole in the wall, yet their menu is respectable and the food delicious--the cocktail choices are not bad either. Matt had the oysters rockerfeller for the first time and, as he told me, "they were out of this world." Small oysters, such as P.E.I. oysters is a good choice for the recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup firmly packed watercress sprigs (2 oz before discarding coarse stems), finely chopped
• 1 1/3 cups firmly packed baby spinach (1 1/3 oz), finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped scallion greens
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons minced celery
• 3 tablespoons coarse fresh bread crumbs (preferably from a day-old baguette)
• 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon Pernod or other anise-flavored liquor
• Pinch of cayenne
• 3 bacon slices
• About 10 cups kosher salt for baking and serving (3 lb)
• 20 small oysters on the half shell, oysters picked over for shell fragments and shells scrubbed well

DIRECTIONS

PreparationToss together watercress, spinach, scallion greens, parsley, celery, and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon bread crumbs in a bowl. Melt butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, then add watercress mixture and cook, stirring, until spinach is wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in Pernod, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste, then transfer mixture to a bowl and chill, covered, until cold, about 1 hour.

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.

While watercress mixture chills, cook bacon in cleaned skillet over moderate heat, turning, until crisp, then drain on paper towels and finely crumble.

Spread 5 cups kosher salt in a large shallow baking pan (1 inch deep) and nestle oysters (in shells) in it. Spoon watercress mixture evenly over oysters, then top with bacon and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons bread crumbs. Bake oysters until edges of oysters begin to curl and bread crumbs are golden, about 10 minutes.

Serve warm oysters in shells, nestled in kosher salt (about 5 cups), on a platter.

Recipe courtesy of Epicurious.

Food Diary: New Jersey and Philadelphia

I don't know who coined the word, "foodie," but whoever did was genius. The first time I heard that term used in a sentence, I was intrigued. I wondered, am I a foodie?

I remembered when I was about 8 or 9 years old and my Pop's and Elaine had us look at the humongous Sears catalog and circle the toys or clothes we wanted for Christmas. And I always, always circled the Easy Bake Oven and I never got one. Come to think of it, I don't think any of us ever got anything we circled from that damn catalog. Was I a foodie then? I remember I would dream of getting that Easy Bake Oven and make the chocolate cake that the girl made in the commercial (if you're as old as me, you know what I'm talking about). Of course, my second pick from the catalog was the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine. And I never got that one either!

Fast forward to the late 90's when I moved to Boston and that is when I heard the word, foodie. Someone mentioned it to me because I was describing how incredible the sweet potatoes fries at Bartley's Burger Cottage were. Then I went on to describe the steak salad at the now defunct Grafton Street Cafe on Mass Ave. Perhaps, yes, I think I was, and am, a foodie. But I realized that I really was one when my friends from college and I formed a cooking club, and the rest, as they say, is history.

So why am I telling you this? Just last week I traveled over 3000 miles to be with my husband (in New Jersey, no less!) and what did we do? We found remote wineries in New Jersey...YES, New Jersey, and bought more wine than we needed; we drove to Hershey, PA to get our chocolate fix, then moseyed on over to Philadelphia just to have a Philly steak cheese at Pat's, the Kind of Steaks; and we found probably one of the best Italian restaurants in Freehold, NJ...the town The Boss is from. So, yes, I totally I am a foodie (and so is my husband), and I think many of us are in one way or another, although not many are as crazy as us and drive to Philly just to eat and authentic cheese steak wit cheese whiz...but then again, if you're reading this, you probably are. Happy eating!

Restaurant Review: Island Prime

Island Prime Restaurant
880 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: 619-298-6802

Just before my boo left for Virginia to do his Military Sealift Command training, we visited Island Prime restaurant. Thankfully, I had won a $100 gift card at work so we were prepared to indulge!

First of all, Island Prime is located on Harbor Drive, overlooking the bay and all of Downtown San Diego. If you’re there for a romantic evening or special occasion, I suggest you go just before sunset and sit by the window so you can take in all the charm and beauty of our beautiful sunsets here in Southern California.

Island Prime’s wine list is huge! We didn’t know where to begin. Matthew had an Australian shiraz and I, of course, started with champagne. Their menu is not big at all, but kind of tricky since their beef entrees are served a la carte. In other words, any side dishes are extra. One thing I particularly liked about the restaurant was the service. It was quite impressive and all the servers were very attentive. Also, instead of bread, everyone gets popovers. I mean, when was the last time you had a popover? And they were quite delish.

As you can imagine, this place is quite pricey. We shared their crab and avocado stacked salad with taro chips (so good!); Matt ordered a steak and I ordered their seared scallops with hazelnuts and parmesan risotto (the risotto was amazing!). We each had two glasses of wine or champagne and the bill came out to just under $140. Thank goodness I had the gift card! This place is great for a date, anniversary, or special birthday and I highly recommend their crab and avocado stack. Island Prime also has a lounge called C Lounge, and you can get the appetizers and drinks for a more reasonable price--especially if you go during happy hour.

Ahi Tuna Terrine with Wasabi Foam

This past weekend, Matt and I took a wine tour down to the Guadalupe Valley in Mexico. As we drove down the very scenic highway, we noticed many fishing farms on the Pacific Ocean, just south of Puerto Nuevo. We were told that those were Blue Fin tuna farms but that hardly anyone in Mexico or the U.S. ever get to taste any of that fish as the Japanese buy them up even before they go on the market. Sadly, blue fin tuna became overfished in Japan and they now rely on other countries to farm these delicacies. I doubt I'll ever eat real blue fin tuna as the current market price is about $110 a pound! So I'll stick to my Ahi tuna (aka Yellow fin Tuna).

As you all know, Ahi tuna is my favorite fish of all time and one of my favorite restaurants here in San Diego has two of my favorite tuna dishes: tuna sashimi terrine and sesame seared yellow fin. My tuna sashimi terrine attempt is below. I'm still working on the wasabi foam, though. I've been experimenting on the seared yellow fin. Hopefully I'll figure out these recipes soon!

If you're ever in the neighborhood, I highly suggest you check out The Guild Restaurant--it's in the barrio, but it's awsome! Sadly, the restaurant closed in January of 2009, due the economic crisis.

INGREDIENTS (serves 2)

• 1 Tbsp. chili sesame oil (plus a few drops extra for presentation)
• 1 tsp. chili garlic paste
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 6 oz of chopped sushi grade raw Ahi tuna
• 1 avocado
• Juice of 1 lime, divided
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 Tbsp. wasabi paste
• 1/2 Tbsp. honey
• 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS

In a bowl combine 1 tablespoon chili sesame oil, 1 teaspoon chili garlic paste, 1 tablespoon soy sauce and the chopped Ahi tuna. Cover with plastic wrap and let it marinate in the fridge for 1 hour. After an hour, chop the avocado and gently fold it in. Squeeze the juice of half of a lime. Let it sit in the fridge another 15 minutes.

Lightly whip the cream and add in the wasabi paste and honey. Whip until stiff peaks form. Season to taste with a sprinkle of kosher or sea salt and a few drops of the leftover lime juice.

When ready to serve, place a round mold (or you can use a PVC pipe mold that is 2" diameter x 3") on top of serving platter. Add the marinated ahi. Pipe the wasabi cream with a make shift zip-loc piping bag or you can dollop the cream. Sprinkle a few black sesame seeds. Then place five drops of chili sesame oil around plate. When ready to eat, remove mold and voilà!

Crab-ology at Macy's School of Cooking

Last week I decided to attend Macy's School of Cooking here in San Diego. Since I can't afford going to a real culinary school, this is my way of learning new techniques. Although the class was interesting and cheap (it was $10 bucks), it actually felt more like an advertisement since one of the representatives from Phillips Crab was there promoting their canned crab product. I did learn about the different parts of a crab and the variety of crab meats as well as simple recipes using real crab meat, but I felt like I could just watch the same stuff on the Food Network. The chef leading the class was Alexandria Melchior of Bambu Bistro. I've never been to her restaurant which, unfortunately, hasn't had any good reviews, but she seemed very personable and did explain everything she was doing.

One of her recipes that I really enjoyed was the crab and gorgonzola cheese quesadilla. Basically you heat a flour tortilla on a skillet with a little olive oil. Add a handful gorgonzola cheese, a bit of jack cheese, lump crab meat, caramelized onions and cilantro. Then top it with another flour tortilla and cook on the other side until the cheese melts and it becomes toasty. The quesadilla was tangy and sweet at the same time and I just never would've thought of pairing crab meat with gorgonzola cheese. If you're not a fan of the blue cheeses, you can simply use a jack cheese or even gruyere cheese.

Lastly the chef didn't give out any recipes, but we all can make quesadillas, can't we? Chef Melchior also made crostini with a crab-cheese mixture on top, but it wasn't really a hit for me. If you're interested in Phillips Crab, you can check out, and even purchase, their crab meat here. All in all, the class was comme ci, comme ça, and I suppose I got my $10 worth of free food and crab meat tasting.

Nathalie's First Cocktails

During Christmastime, my sister, Nathalie, came to San Diego for a visit all the way from Hawaii. And now that she's finally 21, Matthew and I were finally able to take her to The Turf Supper Club in Golden Hill. The Turf Club is a bar and grill restaurant with a very 40's retro feel. Here you cook your own steak in an indoor grill right smack in the middle of the restaurant. The food is good, and very affordable, but I especially like their cocktails. My sister tried two of their best: the sidecar, made with tequila, and, of course, a sex-on-the-beach.

TEQUILA SIDECAR

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces 1800 Anejo Tequila
• 1 ounce Torres Orange Liqueur
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• lemon twist
• sugar, for the rim

PREPARATION

In an ice-filled martini shaker, combine 1800, Torres Orange Liqueur and juice. Shake well and strain mixture into a Martini glass rimmed with sugar. Garnish with a lemon twist.

This cocktail is quite fruity and sweet, and it's specially good for people who are not into hard alcohol. It's usually good to only have one or two of these because sometimes you tend to forget that they are loaded with alcohol.

SEX ON THE BEACH

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 3/4 oz peach schnapps
• 1/2 oz crème de cassis
• 2 oz orange juice
• 2 oz cranberry juice
• Orange slice for garnish
• maraschino cherry for garnish

PREPARATION

Pour all the ingredients, except for orange slice and cherry, into a shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with the orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Gorgeous Foods

Kobe Beef Sushi Roll

From the mind of Executive Chef, Jeff Thruston, comes this delectable sushi roll. It's a roll with asparagus and braised hijiki and topped with seared Kobe beef. You can only find this at The Prado Restaurant in San Diego, CA.

T-Bone Steak Dinner & Panna Cotta

We had this fabulous dinner at the Wine Vault and Bistro in San Diego, CA.

$20 a Day - San Diego

I am a big fan of Rachel Ray's $40 a day show because she always finds the good bargains in various cities in the US and around the globe. However, when one is on a budget, even $40 a day, per person, is a lot of mullah. So, in my never-ending quest to find good deals, I decided to start a $20 a day blog on a monthly basis. I'll start with the easiest, which is San Diego, where I am from.

BREAKFAST

I have to agree with the experts that this is the most important meal of the day. A good, hearty breakfast is essential if you're a very active traveler and especially if you are on a budget.

• High to mid-priced: influx cafe - 1948 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92102

  The Traditional is a bagel topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, red onion, tomato and capers. $5.95 + $1.50 coffee

• Budget: La Posta - (corner of 3rd/Washignton) 3980 3rd Ave. San Diego, CA 92103

  The best freakin' burritos ever! Try the breakfast burrito with eggs, ham and cheese, $2.95

LUNCH

• High to mid-priced: Phil’s BBQ - 4030 Goldfinch St. @ Washington, San Diego, CA 92103

  This place is always packed and that's because they have the best BBQ west of the Colorado River. For a light, yet delicious lunch, try their Rib Tickler. It includes 3 pork ribs, 2 onion rings, cole slaw, and fries for $5.95.

• Budget: Roberto's Taco Shop - 2206 Carmel Valley Road, Del Mar, CA 92014 (or any taco shop in San Diego)

  Carne Asada Fries is the epitome of gluttony. It consists of fries topped with carne asada, guacamole, cheese, salsa and sour cream. $4.95. One order can feed 2 people.

DINNER

• High to mid-priced: Hodad's - 5010 Newport Ave. Ocean Beach, CA 92107

  This beach joint is famous for their burgers and it has a California cool ambiance of no shoes, no shirt, no problem! Try their special cheeseburger basket, which is an enormous burger, thick-cut fries, and tea, coffee or lemonade, all for $6.25.

• Budget: Dao Son Noodle House - 2322 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104

  The service is so-so, and the restaurant is "quaint" but the food is incredible. Prices range from $2 to $9. My all-time-favorite is the Garlic Fish. It is well-seasoned catfish marinated with garlic, lemongrass and simmered in a deep rich sauce. $5.99. They go by spicy levels of low, medium and hot. The medium in *incredibly* hot...you've been warned!

My Epicurean Journey to Tijuana

Oftentimes when people hear the name Tijuana, Mexico, the first thing they think about is either the border or illegal immigrants or partying and underage drinking for crazy Americans. And, yes, those are all true, but did you know that Tijuana has a growing restaurant scene, specially gourmet establishments, and Mexican wines and wine tasting is on the rise?

The city itself is not pretty. It's congested, dirty and most of the buildings look like they are ready to collapse. However, it takes a trained eye to see the beauty beyond the buildings. One such place is the L.A. Cetto Winery. The bottling plant is located in Tijuana and it's open to the public. Wine tastings cost $2 per person and they have free winery tours before 2PM.

L.A. Cetto has some very good wines, with the Nebbiolo as their flagship wine. Their reserved wines are excellent, but even their lower end wines such as Blanc de Blanc and the Riesling are fantastic. You can order L.A. Cetto wines here, but they are considerably cheaper if you buy them at the winery.

After our 90 minute long wine tasting and tour, my mom treated us to a late lunch at Palma Azul restaurant located in the Aguas Caliente area of Tijuana. Although the service was slow and the prices a bit high, their food was fresh and really good.

We first started with an appetizer of Marlin fish tacos with cheese. The tortillas were pan fried and it came with a spicy tomatillo sauce. That was a hit with all of us.

My mom ordered the asparagus stuffed sole with a burre blanc sauce. It came with whipped sweet potatoes and thinly sliced Portobello mushrooms with reduced balsamic vinegar. Superb!

My sister ordered the tortilla soup. It wasn't phenomenal, but it was pretty good home-cookin'. She still prefers Chili’s or The Prado's tortilla soup.

Finally, my husband ordered the fettuccini with grilled Salmon. The salmon was perfectly grilled and it was fresh. We could tell because it didn't even have that fishy, salmon smell. The fettuccini was cooked perfectly and the tomato sauce was not overpowering.

I had their mixed seafood cocktail. Although it was pretty good, I still prefer the seafood cocktails we get at another restaurant in Tijuana.

For drinks, I had wine, my mom a pina colada, Matthew a Coca-Cola Light and my sister had a lemonade. The bill came out to $85, which is a lot for T.J. So, if you're going for a special dinner, then I would recommend this place, otherwise save your money. However I do recommend the LA Cetto winery because I find it fascinating and for $2 bucks you can taste some really great wines.

L.A. Cetto Winery/Bottling plant is located at Av. Cañón Johnson No. 2108 Tijuana, 22130 Mexico; Phone: 00 52 6 685-30-31.

Restaurant Palma Azul is located at Blvd. Salinas #11154 Col. Aviación, Tijuana, Mexico.

Restaurant Review: Carnitas Uruapan

Carnitas Uruapan

Bulevar Díaz Ordáz 550

Across from Plaza Patria, La Mesa, Tijuana

Phone: 664 681-61-81

Carnitas, which literally translates to "little meats," is a very well known and beloved pork dish in Mexico. Basically it is marinated pork simmered in huge copper pots with enough lard to cover it, often with the addition of garlic and sometimes fruit juices, until tender and crisp, then served in chunks with tortillas, salsa, cilantro, guacamole, and onions. The entire process takes from 3 to 4 hours and because of this, our family usually goes to well known establishments that specialize in carnitas rather than making it ourselves.

The restaurant we like to go to, and coincidently it's one of the most well-known restaurants in Tijuana, Mexico, is Carnitas Uruapan. At Carnitas Uruapan the meat is served by the kilo at long, communal wooden tables to a mostly local crowd. There is usually a mariachi band in the premises; however at $10 a song, it can be costly if you want mariachi music accompanied while you eat.

A half kilo of carnitas is plenty for two people, and costs around $15. All of the carnitas include beans, freshly made tortillas, salsa, onions, cilantro and guacamole. It's a casual restaurant and a great place for tourists and/or large groups of people. I also recommend you order a bucket of beer and pitchers of margaritas as this is more cost-effective

Credit cards are not accepted at this establishment, so bring pesos or dollars. It's open daily from 7AM to 3AM. There is plenty of parking for patrons and most of the servers speak (some) English. If you're a vegetarian, this is not a place for you!

Restaurant Review: Blue Bayou @ Disneyland

Blue Bayou inside Disneyland 1313 S Harbor Blvd Anaheim, CA 92802-2309 (714) 781-4565

After 30-something years, I finally dined at the Blue Bayou restaurant in Disneyland. You know which restaurant I'm talking about, right? Do you remember getting on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride back in the 80's and as the boat took you to the land where 'dead men tell no tales,' there was a restaurant off to the right-side? Well, that's where I went. Of course, I had to make reservations a few days ahead since the restaurant gets booked solid on the weekends.

If you don't know the Blue Bayou, then let me describe the restaurant: It's always a starry night inside (the ceiling is painted black and faux stars shine above). This semi-elegant and romantic eatery overlooks the tree-shrouded entrance of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Strings of Japanese lanterns and candles set a dramatic backdrop, with faux frogs and critter noises completing the swampy effect. Fireflies flicker in the distance, creating a romantic vibe, while attentive service provides a welcome respite from the madding Disneyland crowds outside.

The menu is Creole-Southern Style with a California accent--and the food is reasonably priced compared to all the other overpriced food and merchandise Disney sells to the public. My husband (who got on Space Mountain twice!) ordered their specialty: Bayou Roast Pork Loin. It is a jerk seasoned pork loin and served with root beer spiced apples, their famous Blue Bayou potatoes and fresh sautéed vegetables $16.99.

I got the Roast Prime Rib of Beef served with creamy horseradish sauce and au jus. The prime rib is accompanied by Blue Bayou potatoes (I opted for a veggie side instead) and a Southern-style popover brimming with fresh sautéed vegetables $17.99. If you go during dinner time, add about $5 to each entree.

The one good thing about the Blue Bayou is that they don't serve alcohol (actually, there is no alcohol served in all of Disneyland) this way the bill is always reasonable. Our total was just over $40 bucks and it was worth it. So if you plan on visiting Disneyland soon, make sure you call ahead and make a reservation. You'll enjoy dining at the Blue Bayou restaurant!

Eating out at Pizza Nova

My husband and I went to Pizza Nova on Sunday night. This was our first time at this pizza joint which specializes in wood-fired, hand-stretched pizzas. They also make their pasta fresh everyday. The decor is classy chic and the food is very affordable. I really liked their food although they do need to have a better wine list available. Now, to the food!

For an appetizer, we ordered the Cheezy Garlic Bread ($3.75). It is sourdough bread topped with garlic butter and Parmesan cheese. It's no lie, this bread is garlicky. Vampires, beware!

For dinner, my husband ordered one of their new specialties, Swordfish Piccata ($14.95). This was my favorite dish. It consisted of grilled swordfish topped with a white wine lemon and caper cream sauce. Served with fettuccine and sauted vegetables. I highly recommend this dish.

I ordered the Portobello Mushroom & Asparagus Fettuccine ($11.50), which are portobello mushrooms, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic atop fresh egg fettuccine in a light wine and garlic cream sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese. This was a so-so dish. It was too rich for me and I was only able to eat 1/4 of it. I took the rest of it home and we had it as a side dish the next day!

I recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a low-cost night out. All their food is made fresh, their wood-fired pizzas are quite good and their prices are very reasonable. Many of the patrons stop by here for lunch or dinner first then head on to the Landmark Theatre in the same complex.

Pizza Nova - Hillcrest is located at 3955 Fifth Avenue, (619) 296-6682

Snobby Wine, Capital Sushi!

I am addicted to wine tastings. I don't know why, but my husband and I spend way too much money on wine and wine paraphenelia. Last night was no exception. The Brasserie and Wine Sellar was hosting a Honig wine tasting for $10 bucks, which consisted of two whites, three reds and one late harvest. Honig Winery is Napa Valley's premier producer of exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, but their cabs were our favorites.

Matthew and I both gave their 2001 Honig Cabernet Stagecoach Vineyard ($65) two snaps, a wink and a divaspank!

Honorable mentions also go to their 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($33) and their 2004 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc ($50). These are expensive wines, so buy them for a special occasion. Matthew didn't like the Brasserie too much because he felt the people were stuck up and snobby. I didn't really notice it, but then again I was just focusing on the wine.

To make my hubby feel better, I took him out to our favorite sushi restaurant, Ono Sushi. This ain't your regular sushi joint. It's hip, it's happening, and it's loud. The restaurant has a huge menu and they have tons of specialties, but we like the sushi platter for two ($37), their miso soup ($2.50),and they make killer lemon drop martinis ($8).

Platter for two with tuna, salmon, yellow tail, red snapper, surf clam, scallops, octopus and unagi sushi and California and Tuna Rolls.

All their food is freshly prepared and we like to sit at the sushi bar and watch one of the many talented chefs create their masterpieces. The decor of the place is eclectic, for lack of a better word. Anyone from an AARP member to a drag queen will feel comfortable here. If you're squirmish about trying sushi, I recommend this place. All their fish is fresh outta the water and they have incredible specialties like the Volcano Roll ($12) or the Ono Sushi Roll ($13) which are bound to convert any sushi hater into a sushi lover.

Ono Sushi is pricey, of course. But it's well worth it. If you're on a business trip, bring your clients here. It's a great restaurant with a good ambiance and on Wednesdays they have $1 and $2 dollar sake specials!!!

All photos taken with my Samsung mobile phone.

Eating out at the Mall of America

When I visited the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota this past week, I was in awe and in shock. They have an entire theme park, Camp Snoopy--the nation's largest indoor family theme park--in the middle of the mall! The Mall of America is the nation's largest mall. It is a 4.2 million square foot complex and is home to more than 520 shops; it also has a 1.2 million gallon walk-through aquarium; a 14-screen movie theater and more. So, as you can see, this mall is every girls (and guys) dream.

After our day of shopping we ate a late lunch at Tucci Benucch, a country Italian restaurant. The blurb of the restaurant says that "the setting is an Italian country home with distinct dining areas... [The restaurant] serves as an oasis amidst the busy activity of the shopping mall [and] features thin-crust pizzas, pastas, gnocchi, chicken and fresh fish created by our chefs to add to your dining experience." It sounds pretty fancy, but it isn't. We didn't try their thin-crust pizzas, which is their specialty.

I had the Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad with oven-dried tomatoes, pinenuts and mustard vinaigrette ($13.95) and a glass of prosseco--you know me, I always have to have my bubbly.

My husband had the Stuffed Mushrooms with fresh spinach, garlic breadcrumbs, and lemon butter ($7).

My salad was good but I don't think it was worth the 13 bucks. The oven-dried tomatoes were too salty for me and the salad could certainly use more ingredients like roasted chicken or olives. There was something missing in this so-so salad. On the other hand, the stuffed mushrooms were quite delicious and filling. My husband got 3 very large mushrooms stuffed with a garlicky-breadcrumb mixed with spinach. The mushrooms were swimming in the lemon-butter sauce which tasted great with the fresh bread they serve you. I highly recommend this as an appetizer or just for a light meal.

The service was prompt and the bus boy would not stop filling our water glass! Tucci Benucch is a good place to go for lunch or a light meal, it just seemed to me like a fancier Olive Garden and a lot pricier, too.