Jennifer L.'s Profile

So, I finally was able to try out the Chicken Adobo Burrito today...Oh my...I'm in love with a MexiPino.  Who would've thought that chicken adobo and garlic rice would go so well in a tortilla?  Genius!  Right on, Miguel and Victor!  These past few years have been going well for Papalote...what will they come up with next?  
Reminder!  Throwdown with Bobby Flay on Feb 17!!!!!  Check it!

While I am a huge fan of Chicken and Waffles, the Home of Chicken and Waffles failed to impress.  Walking in, it looks and feels old, but I didn't care.  The words Chicken and Waffles brought a smile to my face on a gloomy day.  
My handsome and I sat in the vinyl old school style lookin' booth and checked out the the extensive menu.  I saw that the waffles looked like they could've come out of the freezer, so I didn't bother with it.  
After changing my mind about five times, I settled with the Princess Jordan, with Mac n Cheese, Cornbread, Greens and two pieces of wings.  The Chicken was okay, nothing to drive across the bridge for.  The Mac and Cheese was overkill, oily, but good.  
But the GREENS...ooohhh the GREENS, cooked in what seemed to be a concoction of brisket goodness.  The flavors that the beef brought to the Greens were perfect!  I'd challenge anyone who is not a fan of Greens but is a meat lover to try this.  Yep...I'd definitely drive across the bridge for that!    
I don't know if I'll try try again, since there are great alternatives in the City...who knows...

I came here for a friend's birthday and I must say, what a pleasant surprise!  I'm not a fanatic of vegetarian food, but The Plant Cafe definitely takes it easy on the meat lovers.  Great choice, Gus!  
Walking in, the first thing I noticed was how clean it was!  The modern decor, live plant art and pristine bar were dirt free and clean as a whistle!
The pleasant service was also quite refreshing!  Minus the bar service...a bit on the slow side, with a handful of patrons.  BUT...their saving grace?  They kept the drinks a-flowin' for the Birthday Boy...
So, onto the appetizers.  I found it clever that they offered carrots, celery sticks, lettuce and radish with a pesto dip in place of the traditional starter, bread...It gave me the impression that we were in for quite a healthy meal!  
-Grilled Flatbread: a wonderful starter accompanied with garlic hummus, cumin carrots, beets and yogurt as dips.  Yum!  Such a healthy combo!
-Duck Confit Pizza:  the duck was a bit on the salty side, exactly how I like it...the bitter greens were a surprising twist.  I'm not sure it was a good surprise or not so good one...
-Shitake Spring Rolls: Light, Fresh, YUM.  I love it when the rice wrapper is thin, but strong enough to hold the ingredients in.    
Now, for the much talked about Plant Burger.  I think everyone had some form of the Plant Burger...I found it ironic how the Plant Burger patty looks like red raw meat.  I ordered the Wasabi Burger, against the waiter's advice of ordering the mushroom and cheese Plant Burger.  The wasabi raspberry aioli sounded intriguing.  Result: Intriguing, indeed!  The aioli was sweet, with a hint of wasabi.  Very different...but I could've done without the sauerkraut...Waiter--you were right...!
Personally, the Plant Burger patty alone was perfectly grilled, wonderful and fresh flavors and best of all--healthy.    
The Spicy Green Curry was the most amazing dish of the evening.  It was so rich in aroma and spices...mmm...I'm definitely getting that next time!  Great choice, Uncle Mark!  
Now on to my favorite part of dinner...Dessert!!!!
Everything is wonderful and again, fresh!
My FAVORITE was the Lavender Rice Pudding.  A-Ma-Zing!  It made me an official fan of rice pudding!  It was light, with just the right amount of fruit on the side, complementing it perfectly!
Looking at the menu, the chocolate cake looked promising, only because of the Blue Bottle Coffee Ice Cream that accompanied it.  I'm a sucker for anything Blue Bottle.  But Coffee Ice Cream?  No.  Maybe it was French Vanilla?  Whatever it was, I was not loving it too much.  Ahh...what the Blue Bottle name will do to a dessert.
All in all, a great place to have a small intimate gathering or romantic vegetarian meal.

I usually frequent Mai's down the street, but I decided to give this place a shot.  I was feeling a bit sickie and needed a Pho Fix, so I called in advance and ordered the Pho with Chicken and Imperial Rolls (I'm a sucker for Imperial Rolls...) to go.  
Granted, it was 6pm, but the restaurant was absolutely empty!  Anyhow, I got home and was looking forward to a flavorful meal...meh...everything but!  
The chicken was dry and bland.  The soup...same.  I had to drench the soup in Siracha before I could taste anything.  I know I was sickie, but not that sickie!  
So I thought...maybe the Imperial Rolls will be fantastic, since I read good reviews on them.  Fail.  They were okay, just not as good as I've had down the street.  Different Strokes for Different Folks, I guess!

I like this location in West Portal!  It has a spacious dining area, the food was superb and the service is quite attentive!   With the wonderful company of my dear friend Anthony, what more could I ask for?  
There was so much on the menu to choose from...but after over-analyzing from breakfast to lunch and back to breakfast, we finally decided on both.  While we sat at our table and patiently waited and exchanged juicy gossip, one of the waitresses came and gave us coffee.  Regretfully, we informed her that we did not order coffee.  Nonetheless, she served it to us anyway...maybe honesty IS the best policy?  Score!
I ordered the Egg-less Tofu Scramble.  I'm not so much of a vegetarian, but I have to say, it was quite tasty, even when it didn't look so appetizing once it arrived to the table.  The sauteed onions and mushrooms complimented the tofu well.  Served with a generous portion of fresh fruit and toast on the side...I was a happy camper.  
Anthony had the Turkey Burger which looked scrumptious...thank God, because the fries were amazing...similar to McDonald's fries only better!  
Will I come again?  Yes.  What will I order next time?  I may have to revert to my favorite Pesto Chicken Crepes!  Another must try!

I've heard many good things about Limon, but meh...it's okaaaaay, just not my favorite. My handsome took me here on a Friday night and boy, was it busy...there was not an empty table in sight with several parties still waiting for their table. Recession? Apparently not!
The decor was subtle, modern and simple. The hint of lime green and orange colors throughout the restaurant as well as in the food was a nice "red thread" touch.
The service overall was pleasant as well, although I have to say...sitting next to two tables who knew the chef and the waiter kind of made me feel unimportant. However, it didn't prevent them from paying their other patrons attention...But I'm just sayin'...
The menu was not extensive, but balanced and full of flavors. We started off with the Limon Cebiche. It had perfect portions of shrimp, calamari and tuna (at least I think that's what it was...). However, the squid was a bit chewy...bleh. I wish I tried the Cebiche shooters...they looked delish! The Empanadas de Carne was also good. A bit on the salty side, but it had a crispy pastry crust that made my mouth water.
Finally, our entrees came. I had the Pargo Rojo (Fried Whole Red Snapper) but I made the mistake of trying his Lomo Saltado first. Medium rare steak, fries and onions...Wow, a salty punch, but delicious! Therefore causing my snapper to taste pretty bland. I also didn't like how my fish was staring right at me, cheezin' his teeth at me. My handsome had to discard his head for me...he gave me the heebeegeebees. I was expecting the snapper to be a bit more salty, since everything else seemed to be drenched in it! Oh well...
Alas, Limon's saving grace: Dessert!  The Mango Pie, light, fluffy and whipped was quite tasty. So pretty. So precious. We also ordered the Cream Puffs, which were my personal favorite. Not too sweet, but oh so yummy!  
Overall...I can do without...but glad to have had the experience.

I threw my very good friend, Rachel, a bachelorette party with the help of the Ladies of Asia SF and they did not disappoint! Food, Entertainment and BJ's...what more could a girl ask for?
First off, my hat (or should I say "Stilettos") off to the gorgeous ladies who definitely made me feel physically incompetent as a natural woman. Mile-long legs, perfect buns, tight abs, sexy attire, beautiful make-up and to top it all off, FIERCE runway walks! HOT HOT HOT!!!!! What's also nice about these ladies is that they are sweethearts. I won't mention the show for those who have not experienced it yet...I don't want to spoil it for you!
I definitely recommend having a Birthday or Bachelorette party here. Everyone is so pleasant and easy to work with, it takes the burden out of planning and stressing over having a successful event!
We opted for the Gold Menu and was also able to take advantage of the Dine About Town price! But don't let that price fool ya...Once the drinks are flowin', it will cost a pretty penny! (Totally worth it!) Basically, everything is served family style based on the set menu of your choice (Gold, Platinum or Diamond). The Gold menu is plenty for a group of girls.
So much food, but I'll wind down to my favorites:
Porcupines: These crispy fried yummy pieces of heaven were delectable! Perfectly crisp with clear noodles on the outside and wonderful aromas of shrimp, scallops and water chestnuts on the inside.
Orange Lamb: Wow...Wow...Wow...I usually don't like lamb that much, but the orange glaze and white rice balanced the dish perfectly. Others speak highly of the "Baby Got Back" Ribs, but I beg to differ...You can get Baby Back Ribs elsewhere...The Orange Lamb definitely takes the runway...
Finally, for dessert, we had little mini Ube, Macapuno and Coconut ice cream cones. What is it that makes mini desserts so much better than their regular-sized counterparts? Ahh, simple pleasures, less guilt!

Foreign Cinema is always good for celebrating a birthday.  Great, spacious layout, very open and lofty with an outdoor courtyard to catch a movie.  Great for bigger parties and even better to take advantage of their Dine About Town menu!  
I initially arrived already stuffed from a family dinner, so I was hoping to politely get by, being one of those girls just ordering a salad...But I opted for the Cauliflower Soup, because I saw Bacon in the description and couldn't resist.  Light, cheesy and bacon-y...A bit filling, Gotta love it!
So, everyone else's dishes came out and lo and behold, my favorite dish returned into my life!  Someone ordered the beloved Madras Curry Roast Chicken.  I had this dish that was obviously sent from heaven before, so I had to steal a bite.  Once in my mouth, I remembered it like it was yesterday...The crispiness curry and sesame batter, the moist chicken meat...I needed a moment.  My handsome took one look at me and said "I'm not jealous...It's just food".  Oh me, oh my...He should be jealous...Sorry, hun!  :)  I decided that I should just order it as part of my Dine About Town meal and take it home to have my own private tasting of it.  This dish is food porn at its best...!
Whew!  For dessert, I chose the Pot de Creme.  I can definitely say that I've had better.  The Huckleberry Crisp was surprisingly an absolute winner!  What is a huckleberry?  Whatever it is, it was cooked to perfection with a nice, crisp edge accompanied with a fitting dollop of whipped creme on top.  What a way to end a perfect second dinner!  I'm stuffed!

We came here to celebrate a birthday party and what a good call! From the outside, you'd think it's a small place with a good sized bar, only to find that it extends further in the back...and there you have it: A nice, lofty restaurant that looks like it belongs in the Napa Valley, minus the snooty service. The wine selection is nothing short of amazing! The bartender's so good, he could recommend a bottle that proves to be spot on to your liking. We had several bottles of Campo di Mezzo, a Sangiovese. At $35 per bottle, it not only knocked our socks off, but our pants off too! It paired so well with the prix fixe menu...Bravo, Bartender...Bravo.
Once seated, we were immediately greeted with a variety antipasti:
-Assortito Carne: I don't necessarily know what was offered...I just know that there were some that were not to the Birthday Girl's liking. One of them being Pate...I think I was better off not knowing what everything was. I do know that the salami and prosciutto good: freshly sliced and perfectly cured.
-Verdure: An assortment of various veggies: Brussels Sprouts (What is it about kids not loving them, but as we get older, it's a favorite...well, for me anyway!), Eggplant Caponata (I liked it until I found out it was eggplant), Lentils, and some others. Overall, they were good starters. For some people, they were probably better off not knowing what the dishes were, because everything was quite tasty...
-Insalate: I believe we had two kinds. An arugula salad with potatoes, gorgonzola and almonds. I don't know about you, but a salad with gorgonzola is always a winner to me. We also had a mixed salad with sweet potatoes, raisons and parmesan cheese...With all the other flavors going on, I wasn't paying much attention.
After we were done with the antipasti, we were bombarded with a slew of main dishes to share. I won't bore you with the specifics, but I'll share my favorites:
-Pizza: Potato, Goat Cheese, Tarragon and Tomato--Another ingredient you can't go wrong with: Goat Cheese...It was such a great combination of a solid potato and soft cheese. A yin and yang of pizza, if I may...
-Pasta: Lamb sausage and goat cheese--I believe this was the one that came out baked, with burnt cheese on top. Oh man...there's something about burnt cheese on top of pasta...like a match made in heaven.
-Dessert: They served several and I had a difficult time deciding which was my favorite.
Vanilla gelato with olive oil and sea salt...such an interesting blend of tastes...but so good. Scoop a dollop into your Ritual Americano (Yes, Ritual Coffee!) and you are GOLDEN!!!!
Lemon Sorbetto...The kind that gives you a scrunchy face once dissolved in your mouth...Loved it!
Finally, pomegranate ice cream...sweet, different, but still good. Again, one dish that takes a back seat to its counterparts.
Overall, a wonderful dinner. Be prepared to come close to losing your voice, because it's loud in there...A sign of a great Italian dinner!

I live near Mandalay and I think I may move in, especially if they keep the sexy dishes coming! I've passed this place many times, but it's easy to miss, especially if you're not looking for it. I ate here on a Tuesday night with a few girlfriends with a reservation for four. I reservation? Really? On a Tuesday night? Yes. There were plenty of patrons enjoying their food, while we still waited about a half an hour for a table to empty out. Apparently, this was an off night, as there usually is not a long wait. Oh well. I'll overlook it. It gave me a chance to observe the almost cheesy ambiance.
Walking in, you will see an elaborate altar set up with fresh fruit and a neon palm tree...classic! In the dining room, ornaments hang from the ceiling while random bouquets of fresh flowers adorn tables. It was quite...homey. Add the warm and friendly service from the what seemed to be a family-driven restaurant, you've got a classic Asian dining experience!
On to the taste buds...Oh, where do I begin? Thank God for my friends Veronica and Kim who ordered for us...I wouldn't have been able to decide, since all the pictures in the menu looked so yummy...funny how there were only pictures for the appetizers and desserts. Speaking of the menu...someone needs to run a spell check...I wasn't too keen on eating a dessert "Springkled with puppy seeds"...Springkled? With Puppy Seeds? Poor puppies...
-Ginger Lemonade: What a refreshing tall glass of goodness streaming down your throat after a long day...
-Tea Leaf Salad: My absolute favorite! It's so pretty when it comes out, with each ingredient displayed together, then mixed together by the server...Tea Leaves, Sesame Seeds, Ground Shrimp, and more...There was an explosion of such healthy flavors...a party in my mouth :)
-Balada: A crispy pancake accompanied by a curry dipping sauce. Can I please have more sauce? Thanks! Honestly, it's one of the best tasting curry sauces I've ever had...not too heavy, but just right. The dish itself is a bit oily, but oh so worth it!
-Mango Salad: It was okay...I definitely think the Tea Leaf Salad was a stage whore in this case!
-Pan Fried Okra and Prawns: Prawns are usually the main attraction when served with veggies, but I definitely think that the okra stole the limelight. I guess I'm used to overcooked okra...Mandalay's pan fried okra is crispy and really highlights the natural taste of it, without being bitter. Yum...
-Mango Chicken: I love mango chicken, but this was not any different from what I've had before. Still good...just not what I would expect it to be, since everything else was so amazing.
-Mandalay Special Noodle: This dish was pretty good as well, but after devouring everything else that came before it, it kind of took a back seat to our liking...Still interesting how it came out with each ingredient displayed together, then mixed...Just too bad that I didn't enjoy it on my full stomach!
-Dessert: Even if you do not order dessert, they still give you a small complimentary serving of it. They offered us a nice arrangement coconut jello that was cold and hard and a sweet potato...hmm...I'm not sure what it's called...but it was sweet soft and warm. Food Porn in it's form... :)
Thank you, girls, for yet another night of yummy food porn...Until next time!