Steak Library

I celebrated my birthday at the Steak Library. Sandi took me to this restaurant last year, and we both have been dying to return, so what better time than to celebrate another year?

There were six of us, so the even number made ordering their Cotton Candy A5 Wagyu easier as our appetizers. One order was good for two people. Sandi and I have been dreaming about this Cotton Candy appetizer for almost a year! It is so impressive as the server pours some sauce, which opens up a well. Inside is an egg yolk you're supposed to mix. I continued to miss the cotton candy until it was incorporated with the wonderful thin slices of ribeye. 

The two men ordered the Rib-eye for their entrée with their choice of sauce. The rest of us opted for the Filet Mignon. I had mine with the peppercorn sauce, which was perfect. The steaks were so tender and juicy. It became very quiet as we concentrated on our mouth-watering steaks. We also ordered some mashed potatoes and creamed spinach to share. In my excitement from enjoying a few bites of my steak, I forgot to take photos of our side dishes.

Makoto, the manager and our server, made sure we were well taken care of. For my birthday dessert, they presented me with a lovely light cheesecake. We shared that, but that did not stop me from ordering their Bananas Foster. They asked if we wanted to share the Bananas Foster. The two men shared one. The women were wiser and ordered their very own. We had no difficulty consuming the entire dessert. 

Steak Library is still one of the best steaks I have had. It is located at 1937 Pacific Coast Highway in Lomita, California.

Zoku

For my birthday, Sandi and I went to Zoku. She's never been there, and I thought she would like it as Cindy and I enjoyed our dinner there. It was so lovely to see a familiar face. Yui gave us a warm welcome.

This time, we had more food. We ordered Scallops, Shrimp, and Wagyu skewers. We also ordered a bowl of Edamame. Their specialty is the Chicken Karaage. The last time I ordered wine, it did not go as well as beer, especially if you consume something spicy.

We enjoyed the fresh and delicate scallops and shrimp. The edamame went well with the Spicy Chicken Karaage, which is cooked in bamboo charcoal, red arako, and cilantro. It is pretty spicy, so it was great to alternate a bite of chicken and a few edamame to keep your tongue from burning. In between, having a few gulps of cold beer was advisable. 

We loved the Wagyu beef, but next time, it would be better to strategize and have the Karaage at the end so that we could fully enjoy its flavor. Our mouths were still on fire, but in a good way!

We ordered the Hojicha Panna Cotta, which I previously had, and the Strawberry Cheesecake, which Sandi preferred. Yui, also the pastry chef, delivered the beautiful desserts with the message " Happy Birthday", but when I blew out the candle, the message vanished.

The couple beside us pondered aloud and weren't sure what to order. I had to give them my two cents' worth. I asked them if they liked spicy food, and they said yes. I advised them to order the Spicy Chicken Karaage. Fortunately, we were still there when it landed on their table. I waited for their first bite and anxiously waited for their reaction. They did like it a lot! They had ordered the Fish and Chips, which we almost ordered. I asked how it was, and they said it was very good. So next time, we will have to try it.

This is my second time at Zoku; I know it will not be the last time. Zoku is locate at 261 Avenida del Norte in Redondo Beach, California.