Dubai Chocolates

When my niece Ann came over the last time, she brought me homemade Dubai Chocolates. She asked me if I'd heard of them before. The answer was no!

When I first took a bite, I had no idea what to expect. It was unlike any other chocolate I've had. It was heavenly and delicious. It had a mixed texture: crunchy inside yet chewy and creamy as well. 

She then proceeded to explain what exactly was in these wonderful chocolates. They contained dates, finely chopped pistachios, knafeh (shredded filo pastry), and tahini encased in dark chocolate. 

I savored and treasured these chocolates, eating only one a day. I asked Ann if I could freeze the last one for Erik and Sandi to try when they arrive next month. She said no and that she would make me some more. I suggested she figure out how much it would cost to create and start taking orders. 

I checked Amazon to see if they had some, and they had a variety, but I refrained from ordering because I did not want to be disappointed. I couldn't get anything fresher than Ann's Dubai chocolate. 

Thank you, Ann, for the introduction. This will be a beautiful friendship!

Good Old Red Onion

Mary and I celebrated both our birthdays last Sunday. Her birthday is in February, and mine in April. We thought Red Onion would be appropriate since we used to go there once a week when our kids were at CCD. We would both order a Cadillac Margarita and eat lots of chips.

Their chips and salsa are still good. The salsa is a bit spicy, and they replenish the basket of warm chips as often as needed—and we needed it! We also ordered the double Cadillac Margarita. 

She ordered a couple of Tostadas, and I ordered a chicken taco. We were both happy with our choices. Red Onion may not be the best Mexican Restaurant, but you can always rely on good, reasonable food. 

Red Onion is located at 736 Bart Earle Way in Rolling Hills Estates, California. They opened in 1949 in Inglewood. They have had several locations since then, but only one survives. The one in Rolling Hills opened in 1963 and has been there ever since.

Nowruz (Persian New Year)

This is not a restaurant. I was lucky to be invited back to the Assadis' home to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year. 

Zohreh prepared a Haft-Seen Table, a tradition that displays seven symbolic items starting with the letter S; Sabzeh (sprouts), Samanu (wheat germ pudding), Senjed (oleaster), Serkeh (vinegar), Seer (garlic), Somagh (sumac), and Seeb (apple). Other common items sometimes included are candles, which symbolize light and hope; painted eggs representing fertility; goldfish, which symbolize life; coins for prosperity; sweets and fruits to celebrate the new year.

The appetizers were plentiful, as usual. I was getting full just having them. She warned me not to overeat so as not to spoil my appetite for dinner. That is easier said than done. You can't put in an abundance of food and not expect people to keep eating! In my excitement, I neglected to take a picture of the table filled with appetizers.

Dinner was ready. The table was full of Iranian delicacies. She had chicken, beef, fish, two kinds of rice, etc., etc.! There was no time to take pictures of the people. This was all about New Year and the abundance of food. 

Since there were kids, she had to have dessert—not one but two kinds, both delightful.

 I left their house feeling like a stuffed pig! I would have made a delicious "lechon."

Thank you to the Assadi's. Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year to you and your lovely family.

Unico Tokyo Pasta

I was excited to try this place as I've heard good things about it. The owner is the same as that of Japonica, a good Japanese restaurant.

I finally got to go with Cindy. We met at 3 p.m., which was a perfect time. There were no lines yet, and I knew what I wanted even before I got there. We both ordered mocktails: mine was citrus flavored, and Cindy's was peach flavored.

Cindy wasn't in the mood for appetizers or salads, so I had to order a small Unico salad: Romaine hearts with Caesar dressing and wonderful panko crumbs.

Cindy ordered the Unico Bolognese, which is made with wagyu beef and pancetta. I would have ordered that if they had not had the Uni Truffle pasta with black truffle cream sauce, microgreens, and lemon.

I got my uni pasta and couldn't contain my excitement. It was good, but I certainly have had better. I tried some of Cindy's bolognese, and I was disappointed. It just didn't have enough flavor. She had to agree with me. 

The other stuff may have been much better. Who knows?

Unico Tokyo Pasta is located at 1310 S Pacific Coast Hwy., in Redondo Beach, California.

Barsha

Sugar once again invited us to this Tunisian restaurant. I've never been to a Tunisian restaurant, so I knew I was in for a treat, especially since she has been there numerous times.

The seats were too low for me, so I asked our server, Valerie, if she had a pillow. She immediately got some pillows for Mike and me. I was so happy to be elevated; it made all the difference in the world. Now, that's service.

Sugar ordered a nice Château Franc Patarabet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2019 bottle. For appetizers, we had Zaatar Fries with tabil aioli and ketchup. Tabil is a Tunisian spice often with ground coriander, caraway, garlic, and chili powder. The fries were absolutely delicious and addicting. We also ordered Roasted Cauliflower; we had to get something healthy! It had calabrese, dill, almonds, and dill tahini sauce. Sugar kept pushing us to order another appetizer, so we settled for Falafel Sliders. We liked this a lot. It had caramelized pickled onions, tabil aioli, cucumber, feta, and labneh, which made it yummy. Eating it was not easy as the contents kept sliding off...hence sliders, I guess! 

We were informed of their special soup for the day: Lentil Soup with coconut milk.  It was a bit windy and cold outside, so it sounded terrific, so Mike and I decided to try it. The soup was not hot; it was just lukewarm, so our server apologized and insisted on fixing it. Shortly after she left, Adnen, the owner, came over to apologize. This is truly a sign of a good restaurant. Things aren't always perfect, but when they offer to correct a problem and sincerely apologize, you can tell they are interested in the customer's experience. The soup did hit the spot. The lentils were divine, and the coconut milk gave them the right consistency. 

For our entée, Sugar and I had the Moussaka; eggplant stew, tabil bechamel, parmesan with olive oil croutons. It was Friday, so I couldn't order any meat dishes. The Moussaka was delicious. Mike and Zohreh had the Veal with mashed potatoes and some salad.  Sugar then ordered another bottle of the same wine, which we happily consumed. 

Sugar announced that she would order desserts to share, coming from someone who can't eat sweets. She ordered a Fig Brownie with balsamic glaze, vanilla ice cream, and toasted almonds. She also ordered a Bread Pudding, which was nice and crunchy, and the Rose Trifle, which included lemon cake, mascarpone, rose water with berries, and pistachios. All the desserts were delightful. 

Adnen, the owner, came by several times to mess with Zohreh since she requested Tunisian music next time as we were unfamiliar with it. He promised us he would have it next time. We could even show him some moves the next time; who knows?

Barsha is located at 1141 Aviation Blvd. in Hermosa Beach, California.

California Pizza Kitchen

CPK occasionally adds new items to its menu, some of which are better than others. Last night, after the 4 p.m. mass, Fr. Long and I met at CPK. I brought a bottle of Zinfandel that was given to me, and it was surprisingly very drinkable. I got to the restaurant first and had time to study the menu. 

When Fr. Long arrived, he ordered the Chicken Tequila Fettuccine. I decided to try the new Salmon Baked in Parchment. 

Fr. Long did enjoy his pasta. I absolutely loved my Salmon. It was like opening a present. The anticipation of what was inside that paper aside from the salmon. It had broccolini, roasted tomatoes, Kalamata olives, capers, oregano, and garlic. It was drizzled with EVVO, topped with lemon, basil, and slivered scallions, and baked to perfection in their hearth oven. The fish was so flaky and flavorful that I decided I had to return soon and have it again!

Fr. Long had no room for dessert, even if I had lots of room, but Lent made me decide to pass. CPK started handing out their Thank-You cards once again. They are a great marketing tool; a manager can only open them during your next visit. You can win $40k or a 10% to 50% discount on your next meal. 

CPK has numerous locations all over. Try to get there before the current specials disappear.

Back to Sushi Time

Since my last visit to Sushi Time, I have been eager to try the other items. I returned two more times to get a better feel for their food. After all, it could have been a fluke. 

On my second visit, I met Mimi, Bruce's sister-in-law. She was just as welcoming and lovely as Bruce. This time, I ordered the eight-piece Fancy Volcano Roll. Inside was spicy crab (not too spicy at all), shrimp tempura topped with spicy tuna, eel sauce, and spicy mayo). I also ordered the five-piece Jumbo Shrimp Shumai.

They were both delicious, hitting the spot. This was the first Friday of Lent when Catholics couldn't eat meat, so I felt guilty even if I had not indulged in meat, as I enjoyed it tremendously. I loved that the skin of the shumai was very light, so you could taste the shrimp.

I had to go back at least one more time before blogging about Sushi Time to try the Sashimi. I ordered the Sashimi Deluxe, which included nine pieces of salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. This was the real test. That would have been their downfall if the fish smelled or tasted fishy. I am happy to report that they passed with flying colors. The fish was fresh, silky, and delightful.  

Sushi Time is now one of my go-tos. They are located at 2370 Crenshaw Blvd. Suite l, in Torrance, California. They are open everyday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Sushi Time

I have driven by this place for some time but have never tried it. I picked up something at JJ Bakery next door. I had some time, so I looked at the menu on their window. I studied the menu for some time. It was extensive. I decided to just go in and ask questions. 

The place was welcoming, and I noticed a long picnic table. Someone was ahead of me, picking up an order. The man on the counter looked friendly, so I told him it was my first time and asked for his recommendation based on the three items I'd narrowed down. This man, Bruce, happened to be the owner. 

I ordered the Deluxe Poké Bowl and a seaweed salad. While I waited, he offered me a bowl of Miso Soup. By the time I  finished my delicious soup,  my order was ready.  I thanked Bruce, and off I went. 

When I got home, I opened a bottle of Erlinger German beer to accompany my Poké Bowl. I loved the freshness of all the ingredients. They were not stingy with the poké. The cucumber, avocado, fish, eggs, and mango flavors came together very well. I've never had mango with poké before, and it is amazing how that one ingredient contributes significantly to the experience. The Seaweed salad went well with the bowl.

I can't wait to go back to Sushi Time. Their prices are very reasonable for what you get. Guess I'll be seeing Bruce sometime soon. 

Sushi Time is located at 2370 Crenshaw Blvd. Suite l, in Torrance, California.

Nagomi Cake House

 I have never heard of or been to this bakery before. My niece, her husband, and her kids live in Santa Clarita, so I was surprised they discovered this bakery in Gardena. 

The box contained various sweets, including a Raspberry Mousse, a Matcha Cream Cake, a round Eclair, and several cubes of Chocolate Ganache. 

I didn't get to sample any of them until a day later. I tried the Raspberry Mousse, which was very light and had just the right amount of tanginess from the raspberries. Two days later, my friend Sujata came over for dinner, and I served her the Matcha Cream Cake, which she enjoyed. I had the Chocolate Éclair, which I absolutely loved because the shell was light and crispy, and the filling was not a heavy custard but rather a fluffy cream that wasn't overly sweet. It's hard to find good éclairs; most are either too sweet or have a shell that's too heavy.  The squares of Chocolate Ganache were divine. It was comparable to a very rich truffle but not sweet at all. I ended up dipping my ganache into the cream of the eclair.                          

There are so many bakeries around town, but none have everything I like. They all have their specialties. I will have to visit Nagomi Cake House one of these days. It is at 15915 S Western Ave #D in Gardena, California.

Thank you Aimée, Elliot, Maisie and Calder!

El Pollo Loco

 I blog about food, whether it's a fine-dining restaurant or a fast-food chain. I just tried the new Mango Habanero Chicken & Shrimp Tostada at El Pollo Loco. I had a coupon, so I decided to try it.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. I practically inhaled every bit of it. I asked the lady if it was very spicy, and she said it was not. I took it home so I could have it with wine. When I got home, I decided to have it with some leftover Champagne, which was still bubbly. 

The fried tostada shell contained rice, beans, shredded lettuce, jack cheese, chopped chicken breast, shrimp, avocado slices, salsa fresca, sour cream, and mango habanero sauce. They gave me a small container of salsa and creamy cilantro dressing, which I poured all over.

This was delicious with all the trimmings. I mixed everything, cracked the tostada shell, and enjoyed the perfectly paired flavors. 

In 10 minutes, what once looked so good was gone. These new items are only available for a limited time, so I suggest you try them before they disappear. 

Zoku

Zoku is part of the new restaurant Torikizoku, but I haven't been there yet. Cindy and I tried Zoku last week. We had reservations at 4 p.m. when they opened. The furniture is crafted in Japan. They specialize in Yakitori, and it is interesting to know that the Chefs are trained in Hinai Jidori, a prestigious level of yakitori training. They use Binchotan Charcoal, an all-natural high-grade hardwood charcoal used for Yakitori.

We were excited to see the menu, which our delightful and sweet server, Yui, explained to us. We ordered the Waguu Beef with apple steak sauce skewer, which was reasonable at $9.80. We also ordered a skewer of Scallops to try. Both were delicious.

We couldn't stop raving about the Spicy Karaage, Japanese fried chicken with bamboo charcoal sauce, red arako, and cilantro. This was genuinely spicy. It really didn't go with wine. Cindy had it right; she ordered a beer. This is a must order!

The special for the day was a Salmon Carpaccio, which I loved. Cindy even tried it, and lo and behold, she ate half. The Buffalo Cauliflower with Japanese spicy sauce was a disappointment. It had a bit of sauce drizzled on top, which didn't work for me. If you want good Buffalo Cauliflower, try the one from CPK. 

Yui brought us the dessert menu. Cindy had the Macha Brûlée, and I opted for the Hojicha Panna Cotta, which was salty, sweet, light, and delightful. Surprisingly, Yui is the lead server and Pastry Chef! 

Zoku is located at 261 Avenida del Norte in Redondo Beach, California. I am ready anytime to go back and explore the rest of the menu.