Dark Chocolate Scones

My friend Cindy read my blog on the Lemon Poppy Seed Scones that she decided to give me a package of Dark Chocolate Scones made by Sticky Fingers. I guess she wanted me to be the guinea pig as she didn't want to waste her time (not much time involved) baking the scones in case it was not good. 

So I got a bowl, emptied the package, and preheated my oven. All it took was a lot of mixing with water using a fork, then shaping them into scones on parchment paper. I had 11 instead of 12 scones by the time I was done. I baked them, and the house smelled like chocolate all over!

The scone was quite moist. It was good, but it lacked something. I then took some Orange Curd out and dabbed some with each bite. Voila! That was it. The chocolate scone with chocolate chips was not too sweet since it was dark chocolate, and the orange curd added the right amount of sweetness and tanginess. It was so good that I had a second scone.  

So, Cindy, go ahead and get your Sticky Fingers Dark Chocolate Scones package, but don't forget to buy some Orange Curd.

Mama Jackie's Rum Loaf

I received this Rum Loaf from the Trinidad's for Christmas, and it sat in my refrigerator for a few days before I tried it. When I first cut a piece out of the aluminum pan, I got excited because of the texture. It was very moist, so I imagined it would be delicious. 

I had a bite, and boy was I elated. It was truly scrumptious. Upon further investigation, I found that Jackie can either make a loaf or a bundt cake version. She also makes Food for the Gods, but unfortunately, I haven't tried that yet. 

The rum loaf sells for $35, and I assure you that every bite is worth it!

Sampa's Gourmet Pizza

What better way to celebrate New Year's Eve than to have a pizza from Sampa's and some Champagne? Who says you have to celebrate with people you care about? Well, that's all well and good but when everyone else is busy or not busy by themselves or alone, there is no reason why you shouldn't have a good time, and good time did I have last night. 

I stopped by Sampa's on my way home after dropping my son off to meet with friends. I asked how long it would take to order a pizza and they told me about 15 minutes. Of course I knew the wait would be worth it since I have been a customer since I discovered this place in May of 2019. My only problem was deciding which pizza to order. I eventually settled for the Caprese with fresh tomatoes, ricotta, olive pesto, and fresh basil. Their Funghi Al Tartufo, mushrooms ricotta, mozzarella oregano and truffle oil is also one of my favorites but I thought ordering 2 pizzas for one was overkill!

As soon as I walked out of Sampa's, I immediately turned  on the heater on the empty seat in my car. Thats the only time I use the heater, to keep it warm. I got a plate and started on the 8 piece pizza with champagne. The pizza was delicious as ever. It was very thin, kinda burnt on the bottom and just perfect. The tomatoes were nice and firm but juicy and I could really taste the freshness of all the ingredients. I managed to eat 5 large pieces with only 3 left. Now I wish I left one more so I could at least have 4 pieces tonight. Oh well, that's instant gratification for you! Plus I thought what if that was my last meal; at least it would have been very fulfilling.

I still haven't tried their dessert pizzas which sounds very interesting; like the Romeo & Juliet which is Guava paste and cheese or the Banana Flambe Pizza, with bananas, cinnamon and sugar or the Churros Pizza which is dulce de leche, cinnamon, sugar and mozzarella. Theres also the Nutella & Strawberries Pizza.

Sampa's Gourmet Pizza is located in a little strip mall in the corner of Pennsylvania Ave. and Pacific Coast Hwy. in Lomita, California.

Chart House

I was invited for dinner at the Chart House last night, and I was excited because the last time I was there may have been 25 years ago. It was drizzling, foggy, and cold outside, and we were the first ones seated, so I immediately took pictures while no one was sitting. 

My friend Sugar (her stage name) frequents this restaurant, so she has her favorite dishes. She suggested we start with the Shrimp, Avocado, Mango Stack for our appetizer. Sounded good to me. This was more than good; it was absolutely delicious and refreshing. It was almost too pretty to eat. 

Sugar ordered the Seafood Pot Pie; lobster, shrimp, scallops, asparagus, mushroom under a roof of puff pastry crust. She also ordered the Sizzling Mushrooms, which she had before for us to share. 

I had the 7oz. Filet Mignon with the Garlic Mashed Potatoes. My steak was cooked to perfection, and it was tender and juicy. The mushrooms were so good, probably sautéed in butter. Sugar insisted I try her pot pie, and it was succulent and would be something I would order in the future. 

Our server Victor was very attentive and poured our wine from the bottle I brought anytime the level of red wine got low. It was just a lovely evening watching the ocean, and a courageous soul came out of the water from surfing. It was getting dark by then. You can't beat the ambiance of a lovely dining room with an ocean view. 

I have to mention, Sugar got a lot of compliments from her wild boots. With Sugar, you just never know what to expect. Flamboyant is her middle name.

Chart House is located at 231 Yacht Club Way in Redondo Beach, California.

Lemon Poppyseed Scones

 I remember baking these scones a long time ago when most of the scones you could buy were hard and dry. Of course, nothing will ever compare to the ones I used to get at L'Amande Bakery! I found a bag of the Poppyseed Scones in my pantry the other day and to my surprise has not yet expired so I thought of baking some yesterday after my morning walk. The best part was the only thing I had to add was cold water, and no electric mixer or numerous bowls were involved; just a fork to mix the bag's contents with some water.

It baked for 16 minutes and the house smelled so good. I had it with butter, lemon marmalade and a slice of sharp cheese. Today, I experimented using lemon curd. I preferred the lemon curd, and with that, you really don't need the butter. These scones are quite delicious and very easy to bake.

I will now have to try the other products from Sticky Fingers. This is my kind of baking; no mess, no fuss!

Fatto a Mano

After seeing West Side Story in Dolby yesterday,  Amy and I were all hyped up and ready to twirl and make some dance moves at the  AMC parking lot, not! We were both hungry, so I suggested going to Fatto a Mano. They have great pasta and the last time I was there with Sandi was to just pick up a couple of pasta dishes and some pizza to take home. We planned to dine in this time even if they're not really set up for that since they just have 3 small tables. The advantage is that you get to eat everything fresh and hot.

We got there roughly at 5:30 p.m., which is a late dinner by my standards. To be expected, the restaurant was bustling. People were inside, and later, a line developed outside. Amy ordered the Cacio e, Pepe, though she's never had it. I assured her it would be good. I love Cacio e Pepe so I figured if she didn't like it, I would gladly help out. I ordered the Carbonara, which I have not had. The pasta was aldente, and both were so good. Amy loved the "bacon," which I suspect was guanciale which had more fat, hence tastier.

Amy, who doesn't get too excited over food like I do, couldn't get over how delicious the food was and couldn't wait to tell her kids. She made sure she got a copy of their menu to take home. I have to mention that the portions of the pasta are pretty small and you really need a salad or something else to satisfy your hunger. It was getting too busy and full of people, so Amy and I decided not to have dessert. But just as we stood up, our server, Liz, stopped us and asked us to stay for some hot chocolate. How could we refuse? She came with 2 thick hot chocolate cups, and it was perfect. Amy never had thick chocolate before, and for someone that professes not to like dessert or sweets, she finished hers like a shot of tequila while I sipped mine savoring every sip.

Fatto a Mano is as authentic Italian as it can get, and I just hope they can expand soon and be the fantastic restaurant they deserve to be.  Fatto a Mano is located at 610 Torrance Blvd. in Redondo Beach, California.

Back to Dominique's Kitchen

My friend Sugar invited me to dinner and asked where I wanted to go. She's never been to Dominique's, so I was happy to introduce her to my friends, Liza and Dominique. Unlike me, Sugar has a small stomach, so it was not wise to order an appetizer because I wanted her to enjoy her entrée.

She opted for one of the specials of the evening; Sea Bass with a tarragon champagne sauce. I had the other special, Pork Filet with porcini mushrooms in a cabernet sauce. Sugar's fish was absolutely delicious. Flaky and cooked to perfection. The tarragon champagne sauce was just delightful!

My pork filet was tender and juicy. There were 3 good size pieces, and I was genuinely amazed that I could only consume two; the doggy bag was appreciated by my son. I couldn't get over how scrumptious it was, especially when paired with the crunchy polenta! Jonathan, our server, was on the ball, making sure everything was satisfactory. Needless to say, Sugar is now a new fan of Dominique's.

I was indeed stuffed but ended up with a Panna Cotta, which I inhaled as soon as I got home. I guess the drive home was all I needed for my stomach to clear some space for dessert! Thank you, Liza, and it was really nice seeing you and Dominque as usual.

Dominique's Kitchen is located at 522 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., in Redondo Beach, California.