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.

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.