Where to eat in Pasadena

Pasadena is a pretty city located close to the Los Angeles. It is famous for its great culinary scene. You will find great chefs (some of them graduates of the Cordon Bleu at Pasadena) and be able to enjoy fresh Californian produce (sometimes with Asian influence). Give them a try!

1) Maison Akira --- What to order: I started with the Petite House Salad. It was dressed with sesame oil and tarragon vinaigrette. It was a simple, refreshing beginning. 

Petite House Salad with sesame oil and tarragon dressing

My husband's first course was the White Corn Soup. It was basically a non-dairy concoction, garnished with fresh herbs, and bread croutons. Simple, but quite tasty.

White corn soup

For my entrée, I got the Lupe du Mere (which is Mediterranean Sea Bass), served with a huge prawn, Brussels with bacon, cherry tomatoes, and wasabi mashed potatoes. There was a creamy sauce under the fish and the taste was something between Mediterranean and Japanese meal.

Lupe du mere, prawn, Brussels sprouts, wasabi mashed potatoes

My husband decided to try the Grilled Scottish Salmon in a Chardonnay Basil Sauce with Wild Rice and Sautéed Vegetables. It was perfectly grilled and deliciously paired with our Toscana bottle of wine.

Grilled Scottish Salmon in a Chardonnay Basil Sauce with wild rice

The dessert was the traditional French Chocolate flourless cake with espresso gelato. This is a fantastic chocolate dessert found on many restaurant menus. Just imagine eating the soft crust and suddenly finding the oozing warm chocolate filling in the center. Real treat!

 

Chocolate flourless cake with espresso gelato

 2) Shiro Restaurant --- What to order: We celebrated Valentine's Day at the famous Shiro Restaurant. The ambiance was very romantic! We shared a Shaved Roasted Beets with Etorki Cheese, Fresh Dill, and Balsamic Vinegar. The cheese was so thinly sliced, that it was literally melting in our mouths.

Shaved Roasted Beets with Etorki cheese, Fresh Dill, and Balsamic Vinegar

My husband ordered the Charbroiled Petaluma Chicken Breast with Provence Herb Mustard Sauce. It was accompanied with steamed vegetables. Although it was not very extraordinary plate, he liked it and enjoyed it very much.



Charboiled Petaluma Chicken Breast with Provence Herb Mustard Sauce

My entrée was amazing! Seared Rare Tuna Steak with Shiitake and Shimeji Mushrooms. The sauce was soy-based, but it didn't bother me. It only gave some salty notes to the dish. The steak was a pretty good size, so I was satisfied and pleased with my choice.

Seared Rare Tuna Steak with Shiitake and Shimeji Mushrooms

Our Valentine's Dessert was the Chocolate Tart Soufflé with Coffee Ice Cream. I liked the light texture of the soufflé, but I liked even better the flavor of the ice cream. So original and interesting. After a bottle of wine, a great meal, followed by a scrumptious dessert, we went to bed happy and celebrated!!!

 

Chocolate Tart Soufflé with Coffee Ice Cream

 3) The Terrace at the Langham Huntington Hotel --- What to order: The Terrace at the luxurious Langham Hotel is a nice restaurant by the pool. You can either dine inside or al fresco. We decided to have a lunch on the tables outside and to enjoy the warm Californian weather. We started with the Caprese Salad: Thick Slices of Heirloom Tomatoes, Burrata Cheese, Basil, Olive Oil, and Aged Balsamic. It was so delicious! Amazingly sweet tomatoes and very well seasoned cheese!

Caprese: Heirloom Tomato, Burrata, Basil, Aged Balsamic, Olive Oil

My husband opted for the Short Rib Sloppy Joe Sandwich, served on a Grilled Ciabatta Bread with Tater Tots. He loved the barbecue flavors, but the size was too huge for him, so he took home half of it.

Short Rib Sloppy Joe on Grilled Ciabatta with Tater Tots

My Mediterranean Sea Bass with Sweet Corn Tamale, Romesco Sauce, and Sea Beans was very light and modern-style dish. The corn cake was sweet and it was nicely compensated by the strong flavors of the romesco sauce.

 

Mediterranean Sea Bass with Sweet Corn Tamale, Romesco Sauce, Sea Beans

The Chocolate, Coconut, and Mango Napoleon was out of this world delicious! There was a layer of chocolate cake, topped with mango and coconut mousse, and served with coconut sorbet. Very refreshing dessert. Just perfect for dining al fresco!

Chocolate, Coconut, and Mango Napoleon

 4) Vertical Wine Bistro --- What to order: Vertical Wine Bistro is a very popular dining destination in Pasadena. We had a romantic dinner next to the fireplace and we enjoyed vibrant ambiance of this place. To start our dinner, we ordered the Pizza Margherita. It was a very thin flatbread with plenty of cheese, basil, and tomato slices. The crust was crispy, almost like a cracker. Great with our bottle of wine: Barbera D'Asti, Italy.

Pizza Margherita with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil

We shared the Salmon baked in Parchment Paper. It came unopened, served with roasted beets pico de gallo, which was a very unusual salsa.

 

Salmon baked in parchment paper, with beets pico de gallo

Once we opened the package, we found a bed of sautéed spinach and onions and nicely cooked salmon pieces. Great flavor, without a lot of garnishes.

The salmon over sautéed spinach and onions 

The Molten Chocolate Cake came warm with cold Vanilla Gelato and Strawberry. The executive chef is French, so you can imagine the result: a well done lava cake with liquid center and many happy faces :)

Molten Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Gelato and Fresh Strawberry

Where to eat in Hollywood

Hollywood is a great place to try restaurants by Celebrity Chefs and to experience the Los Angeles lifestyle. Here are my best recommendations:

1) Pizzeria Mozza by Mario Batalli --- What to order: This is my favorite pizzeria! We have been there on several occasions and every time is a great experience. We started with the Mozza Caprese Salad, which consists of burrata cheese, topped with roasted cherry tomatoes, basil pesto, and fresh basil leaves. It is pure heaven. The only thing missing was a piece of bread to soak off the wonderful pesto. I would strongly recommend you to order bread on the side (and I hope the chefs will soon start to offer us bread, instead of the dry breadsticks wrapped in paper).

Mozza burrata Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes and basil pesto

We shared this delicious Prosciutto di Parma, rucola, tomato, and mozzarella pizza. The crust is thick only on the edges, but in the middle, it is pretty thin. The prosciutto was silky and tasty, but the most pronounced flavor was the tomato. Delish!!!

Prosciutto di Parma, rucola, tomato, mozzarella

The Bittersweet chocolate tartufo was out of this world good. It was served with olive oil gelato, sea salt, and shortbread cookies croutons. The texture was dense and the flavor very rich. We shared it and it was enough indulgence!

Bittersweet chocolate tartufo with olive oil gelato and sea salt

 

2) Osteria Mozza by Mario Batalli ---What to order: If you want to dine at Osteria Mozza, you will need to make your appointment in advance. The restaurant is always busy, but it is worthy. We were first served a small appetizer: crostini with ricotta cheese, kalamata olives, and fresh basil. Then, we ordered the Burrata with leeks vinaigrette. The burrata was creamy and delicious, but the leek and the dressing were extremely salty. If you order this plate, tell them to go easy on the salt.

Ricotta cheese crostini with kalamata olives and basil chiffonade

Burrata with leeks vinaigrette and mustard breadcrumbs

My husband got the Maltagliati with wild boar ragu. The pasta was similar to lasagna sheets, the plate was rustic and hearty. He liked that the portion was apperizer-size, so he had more room for dessert.

Maltagliati with wild boar ragu

I got the Ricotta Gnudi with English Peas, green garlic, and funghi misti. The ricotta gnudi were soft and tender like a pillow. The creamy sauce under them was a perfect addition to the fresh flavors of the peas. Overall, a very light and tasty dish!

Ricotta gnudi with English peas, green garlic, and funghi misti

We almost always order the chocolate desserts and in Osteria Mozza, there was Cioccolato. So, without hesitation, we got a slice of heaven. It was bittersweet flourless chocolate cake, served with Perugian chocolates. Very delicate and elaborated chocolates!

Bittersweet chocolate cake with Perugian chocolates

Where to eat in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon is one of the best cities for foodies. The dining scene is amazing. With so many cooking schools in town, young chefs are rising every now and then. So, stop by one of these restaurants and enjoy one of the simplest pleasures of life.

 

1) Little Bird (Downtown) --- What to order: We went to this French bistro for a lunch and we were assigned a table on the second floor, which was great, because we were able to see everybody from there. My husband ordered the special of the day, which was these roasted chicken drumsticks, served with potato and radish salad and caramelized Meyer lemon. He loved it. It was gently fried and then finished in the oven, so it was not too greasy.

 

 

 

Roasted chicken drumsticks with potato radish salad & Meyer

I got the Ricotta Gnocchi. They were out of this world DELICIOUS. Probably the best gnocchi I have ever tasted. Seriously. They were served with roasted oyster mushrooms, nettle pesto, and toasted hazelnuts. The nuts provided a great deep flavor to the dish.

Ricotta Gnocchi with roasted oyster mushrooms, nettle pesto, hazelnuts

For dessert, we shared the Apple Croustade: a delicious puff pastry, topped with few slices of apples, powdered sugar, and GRUYERE ice cream. The finishing touch was a drizzle of a good 30-year old balsamic reduction. But the best part was the gruyere ice cream. Totally different and unique, but at the same time a perfect complement for the sweet tart. Try it, please!

 

Apple Croustade, gruyere ice cream, 30-year balsamic

2) Ned Ludd (Northeast) --- What to order : This is an American Craft restaurant. The main attraction is the wood burning over, where everything is cooked (even the dessert). The ambience is informal and the décor is rustic. The food is simple, yet delicious and surprising :) We started with a cheese board, that included Swiss raclette on a slice of bread. We loved this cheese, it was beautifully melted and full of flavor. The platter also contained goat cheese, slices of Braeburn apples, homemade bread, apple butter, and pickled apples. Great for a beginning of a meal!

Cheese board with Swiss raclette, goat cheese, Braeburn apple slices, apple butter

Whole Roasted Trout with carrot and radish salad

Petrale sole with blue mussels, white beans, and nettle puree

Oven kissed chocolate chip cookie with milk

 3) Nostrana by chef Cathy Whims (Best Chef Northwest, James Beard Award) --- What to order: Nostrana is a great restaurant. Chef Cathy Whims seems to be a very approachable person. We saw her greeting people on the tables next to us. In addition, our server Mike  was extremely polite and we had a great lunch in there. We started with a Salad of Cannellini beans and Albacore Tuna Conserve with house giardiniera. The tuna was also house made and it was pretty impressive!

Cannellini beans and Albacore tuna conserva & house giardiniera

Then, we shared "Vongole Bianco" Pizza with Manila clams, Mama Lil's, oregano, garlic, provolone, smoked mozzarella, and lemon. It arrived on the table uncut and the crust was out of this world good. The juices of the clams were all over the pizza and the Mama Lil's gave some spiciness to the whole dish. Strongly recommended!

Vongole bianco Pizza, uncut

Manila clams, Mama Lil's, oregano, garlic, provolone, smoked mozzarella, lemon

The dessert was Chocolate Torrone Semifreddo with Tuscan chocolate sauce and candied almonds. It really tasted like a torrone, but it was also cold and creamy like a semifreddo. Great invention :)

Chocolate torrone semifreddo with Tuscan chocolate sauce, candied almonds

 4) Riffle NW (Seafood Restaurant) --- What to order: Riffle is a seafood restaurant, located in the Pearl District of Portland. The only problem we had was our horrible server Jasin, he was so greedy and unpleasant. He did not bring bread to our table, we had to order it later in the middle of the meal. Also, when asked about different selections from the menu, he recommended the most expensive ones. I hope the manager of the restaurant will read this blog!

We started with Housemade Ricotta with Cracked Black Pepper and Truffle Honey. It came with toasted baguette from the Pearl Bakery. The cheese was so creamy and velvety.

Housemade Ricotta with Cracked Black Pepper, Truffle Honey

My husband got the Canary Rockfish. It was served with Clam ragu and Orecchiette. The pasta was buttery and fish crispy. This was a nice portion, satisfying, but not overwhelming.

Canary Rockfish with Clam Ragu and Orecchiette

I got the Spring Chinook Salmon. It came with a little bit of apple and beet agrodolce and arugula. This was a very small plate. Almost like an appetizer. There was nothing else on the plate, no starch at all and very few vegetables. If you get this plate, you are going to like it, but most probably you are going to eat the entire basket of bread!

Spring Chinook Salmon with Apple & Beet Agro dolce and Arugula

After all, the dessert was amazing. We had the Chocolate Pistachio Bar. On the bottom there was a Pistachio Financier, on top of it creamy chocolate mousse, and on the very top candied kumquat. The plate was dressed with a smear of pistachio sauce and Vanilla Bean Chantilly. It was mouth-watering! We also got a small Sterling Decaffeinated French Press and walked out with good memories :) 

 

Chocolate Pistachio Bar with Candied Kumquat, Pistachio Sauce

 5) A Cena Ristorante --- What to order: A Cena Ristorante is a family Italian place. We went there for a lunch and there were many tables with families with kids. We started with Grilled Octopus. It was deliciously served on a bed of corona beans, arugula, and lemon. The beans were so huge and so buttery. We loved the wilted arugula and softly prepared octopus (although the serving was very small, just few bites).

Grilled Octopus, arugula, lemon, corona beans

My husband got the Garganelli alla Norcia with fennel sausage, creminis, cream, and parmesan. It was a reasonable portion for lunch with very creamy consistency. He liked it with a Mirror Pond beer from Bend, Oregon.

Garganelli alla Norcia with fennel sausage, creminis, cream

I got the Roasted Halibut, which was served on a bed of pea and mascarpone risotto and topped with mint and apple salad. The portion was so tiny, I had to eat a lot of focaccia in order to satisfy my hunger.

Roasted Halibut with pea and mascarpone risotto, mint and apple salad

The best part of this meal was the Classic Tiramisu. A version made with Mascarpone cheese, espresso, dark rum, and cocoa. It was light and fluffy, a good amount to share! Lovely :)

Classic Tiramisu with Mascarpone, espresso, dark rum, cocoa

 6) DOC by Chefs Jobie Bailey and Brian Scibetta --- What to order: This is a small restaurant, but expect to see it full. It is so popular in Portland right now. We started with an order of Bread, Olives, and Butter. They charge 2 dollars per person for it. Great bread, but I don't understand why do they have to charge for it, if most of the restaurants give it for "free".

Bread, olives, and butter with a German beer

Our first course was Burrata with huckleberry, and cress. Amazing creamy cheese, great tangy huckleberries and lightly dressed greens. I loved it! You can almost spread the burrata on a piece of bread and make a toast with the jam. So good!

Burrata, huckleberry, cress

My entrée was the Steelhead, served with sautéed cauliflowers, carrot, radish, and nettle puree. The veggies were finished with butter, and the crispy skin of the fish was touched with salt flakes. Overall, it was a simple, yet sophisticated dish.

Steelhead, cauliflower, carrot, radish, nettle puree

My husband's entrée was the Cavatelli with pork sugo, parsley, and gran ciacio. He liked it a lot, but told me that it was pretty heavy. So, if you are kind of full, go for a lighter dish.

Cavatelli, pork sugo, parsley, gran ciacio

The chocolate flourless cake was the gran finale! It was topped with pistachio ice cream and you have to eat them together, otherwise the cake is too bittersweet. Instead of baking it, they steamed it, so it was pretty moist. Thanks to the young chefs for this wonderful meal!

Chocolate flourless cake, pistachio ice cream

 7) Tabla Mediterranean Bistro --- What to order: My husband tried the Dinner Price Fix Menu. The first course was the Beet and Fennel Salad served with castelvetrano olives, pecorino Romano, and Meyer lemon vinaigrette. It was great, but only if you are fan of the fennel.

Beet and Fennel salad with castelvetrano olives, pecorino romano, meyer lemon

His second course was the Tabla Ravioli, which is basically one big raviolo filled with chard, ricotta, and poached farm egg. Topped with plenty of parmesan cheese and drizzled with poppy seed butter.

Tabla Ravioli topped with Parmesano and poppy seed butter

Tabla Ravioli filled with chard, ricotta, and poached farm egg

His third course was the Duck Confit, served on top of heirloom squash, pancetta, calabrian chilis, and pinot noir-orange reduction. He adored it. It was a great piece of meat and very well cooked :)

Duck Confit with heirloom squash, pancetta, calabrian chilis

I got the Pan Seared Halibut with a bed of salad with radish, red onion, fennel, and lemon crème fraiche dressing. The fish was drizzled with salsa verde. It was delicate, but I felt that I was missing something more substantial. The salad was a little but over-dressed and very wilted.

Pan Seared Halibu with radish, red onion, fennel, salsa verde

The dessert was out of this world delicious!!! Chocolate cake with whiskey caramel, salter buttercream, and pecan brittle. I loved the brittle and the brownie-like flavor of the cake. The caramel was not overpowering, so I totally recommend this piece of heaven :)

Chocolate Cake with whiskey caramel, salted buttercream, pecan brittle