Nuff Nang

Mar 31, 2009

Penthouse @ The Huntley

Let's change up the dessert theme for now, and add back the appetizers and entrees. Who likes sunsets? Who likes sunsets with a 360-degree view of the LA skyline? Who likes sunsets, 360-degree views and a lovely 3 course meal? Come to the Penthouse atop the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica! This boutique hotel houses a great restaurant at their topmost floor complete with a breathtaking view of the city - even in the restrooms!

I've dined here twice, and have had a great experience both times. Sunset is prime time to be at the Penthouse, seeing the medley of colors from the sun disappear below the horizon. Make a reservation to ensure a table, or a cozy cabana if you're lucky. (I'm sure you can request one if you like) The bar area gets pretty busy as well, so come and mingle, if you're single, and sip on a few organic cocktails from their beverage menu. The food itself is American fusion contemporary cuisine; that's a bit of a mouthful. The presentation is unique and makes for an aesthetic plate, not to mention a pretty photo. My parents were impressed with the meal and had mentioned wanting to go back again. Jon and I would also definitely help ourselves to a second dose of the Penthouse. Look at the photos to see why.

Dinner with the Grandidge's

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Dinner with Jon

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Mar 29, 2009

Sprinkles: Cupcake Craze Here to Stay

For those of you who don't know me quite well, I must let you in on a little secret: I'm obsessed with dessert. If it has anything to do with dark chocolate, creamy peanut butter or pint-sized cupcakes, count me in. Combine the 3 and I'm in heaven. That trio combination brings to mind my favorite cupcake ever, the Peanut Butter Chip cupcake from Sprinkles. It is the best chocolate-chip studded peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting EVER. Sprinkles has totally reinvented the traditional cupcake to a more sophisticated, cupcake couture level.

It's pretty safe to say that Sprinkles is the cupcake capital of Los Angeles. I'm a frequent visitor of the Santa Monica Blvd store-front in Beverly Hills; if you don't know where it is, look for the line of people outside and you will know you have arrived. Be prepared to wait, but I promise you it's worth it! It sounds so cliche, and I know there is so much hype about Sprinkles, but I really wouldn't come back if I didn't love their goodies. There are over 20 flavors offered all together, different cakes and flavored frostings topped with sprinkles - obvi - or the signature Sprinkles "dot". The flavors vary from day-to-day (you can find the schedule here) with a few popular exceptions that are offered on the daily. The kitchen is constantly bringing out freshly made batches, which is what we like to see at the creme de la creme cupcakery.

Different seasons call for different occasions to celebrate, and Sprinkles is ready to help. They have a JOY box for Christmas, XOX box for Valentines, BOO box for Halloween and coming up a HOP box for Easter. You get the picture.

This weekend I attended my last Kappa formal and what no better sight to see than the tables decorated with Sprinkles cupcakes! I was lucky enough that both senior formals involved great friends and sweet endings.

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My brother, Chris, with a box for the family

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12 dozen cupcakes

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Formal December 08

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Formal March 09

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Mar 28, 2009

Marmalade Pantry

Keeping up with the previous cake/cupcake post, I wanted to share with you my favorite place to get cupcakes in Singapore. Some describe it as "posh and pretentious" and others just know it as the place where "ladies do lunch." The latter I agree with because there's always a 90% female occupancy, but what's wrong with that. The P&P comment... I don't share that same opinion. I'm talking about Marmalade Pantry, located on the basement floor of Palais Renaissance.

Marmalade Pantry serves Western-meets-Italian cuisine for all day dining: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ribeye steak sandwiches, crab caesar, lemon thyme risotto and chicken pot pie is all fair game. My personal favorite is the warm spinach and roasted onion salad with egg, mozzarella and bacon. YUMMERS. In three words the decor is simple, clean and minimal. Their precious dessert display (cupcakes, tarts, cakes, pastries) is enough to lure diners into the delicate and delicious pantry. Pictured below are my favorite cupcakes. Can't wait to indulge there again in May!

Check out their website: http://www.themarmaladepantry.com

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Me, Claire, Mom

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Nutella: Chocolate Cake + Nutella Frosting

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Chocolate Deluxe: The Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake

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Cloud Nine: White Coconut Cake + Cream Cheese Frosting

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Elvis: Chocolate Banana Cake + Peanut Butter Frosting

Mar 26, 2009

SusieCakes

If you are looking for the absolute BEST red velvet cake or cupcake in the Los Angeles area, look no further. Drive to 11708 San Vicente Blvd @ Barrington and you will arrive at the red velvet mecca: SusieCakes. This is the all-American home-style neighborhood bakery that never fails to greet customers with, "Hi, welcome to SusieCakes" when they stroll in. You have to try everything here, even if it takes multiple visits to do so. Their frosting-filled cupcakes are delicious, their speciality layer cakes are out of this world and the cookies, brownies, cheesecakes, whoopie pies and bars are worth the calories.

Their red velvet cake seems to have been a staple in quite a few important birthdays over the past two years. It is unbelievably satisfying - the moist red velvety layers are separated by slathers of rich cream-cheese frosting. The whole cakes come in 2 sizes: 9 inch and 12 inch. They are also sold by the slice in the bakeshop and if you're lucky, sometimes bite-size testers are out! They also have red velvet cupcakes if you're going for a smaller version of the same taste. If you're planning to order a cake for an occasion, it's best to call a few days before so the bakery can have it ready in advance with a personalized message on the cake face. Get ready for your slice of greatness!

Besides Brentwood, SusieCakes is also located in Newport & Calabasas.

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2008 - My 21st (duh)

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2008 - Jon's _ _ th (you can guess)

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2009 - My 22nd (duh again)

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2009 - Alex's 22nd, Mike's 24th

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2009 - Brooke's 22nd

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More cupcakes for Brooke's 22nd

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Mar 25, 2009

Angelina

When I say "Fro", you say "Yo!"

Declining dessert at Izakaya, we had another idea in mind that would still satisfy our sweet craving. Staying in the WeHo area, we drove up to Angelina on Santa Monica Blvd for a little cold, creamy, guilt-free frozen yogurt. Angelina has gotta be brave; they set up shop almost directly across the frozen yogurt giant, Pink Berry. They have way more flavors at Angelina (10 or so?), not just the tart natural kind. The toppings are the same usual suspects that you find in every establishment following the fro-yo trend. Testers of course are allowed, and are pretty generous here too. The nice thing is that parking is convenient; there's a lot right outside the entrance. Perfect night cap, it hit the spot.

8719 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, 90069

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Natural + Strawberry + Blackberry

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Coffee + Peanut Butter Cup

Izakaya by Katsuya

Another friend visiting town = another catch-up dinner in place. This seems to be my second week in a row being the third guest joining a couple for a meal. It always makes me happy to see people - especially my friends - in love, so I don't mind at all. Plus, the dynamics of a relationship always make for fun conversations, right Corde? ;) Dan and Cordelia know about my blog and apparently were nervous about choosing a place for an early dinner. I guess they thought if I didn't like it, I wouldn't write about it. They texted me a few options the day before and I chose Izakaya by Katsuya. My favorite is to try new places and I felt like some underwater fishies for a change after all this recent meat consumption.

Izakaya actually means a Japanese drinking establishment that serves small plates to accompany the alcohol. A Japanese tapas bar if you will. This WeHo neighborhood sushi spot is run by sushi master Katsuya Uechi, also behind the more upscale and trendy Hollywood and Brentwood locations. Izakaya is the casual, less expensive relative of the SBE/Philippe Starck/Katsuya Uechi partnership. Don't get me wrong; the menu is similar, the food upholds the proper quality standards and the place is popular. To avoid crowds, come early or make reservations. We made a reservation and still had a little bit of standing time before we sat. The food definitely hit the spot, it was prepared well and the bill didn't clean out the wallet - that's always lovely!

8420 W. Third Street
Los Angeles, 90048

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Shishito Peppers

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Creamy Rock Shrimp Tempura

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Salmon Sushi

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Miso Cod

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Lobster Dynamite

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Crispy Rice + Spicy Tuna **MUST ORDER**

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Creamy Salmon + Shrimp Tempura

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Mar 22, 2009

Milky Way

I got caught up in all the Bora hype that I forgot to post my last official Spring Break -09 meal. On the corner of Pasay Road and Paseo de Roxas there's a restaurant that serves real, traditional Filipino favorites: Milky Way Cafe. Home-style cooking guaranteed. My Lolo remembers this place for their home-made ice-cream back in the day, which the restaurant still likes to boast about with their framed painting that reads, "Best Halo-Halo." One wall has shelves stocked with snacks from around the globe together with Milky Way's own line of Filipino delicacies; jars of sardines, sweetened nuts, bagoong etc. For me, Milky Way Cafe makes me feel like I've been transplanted back to the round dining table at Mars Street eating Lola's cooking.

Jon introduced me to Milky Way and we come here whenever we're craving a "home-cooked" meal. Ironic, we have to go out for a home-cooked meal. Anyways, we always order the crispy hito which translates into deep-fried cat fish. Paired with the vinegar-based salad, the crispy white fish gets absorbed by the vinegar and it melts in your mouth; don't worry about the bones. One of Jon's favorites is the kare-kare, which is an oxtail + beef stew in peanut sauce with lots of veggies mixed in. Chicken barbecue is a fixed item at Filipino buffet-style dinners, so I always have to order a serving to get my fix. At Milky Way, they serve it with a cup of java rice. If I'm going local, I'm going all out complete with my garlic rice. I ate it as a little girl with everything and wont stop now...

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