First Food and Bar Restaurant, The Palazzo, The Venetian, Las Vegas

Although I was reluctant to eat at First Food and Bar, I’m so glad that I did. When in Vegas, I tend to gravitate towards places I’ve been already and love, or new places that I’ve been hearing about non stop. First Food and Bar does not fall under any of those categories. I really did not know much about this restaurant going in other than it had an awesome open kitchen and the food was American.

At first glance, I had no idea what to order. The menu is full of various options, and it didn’t help that everything coming out of the kitchen looked fabulous. As soon as I thought my mind was made up, something else would pass me by and I would go back to looking for it on the menu.

Besides an open kitchen, do you know what else made this place a winner? How about those black cloth napkins, huh? I detest white cloth napkins that leave lint all over your black pants! And what a creative napkin ring too! It’s the little things that make me happy.

Luckily I was dining with my parents so we ordered a great variety of items, starting with these buffalo wings that were fantastic! I’ve never been a fan of the buffalo flavor until I tried these! Wow! And they were prepared so that you could hold them easily too!

By the way, did I mention that some booths at this restaurant offer a fantastic view of the strip?

My mom started off her meal with this soup, which is something I wouldn’t usually eat (vegetables), but she let me try some of it and oh my goodness! Apparently it was a seasonal item on the menu, but wow. Loved it.

My dad had some sort of pasta dish which he enjoyed, but was not the standout item of this meal.

My mother had a plate that had a name related to Thanksgiving. I wish I could remember it! Anyway, it was basically a turkey sandwich with stuffing that was served with cranberry sauce and a mini casserole of sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top. 

I am not a fan of sweet potatoes, so I did not try it, but my parents could not stop raving about how wonderful it was. I was tempted to try it, but really, sweet potatoes? Do not like.

I ended up ordering the steak frites and let me tell you. It was something pretty awesome.

I didn’t expect it to come with all the sides, including the salad and the fries.

I used to think that Father’s Office was pretty cutting edge for serving their fries in a mini shopping cart, but First Food and Bar totally PWNED Father’s Office! They serve their fries in a deep fryer basket. Holla!

So not only did the food on the plate look great, but OMGZ it all tasted perfect! These hand cut fries are some of the best I have ever had, and I ate most of the salad too! The light dressing was perfect! And the steak! What can I say about this steak other than the fact that it was cooked at a perfect medium and was obviously a quality cut.

As you know by now, I’m a huge fan of condiments and sauces. My most favorite sauce (thanks to Wolfgang Puck) is béarnaise and according to the menu I could add it to my meal for $2 more. Let me tell you, the best $2 I’ve spent at a restaurant!

That béarnaise with this steak was a match made in heaven! And then, something incredible happened. I was defeated by this steak, which at first glance did not look that big. I could not finish it! It was just so hearty and thick! I got full way too fast and it was a shame that I had to leave some of it behind.

Even though I was too full for dessert, from the outside you can look into the open kitchen, and when we had first walked by prior, I saw a donut making machine of some sort. Later I come to find out they make their own donuts! Only I was too full to really enjoy dessert! Nooooo! By the way? They totally have a photo booth for customers! Check this out!

Anyway, Johnny was our waiter and not only was he a Dodger fan, but he was on top of everything! Would I come back to First Food and Bar? Um. Yeah. I need to come back for that steak! And the donuts! And the tots (yeah they serve tots). So many options, such a great place. I’m glad my parents picked this place, because I wouldn’t have picked it myself.

 

First Food and Bar – The Palazzo

3377 Las Vegas Blvd. S

Las Vegas, NV 89109

The Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Paris, Las Vegas

 The Eiffel Tower Restaurant, located at Paris, Las Vegas is one of those places that is truly one of a kind. Not only does it offer a wonderful view of the Bellagio fountains and of the strip, but it is also one of those restaurants that is a true experience from beginning to end.

Starting with a ride up the restaurant’s exclusive elevator, the doors open up to reveal the open kitchen. I may have gasped! Such a wonderful surprise!

Having an open kitchen like this, merely a few feet away has to be one of my top foodie experiences. I had to take some photos to share with all of you. Just look at these strawberries!

Caviar…

Petite Fours…

My party and I were seated at the bar, and soon after, we had the pleasure of meeting Lyle Tolhurst, who really makes sure that this restaurant runs as smoothly as it does. I must thank Lyle for having us as guests and making sure we had a wonderful experience. While we waited, he let us browse through the Eiffel Tower Restaurant Cookbook.

The photographs within the cookbook were great and we were amused to see that we were seated in the exact spot featured on these pages! Right away, the bartender came over and took our drink order. You may recall from my Drago Centro post, that I don’t drink, so I am always weary of sitting at bars, thinking I will be delegated to drink water or soda. Well, I am pleased to say that the Eiffel Tower Restaurant bar really came through for us tonight! As soon as we told the bartender we wanted something non alcoholic he didn’t even bat an eyelash and came back with not 1, but 3 different non alcoholic drinks.

The drinks were fantastic. Fruity, yet each had a distinct taste. Very refreshing.

We were here to try the souffles and as we waited we could not stop admiring the view. It really does not matter where you sit because every table offers a different view. While we were there we were able to see the Bellagio Fountains from a totally new perspective. Everyone was in awe.

While we were there, we were witness to a wedding proposal! Honestly? This place is perfect for a proposal! So romantic and with a full view of the city. According to Lyle, he has seen up to 5-6 wedding proposals in a single night! Guys! Take note!

We ended up trying three different souffles including pistacho and Grand Marnier. They had a special pumpkin souffle on the menu because of the Thanksgiving holiday, and we were able to try it as well.

The souffles each had their own fantastic flavor and were perfect. So fluffy! I was able to eat from all three and although they were all great, the pistachio had to be my favorite.

After finishing the souffles and our drinks we said our goodbyes to Lyle and made our way over to the elevator. I could not resist taking just one more photo of the open kitchen.

As we made our way to the casino floor, I remembered how often we used to stay at Paris, Las Vegas. Before the Wynn came around, this was my favorite hotel to stay at and we used to stay here every Christmas before we started going to Canada instead.

So, to conclude this post, I would like to once again thank Lyle  for treating us to such a great experience at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. From the drinks, to the service, and the desserts (and the view of course) this was great from start to finish. If you are looking for a true experience that you can only have in Las Vegas, definitely consider the Eiffel Tower Restaurant.

Eiffel Tower Restaurant

3655 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109-4345
(702) 948-6937

Serendipity 3, Frozen Hot Chocolate, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

The famous Frozen Hot Chocolate that Serendipity is known for has been on my “I must try this at some point in my life” list since I was 18.  Right up there with Magnolia Bakery (which we are getting in LA soon). Although the thought of going to NYC is tempting, it certainly wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

So imagine my contentment when I heard that Serendipity was opening up a shop in Las Vegas! Score! Totally accessible and a place that I visit at least once a year. Honestly? I was super excited. Not only was I influenced by the movie, and hype, but my interest was only fueled further when Colin Cowie took Oprah there and they were both raving about it. I love Colin Cowie soooo much.

When my plans were finalized for this Vegas mini vacation, I knew that Serendipity was going to definitely be one of my stops and I actually ended up going there on Thanksiving. There was about a 10 minute wait to sit inside, although if you are in a hurry you can order from a take-out window and get your Frozen Hot Chocolate in a cup.

Not me! I wanted the FULL experience! So I waited and eventually got a table near the entrance. They also have an outdoor patio seating area where you can people watch.

The menu is huge. Literally. It’s pretty big. Lulz. Turns out you can get food too! I had already eaten (and honestly the food did not look too great) so I went straight for dessert. Although tempting…I just had to pass on this thousand dollar dessert. People actually order that? WTF.

Since there were three of us, we decided to order two desserts. The Frozen Hot Chocolate was a given, but what else could we try? Finally after some debate, we ended up with a banana split (the cowards portion).

The decor of the place is kinda cutesy. A lot of pink and it totally gives off that ice cream parlor vibe. You can also purchase some souvenirs, including some of their hot chocolate so you can replicate it at home.

This was our banana split. It was pretty big for being the cowards portion. It tasted just like many banana splits I have eaten in my lifetime.

And then our famous Frozen Hot Chocolate arrived!

Um. It definitely is not a life changer. Honestly? I was kind of disappointed. I thought it would be amazing and awesome and the most fabulous dessert ever! It was good, but I think it is a victim of hype.

Even if the whole experience was somewhat of a letdown, I would still say that if you were like me, and have always wanted to try Serendipity’s Frozen Hot Chocolate, then definitely do it. It is one of those things that you definitely need to experience for yourself, just to see what all the hype is about.

Serendipity3 (Caesars Palace)

3570 Las Vegas Blvd S

Las Vegas, NV 89109

(877) 346-4642

M Resort, New Spa Hotel and Casino and Baby Cakes Artisan Bakery, Las Vegas

My blog claims to be about teaching, traveling, eating and photographing. If you have been following along for a while, then you might notice that I talk about teaching from time to time, and I definitely talk about eating and of course there are plenty of photographs. The traveling part has been SERIOUSLY lacking because before last year, I would travel a lot more, even if it was only for the weekend. Before today I had not left the state of California for almost a whole year. Probably about 11 months to be exact! A record for sure! I blame work and finishing up my masters. I have a couple of things on the horizon for December, January, and hopefully (fingers crossed) February so I look forward to getting back to the travel grind.

The truth is, I needed a quick getaway right now, even if it is just for the holiday weekend. My parents and I have been spending Thanksgiving in Las Vegas for many years, so it was only natural to come back this year. I love Las Vegas because of the shopping and because some of my favorite restaurants are here! Plus, not only are they accessible, but generally the service is less snooty at fancy restaurants in Las Vegas than in Los Angeles.

We left the SCV around 5 in the morning and made really good time! Before heading to the strip, we stopped at M Resort because it is brand new and Derek Thomas mentioned staying there last week. What a surprise! The M Resort is all sorts of beautiful! So sleek, clean, and welcoming. Even though it is somewhat far from the strip, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay there. Well, also the fact that they have shuttle to the strip is a strong selling point. The strip is not for everyone, so if you like Las Vegas but you want to be away from the action, definitely consider the M Resort.

Perhaps it was too early…but I was amazed by how quiet it was. There were some people gambling but they were all minding their own business. They have plenty of lovely looking restaurants throughout the resort. We were hungry but didn’t want anything too heavy so we could have a great lunch. We considered this deli and actually looked over the menu for a bit.

It looked good, but we still wanted something lighter. This place seems to be sports themed and they have the names of MVP’s on the walls. It is a really nice looking place.

On the way to find somewhere else to eat, we passed a soda machine by some of the slots. This was odd, right? Well it turns out that you can serve yourself complimentary soft drinks! No need to wait for the cocktail waitress to come to you. Say what? This is GENIUS! So I got myself some root beer and set out to find a pastry for breakfast! Score!

And then I heard the choir of angels! Look at THIS!

At first I thought it was related to another bakery named Baby Cakes, but apparently it is just its own shop. They sell a variety of dessert/pastry type items. Including gelato, if that’s your sort of thing:

They also have a variety of lovely looking cakes and bread:

And of course, it would not be a legit bakery without the sale of cupcakes.

It was simply much too early for a cupcake…plus I like my cupcakes frosted, and not just with a pile of frosting on top. So, I went with the cheesecake because it was oddly tiered. Like a mini wedding cake. I was intrigued.

So as I’m eating my amazing cheesecake (it was soooo good) I start to wonder if it was simply composed of rounds stacked together, or what? Well, the first two tiers were pretty attached and I thought the same about the third tier, until this happened:

What a cool little surprise between the bottom two layers. I loved this cheesecake. It tasted different but I would definitely eat this again in a heartbeat!

After eating dessert for breakfast we set out to explore more of the hotel, which in plain English means…check out the pool! Turns out there are two. This is the main pool for hotel guests. It has a really nice design and looked very resort-like. The above photo only captures about half of it. Maybe I should have taken the photo from the middle. D’oh!

Then, there is a more private pool which you can use if you rent a cabana. This pool is much more private because it is located in its own little section. Plus, there are plenty of lounging opportunities.

How relaxing does this look?

As you can tell, my return to Las Vegas started off great! I love checking out new hotels and this one was great! They even have an underground wine cellar. I didn’t know this until I pressed the wrong button on the elevator and when the doors opened up I smelled wood. I don’t drink wine, but the whole set up was pretty impressive. Plus, with a name like Hostile Grape? What’s not to love?

So if you find yourself on the way to Las Vegas, be sure to check out the M Resort, and if you are looking for a strip hotel alternative, this place might be worth a try.

Just make sure to bring your bathing suit!

M Resort Spa Casino

12300 Las Vegas Blvd South
Henderson, NV 89044
(702) 797-1000

Saladang Song, Pasadena – REVISITED 6 Years Later

Back in late 2000 or so, I went to Saladang Song for the first time. I was only 16 or 17, and this restaurant always caught my attention because of the design. I’m not an architecture buff, but it is hard not to notice the space and I always admire nice buildings.

The main purpose of our trip to the area back then was the paper store that was behind the sister restaurant Saladang, right next door (pictured below). Although I found Saladang to be good, I always wanted to try Saladang Song but thought it was rather intimidating. Remember, I was only a teenager…

One day, my parents took me there and I believe it may have been for a special occasion. We had fish and pad thai and satay. I still remember the dessert, which was pineapple ice cream served within a frozen pineapple. We went to Saladang Song many times during my late teens and I always thought in my young mind that it was the best restaurant ever! It was no longer intimidating, it was now just Saldang Song.

Eventually, the paper store closed and although we still went to Old Town Pasadena, we didn’t pass by this street as often. I had not been to Saladang Song in about 5 or 6 years! Possibly more! Yet, I still remembered how much I loved it and was very eager to go back.

Last Sunday on the way to Loma Linda to visit a family member, we passed by Pasadena and I suggested we go back to Saladang Song, and everyone agreed! I was nervous! Would it be as wonderful as I remembered?

Well, the restaurant still looks exactly the same, right down to the table cloths! We also happened to get there at a great time because they had some awesome lunch specials going on! I couldn’t believe these specials were priced at $9-$10! I figured the portion would be small, but we were in a hurry, so it would just serve as a light lunch.

One of my favorite foods is chicken satay, and I blame Saladang Song for this. I first had chicken satay with peanut sauce here at this restaurant so long ago, so that is what I ordered. Imagine my surprise when I got my plate and saw all of this food!

My goodness! Besides three satay skewers…

it also came with fried calamari

Salad with peanut dressing

and fried rice.

And look at how generous the portions were! All of this for only $8.95! Say what?!?!

It was all good. It was all very good. Definitely my most favorite Thai restaurant ever. It’s funny because in my youth, I thought Saladang Song was the best restaurant in the world. Hehe! I realize that was my age talking. Now my favorite restaurant is located in Canada, how things change, right?

After eating my lunch I remembered that they used to give you a scoop of ice cream with your meal. This still stands! Chocolate Chip FTW!

I also remembered that they individually wrapped their dinner mints. Ahh, not much has changed here at Saladang Song! I can’t wait to go back.

Saladang Song

363 S Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91105

Nick and Joe’s New York Pizza, Canyon Country REVISITED

So, a while back I blogged about my favorite hidden gem pizza place in Canyon Country called Nick and Joe’s Pizza From the Bronx. Remember I ate that whole 14″ pizza by myself? Not only was I hungry, but the pizza was awesome!

However, something was always missing from my Nick and Joe’s experience. Something I had frequently heard about from my foodie friends and was secretly jealous of. Apparently I had never met Nick…or Joe! Well all of that changed today! After work I met RE there for a quick after school snack. We wanted a sandwich because Lisa had raved about them and we all know how hard it is to find a legit Italian sandwich in town. Mike, don’t even think about mentioning Italia…

Guess who was working today? Nick! He is the owner and he is from New York (complete with accent and personality) and he is really what makes this place special. I see it now. Go in there when Nick is working. I promise you your experience will be great! This is his wife, by the way.

Not only was Nick super nice and very chatty, but he also knows about food! He explained to me that the peppers he puts into his meatball sandwich are the best. When I explained that I don’t eat peppers (or vegetables) he didn’t miss a beat and pretty much let me know that I had to try them. I didn’t want to say no to Nick, but you all know how much I dislike peppers, amiright? 

As we waited for our meal, Nick walked out to the seating area and over to a plant on one of the tables. What? This is some FL shiz up in here. The chef went out to the plant to get some fresh basil for the meatball sandwich. We had to get a picture of this! That is when he explained that it tastes the best this way and he even gave me a piece of basil to eat! How awesome, right?

Since Nick noticed that RE was camera happy, he asked if we wanted to take a picture of our food as it was being cooked. Look Daphne’s! A local restaurant owner that knows the value of photographs! I love this place! Now, let me explain the camera situation. I forgot my SLR at home today, which I never do! I would love to say that I took these photos, but the credit goes to RE. I think she said I could borrow her photos though…anyway, here is a closer look. I was still dreading the peppers, but I had to admit it smelled wonderful!

Finally our sandwiches arrived and I was excited! The bread was toasted, the filling was fresh, and the cheese was melted. Although I debated removing the peppers, I figured maybe Nick was on to something so I took a bite.

O. M. G. 

Here are the cheese and no cheese versions. Wow! Did I mention THE BREAD WAS TOASTED! As if that wasn’t enough? Pickles. PICKLES! You know how much I love pickles with my sandwiches. OMG. This was amazing. The best meatball sandwich in Santa Clarita. I’m totally calling it. Italia has NOTHING on this place. NOTHING.

I ate it all. Even with the peppers! I didn’t mind them one bit! This doesn’t mean that I like peppers, it just means that Nick knows how to prepare them! I pretty much devoured that sandwich fairly quickly, and the size was really decent for the price!

As we got ready to leave, we saw Nick cooking some other stuff and of course got curious. Turns out he makes “the best lasagna” which he was serving to a customer. I love lasagna so I will definitely have to come back and try it. 

And how about that garlic bread? I am definitely going to have to order a side of that!

I remember we talked about having a big group lunch here one day and I’m starting to think its a great idea. I want to try his non pizza items because I imagine everything is great! He was telling us how he makes his sauces and how great his pasta is. The more formal sit down place next door is on hold for now, and the pizza part is very casual. It is your local pizza place and is nothing fancy, just very down to earth and a very low key atmosphere. If you like good food and an experience, definitely give this place a try. If Nick is working, then you are in for a treat! I wish all local business owners had this much character!

If anyone would like to join me, I will be back at Nick and Joe’s on Monday after work because they are introducing legit NY Style Hot Dogs. They call them “frankfurters” according to Nick and apparently they will be awesome! Can’t wait!

Nick & Joe’s Pizzeria

18921 Soledad Canyon Rd.

Canyon Country, CA 91351

Nick and Joe’s Website

The Cupcake Tree! Brand New Cupcake Shop in Canyon Country

Christmas has come early my friends! We have a LEGIT (to the max) cupcake shop to call our own here in Santa Clarita! How many times have you heard me vent about the lack of a local bakeries? Well, it stops now!

Had it not been for my new favorite cupcake enabler Andreanna, I wouldn’t have known this place existed because it isn’t in my path. I think I have developed a reputation as a cupcake addict due to this post and the effort in actually organizing a cupcake tasting. Anyway, I rarely visit this shopping center. The last time I was here was when we went to Cold Stone after “the most memorable meal of 2009“. I remember that there used to be a lovely bakery at this same location years ago that sold cheesecake bon bons of some sort.

Back to the epic cupcakes! Stepping in, it becomes obvious that this place has just opened, but already it seems to be a hit. Their menu board boasts a grand assortment of cupcakes! Seasonal items too! I can’t wait until December because I am totally first in line for the Mrs. Clause (with peppermint).

During my first visit, some random lady walked in to check out the goods and proceeded to bitch about the price. Woman, please! If you are going to complain about paying $3.25 for a cupcake go eat another big mac or sumshit. I wish she could realize how ignorant she sounded. I am all about paying a few bucks for a legit cupcake for a couple of reasons:

#1: Let me start with the obvious.  I love cupcakes and I can’t bake. That’s at least worth $1.50

#2: Ingredients. If someone is charging more than a dollar for cupcakes that is because the ingredients that go into it are top quality. Nothing I can go out and buy at Pavillions. There’s $2.00.

#3: The frosting. I’m expecting the frosting to be made in house. None of that Pillsbury container stuff. For me, the frosting is worth more than the batter because in my opinion, what really makes a cupcake is the frosting. Easily $2.00

#4: The bread. I’m expecting them to make their own batter and not going the Sandra Lee route. That’s worth at least $1.50.

So, that comes out to $7! For me, an excellent cupcake is a steal at only $2.95-$3.25 each. Well, let me clarify that statement. It is only worth it if the cupcake is amazing. I’ve paid $3.25 for a failtastic cupcake before and it was not a good feeling.

I digress! Back to these cupcakes. I went before lunch and was really pleasantly surprised to see a locally owned shop that was baking these fabulous cupcakes in house. Many flavors were not available because they had sold out (awesome) or were still being baked (epic). There is a little window where you can see where the baking takes place. Did I mention how wonderful the smell was? It smelled just like a cupcake bakery should smell! It actually smelled a little like my favorite, Sprinkles. Loved it.

I love that they seem to bake in small batches, just like Sprinkles. That ensures freshness for sure. On my first visit of the day (yeah I went there twice in one day. Don’t judge), I only tried the carrot cake and the key lime. Wow. Just. Wow. It tasted totally homemade and the carrot cake? Um. Pretty much the best. It was a lot lighter than the one from Sprinkles. That’s the one pictured above. The one pictured below is the lime and it was perfection. Especially because both the frosting AND the cake part had lime flavors. I know that was one complaint we had about that other local cupcake place we like.

I already liked this place, but I didn’t feel this visit would be complete if I didn’t try my all time favorite flavor, Red Velvet. It turns out they had just come out of the oven and needed time to set before being frosted. I figured I could go get lunch and come back.

So, I did come back about an hour later and the place was PACKED! There was a line about 10 people long, and some people (like me) were repeat customers! That has to mean something, right? There were more options out in the cases, and the people in front of me were ordering a root beer flavored cupcake that was freshly frosted. I love root beer, but I’m not that adventurious when it comes to cupcakes. So I just ended up photographing it…well at least half of it.

I must have ended up trying about 5 different cupcakes today, and the best were definitely the carrot and key lime. The chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet were definitely very good, but not the best I’ve ever had. The chocolate one is like a hostess cupcake and Bake You Happy is still the leader in that regard. Big Man Bakes still has the best vanilla cupcake, and he is also tied with Sprinkles for best Red Velvet.

Honestly? I am very happy to have this local cupcake shop around. It was definitely needed in the SCV. Do I wish it was closer to home in Valencia? Of course I do. However, it is somewhat close to work so it should be easy for me to stop by when I’m craving a lovely homemade cupcake. I previously declared Bake You Happy the best cupcakes in Santa Clarita, but that was before this place opened up. BYH is more of a gourmet cupcake bakery and their goods look very dainty and neat, while The Cupcake Tree is more of a homestyle bakery, and they actually have a storefront. I am going to say that these two bakeries are TIED for best SCV cupcakes. They compliment each other very well and are different enough that you could enjoy the variety that both provide.

The Cupcake Tree is open until 11pm for you late night movie goers! What an excellent movie treat, don’t you think? Definitely make it a point to stop by if you are a cupcake lover. You will not be disappointed. For those of you that love to support local business, here is yet another chance! By the way? Cupcakes make an excellent holiday gift!

The Cupcake Tree

(right next to Edwards Cinema in Canyon Country)

18836 Soledad Canyon Rd.

Santa Clarita, CA 91351

New Moon MADNESS, Edwards Cinema, Johnny Rockets, Chipotle, Valencia

So, you all know how I feel about the Twilight Saga. I do not like. I think it sends a bad message to teenage girls, glorifies unhealthy relationships (Sam and his fiance, anyone?), and lacks many crucial elements needed within a story. Bella as a Mary Sue, anyone? Yes, I have read the books. I also think it ruined the whole vampire folklore that I have enjoyed since I was a child and I was reading Anne Rice novels when I was probably much to young to be doing so. The thing is, most of my students are into Twilight so at least I’m informed on the matter. I could go on for days on what I think about Twilight and all the symbolism that can be found within. Blame CSUN for causing me to over analyze literature…

My BFF “S” has the same opinion about Twilight as I do and she pretty much agreed to go see New Moon with me. We went to see Twilight on opening day last year and pretty much laughed through the whole thing. It was pretty hilarious and the dialogue between Edward and Bella was pretty unbearable. Although she was reluctant to see New Moon on opening day we made it out to Edwards in Valencia Friday night, only to be met with people lined up just about everywhere. So many people! It was like a jr high campus! Augh!!!

We figured that there would be a lot of our former students there and that is why S wore a hat and tried to go in disguise. I wasn’t so quick to think and so I ended up being recognized. A lot. Even though we had tickets for the 8pm showing, we figured that if we got there at 6pm we could eat and then go in to see the movie. Well, guess what? People were already lined up for the 8pm showing when we got there a little after 6pm. The line was already really long and we were really hungry! So S pretty much stood in line with the fans and I went to Johnny Rockets to get food. She’s a trooper!

The photos are not the best because I was sitting at the counter waiting to order/pick up food and I was trying to be sneaky…with my SLR. It wasn’t easy! Trust! So imagine the moves it took to try to take a picture of the sign taped on the register:

Attention Guests:

We want to thank you for your support and loyalty and at the same time we want to let you know that there’s been a change in ownership and management. However we will continue to deliver the same great service as always.

Once again, thank you for your support.

Thank goodness! The old manager had mad issues, in my opinion. He was just not that nice. Basically, I used to go to Johnny Rockets because Adam Levine was the most awesome waiter ever. Does he even work there anymore? I haven’t seen him in a very long time. Anyway, let me just say…the new owner? Awesome! He was on top of everything the night I was there and the place was packed! I don’t think Johnny Rockets had ever seen that many customers in one night – thanks to New Moon. They also seem to have some new employees, and the young man that helped me out was very nice and attentive. S and I had to eat our stuff to go, and there are a couple of things we noticed. First of all, the hamburgers automatically come with fries now! Love it! Also, the onion rings? They were excellent!!! I will definitely be coming back to Johnny Rockets more often now.

On the way out, even though I was carrying a bag full of food, I could not resist checking out the new Chipotle. Its amazing that we went from no Chipotle to 1, and now three in only a couple of years. I remember my first visit to Chipotle was all the way at the Beverly Center many years ago.

Back to the movie! Eventually we were led inside, which only meant more waiting. Around 7:30 we were finally allowed in the theater and we quickly claimed the seats on the back row away from the screaming young girls.

And that is when I was finally able to photograph something I have noticed the last two times I have been to the theater. They now bring a concession cart inside? When did this happen? So I thought maybe getting a water would be good. I’m not reluctant to spend money on good food, but even I was shocked at paying $4.50 for a bottle of water. Woah.

Once the previews started, I had to take a picture of this. S and I turned to each other and said NATE! How hilarious would it be to watch this with him? Lulz for days! You might not know what this is a preview for…but Nate should know…

So basically the movie starts and these really young girls start screaming. We expected that, so no surprise. After that? Honestly? The movie dragged on and on and I tuned out parts of it. It didn’t even bring the laughs! It was a good reflection of the book, but there wasn’t any follow through on some things. I liked that they showed that Bella tried to kill herself because Edward left. Such a bad message to send young girls! Girls need to know that the world will not end if your boyfriend leaves you in the woods alone and without a proper goodbye…and he says horrible things to you…he’s probably just not worth your time!

Some girls next to us were at the edge of their seats, and one girl cried as Edward made his move. For reals. They were shocked. I almost wish he did walk out into the sun.

The scene with Bella was pretty much the only action in the film and it wasn’t that exciting.

This guy was pretty good in the movie. Almost like he was a real actor or something! Lulz!

I remember hearing all this talk about Dakota Fanning being in this. She was only in it for like 2 seconds and only had a couple of lines. She looked pretty creepy though.

FINALLY after what seemed like forever and a day…the movie ended and it was met with cheers and chanting of OMG OMG OMG, which was followed by girls sharing what their favorite part was. I’ll tell you my favorite part…the one with Jessica. She is the only voice of reason in this whole mess. Team Jessica FTW!

Yaki Kui Lunch FAIL of EPIC Proportion, Canyon Country

It seems like all of my friends (and random people on Yelp) love Yaki Kui. I may never understand why. I had been to Yaki Kui during their grand opening week for lunch, and honestly? Was not impressed. It was just bleh, so I never went back…until today.

Since I was going to make my way over to Canyon Country for cupcakes, I decided to have lunch at Yaki Kui because I was curious to see if anything had changed. Sure, it had been years since I’d been there, and everyone raves about it…I’m always up for asian fusion…I was excited to join the Yaki Kui love bandwagon.

I was going to order a lunch special, but was tempted by the thought of all you can eat. Now, this blog may give the wrong impression of me, but I don’t really eat that much…honest. However, I do eat enough to get my money’s worth at AYCE places. Gogi House, I’m talking to you. Anyway, for $17.95 you can choose from salads, appetizers, meat, and seafood. If you pay $2 more then you can order mussels (my most favorite) and salmon. I figured I could do without those items and just get the lunch price.

This proceeded to be one of the most awkward and uncomfortable lunch experiences in Santa Clarita. First of all, the place was dirty. We are talking dirty to the point of stickiness on the table and the floor. FAIL. Everything that we ate was not good, although most was edible. By the way, is this place related to TODAI in any way? You know TODAI, the ultimate asian buffet place? Weird!

So it is all you can eat, but the ordering process (at least today) was awkward. Like they were doubting everything I was ordering and I barely even ordered anything! Gyoza, which I ate. Followed by salad.

And some mixed tempura.

And this was all for 2 people, so I don’t feel that I ordered too much, even though I totally got that vibe from the staff. Everything was sweet, and I love sweet! However, did I mention that EVERYTHING tasted sweet? It was really weird.

This was the kimchi that according to my lunch friend did not taste very fresh at all. It didn’t look very fresh either, and even though I personally don’t eat kimchi, I have seen enough to know what it should probably look like. It smelled weird too.

And these were the vegetables that came with our meat. When it came time to order the meat, we ordered only two varieties. This came out first:

At this point we were really uncomfortable and wanted to leave. Even though we were paying almost $20 for this lunch, we didn’t feel it was worth it, and maybe we should just cut our losses and leave. We just wanted to get out of there but maybe the meat would change everything…

Yeah, it didn’t change much. We eat ate a piece of meat that was really bad and pretty much called it a day, paid, and left. I wont be giving this place a 3rd try…ever. As for the rest of you that love this place, maybe I went on an off day or I ordered wrong, but it was pretty much full of FAIL from start to finish. Yuck! Gogi House will continue to be my AYCE go-to place in town.

Yaki Kui

19158 Soledad Canyon Rd
Canyon Country, CA 91351
(661) 252-1002

Panera Bread, Canyon Country

I am a somewhat frequent visitor to Panera, Valencia because I like soup in general and I like it even more when it is served in a bread bowl. However, every time I have been to Panera, Valencia? Something goes wrong. I’ve come to expect it and I always say I’m never going back. However, you can’t find bread bowl soup just anywhere in the SCV, so I usually put up with it. I’m not saying Panera is the best place to get soup, duh. The Valencia location just happens to be super convenient.

Nate (aka The Artist) always says that he goes to Panera, Canyon Country so I got curious. Would this new Panera be different than Valencia? Since I was in that part of town the other night I set out to look for it after a long long long day at work. I needed soup in a bread bowl and I needed it ASAP! Well, turns out Panera, Canyon Country is a bit out of the way, but I found it (eventually) across from the new Canyon Country Target. 

First impression? IT WAS HUGE! Second impression? IT WAS REALLY NICE! Third impression? THE SERVICE WAS AWESOME! It actually smelled like bread and it was bright and there were plenty of sections and a variety of seating options. When I ordered, the young man working was very nice and polite! I asked for my usual, soup, breadbowl, side of jelly. For the first time ever (Valencia doesn’t have enough common sense to ask – they usually just punch it in the register) the worker (politely) asked what was up with the jelly. When I explained, he totally got it and didn’t charge me extra! In Valencia it is hit or miss. Sometimes I am charged for the mini side of jelly, other times I’m not.

After ordering, I set out to look for a place to sit. I needed a plug, but I also wanted privacy. I have started to realize that having my first name painted on my MacBook Air, may not be the wisest idea. I needed a corner and I found it by the door.

My soup was delivered to my table promptly and by a genuinely friendly employee. My smoothie also came promptly and was full of that awesome mango taste! The bread, however, was the true standout. This bread bowl was definitely different than the Valencia one.

I don’t even know how to begin to describe it but it tasted fresh and the bread was at the perfect consistency. I ate it all, and I don’t mean just the soup. I felt like such a pig for eating the whole bread bowl (I never do that) but it tasted so wonderful! Don’t judge.

Ok, here is my big Panera secret…and the reason behind the side of jelly with my soup. They always serve it with the “lid” on the side, and why let that piece go to waste? So, I consider it dessert, and I eat the “lid” part with butter and jelly. I’ve been doing this for years and it never gets old. OMG I can’t believe I just admitted it.

Anyway, Panera Bread – Canyon Country totally PWNS Panera Bread – Valencia.

The End.

Panera Bread

19185 Golden Valley Rd
Santa Clarita, CA 91387-1428
(661) 298-3333