Barbarella- La jolla

Always a festive spirit, Barbarella's in La jolla has a best of both worlds: wood fired oven pizzas and the sounds and smells of the nearby beach!






With a local Italian flare, specials of the night include specialty pizzas. Topped with a little prociutto, Parmesan cheese and thin fired crust, fantastic:



Paired with a bibb lettuce salad, Topped with crumbled blue cheese...



A whole roasted stone style fish is always a preparation of the day. On this occasion, a whole bass, with seasoned lemon... Simply delicious:





Not to forget, a variety of california wines, a spicy zinfandel.. Phenemenal




Definitely competing with Piatti's as the local spot for La Jolla adventures...


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Manohar's -Hacienda Heights

Off the 60 freeway in a suburb of LA called Hacienda Heights, is a sprawling complex of dim sum, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese foods. Transformed over the last 20 years, the assortment of Asian food options is quite exciting.

On a short trip to the heights, a new Indian place was discovered. Tucked between a carneceria and a strip mall off of Azusa, pleasantly surprised.

The decor was nothing fabulous, Bollywood dance moves were playing in the background on large plasmas decorating the establishment. But strong potent spices were emerging from the kitchen.

Tandori chicken, marinaded to a tasty flavor, sizzled with fresh lemon..


Chicken tikka masala, a creamy coconut, tomato and turmeric sauce was delicious, smoky buttery and fabulous. The bhurtha, a stewed eggplant cooked in garlic and tomato with cumin and coriander and vegetable bryani rice were also flavorful and satisfying.


The lamb vindaloo, a spicy dish with a strong combination of vinegar and several different chilis was also fantastic, chunks of lamb marinaded to a tender perfection. The chicken saag, garlic infused chicken stewed with spinach, cream and array of spices...


Surprisingly, a great find. A great unexpected pleasure...You'll emerge from the restaurant in a garlic cloud :)

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French cuisine- Paris

French cuisine has classically held the reign for phenomenal flavors, extravagant preparations and artistic preparatory skills that the movie Julia and Julia recently highlighted. But would that count today?

With rich and savory sauces, creamy camemberts and just about every animal body part you can think of as a food ingredient, french cuisine has not really evolved as much as other cuisines. Take for example the Asian fusion craze of SF and other places, the California cuisine developments of organic local farming or the innovative Asian/American/French/Italian/middle eastern hybrids that you find in top cities like NY, SF, LA and Chicago. Even spain has usurped France in the molecular gastronomique arena.

Still, the flavors of French cuisine have some classic resonance with just about everything that makes your taste buds scream fabulous and fantastique! From beouf bourguignon, to tartares, to foie gras, to bernaise anything, haute cuisine is here to stay :)

The classic beef tartare, raw beef with a hint of scallion, Dijon, capers... Carnivore's delight!


With minced onions, capers and seasonings

Or fish style, done ala salmon with tarragon and hollandaise accents:



And let's not forget the terrines. Similar to Pâté, the interesting forcemeat loaves that you see in local French deli are a colorful site.

But the classic foie gras, served pâté is always light, creamy and richly satisfying:



Seared foie gras with a berry sauce drizzle is absolutely divine!

Local spots can whip up basic and simple dishes, omelettes, steak and frittes and classic salad Nicoise:


Fresh greens, deviled eggs, tomatoes, potato and a healthy serving of tuna with a light vinagrette.




Monster omelettes, ham, mushrooms with Frittes (of course) and a salad.





Quiche with fresh greens...





Absolutely fabulous chicken, juicy and moist and full of red pepper flavor with hash brown potatoes cooked in "seasoned" oil to give it a tater tot crunch!





A supersized version of the steak and frittes ... Each visit, the fries seem to get bigger!





White asparagus with sundried tomatoes and a mousseline sauce.. A heavy creamed sauce with rich butter and dill flavor

Simple seems to be the modern. Take for example a sole baked in butter and flour and sprinkled with lemon...



With baby greens, almost healthy (shhh... Butter doesn't count in France!)... Fabulous

The desserts are definitely to starve for, with rich rhubarb, to mini tarts of just about anything, to the cheeses and chocolates, temptations will overcome..


Raspberry pistachio tart.. Fruity and tart,



Rhubarb tart.. Baked rhubarb decadence...




Diabetics nightmare!




Rich chocolate souffle, warm with gluttonous an decadent interior, light dusted with powdered sugar as if it was an innocent veil :)





Brie to camembert, cheese sampling is a must!

Classic flavors, indulgent calories, and memorable savors, there's a reason why Michelin star chefs get their foundation in French cooking technique. The era of globalization should have some interesting things to deliver or should we say eat!


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Georges - Paris

Sitting in top of tue centre de Pompidou, the MOMA equivalent in Paris, is a fantastic restaurant.

With a modern lofty feel, shiny concrete floors, 18 foot glass walls and minamalistic modern decor, it's quite a treat to dine 6 floors up and have views of the Eiffel tower, arc de triomphe, sacre coure, cathedral of notre dame and the city lights of Paris.

With silvery metallic blob like structures defining new interior dining spaces within the grand space, Georges brings together a fantastic blend of modern ambience with delicious food:








Three young mademoiselles greet you as of they were expecting you all day (so not parisian!). The interior is massive for a restaurant, the menu is interestingly presented on a velour sheet, folded in 4 sections... An interesting presentation for figuring out what you want to eat!


The saint Jacque dish, a scallop appetizer served so thinly sliced topped with baby capers and a lemon olive oil drizzle. Devinely fresh:


The Sole was the fish of choice, simple and baked with butter and flour. Ironically for such a simple preparation, it was excellent, paired with baby French green beans:





Bringing a little Asian flair to the menu, the Tiger dish. Thinly sliced medallions of beef, glazed with a spicy beef sauce, parsley and sesame seeds :


The chocolate fondue lava cake re-interpretation was phenomenal. A mini chocolate souffle with an inner rich melted dark chocolate interior was powdered fresh:


Served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, the hot and cold combo worked well.

The raspberry tart with pistachio was also remarkably prepared. A tartlette with a light pistachio cream top, adorned with plump raspberries and sprinkled with powder sugar... Fabulous:


Georges is a modern take on French cuisine, simple in flavors but complex in taste... The new french. Cliche! And the breathtaking views with a cool and edgy vibe, DJ spinning in the background can't go wrong in Paris.

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Le square frosseau-Paris

For a local French food experience, a comfortable and welcoming French bistro is located in square Frosseau, coincidentally with the same name:





Olives are brought out as complimentary treats, salty black ones and meaty green ones:


The avocado and crab appetizer is a fantastic serving of lime doused avocado with crab and baby shrimp.. Refreshingly delicious:



Classic foi gras, seers with toasted multigrain:


Paté style and not seared, still fresh and fully of fatty flavor..

The atun, a medium rare steal of tuna glazed with a lime infused balsamic vinegar reduction:


Steak tartare traditional, raw beef mixed with Dijon mustard was fabulous..



Paired with pomme frittes, fantastic:



The steak du canard, a hearty meaty portion sizzles it's way to the table:



And for dessert, a chocolate mousse, large enough that it has to be served in a bowl:


For an authentic French cuisine that keeps it to the basics and provides fantastic flavor, a loud and boisterous neighborhood feel, Le square Frosseau welcomes you.

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Café Ruc - paris

Directly a stones throw from the Louvre and the Palais royal, the busy corner has a charming and outdoor bistro offering classic French dishes.

Croque Monsieur, grilled ham and cheese, served with a Dijon glazed balsamic vinaigrette salad:



Warm, toasty and absolutely delicious on a cold spring day.

Real butter makes a difference. A quarter pound dollop per 2 pieces of fresh bread is how Paris does it... All the authenticity of a heart attack in the making, but a pleasurable indulgence:




For a fresh take on things, salmon tartare... Chunky pieces of salmon, drizzled in mustard, chives and tarragon... Fabulous..


The flavors of Paris are just starting to warm up the days of spring!

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Cafe Gitane -NY

Just off the beaten path of the meat packing district is a hotel named Jane Hotel. Rugged and bit of a modern bohemian experience, Cafe Gitane is a French inspired foodspot.



With decor from the french roaring 20's, random Buddha statues and waiters dressed in French sailor striped blue and white T-shirts, basic Mediterranean influenced bites are available for a casual eating or occasional frolicking with friends.



Mediterranean olives topped with spices, olive oil and oranges:


Cheap bottles of borgogne, nothing spectacular but for budget French wine, the list won't break the bank:


Creamy hummous with cucumber and paprika, toasted pita and a fulfilling appetizer:



The roasted eggplant topped with feta cheese, thick and hearty:



For a causal and inexpensive bite near the meat packing district, Cafe Gitane has some comfort plates and airy open atmosphere with tasty bites.


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