A good friend of mine, Drew Hayashida, took me to the Smoke House in Burbank the week of Thanksgiving. Not only did this restaurant have delicious food, but a little bit of history resides there since it was a place that Walt Disney had dined at before. It's not anything fancy to look at from the outside, but the food is great and the service is delightful. Here are my thoughts on it:
*You must order the garlic cheese bread. Now it's not like American cheese melted on bread, but more of a powder that makes it really yummy. Drew and I ordered only half a loaf and to be honest we probably could have finished a whole loaf. :)
*I ordered the chicken and avocado sandwich and it was huge! Very delicious with the chipotle sauce on it... in fact I could have used more of it. Drew had the prime rib sandwich which was equally as large.
*They take reservations. So, if you might want to give them a call in advance if you're planning on going down there just in case.
Has anyone else been there before? If so, what did you think? A penny for your thoughts?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sanrio Small Gift Event - Santa Monica, CA
What can I say... I love Hello Kitty! When I was younger, my mom used to reward me with Sanrio merchandise for good grades. I loved picking out all the school supplies... the pencils, pens, notebooks, etc. Decades later and this kitty still has a special place in my heart. Here are my thoughts on the Small Gift Event that is touring the nation:
*The line for merchandise was the longest line at the event! When we finally got inside, I found out why there was still so much stuff left to buy... it was very expensive. By very expensive I mean that a backpack cost $180. And no, it wasn't made of diamonds. There were a few less expensive items so I was able to buy a couple of souvenirs. The catch was that they weren't selling any of these things on their website or in their stores.
*The Smart Cars were adorable! If I had some extra money lying around, I would definitely be buying one and driving it around everywhere! At around $17,000 a car, I think I'll have to pass on this... for now.
*The mini art gallery was cool to look at. I don't know if I would have bought any of the art, but I did enjoy it. The few things the gallery had for sale (small random items) were way overpriced and not worth it in my opinion... things such as shaped soap and a few fashion jewelry pieces.
*The fair booth prizes were not that great. There were geared towards young children which would have been fine except there were more adults there than children. They needed to cater to an older crowd.
*Here is my favorite info that I learned at the event... Sephora will be launching a Hello Kitty line of products in January 2011. Yes, I will probably be lining up for this debut. ;)
Hello Kitty is still the most popular cat in the world. What Hello Kitty events or info would you like to share? A penny for your thoughts?
*The line for merchandise was the longest line at the event! When we finally got inside, I found out why there was still so much stuff left to buy... it was very expensive. By very expensive I mean that a backpack cost $180. And no, it wasn't made of diamonds. There were a few less expensive items so I was able to buy a couple of souvenirs. The catch was that they weren't selling any of these things on their website or in their stores.
*The Smart Cars were adorable! If I had some extra money lying around, I would definitely be buying one and driving it around everywhere! At around $17,000 a car, I think I'll have to pass on this... for now.
*The mini art gallery was cool to look at. I don't know if I would have bought any of the art, but I did enjoy it. The few things the gallery had for sale (small random items) were way overpriced and not worth it in my opinion... things such as shaped soap and a few fashion jewelry pieces.
*The fair booth prizes were not that great. There were geared towards young children which would have been fine except there were more adults there than children. They needed to cater to an older crowd.
*Here is my favorite info that I learned at the event... Sephora will be launching a Hello Kitty line of products in January 2011. Yes, I will probably be lining up for this debut. ;)
Hello Kitty is still the most popular cat in the world. What Hello Kitty events or info would you like to share? A penny for your thoughts?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Slaters 50/50 - Anaheim Hills, CA
Wow. Now I have had people tell me that they know of the best burger joint in town, but this was ridiculous! If you want an amazing burger (and other types of food also), visit Slaters 50/50 in Anaheim Hills. I liked bacon before this visit, but now I think I just might be a bacon lover. Thank you Allison for introducing me to this amazing place! Here are my thoughts on what you should order when visiting this place:
*You need to try the 50/50 patty. What is that you ask? It's a patty made of half of ground beef and half bacon. Yes, you heard me correctly... half bacon! I know it may sound a little too greasy, but it is delicious. Be prepared for it to be well done (because of the bacon), however I noticed my meat was still a little pink the middle.
*If you're gonna do it, do it all the way. Put the bacon flavored mayo on it. They don't put it on very heavy, so you might want to ask for a little extra on the side.
*Order the half and half fries... half regular french fries and half sweet potato fries. They were yummy, but my attention was mostly on the pumpkin flavored dipping sauce on the side. I know it sounds strange, but sweet potato fries + pumpkin sauce = wow! Just don't put on the bacon flavored salt. That's a bad flavor you just can't get away from fast enough.
*Try one of their already styled burgers or make your own. I decided to make my own: 1/3 pound patty, honey wheat bun, bacon flavored mayo, grilled onions, pesto goat cheese, baby greens, tomato and pickles. I must say I did a good job with the toppings because my mouth was watering the whole time.
*I recommend the tangerine wheat beer. If you like Hef or Blue Moon, this will appeal to your palate.
Needless to say, I will be visiting again! For more information, visit http://www.slaters5050.com/.
Have you been there before? A penny for your thoughts?
*You need to try the 50/50 patty. What is that you ask? It's a patty made of half of ground beef and half bacon. Yes, you heard me correctly... half bacon! I know it may sound a little too greasy, but it is delicious. Be prepared for it to be well done (because of the bacon), however I noticed my meat was still a little pink the middle.
*If you're gonna do it, do it all the way. Put the bacon flavored mayo on it. They don't put it on very heavy, so you might want to ask for a little extra on the side.
*Order the half and half fries... half regular french fries and half sweet potato fries. They were yummy, but my attention was mostly on the pumpkin flavored dipping sauce on the side. I know it sounds strange, but sweet potato fries + pumpkin sauce = wow! Just don't put on the bacon flavored salt. That's a bad flavor you just can't get away from fast enough.
*Try one of their already styled burgers or make your own. I decided to make my own: 1/3 pound patty, honey wheat bun, bacon flavored mayo, grilled onions, pesto goat cheese, baby greens, tomato and pickles. I must say I did a good job with the toppings because my mouth was watering the whole time.
*I recommend the tangerine wheat beer. If you like Hef or Blue Moon, this will appeal to your palate.
Needless to say, I will be visiting again! For more information, visit http://www.slaters5050.com/.
Have you been there before? A penny for your thoughts?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Aquarium of the Pacific - Long Beach, CA
There is something tranquil about watching sea life in an aquarium. Although it's not very large in size, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has a quaint feeling to it which I actually like. Their exhibits are easy to navigate and the presentations are not just for show, but are quite educational. It really showcases the more local sea life and offers suggestions on how we can better protect it. Here are some fun facts about this location:
*Feeding the lorakeets is pretty fun. Nectar costs $3 for a small cup, but it will guarantee some good pictures with the birds. Disclaimer here... be prepared to possibly be pooped on. What can you expect after they spend most of their day drinking nectar? :) Also, be careful when trying to handle the birds. They can get a bit agressive if you are trying to hold them and you have no food.
*Check out the sea lion/seal feeding which is a cute presentation. Don't expect a show like you would see at Sea World, however it's great to see them doing different behaviors and learning how these behaviors help when the staff are trying to do medical checks.
*Don't bother with the shark feeding. You can't really see a lot from either view of the tank. It's pretty much just some employees giving the sharks pieces of fish and squid via trash pickers and tongs. However, check out the huge sting ray in the shark tank. Can you say holy cow that's an over 200 pound sting ray?
*Fun activity for the kids... or in my case for me being a really big kid - visit each of the stations labeled in the map. They aren't stamps, but stations where you can get the map embossed. Just remember to put in only one page or you'll end up with your whole booklet embossed... trust me, I know. :)
For more information visit http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/.
A penny for your thoughts?
*Feeding the lorakeets is pretty fun. Nectar costs $3 for a small cup, but it will guarantee some good pictures with the birds. Disclaimer here... be prepared to possibly be pooped on. What can you expect after they spend most of their day drinking nectar? :) Also, be careful when trying to handle the birds. They can get a bit agressive if you are trying to hold them and you have no food.
*Check out the sea lion/seal feeding which is a cute presentation. Don't expect a show like you would see at Sea World, however it's great to see them doing different behaviors and learning how these behaviors help when the staff are trying to do medical checks.
*Don't bother with the shark feeding. You can't really see a lot from either view of the tank. It's pretty much just some employees giving the sharks pieces of fish and squid via trash pickers and tongs. However, check out the huge sting ray in the shark tank. Can you say holy cow that's an over 200 pound sting ray?
*Fun activity for the kids... or in my case for me being a really big kid - visit each of the stations labeled in the map. They aren't stamps, but stations where you can get the map embossed. Just remember to put in only one page or you'll end up with your whole booklet embossed... trust me, I know. :)
For more information visit http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/.
A penny for your thoughts?
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Affordable Treasures - Bellflower, CA
When it comes to shopping, sometimes it's about the hunt and finding that hidden treasure that you didn't even know you were looking for. That is what brought me to Affordable Treasures in Bellflower... that and the fact that David wanted to finally check this place out since he had driven past it many times. They consider themselves to be "the quality thrift store" (as says on their flyer) and I must admit that they do carry a wide variety of items that are very reasonable in price. Here are a few things I learned about this shop:
*They have different specials each month that give you additional savings. While we were there, they had a clothing deal where you could get 20 items for $5.50. That's insane even by thrift store standards!
*The people working are very friendly and helpful. They make extra efforts to keep as organized as possible and they know their merchandise. Now that may not sound that amazing, but believe me when I say it has to be hard to have any type of organization with that much random stuff.
*The proceeds from the store go towards Christian organizations including a school. Help the community by making some purchases.
For more information, please visit their website at http://www.affordabletreasures.org/.
A penny for your thoughts?
*They have different specials each month that give you additional savings. While we were there, they had a clothing deal where you could get 20 items for $5.50. That's insane even by thrift store standards!
*The people working are very friendly and helpful. They make extra efforts to keep as organized as possible and they know their merchandise. Now that may not sound that amazing, but believe me when I say it has to be hard to have any type of organization with that much random stuff.
*The proceeds from the store go towards Christian organizations including a school. Help the community by making some purchases.
For more information, please visit their website at http://www.affordabletreasures.org/.
A penny for your thoughts?
The Original Pancake House - Anaheim, CA
Pancakes aren't just for breakfast anymore. I have found this restaurant to be one of my favorite lunch spots where I walk away feeling completely satisfied. They have quite the variety of pancakes as well as syrup flavors. Just keep in mind that their hours are a little more limited compared to the average place (I believe they close around 2pm), but it's definitely worth the visit. Here are some tips:
*You can always order a half order of any of their pancakes. Trust me when I say that a half order is plenty to eat. However, if you want left overs by all means get the full order and take some home.
*I'm not a huge fan of the flavored syrups, but I would recommend experimenting beyond the regular buttermilk pancakes. Pumpkin, blueberry, banana... you name it, they are all amazing!
*Be prepared for a little bit of a wait if you go during the traditional breakfast hours, especially if it's on the weekend. For less of a wait, visit on a weekday during lunch time.
There is also an Original Pancake House in Aliso Viejo which is equally as good. I'm not 100% sure if they're part of the same chain, but it seems like it. Bon appetit!
*You can always order a half order of any of their pancakes. Trust me when I say that a half order is plenty to eat. However, if you want left overs by all means get the full order and take some home.
*I'm not a huge fan of the flavored syrups, but I would recommend experimenting beyond the regular buttermilk pancakes. Pumpkin, blueberry, banana... you name it, they are all amazing!
*Be prepared for a little bit of a wait if you go during the traditional breakfast hours, especially if it's on the weekend. For less of a wait, visit on a weekday during lunch time.
There is also an Original Pancake House in Aliso Viejo which is equally as good. I'm not 100% sure if they're part of the same chain, but it seems like it. Bon appetit!
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