August was such an event-filled month full of tastings and media events! It might be a long post but I wanted to showcase the amazing food and give credit to the restaurants and hosts from each event I was fortunate to be a part of!
1) Spread Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA) - @foodwithseoul
We came to try their special menu to kick off the 2016 Olympics. They showcased items from their Mezze Hour Menu. I got to try their Mini Braised Beef Tacos, Crispy Lamb Nachos, and Falafel. I loved this menu as I love Mediterranean food, but my favorite items were the nachos! For their cocktails, I got to try the Hibiscus Rum Punch and Fig Fashioned. Both drinks were very delicious and unique, as I have never had a hibiscus flavored drink or had a Fig Newton paired with a drink before!
2) Enjoyer (Topanga, CA and Glendale, CA) - 2nd visit invited by @misspiggieeats
While I was on a trip to Monterey, CA, Enjoyer contacted me to stop by any of their locations, and since I would be driving from Northern California, we decided to visit the Westfield Topanga location on our way home. They had such a cute cart and had so many gelato bars in stock. From this visit, I received a cartoon draw by one of the employees, and also got to take a few bars home in a cute lunch bag! I really liked the Passion Fruit, Strawberry Yogurt, Pina Colada, Mango, and Blue Vanilla flavors!
It was awesome to get invited a second time, this time by @misspiggieeats, to check out the location at the Glendale Galleria. During this visit, I sampled one of their new flavors, Lavender Blackberry. We all took turns trying different ways to display the gelato bars for our pictures, and each got to take home 6 gelato bars in a lunch bag. My new favorites from this trip were Lavender Blackberry, Coffee, Watermelon, Passionfruit with Strawberry, and Mojito!
3) Poke Factory (City of Industry, CA) - @lillian.eats
Poke Factory wanted to share with us their revamped menu, which included poke nachos, pokerito (poke burrito in soy paper or seaweed wrap), poke tacos, musubi, and sour apple and mango ice. Of course we got to try their amazing Dole Whip! I loved their fresh ingredients in each item, and I enjoyed adding in pineapples to my poke bowl! From this visit, I could tell that their menu is very creative and innovative, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next. Keep up the great work!
4) Rakken Tacos (Commerce, CA) - @foodwithseoul
Rakken Tacos had always been a place I wanted to try because of their Asian Fusion menu items. During this event, we were able to try some of their newest items, such as the Chickien Curry Taco, Mini Bello Taco, Pork Belly Taco, Butter Shrimp Taco, Butter Shrimp Fries, and Mango Shrimp Ceviche. The tacos were all very savory and appetizing. The flavors exceeded my expectations and all of the ingredients were great quality. I can't wait to come back!
5) Sake Tori (Los Angeles, CA) - @waltzinthestreet
I came across some amazing photos from @waltzinthestreet, and after chatting a bit, he invited me to come to this tasting event, featuring the chef's special choice menu and Yobo Soju; it was the first time Yobo Suju would be served in L.A., so it was definitely a a cause for celebration! We also took home some Gochujang Sauce and Sake Tori T-shirts! The food was excellent in quality, taste and presentation. The menu included sashimi, takoyaki, sukiyaki, pork belly, and yakitori skewers! I had a great time here with the variety of food we got to eat and the great company.
6) Zero Degrees (Westminster, CA) - @foodwithkevin
I had been a big fan of Zero Degrees for years, but never visited the original location in Westminster until this event. We all tried a little bit of everything from their selection of desserts, like the Mangonada, Spicy Dole Whip, S'mores Sundae, Milk n Cereal Sundae, and Potted Sundae. They also served a variety of drinks, such as their House Coffee, Matchata, and Strawberry/Raspberry/Orange Mojitos. It was my first time trying their Spicy Dole Whip, and it became my new favorite item! I'll be coming back soon!
7) Coral Tree Cafe (Beverly Hills, CA) - @maggieeats
I was so grateful to be invited to try a new restaurant in Beverly Hills. When I am in the area, I would usually go to Le Pain Quotidien or Panini Cafe. Coral Tree Cafe was promoting their newest location as well as their BYOB options; they also recently obtained their liquor license. We ordered pretty much everything from their menu! They had a great menu that included sandwiches, salads, pastas and fresh squeezed juices. My favorite items were their Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Curried Chicken Sandwich. and Skuna Bay Salmon. It was such a cute cafe and I could definitely see it becoming a popular brunch spot!
8) La Vida Cantina (Costa Mesa, CA) - @foodwithkevin
Speaking of brunch, my last event in August was at this amazing restaurant in the Triangle Square in Costa Mesa! I loved the La Vida Nachos, Izzy's French Toast, Ceviche de Camaron, Steak and Eggs, and Carne Asada Fries. It was a spectacular spread! We had a great time with our mimosas and I loved the cool and trendy ambiance of this restaurant. I put this on my bookmarks to come back for a future brunch!
It has been such an exciting adventure discovering restaurants I have never been to, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I hope you enjoyed my August recap and I promise I will be quicker with posting the next one.