Craving Lotus of Siam Thai Restaurant

What do we do when we go on vacation? Eat! Las Vegas allows for food lovers to indulge in a variety of cuisines and many restaurants are accessible in the many hotels on the strip; however, one restaurant that is off the strip and not in a hotel is Lotus of Siam Thai Restaurant. The food offered at this restaurant has got to be the best Thai food I’ve ever had, and I am positive that any one who loves Thai food and has eaten at Lotus will crave it for the rest of his or her life. The last time I was in Vegas was the first time dining at Lotus, and I could not get it out of my mind. The wait could be long, so we made sure to make reservations ahead of time, especially since were a party of 9. A group of friends and I, especially, were eager for the food that already made best buds with my taste-buds. The menu is extensive, but since most of us have been to Lotus before and since there were a few Vegas locals in the group, who are regulars, we ordered what we knew every one would love. The following were some of the dishes that were ordered that I had been dying to eat: the Som Thum (Papaya Salad), Garlic Shrimp, Nam Kao Tod with no meat (Crispy Rice), Pad Thai with Shrimp, Crab Fried Rice, Yellow Curry with Shrimp, Drunken Noodle Seafood, and Chinese Broccoli in oyster sauce. We all shared the mango with sticky rice and fried banana with ice cream (must order!). Before the trip, I was so excited to get the opportunity to eat at Lotus and was glad that I was able to eat such great food with great friends. My cravings were also glad because they left Lotus happy, happy that they got to visit their best Thai friend, best friend forever!

Craving Botero

What is my favorite restaurant in Las Vegas? Botero at the Encore is uh-freakin’-mazing! If I (hypothetically) had to choose only one place to eat dinner all weekend, I’d choose Botero. Last night for dinner, Dreams, Ray, Face, Marshall, my bf and I had a pretty foodgasmic experience. The meal started off with a shrimp tasting sampler, compliments of the chef, and a breadbasket came out with seasoned butter. I had the baby beet salad with warm goat cheese and the table shared a dozen market oysters on the half shell as well as some of the most cravetastic side dishes, the truffle macaroni & cheese, baby artichokes, Botoero fries, and French green beans. Coincidentally, we had the same sever, Daniel, that my bf and I had several times when dining at Botero and he remembered what I usually order, an entree size portion of the steamed Alaskan Crab legs, which are already cracked, cut, and ready for easy (and clean) consumption. Daniel also knocked the oysters off of the bill as well as the most delicious desserts that he picked out for the table: the Lemon Napoleon (lemon pound cake, blueberry ginger compote, lemon curd ice cream), the Milk Chocolate Bon Bon Lollipops (vanilla bean ice cream and hazelnut praline), the S’mores Brioche Doughnuts (toasted marshmallows, chocolate ganache, with dipping sauces), and the lemon and berry sorbets with “Congratulations” spelled out in chocolate fudge because we mentioned that we were in town visiting our friends, Dreams and Ray, and celebrating their pregnancy. I have never had one thing I didn’t like at Botero, and always crave and enjoy having dinner there whenever we’re in town. It would be very difficult for Botero not to be a favorite after a meal like the one I had.

SW Steakhouse Craves and Savors

Doesn’t Las Vegas have some of the best fine dining restaurants jam packed in one city? With the amount of visitors that come to Sin City to gamble, shop, and indulge in a variety of adult entertainment, the Hotels and Restaurants make sure that guests are well fed and that any cravings that our hearts desire can be satisfied. My bf and I flew to Vegas today and had dinner with my bestie Dreams and her husband Ray, and I have been dying to see them. I was on the verge of tears this morning thinking about how excited I was this morning to get to spend time with one of my favorite people in the world, Dreams, who recently shared the news that she is pregnant! We needed to have a celebration dinner, and after some deliberation of where to eat (since there are so many options to chose from), we decided on the SW Steakhouse at the Wynn. During the beginning of the busy memorial weekend, many of the dining hot spots were fully committed, but we were able to get reservations at SW, one of the most popular and raved about restaurants at the Wynn. We started off with the Seafood Spectacular, a chilled selection of the ocean’s finest Maine lobster, king crab legs, jumbo shrimp, oysters, and crab cocktail, along with the BigEye Tuna Ceviche, mango-grapefruit salsa, smoked chile, avocado, and sesame crackers, and the Alaskan King Crab Pasta, made with oyster mushrooms, basil, and Meyer lemon sauce. We shared the Black Truffle Creamed Corn, Brussels Sprouts with Carrots, and SW French Fries side dishes. Dreams and I shared the Roasted Scottish Salmon. For Dessert, we had the Funnel Cake and Strawberries with anglaise, salty caramel and fudge sauce (that was presented like a piece of art, with 6 individual funnel cakes draped like flowers on branches), the Warm Dark Chocolate Brownie made with vanilla parfait, caramelized banana, banana ice cream, and drizzled in warn fudge sauce, and vanilla ice cream. Dinner was amazing, but what I savored more from the night was the time I got to spend with people I love, which I have been craving so much more than the food on the table. While tonight, we ate at what some would consider one of the best places to eat in the many fine dining restaurants in Vegas, the people we ate with were what made the night a dinner at SW to crave and savor.

Craving Newport Seafood Restaurant

When we’re feeling Hangry (Hungry + Angry), what is a sure bet place to eat to make us feel Fappy (Full + Happy)? I’d put my money on Newport Seafood Restaurant in San Gabriel, which is where my bf and I ate w/ our food soul mates and 3 adopted little sisters (Face’s sisters). We were all Hangry to the max, but unless we were the owner’s friend, a friend of a friend, a VIP, a frequent flyer, a high-roller or what ever title it is that usually gets our names to the top of a list, we had to wait for our number to be called. We saw dishes pass by that looked so good, we were peeking into the dining area to glimpse at all the food that we could order and to see if any tables were filled with Fappy people who were ready to make room for the Hangry ones. It was almost as if we were in Vegas right before before our 21st birthday, waiting for the second we could finally throw the dice down at the craps table. After about a half hour wait, we got seated. We ordered family style and had the clams, fresh cooked shrimp, Newport-style lobster, bean curd with black mushrooms, on choy, crab fried rice, salt and pepper pork chops, and cubed beef. The last two dishes are not pictured. The beef dish was the first thing that came out and was eaten before I even knew what happened to it. The pork dish came out in the middle of a major food devouring session and at that time, my hunger dictated that satisfying my seafood cravings was more important than taking a picture of a pork chop. Coincidentally, both are dishes I don’t eat; however, both dishes were thoroughly enjoyed by every one else just as much as all of the other dishes that were on the table. During the meal the Lazy Susan was spinning around like a roulette wheel, but instead of cashing in on some dough, we were raking in (well, more like scooping up) other riches onto our plates, the richness of amazingly good Chinese food. At the end of the meal, sure enough, we were all Fappy, a feeling which is very similar to feeling like a winner. Winner, winner, lobster dinner!

Craving Tender Greens

Is there a place that you could probably eat at every week? That place, for me, is Tender Greens in Pasadena. This cafeteria-style dine-in or take-out spot, specializes in fresh, wholesome, and locally sourced food. TG uses high quality ingredients and the food is delicious. I love the Happy Vegan (Farro wheat with cranberry & hazelnuts, quinoa with cucumber & beets, green hummus, tabbouleh, and tenders greens), but lately, I’ve been ordering the the Cobb Salad without the chicken or bacon (Romaine hearts, blue cheese, egg, avocado, tomato with a sherry vinaigrette). While all of their Big Salads are appetizing, there is also the option of customizing a salad with any of the ingredients available at the counter with any of their dressings, which are made there using California oil, vinegar from Sonoma, fresh herbs, and citrus juices. The sides are also very tasty. I usually get the couscous and a side of grilled veggies. The veggies are picked at their peak and cultivated by local farmers. Their pastries are also amazing and they’re house-made with natural sugars and seasonal fruit. I don’t feel as guilty indulging in their strawberry shortcake or carrot cupcake on occasion knowing that they only use ingredients our grandmothers would recognize (except for agave).

Craves and Savors from the Philippines

What’s better than satisfying genuine Filipino food cravings in the Philippines? Sharing the experience with family and friends. While staying the Manila, I was able to visit my family members who I hadn’t seen for a long time, and some members who I had never even met before. Despite the distance, how well I knew my relatives, or how well they knew me, they made me feel right at home as gracious and generous hosts. One thing about Filipinos is they love it when their guests eat, and I was happy to oblige as the food continued to be placed in front of me. Filipino food has been a long awaited craving that I rarely get to satisfy, and every meal was ready and waiting, and offered with lots of love. A typical Filipino meal that I enjoyed was white rice with egg, fish, and sliced tomato in soy sauce or vinegar. Every means was also accompanied with delicious fruit like papayas, pomelos, yellow mangos, bananas, or watermelon. My uncle even took me to Jonas for dinner, where I had mami (noodle soup) and was happy to indulge my cravings of leche flan and banana bread. I loved being able to spend time with my family members before I met up with my friends and their family members, for more time spent savoring the company of loved ones, and eating more Filipino food. For lunch at Aristocrat I satisfied more Flipino food cravings: Palabok (a signature Filipino noodle dish), Pinakbet, (a signature Filipino vegetable dish), Puto (a Filipino delicacy), Garlic Rice, and I washed everything down with Buko (young coconut water). Having lunch with friends in another country, enjoying our time together in the Philippines and sharing our experiences with one another is something that should never be taken for granted. Also, being in a city of a third world country, where poverty is apparent on every block, is a truly humbling experience. Everything that I’ve eaten and enjoyed is just that much more savored and appreciated, as not every one has the luxury of constant and steady meals. Everything so far craved and Savored have been accompanied with feelings of being very blessed and thankful for all that I have in my life, and every one in it.

Shake It Up Baby Now

What do we do when we’re pressed for time, we don’t have anything in the ref, or we’re just plain lazy to whip something up to eat? Since having nothing is never an option, we can shake it up! Protein shakes are healthy meal replacements. While we all may have our favorites, Herbalife makes my favorite shake powders. Theirs are the only shake mixes that I have tried that actually taste good or that I will actually crave. I usually order mine on eBay (hence the Spanish writing on the container; it’s the same products but I try for the cheapest bid and when I’ve gathered enough eBay bucks in a certificate, I can usually get the mix for free). Consecutive weekends of being out of town makes it difficult to stock up on groceries, so juicing wasn’t an option tonight. After my workout, it was pretty late and instead of eating out (eating junk), I went to my favorite go-to: French vanilla shake mix, protein powder, soy milk, ice, and an old banana that wasn’t quite old enough not to be good for blending. Ya know, the one that looks all spotty, but after peeling it, the inside still looks ok. The vanilla shakes are always a good option because it compliments well with berries, bananas, avocados, etc, offering variety when blended with different fruits. The Herbalife powder in Cafe Latte flavor is also great, especially in the mornings since they taste like a blended iced coffee, but better (and without the caffeine). So c’mon c’mon c’mon c’mon baby now (come on baby) Come and work it on out (work it on out) Well, after a workout, honey, (after a workout) You know what tastes so good? (tastes so good) You know, when you got no food now? (got no food) Maybe then you should (I know you should) Just, Shake it up baby now (Shake it up baby)…

Craving Driftwood Cafe

Could something taste so good that it prompts us to eat another meal despite having already eaten? If the answer is no, then try going to Driftwood Cafe in South Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Village and maybe that answer might change. After ordering and eating a late room-serviced breakfast, my weekend roomie, Dreams, my bf, and I, met up with the rest of the gang for their first meal of the day. While three of us had already eaten, we figured we’d just join the other six on a short walk from the Harvey’s Hotel & Casino to the Driftwood Cafe for the company. After looking at the menu; however, Dreams and my bf couldn’t resist ordering more food. Still feeling full from the oatmeal, fresh fruit cocktail, and fresh banana and blueberry muffins I had for breakfast, I ordered a black tea. Every one’s food came out and since all my friends love to share, I had a bite of Jax’s waffles with strawberries on the left of me, a bite of Dreams’ veggie Quiche across from me, and a bite of my bf’s pancakes with bananas and strawberries on the right of me. I would have been happy ordering any one of those options surrounding me, but I didn’t think I had any more room to eat… I definitely thought wrong because I ended up trying Marshall’s broccoli soup with garlic bread that was passed down from the other end of the table. That had to be the best broccoli soup I’ve ever had. Suddenly, it was as if I hadn’t eaten anything all day as I immediately ordered a cup for myself. I had to let every one else try the soup who hadn’t already, it would have been a crime to keep any one from knowing how good it was. After eating, we all agreed, the Driftwood Cafe is definitely on the crave list. Next time we’re ever in town, that broccoli soup has my name written all over it.

A Girl’s Night Of Craves & Savors

Don’t girls just wanna have fun? If fun means eating good food with the most entertaining company possible, than we definitely had a ton! It was a girls rule, boys drool night, but I have to admit I did a little bit of drooling… over some good eats at Baco Mercat and Syrup Desserts in downtown Los Angeles, where I ate with my girls Face, Jax, and Di. Normally a completely booked restaurant, we tried our luck and walked in into Baco without reservations. We put our name on the wait list and were told we would have to wait 45 minutes for a table. After a pointless 10 minute walk to get some tea before dinner and just as we walked into Syrup to order something, the restaurant texted that our table was ready… It may have been a blessing in disguise because while looking at Syrup’s menu, we were all on the verge of ruining our appetites (if that’s even possible), but we vowed that we would return after dinner.

At Baco, we ordered and ate the modern Spanish tapas that we’ve heard so much about. We ate family-style and shared the “caesar” brussels sprouts, squash blossoms, spaghetti squash with corn puree, the “double mushroom” Coca, which is a flatbread that Baco is known for, and my favorite of the night, the hamachi crudo. While the food was great, Jax commented that with all of the hype she’d heard, she expected “a miracle” in her mouth. Well, what I found that most of the magic happened at Syrup Desserts, which is an expresso bar and dessert cafe that offers a variety of pastries, signature iced teas, famous waffles, and more. We were super anxious to get back to Syrup and when we returned after dinner, we ordered two of the Syrup Signature Belgian Waffles, which is also a Syrup favorite, which has strawberries, bananas, Nutella, and French Vanilla Bean Ice cream (one without bananas), the Dulce & Banana Belgian Waffle, which as bananas and blackberries, caramel sauce, Vanilla sauce and instead of the Dulce de Leche ice cream, we substituted for the Blackberry Jasmine ice cream, and the Banana with chocolate chip Sweet Liege Original. We definitely savored our desserts there and time spent together.

Since it was such an awesome night to savor, full of cravings and QT, we agreed that “Girls Night” will be implemented on a regular basis, preferably and at least monthly. Any suggestions?

Easter Craves & Savors

What is Easter without loved ones? The last four Easter weekends were spent in Palm Dessert with my bf’s family, including my bf’s mom, aunt, sister, brother in-law and adorable niece and nephew. The last three Easters we participated in La Quinta Resort and Club’s Easter festivities, which include an Easter egg hunt, face painting, jumpers, performances, Easter bunny photos, and more. All of the children at the event are entertained for hours, and it’s great for families. All of the children, and adults can also indulge in the popcorn, sno-kones, and cotton candy that are offered to all attendees. We always have a great time, especially because we know the twins always have a great time.

My bf’s mom makes sure that there is never shortage of food, and she is an amazing chef. All weekend long, and also on most holidays, we are spoiled with food that will likely lead to regular cravings. In addition to the food platters comprised of seafood cocktail, crackers, cheese, and fruit from Bristol Farms, she cooked lobster, wild rice, and a vegetable medley with cheese that is unbelievable. Every meal is like a feast.

The best part of the weekend; however, is the time we are able to spend with one another. From Friday night, sitting and talking at the Patio table, to eating together and bonding, to enjoying time with the twins and marveling at how much they have grown, there is never a dull moment, since all of these moments are colored with love. While doing common things like sitting on the couch watching television together while eating berry sorbet and some not so common things like watching my bf throw up in the air two three year olds while playing in the pool, all of these things will become lasting memories to be appreciated and oh so savored.