Craving Haru Sushi Cafe

How can we tell when a restaurant is good? When it’s consistently packed, all night long on a random work night, like it was at Haru Sushi Cafe in West Hollywood. I was introduced to this Japanese restaurant by Marshall and Face and all I can say is that is Haru (the chef), you sure know how to makes some great sushi! The three of us shared the Shishito Pepper Saute Appetizer and Haru’s Organic Seaweed & Cucumber Sunomono Style Salad. I ordered the Combination Sashimi Dinner (Chef Haru’s choice of assorted sashimi) from the Sushi Bar with brown rice, served with a green house salad and miso soup and the Lotus Roll. I also tried the Island Roll (shrimp tempura and crab roll covered with salmon and avocado served with soy citrus dressing) and yes, Haru, it was delicious, thank you very much. I was very impressed with the quality of the food served. The sashimi was fresh and the texture was smooth and buttery. We can also tell when a restaurant is good when we know for sure that we’ll be coming back. The sign on the red awning out front of the restaurants reads “Modern Japanese Cuisine,” so it may be easy to miss; however, just as I was introduced to Haru, most good restaurants get introduced by recommendation. So, take it from me, a newly converted Haru Sushi Lover, it’s good!

Craving Chocboard

When we’re in another country, isn’t it common to, at some point, crave food that isn’t typically served in all of the restaurants around town? In Manila, after having Filipino food almost every meal, I finally had the opportunity to go to Chocboard, which I had been hearing so much about. Just a block away from SM Manila Mall, in Ermita, Chocboard offers a variety of vegetarian meal options, refreshing beverages, and tasty treats. It’s a new trendy and hip cafe and bakery that breaks the mold of the run of the mill places to eat in town with cool music playing, wi-fi, and an ambiance that invites us in, and makes us not want to leave. I had tried both of the pastas on the menu, one with tomato sauce and one with white sauce, both served with yummy garlic bread. Chocboard also serves the best orange juice I think I’ve ever had. I must have ordered three glasses throughout the evening, it was that good. If it wasn’t for being being half way around the world from home, I would definitely be a regular Chocboard.

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?