Ciao Bella

We visited Ciao Bella as a dinner for my department so this review is of the meal at that event not the normal restaurant menu. My disclaimer is that I did go to Ciao Bella once before and the food was good, I had my first octopus steak. It is quite expensive for the area and the food but that is for another time. Now for the review of the three course meal. First off, we ate in the basement of the restaurant which they call a wine cellar. It was way too small for the number of people in attendance which meant we were really crowded. The extremely odd part about this location was that it was unreasonably hot. The AC didn’t work well and it was supposed to be a wine cellar. There is no way that wine should have been in an 80 degree hotbox. The upstairs part of the restaurant was easily 15 degrees colder.

My first course was a salad with what I think was mango vinaigrette, I can’t really remember, which says a lot. All I remember about this salad was that it was drowning in dressing. Truly not a great way to start a meal. It really is not that hard to toss a green salad in dressing and serve it crisp and fresh but I think they were overwhelmed by the twenty of us being served at the same time. Personally, I think the salads were good to begin with but sat around until they were already to come down together.

My second course was very interesting. It was a dish that would have worked perfectly if not for one glaring misstep. I ordered a seared duck breast which was supposed to be served over mango risotto and then surrounded with side by side sauces, one mango and the other a port wine reduction. I will give them credit where credit is due, the duck was cooked wonderfully. It was medium so not tough, my knife ran through the meat without much effort and the fat layer on the top melted in my mouth. The sauces were also very good accompaniments; personally I really liked the tang of the port wine reduction added to the smooth texture of the duck breast. The mango sauce was a little too sweet and somewhat shutdown my palette.

So what was the misstep you ask, well I’ll tell you. They added what tasted like American cheese to the mango risotto. Now you’re asking, “Wait, American cheese with mango, duck, and port wine sauce, that sounds odd”. I reply, you are correct and it was not in the original description of the dish. At first taste all I could think of was Kraft cheesy macaroni in the blue box. And let me tell you, though I love the blue box, it made no sense on this plate and it tasted so strange with mango mixed in. I truly believe that someone made a huge mistake with that or maybe they were drinking the wine that was spoiling in their sauna of a wine cellar. In order to make the dish work I had to take the risotto off my plate and eat it as a side dish. The last thing on that dish was crispy onion strings on the top. Fun but completely unnecessary on top of a potentially sophisticated duck entrée.

Desert was a crème brulee. Ok, but somewhat forgettable. Yes it was creamy and sweet and yes the sugar was torched well but it was just a standard crème brulee, nothing that blew me away. The one annoying thing was that it was a little warm when served. I like my crème brulee nice and cold with a solid sugar top to crack through. I feel like the cold texture makes it all that much better, but that’s just me.

All in all, I just think that the kitchen was overwhelmed but the amount of people they needed to serve simultaneously and it showed in the quality of service and the quality of the food. All the dishes could have been so much better if they didn’t miss standard production rules like don’t let a dressed salad sit around and didn’t add weird things to the entrée like the cheese product from the Kraft Blue Box. It was a very different meal than the first time I went with Virginia so I would not recommend Ciao Bella for parties larger than 8-10.

Overall Recommendation: 5/10

Pam's Kitchen

After checking out the farmers market we stopped into Pam’s Kitchen for some Caribbean jerk chicken. I was a little weary knowing that this was a Triple D spot since my last Guy recommendation was awful but my brother insisted that it was a great spot. A complete dive you could tell that they were not all that interested in the décor but they did have some cool pictures of Jamaica on the walls. The one thing that really peaked my interest was the Pam herself was back in the kitchen with her one friend every day. I could even see her working in the back from my seat. Knowing that get me very excited to get some authentic cuisine.

I ordered the Jerk Chicken Sandwich and some Dahlpuri which is a roti (Bread) filled with chickpea and seasoned with cumin, the freshest cilantro and garlic. Evan ordered some spicy green beans and the Jerk Chicken also and we anxiously awaited the arrival of our lunch. When the food arrived my thoughts about the high expense per dish was eased a bit when I had two sandwiches in my order. Now you know by know that I like my bread and the bread Pam uses for this sandwich did not disappoint. It was soft and chewy and surprisingly sweet which paired really well with the spice in the jerk chicken. At first bite the sweetness of the bread smothered the spice and all you get was the juicy chicken flavor but then heat starts to build in the back of your throat and suddenly, hello jerk! I think that is was ingenious to use the sweet bread to mask the spice for a few moments it really gives the sandwich a depth of flavor that is often lost on spicy dishes that just hit you in the mouth. Oh and did I mention that it was so juicy that I had to mop up sauce off my forearm? This was truly a great sandwich and I would eat it 2-3 times a week if I could afford it.

The Dahlpuri though good was not the star of that meal aside from sopping up the extra sauce from the sandwich and the green beans so that is all I am going to say about it but now lets chat about spicy green beans. When you just look at the green beans in the dish you can see the chili flakes and you know it’s going to hurt so good. The green beans were perfectly cooked, soft and chewy, and mixed into a spicy chili sauce. Since they were not paired with bread the spiciness was the star but it they weren’t just hot, the flavor in the sauce was huge! If I could have those green beans with every meal I would be a happy man.

All in all Guy redeemed himself a little bit with this find but we shall see what the next one has in store. Though Pam’s Kitchen is a little expensive the flavors and care put into the food really shines. I would go back to eat there without any hesitation but be prepared, you are going there for the food, not for the ambiance or the interior design.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Paseo Caribbean

We took a trip up to Seattle last week to see the family and not thirty minutes after landing we were at Paseo Caribbean for some Cuban sandwiches. This place was on the Best Thing I Ever Ate and from the look of all the awards on the door we were in for a treat. Mostly a takeout joint, Paseo only has a few seats in the restaurant and the line is usually down the block. We put in a healthy order for takeout and then waited with baited breath for our number to be called. Twenty minutes later we were in the car and smelling the wonderful sandwiches.

So what did we order you ask, well only half the menu. My list item was the Roast Pork Cuban but we also ordered the Spicy Prawns, Grilled Pork, Chicken, and the Midnight Cuban. The first thing you notice when you bite into any sandwich is the bread and this place uses some great bread. It is nice and crispy on the outside and firm enough to hold up to the aioli, the juicy pork, and the rest of the delicious toppings. Piping hot and messy as hell, these sandwiches were more than respectable.

I tried three sandwiches, the Roast, Midnight, and Prawns. My least favorite of the three were the prawns. We asked for the spiciest version but were very disappointed because the sandwich was bland. When serving prawns you really need to go light on the heavy sauces because the prawn flavor is drowned out. Paseo seems to put the same about of aioli on all the sandwiches which I think is unwise. The result on this sandwich was that all I tasted was mayo, onions, and bread. You would never have known that there were prawns in the dish especially because they were bland. I would not get that sandwich a second time, which is sad because I love prawns.

The runner up was the Roast Pork Cuban. The roast pork was delicious and this succulent, juicy pork could definitely hold up to the aioli and the other toppings. This was a three napkin sandwich which is always fun and the bread was awesome. You take the crunch of the bread and to melt in your mouth pork and combine them with caramelized onions and the aioli it really was a sandwich to remember. I truly enjoyed that sandwich.

So now let’s switch the jalapeños with banana peppers and add smoked ham and swiss cheese to the roast pork and we are in business. Take that sandwich and melt the cheese on a Panini press and you have the Midnight Cuban Press. Even though I would have preferred the jalapenos this sandwich was my favorite. How can you go wrong when adding a second type of pig to a sandwich and smother it in melty, gooey cheese? Jump it up to a four napkin sandwich for this one; I could have eaten a few of these no matter how much meat was on the sandwich. The best part was that the Panini press made the bread even crispier which contrasted beautifully with the cheese and aioli. What a great sandwich and only $8.95.

Next time you are in Seattle make a point to swing by Paseo Caribbean, you will not be disappointed. Try and show up after the lunch rush or you will be waiting a long time but trust me no matter when you go it is well worth the wait. Just a heads up, cash only!

Overall Rating: 8/10

The Slaw Dogs

Took a trip up to Pasadena for a meeting and realized that we were only one mile from The Slaw Dogs. This place was on Outrageous Food on the food network and will be the first place I try from this show. I noticed upon our arrival that this place had only been open for a short time but the buzz around it seemed promising. The decor left much to be desired but how much can you really expect from a hot dog place in the area of ambiance. We ordered at the register and then sat and waited for our food. I ordered the Thai Slaw dog which was chicken sausage topped with spicy peanut-coconut satay dressing, cilantro-carrot slaw, crushed peanuts, and siracha aioli. This was the dog featured on the food network. My friend ordered the Green Monster which was a beef hot dog topped with roasted green chili, chipotle mayo, grilled onion, pepperjack, and spicy garlic salsa. We decided to cut them in half and split the spoils. On the side I ordered Parmesan Garlic Truffle French Fries. Yes, you heard right parmesan, garlic, and truffles on French fries. Can you feel your mouth watering just by saying that out loud? I can.

The food came pretty quickly and I was very excited. The first thing I tasted were the French fries and my god they were amazing. I mean really amazing. Possibly some of the best fries I have ever tasted. So much garlic and parmesan with an underlying flavor of truffle. Add to that wonderfully fried potato and you really have something special. I really did not want to stop eating them and the serving size made sure I would not have to for a while. The only issue with the fries was that they are not a permanent menu item, just a special. I would urge them to add them to the menu because they were by far the best thing I ate.

Ok let’s talk hot dogs. The slaw on top of the of the Thai Slaw was pretty good and the peanuts added a fun crunch but with two things on the dog that should have been spicy the lack of heat was jarring. I am really unsure how you can pull that off with siracha but somehow there was no spice in my dog. That was disappointing but still I enjoyed the dog. The Green Monster was by far a better mix of toppings. The green chili and onions were cooked well with a little crunch. A little heat and a good amount of sweet, I would go back to that hot dog if  came here again. The one place where the Green Monster fell down was in the beef hot dog itself. It just didn’t add that much to the dish and since it was the protein I felt that it should have spoken up more. I feel like if you put a dozen toppings on a hot dog or a hamburger you need to use top shelf meats or else they get overwhelmed. This definitely happened here so I would try the same toppings with a sausage with a deeper flavor.

Overall this place was a lot of fun and affordable. I would definitely return to try some of their other specialties but only if those fries were on the menu. Like I said those were some of the best fries I ever ate. Next time you are in Pasadena, check out The Slaw Dogs, you will be pleasantly surprised, but only if the fries are available.

Overall Rating: 6/10

Cha Cha Chicken

The night before our trip to Europe I stopped in to Cha Cha chicken with some friends. This place was on the Best Thing I Ever Ate so I was excited to check it out. This restaurant was kind of funky and had all outdoor seating. The decorations screamed Caribbean which was cool. I ordered the coconut fried chicken which was the list item and my first recommendation is not to order the full chicken for yourself. I think I only made it through half and leftover fried chicken is nothing like day old pizza and Chinese food.

The service was at the counter and then they would bring you your food at the table. This is pretty standard for a restaurant like this so I was not surprised. Our food came pretty quickly which is always a good thing for fried chicken. The chicken was pretty tasty, very moist and succulent on the inside and crispy on the outside. The main problem with the chicken is that I really did not taste any coconut. This was very disappointing considering that coconut was supposed to be the thing that made this fried chicken unique. Two sauces accompanied the chicken, jerk and mango. The jerk sauce was really good, very spicy and added to the fried chicken very nicely. The mango sauce on the other hand just tasted odd. Not sweet, not tangy, not even like mango, just odd. I would not recommend it, go with the jerk.

Overall the chicken was well made, albeit not really coconut but if I had the choice in LA, I would go to Roscoe's. The rest of the menu looked interesting and my friends seemed to enjoy their choices. Though not on the top of my list of places to revisit, I would like to try some of their other options.

Overall Rating: 6/10

Hob Nob Hill

After a conference in San Diego I decided to stop by a list place in before driving north for the camp Pendleton Mud Run. Since it was 4 o'clock and my first choice was closed I decided to check out a Triple D place. Hob Nob Hill was only 15 minutes away so I drove over for an early dinner. Upon my arrival I noticed two things. First, the it looked like I transported back in time to the 60s or 70s. Honestly, it was dark and dingy, not the most welcoming of places. Second, I was the youngest person in the restaurant by at least 40 years. This may be exactly why the decorations harkened back to their patrons younger days but also could be because I got there at 4pm.

I was quickly seated and just loved my paper napkin table setting. The waitress attended to me quickly, but she was oddly cold. I wonder what I did to make her not like me, but it may have been that she hated her life for working at this place. Just a thought. Guy Fieri ordered the lamb shank so I did the same. It came with bread, applesauce, mashed potatoes, and I threw in a cup of clam chowder.

So let’s talk food, the bread came first and it was a raisin wheat bread. It arrived warm which was nice and had a sweet flavor and a doughy texture. So far so good, I ate the whole mini loaf pretty quickly. After that came the clam chowder. The chowder had some decent flavor. It was a tad bit thin; I am used to a thicker chowder and for that matter, one with a lot more clams. It is always disappointing when there are twice as many potatoes than clams but it still tasted pretty good. The sad thing is that this was the best I was going to get today.

When the lamb shank and side dishes arrived I was immediately let down. The shank was grey and looked way overcooked and the gravy seemed like it was goopy and out of a mix. The mint jelly was without a doubt store bought and tasted awful. At first bite into the shank I realized that I was in for a disappointing entree. The shank tasted just like it looked, overcooked and flavorless. The gravy definitely added flavor but all in all the entree was flat and boring. The sides we even worse. The applesauce was heated up, probably in a microwave and the mashed potatoes had the gritty taste of the instant variety. Really sad and completely flavorless. I never put salt on my food as a way to attempt to manage sodium intake but I wanted to tear the cap off the salt shaker and dumb it in my food. Honestly, this food was unreasonable bland but it may be a reaction to the clientele.

As I stated before, Guy recommended the lamb shank so I had to try it and wow, that was pathetic. I am really starting to question this guy's palate. In summary, Hob Nob Hill was a place lost to modern times which wouldn't be bad if the food transported you back to that time as well. The problem is that the food had no chance in doing that, it just made me very sad to have chosen it as the only place I would try in my trip to San Diego. I would not recommend that you waste your time or money at this place; there are a hundred better options in the area.

Overall Rating: 3/10