Chicago, IL: Sliders, 360 view, and deep dish pizza – Day 1

I always like to keep my skills up to par. I am a graphic designer by trade and found a great annual conference to attend. I grew up using Quark, but the Adobe products are now the tools of the trade from basic and complex print layouts to websites to mobile apps. PePCon is a great way to learn about new techniques and innovations in the Adobe graphics world as we know it. I attended last year’s event in Austin, TX and definitely wanted to catch it again this year in Chicago, IL.

One thing I love about traveling now is utilizing the airline clubs in the different airports. I have been a member of the United Club for a few years now and it has been totally worth the money. In the mornings, they have continental breakfast items like donut holes, bagels, cereals, yogurt, coffee (some clubs even have a cappuccino/espresso machine) and a variety of fruit. Around lunch time, they swap out to snacks like snack mixes, baby carrots and ranch dressing, shortbread cookies, Tillamook cheeses and Pepperidge Farms crackers. The seats are comfortable to relax in and wait for your flight. Other amenities include workstations with electrical outlets to charge your laptops, phones, tablets, etc., small conference rooms to knock out some meetings if you’re travelling with fellow co-workers, and my favorite, concierge service to help with rebooking cancelled flights. The staff at the United Club has helped me numerous times. They are always professional and caring. The United App is also a great tool to keep all of your flight information at your fingertips with up-to-date flight information, locations of United Clubs worldwide, and your boarding passes.

After a day of flying, we finally made it to Chi-Town. It was almost midnight and we were starving. Luckily, we stayed at the Homewood Suites Downtown Chicago. They have a small on-site convenience store next to the front desk where we picked up some frozen meals to warm up in the room. The suites are cozy with a small living room area complete with a sofa bed and large LCD TV. The kitchenette had a full size refrigerator, countertop range, microwave, dishwasher, coffee maker, large sink, and was stocked with pots, pans, cooking utensils, plates, silverware, and glasses. The bedroom had a king size bed (which was surprisingly comfortable) and LCD TV. The bathroom was roomy and was recently remodeled with granite tile floor and countertop, and new water fixtures. The long day had caught up to us – we quickly ate, hit the hay, and dreamed of what Chicago had in store for us.

 

To read more and see slideshow, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/article/chicago-il-sliders-360-view-and-deep-dish-pizza-day-1

4th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival: Asian Night Market

Following the Iron Chef Morimoto Cooking Demonstration, we walked across the street to the opening of the Asian Night Market hosted by Iron Chef Morimoto. The line stretched down 1^st Street and everyone was in anticipation as 7:30pm closely approached. We could smell the food being prepared behind the walls as our stomachs yearned to taste these creative Asian inspired ingredients. At 7:30pm, the admission line moved quickly as we were whisked in like Hollywood celebrities at a Red Carpet event. As the sunset made the city dark, colorful spotlights lit up the carpeted Grand Avenue with long rows of tents from restaurants handing out small plates along with wineries and liqueur vendors offering tastes of their libations. Towering in the background was the architectural marvel, Walt Disney Concert Hall. Since I was driving, I decided to forgo the wine glass so I had another free hand to photograph and eat.

Chef Jet Tila is a man of talents. He was appointed the inaugural Culinary Ambassador of Thai cuisine by the Royal Thai Consul-General. You can also catch him on NPR’s Good Food with Evan Kleiman and also on the Food Network. He served up Pork Belly Tacos. The pork belly was braised and lacquered with Asian-inspired sauce. It was a great first bite for the evening!

To read more and see slideshow, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/article/4th-annual-los-angeles-food-wine-festival-asian-night-market

4th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival: Iron Chef Morimoto Cooking Demonstration

When I was younger, my parents loved to tune in to PBS to watch Japanese talk shows and cooking shows. They attended Japanese school in primary school years and used their Japanese to communicate with their bachan (grandmother) and jichan (grandfather). When the regular school day ended, Japanese school began. Not only did they have homework from public school, but they also had homework from Japanese school. Since I was lucky to be third generation and we moved to California from Hawaii, there were no Japanese schools nearby for me to attend. My parents always told my brother and me that we had it easy. Long story short, I ended up learning only a little from what my parents would say at home, which was mainly food items.  But any youngster from a Japanese family will know this word, “Yakamashi!”

To read more and see slideshow, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/article/4th-annual-los-angeles-food-wine-festival-iron-chef-morimoto-cooking-demo

Calivino Wine Pub for eclectic wine tasting and scratch kitchen in Anaheim, CA

Daniel Bradley always wanted to open a wine bar in Orange County, CA. A perfect location opened up in Anaheim strategically located near the Honda Center, Angels Stadium, and the Grove of Anaheim. On May 10, 2014, Calivino Wine Pub was born. Whether you are a wine novice, wine connoisseur, and/or foodie, Calivino has options for you. The interior is a cross between a lounge and a winery tasting room. The natural light from the all-glass entrance and rustic lighting fixtures bring a calming ambiance to the dining room and bar area.

House Burger is a chuck/brisket grind topped with fried onions, onion jam, and Havarti and served with your choice of side salad or fries. The beef patty has the perfect meat to fat ratio for a juicy, mouth-watering burger. The beef pairs well with the crispy fried onions, sweet onion jam, and creamy Havarti for the perfect umami balance. The brioche bun is soft and chewy, but with the juiciness of the burger comes a soggy bottom bun. It’s okay to be a hot mess sometimes! This dish pairs well with the 2009 Eguia Tempranillo. Rating: 4.8/5 stars

To read more and see slideshow, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/review/calivino-wine-pub-for-eclectic-wine-tasting-and-scratch-kitchen-anaheim-ca

Unforgettable dining at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, CA

Laurie Sisneros and Cary Hardwich have mastered the recipe of a successful restaurant. Celebrating its 26^th anniversary this year, Spaghettini is located (very) conveniently off of the 405 freeway and Seal Beach Boulevard. During the lunch hours, the dining room is quietly abuzz with business professional and client interaction.  The location is a perfect meeting point between Orange and LA Counties with its casual elegance and lots of natural lighting. The service is stellar whether you’re in for just fun with friends or down to business with clients and co-workers. I watched as the service staff adjusted their service based on their clientele – seamless and perfect.

Cioppino Soup contains fish of the day and shrimp with a grilled baguette slice. The seafood broth base is rich and robust. The whole shrimp and portion of fish were quite generous in size! The mirepoix is perfect with the seafood.  This tasty cup of soup was is like a warm hug, even on a sunny day. Rating: 5/5 stars

To read more and see slideshow, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/review/unforgettable-dining-at-spaghettini-seal-beach-ca

#GetInTheMyx with Myx Fusions Moscato

Myx Fusions Moscato is owned by American rapper/songwriter/actress, Nicki Minaj, and entertainment industry tycoon, Mona Scott-Young. The indigo blue bottles and starry night package are an attractive sight. Plus they utilize an easy-to-open twist-off cap.

Moscato is described as “the seductive taste of Moscato Wine enriched with hints of apricot, vanilla, and honey. Natural fruit juices and effervescent bubbles refresh the palette and leave a sweet and subtle finish.” Tasting notes: Apricot and peach aromatics; Peach and white grape flavors experienced; Needs an increase in sweetness. Food pairings: Salads and hors d'oeuvres. Rating: 4.5/5 stars

 To read more, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/review/getinthemyx-with-myx-fusions-moscato

Road Trip: Oxnard Salsa Festival in Oxnard, CA

On Sunday, July 27, 2014, we took a leisurely drive up the 101 freeway from swelteringly hot Los Angeles County to what started out to be cooler and overcast Oxnard, CA. Oxnard is approximately 35 miles west of Los Angeles. The city loves festivals, the Oxnard Salsa Festival (in July), California Strawberry Festival (in May) and the California Beer Festival (which starts next weekend). Oxnard is the agricultural center for strawberries and lima beans and a major transportation hub with many rail and bus lines stopping here. Due to the diversified landscape in Oxnard, there is a hometown, on the farm, and beach city feel all coupled into one.

Our commute was quicker than expected so we decided to park and eat breakfast near Plaza Park. Free parking in downtown Oxnard was definitely a plus. We walked to BG’s Café for breakfast. It’s a family-owned, hole in the wall restaurant. What caught my eye was the shoyu on the table. Historically, there were a lot of Japanese immigrants who settled here decades ago and began the strawberry agriculture that exists today. One of my friend’s families is one of them. BG’s Cafe had me at Bacon Pancakes. They were so good! This carb-laden breakfast helped coat my stomach for the salsa judging to be had shortly. If I’m in the area again, I will definitely stop by for breakfast or lunch. Rating: 5/5 stars

It was 10:45am and time to check in for the salsa judging at the Oxnard Salsa Festival. There were 22 entries ranging from mild to hot in different styles like all tomato, tomatillo, and add-ins like mango and nopales (cactus). The process took two hours as we judged each salsa in regards to appearance, flavor, and the submission heat category (mild, medium, and hot). As the submissions were weeded down, some had to be tasted multiple times to choose a winner for each category. And the winners were: 

To read more and see slideshow, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/article/road-trip-oxnard-salsa-festival-oxnard-ca