Hippo Ice - Houston Trip

I came across this place on Yelp while researching for places to eat in Houston. Snow ice, a Taiwanese dessert that is basically shaved flavored ice. It creates these amazing ribbon-ish shapes and it's almost like eating ice cream. But... it's ice! And probably less fattening. :P

I have it in Taiwan whenever I go back to visit. And in the past few years, Dallas started getting a few places that sell this. However, nothing is as good as what you get in Taiwan.

Hippo Ice
3737 Hwy 6
Sugar Land, TX 77478
(832) 532-7562
Price: $

I was excited because this place was close to Sugar Land where they live. Normally you'd have to go into Houston (Bellaire) to get good Asian food, so the short drive is nice.

We went on the Sunday before Labor Day, the place looked closed when we arrived, I got worried. Luckily it wasn't! We took a look at the menu and my fiance told me he was getting his own. I asked "are you sure?" since they're usually piled pretty high and he said yes. So I guess we're all getting our own! Sharing is for the weak. hahahaha. :P

I got the Genmai Matcha (Brown Rice Green Tea) $4.75~ Plus Ghiradelli Chocolate drizzle and sliced almonds +$0.50~ 

 

I love how snow ice looks, so whimsical, beautiful and weird. haha. This was yummy. I liked the dark chocolate sauce paired with the green tea. My fiance said the chocolate overwhelmed the ice flavor. For me it didn't. And the almonds were a nice added texture. It was a huge bowl. He was pretty shocked when he saw this. The texture of the ice is pretty comparable to Taiwan, although I think the one's in Taiwan is even creamier and fluffier. But this is definitely better than any of the ones I've tried in Dallas.

Genmai Matcha (Brown Rice Green Tea) $4.75~ Plus Condensed milk and red bean +$0.50~

 He also wanted green tea but with different sauce and toppings. Green tea and red bean are always a winning combo. The condensed milk added another level of richness. Also very delicious.

Almond $4.75~ Plus Tapioca (boba) +$0.50~ 

His sister chose the almond flavor. Which was my 2nd choice. The almond flavor was strong, yet the whole thing was light and refreshing. I think that was the winner, even though they were all good.

Watermelon Basil (to-go) $4.75~ 

His sister was meeting up with a friend after so she got this to go. So pretty. We got to try a bite. Very interesting. You can definitely taste the basil. And super refreshing. I'm just not sure how long it would last during transport. hehe. I hope her friend was able to enjoy the fluffiness of the snow ice.

My fiance and his sister both really enjoyed it. It was their first time trying snow ice. And guess what, none of us finished it... hahaha. Snow ice - 1, Us - 0.

This place is legit, for all you people in Sugar Land. No need to fight the traffic and drive to Bellaire! Now I only wish we can get this quality in Dallas...

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Brunch @ Marquee Grill

Last Sunday I met up with a group of friends I haven't seen in forever!! We were finally able to get everyone together for brunch. I suggested Marquee Grill in Highland Park because I've been dying to go there! Ever since it opened with Chef Tre Wilcox (from Top Chef) as the executive chef, it's been at the top of my list.

Marquee Grill
33 Highland Park Vlg.
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 522-6035
http://marqueegrill.com/
Price (for brunch): $$
 
I was able to make a reservation for our party of 11 plus 2 babies really easily, the girl that took my call was super nice.

My bf and I were the last 2 to arrive. I saw Chef Tre talking to someone on the side right as we walked in. Yay! I was hoping he would be there!

We were seated in a long table by the window. It was nice and bright, perfect for brunch. The restaurant is nice. I liked the decor which was slightly Art Deco with a hint of modern. I didn't see the upstairs though. I heard the bar upstairs was nice too.

The waiter took our drink orders and we looked over the menu. I was a little disappointed because some of the items on the online menu were no longer available. :( They need to do some updating on their website!

After making our orders we got some complimentary bread. Mini basil corn muffins, cheese and sesame flatbread crisps. I really liked the muffins especially the addition of basil inside. It added an extra freshness to the buttery bread.

I already knew what I wanted going into the brunch. I've heard lots of good things about this dish and it's got everything I love. "Bacon" & Waffles (house cured pork belly, buttermilk waffles, huckleberry maple syrup) $12~

I can't pass up anything with pork belly in it. It's probably one of my most favorite cuts of meat. The plate looked a little plain but everything also looked delicious. The pork belly had a nice sheen from the caramelization of the sauce. I liked the slight crispiness on the outside of the pork belly a lot, and it was tender on the inside. It had just the right amount of fat in the middle so I didn't feel like I was eating just chunks of fat. The waffles had good texture and wasn't too sweet. It held up to the pork well. The huckleberry syrup was also good. It wasn't too sweet on the waffles. I was wishing for some freshness though. If it came with some greens or fresh fruit on the side it would've made it better. It was yummy but I think I still prefer the chicken and waffles combination. hehe.

My bf wanted the tuna which was no longer offered on the menu so he opted for the Marquee Grill Beeman Burger (bourbon ancho sauce, cipollini onions, cheddar, bacon, cajun parmesan fries) $15~

The burger here is also highly rated so being the burger buff he is, my bf decided to get it. The burger looked good. The ingredients were fresh. The meat was flavorful and juicy but there wasn't anything special about it. My favorite part (other than the awesome fries) was actually the bread. It was a good burger but we both agreed it's not the best we've had by a long shot...not for the price anyways.

Some other dishes my friends ordered included: Steak & Eggs (grilled flat iron steak, scrambled eggs, truffle butter, potato hash) $16~

It looked pretty good but a bit simplistic. I didn't get to taste or any feedback from my friend.

A third of the group all got the Southwest Chicken Sandwich (avocado pico, citrus slaw, cajun parmesan fries) $12~

It was a pretty big sandwich. And again, everyone loved the fries. They said the sandwich was good, but didn't rave about it.

Special of the Day: Classic Eggs Benedict (with side of potato hash). This looked really yummy. My friend cleaned his dish so I assume it's pretty tasty.  

We were finishing up our food and I've been talking about this butternut squash ice cream I saw on their website. We got the dessert menu, and it's not there either! Boooo... I guess it's a seasonal flavor. So none of us opted for dessert, we were all pretty stuffed.

However, I asked the waiter if we could meet the chef. He wasn't too thrilled about it and said something like the chef might be too busy or something but he'll ask. As he walked away one of my friends said that the waiter wasn't very good. She had been to Marquee Grill a few times before and have had great service. I told her that online reviews have mentioned that their service is hit or miss. Guess we got the miss this time around. He wasn't that bad, but it definitely wasn't up to the caliber of the type of restaurant this was. He later came back and said that the chef was busy prepping a party for later that night so he couldn't come over. I'm disappointed. It doesn't take that long to come say hi at the table and at one point my friend saw him just standing around the kitchen. I was sad that we weren't important enough for 2 minutes of his time. :( Sigh. It was one of the main reasons I chose this place to meet!

Anyways, the waiter brought the check. Just one check. So we called him back and asked if he could split it. I turned back to the table and started pointing out to him who were on the same checks together and my friend says "oh he already walked away..." WTH... Made me feel kinda dumb.

It was great to see everyone and catch up but the overall dining experience was eh. The food was good but I expected more. And I definitely expected more from the service and hospitality. It might just be one of those off days other people posted about. If I'm in the area, I'm still up for checking out their happy hour. I heard they make pretty good drinks.

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LA!! Onyx Lounge

I found a place on yelp that was only 3 blocks from The Edison. Reviews seemed pretty positive so we decided to walk there and check it out.

Onyx Lounge
118 West 5th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 891-1144
http://onyxloungela.com/
Price: $$

This was a great find! It was a pretty small restaurant/bar and it was packed when we got there so we had to just stand around and wait for a table. The hostess was really nice and said she would let us know whenever a table opens up.

We headed for the bar in the mean time. The bartender greeted us immediately. Wow! You don't usually get that type of service from bartenders...especially when they are that busy. It was a refreshing surprise.

I got a cocktail to share with a friend. Spring St. Smash (Bourbon, blackberry, basil, lemon, sambuca) $11~

This was their signature cocktail. I thought it was so cute in the jar. And it was a pretty large drink! It was yummy too! Similar to the blackberry mojito I had at the Library Bar (not AS good) but still quite fantastic. The sambuca really added another layer of flavor to it. Plus it's so pretty! :)

Trojan (watermelon, gin, allagash white, chili) $11~

Allagash White is actually a beer. I didn't really like this drink...kinda tasted soapy to me.. haha.

We waited quite a while. Seemed like a really happening place so only new people came in but none of the existing customers wanted to leave! haha. The hostess was nice enough to come by and check on us every once in a while. She told us that one table seemed like they were going to leave (but they ended up sticking around until super late...) Eh. BUT...while standing around, I noticed some guy walk in and he looked quite familiar. I asked my friend if he recognizes him. It took us a while to pinpoint where we'd seen him before and finally we did. It was the actor, Lee Thompson Young, who was Cyborg in Smallville, and also had roles in other TV shows such as Friday Night Lights and Flash Forward!! Our first real celebrity sighting!! haha. We approached him and he was super nice. And we got our photos!! Woot! That definitely made the night even better!

Finally we got a table! And we ordered a few snacks for everyone.

Spicy Garlic Fries (herb buttermilk dressing) $6~

OMG! Amazing! Fantastic! These fries were like crack! So freaking addictive. They were fried perfectly, seasoned perfectly with just a dust of chili powder on top to add some spiciness. I can eat these forever!!!

Warm Ricotta Mixed Berry Pancakes $9~

Very delicate, pillowy pancakes. Not your typical dessert but it was very good.

Chocolate Bread Pudding $11~

This dessert was a bit pricey, but it was fantastic! Sorry for the blurry picture. :( The bread pudding was rich in chocolate flavor and the texture was almost like a thick mousse. Super moist and decadent. I wanted to lick it off the plate!

This was a really cool, chill place. I'm so glad we gave it a chance! The decor is nice, the food and drinks were good and the service was really great. Also, they had a live DJ there but the music level wasn't too loud. We were still able to carry on a conversation with our friends. I can see myself chilling there more often if I lived in LA. I wouldn't mind going back to try more of the menu items either!!

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LA!! The Library Bar @ The Roosevelt Hotel

My friend's friend recommended that we check out the Library Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel. It's supposed to have really cool mixology and good drinks.

The hotel was kinda old styled, pretty cool looking. The Library Bar was a small little room on the side of the lobby. It's a pretty cool place.

Library Bar @ Roosevelt Hotel
7000 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-7000
http://www.thompsonhotels.com/hotels/la/hollywood-roosevelt/drink/library-bar
Price: $$

When you walk in, you see fresh herbs and fruits lined up on the bar. Just from that you can tell that they use quality ingredients.

From the reviews I've read, I was prepared that their drinks are very expensive. They also don't have any menus. You basically tell one of the 2 amazing bartenders kind of what you like and they mix up something for you. They use farmer's market ingredients, so everything is seasonal and changes frequently.

This usually makes me nervous because I'm very picky about drinks. There's a lot that I don't like. So I told him I like sweet drinks and maybe something with basil? He recommended a Blackberry Basil Mojito $16~

Wow... pricey! But the drink was awesome! I told him it wasn't sweet enough for me and he was totally willing to make it better. They are really masters at their craft and want to give the customers the best drink possible. He told me if I needed anything else to just let him know. He just added a splash more of agave nector and it was perfect. I drank that like it was juice! haha. YUM!

Yellow Bell (bell pepper, rosemary) $16~

This was recommended in online reviews so one of my friends ordered it. It also comes with a fire show! The bartender took two glasses, light some alcohol on fire, and started pouring the fire between the glasses. Sooo cool! At the end he poured the firey alcohol into the martini glass with the rest of the drink. And it lit the rosemary on fire. You can smell the fragrant rosemary. Smelled fantastic. After a while, you blow out the fire and stir the rosemary in the drink to infuse it all. This cocktail was sweet, savory, spicy and full of herbs...and strong! It was fantastic.

The Vampire (raspberries, clementine, jalapeno) $16~

My other friend ordered this. It sounded so interesting. You can definitely taste the spiciness. But it wasn't sweet enough for me. Also very strong.

This was a great recommendation. The place is a cool place to hang out. The drinks were fantastic and I can totally understand the prices. Most cocktails everywhere else are at least $12-14 already and it's no where as good as the Library Bar. The bartenders definitely take care in their craft so be willing to wait a few minutes for them to make your drink. It's also quite entertaining to watch them make it I think. Definitely a special place to check out. :)

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LA Trip - June 2011

I went to Los Angeles this past weekend just to hang out with some friends. And of course travelling means foooood!!! :)

Here are some random food pics for you to enjoy~

My bf has Executive Platinum staus for AA so we got hooked up in first class! Yea baby!!
We get food and drinks in first class..and it's gooood!

On the way to LAX:
Cheese Tortellini with Mushroom Sauce, Caesar Salad and Shrimp Cocktail Chicken with Rice Pilaf & Lima Beans, Caesar Salad, Shrimp Cocktail and Wheat Roll
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Brownie Cheesecake and Raspberry Sauce
On the way back to DFW:
Tortellini (in tomato sauce and melted cheese; served with side salad and shrimp cocktail)
Chipotle Chicken (with a citrus sauce, Rice Pilaf, and Veggies; served with side salad and shrimp cocktail)
Brownie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Also, I got a BIG treat while I was there. A friend of mine invited a group of us over to celebrate on of my friend's birthday. He wanted to cook for us. I went in thinking it would be like potluck-ish style, casual dinner, etc. But nooo...apparently he's some MASTER CHEF in the making! It was soo amazing! I'm so honored that I got to try his food.

We started with Scallops 3 Ways:
Scallop on Avocado and Tortilla with Chimichurri Sauce
Scallop with Mango Salsa
Bacon Wrapped Scallop with Honey Garlic Aioli
OMG! Loved the colors and presentation (minus the plastic plates..hehe). I'm allergic to mango so I had to skip that one. :( But the other 2 were FANTASTIC! The chimichurri sauce had heat from the garlic and was so nice against the tender scallop and creamy avocado. The tortilla added the crunchy element. YUM! And bacon wrapped scallops? Who doesn't like bacon?!?! Delish. Loved the aioli...it was perfect.

Next was Tuna Tartare with Avocado. Fresh, large chunks of tuna paired with the creamy avocado. The marinade for the tuna was really flavorful. Not a dull dish at all!

Lastly, the entree was a Roast Pork with Basil Pesto Spaghetti. This was my favorite of the night, although I loved everything else. The pork was cooked perfectly with just the right bit of fat along the sides. The spaghetti was al dente...perfect! And the basil pesto just brought everything together. The colors were so pretty as well.

OMG. YUMMERS! If he ever decides to open up a restaurant, I'll definitely be there!

Afterwards we had cake for my friend's birthday. This was purchased from an Asian bakery. Taro Napoleon. I don't like taro but I said I would try it. It's basically layers of soft pillowy cake with cream and kind of a taro mousse and then a layer of crispy goodness. It was awesome. The crispy layer is what makes it so interesting. Plus it's not too sweet and light so doesn't weigh you down at all!

Stay tuned for all the other places I ate at!! :)

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