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Saturday afternoon, my cousins, who are also huge foodies, recommended that we check out Anaheim Packing District for a late lunch. I've never been, but the way it sounded got me excited.
Anaheim Packing District
440 S. Anaheim Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 533-7225
http://anaheimpackingdistrict.com/
It's also called Anaheim Packing House apparently. Same thing, so you don't get confused. I love it!! A center full of food vendors and small shops, all flea market-esque. I love these types of places. We walked all the way around to check out all the different food options. OMG. I wanted to eat everything... but finally chose one since they were prepping the meat at the window... drool! But of course it was one of the vendors with the longest line. haha. Everyone else went off in search of other stuff.
The Kroft
Prochetta Sandwich (ciabatta, pork belly/loin, cracklings, salsa verde) $10~
Like I said, they had a guy at the window at the front chopping the meat and assembling the sandwiches. Looked freaking fantastic. The sandwich was packed full with pieces of pork. And oh, it was so juicy! The cracklings were amazing. Each bite had so much flavor. Legit! I totally want one right now... I ate half of it and gave the other half to my cousins/aunt/uncle to try. Everyone liked it.
Brussels Sprouts and Bacon $5~
I also got this as a side. It was pretty good. A little soggy/greasy but I liked the flavor. It was a bit sweet... I think there was balsamic vinegar on it.
Overall Experience:
Here's what other people got.. We had a feast going! Our table was wayyy too small.
Adya: Fresh Indian Flavors
The Chippy: Fish & Grill
I was full, but I had to get some dessert.
Han's Homemade Ice Cream
There was no line when I walked by so, yes, this is it! They had some interesting flavors. Twinkies being one of them.
Bourbon Peach (in waffle cone) $4~ Deeeelicious. You can totally taste the bourbon without the bite. It wasn't too sweet, and there were chunks of real peach throughout.
Overall Experience:
Popbar
This was by far the most popular vendor. The line was literally out the door the entire time we were there. But my cousin wanted to get some so I went up to the line with her. I wanted one too, but was too full. All their popsicles are made fresh daily with natural ingredients.
Pistachio Popsicle (dipped in dark chocolate, topped with chopped pistachio and hazelnuts) $5~
Banana Popsicle (dipped in dark chocolate, topped with chopped pistachio and hazelnuts) $5~
They were doing an anniversary special that weekend where the dips and toppings were free, but normally those cost extra. Quite expensive for a popsicle, but they are sure yummy to look at!
It's such a fun place. I wish Dallas had something like this.. I think we may be getting something similar in Plano in the near future?? Fingers crossed!
Overall for the entire center:
Only complaint is not enough seating!
~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
I went to a friend's bday lunch this past Saturday. They chose to try Pepper Smash in the Shops at Legacy. It's been open for awhile now and I still haven't been, so I was looking forward to it. It seems like they're known for their mixology, the drinks all have interesting names and looked fun. I was hoping the food would be good too.
Unfortunately we had another event before lunch so we were going to be about 45 minutes late. Everyone else was meeting there at noon. I told them don't wait up.
Pepper Smash
7200 Bishop Rd.
Plano, TX 75024
(972) 943-0499
http://www.peppersmash.com/
Price (brunch): $$
We arrived around 12:50PM. We had 2 tables close to the patio. It was such a nice day to sit outside. We joined one table and it seemed like they were almost done eating. However, we realized that the other table hadn't even gotten their food yet... eh?
We asked around the table to see what was good... We got responses of what NOT to order... :-/
(Sorry I don't have pictures of other people's food since they either ate them or were at another table... )
Chicken Mmm' Biscuits (real deal buttermilk biscuits, secret recipe fried chicken, habanero honey butter) $10~ Was strongly advised not to get this as it is super dry. I saw him take the last bite and it did look really dry. And coincidentally he coughed when he was answering us... haha. Like swallowing dry crumbs or something. :(
Black & White - BLT (blacken'd white fish, crisp bacon, pepper aioli, shredded romaine, tomato on focaccia) $10~ I was told this was super salty. She only ate half of it. But the fries were good.
They said the flatbreads are good though. One guy ordered one. Either the Mediterranean or Spiced Lamb Sausage.
We finally got around to ordering for ourselves. And this is also when the other table's food started arriving... wow.. that really took a long time.
Spicy Beef Katmandu (ginger, lemongrass, Thai chili, cilantro) $9~ This was really tasty. The beef is flash fried and it's really got a kick in flavor. And it's spicy for those who like spicy. I almost ordered this, but I asked the waitress if it came with anything... rice? bread? naan? and she said no. So I nixed it. I don't know how you can eat a dish like this with out some sort of carb to go with it. Or maybe some lettuce wraps??
Ceviche Tostadas (shrimp, crab, mango, jalapeno, cilantro, red onion, lime) $10~ This was a joke. And the guy who ordered it didn't try to cover up his disappointment. It was 4 little triangles of corn chips topped with a tiny bit of ceviche. $2.50 a pop eh?? That's just ridiculous. He ended up ordering a burger cuz he was hungry.
Hummus & Naan $8~ Was told this was good.
Oh... something cool that they did when the group first got there was pour liquid nitrogen on popcorn. It's all smokey and cold and when you eat it, smoke comes out of your mouth. Since we got there late, I asked if they could do it for us. It was a fun experience. :)
Oh-M-P (fat stack of three cakes; choose 2 ingredients; maple syrup, whipped butter) $10~
I chose blackberry and bacon. Sweet and savory baby! Our food took about 35+ minutes to come out. Kind of ridiculous. But I was happy with my selection. The pancakes were crazy big and fluffy. I have no idea how they made them this way. Maybe a special pancake maker or mould or something. It fell apart pretty easily.. the consistency was more like a cake than normal pancakes. But yummy! It wasn't too heavy. There were large chunks of bacon throughout, could've used more blackberries though. I noticed the middle layer was burnt on the bottom, but it didn't affect the flavor much so I didn't mind it. The pairing with the whipped butter and maple syrup was delicious. My bf realized that he didn't like bacon mixed into the batter. But I do! hehe, that means more bacon for me! :P Apparently a girl from the other table ordered this when they first arrived. When it finally came, her pancakes were undercooked in the middle, so she had to send them back. Her new pancakes didn't make it out until we got our food...
Whiskey Chick Stack (grilled chicken marinated in house smoked whiskey white cheddar, caramelized onions, chipotle mayo) $10~
My bf ordered this. Tiniest piece of chicken on a sandwich ever!! But the flavors were good so we kinda overlooked the size. Fries were good, not the greatest, but yummy when dipped in the chipotle mayo.
Triple M's Explosion (pineapple and strawberry infused vodka, frozen with liquid nitrogen) $10~
He also got a drink, since this place seems to be known for their cocktails. It's pretty cool cuz it's made with liquid nitrogen and comes smoking when served. Aside from the cool assembling process, it was ok. It was like a strong strawberry daiquiri, not really worth the money.
So I'd say this place was a bust. They didn't have much business while we were there. We were 2 of maybe 4 tables and the wait for food was just ridiculous. Our waitress was good though. At least we got frequent refills on our water. And it's not her fault that the kitchen was slow or messing up orders... I'm glad I enjoyed my food, but just seeing how everyone waited almost 45 minutes to get the food, and the overall quality was just sad. Needless to say, we won't be returning. That location hasn't lasted long in the past. So they better shape up!!
Quality of Food:
Service:
Ambiance:
Value:
Overall Experience:
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Here are some places we ate at throughout the week in London. Overall everything was good. Enjoy the pics! :)
Patisserie Valerie
256 Edgware Road
Paddington, London W2 1DS, UK
020 7723 7723
http://www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk/
- Croque Italienne (grilled Granary bread sandwich filled with prosciutto ham, mozzarella and topped with sundried tomatoes, black olives and Gruyere bechamel) £6.70
Melur London - Malaysia & Indonesia Cuisine
175A Edgware Road
London W2 1ET, UK
020 7706 8083
http://www.melurlondon.co.uk/
- Kangkung Belacan (Morning Glory cooked in shrimp paste) £7.25
- Char Kuay Teow (spicy stir fried noodles with seafood and chicken) £6.80
Good bold flavors. The portions weren't very big but very tasty.
EAT
106 Brompton Road
London SW3 1JJ, UK
020 7584 1502
http://www.eat.co.uk/
- Toasties: Chicken & Chipotle Salsa
- Wrap: Peking Duck
- Smokey Bacon & Lentil Soup £2.95 (Sm)
Fast lunch (fairly cheaper). There are similar sandwich shops/bakeries all around town.
Indi-Go: Street Food of India
Westfield Stratford City
London, E20 1EJ, UK
http://uk.westfield.com/london/
- Chicken Korma £7.95
- Regular Naan £2.50
Didn't have time to really have Indian food so I had it at the mall! haha. It was still very good. Although for food court food, it was very expensive. The curry doesn't even come with rice or naan!! Had to buy that separately... :(
Le Pain Quotidien
The Piazza, Covent Garden
London WC2E 8RF, UK
020 7486 6154
http://www.lepainquotidien.co.uk/
- Organic Soup of the Day: Corn and Butternut Squash (served with organic bread) Bowl £5.60
- Smoked Chicken, Mozzarella di Bufala & Red Peppers Toasted Tartine (with a mixed leaf salad) £11.50
Covent Garden is a cool area. Lots of outdoor seating and people watching. On the weekends they also have lots of booths and vendors in the common area selling food and other stuff. :)
Soft Whipped Ice Cream (with Flake) Medium £1.80
This was across the street from Charing Cross Station. Had to have my ice cream of course. The guy at the stand said I won't get anything better than his. I don't know about that since this was the only time I got soft serve. But it was pretty damn creamy and awesome.
We also ate at Olympic Park while there for Men's Basketball.
- British Banger in a Roll £5.50
- Waffle, Banana & Toffee Sauce £4.90
Both were good. Loved the spicy mustard on the banger. The toffee on the waffle was awesome.
Wimbledon for the Tennis finals.
- Cornish Pasty: Chicken and Vegetable. It was like a handheld chicken pot pie. Really good!!!
- Mushroom Medley Pizza £7.50 Looks better than it tasted.
- Strawberry & Cream £2.50?
I read this was a staple at Wimbledon so I had to try it. Basically strawberries in like whole milk almost. The cream was more like thick milk and wasn't sweet. You sprinkle sugar on it yourself. I didn't sprinkle enough. But still surprisingly good.
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For the V-Day weekend, I chose to go to Samar with my bf. I've been wanting to go there for a long time plus my sister had gotten me a giftcard there that was almost 2 years old! Geez...how time flies...
Samar
2100 Ross Ave.
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 922-9922
http://www.samarrestaurant.com/
Price: $$
Samar is another restaurant by Stephan Pyles that incorporates Spainish, Mediterranean, and Indian influences in the menu. They serve mostly tapas(shareable plates). The decor of the restauarant definitely gave the same feeling of those regions. It was slightly dark for my preferences but I guess it sets the mood for a more intimate setting.
At one point during dinner, they had a belly dancer come through the dining area. It was pretty cool. But they turned up the music during that part and it was a bit too loud.
Our waiter was pretty nice and attentive. He presented the specials for the day and let us look over the menu.
We got a bunch of things to try...
Foie Gras Brulee (Pedro Ximenez Quince and crispy Jamon Serrano) $9~
It was like a foie gras parfait. haha. I like the presentation and we were given these long skinny spoons to dig into the glass. I was a little confused because it didn't come with any sort of bread or anything for us to spread the foie gras on. Without some sort of carb, it was wayyy too heavy. It was like eating foie gras lard/butter or something. It was just way too rich.
Luckily we ordered some naan on the side and was able to eat them together. But as a dish by itself, they need to serve it with some bread. The first few bites were interesting and I definitely liked the crispy jamon/bacon on top. But the more we ate the richer it got. It was like putting a stick of butter in your mouth towards the end of it. We did not finish that tiny glass... Blechh.
Rosemary Garlic Naan $4~
Lots of rosemary flavor, not enough garlic. But it was warm and pillowy. I love naan!
Duck Confit Tangine (with Medjool dates, figs, and tri-color couscous) $9~
This was not what I expected. Usually I see duck confit with the bone in. But this way we didn't have to mess with it. It was really good. It was one of my bf's favorite dishes. The duck had great flavor and was super tender. The couscous was also cooked well and the mellow flavor was a great contrast after having the rich foie gras. I even put some of the foie gras with the couscous, that wasn't bad either!
The Shorba of the Day (butternut squash with cashew) $4~
This was the soup of the day. I was sold at "butternut squash". haha. One of my favorite things. It was interesting. It had sweet undertones from the squash but was still savory from all the spices. I loved the texture. It was rich, thick, and velvety, just how butternut squash soup should be. I don't like it when it's too watery. The more I had the more I liked. It was very different from your typical butternut squash soup because of the spices.
Chickpea Masala (with roasted root vegetables and minted ricotta) $8~
This was highly recommended in online reviews so I really wanted to try it. This was definitely my favorite dish of the night. It just had great flavor... I can't pinpoint any of the specific flavors, it just all worked together. Plus the different textures with the chickpea and roasted vegetables were very pleasant. I can eat it all day!
Fish Curry of the Day (with seasonal vegetables and saffron scented Basmati rice) $18~
The fish of the day was Merluza, a Mediterranean fish. The fish was fantastic. It was flaky and delicate, yet had a sturdy feel to it as well. The curry sauce paired it really well. I felt the rice was just a tad overcooked. But I personally prefer really al dente rice and pasta. This became my bf's favorite dish of the night. Mine was still the chickpeas but this was a close second.
We ended the night with dessert of course. :P
Caramelized Apple Empanada (with cinnamon ice cream) $4~
The waiter said this was one of their top sellers. I loved the cinnamon ice cream. It was richer than normal ice cream, I thought. The empanada was good, but it was quite small and you can't fully enjoy the filling. It could've been crisper on the outside too.
Saffron-Coconut Rice Pudding (cardamom) $4~
I realized that I liked the "idea" of rice pudding, but not the actual thing. It was like eating porridge in a sweeter sauce. I'm not a fan of porridge. haha. I felt it wasn't sweet enough, but then again, I didn't want it to be too sweet. There was too much of the rice flavor I guess. Something was just not great about it. We definitely could've done without it.
We ended up spending a bit more than the giftcard value. haha. But I'm glad we got to try many different things. We were very full after. I think for the 2 of us we could've done without the foie gras and rice pudding.... The service was pretty good. The waiter answered all my questions and the water glasses were always refilled. He did give me the wrong price for the fish dish though (which contributed to the higher bill than we estimated)... We had several people come by and ask us how we're doing, so that was nice.
Overall, I enjoyed the food. If you are not a fan of spices, this is not the place for you. They definitely do not hold back in that aspect.
Quality of Food:
Service:
Ambiance:
Value:
Overall Experience:
~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
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