But for those who still crave the traditional island favorites, the "Island Breeze" food truck also offers hawaiian specialties such as plate lunches with your choice of kalua pork and teriyaki chicken or beef with brown or white rice with a side of toss or macaroni salad. Bentos include furikake rice, fried noodles, and takawon with your choice of meats. The truck also offers fried noodle plates, spam musubi, and fresh malasadas, as well as a breakfast menu offering portuguese sausage or spam with eggs and rice if you are able to catch them early. Click here to see more photos of all the ono kine grinds from this awesome food truck who's food is as fresh as an island breeze!

Posted on December 7, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

It's not hard to find a Whataburger restaurant because they are known for their A-framed, orange and white striped roofed buildings, much like the original restaurant back in the 1905s. Being first time Whataburger customer, it took awhile to decide what to order. The menu consisted of their special burgers that also could be customized to your liking with choices of a single, double or even triple patty burger, cheese of your choice on white or wheat buns or Texas toast. They also offered grilled or fried "Whatachick'n" sandwiches as well as chicken strips and even a breakfast menu that is offered from 11PM to 11AM. I made the mistake of ordering a "Double Meat Whataburger". Mistake because I was not aware of the size of these burgers which were not your average McDonald sized hamburgers. It was then when I realized why this place was called what it is. A visit to Whataburger is not complete without ordering one of their warm, sweet, and flaky pies which comes in both apple and chocolate brownie. Check out all the Whataburger photos and if you're ever down south and hungry for a burger, Whataburger will make it the way you like it!

Posted on December 7, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

Ingredients:
- Ground beef or any gound meat of choice
  (beef, turkey, or pork)
- Packet of bacon (pork or turkey)
- Cheddar or American Cheese
- 1 egg white
- Spices (salt, peppar, etc)

First step is to create a bacon weave for the shell (As shown in photo on the right or refer to photos in the link below). Next step is to make handmade patties (adding 1 egg white and season to your liking). Place the patty with cheese on top on one side of the bacon weave. Then fold the wrap around the patty and trim off the excess bacon. Take 3 hot dogs and cut them in halves for the head, tail, and feet. (For the feet cut slits at the tip and for the tail cut the hot dog to create a pointed end.) Insert the hot dog pieces into the bacon wrapped patty. Place on an oven rack and baked for 30-40 minutes at 400°F. (Click here for detailed step by step photos that you can use as a reference.) Enjoy!

Posted on November 28, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

The next day after attending the official weigh-in event for the big fight, we were hungry for some fresh Texas steak. Through a recommendation from our friend Robert Tapales who we saw at the weigh-in event, he suggested we try "Trail Dust Steak House" which was about 5 minutes away from Cowboys Stadium. "Trail Dust" is a nice family restaurant with a real cowboy atmosphere. But beware, no neckties are allowed to be worned at this establishment. If you do decide to wear one be prepared to have it cut off. As we enter the dining area, we passed by this huge slide that all the kids were sliding down from and a big dance floor right in the middle of the restaurant. As the live country band played in the background we were escorted to our table by our friendly host. One thing we noticed about Texas was that the folks down there all seems so nice, friendly, and respectful. And as our friendly server arrived to take our orders, a big fat steak was on everyone's mind. I ordered "The Cowboy" which was a 1" thick 20 oz. Porterhouse steak. (They are also famous for their 50 oz. Porterhouse steak that they offer that but the 20 oz. was good enough for me.) And the honest truth, this steak was one of best (if not the best) steaks I have ever had. The steak was so tender and just melted in my mouth. I made the mistake of asking for steak sauce and realized after my first bite that none was needed because the steak was seasoned just right.

On the next stop on our "Texas Steak and BBQ Tour", we had lunch with our Uncle Edgar and Auntie Precy before heading down to Cowboys Stadium for the Pacquiao Margarito fight that night. They took us to another steakhouse called "Salt Grass Steak House" which was dubbed "The Orginal Texas Steak House". Not sure if it was "the" original or not but it was also highly recommended by some locals we met the day before. We all ordered something different but I was ready to take on their full-rack of babyback ribs. Let me tell you, the meat just fell off the bone on this rack. Another recommendation that was shared with us was to order the pecan pie for dessert. I didn't have any but Richelle and Gary did and they both loved it. On the last stop of our food tour, we ended up going back to "Bone Daddy's" after attending church services. Since it was Sunday, we decided to hang out there for lunch and watch some NFL football games. The restaurant had big flat screens all over but we had our own screen right at our fingertips right in our own booth. Since the Chargers weren't playing on that day, we were rooting for the Dallas Cowboys who have been having a bad season and had recently fired their head coach. As our waitress arrived, Richelle ordered their Pulled Pork Sandwich and Gary and I both ordered their Country Fried Steak. The Cowboys ended up winning their football game on that day and we all felt like winners after having experienced all this great Texas grub. Check out all the finger-licking mouth watering photos from this "Texas Steak and BBQ Tour" and as they say in Texas, "Y'all come back now, ya hear?"

Craw/Crepe Island is located at 509 Telegraph Caynon Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910 in the Canyon Plaza Shopping Center. If you're in San Diego and down in the South Bay and hungry for Crab Hut but don't want to drive up to Kearny Mesa, stop by Craw Island. And if it's just desserts that you are looking for, definately stop by for some of the most delicious crepes you will find in the area. Most dessert items range from $2.00 - $6.00 and they are truly works of art. Click here to check out more photos of these delicious crepe delights.

Posted on October 27, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

It's hit or miss when coming to this donut shop. We got out there around 10am and the donuts they made for the day were already half gone. The cinnamon rolls which are the best around are out of this world! Just one bite and I kind you not they honestly melt in your mouth. But unfortunately on this day we were too late and the cinnamon rolls were all sold out. You have to come really early and wait til they open to get these cinnamon rolls but believe me it's worth the wait. Star Dust also makes a wide variety of donuts to choose from and are the freshes donuts around.

We bought a couple dozen of donuts which pretty much wiped him out. Considering there were only a few donuts left, he probably stayed open for another half hour or so after we left. We took our donuts and drove to the Imperial Beach Pier to enjoy them while taking in the morning ocean air. Check out the rest of the photos of this hole-in-the-wall donut shop and if you are ever in the south bay area of San Diego or visiting Coronado, take a drive down to Star Dust Donuts and enjoy these delicious donuts yourself.

Posted on October 27, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

Once we placed our order the waiter brought out a big salad and a whole buffet of different condiment such as different dipping sauces and sides such as kimchi, rice noodles, potato salad, bean spouts, radish, and other vegetables. Then the he brought out a big plate of slabs of raw meats, a pair of scissors and tongs, turns on the grill and from that point on it's all on you. You place the meat on the grill in front of you and barbeque the meat and eat right at the table. A few tips for tackling a Korean BBQ: (1) For more flavoring of the meat, marinate the meat in your favorite dipping sauce (soy sauce, etc...). (2) The grill is not only for the meat but you can also grill the vegetables like onions, etc... (3) Cook a few meats at a time. The meats are thinly sliced and cook really fast. This will eliminate over cooking of the meat as it stays on the grill or eliminates the meat getting cold after taking it off the grill while you are eating the other cooked portions. (4) Plan on bringing an extra shirt if you decide to go out after your meal just in case the bbq smoke smell still lingers in your clothing.

If you are ever in the vicinity of Anahiem or Orange, "Cham Soot Gol" is located at 9252 Garden Grove Blvd., Ste #10, Garden Grove, CA 92844. It's not too far a drive from Disneyland and it's a great place for a big family and can accomodate a large party. There are two other Korean BBQ restaurants that I've eaten at that I also recommend if you are hungry for KBBQ in both the San Diego and Las Vegas areas. In San Diego check out "Jeong Won Korean BBQ Buffet" located at 4690 Convoy St, Ste 104 (between Opportunity Rd & Engineer Rd), San Diego, CA 92111. In Las Vegas check out "Jin Mee Korean B.B.Q. Restaurant" located at 953 E Sahara Avenue, #E9, Las Vegas, NV 89136. Both also offer all-you-can-eat specials with similar menus or even more. Click here to check out more photos from our KBBQ dinner at "Cham Soot Gol". If you know of any other Korean BBQ restaurants, make sure to let me know for the next "Ron vs. Food" visit to your area.

All the favorite island grinds were at the festival as food booths were lined up selling hawaiian barbeque and hawaiian dishes like laulau, kalua pig, and spam musubi. And what's a hawaiian mixed plate without rice or noodles or other sides like macaroni salad or egg rolls. But best of all after all the ono kine grinds we had was having malasadas and shaved ice for dessert. Malasadas are made of egg-sized balls of yeast dough that are deep-fried in oil and coated with granulated sugar. And of course shaved ice is a cool treat/dessert made by pouring sweetened flavoring over shaved ice. Great way to cool down, especially on a hot day in Henderson at the Pacific Islands Festival. Check out the rest of the ono grind photos from our day at the festival and we'll see you again at next year!

Posted on September 17, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

We were greeted by Gigi who is the co-owner of the Flow Rider Truck along with her co-owner/husband Juan. As she went over the menu with us, we were also treated to some nachos which they were offering free with today's orders. We ordered "DA HYDROLIC" which has 2 sirloin patties topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion, avocado, and melted cheese on a grill sourdough bread. We also ordered the "PHILLY RIDER" which you can order with either beef or chicken and includes grilled onions, mushrooms, green & red peppers, topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and jalapenos on a 9” grill french roll. We also ordered "D PORKER" which consist of fried pork, beef, bacon, ham, sliced hot dog, beans, egg, muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado, served on a grill french bread. All entries served with shoe string fries or onion rings and a drink.

The Flow Rider menu also consist of other specialties such as their "LOCO DOG" - A 12" beef dog wrapped with bacon, grill onions, jalapeno relish, special sauce, and guacamole on grill bun. The "EL SIPOTE" - 2 slices of grilled chicken breast with monterey cheese in between, topped with sauté cabbage, carrot, green & red peppers, served on grill wheat bun and much much more. But the two BIG headliners on the menu which is more of a challenge for those with BIG appetites are the "EXTREME HYDROLIC which consist of 8 sirloin patties topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion, avocado, and melted cheese on a grill sourdough bread. The other one is the "EXTREME PHILLY RIDER" which consist of either beef or chicken and includes grilled onions, mushrooms, green & red peppers, topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and jalapenos on a 20” grill french roll. Click here to check out more photos from our visit to the Flow Rider Truck or go to their website at http://www.flowridertruck.com and check out the photos of their "EXTREME" burgers and sandwiches. And like all the other food trucks, you can follow the Flow Rider Truck on both Twitter and Facebook.

As we arrived at Sunset Park, this multi-colored truck with graphics of superheroes and spacemen was parked off in the distance on the south end of the lake. A crowd was already there ordering and more cars kept coming and coming. The menu at the Slider Truck is very simple. There are five different burger sliders to pick from. The "Barbie" which has melted cheddar, caramelized jalapeno, crispy fried onion, bacon, and bbq sauce. The "Pep Pep" which has lettuce, tomatoe, crisp bacon, sauteed onion, melted cheddar, and super sauce. The "Yaya" which has lettuce, tomatoe, red onion, feta, tzatzilki, and red wine vinaigrette. The "Captain's Order" which has roma tomatoe, arugula, crisp bacon, feta cheese, sauteed onion, and balsamic reduction. And last but not least the "Plain Jane" which is just cheese and ketchup. They also have two specialty sliders such as the "Pulled Porkie" which has tender, slow-cooked pork, caramelized jalapeno, and bbq sauce. The other specialty slider is the "Eggplant Caprese (Veggie) which as roma tomatoe, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic reduction. The Slider Truck also serves side orders of fries, regular and sweet potatoe fries.

Unlike the Fukuburger who only operates during the night from 8PM til 3AM, the Slider Truck operates Tuesday-Saturday in various locations throughout Las Vegas during lunch from 11AM-2PM and again for dinner from 6PM-9PM. (Off Sunday-Monday) Go to http://slidinthru.com to check out their weekly schedule or follow them on Twitter (@SliderTruck) or on Facebook. Click here for more photos of these delicious sliders and stay tuned for another review of yet another mobile gourmet truck (The Curbside Cafe) which just hit the streets last week.

The "Fuku-burger" which consisted of a fuku-patty (that had been marinated in sake, mirin, and yuzu and brushed with a special glaze before serving) with lettuce, tomatoe, onion, and pink pickled ginger, topped with American cheese and drizzled with their signature Fuku-sauce. The "Tamago" consisted of a fuku-patty with furikake and teriyaki, finished with crispy onion strings and a fried egg. Along with the burgers they ordered the Fries that were seasoned with togarashi (a blend of seven Japanese spices) and served with banana ketchup and sweet chili aioli and also ordered their Furikake Macaroni Salad which is a must have.

The menu at the Fukuburger Truck is definately unique and the burgers are very tasty. After debutting this past July 4th, the Fukuburger Truck will continue to serve their burgers during the early evening/late night hours in various locations in Las Vegas. To find out where they will be next you can go to their website at fukuburger.com or follow them on Twitter (@fukuburger). Check out the rest of the photos of our "Fukuburger Truck Experience" and go check them out for yourself. Highly recommended and their food really hits the spot, especially for those late night cravings.

Posted on July 14, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

Chef Tina Martini's Live Cooking Show

This past Saturday Carole and I got tickets to attend "Martini Time with Chef Tina Martini" which is a live cooking show filmed at the Studio B Buffet inside the M Resort Hotel and Casino. The show is filmed in front of a live studio audience and airs weekly in Las Vegas on Cox Channel 96. After relaxing at the M Resort most of the morning sipping strawberry italian sodas and enjoying the view of the resort pool, it was time to head over to the studio which was located inside the buffet area, hence the name "Studio B Buffet". The set consisted of a rows of seats overlooking the kitchen cooking area with a few table set up in the front where we sat. As the show started, Chef Tina Martini ran out from behind the audience down to the front and welcomed her guests. To start off the show Chef Tina Martini (which is actually her real name) asked "What time is it?" and the audience replied, "Martini Time!", and small martini glasses were given out to everyone before she proceeded with the rest of the show.

The show is very fun, educational, and informative as Chef Tina (Nutritionist, Demonstration Chef, and Natural Health Guru) gives out nutritional facts and cooking tips as she prepares the entree. During this particular show she showed the audience how to make and prepare "Summer Melon Gazpacho with Herbed Shrimp Salad" which everyone got to sample during the show. The recipe, more nutritional facts and cooking tips, and other hand outs were also provided to all the studio guests. After the hour long show, the audience was then escorted to a special VIP area inside the Studio B Buffet where they are treated to all the gourmet entrees the buffet had to offer. Tickets are $40 per person which includes the live cooking show along with VIP seating in the Studio B Buffet and show times are Thursday - Sunday at 12 noon and 4pm. The show is highly recommended for those who like to cook or for all food connoisseurs. Click here to see more photos from Chef Tina Martinis Live Cooking Show.

(Tip: If you ever plan to go to the Studio B Buffet at the M Resort, do consider checking out the show (must buy tickets in advance), especially on the weekends. On weekends the seafood buffet is $29.95 and lines are very long. For just $10.01 more, you can enjoy the live cooking show and receive special VIP seating right away instead of waiting in line for more than an hour or so.)

Posted on July 12, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

Eating at the San Diego County Fair

For the July 4th Weekend, Carole, the kids, and I drove down from Las Vegas to hang out in our hometown of San Diego. Our first stop was the Del Mar Fairgrounds where we met up with Richelle and Patrick for an afternoon of fun, food, and rides at the "San Diego County Fair". Formerly known as the "Del Mar Fair", the county fair is held every summer starting in the month of June until the July 4th weekend. The fair features daily musical performances and concerts, animal, agricultural, and art exhibits, rides, games, and most of all food. This year's theme was "Taste the Fun" which is what we did.

The fair is known for having some of the tastiest and most bizarre foods in the world. So we all set out to take one of my "Ron vs. Food" food tours and checked out what the fair had to offer. Our first items we got were the Giant Turkey Legs and Roasted Corn which you could not resist from the aroma from the barbeque pits. Richelle and Patrick tried the BBQ Tri-Tip Sandwich with Onion Rings which tasted as good as it looked. As we moved along the midway, Nico the Strawberry Lover that he is could not resist getting the Strawberry Shortcake which included vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream. One other favorite we also had to get was the Austrailian Battered Potatoes which we got with a side of ranch dressing.

But probably the most bizzare foods we tasted was the Chocolate Covered Bacon and the Deep Fried Butter. The Chocolate Covered Bacon consist of cooked bacon dipped in dark chocolate and topped with a few sprinkles of sea salt. As you bite into it you taste the saltiness of the sea salt before you taste the sweetness of the chocolate and end up with the salty taste of the bacon. The experience is definately something different. Lastly, the heart-stopping dish of the day was the Deep Fried Butter which consist of pure butter surrounded with dough and deep fried. The outcome is basically a buttery looking churo (and triple bypass surgery). Check out all the photos of the exhibits, rides, and deep fried fun at this year's San Diego County Fair! The food photos will definately make you "Taste the Fun".

Posted on July 6, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

"Southern California Food Tour"
   Part 2 - The Eating Continues!

(Continued from blog entry below...) The next destination on our "So Cal Food Tour" was to track down the "Kogi BBQ-To-Go Truck". The Kogi truck is a traveling Los Angeles landmark that serves up Korean Mexican tacos, day and night. Twitter is used to communicate truck locations but we got on their website and found the nearest location where the truck was scheduled to make a stop. Friends Alain, Lesley, and daughter Riley also came along and as we arrived, a long line had already formed as customers ordered from their unique menu that consisted of: Korean short rib, spicy pork, chicken, or tofu tacos and burritos; Kogi hot dogs, sliders, and kimchi quesadillas. Although the mixture of Korean BBQ and Mexican food may be quite different, the taste is very delicious and is the reason why people keep coming back.

After sightseeing throughout Los Angeles, we had craved Hawaiian food and stopped at "Island Grill" in Los Alamitos, CA. Island Grill specializes in Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine and serves traditional teriyaki beef and chicken dishes, Hawaiian saimin noodles, sushi, and other traditional favorites. Large portions are served here and the food is very satisfying. As we headed back out to the Disney theme parks in Anaheim, we also stopped by "Lee's Sandwiches" for some fresh Vietnamese style sandwiches that are served on freshly baked baguettes and croissants. This is one of Poblete kids favorite sandwich places. On every visit to Lee's, we always have to order the "Deli Manjoo" which are small freshly baked cream cakes that are best eaten while they are still hot. There are several "Lee's Sandwiches" located throughout Northern and Southern California and we were happy to find out that one was opening soon in Las Vegas.

After a long day hanging out at Disney's "California Adventure" theme park, we got a recommendation from a friend to check out "Claws Restaurant" in Garden Grove, CA and met up with family friend Liz for some Louisiana crawfish and Cajun seafood. For those who have eaten at "Crab Hut" in San Diego or "Hot and Juicy" in Las Vegas, "Claws" is very similar, and in fact maybe even better! There's no need to practice eating etiquette at this restaurant because utensils are not needed as you eat with your hands. You have your choice of ordering any combination of crawfish, king crab legs, shrimp, clams, and mussles. The seafood here is served in plastic bags and flavored in Cajun, garlic butter, lemon pepper seasoning, or a mixture of all three flavors. If you plan to eat here, reservations made in advance is highly suggested, especially for larger groups. We waited close to an hour and a half but it was well worth the wait.

As the "So Cal Food Tour" was coming to a close, we headed back home to San Diego where the kids had to order their favorite "Salted Pepper Chicken Wings" at the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant in Chula Vista, CA and had lunch with their cousins Justin and Jake. And before heading back to Las Vegas, one more stop was made at "Hanaoka Japanese Restaurant" in National City, CA for lunch with the Bobis and Torres families for some great japanese food. But before ending the food tour, one last stop was made where the "So Cal Food Tour" began. It was off to the "Flower Fields" in Carlsbad for one last scrumptious "Strawberry Shortcake". It was the best way to end the tour. Click here to view the rest of the mouth-watering photos of this very satisfying vacation throughout Southern California. (Warning: Photos may be hazardous to your empty stomach.)

Posted on April 16, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

"Southern California Food Tour"
   Part 1 - Let the Food Tour Begin!

As we set out on their Spring Break vacation visiting theme parks and other tourist attractions, we also planned on touring Southern California in search of interesting foods and unique places to eat. With some research, suggestions from friends, and mapping out of locations where we had planned to visit, we came up with a few eating destinations that were not your average commercial eateries but one of a kind restaraunts with unique menus. And so the "So Cal Food Tour" had begun. To start the tour, Richelle, Patrick, Paula, Ace and myself stopped at the "Flower Fields" in Carlsbad, CA on our way back from attending a meeting in Anaheim and a quick lunch at "Thai BBQ". During the months of March - May on Saturdays and Sundays only, a lonely strawberry stand sits right outside of the parking lot and sells the best-ever "Strawberry Shortcakes". It is definately worth the drive and stop as a bowl with sponge cake at the bottom is filled with a generous mound of lightly sweetened strawberries and topped with whipped cream. The only word that comes to mind that can describe this bowl of heavenly delight is "Scrumptious".

As we enjoyed a day at Disneyland, a must have at the park is the "BIG" turkey leg, just like the ones King Henry VIII use to eat. These large, juicy, and golden turkey legs could be found at one of the carts parked at Central Plaza in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. If poultry is your craving, make a trip to "Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles" as we did when we passed by Long Beach, CA (which is one of the five locations in the Los Angeles area). The combination of fried chicken and waffles was perfect since they had no breakfast that morning and it was already lunch time when we arrived. The waffles were flavorful, the chicken was fried to perfection, and the gravy over the chicken or on the side is a must. The next stop on the "So Cal Food Tour" was a place they stumble upon in Manhattan Beach, CA where we had dinner with friends Alain, Leslie and their daugther Riley. The "Versailles Restaurant" is well-known throughout Los Angeles for their great Cuban food. (There are four other locations in the Los Angeles area.) The "Combinacion De Pollo Y Puerco" which was half portion of roast chicken and roast pork marinated in a delicious garlic sauce, topped with onions, served with rice, side of beans, and fried sweet plantain bananas was the favorite.

On our trip through Los Angeles and Hollywood, the next food stop was the famous "Pink's Hot Dog" stand which is a Hollywood legend since 1939. Located near the corner of Melrose and La Brea, Pink's is definitely a landmark in Hollywood and is visited by many celebrities as indicated by the 8 x 10 framed photos on the walls. The menu at "Pink's" is abundant and is very unique. The hot dogs are topped with every thing from chili to cheese to bacon to guacamole to lettuce and tomatoes. They also serve hamburgers and burritos but these are not your average McDonald's or Taco Bell items. These creations here at Pink's are works of art. Check out all the photos from this segment of the "So Cal Food Tour". (Warning: The images might make you hungry.) Part 2 of the So Cal Food Tour to be continued in the blog entry above.

Posted on April 16, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

Richelle's Birthday at "The Butcher Shop"

The family got together last Friday night to celebrate Richelle's birthday and went to "Roberto DePhilippi's Steak House" (formerly known as "The Butcher Shop" which had been at this Chula Vista location for years but had recently changed owners and re-named the restaurant.). The ambiance of this establishment is reminiscent of the old 60's lounge decor with red velvet walls and seats and very dim lighting, wine bottles lining the walls, and faded old-school celebrity photos hanging over the tables. But despite the old tacky decor, the steaks at this restaurant are out of this world and they claim to have the "Best Prime Rib in America".

The prime rib dinners are usually served with a baked potatoes or fries but the favorite is the twice baked potatoes. The prime rib is cooked perfectly according to what you ordered and the portions are hugh! As many times this family has visited this restaurant, no one has yet to finish the whole meal and take home boxes are usually brought to the table. On this night of celebrating after everyone took their last bite of the night, Richelle opened a gift box which had birthday cupcakes from Cuban style patisserie "Azucar". The restarant also brought out a slice of carrot cake with a birthday candle for Richelle to make a wish and blow. Click here to view all the celebration photos and Happy Birthday Richelle!

Posted on March 29, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

More Weekend Celebrating for Carole's Birthday in San Diego

After the big party for Carole's Birthday at "Pat and Oscar's" with a few close friends and family (See blog entry below), the celebrating still continued throughout the weekend. And in true "Poblete" fashion, the celebrating consisted of eating, more eating, and even more eating. "Dining with one's friends and beloved family is certainly one of life's primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal." (Julia Child - American chef, author, and television personality) This quote from Julia Child holds true. Although this family loves to eat, it's the bonding, laughing and the experience that happens when dining out which makes it more satisfying.

On Friday we headed over to the "Plaza Bonita Mall" to have lunch at the "El Torito Restaurant". While everyone ordered from the menu, Nico, Richelle, Patrick, and I took advantage of the "$8.99 Fajita Express Lunch Buffet" special. Fresh tortillas and steak or chicken fajitas were made to order along with the side dishes of rice, beans, corn cake, salads, and salsas for you to add on your plate. After lunch all the waiters and waitresses came out with a custard flan with a candle for Carole singing "Happy Birthday Panchita!"

So after a hugh lunch meal you would think everyone was done for the day? Apparently not as a late night craving came upon everyone and Richelle, Partrick, Eli, Nico, Kiana, Carole, and I headed back to Plaza Bonita Mall late that night and went to "Red Robin" for their gourmet hamburgers. For an appetizer, the "Towering Onion Rings" was brought out to the table before the burgers came out. At the end of the burger munching, the waiters and waitresses came out once again with an ice cream sandae with a cherry on top for Carole and sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

For the last celebrating of the weekend before the long five hour trip back to Las Vegas, Richelle, Partrick, Eli, Elson, Nico, Kiana, Carole, and I headed out again for a late lunch at "Jeong Won" for some "all you can eat" Korean BBQ. This restaurant was not only "all you can eat" but "all you can cook" as each table houses a grill right in the center where eveyone cooks their own food. Everyone helps themselves at the counter of endless marinated meats (chicken, pork, beef, shortribs, etc...), seafood (shrimp, mussels, fish, etc...), vegetables, salad, kimchee, and much more and return to their table for the cooking feast. Rice, miso soup, and Korean style vegetable pancakes are also served to you at your table. It is definately an experience eating here yet a very satisfying one at that Experience it all by clicking here to see all the photos from this past weekend of celebrating, bonding and most of all eating!

Posted on February 22, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

Carole's 16th (again) Birthday at "Pat and Oscar's"

It was Carole's birthday and the family had planned a trip back home to San Diego to celebrate. After Nico and Kiana got out of school, we all headed down the Interstate 15 freeway in the family's VW Eurovan hoping to arrive there in time for the party they had planned for. They beat the Southern California rush hour traffic and arrived in perfect timing to set up for the party at the "Pat and Oscar's Restaurant" at the Eastlake Village Walk in Chula Vista, California.

Before the guests arrived, orders of chicken wings, pizza, pasta, ceasar salad, and their famous "Pat and Oscar's" breadsticks were made. As the guests arrived, the food was brought out and set on the buffet table in the patio area which was reserved for the party. It was a night of catching up with everyone, story telling, and laughing throughout the evening. At the end of the evening Carole's birthday cake was brought out, candles lit, and all of the kids gathered around to help blow out the candles. Check out the photos from Carole's "breadsticks" birthday party with a few of her special friends and family at "Pat and Oscar's Restaurant".

Posted on February 20, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

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