Protein Packed Peanut Butter Banana Bowl

Last week I had a chance to check out The Harvest Bar in Sherman Oaks. This Superfood Cafe, tucked into a small shopping complex along Ventura is turning out some of the freshest and healthiest concoctions in the city! From Acai to Quinoa Bowls, this beach-side community trend has finally made it's way inland, and it is delicious! 

I had the opportunity to try the Sweet Greens Smoothie packed with kale, spinach, banana, spirulina, dates (omitted in mine so my throat didn't close up), chia seeds, acai, and apple juice. This was definitely the way to ease into the greens!

Instagram @kaseys_kitchen

More Than Just A Little Dinner Music... LAFW Preview

LOS ANGELES FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCE FROM AWARD-WINNING RECORDING ARTIST COMMON

A night of music, culture, and cuisine collide on Saturday, August 23 in Downtown Los Angeles as headline performer Common takes over the stage at the fourth annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival

 

Common; Los Angeles Food & Wine

As you may have heard, Kasey's Kitchen has been invited back to LA Food & Wine to cover all the delicious excitement! The festival just announced that Common will be headlining on the Main Stage. Read on for more details!  

WHAT:           The fourth annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival will once again take over Downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Ave. fromAugust 21-24, 2014, bringing an electrifying evening of beats and bites, including a marquee performance from multiple Grammy-winning recording artist, Common on Saturday, August 23, 2014.  Opening for Common that night will be a live performance from African children’s ensemble amaWolseley Marimbas. Both performances will round out the weekend of festivities on the festival’s main stage, located on Grand Avenue between 1^st and 2^nd Streets.   Common, will perform hits from his recently released tenth studio album Nobody’s Smiling, along with songs from his previous recordings. An appreciation of great food and respect for the diverse L.A. dining scene and its talented culinary artists inspired the collaboration with the festival for Common’s performance.

 The city of Los Angeles, long known as a mecca for creative talent from every background in a diverse array of fields, once again has whole-heartedly thrown its support behind the festival. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has praised Los Angeles Food & Wine for its positive impact on the city, saying "Our diversity and surging neighborhoods have put our city at center of the food world and this year's Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival will put attendees on the front lines of L.A.'s culinary revolution."

Additional performances will include the amaWolseley Marimbas, who first came together in September 2012, when they were discovered in the rural townships surrounding Wolseley in South Africa’s Witzenberg Valley.  None of the children had ever heard or seen a marimba prior to the auditions, but were selected based on rhythm and then taught to play. The eight current members (14-15 years old) now regularly perform at live events in South Africa and throughout the United States

Los Angeles Food & Wine festival co-founder and CEO David A. Bernahl II praised the upcoming performances, saying, “Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival continues to celebrate the second-to-none culinary and cultural diversity that is LA. We see no better way to honor that eclectic electricity than a world class mash up of Grammy award winning artist Common and a group of ridiculously talented kids from the other side of the world.”  

The critically acclaimed Common, and the amaWolseley Marimbas, are a great complement to the four-day epicurean fête produced byCoastal Luxury Management, also the team behind Pebble Beach Food & Wine.  The festival is presented by founding partners FOOD & WINE and Lexus, as well as major partners Chase, Delta Air Lines, JENN-AIR, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.  Los Angeles Food & Wine continues its position as the only homegrown festival to provide Angelenos and visitors unparalleled access to the food industry’s most celebrated local and national stars.

As guests sample one-of-a-kind gourmet creations, discover new and unique wines and enjoy a performance by Common, attendance will help to end childhood hunger in Los Angeles and across America with the festival’s live auction benefiting Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign–-a national effort to end childhood hunger in the United States. Tickets for the gastronomic gathering are available on-line and at the door to each event, pending advance sales. Up-to-the-minute information on participants, event line-up, media credentials, and purchasing tickets is available at www.lafw.com

WHEN:           Saturday, August 23

·         7-10 p.m.: “Lexus Live on Grand” (Grand Ave. between 1^st and 2^nd St)

·         Hosted by Michael Chiarello, including live musical performances from Common and the amaWolseley Marimbas

 WHERE:         Downtown Los Angeles on Grand Ave., between 1^st St. and 2^nd St. (in front of the Disney Concert Hall)

www.lafw.com

Facebook (@lafoodwine)

Twitter (@lafoodwine)

Instagram (@lafoodwine)

ABOUT LOS ANGELES FOOD & WINE:

Now in its fourth year, the Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival, presented with generous support from founding partners FOOD & WINE, Lexus, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, JENN-AIR, and Delta Airlines, in addition to Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a four-day epicurean event showcasing the finest in food and drink culture throughout Los Angeles, and culinary personalities from throughout the country. Set amidst one of the country’s foremost cultural destinations along Grand Avenue, the event spans the city and offers guests the chance to sample the cuisines and products from some of the most prominent epicurean influencers, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the entertainment industry’s brightest talents. The star-studded lineup has included celebrated chefs such as Curtis Stone, Michael Chiarello, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Thomas Keller, Guy Fieri, Robert Irvine, and local favorites such as Rory Herrmann, Michael Voltaggio, Matsuhisa Nobu, and Sang Yoon. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.lafw.com or call 855.433.LAFW. The Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival supports Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign and other L.A. based charitable endeavors.

*Press Release Courtesy of Wagstaff Worldwide

Stupid Good Sushi at Sugarfish Beverly Hills

Last night was "Girls Night" and since The Mr. was away on a golf trip, I knew I could indulge in a food that he wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole... sushi! 

I have always heard rave reviews from my friends and colleagues about Sugarfish so I knew this was the perfect time to get my hands on the raw goodness. 

With two girlfriends in tow, I had my first experience at the Beverly Hills Sugarfish. Knowing that there would be a wait, we got there on the early side, around 6pm and only waited about 20 minutes which I soon realized was a cakewalk compared to the typical 90 minutes. 

Once seated in our cozy, candlelit table we perused the concise menu and made our decisions. Being accompanied by Sugarfish Pros I went with the "Trust Me" option as well, swapping out salmon for the sweet shrimp. 

Every bite at Sugarfish is moan-inducing. My favorites were the Tuna Sashimi which is prepared in a scrumptious ponzu sauce and the halibut sushi that just melted in your mouth. The combination of the crisp, clean fish and the subtly sweet warm rice is seriously euphoric. Am I being dramatic? Maybe. Perhaps the fact that gossip and laughter were the only things emitted between bites made everything taste even better but it's safe to say that I have officially joined the Sugarfish cult and I am not upset about it. 

Photos Courtesy of Sugarfish.com

Saint Martha's Gets Lucky on Friday the 13th!

Do you guys remember that restaurant I was posting about via Instagram? The one that I went to before the ovens were installed and the tables were still being constructed??

Well today's the day they are opening their doors!!

Get all the info below:

Dine On A Dime: Lobster Dinner at Vertical Wine Bistro

 
Head on up to Old Town Pasadena’s iconic Vertical Wine Bistro for their weekly Sunday Night 
Suppers for $25 per person with a focus on classic New England comfort food classics, including Executive Chef Laurent Quenioux’s signature Lobster Boil, obviously when I heard "lobster" I came running! 

Vertical Wine Bistro has a great tradition of bringing the family together with their Sunday Suppers, offering comfort foods such as BBQ Ribs, Fried Chicken and Beef Bourguignon.  Now they are taking a turn at the classic food of my home, the New England coast. “Everyone likes to share a family meal, but we don’t cook at home as much anymore”, says Chef Quenioux.  “ We want to bring back classic Americana with all the trimmings that children, grandparents, and everyone will love. They enjoy it at large communal tables as a family, having a good time and eating comfort food.”

By the way, did I mention that this dinner is an ABSOLUTE STEAL!!! So let me pain the picture for you. I made my way up the white light-lined stairway to second-story bistro, opting to wait in the lounge area while I waited for my host to dine with. The cocktail waitress brought me over a bar menu and notified me that it was Happy Hour all day... yeah, all day Happy Hour on Sundays. Woohoo! Pacing myself, I simply browsed the menu and sat back to take in my surroundings. The bar had a large TV which was ironically playing The Town. Oh Ben, how you make Bostonians proud! 

Dish Worth Driving To: Top of the Market San Diego

On a recent trip down to San Diego with The Mr., I redeemed a long-standing invitation from Chef Ivan Flowers and his team to dine at Top of the Market. You see, Chef Ivan and I had become buddies via social media in the past year, yet I had never had the opportunity to make it down to his restaurant on the bay! Knowing the reputation of the restaurant, I couldn't let this invite linger any longer. 

True to it's name, this fine dining eatery sit atop The Fish Market Seafood Restaurant on San Diego Bay. The crisp white linens, nautical fixtures and large windows framing the picturesque setting create the perfect atmosphere for a romantic meal for sure. 

We were first greeted by the restaurant's sommelier, Anne Estrada who poured us a delicious glass of NY Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve. These light bubbles were the perfect pour as we prepared for the feast to come. 

[Restaurant Recipe]: Casa Vega's Spinach Enchilada

I'm so grateful that Christy over at Casa Vega was willing to share some of her family's recipes with us! Turns out, they are pretty simple to make and beyond delicious! 

Spinach Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1 package of corn tortillas

12 oz fresh spinach

½ sliced white onion

1 tbsp chopped onion

8 large green tomatillos

2 cups of water

1 bushel of cilantro

1 tbsp cilantro

1 tsp granulated garlic

1 tsp of salt

½ avocado

1 oz sour cream

6 oz shredded cheese (Monterey Jack or Asadero)

Weekend Guide: K-TOWN NIGHT MARKET, LA

Need plans for this weekend?? Look no further, I just got the scoop on the best place to be if you're looking to fill your belly with insanely good food! Check out all the info below! 

LA Invite: Easter at Napa Valley Grille!

HOP TO NAPA VALLEY GRILLE’S BOUNTIFUL SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET THIS EASTER WITH FAMILY FRIENDLY OPTIONS FOR ADULTS ($45) AND CHILDREN ($12) ONSUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2014

Executive Chef Taylor Boudreaux offers endless market-fresh selections including a Seafood display, Omelet Station, and Prime Rib carving station for Easter Brunch alongside new rustic Spring menus for Lunch, Dinner, and Weekend Brunch this April

WHAT:              On Sunday, April 20 from 11 am – 3 pm, Westwood’s Napa Valley Grille invites families to celebrate the holiday with a bountiful Easter brunch buffet ($45/Adult; $12/Child*) spread of rustic, wine country-inspired cuisine. Executive Chef Taylor Boudreaux will offer a selection of farm-fresh dishes alongside aSeafood Display of Oysters, Shrimp Cocktail, and House Cured Salmon; an Omelet Station; and Prime Rib carving station. Guests can top off brunch withBottomless Mimosas (additional $15/person) to pair with seasonal brunch offerings including:

§  Israeli Couscous Salad with dried apricots, fresh herbs, citrus zest, almonds, and olive oil

§  Lamb Merguez Sausage with poached eggs and white bean cassoulet

§  Brioche French Toast with cherry compote and vanilla-brandy syrup

§  Marinated Grilled Natural Salmon with roasted corn salsa

§  Housemade Seasonal Agnolotti Pasta

§  Espresso Tiramisu

§  Apple Crumble Tart

Additionally, this April, Napa Valley Grille and Executive Chef Boudreaux introduce new Spring dishes with ingredients such as Kefir Lime Vinaigrette over Thai Steak Salad; Pancetta Lardons atop Grilled Asparagus and Sous Vide Poached Egg; Soy Glazed Shitake Mushroom and Orange Miso with Morrow Bay Black Cod; and Lamb Merguez Sausage with Braised Rabbit.

To add, pair dishes with the new Springtime Liquid Therapy cocktails made with infused liquors and market-fresh ingredients. The seasonal selection include:

§  Arnold Pama with Tea-infused Tito’s Vodka, Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, Freshly Brewed Iced Tea, Lemonade, and Pomegranate Juice

§  Bing Cherry Lemonade made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Grilled Bing Cherry Puree, Lemonade, and Fresh Bing Cherry

§  Island Hopper with Hendricks Gin, Honeydew Puree, Lemon, and Soda

§  Lemonberry No-Jito (alcohol-free) with Flor de Cana, Strawberries, Lemon, Mint, and Soda

WHEN:             The Easter brunch buffet will be available on Sunday, April 20 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

                        Napa Valley Grille’s new Spring menu is available beginning in April

COST:              *Adults are $45/person++ and children under 12 years of age are $12/person++

                        Bottomless Mimosas are an additional $15/person

                        Prices for the new Spring menu range from $4 - $39

WHERE:           Napa Valley Grille

1100 Glendon Ave.                                                       

Los Angeles, CA 90024                                    

www.napavalleygrille.com

Reservations can be made by calling 310.824.3322

ABOUT NAPA VALLEY GRILLE:

Napa Valley Grille is located in Los Angeles’s Westwood Village neighborhood. It is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and for dinner Monday throughThursday from 5:30-9.30 p.m.; Friday from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday from 5-11 p.m.; and Sunday from 5-9 p.m. Happy Hour at the bar and patio is available from Monday through Saturday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. and Reverse Happy Hour from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday Happy Hour is available from 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Valet parking and street parking are available. Reservations can be made by calling 310.824.3322. For more information on the restaurant, as well as special dinners and events, please visitwww.napavalleygrille.com, find the restaurant on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Fan of Beer? Fan of Game of Thrones? Plan Check's Got You Covered!

One of my favorite spots in L.A. is extending the St. Patty's fun with this beer event! A bonus for any "Game of Thrones" fans out there too! Check it out below! 

PLAN CHECK KITCHEN + BAR FAIRFAX INVITES BREWERY OMMEGANG TO TAKE THE THRONE (GAMES BEGIN SATURDAY, MARCH 22 – SUNDAY, APRIL 6)

 The Game of Thrones® inspired two-week tap takeover culminates with the limited release of Chocolate Indulgence, a beer stein giveaway, and a custom GT burger from Executive Chef Ernesto Uchimura

L-R: Plan Check Fairfax’s Bar; Ommegang Game of Thrones® Fire & Blood

WHAT:               Calling all Thronies from Essos to Westeros. From Saturday, March 22 through Sunday, April 6, Brewery Ommegang of Cooperstown, NY takes over the taps at Plan Check Fairfax featuring eight Belgian-style craft beers and a flight of five for $8. The lineup begins on Saturday, March 22 and ends with aGame of Thrones® event on Sunday, April 6 including the debut release of Fire & Blood, the newest beer in the collection. All fans who purchase a pint on the show’s Season 4 premier date (April 6) will also receive a limited edition beer stein. To add, Executive Chef Ernesto Uchimura has created a custom Game of Thrones® Burger to pair with the following brews:

·         Abbey Ale

·         Hop House Pale Ale

·         3 Philosophers Quadruple

·         Rare Vos Amber Ale

·         Witte

·         Glimmerglass, a limited release Spring saison (not available until April 1)

·         Chocolate Indulgence, a limited release lingering chocolate dessert beer

·         Game of Thrones® Fire & Blood

WHERE:             Plan Check Kitchen + Bar Fairfax

351 N. Fairfax Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(310) 288-6500

WHEN:               Saturday, March 22 - Sunday, April 6, 2014

Game of Thrones® event on Sunday, April 6 in conjunction with the show’s Season 4 premier date

SOCIAL        

MEDIA:              www.plancheck.com

Facebook

Twitter

#PCTapTakeover

ABOUT PLAN CHECK FAIRFAX

Plan Check Fairfax is located on 351 N. Fairfax Ave. in Los Angeles, CA 90036. The restaurant serves modern American comfort food in a small plate format alongside unique cocktails, premium whiskeys, and craft beers. Plan Check Fairfax is open for lunch and dinner daily from 11:30 a.m. – 12 a.m. (Sunday – Wednesday), 11:30 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Thursday), and 11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Friday– Saturday). From 3-7 p.m. daily, Plan Check Fairfax hosts a Shift Change happy hour featuring old-school hip hop, $2 off all draft beers, and cocktail specials. The new Late-Night Bite menu is served nightly during the last two hours of service. For more information please call 310.288.6500 ext. 2 or visit www.plancheck.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

ABOUT BREWERY OMMEGANG

Brewery Ommegang, located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, NY, is regarded by many as the most beautiful brewery in America. The company opened in 1997 to brew fine Belgian-style craft beers, which are now distributed in 45 states. The brewery offers daily tours and tastings as well as a 100-seat café and an annual calendar of events, concerts and beer festivals. For more information, please visit www.ommegang.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

Dine On A Dime: Bibigo in Beverly Hills

It’s not very often where you can find the words “budget” and “Beverly Hills” in the same sentence but, if you know where to look, you can find awesome meal without breaking the bank.

Bibigo is one of those awesome finds in town. Tucked along the sides of South Beverly Drive, this Korean-fusion eatery has been generating quite the buzz around LA. You may have seen their quick service locations in Century City and Westwood, but the B.H. digs provide a cool and comfortable dining experience.

Starting this week, Bibigo will be offering a “Seollal Supper” in celebration of the Lunar New Year on the 31st. The special pre fix menu will get you a delicious 3-course meal for only $25!

You can also try the special “Tkeok Mandu Guk” which is a dumpling and rice cake soup that is traditionally eaten during this holiday to promote good fortune in the new year!

Check out the menu below and head over to Bibigo to try it out for yourself!

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Bibigo Westwood
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Westwood
	* Street Address
	1091 Broxton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
	* Phone
	(310) 824-0011

A Perfect Night at Paiche

Over the past year, I've been fortunate enough to dine at some of the most wonderful restaurants in Los Angeles. From Downtown to Marina del Rey, this city is jam packed with flavors from around the globe and I've been loving every bite.

@kaseys_kitchen via Instagram

A little while back I had the chance to dive into a type of cuisine that is just starting to emerge into mainstream (with much thanks to Chef Ricardo Zarate), which is Peruvian food. Having only become familiar with this cuisine after pausing on an Anthony Bourdain special while channel surfing, I was quite intrigued when I received an invitation to dine at Paiche in Marina del Rey's recently renovated Marina Marketplace.



The atmosphere of Paiche is cool and coastal with sleek lines that are reminiscent of the rolling tide, but who really cares about that... let's talk about the stellar food!

Paiche is Peruvian Food with a Japanese twist. So think, "Ceviche meets Sushi"! I was fortunate enough to have Chef Ricardo join me during my tasting and let's just say, we are now best friends.

@kaseys_kitchen via Instagram

In between chatting... being dared to eat a shrimp head... and being put in a death grip, I enjoyed one of the most exquisite meals, simply, ever. Take a scroll through my delicious journey that included sashimi, ceviche, and some knock-out cocktails.

We started off with a funny sounding dish called "Spatchcocked" which was tender cubes of grilled chicken garnished with a Panca Moro miso sauce.

One of my favorite dishes of the night was the "Yuquitas". These (not so) little puffs of yuca flour were packed with Manchego cheese and opened up into this light, fluffy, steamy, cheesy, goodness of a bite. Can you tell they were my favorite? I just had to wipe the drool off the key board!

 Another dish we tried was actually the restaurant's namesake, the Paiche fish. This Amazonian fish is enrobed in a amarillo vinaigrette and tamari and served with a sweet potato mousse.

You can't have Peruvian food without ceviche! We had a variety including yellowtail, albacore, and blue prawn. And yes, that's the shrimp head that Chef Ricardo dared me to eat.

Another stand out for me was the Wagyu Beef. This thin sliced, seared beef was served over the most scrumptious Parmesan sauce and topped with black truffle. Each bite of this dish was more decadent than the last. Truly stellar.

To see more of my amazing dinner, check out the Facebook Album here!

A special thanks to Chef Ricardo and Mixologist Deysi Alvarez for hosting me for such a memorable meal! Can't wait to come back for more!

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Restaurant Name
	Paiche
	* Overall
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Del Rey / Peruvian
	* Street Address
	13488 Maxella Ave, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
	* Phone
	(310) 893-6100