Vietnam 2009

O and I spent the holidays in Vietnam and needless to say, it was the trip of our lives. The cuisine there was mind-blowing -- beyond words really. Unfortunately, I blew it and didn't take too many food pictures. Oh well, just another excuse to get back there soon!

Hot Doug's - Chicago

Easily the best "encased meat" joint in the Midwest, perhaps even the U.S. These are more than just "hot dogs," they are transcendent, gourmet versions of Americana. From L to R: Duck Foie Gras dog, Spanish Andouille dog, and the Braut. With a side order of Doug's famous fries cooked in duck oil.

Paella Friday

Oanh made Paella today! Her first attempt at this dish, and she pulled it off wonderfully. She basically threw in every food item I love - shrimp, mussels, scallops, lemon and spanish chorizo.



I ate more than half the pan.



I have to say I'm a very lucky man.

Restaurant Week 2009 - Pamplemousse Part Deux

So after gorging on our main courses, we turned to dessert. For the most part, Pamplemousse did not disappoint. The Trio of Sorbet:

The Chocolate Truffle Cake was RICH!

According to Oanh, the Lava Cake was good, but not great.

Nico picked the best dessert of the night with Pear Tart-Tartine. I had a bite and wanted to steal the dish from her. Slightly crispy on the outside, sweet moist and warm on the inside. Not to be missed.


Toward the end of the night, Chef Jeffrey came out of the kitchen and chatted with Doter about the wine list. Chef Jeffrey is one of those super-talented, larger than life guys, but he's also friendly and approachable. Thanks for the great dinner, Chef!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the delicious bottle of Pinot that Doter graciously brought to dinner. Unfortunately, I didn't catch the name of the bottle (and obviously didn't get a good picture), but I can tell you it was excellent. Thanks Doter and the rest of the crew for a wonderful time!

Restaurant Week 2009 - Pamplemousse Part 1

So what better way could there be to kick-off this new food blog than by getting the Good Life crew together for Restaurant Week! Our intrepid group of foodlovers started Restaurant Week with a bang at Pamplemousse Grille, a mainstay of San Diego's fine dining scene. Elegant, yet not too formal (let's say semi-casual), Pamplemousse is one of my favorite (New) French restaurants, perhaps second to Tapenade. Okay, enough with the rhetoric, let's talk about the FOOD!

The prix fixe menu featured a nice cross-sampling of Pamplemousse standards. Kobe burger with truffle fries, Gnocci with truffle flakes, the sinful Foie Gras... but first, of course, we had the famous fresh bread rolls (with Ivan and Amanda serving as our bread models).

Oanh started her meal with the Cold-Smoked Seafood Plate, which tasted as exquisite as it looked. Huge chunks of lobsters, scallop and shrimp with a hint of delicious smokiness.

For my appetizer, I had the Prawn Oscar with King Crab and Asparagus - really good. Like the Seafood Plate, there was no shortage of shellfish on my plate.

Not everyone started with seafood. Amanda had the Heirloom Tomato Salad with Baby Arugula and Smoked Mozzarella Cheese. A simple classic.

I couldn't resist squeezing in the Gnocci between my starter and the entree. This is perhaps my favorite dish at Pamplemousse - delicate hand-rolled pieces of potato dough with cheese and ample truffle shavings.

Now onto the main courses. Antoinette had the Crispy Jidori Farm Breast of Chicken. I grabbed a forkful of course - loved how the skin was cooked.

Ryan (aka "Doter") and I had the Duo of Beef (Seared Filet and Short Rib Agnolotti). Don't know how Ryan felt, but this was the least favorite out all my dishes, unfortunately. I guess I don't like my filet with too much sauce and I'm not of fan of meat in a pastry shell (unless its a Chinese wonton).

Ivan and Cantis had the Kobe Burger and Truffle Fries. I've had this many times and there's no surprise why it's one of Pamplemousse's most requested dishes.

I'll have more to report (desserts, desserts, desserts) in Part II, but unfortunately, it's bedtime. See ya later!