The Grand Buffet, Hong Kong

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, Theresa’s research turned up a must go to buffet called The Grand Buffet(TGB), which is run by the same folks that run the buffet at the Grand Lisboa in Macau. TGB is located in Hopewell Center in Wan Chai and occupies the top floor with sweeping views of …

Bouchon, Yountville, CA

Continuing our tour of Thomas Keller restaurants, we decided to lunch at Bouchon, which is Keller’s take on the French bistro.  We had reservations for a late lunch and were promptly greeted and seated. Decor was typical bistro, with round marble top tables and Parisian style chairs. A small patio offers outdoor dining, although during …

Bouchon Bakery, Yountville, CA

No trip to Yountville would be complete without a visit to Bouchon Bakery, and would complete our Thomas Keller themed tour of Napa after Ad Hoc and Bouchon.  The bakery is known for its macarons but also has some other french style pastries and baked goods. The individual macarons are about 2 inches in diameter, …

Ad Hoc, Yountville, Ca

The Concept Ad Hoc is a more casual and more affordable counterpart to Thomas Keller’s high end French Laundry, showcasing contemporary American/Californian cuisine. The concept is the same as Wakuriya, with a daily prix fixe menu (in the case of Ad Hoc 4 courses: an appetizer/ salad, main protein dish, fruit/cheese, and dessert) that rotates …

Oysters at the Marshall Store, Marshall, CA

Tomales Bay near Point Reyes on California’s Pacific Coast highway (Hwy 1) is known for its oyster farms and The Marshall Store (TMS) sells fresh shucked oysters, chowder, and some BBQ items out of a building by the seashore. You order food at the counter and then sit outside on long hardwood tables set out …

Rating Restaurants Like I Do Poker Hands

Rating Restaurants like Poker Hands To date, my restaurant reviews have not contained any weightings to differentiate what place are worth a special trip versus places that merely register as decent and so on.  I could replicate the Michelin Guide and assign star ratings or the five star scale that Yelp and other services use. …

Napa Rose – Disneyland Grand California Hotel, Anaheim

Napa Rose is an upscale Californian style that uses seasonal ingredients in its offerings. The menu is changed every week based on seasonal ingredients and is targeted toward adults who need a break from the typical amusement park and chain restaurants. The restaurant located in the Grand Californian Hotel which is accessed from the Downtown …

Bruxie’s – Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches

Our friends suggested we try Bruxie’s while on our road trip to Southern California. Bruxie’s serves up waffle sandwiches, which replaces the bread with Belgian style waffles.   We went to the one in downtown Brea. The menu consists of savory and sweet sandwiches, with daily specials that differ by location (currently Bruxie’s has 6 locations …

Norton’s Pastrami and Deli – Santa Barbara

On a recent road trip to LA, we decided to take the longer scenic route along US 101 and stop in Santa Barbara for lunch. Norton’s Pastrami and Deli came up in our internet search of good lunch places to try and we decided to go to the original downtown location (there are now 2 …

Max Brenner, Las Vegas – Chocolate by the Bald Man

If you love chocolate and are in Las Vegas, you should try Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man, located in the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace. We did not try them for dinner, only for dessert, ordering the “Fondue for Sharing”. We opted for the dark chocolate fondue (you can also choose milk or …