Park a Seat at Parkside

Visited the fabulous city of Austin, Texas for the first time on a business trip to visit a new client. What a fun city! Definitely want to get back to explore more! I figured we would have BBQ for dinner cause that's what you do in Texas, right? Not this time! Instead we dined at Parkside on 6th Street, a hot newish casual resto with exposed brick walls, steel bar and food that makes a girl want to go back to Austin soon! Chef Shawn Cirkiel serves classic dishes with an upscale Texan twist. The food was fresh, delicious and per Texas standards, big on flavor!

crispy calamari, smoked paprika

ceviche

beet salad, arugula, strawberry tartare, balsamic, lavash

Parkside. Austin, TX.

Stylin' With Seafood

Indulged in another fantastic cooking class at Eatz in Los Angeles (check out my last class here!)! I am in love with Eatz. Hands down the best cooking classes I've taken. So intimate, so real, so fun!

Last night was "Stylish Seafood," and boy was it stylish!

First Course: Snapper Ceviche. With tequila! The dish was so fresh and kicked up a notch with cilantro and tequila. So easy to make!

Second Course: Seared Scallops with an Orange Beurre Blanc Sauce. Chef Sherry told us not to let the beurre blanc sauce intimidate us, as it's the most challenging sauce to make and that most people's break, but we tackled it and didn't break ours! Our sauce turned out beautifully! All about patience and smooth wrist action ;)

Third Course: Salmon Cooked in Parchment Paper. What could be better than a package of salmon, bacon, shallots, garlic, thyme, olives, tomatoes and wine? Roasted? And opened like a little present made just for you? Right. Nothing.

Fourth Course: Seared Ahi Tuna w/ Pineapple, Papaya, & Mango Salsa. Hummena hummena. Look how amazing this thick piece of ahi looks?!?! It tasted as good as it looked. Seared. And with pineapple and mango salsa (papaya wasn't ripe enough). In heaven. My favorite dish of the night.

Fifth Course: Caramelized Pineapples with Vanilla Ice Cream. I flambéd my first pineapple. In bourbon!!!

Eatz LA. Los Angeles, CA.

Going Ape for Animal

My June Monthly Foodie Roadshow visited Animal. I was expecting rich, heavy dishes full of meat and potatoes, but wow, was I surprised with our meal. We were greeted with dainty small plates full of fresh flavors, deep textures and delicious meat. The flavor combinations were unassuming and original and perfectly paired by wine our bartender selected.

Hamachi tostada, herbs, fish sauce vinaigrette, parmesan

Alaskan halibut, corn, wild fennel, chanterelle, lobster butter

Thai bbq quail, scallion, citrus, cashew, yogurt

Asparagus, crispy egg, pancetta vinaigrette, parmesan

Marrow bone, chimichurri, carmelized onions

My Monthly Foodie Roadshow Crew!

Balsamic pork ribs, tomato and cucumber panzanella

Flat iron, artichoke hash, truffle parmesan fondue

Sticky toffee pudding, mascarpone, orange

Animal. Los Angeles, CA.