Famoso Saturdays

Last Saturday, I went out to lunch with Raeanna before heading to work. We met up at Famoso downtown location. It was a surprise when I entered, I had no idea it was so causal and so small. It was like a upscale, very upgraded version of a fast food restaurant with service.



My Nutella Mocha ($4)
Really rich and just full of yummy Nutella flavor, but be warned: this is a dessert treat itself!



Sandwich and Soup Combo: Small Prosciutto Arugula and Fire-Roasted Tomato Bisque Soup ($10)



Pizzetta and Caprese Salad ($13.75)
Raeanna got the Quattro Formaggi pizzetta which surprisely, was able to finish her soup, salad and small pizza for our lunch date. I could barely finish my sandwich.

Calgary and Banff

Below are collages of the food adventures taken in Calgary Milestones, 02 Korean Restaurant, and Banff Tony Roma's respectively



Stampede Burger, Prime Rib, Seafood Fetticune, Basil Pesto Chicken Fetticune, and Seafood Salad



Family style Korean meal: includes bean rice, ginseng and chicken soup, tofu and kimchi soup, spicy korean bacon, kalbi ribs and pork ribs. OH! and off course SOJU!!

Needless to say: SOOO good!! but I felt so BAD for our korean server. We had some many requests and questions for him...hehe



Filet Medallions and Ribs Combo, more ribs and Salad

Basil Leaf Kitchen (Edmonton)

Last Friday afternoon, I went to Basil Leaf Kitchen & Sports Lounge because Tzin was closed =( So noodles was on my mind.



Viet Coffee to wake up!






Thai Soup
Very good, and spicy. Shrimp was very good and cooked just right.





Seafood noodle
More shrimp and squid, so good! But I was getting so full, because of the endless amount of noodles.



Basil Leaf Kitchen & Sports Lounge
10023 107 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5H 4L4
(780) 756-8880

The Free Press Bistro (Edmonton)

Last Friday, I called Raeanna up after my classes were done and ask her to meet up with me for lunch and just to chill. Because we met at 2, we couldn't eat at my first choice because their lunch hours are 11 - 2 so we walked around the area and spotted The Free Press Bistro so we decided to try the place out.



Caprese Panini : With Tomato, Brocconcini and Basil Pesto ($12.95)
and with substitute of their soup: Creamy tomato puree with roasted vegetables ($1.5)



I loved this panini. It was pressed to crispy and cheesy perfection. The cheese was just right and a long time was spent pulling the cheese apart. The tomatoes were also a nice balance to this panini but I wish there was a more bold basil taste present in the hot panini. But overall a A+ for the great bread and taste.

I wished I tasted the soup first before Raeanna, because her first comment was its sour. That just clouded my own judgement on the soup and I just ended up tasting for the sourness on my first sip. Next time, no! I will try the dish first. But I didn't mind the soup too much, it was not the BEST tomato soup I had yet.



Raeanna's Linguini Carbonara: Bacon, Egg, and Parmesan ($14.95)



Me and Raeanna both agree the the Linguini was lacking some serious cream sauce. The linguini was bland and tasted more like egg or maybe that's the point of the chef. What won the dish must have been the generous amounts of bacon, like full-size not little bacon bits.



Raspberry Crème Brûlée ($7)



As I order and taste a variety of Crème brûlée from all over Edmonton and in other places, I finding my palette for this custard is getting picker and judgmental. With this raspberry Crème Brûlée it was just too sour for my tasting. The syrup, burnt sugar and the custard itself was all sour and I didn't like that. The custard also was set way too much and that is not the way I like my Crème Brûlée. I only had a bite while Raeanna finished the rest.



It was a very surprising and great lunch at TFPB and I will make note to try the place out again for their awesome and tasty paninis!



The Free Press Bistro
10014 104 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5J 0X2, Canada
(780) 497-7784

Waffles and Sandwiches

So I found out via twiter that Edmonton actually had a moblie truck seeling waffles!!! So I had to get on that bandwagon ASAP!
So last thursday, found out they sold waffles at the Alberta Ave Farmer's Markets Thursday 2 pm - 7 pm, and I can bike fast there and just grab one to go!

Found it...I actually smelled the fresh waffles blocks way....it was very enticing.




I got their Vanilla Waffle with whipped cream and strawberry and blueberry sauce to drizzle at $4.00.



I couldn't wait to dig in!!! It was so warm the cream started to melt, the waffle itself was fluffy and still have a bit of a crunchy top..just perfect! I will return no doubt to try their other options.



Sandwich and soup at Canada's Place


The soup was pasta and cheese, not that great or that warm either.



The sandwich was awesome, I am really lovin' beansprouts or peashoots with sandwiches now, makes it look more healthier and adds a bit of a crunch. BTW I got egg salad.

Back from Costa Rica: PURA VIDA

I had a great, adventurous, eye-opening, wild, profound time in Costa Rica! I tried 2 new things: Zip-lining and Surfing, and I'm it will not be the last time. =P

Meanwhile, I was sure to try the local dishes of Costa Rica and stuff my face crazy during breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets! Here is a collection/collage of 4 meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and off course Dessert!

BREAKFAST


LUNCH


DINNER


DESSERT

I Love Sushi / Ric's Grill

Last Thursday headed to I Love Sushi to get a snack. It was in the afternoon and I was the only one in there..I know kinda sad..haha


Chirashi (~$11.5)

I order Chirashi and some miso soup. The Chirashi is also arranged so nicely. The tuna, I wished could be more fresh, it just taste like mush and not a great taste either. The others were all quite tasty =9 Nothing too much to put down about!



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The next following Friday, after watching a sad remake of "Clash of the Titans" me and Raeann headed downtown and to Ric's Grill. Because it was Good Friday there was not much of crowd in the restaurant. We went to our dim light booth and order soup, main, and dessert:


Grilled Fresh Wild Salmon Filet, Rose Dill Sauce, Fresh Fruit Salsa with Baked Potato ($28)

I got the Grilled Wild Salmon with veggies, and baked potato. The filet had a great color but I wish they was a bit more seasoning, I thought maybe the filet could be even a bit less cooked.



Raeanna's: Prawn & Scallop Linguini ($12)




I Love Sushi
10106 105 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB T5J 1C9
(780) 428-0606

Ric's Grill
10190 104 Street Northwest
Edmonton, AB
780) 429-4333

(Edmonton) Lazia for Lunch

Saturday afternoon my friends and I wanted to go to a restaurant that's involved with Edmonton Dining Week. However, the first restaurant we were denied because Brinda is not yet eighteen and the place was a bar. Second place only had the menu for dinner. Third and fourth restaurant was only open for dinner not for lunch. =(

So we headed back to the second restaurant, Lazia, just because we couldn't decided on a restaurant and we were all hungry!

Sante Fe Chicken Benedict ($11.95)
Poached Eggs, Pesto Chicken, Sweet Corn Bread Pudding, Cheesy Potatoes, and Fruit Salad

The Sweet Corn Bread Pudding was okay, sweet and savory (probably from the butter on top) but flaking in the bottom. The cheesy potatoes was a let down, it didn't taste like the potatoes was cooked all the way through. All and all, it didn't taste all that special. The Benedict itself and good, eggs cooked a little bit through since the yolk was not at all runny. =( However I found it cool the way they cooked the eggs, almost like it was boiled poached..haha.

Raeanna's Dish: Pad Thai One On ($15.95)

Raeanna's Creme Brulee ($7.95)

I must declared the most sad display of a creme brulee by both me and Raeanna. The top didn't not provide a "crack" sound, the first sign. Then, the filling didn't seem that it set, it was runny like a custard and didn't even taste that good. Very disappointing indeed. =(

Brinda's White Chocolate and Mango Mousse
I must admit it was very moussey...lol. Though I didn't care for the mango flavor that much, it tasted artificial to me, and no where in that dessert did I taste white chocolate, also sad =(

Lazia Restaurant

Suite A113
10200-102 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4B7‎
(780) 990-0188‎