Ele Fine Fusion

So like two weekends ago my friend P stopped me in the middle of the street while I was walking my dog on a scortching Saturday afternoon (well, actually she saw me walking puppy and texted me). Her friend was having a birthday party at an Asian fusion restaurant on Wilmington Island called Ele Fine Fusion.
The restaurant is actually a very beautiful building. With a glass floored entrance above water (lol, I was a little hesitant to make the first step thinking I was going to fall into the water) and interesting layout- one side regular diners sit in individual closed off booths while the other side is the party room. We, of course, were in the party room. Large and lovely, the room's walls had paintings on the wall that had a modern flair as well as a wall of wine bottles.
Ok, so the food. Well, first of all, you better bring a fat wallet if you plan on having dinner here. The prices are definitely on the higher end- which actually I expected considering what was on the menu and how it was presented. The menu had everything from lamb, vension, mahi mahi, king crabs, bbq chicken.... well I had the mahi mahi special which was pan-seared and served with organic vegetables. The mahi mahi was then stuffed with fresh pulled crab meat. Overall, the dish was beautiful, but I have definitely had better at local seafood restaurants (so remember, expensive doesn't necessarily mean better). The fish itself was actually cooked really well, and the vegetables were really nice. I found that the crab was kind of dry and the overall dish was too oily (which isn't good for someone like me who eats very healthy and isn't used to such oily food). P, her sister, and I also ordered the sampler plate of appetizers which included sauteed beef, tempura shrimp, and dumplings. I stuck to the beef because I don't eat pork or deep fried food. The beef was tasty; however, we all noticed that the peanut dipping sauces were definitely on the sweet side.

Anyway, if you're in Savannah and you decide, "Hey, I want to go to Wilmington Island for dinner and Uncle Bubba's is too packed, AND I don't mind spending the $$" then by all means go to Ele. The food was decent.

Ele Fine Fusion
7815 East Highway 80
Savannah, GA 31410
(912) 898-2221

Birthday Cupcakes

My birthday is in a few days and E Lo gave me a nice surprise...CUPCAKES! She had these delivered to my door today and I had 2 tonight they were so good. These cupcakes are from Free For All Cupcakes located in Fairfax, VA owned by 2 sisters. As soon as I opened the box the smell of the chocolate cupcake and buttercream icing leaked through the air. Thank you E Lo for a great bday treat!

Meat in a Box

KStead and I were craving kebabs for dinner tonight. We usually go to our spot in Arlington but didn't feel like going out that way. We found a place located in Falls Church, VA called Meat in a Box. Clever name, yummy meat!

The menu is pretty simple. You choose either shish, beef, chicken or combo (beef + chicken) skewers in either 2, 4 or 10 in a box. It comes wrapped in bread with tomatoes, onions and parsley. I got the shish, which comes with green peppers, zucchini and onions grilled with the meat and KStead got the chicken.

The staff is really nice and friendly. Kitchen is spic and span. The menu also includes other options such as a veggie wrap, soup de jour (minestrone soup is home made by the mother-in-law), ice cream sandwich (home made saffron and rose water infused ice cream served in between wafers), dolma, baklava, and ayran (Persian yogurt drink).

If you're in the Falls Church area we highly recommend this place.

Meat in a Box

312 S Washington Street

Falls Church, VA 22046

(703) 533-9070

The Coffee Underground- Really it is!

So I was recently in Greenville, SC for a residency interview. The drive from Savannah, GA was about 3.5 hours so when I pulled into town, the first thing I did after dumping my bags in my hotel room was get out and about and look for something good to eat.

Ok let me give a backdrop. At the beginning of this month I decided to give up meat. My reasoning was, I don't believe in clenses and detox diets. I think they're insane and dangerous so I decided to just take meat out of my diet and consume tons of fruits and vegetables. Well, as I was looking for vegetarian recipes I cam across various articles about American farming and the cruelty to animals that goes on in these farms. I DO know what cruel free farming is as I lived in the Caribbean for two years and witnessed it there. I know animals don't need to be caged, they don't need to be clusterd and tortured and abused and pumped with antibiotics and hormones. So I've decided I am not eating meat or animal products unless 1. I can guarantee that they came from cruel-free farms and 2. I'm out at a restaurant and I really don't any alternative option (but that's a very unlikely situation).

Ok, so here I am walking around downtown Greenville thinking "I'm hungry, but I don't want to eat something that's going to pit me to sleep". So as I came to Coffee St, I see this sign saying Coffee Underground. It was a chilly day so I thought a nice cup of coffee would do me good and I don't like Starbucks (that's right, I don't). But where was this cafe? I didn't see it, just the sign pointing to a staircase. So like Alice in Wonderland I followed. Well At hte end of the stairs was this door that led to a dim lighted warm and cozy cafe. The smell of chocolate and coffee just swept throw the air. So I get to the counter and am greeted by the sweetest girl and she asks what I want. Well. my eyes caught the words "Mexican Mocha" and I figured, well I bet it as a kick because I know hispanic people put chili in the chocolate so I asked her for one. She asked if I wanted something to eat (OF COURSE I DO!) so I asked what wer ethe vegetarian options. She suggested the Thai Tofu Wrap with peanut sauce.... ok so when my name was called up (lol it never gets old how they compare it to a Disney character's) I got my coffee and wrap and sat at my table and started surfing the web while I let my coffee cool a little so I wouldn't burn my mouth. Seriously, one of THE BEST cups of coffee I ever had. So good that I actually started putting cocoa powder and chili and cinnamon in my coffee ground. Ok so yes, great coffe- now the wrap. The tofu was marianted in soy and the flavours just soaked into it. SO GOOD. The wrap stuffed with the tofu, sprouts and other greens with that warm peanut sauce (with nuts in it), PLEASE ef go there. I told you there's always vegetarian options wherever you go, and sometimes they're even better than the meat!

Coffee Underground

1 East Coffee Street

Greenville, SC 29601

864-298-0494

Mmm MIAMI!

So we're back!! After four fabulous days in Miami, Kima and Lulu have returned to the Blogspot.com. I hope everyone had a wonderful Labour Day weekend: we did! So where to begin? Well after being stuck in the plane for an hour and half Saturday afternoon because of the rain, we finally got to our hotel. Well lunch already passed so we needed to figure out what to eat for dinner. So being the tourists that we are, we asked the guy @ the front desk where he suggested for some "home-cooked Cuban food that's worth every penny". And so we made our walk from the 20th block to the 7th for dinner at Puerto Sagua. So its definitely NOT the high heels sparlking dress restaurant you may be expecting to be eating at in Miami (no paparazzi at the window) but if it is delicious, mouth-watering Cuban food you're looking for, this is the place. A nice sized diner/cafe, Puerto Sagua offers a menu (in English and Spanish) that covers Cuban cuisin from chicken, fish, beef, pork, and eggs (so yes, vegetarians can enjoy a bite or two as well). and items range from 8-14$ approximately. With the amount of food put on your plate, you can't help but eat here.
Let me start with the plantains. OMGCBin3D!! Sweet plantains that are still warm (and I say this because the food comes out within 5 minutes of ordering which makes you wonder if they have huge vats of stew and vegetables in the back- eh, who cares!) are some of the tastiest things on the menu. LOL I even suggested that nex time I'll just order a large plate full. Ok, so Kima chose the beef stew while I chouse the ground beef. For someone who is a meat lover, and doesn't like the overwhelming taste of spice, these are dishes for you. Both meat dishes were on the milder side. I can't be sure of what, if any seasoning besides s&p, is in there, but the taste was definitely on the light side so there was no problems tasting the olives and vegetables mixed in the beef. And pour in on top of the MOUND of rice given to you and you're set.
Puerto Sagua
700 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach. FL 33139
305.673.1115

Well, the next day we decided we deserved a fancy, beautiful dinner after our relaxing day @ Lapis Spa @ the Fontainbleu (I know this is not a spa blog, but seriously, if you're in Miami, I must suggest that you mae a stop at this spa if even only for one service). So we went to Ola Miami, a Latin-Fusion restaurant (mixing Colombian, Cuban, and other Latin flavours). While we were in Miami there was a food fest going on called Miami Spice. Basically, several restaurants were offering a set menu which displayed the tastes/flavours of Miami. Yeah, we didn't do that. We chose to just order off the menu. Let me tell you first- THE NICEST STAFF. The guy who seated us (who I believe is the owner) is great for helping you pick out the right wine. I wish I could remember what he suggested for me, but it was definitely one of the best red wines I've ever had. I just remember it being from Spain. So I can't tell you much about the duck Kima ordered (girl, please feel free to FILL THIS IN) but my plantain crusted mahi mahi was delicious and EXTREMELY filling. The fish was mildly seasoned and then coated in mashed plantains and fried to form a hard crust on top. OMGCBin3D so good! So, so good but it took me almost over to finish it, and when I did I was pretty sure it was bed time (but maybe that was partly due to the wine?). The fish was placed over a spoonful off oxtail stew (the first time I've had oxtail and I'll never hate on it again. Oddly sweet and savoury at the same time) and tomato escabeche. Ok and the bread they serve. So its called pandebono which is a Colombian cheese bread. There is a hint of sweetness in the bread which is from the sugar and tapioca, but its the mild queso in the dough which makes you go, mmm! After dinner Kima and I Googled the bread and found various recipes for it, but the waiter was the sweetest man and gave me four raw dough balls so that I could have some @ home. In the end dinner for two and wine for two came to smething like 85.00$+ tax, but an experience totally worth it.
Ola Miami
1745 James Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139

CHARCOAL KABOB!!!

So this is the happiest place in Herndon, VA. Charcoal Kabob!! I don't even know where to start. I started eating here since what, senior yr of high school so that's like nine years ago. Dude, I don't think I've ever been so faithful to a restaurant. But the food is so beyond delicious here, how can I resist coming back over and over again. Ok, so yeah the prices have definitely gone up since I first started going (from 6-something a plate to around 8.50$) but for the amount of food that they serve, its definitely worth it.

So lets start with the Kabobs. I'm sure you all already know the lamb kabob is my favourite, but I will admit, the vegetarian kabob (made of a potatoe mixture) is really good too. All the kabobs are make in a hickory charcoal oven so it has that truly smoked meat feel. Not that "made in a conventional oven" flavour. You know what I'm talking about. You just don't get that true meat flavour in a regular oven. That rustic, deep flavour that makes you want to sink your teeth into that piece of meat and tear it apart like a lion to a gazelle. Did I mention I love to eat meat? Ok, so they also have chicken kabobs- pieces and chapli as well as keema kabobs and beef lamb ribs and fish.

Now that your kabob is on the plate, what else are you getting? Well, after you are topped with a oven baked naan (can it get any better?) you get some basmati rice and your choice of vegetables (chickpeas spinach, mixed veg).

There are some new changes to the menu since my VA days like gyros are now on the menu along with hummus, kaharis, and low-carb options (but really, why would you substitute naan for a salad?).

So where is it?

Charcoal Kabob

394 Elden St Herndon, VA

703-435-2400

Can You see What I See?

So last night was the first night in a LONG time that I got to go out with my girls and just have fun. So after getting all dolled up we hit the road for downtown Savannah. After driving in circles (so yeah, if you want to park on River Street on a Saturday night, I suggest you get there early, otherwise its street parking homefries) we managed to get back onto River St and decided on some seafood for dinner (well, when in Savannah...). So where did our hungry bellies take us? To One Eyed Lizzy's of course! So lets start off with the drinks. So I'm off to Miami in a month which means its "beach body diet time" and we all know that yummy cocktails are evil calorie adders, but its ok 'cause Lizzy's has a Skinny Margarita.

And hey, its actually very fresh and clean tasting with that crisp tang taste of lime. There's two pages of drink concoctions to chose from, but if they don't please your palate, the bar tender is pretty awesome at creating something for you as he did for my friend. This pretty lil' pink palate pleaser has SoCo, cranberry, and some other liquid goodness :o) Now food. Trying to find the healthiest thing on the menu I opted for the Char Grilled Salmon Salad.
So basically it was salmon on a Caesar salad. First of all- YUM! The salmon was delicious. It was grilled to perfection and wasn't over powered with tons of seasoning which was great because their salad dressing was probably the best Caesar dressing I've ever had. It definitely had a kick. The garlic and black pepper were very bold flavours which I definitely enjoyed. And of course, like everything in the south, the portion was HUGE. So yeah, Dinner was great. I'm not going to say it was the best seafood restaurant ever, or the best in Savannah, but if you're looking at fair prices (8-18$) with casual fare (po' boys, salads, grilled chicken, peel & eat shrimp, snow crab legs...) its definitely a place to eat at. And if you get there early enough as for a table on the balcony. Nothing better than eating dinner with a view of the water front.

Ay ya ya Mexico!

My older sister, BLT, and I went on our first vacation together to Cancun, MX. No we don't have the swine! We stayed at Ambiance Villas which was the 2nd to last hotel on hotel zone. Very quiet and relaxing. The staff were wonderful and we would definitely stay there again. We decided not to get the all-inclusive and to venture the local cuisine.

Our first night, we strolled into Mextreme! Apparently, Tom Cruise's movie Cocktail was not filmed here. haha we had to take a picture.

Our next night we went to a restaurant which I don't even know the name of. We walked by the restaurant and it smelled so good we had to eat there. I ordered bbq pork buritto. It actually tasted like Vietnamese bbq pork (thit xa xeo). It was really good and I like the fact that before we ordered they gave us a bowl of homemade chips with 2 different sauces, fresh tomato and a cilantro sauce.


On our last morning, we walked to a local cafe/sandwich shop. It was actually a French/Mexican cafe. They served sandwiches in french baguettes. They had pretty good traffic so we knew it was good. I ordered una croissant con jamon y jugo de naranja. I ordered in Spanish because the waitress didn't know English. The food was delicious! I wish I knew the cafe's name though. If I go to Cancun again I'll definitely take note :)

Two Smart Girls find Two Smart Cookies ... Plus Some!

The diamond in the rough... Kimi and Lulu's adventures in Savannah, GA, lead them to Savannah's guilty pleasure: Two Smart Cookies. Honestly people, these are some of the best cookies I have EVER had (well, M/ Felix and Mr. Norton back in Canada def takes the cake). On White Bluff Rd right before the intersection with Stephenson, is this lil' white house with a green sign on the roof hidden behind some trees. The smell... OMG! The smell when entering the bakery is more than heavenly. What makes a grown-up regress back to childhood faster than the smell and warmth of freshly baked cookies? Missing those hugs from mommy yet? The first things you see in the glass case are the adorable sugar cookies shaped as seahorses, fish, and even a lil' bikini frosted in pinks, greens, and yellow (well, it is beach season). Can we say adorable. What marvelous treasure do we see on top of the glass case but a tray of samples! Now Kimi is gonna tell you that the oatmeal cookies with craisins and toffee are da bomb diggity, but umm, Lulu here says YAY SMART COOKIE! How can you go wrong with a warm, soft chocolate cookie with pecans? You just can't. I mean, my tummy was singing "Just Dance" as that cookie made its home in my stomach :o) Ok, so here's their website: http://www.twosmartcookies.com, but unfortunately this treasure chest is only open Mon-Fri from 10 am to 5 pm so I guess if you work you better make most of your lunch hour. Oh! btw- you can even ask for milk for your cookie! Now really, how cute is that?!

Casbah Moroccan Restaurant

So you're wandering around downtown Savannah and all of a sudden you decide, "Hey, I want some lamb. And you know what, I want practice my belly dancing moves in case one day I get asked to perform for the Sultan." then I suggest you try Casbah. Now, if you've have Moroccan in DC (which I have) or perhaps in Morocco, well then I can't say this place is outstanding, but its definitely pretty good. The dishes are in the 20$-range, but they do have set menus where you can pick appetizers, entrees, and a dessert and that's around 30$ which I saw go for. I had the lamb w/ caramelized apricots. Its a mild curry, so if you're looking for spicy you may want to try the spicy roasted lamb. But if you're looking for an interesting, yet complientary flavours, go for this dish. The unique flavour of lamb mized with stewed fruit is actually nice as the sweetness of the apricots cut the sharpness of lamb.
So besides the food, I definitely think you'll enjoy the experience of the place. The tables are low set and you sit on cushion like couches giving you that feel of eating in Morocco. The waiters come to your table with warm water for you to wash your hands as it is customary to eat with your right hand (but if you're not into that, they've utensils). Then come the belly dancers. The girls are fun to watch as they dance around the diners and totally welcome everyone to come dance with them. Its customary-although not required-to tip the dancers if they come up to you. Eh, why not. If you're a guy I'm sure you'll be thrilled to slip a dollar bill into the dancer's belt. Overall its a fun and tasty dinner experience, but I suggest you make reservations prior because the place is PACKED all the time-especially weekends.
Oh! And if you like the music, or the costumes, there's a lil' boutique near the entrance of the restaurant for you to purchase these items as well as their sauces, tobacco for your hookah, and other lil' goodies.

Casbah Moroccan Restaurant
118 E. Broughton St, Savannah GA
912-234-6168

Don's Seafood Hut

Catfish stuffed with crab-really, you can't get any better! There are tons of places to get seafood in Lafayette, but ask the locals and they're gonna tell you to go to Don's. Now don't be confused, there is a Don's Seafood in downtown (apparently the owners of the two are related) but the cozy lil' spot on Johnston St is definitely the one to go to. From the outside it looks like it might be a sports bar, but inside feels really cozy. Ok, so besides the stuffed catfish (and all the other stuffed dishes) there's boiled shrimp and, when in season, crawfish and we all know how much we love crawfish down here. The seafood salad has more than its share of seafood (which is all good with me 'cause why for crab and crawfish when all you get tons of lettuce). My friends had the seafood gumbo (as they're anti-pork) and raved about it, so there's another reason why you need to try it out. Now, ordinarily you don't associate seafood with desserts but the apple cobbler...OMG! Yes, definitely make room for it. Warm apply cobbler with vanilla ice cream is the perfect way to end the meal. But yeah-the stuffed catfish is so amazingly yum. The stuffing is NOT 90% breadcrumbs 10% crab. Its crab and so so good crab. I promise you will lick your plate clean-oh yeah, not only is the crab stuffing delicious, but so is the fish So when you're in Lafayette and you're in the mood for some Cajun goodness, drive to Don's Seafood Hut and dig in!

Don's Seafood Hut 4309 Johnston St, Lafayette

Athena -3551 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Lafayette LA

Mmmm, now who doesn't like some delicious lamb and hummus? There are several restaurants in Lafayette to eat Lebanese (well...most are chains) but if you don't like your food drenched in oil or garlic in everything then I definitely suggest dining at Athena's. I'm definitely the fan of both the lula kabab plate and the kibbi plate. The salad is perfect-just enough feta and dressing so that your mouth doesn't feel like you ate a block of cheese and washed it down with oil. The lamb is cooked just right-juicy, tender, not chewy ('cause they don't leave a slab of fat attached to the meat). Every meal is served w/ a complimentary lentil soup-which is the best in town (trust me on this one) and all plates include a salad and rice-although if you're like me and are not a fan of rice, they'll happily switch it for anything else on the menu. The menu also includes falafel, tabouleh, grape leaves (both vegetarian and meat) and sandwich plates for those who don't want to eat a large plate (the plates are definitely large enough to satisfy you for hours). And at lunch time there's a buffet so YAY! for "all you can eat". And if there's still room in your belly after clearing your plate order some Turkish coffee and baklava-or pay the check and munch on a Jordan almond (SO YUM!).

Athena's
3551 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Lafayette LA
(337) 988-7618