I'm Back!

So I am back here in the US of A.

Super jetlagged.

Super tired.

My internal clock is jacked.

But I do have lovely updates for you...

Not today however.

Give me some time.

Brain-dead.

=/

Back to reality.

Stay tuned loves.

Greetings!

Hey everyone!

So I am still here in the Philippines and having a great time despite the fact that majority of what I had planned had to be cancelled. I will get into that later. Anyway, I have a bad-ass tan. BAD meaning horrible. lol. I have about 10 insect bites. One of which I got when we went to my Grandpa's fish pond out in the countryside. It made my calf blow up double its size. Not pretty. We have been to two different beaches - one in San Fabian after visiting our church in Manaoag, the second in Bolinao. Holy crap, that beach in Bolinao has the clearest water I have seen. Incredible.

As for the food, new things I have tried are fresh cashew apples, coconut rice cooked in a bamboo stalk with fresh mango (OMG), and a bunch of other things. I also witnessed the slaughtering of a live pig and went fishing for fresh tilapia. *sigh* The Philippines. Bub had some ice cream in a hambuger bun. I still don't know why Andrew Zimmern is so irked by that. Of course I had some lechon baboy! My Grandpa and Grandma had a celebration for their birthdays this past Saturday. It was awesome to see so many of my family.

You know that I will have TONS of pictures when I get back. Last time I checked, we had about 500. Yeah, lots of sifting to do.

I think the most important thing that happened (besides the food), was Bub getting my grandparents' blessing to marry me. Wow, the most incredible feeling EVER. Now we are planning a ceremony in the States AND in the Philippines. My family is so supportive and I am so happy that they love Bub.

I am having such an awesome time and I wish I had more time to spend here than just my 10 days. LAME. I hate how you lose a day in traveling each way. LAME. We are heading to Manila on Wednesday and leaving this great country early Friday morning. I am so effing sad.

='(

Can't wait until next year.

Anyway, more posts when I get back. Just wanted to fill everyone in.

Oh yes, thank you so much to everyone who left me a birthday greeting on Facebook. It made my day!

LOVE Y'ALL.

Mean it!

Heeeyyy...

To My Readers,

So this is probably going to be my last post before I leave for the Philippines. Please stay tuned to see what I am up to. I might be able to find some wi-fi hotspots in Manila, so you never know when I will be back on here posting. Best believe that I will have an extensive report when I get back. Thanks everyone!

xoxo,
Jo

P.S. I had a FABULOUS birthday meal at Intramuros Restaurant in South San Francisco last night with some awesome friends (Val, Tiffy, and Dwin). If you are in SSF or are nearby on El Camino, PLEASE check this place out. I believe I have found my wedding reception venue. EEK! It was just so beautiful. The prices are also affordable (about $10 an entree), it was about $60 for Visayan pancit, garlic rice enough for 4 people, pinakbet, bisteka Manila, tofu sisig (<- OMG, PHENOMENAL), and two desserts - mais creme brulee and mango/langka strudels with fresh mango ice cream. The ambiance is TOP NOTCH. You so would not expect this environment in the middle of South San Francisco. PLEASE check this place out. The food is fantastic and the prices are great also. You will see why when you get there. So go there now. Pics from the dinner when I get back okay? Oh yes, good job, Val!

P.P.S. Went to For Women Only at 525 Howard/Club NV. Got there just in time to see Baby Bash. OhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHh...he's beautiful. Then we went to Holy Cow. Two words: NEVER AGAIN.

P.P.P.S. I got home at 3:30. I had to wake up for work at 6:30. I'm a souljah!

7x7 Should Just Hire Me

** See what I've tried so far **
I know that I have just been posting the pictures without a full report, but don't stress, I WILL be posting the whole review - food, ambiance, service - for all of the items when I get the chance.

As you know, I will be in the Philippines this time next week. I'm actually boarding the plane with Bub on the 15th! I'm super excited! Hopefully I will have some great stuff to post on here when I get back!

I wanted to take the time to say thanks to everyone who have been visiting my blog over the last 2 years. It just started as a hobby, which turned into a passion, which is on the borderline of addiction. Eating, photographing, and documenting my experiences is a joy and something I want to continue doing for a long time.

Thank you all for your support. I appreciate it so much.

Love,
Jo

And Here Go Another Two!

** See what I've tried so far **

You Can Call Me Addicted to This List...

** See what I've tried so far **

Happy Birthday, Momma!

So today, March 7, is Momma's birthday, but she left for the Philippines just this past Thursday. SO Wednesday night, I hauled ass to the Mission to get her a cake from Dianda's (2883 Mission St between 24th St & 25th St - right next to La Taqueria).


By the time I got there, which was close to 6:00 p.m., most of the cakes were gone, but I thought this one was perfect. Mom was so surprised that I got her a cake this big because it was just going to be me and her at home. But when I think of it, she deserves a big cake. It's her birthday! I was disappointed with the writing on it though...just a little sloppy and I would have appreciated if the saleslady asked me which color I wanted her to use. =/



Happy Birthday, Momma!

Isn't my mom beautiful? I love this picture of her.

Sorry about the focus - it was all the smoke!

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream,
Whipped Cream, and Fresh Strawberries
As for the cake, I loved it! It wasn't too chocolately and it was very light. The strawberries were nice and sweet. Great cake!

As I am typing this, she is probably on her way to our house in the province, which is about a 6-hour drive from Manila. Hopefully she calls me soon! Oh yes, what is cool about her birthday is that it is her birthday here in the United States, but it was her birthday yesterday in the Philippines because they are 15 hours ahead. My grandma's birthday is on the 8th, which is tomorrow here in the States, but is really today in the Philippines. SO Momma's birthday and Inang's birthday are on the same day kind of. Confused yet? Haha.

Then MY birthday is on the 16th, which sucks because I leave SFO on the 15th at 1 p.m., travel 15 hours over the Pacific Ocean, and then land in Hong Kong in the late evening of March 16 - my birthday. Bub and I are going to celebrate for an hour in the Hong Kong airport and then fly out to Manila. By the time we reach Manila, there will only be 5 minutes left on my birthday. =( But it's okay, how many people do you know have had their birthday in the sky and then in a foreign country?

RIIIIIIIIIIGHT.

Anyway...
Happy Birthday, Momma and Inang!
I love you!

Friday Favorite of the Week - Chapter 7

This week's favorite is more special because of where I ate it. I had it at my God-son's NuNu's house when Momma and I went there for dinner this week.


When I first saw the container, I thought it was so weird because there were corn flakes in it, but they were so good. Before I knew it, I popped five more in my mouth. Plus they're from Hawaii!! I love anything that comes from that state!

The Full List of Friday Favorites

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Sun Nien Fai Lok!

Event: Chinese New Year – Year of the OX
Date: January 26, 2009

Holy moly, I guess I never posted about Chinese New Year! I know this is over a month late, but better late than never!

I wanted that day, Monday, January 26, as Chinese as possible, so breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all Chinese food! I’m not going to elaborate too much on the food, but just know that everything was fabulous…except maybe for the chicken bun for breakfast. ICK.

~ BREAKFAST ~

Baked Chicken Bun with Chicken and Mushroom FIlling
I thought there was too much mushroom. =(
Didn’t like it too much.
~ LUNCH ~

Salt and Pepper Pork Chops, Potstickers, and Fried Rice from Ho’s Restaurant on Van Ness
This was my first time having these pork chops, and they were awesome! I had it delivered, so by the time it got to me, the fried breading sogged up a little bit, but I didn’t mind. I loved the jalapenos on them. Great meal!


Three Months, Eh?
That would make it April 26, 2009!
We’ll see what happens!
~ DINNER at Uncle Calvin and Auntie Edie’s House ~
I think it is pretty obvious that I am not Chinese, but Bub’s family is Cantonese and Bub’s mom invited me for Chinese New Year dinner. I went last year, and I am hoping to be there for all future Chinese New Year Meals! This was a great occasion because Bub’s aunts, uncle, cousins, nephew, and newborn niece were there.


Assorted Snacks
I loved the sweet wont ton strips!

Tray of Togetherness
Peanuts = health

Bok Choy with Mushrooms
Bok Choy = Prosperity
Mushrooms = longevity

Char Siu - BBQ pork
Pork = strength
This was provided by Bub’s mother. I love BBQ! It’s my favorite Chinese meat dish. I’m upset that I didn’t take a picture of Bub’s favorite – White Chicken. =( That was delicious with the ginger sauce.


Keeping warm in the oven!
Auntie Edie did a wonderful job of preparing these dishes for us.


Nuo Mi Fan
Sticky Rice = cohering of family

Auntie Esther’s Seasoned Prawns
Prawn = Happiness

Uncle Calvin Brought Out the Bubbly!
Champagne = happiness =P

Noodles with Cabbage, Mushrooms, and Chicken
Cabbage = luck
Cellophane noodles = long life

More Noodles!

My Plate: Awesome and I Was Stuffed!

Auntie Lois’ Almond Torte

Almond Jello with Fruits
Lychee = close family ties
Oranges = good fortune

Dan Tat
Egg = fertility
I brought these and they were a hit! Thank you to Golden Gate Bakery on Grant in Chinatown for helping me get brownie points with the in-laws!


Lucky Money!
I had a great time with Bub’s family and it was so much fun to see three generations in one house! The red envelope-giving custom was so funny. I am not sure if it is traditional, but Aunties and Uncle made us go on our knees? Ha! I don’t think it is, but it added some fun into it. What made it special for me that they let me participate as if I was part of the family. Actually, Auntie Wendy said it best, “You’re here with our family, so you’re Chinese already!” Hahaha, that was so funny and so kind of her. As you can see, I was incredibly happy and thankful I was invited to celebrate with them and again, I hope I am invited to future Lunar New Year celebrations!

Happy New Year!

La Mar Cebicheria Peruana - “Rox is No Longer on the Market” Celebratory Dinner

Restaurant: La Mar Cebicheria Peruana
Address: Pier 1 ½ on the Embarcadero, SF
Phone Number: (415) 397-8880
Cuisine: Ceviche, Peruvian
Date Last Visited: February 18, 2009
Dining Partner: Rox

I must have been on some Peruvian craving fit because this was my second time having Peruvian in a 3 day period. I am beginning to think that Peruvian is becoming my new “Mexican.” You should have seen 2008. It was the year of the burrito. Maybe this year is the year of the ceviches, lomo saltados, and yuca fries. Rox, my beautiful cousin, and I met after work on the Embarcadero. As we were walking to the restaurant, she told me some great news: she had finally found someone who makes her happy. =) Oh, I was so ecstatic that I made this more than just a dinner between cousins, but a dinner to celebrate her new chapter in life. If you know my relationship with Rox, you would know that she is like a little sister to me. We grew up together and even lived in the same home for a number of years. Each event and accomplishment in her life: middle school grad, high school grad, whatever, I was there. She is about five years my junior, so I have watched her grow into a fabulous young lady. This new detail to her already interesting adolescent life was cause for celebration.


La Mar opened in October of 2008, and already it has caused a stir on Pier 1½. The chef and owner of La Mar already have restaurants in Peru and Mexico. They wanted to bring their flavor here to San Francisco. I can really appreciate that because aside from Limon (which I went to just a couple days earlier) and Fresca (my local lunchtime go-to), I don’t know of any other Peruvian places.


I fell in love with the space. It’s humungous. When you enter the restaurant, there is a bar area immediately by the hostess table. When we were still outside, Rox and I were worried that it was already full, but that was just the bar. When you are on your way to be seated in the main dining room, you pass the Pisco Lounge where there are comfy banquettes and low tables for those who want to relax and still sample the small plates without committing to a dining room table. We were seated in the ocean blue-themed main dining room where the open kitchen is filled with cooks and the occasional flambé can be heard, seen and felt. I loved the color of the chairs and the placemats on the tables were also that color of blue or bright green. The area is huge and there is also outdoor seating over looking the water. It was just a beautiful space.


Potato, Sweet Potato, and Banana Chips
Rox and I loved these, especially the banana chips. I don’t know if they were baked or fried because they did not have any grease on them. I am not sure if they make the chips in-house because we were sat close to where they prepared the chips and salsa. The chips came out in clear plastic bags before they were placed in the presentation piece. Either way, they were very good. If they were indeed not made in-house, I would like to know where they got them because they were great. Yes, we had more than one helping of these.


Dipping Sauces for Our Chips
I think it is pretty easy to tell which one is the hottest. From left to right it ranges in heat from spicy to mild. I preferred the spiciest one and the mildest one. Rox devoured the medium one in the center which was made with aji amarillo which is a yellow pepper. It was cute how they were put in the little dishes. I watched how they dispensed them out of that contraption where you get your ketchup and mustard at a hot dog stand or a fast food place. I mean, it was perfect because it saves time and it gives the perfect amount each time.


Cebiche Tasting: Mixto, Clásico, Nikei, and Chifa
We ordered the Cebiche Tasting because it was a sampling of four of the many cebiches they offer. It takes the hard work in trying to decide which one to offer. I loved how each of them look different and had their own flavor.

Before I move forward, you are going to read “leche de tigre” - which literally means “milk of the tiger.” Leche de tigre is simply the liquid that is created when all the ingredients of the cebiche are combined and the fish especially releases some of its flavor and juice to combine with whatever citrus or acid that is added. You can say the dressing or the sauce, but leche de tigre sounds better.


Nikei: Ahi Tuna, Avocado, Japanese Cucumber,
in Tamarind Leche de Tigre with Red Onion
You can tell right off the bat that this is Japanese-influenced. There was a nice tangy and sweet taste to the liquid, which went great with the tuna. I love ahi tuna, and this was superb. I loved the addition of the thin strips of nori (seaweed) and the avocado. Awesome. I would order a bigger portion of this alone if I come back. This one was my favorite.


Clásico: California Halibut and Red Onions in
Habanero Pepper Leche de Tigre and Yam
I made sure at the beginning of the ordering to make sure I asked for everything to be seasoned “mildly.” Even with that said, this was a bit on the spicy side. Though it was delicious, we could have done without the heat. I loved it because it was simple and clean tasting. Not to many garnishes and the fish was really fresh and meaty.


Mixto: Mahi Mahi, Calamari, Octopus, and
Habanero Pepper in Aji Amarillo Leche de Tigre
with Cilantro, Red Onion, and Peruvian Corn
This one was a bit on the odd side. First off, that yellow leche de tigre was alarming, but aside from that, the flavors did not meld well for me. The octopus was interesting, but not a favorite. I liked the calamari and the mahi mahi, but the yellow stuff ruined it for me. I did not find it as acidic as the others, which is probably why this was my least favorite.


Chifa: Baja California Yellowtail Tuna with Peanuts,
Scallions, Ginger, Pickled Carrots, Daikon, Habanero Pepper, Wonton Strips, and Cilantro in Sesame Leche de Tigre
This would have to be my second favorite. I loved the texture contrast of the fleshy fish and the crispy wonton strips. Is it just me or am I biased for liking the Asian-influenced cebiches more than the more traditional ones? Everything about it was delicious.


Arroz con Pollo: Chicken with Red Onion on a Bed of
Stewed Rice with Peruvian Corn, Carrots, and Peas
Our server brought this out with a serving of the aji amarillo to go alongside because she said traditionally, a little bit of the sauce is mixed in with the rice. I left that to Rox who cleaned the entire ramekin of aji amarillo. I preferred the rice without it. The chicken on the rice was great. Perfectly cooked while still moist on the inside. As for the rice, it was a bit on the al dente side for me. It’s not as cooked as a risotto would, but it’s drier than a paella. It is a little stiffer and the addition of the vegetables were a bit of a turn off because they were still a bit crunchy - especially Peruvian corn. It was just alright for me. Not a favorite. I looked over to my left to see what people at another table were having and a lady was having the lomo saltado - Peruvian-style beef tenderloin stir-fry, and I regret not getting that instead. Oh well, always a next time.


Lúcama Tiramisu with Lúcama Ice Cream - $11
Before I go into this, I will explain what a lúcama is. Lúcama is a yellow-orange-pulped fruit that is often described as being similar to an avocado. It has a nutty yet floral sweet flavor. You can see that the ice cream has that deep orange color and there is an orange layer right beneath the dusting of cocoa powder in the tiramisu. I read that lúcama ice cream is the number 1 selling flavor in Peru. I don’t know if that is 100% true, but if it is, I can see why. It has a different flavor than most Westernized ice creams do. It has a subtle flavor - a flavor that you want to linger on your tongue. Certainly not one you want to eat right away. The tiramisu was delicious. I believe they didn’t add too much espresso in the cake layer because that would overpower the lúcama flavor. Both parts of the dessert were delicious. Beneath the ice cream were what seemed to be shattered pieces of thin vanilla wafer. In the middle was a smear of chocolate and next to the tiramisu were crumbled chocolate covered espresso beans.


Okay, honestly. I had a love/hate relationship with dessert. Let me tell you now why I hated it. It was $11 and the piece of tiramisu was MINISCULE. After four spoonfuls, it was all gone. The scoop of ice cream was tiny. In two spoonfuls, that was gone. I really liked how they tasted. I was just irritated with how small everything was and how ridiculously overpriced it was. I loved it for the flavor, but hated it for the price.

Overall, I enjoyed my dinner here with Rox. The service here is impeccable. Our main girl made sure everything was doing okay and brought us anything that we needed. Several people came to tend to our table, from the bussers to the runners, and each of them were professional and courteous. Our water glasses were never full and if we needed more of the chips, they were more than happy to provide us with some. Good thing we came early because the place got packed in no time flat. It is a big space with high ceilings, so with that many people in there talking and all the noise bouncing off the walls, it can get really loud. It was not a cheap meal by any means, but it was a price to pay for some really good Peruvian food. The cebiches are top-notch and the best I have ever had. The main course we had could have been better, but I did see some other choices on the menu that could have been better substitutes. Dessert was exceptional in flavor and texture with the non-exceptional price. For now, I will say that it was very good. Nothing made me super upset, except maybe for the overpriced dessert, but otherwise, very good, and I would come back.

DOSA - Footsteps Away from South Indian Goodness

Restaurant: DOSA on Fillmore
Address: 1700 Fillmore St. at Post St., Pacific Heights, SF
Phone Number: (415) 441-3672
Cuisine: Southern Indian
Date Last Visited: February 17, 2009
Dining Partner: Ate Di

So I did something very special recently. I hooked up Ate Di with my Cuzzin Run-day back in the holiday season. I am proud to say that they are still together, but there was a consequence to hooking them up. Now that Ate has a boyfriend, there is less time for me and her to hang out. I know most of it is my fault, so I should not really complain because they seem to be very happy. So after so many months, we finally decided to have dinner together to catch up. Me and Ate love Indian food and we are used to going to Pakistani places like Naan n’ Curry, but when I found out that DOSA had opened just 10 minutes away from my workplace, I knew that it was the perfect place to go.


I met Ate at Coffee Bean on Fillmore and it was beautiful day to go out and take a walk. It had just rained so the air felt cool and fresh. On our way to DOSA, we passed a whole bunch of places that were opened in this area to, I guess, lure people in who are into good food because Pacific Heights isn‘t really known for their food. These places included Pizzeria Delfina and SPQR. Honestly, I didn’t know that SPQR was so close. I will definitely check this place out during lunchtime (only Monday and Tuesday, FYI). Before we knew it, we were at DOSA’s door. DOSA is on the corner of Fillmore and Post, right by from Japantown and right across the street from a Burger King. Seeing that bright BK sign from the inside of the restaurant was a complete eyesore, but what can you do?


The interior of DOSA is spectacular. It feels romantic and stylish. Ate made a good point by saying, “If you were walking outside and looked inside, you really wouldn’t know what type of restaurant this is.” I mean, it doesn’t scream “I am an Indian restaurant.” I think it says, “I am mysterious and sexy, would you like to come in and enjoy what I have to offer you?” What I loved the most was the entrance. It looks like a hollowed-out cube with intricate gold patterns on it. Gorgeous. The wall panels with the elaborate metal designs were awesome to look at as well. I really liked the ambiance. There is a bar and communal table to the right where people seemed to congregate and enjoy each other’s company. To the left was the main dining room where we sat. There is a stairway toward the back of the restaurant which leads to another dining area.


We were one of the first ones there, so we were tended to right away. These were brought out to us on the house, but I don’t know what they are called. They are crispy wafers that were kind of like chips. I didn’t really like them for some reason. Ate Di liked them, but not my thing.


Paneer & Romaine - Chopped Organic Romaine, Cubes of Farmer’s Cheese, Organic Cherry Tomatoes, Creamy Garlic Dressing - $9
Think of this has a Caesar salad, but with Indian flare. It was very simple, but what made it special was the paneer - or farmer’s cheese. What is interesting about paneer is that even when it is cooked or heated, it does not melt. So what they did here was brown them a little to get that caramelization on the edges and get them a little warm. SO GOOD with the cool vegetables. I love temperature differences in my dishes. The cheese has a slight spongy texture, kind of like a fresh mozzarella. It has a milky flavor that I love. Ate Di didn’t like it as much as I did. Whatever. I thought it was good.


Paper Masala - A Thin, Pliable, and Crispy Variation, Served with Spiced Indian Potatoes, Onions, and Cashew Nuts - $11
This was fantastic. Every part of it was fantastic. Even better was that it was on my Big Eat SF 100 list. Bonus! When it was brought to the table, all Ate Di and I could say was, “Wow.” It is so beautiful! The length of the paper dosa is no joke. It was the length of the table. For real. If you don’t know what a dosa is, it’s a savory rice and lentil crepe. What is great about Indian food, especially the food here at DOSA, is that the dosa, or naan, or paratha, whatever comes with awesome dipping sauces.


My favorite part of eating the dosa was tearing it apart and dipping it or spooning the sauces onto it. The potatoes were incredible - cooked in spices and cashews. I loved making little potato “tacos.” Yum. The sauce on the upper left-hand corner is a tomato chutney, the lower right-hand corner picture shows a coconut chutney, and finally in the lower left-hand is sambar - a flavorful lentil dipping soup made with vegetables and spices. I am such a condiment whore, so customizing each bite by just dipping the dosa in the different accoutrements was a lot of fun. This paper masala dosa is definitely one of my favorite foods I have tried so far this year.


Chicken & Eggplant “Baingan Bharta” - Organic Boneless, Fulton Valley Chicken, Roasted & Pureed Eggplant, Peas - $14
Something I want to stress here is that there is a difference between North Indian/Pakistani food and South Indian food, which is featured here at DOSA. South Indian food does not use as much garam masala and other pungent spices as North Indian food does. Additionally, South Indian foods use more fruits like tamarind and coconut. I also noticed that naan and roti were not on the menu at all. Instead, dosa and uttapam are used to dip.


This curry had my name written all over it. I love chicken and eggplant combinations. Let me tell you, this did not disappoint. The eggplant was cooked down in the stew so that the eggplant is actually a part of the sauce. There were huge chunks of boneless chicken and I appreciated the addition of the fresh spinach and tomatoes. Lovely.


Basmati Rice Aromatically Flavored with Lemon - $3
My mouth is watering just thinking of this rice. What I liked about the entrée menu was that next to each of the entrée selections was a suggestion of which aromatic basmati rice would compliment. My chicken and eggplant was recommended to go with the lemon rice, so that’s what I ordered. Other choices of aromatic rice are: plain, cilantro, tomato, or coconut, but it’s Joanne here. I love lemon, so this was perfect. Indeed, it was perfect.


Duck Spinach Masala & Paneer - Sauce of Shallots, Tomato, Coriander, Fennel, Cloves, and Cinnamon - $15

Ate got the dish I would have gotten if I did get the chicken with eggplant. The spinach was cooked into the sauce, there were long strips of the paneer swimming in it, and the duck was still on the bone. There were actually two legs in there. One thing that I did not favor was that it was SPICY.


Raita Made with Strauss Organic Yogurt
It must have shown on our faces or the fact that we were fanning our mouths, but one of the servers brought us some raita on the house. How nice of him. It worked. Before we knew it, it was dessert time.


Gulab Jamoon: Lightly Fried Dough in Sweet Syrup - $5
I didn’t think that I would be enjoying a hot dessert at an Indian restaurant. The dough was warm, actually hot because I burned my tongue. I loved how they sat in this sweet water. I think rose was infused in it. Interesting dessert, quite different from what I usually have for dessert, and I am glad I tried it.


Ras Malai: Sweetened Paneer in Cream - $6
This was Ate’s dessert and after I had a bite of mine, unfortunately, I didn’t like her’s as much. Her dessert was a lot more subtle than mine and my dessert was just SWEET. I just had one bite, so I can’t make anymore critiques on it.

I loved our dinner here. It was nice to eat at an Indian place where naan and chicken tikka masala were not on the menu for once. The food here is a little more complex with the use of vegetable in the entrees. When I am at an Indian place, I seldom see vegetables and meat used in the same dish. It’s either just a meat dish or a vegetable dish. Here there is a good balance. And that lemon rice! Some of the best rice I have ever had. I am so happy this place is so close to my workplace…and it’s open for lunch! Can’t get better than that! The food is great and the ambiance is beautiful. I will be back.