12/31/11- BBQ Mix Plate

I love Hawaiian BBQ and L & L's is good as it gets outside the Hawaiian Islands. The BBQ mix plate has a little bit of it all (kalbi beef ribs, barbecue beef and barbecue chicken and of course the rice and mac salad), the only thing missing is some katsu. The L & L's in La Verne also has $1 spam musubi Tuesday; if you haven't tried spam musubi put all your assumptions aside and try it. Best part about L & L's is they are a nationwide franchise that has locations all around the country including Hawaii and I think there is a couple in Japan too.

12/30/11- Turkey Club Sandwich

In the race for the best club sandwich that I have eaten the Legend's turkey club is the leader thus far. But this sandwich isn't the only great thing on the menu at Legend's, they have a very eclectic menu ranging from breakfast that is served all day to huge burgers to tacos to shakes to gyros and it is all delicious. A meal is also somewhere between $6-10 dollars which comes with a boat full of fries that is enough for at least two or three people to share (the large fries are enough for small family). They also have locations in Rancho, Glendora, Upland and Montclair and I guarantee you can find something on their menu that you like.

12/29/11-Fig Marmalade Burger

This great burger and those beautiful giant onion rings are from the gourmet burger bar of Eureka Burger. This particular one is from Redlands but there is also a location in my hometown of Claremont, the great thing about Eureka is they have a good handful gourmet burgers with combination of fresh, creative toppings and house made sauces. In addition to great burgers they have tons of craft beers from such breweries as Hangar 24, The Bruery, Anchor Steam and Firestone. So if you are a fan of great burgers, gourmet bar food or good microbrewed beer check it in San Luis Obispo, Claremont, Fresno or Redlands.

12/28/11- Sushi Rolls from King Kong Sushi

The best part about sushi is there is good sushi bars everywhere that range from a couple dollars a roll to one flat rate for all you can eat sushi. This particular place is King Kong Sushi which has good sushi that is decently priced but its my parent's favorite to go who I converted from sushi haters to lovers. I've never had sashimi or regular sushi there but they have lots of good rolls such as the tiger roll, rainbow roll and the philadelphia roll. If you go to this place or you go to your sushi place, either way eat more sushi.

12/27/11- Dr. Grubbs Blackened Chicken

Dr. Grubbs is a little gem in the Claremont village that is filled with a bunch great restaurants, they specialize in fresh California Cuisine. I got the blackened chicken with the sides of roasted new potatoes and bow tie pasta salad, most people only get one side but I was feeling extra hungry. Their menu is very simple with a choice of salmon or chicken (both blackened or grilled), choice of 6 or 7 sauces and choice of 6 or 7 sides and there is also a teriyaki chicken bowl that is one my favorite. Every single combination is so simple and fresh, although it is just over the $10 a meal threshold it is definitely a diamond in the rough that you must try.

12/26/11-Double Double, Animal Fries, and Pink Lemonade

In-N-Out definitely has the highest taste to dollar ratio of anything you can eat (bang for your buck) and it is always the same everytime, simply delicious. The great thing about In-N-Out is the menu hasn't changed since they opened but instead "secret" items have manifested through combinations of their available ingredients (like the animal fries above). Some other "secrets" are whole grilled onion, chopped chilis, patty cooked medium rare, well done fries, fly ducthman (two patties and two pieces of cheese to add to burger), root beer float, lemon-up, and neapolitan shake to name a few. I am a huge fan of gourmet and fine dining food but there is just something about an In-N-Out burger that will always have a place in my heart and my stomach.

12/25/11-Pho Noodle Soup

Because I don't celebrate Christmas the tradition is usually to go get Chinese food but Pho Mai was in the same shopping center and I gravitated to it. The meal started with Thai Ice Tea, then I shared a Bahn Mi pork sandwich with my brother and pho soup with everything in it. There is pho restaurants everywhere and the best part is its usually only $6-7 dollars for a great meal. I think I may have started a new Christmas day tradition.

12/24/11-Holiday Sweets

The two boxes of donuts and cinnabons don't come close to all the candy, chocolates and baked goods I have eaten this month but it kind of sums it up. My parents get all kinds of gift baskets and See's candy then I go to work and there is cookies galore and tamales. It is a great time of year to eat, no matter if its sweets or turkey.

12/23/11-Pavilion Berry Sundae

Since I worked a double shift today and didn't a chance to go on any culinary adventures I thought I would post about one the delectable desserts from my place of employment (Candlelight Pavilion). I have worked there for four years and I have eat probably 30 of those berry sundaes, everyone is just as good as the first. So for reason you at a the Candlelight Pavilion to see a musical and have dinner, order the Pavilion Berry Sundae you will not regret it.

12/22/11- Pastrami on Rye

I figured starting the blog off with a pastrami sandwich was a good way to go, it was a delicious pastrami sandwich on rye from Vince's Deli in Pasadena. The location was a recommendation from one of my friends who lives in Pasadena and the sandwich didn't disappoint. Vince's is a nice little deli in a shopping center with other great little restaurants in Pasadena and it was packed with tons of people from families to man in business suits. You can immediately tell a place is good if there is a line all the way to the door and there is all different types of people in line. It was a good sandwich, I will definitely be returning.