Two weeks ago I attended Kamayan Feast in Los Angeles. It is a pop up Filipino dining experience by two of my favorite instagrammers @carolineadobo and @dadthebaker.
Kamayan comes from the Filipino word "Kamay" (hands) and it means enjoying a family style dinner with your bare hands.
I was very impressed to see the two long tables covered in banana leaves with a food spread that made me feel like royalty. For me it was like looking at some art work. The food is carefully assembled on top of banana leaves, and when you look at both tables you see that they look pretty much the same.
The Kamayan Feast started with a signature cocktail The Manila Punch made with calamansi, coconut and passion fruit juice. There was the virgin version and the one with @dadthebaker 's housemade corn vodka.
While sipping the tropical elixir. The couple's children (yes, this a family business) started passing the most amazing pan de sal sliders with house made spam, fried quail egg and organic mayonnaise.
Keep in mind that the couple uses the freshest and organic ingredients. They own a farm and they make everything from scratch.
Menu is different at every Kamayan Feast. This night the menu included: crispy pata (double fried pork hock), lamb kare-kare (lamb shank in peanut sauce), fried chicken, milk fish, ginataang sugpo (prawns and mussels in coconut sauce), ukoy(shrimp and vegetable fritters), beef short rib adobo, ensaladang talong (grilled eggplant with tomatoes and salt cured duck eggs),lumpia (pork and shrimp spring rolls) pancit bihon (fried rice noodles), atchara (green papaya salad), rice, shrimp paste and cucumber salad. I am hungry again!
If you know @carolinedobo, she is not only a great cook but also an amazing baker so it was no surprise to see that everybody was anxious to see what she had prepared for dessert. March 14th was National Pi Day and she celebrated by making the "Halo Halo Mousse Pie". Pinipig (toasted glutinous rice) and white chocolate crust, condensed milk mousse mixed with jackfruit, red beans, topped with ube whipped cream and leche flan. Words can not describe the flavors, the textures of this pie.

Using your hands let you enjoy food in a new different way. It allows you to immerse yourself in this sensorial experience that ultimately enhances the flavor and enjoyment of the food.
I will definitely will attend more often to this pop up dinner that now take place once a month. Make sure you follow @carolineadobo and @dadthebaker on instagram for updates on the Kamayan Feast in Los Angeles.
AC

I have been trying to eat more vegetarian and vegan more often and the main reason is because vegan and vegetarian food can be so good if made right. I stumbled upon this cafe while searching for another breakfast place. Harvest Cafe is located in downtown Ventura California. They serve all organic vegetarian and vegan food. They make their own milks, vegan butter, vegan pastries and desserts. They have hand pressed juices and a convenient grab and go section with chia and granola puddings, smoothies, raw desserts, nut butter and kefir.
On this visit I tasted the potato and broccoli waffle with mushroom gravy. It was moist on the inside, crispy on the outside and the gravy was very rich and flavorful.
I also had the Mexi Cali breakfast bowl made of rice,beans, sautéed vegetables, egg and avocado, very simple but they serve very good portions. I drank the carrot and ginger juice and for dessert I had the golden milk latte with a vegan banana walnut muffin.
They also have smoothie bowls, pizza, pasta and salads.
If you order coffee they offer house made cashew milk at no extra charge. Service is good and staff is very friendly. They are open for breakfast and lunch.
I am glad that I found this place close to home where you can eat organic, healthy and tasty vegetarian and vegan food.

Harvest Cafe
175 S. Ventura Ave. Ventura, CA 93001 (805) 667-8386 http://www.harvestcafeventura.com
Hours:Monday-Friday 6:00am - 4:00pm Saturday 8:00am - 5:00pm Sunday 9:00am - 3:00pm
Instagram:@harvestcafeventura
​AC 

We were looking for some place to eat after some retail therapy at the  South Coast Plaza in ``OC. We stumbled upon this restaurant while walking around, It caught my attention the long line at the door. Sign at the hostess desk indicated 2 to 3 hours wait. That seemed like a really long wait specially if you are really hungry.However I was intrigued by the amount of people willing to wait for three hours for a plate of dumplings. I suggested JT to come back for dinner.

We came back at 7 o clock, this time the wait was now one hour and a half. That we could handle. Finally I've got the text at 8:45pm to check in with the hostess as our table was almost ready. Fifteen minutes later we were ready to enjoy a dumpling feast.

Din Tai Fung started as a cooking oil business in Tai Pei, Taiwan that transitioned into a noodle restaurant in 1972. Nowadays the restaurant has presence in Japan, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and United States in Los Angeles, Orange County and Seattle.

They serve authentic Taiwanese food. On their menu you will find: soups, dumplings, rice,  buns and  fried noodles.

Seaweed and bean curd salad with tofu and vinegar dressing was light and crunchy, We also had the sticky rice with pork, think of it as a rice tamale really moist and stuffed with pork meat. We enjoyed the pork and crab dumplings and  a spicy braised beef noodle soup. The hot and sour soup was the best we have ever had. We ordered two buns a savory and a red bean one as dessert. The buns were sweet and fluffy.The buns are prepared  à la minute

They have an open kitchen where you can take a look at the cooks making dumplings and buns non stop.

Was the long wait worth it? ABSOLUTELY and I can not wait to go back. Din Tai Fung do not take reservations so be prepared to wait

DIN TAI FUNG
Locations: Visit http://dintaifungusa.com for information on their different locations
Hours of operation: The hours are different at all their locations. Visit the website above for specific times.
Instagram and Twitter: @dintaifungusa

In the heart of Venice just a few  blocks from Abbott Kinney is Gjusta, Gjelina's sister, or is it her daughter? I don't know but they are relatives.

If you have not been there before it is easy to miss the place as Gjusta has no sign but just a white facade instead. Parking space at Gjusta is pretty limited. I am talking 5 cars parking lot and street parking is challenging as well. I would recommend to park in one of the parking structures in Abbot Kinney and Uber or just walk.

Gjusta is all you can ask for, multiple experiences in one place. Gjusta is a bakery, a rotisserie,  a fish house,  a deli,  a take out place , and a non alcoholic bar.
There are so many choices and everything is fresh, local and house made.

Carrot cake, baklava croissant, scones, tea cakes, tapenade sourdough and tomato focaccia are some of their bakery choices. Bread and pastries are beautifully displayed like a traditional boulangerie.

Breakfast is served all day. Breakfast flat bread pizza, frittatas, quiches, fish plates, porridge, granola with nut milk are part of their  menu.
If you go for lunch after 11 a.m Gjusta offers an extensive sandwich selection from a porchetta melt and a chicken parmesan to a vegetarian falafel sandwich and a classic bang mî.

You can get a half or a whole roasted chicken herb or chili rubbed. or smoked mackerel and oil cured sardines along with a plate of their freshly made salads and soups.

Juices, smoothies, flavored limeades, coffee or tea - there are plenty of beverage options, their nut milk matcha latte was superb.

You can also buy some house made items for your pantry like Infused sea salt, olive oil, jams, pickled vegetables, honey, cheeses and charcuterie.

Be aware. Gjusta  is crowded and seating is very limited but for me that is the charm, you either have your meal at the bar looking at the barista preparing beautiful drinks or you sit in their small patio in one of the communal tables on a crate while meeting some of Venice's coolest kids.