Thanksgiving has a great deal of meaning to me. It was the first holiday I was on my own. Nearly twenty years ago, I had a falling out with my maternal side of my family. Holidays were always special with my aunts and cousins. We used to congregate at my aunt’s big white house up on the hill and food and drinks were aplenty. She invited her friends and their kids to the big shindigs. Even though I’m an only child, I never felt lonely.
I was determined not to feel alone on my first holiday without them so I began my annual Friendsgiving tradition. I learned family comes in more forms than just the traditional sense. In some instances, my longtime friends have become the siblings I never had. I wanted to start celebrating with those who had helped me on my journey. Over the years and decades, the circle of friends at my Friendsgiving has evolved as life naturally does but the spirit of giving and sharing remains.
I decided to recreate the festivities in my own home. I wasn’t adept at cooking for large groups, but I luckily had Martha Stewart aiding my journey. Thanks to her very detailed recipes and cooking shows, I quickly learned how to set the table, how to roast a moist and delicious turkey and how to make the creamiest mashed potatoes.
Nearly two decades later, I still use her as a guide, but I’ve made my own modifications through trial and error. This year will be my first all-organic Thanksgiving and that makes me very happy and proud as not only will it be a gift of friendship but also a gift of health. Hopefully, I will pace myself a bit better today and not stress out too much as the process of creating this Thanksgiving feast is what gives me the greatest joy.
I’m starting off my day, as I do everyday, by heading to the gym, to workout, shifting my focus internally. It helps clear my head and work out any aggressions I may have. Afterwards, my annual Thanksgiving tradition will begin, with preparing and eating breakfast while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. After the most important meal of the day is completed, then the roasting, the boiling, peeling and baking begin. That’s when I hope the magic will happen, when I will begin, as I did 19 years ago, and create a feast to celebrate love, friendship and gratitude for the special people in my life.
We had heard several reviews about how sensational the Newport Mastros Ocean Club location is so we chose my husband’s birthday to test it out. It took an hour and 10 minutes from LA to drive to Newport.
We arrived 30 minutes before our reservation and managed to find parking without having to use valet. The restaurant was in a shopping center with Trader Joe’s and a few other stores. We noted that I was parked in a green painted spot which ordinarily means short term parking. At first glance, the shopping center was reminiscent of Manhattan Village and the exterior of Mastros looked like Tin Roof Bistro. When we entered, the interior appeared to be a mash-up of the rustic farmhouse style with the sleek and neon Miami Beach style of the Malibu location so it felt familiar and bizarre all at once. We checked in with the hostess desk which had five young women, all in black reminiscent of the Robert Palmer video, minus the slick hair and red lipstick. Much like the video, most of them appeared to have no purpose and were just standing around and not really engaging with guests. I only observed the thin, petite South Asian/Middle Eastern hostess truly working. Upon entering the lobby, she was on the phone. I noticed that of the five hostesses, she was the only one who actually addressed the guests as they entered. Three other parties, a party of 2 and 2 parties of 6 were seated and there was no communication with us whether we could be seated sooner or if our reservation time was to be our seating time. Suffice it to say, at least 3 of the hostesses were a waste of space and uselessly unnecessarily employed. My husband had to ask 3 times whether we needed to move my car when one genius finally said that it was fine to park in the designated Trader Joe’s parking space. Since none of the hostesses appeared to have any intention of giving us an update about our seating time, I decided to be proactive and ask the obvious question on our minds and again, only the worker bee provided the information that tables were not yet available for us to be seated.
We took that opportunity to explore the bar. There appeared to be half a floor to ceiling wall display of all types of liquor. The bar was at full capacity and yet the bartender found us quickly and asked for our order. The service we received from him was exemplary, very much how we are accustomed to being treated at the Beverly Hills and the Malibu establishments. We shared a Chopin martini since I knew the drive was far from home and we would likely be drinking with dinner. Sharing a martini actually equaled 2 full servings of a martini as the typical Mastros martini is supersized. We meandered to the piano bar and noticed that the female singer was quite accomplished. Her range of vocal styles was fairly expansive and somehow suited to many different genres of music, which was perfect for the varied generations of clientele. Sipping our martinis, we listened to a few songs and wondered when we would be seated.
At 6:53 p.m., one of the other hostesses found us and took us though an indoor covered patio dining area and led us to a much quieter heated outdoor area. There were probably 6 tables or so. We could still hear the pianist and singer but without the hustle and bustle of the restaurant.
When we sat down at 6:54 p.m., we realized the hostess had not left us with any menus which was quite different from our experience at the other Mastros locations. However, our server shortly arrived and he brought the menus for our review. We didn’t waste a moment and placed our order a few minutes later.
Looking around, we realized that we had a view of nothing but the dark skies and that parallel to us was PCH. I was under the false assumption that the Newport Beach location was beachside. Despite being outdoors, our view was only of the patio.After we came to that realization, another thought crossed our mind. We had not received our bread basket. Sixteen minutes after we were seated, at 7:10 p.m., our bread arrived.
After that, the service rotated back to what we have come to expect from Mastros. Everything was served in a timely manner. The lobster bisque was sheer perfection. It was thick and creamy with just the right amount of saltiness. There appeared to be a bite size piece of lobster with each spoonful. Unlike the other locations, the bisque came with a side accompaniment each of chives and sour cream. The spicy mambo salad was lightly coated with a very mildly spiced dressing and some sprinklings of parmigiana. The romaine was crisp and fresh. The add-on cracked pepper rounded out the spices.
The 12 ounce filet was cooked medium, tender, pink in the middle but strangely inconsistent with its seasonings. Some bites were salty and others had no flavor. It appeared that the seasonings were only on the perimeter of the steak and omitted completely from the midsection.
Fortunately, some of the side dishes had evenly distributed flavors and seasonings. The garlic mashed potatoes were creamy and each bite had the same consistent garlicy butter flavor. The gnocchi had some crispy, almost toasty bites but had an even portion of cheese which was perfectly melted throughout. The creamed corn had super sweet kernels but otherwise was fairly ordinary in flavor. The green beans were perfectly cooked but had an overly oily glossy exterior.
The happy ending at all Mastros celebration dinners was the butter cake. It was piping hot with the perfect ratio of butter and sugar in each bite. As per usual, it came a la mode so the coldness of the ice cream quickly melted and penetrated into the hot crevices of the cake.
Based on the distance of the location, the confusing and contradictory exterior/interior design of the restaurant and the uselessness, intellectually challenged and lazy hostesses, I would give this location a 2. For the exemplary service of the bartender, our server and his helper and the amazing pianist and singer, all deserve a 5 star rating. The food was fine but some did not hit the mark so for the cost, I would give the quality, taste and flavor of the food a 3.
Overall, for exemplary service, attention, intellect, communication and quality of food, Beverly Hills cannot be beaten. They are in the thick of the entertainment community and have achieved a level of service that is unparalleled. Malibu is a close second though the snobby attitudes of their hostesses could use a serious readjustment. Newport Beach is unfortunately going to be a hard pass for us going forward.
Mastros Ocean Club
8112 East Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92657
https://ggfoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_2647.mov
In all the blogs and top things to do in Boracay, Ariel’s Point was always on the list. I deliberately didn’t reserve ahead of time because I wanted to do more on the ground research so I waited a few days to actually book our excursion.
One morning, I found myself awake around 5 a.m. so I decided to go for an early morning walk on the beach. I saw a sign for Ariel’s Point on my walk and made a mental note that it was about a 5 minute walk from our hotel. On my way back, I stopped by and inquired what day was available and how much of a deposit they needed. For my morning walk, I took the bare essentials: my iPhone, 1000 pesos and my iPod w/headphones. I asked if I could book a Christmas excursion for 2 with a 1000 pesos deposit although it was normally a 5000 pesos deposit for 2. They accepted it and wrote up a receipt guaranteeing my journey on Christmas Day. I was so surprised at their trust and faith in a stranger that I walked back to the hotel, got my credit card and returned with the full deposit.
On Christmas Day, we arrived well before the check-in time. After the rules and regulations were read, the group trekked onto the pirate boat and waded a bit into the water to enter the boat. The crew seemed affable and everybody seemed to want to party. We got the motor running and off we went. Shots of rum were served as was beer. About 5 minutes into our journey it felt and sounded as if we hit a huge rock. The engine died.
During the time we were stranded out at sea, rum kept flowing as the crew tried in vain to restart the engine. We befriended some of the people on the boat because nothing bonds people more than rum, beer and the fear of being stranded at sea and not intoxicated.
The main tour guide called for backup to help get us back to shore. Somehow, my husband and I ended up on the first boat back and we were given vouchers for the next day’s excursion.
The do-over luckily went according to plan. We arrived at Ariel’s Point which was this oasis in the middle of the ocean. The music was blasting. Rum was flowing and people immediately got to diving from the 3 dive boards. There was a short downpour during our stay but everybody was three sheets to the wind so it didn’t dampen our fun.
Lunch was served and it really was an event to behold. There was such a wide array of food and to this day, I wish I hadn’t been so conservative in filling up my plate. The lunch buffet was phenomenal, perfectly cooked, and full of traditional savory Filipino food. There was white rice, noodles, longanisa, fried fish, BBQ chicken and other items I wish I had eaten. By the time I realized I should have gotten 2-3 helpings, the food was gone. I don’t know who cooked all the amazing food but it truly was indicative of the Filipino culture and flavorings.
The rest of the time on Ariel’s Point was spent kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, drinking, relaxing and truly enjoying just being away from it all. We were out in the middle of nowhere. There was no wifi. We were one with the sea and with each other.
It was, by far, one of the most memorable parts of my trip to Boracay. For what it is, it’s not cheap, but it is worth every penny to meet amazing people from all parts of the world, to truly get away from it all, to immerse yourself in isolation of sorts and to taste true Filipino food and experience Filipino hospitality.
Ariel’s Point
$50/person which includes a boat cruise, a BBQ buffet lunch, afternoon snacks, unlimited beverages (including beer and mixed drinks), cliff diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and a souvenir bracelet. Leaves at 11:15 a.m. and returns by 5 p.m.
I had driven past the restaurant many times before but had never been until this evening for a Yelp Elite event. I read on the invite it would be light bites so I had assumed nothing substantial would be served. I was quite wrong.
The evening started off with a glass of either white or red wine. I opted for the former and was told it was a very dry wine which is just perfect for me since I don’t gravitate towards sweet drinks. The first batch of food served were the mini empanadas. There were two different versions served, the beef with olives and the spinach with cheese. It was quite good, had a flaky crust and the proper ratio of meat to dough. Next were the cebiche amarillo which was yellowtail ceviche served in shot glasses. What was unique about this dish, besides the presentation, were the crispy yucca chips which added a depth of texture to the slightly spicy ceviche. The tagliata, or grilled skirt steak, was served next with a healthy portion of creamy mashed potatoes. There was a bit of peppercorn gravy on the side of the plate which added a layer of flavor and coating to the steak skewers. The rolled eggplant, or envuelto de berenjena, was an incredibly pleasant surprise. It was served piping hot with lots of cheesy goodness, reminiscent of a mini-lasagne. The last entree was the choripan which was a chorizo slider. The buns were a bit thick and I normally don’t eat bread anyways so I used the toothpick to pierce the meat in the middle. It was a thick slice of chorizo, not overly spicy but seasoned just right. There were several rounds of these heavy appetizers which were served before the finale of panqueques de dulce de leche. They were thin crepes filled with a bit of dulce de leche topped with bananas and strawberry. It was light, not overly sweet with a creamy filling.
This Yelp Elite members only event was a lovely way to spend a few hours and I met some great friendly and funny people. I can now officially recommend Malbec as a must try place in Santa Monica. Their food definitely had the perfect combo of flavor, texture and a bit of creativity.
Malbec Argentinian Cuisine
2628 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
http://malbeccuisine.com/santa-monica
I hadn’t returned to the Philippines since 1985, and I found my task of choosing a hotel on one of its 7000 islands daunting to say the least. I chose Boracay because it’s known for its turquoise waters, fantastic water sports, insane beach parties complete with fire dancers and is known for its gorgeous White Beach which is divided into 3 stations. Wanting some quiet time and a bit of privacy, I narrowed my location to Station 1. I happened upon Ambassador in Paradise from many positive reviews on TripAdvisor. Still it was a shot in the dark not knowing anybody who had actually stayed there.
After 3 flights, a van ride, a boat ride and another van ride, we finally arrived at our destination, nearly 24 hours after leaving LAX. From the street, the resort looked quite narrow. As we walked through, the resort spread out a bit wider and was deeper and more expansive than we anticipated. Our room had a partial ocean view on the second floor above the restaurant, close to the beach. It also had a view of the pool and the inner courtyard area. The main dining area was easily accessible using the staircase by our room.
The architecture of the building had a Spanish Mediterranean feel. It might explain why there were many European guests staying at the resort. There were also a sprinkling of Australians. Compared to other hotels, including the more opulent and luxurious hotels down the beach, it appeared Ambassador in Paradise was at full capacity during our stay. I was more than a bit surprised but thought about the how and why of it all. It’s on the beach, has its own private beach area complete with chairs and umbrellas, it’s at Station 1 so there were fewer beach peddlers, it had a great breakfast buffet, the other meals they offered were reasonably priced and the nightly rates of the rooms were quite reasonable for everything the resort offered. As far as amenities, there was a really nice pool in the middle which we didn’t utilize mistakenly until near the end of our visit. The water temperature was actually quite lovely. The resort also had a small non-air conditioned gym in the basement. A few days prior to our arrival, a typhoon had hit and flooded the entire bottom floor. Some of the equipment was still drying as a result.
Our bedroom was nice enough. There was an armoire with shelves and a safe. Our luggage sat outside of it but most of our clothes were able to fit. There was a bench and a table for additional seating. The bathroom did not have air conditioning and the sink did not have a great deal of counter space. The shower area was open to the rest of the bathroom but luckily it was a wide enough space. The room came with a smartphone which allowed guests internet access and allowed local calls. Guests were able to take the phone outside of the resort during their stay.
All in all, for the value and the location, I would highly recommend staying at Ambassador in Paradise. The staff was phenomenal, professional and polite. They had a great variety of food. The nightly entertainment was relaxing. The style of the resort is casual, tasteful and subdued. Best of all, its location was perfect for relaxing and unwinding.
Ambassador in Paradise
Station 1, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, 5608 Philippines
https://www.ambassadorinparadise.com
I decided to bring my group of friends to Sushi Ippo because it was 5 minutes from the Marciano Art Foundation where I had tickets for the Yayoi Kusama Exhibit and it went with the Japanese theme for the evening. The museum tickets were free so I didn’t want to end up having the group pay an extraordinary amount for their dinner. I checked on Yelp and it averaged 4 stars and it said they take reservations but upon calling, I was told that reservations only apply to parties of 6 or more Monday through Thursday but at 6 p.m. when we were planning on arriving on a Saturday evening, we would have no problems. I also read that there was metered parking and a parking garage so off we went. It’s on the south side of Wilshire and the parking garage is off of Western which shares a parking garage with Wiltern guests. We were asked by the parking attendant where we were going and after I told her Sushi Ippo, she let us in for free. Upon walking out, we noticed that Wiltern guests had to pay $10. The entrance to the restaurant was accessible through the garage. We arrived a few minutes before our friends and the restaurant had a handful of guests dining at the time.
Once our friends all arrived we were finally seated. None of us had ever eaten at AYCE sushi let alone this restaurant so it was a bit of adjustment trying to come up with a strategy. Truth be told, we over ordered in our first round. We were more conservative on our second round but threw in the towel before the third round. There was a sign that hot and cold sake as well as beer was buy one, get the 2nd 50% off though our receipt comped us for the second sake. Also, there was a sign that if we tagged Sushi Ippo on Facebook and Instagram we would get a free macaroon or green tea ice cream which a few of us did at the end of our meal.
We ordered a variety of appetizers, salads, soups, sushi and nigiri. Having vacationed in Japan recently, every Japanese restaurant is cursed with the unbeatable comparison to the quality, freshness and flavor of sashimi and sushi in Japan. The quality of the fish at Sushi Ippo was around a 3.5. The peppered fish had some flavor. The rest of the fish was fine but lacking in the creaminess and butteriness that exists only in Japan. All the fried options were around a 2. They just tasted fried with no real distinct flavor. The sesame chicken was unfortunately flat out horrible and chewy, possibly either overcooked or expired because my husband and I both got sick early the next morning. On the upside, the vanilla macaroon was melt in your mouth good.
All in all, Sushi Ippo was a fine experience. The service was a 4, seafood was a 3.5, non-sushi/seafood items were a 2 but the desserts were a 5. It’s a good value for a fun casual outing with friends. I would have no issue recommending it to people who aren’t as familiar with Japan, sushi and sashimi or those who eat for volume rather than quality. I would definitely pass on all the fried food and any chicken dish because it’s a waste of calories and space in the belly.
Sushi Ippo
3800 Wilshire Blvd, #110
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Working in Santa Monica, I’m always on the hunt for delicious, inexpensive lunch options. I found Greenview Thai on Yelp. It only has 3 stars but after looking at their menu and the photos, my gut told me I would enjoy it.
On my first visit, I ordered the chicken with garlic and black pepper from the lunch specials. It came with a small salad, crispy fried vegetable egg roll and fried rice. With tax, it was $10.95. I had vacationed in Phuket in 2016 and everything I ate except the Americanized salad, tasted like the authentic food of Thailand.
A few days later, a coworker was craving Thai food so I returned and ordered fried chicken from the regular menu. It was different, not like the buttermilk or southern fried chicken I expected. It had a tamarind flavor but it was fried perfectly with a sweet dipping sauce. I was surprised again at how much I enjoyed it.
My third and most recent meal, I once again took a gander at the lunch special menu. I debated ordering a traditional Thai dish. I asked my server what he recommended. He said orange chicken. I was doubtful that a Thai restaurant could pull off a solid non-traditional Thai dish. I was 100% wrong. Just like my first visit, my lunch came with a small salad and the freshly fried and crispy vegetable egg roll. The combination of the fried rice with the perfectly crispy, not overly sauced orange chicken was the perfect addictive combination. I couldn’t quite understand or believe the deliciousness of each bite. After eating half of the dish, I felt my waistline expanding and asked for a box. While putting the leftovers in the box, I ate a few more small bites of the chicken and the rice. When I came back to work, I almost immediately started eating the rest of the meal until it was all gone. So much for leftovers….
Three times is a charm for my food experiences at Greenview Thai. Everything I have eaten has left me wanting more. It’s a terrific value especially at lunchtime. Everything is cooked on order and perfectly fresh. The service has been exemplary for all three visits. I am crowning it my go-to for my lunchtime getaways and any group lunches.
Greenview Thai
11870 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Grace Gambin
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