Happy Anniversary! | Sabina's

We're so happy to celebrate one year of wedded bliss!

It's been an eventful ride that began with our wedding day, and continued with craziness like illness, career changes, finances, and a roller coaster house hunt (that's not over yet!)...as well as some wonderful family and friends, travels, accomplishments and, of course, food.

But those ups and downs seem like just a shadow of the tremendous blessing that is married life, because, at the end of the day, the best thing ever is simply the magic of being together.

So it was only fitting to celebrate in a simple, low-key way...with a visit to our friend Sabina. 

Sabina's is a verrrrry quirky little hole-in-the-wall that we discovered a few months ago. The first time we went, we didn't quite know what to make of it. It doesn't look like much more than some sort of small, mismatched cafeteria. Sabina serves as hostess, waitress and chef, while her husband buys the groceries and occasionally waits on tables. The food is nothing fancy, but made with lots of love. 

Service is notoriously slow, so the regulars come in, grab a menu, and seat themselves. It's not unusual to grab your own drinks, utensils and condiments too.

The meal always starts out with pickles, a dollop of sour cream and some chilies, shortly followed by some generic sliced white bread wrapped in a paper napkin. 

You can choose from a handful of soups, which come out piping hot.

The modest selection of entrees has a rustic, Eastern-European comfort food kind of vibe. Your choice of sides is either rice pilaf or mashed potatoes. We've tried a number of dishes at Sabina's, and they're all good. The best way to end your meal there is with a sour cherry crepe. 

It was unusually packed during our last visit...Sabina and her husband seemed a bit overwhelmed. So much so that one of their regulars stayed around to volunteer his help after he finished his meal. 

After our meal, we went to some open houses, cleaned the apartment, cooked dinner on that annoying electric grill, and shared a bottle of prosecco from our honeymoon with our friends A+B. 

We were just any other couple spending any other Sunday together...the perfect way to mark year one. 

Europe 2011

We just got back from an amazing trip to Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Barcelona. See photos here, and stay tuned for details on all the deliciousness!

Le Bambou

If you know us, you know that we love pho. And though we can find great pho at home, we also had to explore the other side of the pho equation -- its French origins.

Our first stop was to Le Bambou in Paris' Chinatown. It was very strange how this restaurant felt both familiar and foreign at the same time...like Vietnamese spoken with a French accent. 

Familiar -- the veggie plate / Foreign -- mint instead of basil, lemon instead of lime

Familiar -- hot pot of jasmine tea / Foreign -- champagne-lychee aperitif 

Familiar -- noodles and beef / Foreign -- a murky, sweet broth and shaggy tangle of scallions 

We're not sure if Le Bambou's pho was some variation that we're not aware of, but it didn't quite hit the spot. However, it was solid and warmed us up on a chilly night. If this was the worst we could do in Paris, it wasn't too shabby at all. 

Creme Caramel in a Jar | Gu Banoffee | Bonne Maman Yaourt

The grocery stores in Paris were insane. Every single aisle was packed with the most delicious-looking food...it was very difficult to resist buying one of everything. 


Our favorite items to ogle were the refrigerated desserts usually be found near the yogurt/dairy products. Where you would normally find a meager selection of Jell-o and pudding cups in the U.S., we found an extensive selection of mousses, pot de creme, creme caramel, flan, creme brulee, etc. We couldn't resist trying:


Creme Caramel
We don't remember the brand, but this adorable glass jar held a much better pre-made grocery store creme caramel than many of the pricey restaurant versions we'd tried at home.

Gu Banoffee
We couldn't quite tell what this was just by looking at the package, but we could tell it would be delish. Inside were layers of buttery crust, chocolate ganache, creamy filling, banana and caramel. It was over-the-top rich and sweet. 

Bonne Maman Yaourt
Amid all the indulgences, we made an attempt at being healthy. Little did we know, this yogurt is also delicious. It was smooth and silky with a chunky, not-too-sweet berry layer on the bottom...and only 2% milkfat!

Sometimes we wish we could find these delicious desserts more easily at home. But, actually, it's a good thing we can't...because it would be devastating for our waistlines. 

Kinder Chocofresh

We became huge fans of Kinder Bueno White during our trip to Italy, so when we came across its cousin in Paris, we couldn't resist trying it. 

A thin chocolate shell filled with a very milky hazelnut cream

This was delicious, but we missed the crumbly wafer shell. And, Chocofresh has to be kept refrigerated...making it harder to sneak back home in one's suitcase. 

La Galette des Moulins

Picnicking at Sacre-Coeur is one of those quintessential Paris experiences, so we relished every moment of touristy goodness. 

It was a pleasant uphill walk from the subway to Sacre-Coeur, though we got a little sidetracked.

After refocusing, we stopped by La Galette des Moulins, which seems like a clever play on the nearby windmill. It was quite crowded with tourists, but had all the fixins for a picnic lunch. 

This girl was complaining about the prices

After finding an open spot on the steps of Sacre-Coeur, we settled down with our loot. 

There was nothing extraordinary about our picnic -- just simple sandwiches, cheap wine, droves of tourists and a hazy view of the city -- and yet it was still magical. A quintessential Paris experience indeed!

Laduree

We really didn't get what all the fuss over macarons is all about. Sure, they're cute and come in fun colors, but they also tend to be overly sweet and a bit dusty.


Thank goodness Laduree gave us a little context.

The patisserie is like a jewelry store -- elegant, with beautiful displays. Choosing macarons is like picking out little gems...and these babies practically cost as much, too!

But once you take a bite, you understand what the macaron is all about -- light yet chewy, and bursting with flavor.

Our faves were the cassis and salted caramel. The tartness and saltiness, respectively, tempered the sweetness of the macaron so well.


Tip: Even though it may be difficult to refrain from inhaling every single macaron as soon as the box lands in your hands, they only keep for a few days. So, if you want to bring some home, buy them on your last day (or at the airport - CDG will have them).

Le Relais L'Entrecote

We arrived in Paris a hungry and a little groggy. After getting our bearings, we set out to do a little exploring and find some dinner.


We wanted to kick off our trip with some traditional steak frites, and the institution that is Le Relais L'Entrecote didn't disappoint. Not only did we love the food, but the charming way in which it's served.


They don't take reservations, so don't be surprised if there's a long line outside.

The waitresses look adorable in their black-and-white uniforms. Once you're seated, they'll simply ask you, "Rare, medium, or well?" and then jot it down on your tablecloth.  

A few moments later, bread and a lightly dressed salad appears...a meal in and of itself.

Then comes the piece de resistance...a heaping platter of steak covered in a buttery mustard sauce, accompanied by a mountain of the best fries ever.

Once you've finished your plate, you'll be stuffed...but it's not over yet. Because the other half of your steak, swimming in that savory sauce, has been keeping warm over some tealights at a nearby station.

Your waitress will promptly return with hot seconds of meat and another batch of fries fresh from the kitchen. You'll wonder how you could possibly finish it all...and yet it somehow disappears.

Tuesday Enchilada Night

It was really easy to throw together this hot, fresh and healthy dinner in just an hour. There are plenty of great enchilada recipes out there, so, rather than reinvent the wheel, we'll just share our shortcuts:

- Make the salad first — It was simply canned black beans, tomatoes, celery, white onion and lime juice. Since those ingredients don't wilt, we made the salad first then stick it in the fridge so the flavors could mingle.

- Use healthy leftovers for the filling — We shredded white meat chicken and frozen spinach.

- Layer, don't roll — Rolling the filling with the tortillas takes more time than layering lasagna-style.

- Healthy substitutions are easy — Use low-sodium canned beans for the salad. Keep the filling light by using lean meat and/or lots of veggies — like spinach, corn, mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, etc. Use less cheese and get your flavor from a really good sauce. Garnish with a dollop of lowfat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for probiotic, protein-packed creaminess.

On Cloud 29

There was no better way to mark Joe's last year as a 20-something than with lots of food and even a little surprise.

We started at All About the Bread, where we picked up lunch and played with their special Coca-Cola Freestyle soda machine. That machine is so much fun...there are lots of creative, not-sold-anywhere flavors that you can mix and match. 

With our picnic and bubbly high fructose corn syrup in hand, we ventured over to Airport Park in Santa Monica. It's a cute and clean little gem in the middle of the Westside sprawl. Our sandwiches (especially the crusty bread) were awesome, and the face-sized cookie we had for dessert was deliciously chewy, sweet and buttery. 

Airport Park was the perfect setup for our next stop -- J's birthday surprise.

We  One of us learned a lot about flying and did a great job piloting for much of the flight. 

The other just took a lot of pictures.

It was a beautiful, warm and clear day. We see the city from a plane all the time, but this flying experience was totally unique and afforded a far better view than LAX's usual flight patterns. It was truly a thrill. 

Malibu and the valley

The Getty, the Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory

Where LoveFat lives (WeHo), works (Century City), shops (Beverly Center) and gets married (downtown LA)

It was such a high (literally) that we didn't want to come down...but a few scoops of our fave gelato made things better.

We continued with our Westside theme at Santa Monica beach. We scored a metered parking spot and decided to linger. 

Dinner at Musha was another unique experience. We loved the modern izakaya fare and can't wait to go back. 

Dinner started off innocently enough with a green bean salad and tofu fries

But things got fiery with our very own mini hibachi, brown rice risotto finished tableside inside a huge wedge of parmesan, and saba torched tableside

We ended our night with a nice walk around the Third Street Promenade and the new Santa Monica Place. It was there that we saw a glimpse of what J's birthday could be like in 50 years:

Getting senior citizen "bottle service" at the dining terrace

Go Burger

We are fans of BLT Steak, so we were really excited when a Go Burger opened in Los Angeles.


The fried pickles and milkshake looked delicious but weren't too memorable. The sliders and fried chicken sandwich were a waste of calories. And, the signature Ultimelt burger -- sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches -- tasted surprisingly one-dimensional. 

In the end, it was a no-go. But we'll still give BLT Steak another try day!

Sushi Stop

When a coworker told J about a cheap and cheerful sushi joint that had just opened in Sawtelle, we just had to find out what it's all about.

Sushi Stop turned out to be one of those sushi mills that churns out inexpensive sushi and brusque service for a fraction of what you'd normally pay -- none of the dishes are more than $2.75.


But what sets it apart from the rest is the variety...there's much more to choose from than your standard spicy tuna roll -- including flame-seared sushi, curry udon bowls and a spring roll "ceviche." And, the quality is great for the price -- the ingredients are fresh and the rolls are made to order.


With such a diverse menu at a great price, it became our newest addiction.

Las Vegas roll, yellowtail and scallion hand roll, salmon skin salad, curry udon bowl, baked blue crab roll, tofu salad, black cod with citrus, crispy rice with spicy tuna, aburi yellowtail and salmon belly, aburi white tuna, spicy tuna roll, yellowtail and salmon sashimi, crispy rice with spicy tuna and shishito, spring roll "ceviche" with roe, baked black cod hand roll, spicy tuna with crispy wontons

No Taste Like Home

Sometimes, we just can't stop thinking about a certain dish from our childhood...on this particular day, it was a plate of steaming hot sticky rice and topped with sliced lap xuong sausage that had been rendered and sauteed with scallions. 

Thank you, Moms, for this food inception!

Not another rainy day!

The last day of our New Year's extravaganza ended up cold and wet. But if this happens to you, don't give up. There are things that can help...

Beverly Soon Tofu
Just looking at a huge boiling bowl of tofu soup will make you think you're wading through a balmy lava river instead of a pot hole in the parking lot. And that huge sizzling platter of meat will make you think you're dancing atop a smoking BBQ grill. Heaven!

Shaky Alibi
Nothing brings warmth and cheer like an impromptu gathering with friends to help you share a crispy liege waffle, topped with salted caramel ice cream, caramel sauce and fresh whipped cream. This waffle was almost as good as the company!

Pho
...And if you still need some help after all that, convince a family member to make you some pho. Like Windex or duct tape, pho can fix anything!

Elite Restaurant

2011 began with a couple of pounding headaches among the four of us, but we knew just the cure: Elite Restaurant in Monterey Park.

Elite is not your average dim sum — many of the dishes have a twist to them, like the roe atop the shu mai and the toasted sesame seeds in a steamed pork bun. The selection is extensive and the portions are huge.

Our friends expertly chose some amazing dishes, including items we'd never tried before — like clay pot rice with pork and salted fish, and a custardy bun that oozed a sweet preserved egg yolk. It was both new and comforting at the same time.

We consumed just enough of a shiny, greasy dim sum slick to help us shake off last night's indiscretions...and just enough MSG to induce a much-needed afternoon nap.

Congratulations, lovebirds!

Our cousin got married on 1/1/11. How cool is that??? C+J, you sure know how to throw a party!

It was our first family wedding as a married couple so, for the first time, no one was telling us, "You're next!!!". Instead, it was, "When's the baby coming???". But we had a great time. Weddings are so much fun, although married life is way better...well, at least one of us thinks so.

Totally candid photo taken by our 6-year-old niece