Author: Nicole Isaacs

HUB 51, CHICAGO

Published by Nicole Isaacs

If you are ever in Chicago, you need to do these two things I am about to mention. First, you must take a boat ride on the river in downtown Chicago, and out to Lake Michigan. I took the 7pm cruise and it was an hour and a half. 7pm is a good time because you go when it’s still daylight, but you also get to see the sunset out on Lake Michigan and the beautiful Chicago skyline when it gets dark and is all lit up. The boat company is Wendella Boats, you can look up their cruise times daily on their website which I will post below. It’s very romantic and you learn so much about the architechure and history of downtown Chicago. It was my first day in Chicago, so it was the perfect introduction to the city, and not to mention breathtakingly beautiful. Second thing you should do in Chicago, my suggestion is after you take a Wendella Boat cruise, is have dinner and drinks at HUB 51. HUB 51 in …

AL’S ITALIAN BEEF, CHICAGO

Published by Nicole Isaacs

I just got back from an AMAZING trip to Chicago. I went to the Lollapulooza music festival, and journied to some of the best eateries in the city. I told you I would put you guys up on the best food in every city and I did not want to disappoint! I have a lot more Chicago posts coming soon. One of the places I ventured out to was Al’s Italian Beef, voted as one of the top 10 sandwiches in America, and ranked the #1 beef sandwich franchise in Chicagoland since 1938. The show “Man vs. Food ” on the Travel Channel did a segment on Al’s beef sandwich as well. Al’s Italian Beef is a true hole in the wall with amazing, cheap food…totally my style lol. I ordered the “Regular Al” which is the 6″ beef sandwich fully dipped and soaked in beef au jour sauce, topped with their homemade “HOT” Giardiniera, homemade sweet peppers, and melted provolone cheese. It definitely was in the “top 2” best things I ate in Chicago. The bread was soaked in delicious juice, not one inch …

KOGI TEST KITCHEN- ALIBI ROOM, CULVER CITY

Published by Nicole Isaacs

I’m sure most of my readers and followers from LA know about the famous Kogi BBQ truck. The Alibi Room in Culver City is the Kogi Truck taste kitchen, where Chef Roy Choi’s famous Kogi specialities are featured on the menu. The Alibi Room is a micro-brew and wine bar with a menu offering fushion food from Kogi’s Kitchen (a mix of Korean BBQ & Mexican). They also has specialty & unique cocktails. The place is a casual lounge- it’s tiny but has a cool & laid back vibe. The food is great, the cocktails are unique, and it’s a great place to chill with friends. The drinks are great, and there are two items on the menu that I highly recommend. Read below to find out what I think is the best “item” I’ve ever had! Left: Shiso Margarita- shiso leaf infused tequila, fresh lime juice, cointreau, agave nectar, sesame salt rim Right: Mojito Kogi Three Taco Combo- Corn tortilla, slaw, cilantro, onions, salsa roja, w/ choice of short rib, bbq chicken, spicy pork or tofu I got …

PARADISE COVE BEACH CAFE, MALIBU

Published by Nicole Isaacs

I’m dedicating this post to my favorite and best clam chowder ever. I give the award for best clam chowder to Paradise Cove Beach Cafe in Malibu. Paradise Cove is a secret hideaway beach in Malibu with a beach bar, cafe/restaurant, and take-out counter. Paradise Cove Beach Cafe has a huge menu of food and specialty beach cocktails right on the sands of a private beach with wooden lounge chairs, cabanas and day beds. During the summer, Paradise Cove is always busy and a popular place to go for beach lounging and dining. I love this place. Whether you go for breakfast or brunch and to spend a day on the beach, for lunch, or an early dinner watching the sunset, Paradise Cove is exclusive, charming and beautiful. Paradise Cove Beach Cafe has a huge menu offering great seafood and American specialties. Everything is good, but what is especially amazing is their award winning Clam Chowder. This is my favorite clam chowder I’ve ever had. It’s perfect. What I love about it, is there are …

GLADSTONES, MALIBU

Published by Nicole Isaacs

Open since 1972, and recently bought out by SBE, Gladstones has been a Southern California restaurant landmark for many years. Located right on the ocean off PCH and Sunset Blvd, Gladstones is a fun, beautiful, yet casual place to dine for any occasion. What I remember of Gladstones when I used to go as a kid with my family growing up, were all the huge barrels of peanuts that people used to snack on while waiting for their table. The floor was covered with peanut shells and hay and I used to be infatuated by the big tanks of live lobster in the front of the restaurant. Since SBE took over Gladstones, all of this is gone, and the restaurant has more of a pristine, “crisp” & trendy look to it. Even the menu has changed. Newer feeling and vamped up, Glasdstones has entered a new era, Gladstones by SBE. This trendy SoCal restaurant right on the beach is a must. After laying on the beach for a couple hours, my friends and I decided to grab lunch at …

ARTISAN CHEESE GALLERY, STUDIO CITY

Published by Nicole Isaacs

Located in the heart of all the hustle and bustle of Studio City, on Ventura Boulevard there is a little, charming eatery called Artisan Cheese Gallery. For all you wine and cheese lovers, this place is perfect for you. Artisan Cheese Gallery has an extensive wine selection and a counter for cheese tasting. You can order soups, salads and sandwiches, or just enjoy a cheese platter with fruit, nuts and wine. This place is popular for lunch or an early dinner- it is open no later than 7pm. They cater, arrange gift baskets, hold private parties and tastings as well. It’s the perfect place to arrange a beautiful picnic basket. I went to lunch with my girlfriends here, and we decided to taste some cheese before we ordered our lunch. We tasted a bunch, but the two below were my favorite. CHEESE TASTING COUNTER CREAMY GOAT CHEESE TOPPED WITH A VARIETY OF HERBS A TYPE OF CREAMY BRIE CHEESE (MY FAVORITE CHEESE) We all ordered a cheese platter to share. It came with three different kinds of cheeses …

SLATER’S 50/50, ANAHEIM HILLS, CA

Published by Nicole Isaacs

This posting is very dear to me, because the restaurant I am about to blog about is owned by my first cousin, Scott Slater. Located in Anaheim Hills, Slater’s 50/50 is a goldmine. Featured on the Travel Channel’s show “Bacon Paradise”, and voted top best burgers in Orange County by Urbanspoon, this place is up and coming and about to TAKE OVER the burger competition everywhere. Slater’s 50/50 is a fun, casual & contemporary “sports bar”, but also great and very popular with families. It’s a neighborhood hang out spot that is PACKED from morning to night offering a fully stocked bar of liquor, beer and wine, gourmet burgers and comfort food at its best. The service is great- the entire staff is young, super friendly, very attentive and on top of it. Slater’s 50/50 has become so popular at it’s Anaheim Hills location, my cousin Scott is now opening up a location in Huntington Beach, and a third location is in the works as well. WELCOMING STAFF. HOW CUTE ARE THEY!? JAM PACKED WITH A LINE OUT THE …

MOONSHADOWS, MALIBU

Published by Nicole Isaacs

For Father’s Day, I took my dad to Moonshadows in Malibu. Moonshadows is a beautiful restaurant right on the ocean. Whether sitting on the open sundeck for brunch on top of the ocean, a window seat indoors in the dining room with an ocean view at sunset, or a drink at the bar/lounge, Moonshadows is great for any occasion. The ocean views are truly breathtaking, and the food is definitely something to blog about. MY VIEW BEHIND ME SITTING AT OUR TABLE COCKTAILS My favorite cocktail: MOJITO Minty & crisp! SIPPIN’. EXCUSE THE NO MAKEUP TAKING IN THE VIEW. THE BEACH IS MY FAVORITE PLACE APPETIZERS FRESH, WARM AMAZING ROLLS TO START SWEET MAINE LOBSTER CEASER SALAD Baby Romaine, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Focaccia Croutons, Caesar Dressing $18 Creamy and delcious. Big chunks of lobster and freshly cooked bacon. Perfect combination and the texture was perfect. Love caesar salad, but never had a lobster caesar before, and I loved the creaminess of the dressing with the lobster. Great salad! SPICY HAWAIIAN AHI TUNA TARTARE Gingered Cucumber, Crispy Marinated …

UMAMI BURGER, LOS ANGELES

Published by Nicole Isaacs

I’ve done quite a few posts now about burgers on my blog. It has been the “Battle of the Burgers”, and LA is known for some pretty damn good burgers. UMAMI Burger is one of the best places to get a legitimate burger in LA. Many people I know have named this place the BEST burger they’ve ever had, and I admit it is REALLY REALLY GOOD, but is it the BEST? Read my other burger posts to find out what I think 😉 INTERIOR OF UMAMI BURGER IN STUDIO CITY Umami is very “trendy LA”. There are a bunch of locations now, and all have a cool & trendy vibe to it. I recently went to the one in Studio City that just opened up, but have been to other locations as well. Umami is definitely in my “Top 3” when it comes to burgers, but it’s not my number one. The meat at Umami is incredible. It literally melts in your mouth and is so juicy with incredible flavor. My favorite burger, and …