This place needs no introduction.
Moscow Mule, quite a departure from our usual wine.
Oysters, of course, and Pâté de Campagne.
Steak Frites (for me) and I think this was Sole Meuniere (for Maya).
Flan and Beignets.
Then we were off to watch Britney like a pair of teenagers!
Bouchon
At the Venetian
When I was organizing my photo album, I came across a bunch of photos from BFF Maya and my Las Vegas adventure, which took place … wait for it … wait for it … in October 2015!
It’s been more than five months since our trip to the Sin City, but I decided to post them here anyway!
These are the food photos from Chef Daniel Boulud‘s db Brasserie at the Venetian, where we stayed. We ate here the night before during the Happy Hour, and we had such a wonderful experience that we decided to come back for brunch the following day.
Unfortunately, the dining experience the next day was night and day compared to the one we received the night before. 😦 Let’s just say that we wished we went somewhere else for brunch that day so we could have remembered this place fondly in our hearts.
Here’s what we ate: Charcuterie Board; Provencal Caesar Salad; Moulees Mariniere (for me); and Crispy Duck Confit Hash (for Maya).
A lesson learned: A variety is the key to life.
db Brasserie by Daniel Boulud
At the Venetian
My husband discovered this quaint little French patisserie in Santa Barbara a few years ago. The place is so charming, I imagine this is how Jane’s The Bakery from the movie, It’s Complicated, would be like if it really existed in the lovely seaside town.
Renaud’s Patisserie and Bistro, a small shop tucked away in the corner of a shopping center, is not as flashy or as big as the fictional bakery in the movie, but I would imagine the feeling you get would be similar, with the aromas of buttery croissants and dark roasted coffee beans welcoming patrons walking into the door. It’s absolutely heavenly.
So, ever since the discovery, we’ve been driving to Santa Barbara, just to get our eager hands on the mouthwatering Almond Croissant (and macarons … and apple tarts … and financiers … and …). Those trips were made willingly, of course, but we wished that there was a way to get a hold of the goodies without the 100-plus mile drive up the 101 freeway.
Well, well, what do we know. There was Renaud’s inside the Gelson’s supermarket in La Canada, which is a mere 20-mile drive from our place, THIS ENTIRE TIME! 
Sure, a part of me was extremely ecstatic at the idea that those amazing sweets are available just around the corner for us now, but I also did have a momentary “W … T … F” moment, like “Ummm … I would like to get reimbursed for the money I spent on gas all these time, thank you very much.”
635 Foothill Blvd, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Shannon and I spent the last four days in NYC and had a wonderful time. All we wanted to do on this trip was to relax, eat good food and drink, and that’s precisely what we did. We stayed in SoHo and we pretty much didn’t leave the area! Some may think that we missed out on a great opportunity to explore the city, but being lazy was what we needed to unwind … and escape from the real world!
Our first stop was lunch at Balthazar, located two blocks from where we were staying. I’ve seen this restaurant before but didn’t realize that this was a New York hot spot, with celebrity frequenting this French bistro. We got really lucky and got seated right away. By the time we ordered our food, this place was jammed packed with locals and tourists, looking to enjoy the French flare.
Salad Nicoise and French Fries for me, and Mac and Cheese for Shannon.
Amazing bread!
Creme Brulee — a perfect finish to a great lunch.
Balthazar Restaurant
80 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
(on Spring, between Broadway and Crosby)
★★★★☆
Lavender and OliVE 