California Food Diary 📓

Recently been eating my way around — here’s a quick plog! 🍛 Irvine: Hanuman Thai Eatery Went after visiting the Laguna Christmas lights — recommend booking via Yelp. Flavors were unique and memorable! 🍽️ LA: Republique Bakery picks: Basque cheesecake, Danish (apple & ube were layered and delicious), croissants. Loved: BLT Benedict, Kimchi Fried Rice, Granola. Skip: Potato Pancake (salmon was salty), Mushroom Toast (too oily). ☕ Try: Black Sesame Latte or Ube-Coconut Matcha Latte. Barra Santos A cozy bistro — exceeded expectations! Highlights: Tuna Crudo, Head-on Prawns, Seared Hokkaido Scallops, Piri Piri Chicken. Also enjoyed their arroz (if I remember right!). Manuela Nothing stood out — biscuits were too greasy. Osawa Pasadena The surprise standout of the trip! Must-order: Botan Ebi Sushi, Chutoro, Scallop, Wagyu. The sweet shrimp was incredible — they even fry the heads! Next time: trying their tamago! 🎰 Las Vegas: Mizumi Beautiful setting, but overpriced for the food — more about ambiance than the meal. 🍷 Napa Valley: Bouchon A solid, no-fail French dining experience in the U.S. — rare find! Highlights: Plateau de Fruits de Mer (fresh seafood), Steak Bouchon (Wagyu eye of rib — tender and firm), Saumon Poêlé (Scottish salmon with root veggies — perfectly balanced). Loved: Escargot in puff pastry. Desserts: Complimentary bouchons and the Profiteroles were a win! Planning to organize more past food notes soon — time to document all the good eats from recent years! 🍽️✨ #LosAngeles #FoodieDiary #LAEats #CaliforniaLife #EatLikeALocal #FineDining #TravelEats