SOUPE À L’OIGNON GRATINÉE LYONNAISE, VELOUTÉ DE COURGE, SALADE MAISON, GNOCCHI PARISIENNE, & TOURTE AU CHOCOLAT (ice cream separated on the side)  I have been wanting to try this place for awhile . Although we had no reservation, we were fortunate to ve seated at the only available table. The ambiance is cozy, and not overly loud. We were able to chat comfortably. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised with all of the food. Almost every morsel was outstanding - the flourless chocolate tart was not quite on the same level as the rest of our meal, however it was still very good. And to top it all off, our server Francis was wonderful! I'm looking forward to returning. 

STIR FRY CHICKEN BOWL The sweet and tangy flavors were a bit overpowering, but it was a nice change from the usual airport food suspects like sandwiches, etc. Since I had a pretty long travel day ahead of me and didn't have time for breakfast, I was glad to have a more substantial meal before boarding my flight.

STEAK FRITES, BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI W/PRAWNS, RIGATONI BOLOGNAISE, & LEMONGRASS NOODLE SALAD This resto was located near my hotel, so I dined there twice, once for dinner (steak & ravioli) and once for lunch (rigatoni & noodle salad- photos above were taken from website since I was on a business lunch and unable to photograph 😆). The food menu is not as large their drink menu, and I was told their cocktails were fun and tasty. Side note - I'm pretty sure you have to be gorgeous to work here! The steak and sides (fries & salad) were good, but since I have a shellfish allergy, for some reason I was not able to have the kale salad it came with, so they substituted with a green salad. *NOTE: If you have food allergies, you must notify them in advance as they do not cook items in separate areas and will need to clean/prep.* The rigatoni was excellent, I was not expecting much, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and was regretting splitting my order! The ravioli and lemongrass noodle salad were had by my colleagues and both loved their dishes.

NEW YORK STRIP STEAK (med rare), BIG GLORY BAY KING SALMON, TWICE BAKED POTATO, CRISP CP FRIES, SAUTÉED SPINACH, TRIO OF CREME BRULEE, and STEAKHOUSE WEDGE SALAD (not pictured) Lunch today was a special treat. Charlie Palmer is one of my favorite steakhouses in the area. Located right near Capitol Hill, it was much busier than I'd expected. The food was phenomenal, as usual. The steak was perfect and the twice baked potatoes with truffles and bacon were scrumptious. My friend loved the salmon and the fries were tasty. Spinach is spinach. 😆 The wedge salad could have used a bit more dressing, but was wonderful with both fried and pickled onions. The creme brulee trio included orange (my fave of the 3), coffee, and vanilla flavors. All delicious. This restaurant never disappoints!

MIXED BERRY SHORTCAKE One of the best summer desserts. Light, fresh, and delicious! Typically a seasonal item, offered in the summer.

BULGOGI BIBIMBAP It was SO NICE to finally get out and try a new place. I hadn't eaten Korean in ages, so I really enjoyed this restaurant. This particular dish was good, however, I wish the veggies had more of a pickled flavor. The dish also included a miso soup (not pictured) which hit the spot. Additionally, I tried the soy garlic boneless wings and fries, both very good, and the fried rice, which was decent. I will definitely be returning!

BREAK POINT SALAD, STEAK & EGGS, and BLOODY MARY Food was tasty, and we had trouble deciding what to order because of all the delicious choices. Great celebration of Omar's birthday!

THAI SUGARED BUTTER TOAST, CHOCO-BANANA MILKSHAKE, MANGO YOGURT, and THAI ICED TEA Affiliated with Sisters Thai and Magnolia Cafe, this is a cozy and cute spot that specializes in Thai desserts and beverages.

LILIQUOI AND LI HING MUI SHAVE ICE This is a iconic shave ice spot in Haleiwa, where there is almost always a long line. There are a large number of flavors to choose from, and it can be served with combined flavors, with or without ice cream, condensed milk, and/or azuki beans. I have been coming here since I was a child, and it has morphed from a small shack to a booming brand. In spite of all the tourists, I still make it a point to go when I'm in town, I have so many fond memories here with my family.

PINEAPPLE LI HING MUI SORBET Thrilled that this is a permanent menu item. I'm a big fan of li hing mui, and this actually tastes like it, so flavorful. I always order it when I make it to Ala Moana Shopping Center.

ESCARGOT, STEAK FRIES NY, and CHOCOLATE MOUSSE (I think!) The escargot was OK, but the steak frites and dessert were scrumptious. Enjoyed the ambiance - they had an entertaining live singer/host that made his way around the restaurant. Would definitely return!

FRENCH ONION SOUP, MEDITERRANEAN PENNE, and PASSION FRUIT MOUSSE WITH CRUNCHY MERENGUE VANILLA GENOISE AND RASPBERRY COULIS The pasta was not great, but there were numerous items on the menu that others ordered that were fabulous. The soup and dessert were excellent!

AVOCADO TOAST and PASSION FRUIT MOCKTAIL Not sure if it was because I was really hungry for fresh food, but this meal was much tastier than I expected. I am obsessed with passion fruit, so I loved the mocktail!

My sis made a spectacular frittata. She spoils us. 😍

OATMEAL and CHICKEN SAUSAGE BREAKFAST SANDWICH DAMN. Best oatmeal of my life.

BOAT NOODLE SOUP and PASSION FRUIT JUICE For a meal that cost less than $4, this was far better than the same meal made in the U.S.!

PAPAYA SALAD, VEGETARIAN SPRING ROLLS, and SPICY PORK CURRY OVER RICE Ordered these at the dock bar while waiting for our speed boat to take us to Phi Phi Island. What a pleasant surprise! Not only was the view spectacular, but the food was wonderful.

CURRY LARB PORK NOODLES and WATERMELON SMOOTHIE Stumbled across this place after a shopping trip one evening. My travel companion is a vegetarian, so we had to find a restaurant that would accommodate her needs. They were so kind here and the food was delicious. Of course, I had to order a fresh watermelon smoothie because they are always so much better in Thailand!

My sis made yet another beautiful and tasty vegetarian dish. Nothing beats a home-cooked meal made with love. On the menu tonight - RATATOUILLE! And yes, we watched the movie too. 🐀😁

There's nothing like fresh hot cocoa and croissants for breakfast in Paris. The cup is lined with melted chocolate and hot milk is poured afterward. Magnificent! Sitting outdoors and people-watching make it even better.

A few of the tasty dishes I had during my stay in Beijing. Because I don't speak Mandarin, I struggled with the restaurant and menu item names. As a result, I do not have specifics for each dish.

When you're an American in China for Thanksgiving, it's still possible to get a turkey dinner with all the fixings! Not the best, but still nice to keep the tradition going.

THAI ICED TEA SHAVE ICE WITH TARO, GRASS JELLY, RED BEAN, TAPIOCA, AND PANA COTTA Discovered this Asian noodle parlor while walking around Vancouver. Noodles weren't bad, but this dessert was beautifully presented and very good!

CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST, PASSION FRUIT LABNE, MACADAMIA CRUMBLE, AND WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE I love how clean the food is in Australia. The best french toast I've ever tasted!

FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH