SUMMER BRUNCH AT REVEL - SEATTLE, WA

Last weekend I went to Revel Seattle again but this time to try out their Summer Brunch menu! Last time I was here was back in November for my birthday (short review HERE ) and it has seriously been too long! As I've mentioned in a previous blog post, Revel is an Asian/Korean fusion place that is owned by Chef  Rachel Yang (along with 3 others in Seattle including, Quoin, Joule, and Trove) and has been gaining a lot of popularity, especially with Trove recently opening.

My friend and I wanted to go early to beat the crowd, but since it was Memorial Day weekend, most people were probably still hungover! We even arrived a bit after 10 but there were still plenty of spots. We ended up sitting on their outside porch area with room heaters above. 

A short and simple menu, but their Summer brunch was on point!

Here's a breakdown of what we ordered.

Bacon donuts, pickled Asian pear, condensed milk glaze: Oh em gjeeze. This was amazing! My friend unfortuneately isn't eating meat until her wedding, so I had to eat these all by myself. I know, so hard.

Smoked Tuna Salad, harissa potato, olive, pickled green bean: My friend ordered this and I didn't want to eat too much of it, but I loved the pickled green beans!

Revel Ramen Not what I typically am used to in a ramen in terms of the broth. I'm usually used to a richer, creamier broth, especially when pork is involved, but this lighter broth matched the whole dish really well! The diced up radish kimchi left a nice sour flavor to the mix, the egg was oozing to perfection, and the texture of the noodles was nice and tender. My favorite part was the long piece of pork belly! I could've done without all that ginger, but otherwise, this was a really good noodle soup, ramen dish.

Scallion biscuits w/ Jalapeno honey butter: Wow and Wow! This was a last minute on behalf of my friend (I take credit in actually choosing this over the yogurt) and boy was this frikken amazing. The scallions and bread products are always a good combo--savory but not overpowering. Plus, that honey butter was beyond delicious. There was a definite jalapeno flavor to it (with actual jalapeno bits too) and it wasn't spicy--just sweet creamy butter perfection Added with the scallion biscuit and you have the perfect combo.

Do I recommend this place? Heck yes. Would I come again for brunch? Most definitely. I really want to try the BBQ Pork Monkey Bread (crazy right?!) and you can't go wrong with the Short Ribs and Egg rice bowl. A reorder of the bacon donuts and/or scallion biscuit is a must too. Plus, this place is tucked away in Fremont, which is a cute place in general with many food destinations and darling little shops, so you can always walk and venture around after! Maybe even give the infamous Fremont Troll a stop-by... =)

Readers, have you had an Asian/Korean fusion on foods before? What are your favorite kind of new foods to try? Let me know!

SUSHI KAPPO TAMURA: OMAKASE - SEATTLE, WA

Mother's Day was this past weekend and my brother and I really wanted to take my mom somewhere nice with an awesome Omakase. After asking around, we decided on Sushi Kappo Tamura, located on Eastlake in Seattle. 

The restaurant is in a nice little quiet yet somewhat busy area, not too far from the University of Washington. If you didn't know what you were looking or, you could easily miss the place. It was a gorgeous Seattle evening and there is even outdoor seating should you choose. Inside, the place was very simple with both old-fashioned and modern vibes. 

While my brother and his girlfriend opted for the Tasting menu, my mother and I had the omakase which is basically the Japanese term for "I leave it up to you" meaning the chef will choose your courses for you with the selection of fresh foods they have that day. This one was a dinner style omakase that included appetizers and desserts!

My favorite, Fuji Apple Pie Sorbet A La Mode

Shigoku oysters on the half-shell with momiji ponzu (soy and citrus mix) with ikura (salmon roe) :  The oysters were so fresh and just the right size. The meat was nice and firm with a sweet taste, crisp taste that isn't to briny. The deeper shell made it ideal for the added ponzu and ikura bits. You take it like a shot and the flavors all complimented each other. Loved this and could honestly eat over a dozen, lolz. Raw oysters though aren't for everyone. My mom could only eat one (she doesn't like the texture since it can be slimy to some) and gave the other two to my brother. 3 came in total

Chawan Mushi (steamed egg custard dish) with jidori eggs, red crab, and Neah Bay black cod topped with California uni (sea urchin): I was already excited with the fact that I would get some chawan mushi, but when I opened the lid and the waitress announced there was also uni topping it off, I was even more ecstatic! Uni is my all-time favorite so I loved the fact that there was some on top. The creamy texture of the uni went well with the smoothness of the chawan mushi. The flavors of the red crab and black cod weren't overpowering and was just right in adding a nice sea flavor to the dish!

Sashimi bowl w/ chutoro (medium fatty tuna), Hamachi (yellowtail), sockeye salmon, and fresh amaebi (sweet spot prawns): The first of the raw fish/seafood items. First off, the presentation of this is great with the bright colors of the bowl to the fish themselves. The quality was so fresh of each piece, ESPECIALLY the sweet shrimp/spot prawn. It is spot prawn season so these were extra fresh and still alive minutes before we were served. The texture and sweet flavor were definitely a nice treat. All the other pieces of sashimi were great too and went surprisingly well with the key lime they served along with it!

Nitsuki Neah Bah Idiot Fish w/ hari ginger and fresh gobo (burdock root): I have never experienced a large dish like this at a Japanese restaurant since half to whole fishes in this style I usually have at Chinese restaurants. With that said, the look of surprise/shock on all our faces were definitely noticeable! This dish came with half the fish head along with a few chunks of the meat. It was cooked in a sweet sauce (reminiscent of Teriyaki, but not Teriyaki) and had great texture to it. I loved the flavor and how the ginger and gobo went well as a condiment. It would have been nice to some rice along with this dish but that definitely would have made us overly full and you can't have that when you're about to have a bunch of sushi coming at you!

Chef Selection of sushi: Alaskan King Crab, Squid w/ shiso, king mackerel, Washington salmon belly, Nova Scotia uni, Washington albacore tuna, sea scallops, ikura, anago (sea eel) and I'm missing one but forgot what it was called: Wow, wow, wow! This selection was great and to see the excitement on my face when there was another selection of uni made it even better! (what makes it better is that no one but me eats uni so I got to have both =P). Everything was very fresh and the sushi rice was perfect. I feel like the rice is just as important as the quality of the fish so the fact that it was made just right made the experience even better. My favorites to note were the Nova Scotia uni (perfectly creamy with a more nuttier than sweet flavor, but still delicious), the Alaskan King Crab (a definite treat with nice firm textures and that signature Alaskan King Crab texture), the sea scallops (so sweet, and not slimy and all with a subtle sea flavor) and the anago (sea eel made just right with the meat being nice and smooth).

Desserts included a Fuji apple pie sorbet a la mode, house made millet mochi with sweet azuki (red bean), chestnut and butterscotch creme brulee, and a yuzu yogurt panna cotta: Each one of these desserts were great in their own way and had a touch of uniqueness to them. 

Fuji Apple Pie Sorbet a la mode: First was their take on apple pie a la mode. Instead of a typical apple pie, they used Fuji apples and turned it into a sorbet. With one scoop of vanilla ice cream, one scoop of the sorbet, and some graham cracker pie like crumbles on top, this was by far my favorite dessert!

The house made millet mochi with sweet azuki was a majority favorite. The mochi was warmed up just right and wasn't overly chewy and had a nice crunch on the outside. The azuki (red beans) were not too sweet and there was some salt added to it which complimented it very well.

Up next is the Chestnut & Butterscotch Cremé Bruleé: You could definitely taste the chestnut in the pudding part but it was so mild and subtle that you couldn't quite figure out what it was. I didn't notice the butterscotch part in particular in this dish, but maybe because it was caramelized to a perfect crunch on top! The last one, yuzu yogurt panna cotta, was probably the least favorite out of the 4. I was expecting it to be mind blowing--maybe because I usually love panna cotta. The Yuzu flavor was fine, but I think it was the layer on top that settled on top of the panna cotta that didn't go well with me. 

So there is my run down on Sushi Kappo Tamura!  Overall, I do highly recommend this place if you want some quality Japanese food and quality sushi for dinner choices such as an omakase. Since the vibe is a bit more modern than old school, this might not be for the older generation, but it definitely is for me! The quality of the food is great, especially for the price you pay (omakase is usually set at a set price or market price and this one included all the dishes mentioned above except for 2 desserts). It is a bit pricier than your typical Japanese meal so I would definitely save it for a treat for yourself or a nice get-together dinner. My brother and I will for sure be taking my cousin here when he gets back to Seattle!

Readers, have you ever had an omakase dinner? What is your favorite Japanese dish? Let me know!

Crème brûlée Oreos / Snack Review

Today I have an awesome review on this Crème brûlée flavored cookie/chocolate oreo treat from Japan!

Now most people in the US know Oreos as the typical two cookies sandwiched outside of a cream center but the cool thing about Japanese Oreos is that they come in all shapes, flavors, and varieties!

Behold this triangular prism shaped Oreo w/ a typical Oreo cookie crust on the bottom and a Crème brûlée flavored chocolate right on top.  The cookie crust bottom is a bit crispier than your typical American Oreo and also not as sweet. The best part is in the Crème brûlée flavored chocolate right above. They were able to capture the true burnt sugar taste of Crème brûlée the cookie crust on the bottom imitates that crunch you get on a freshly flame-torched Crème brûlée. 

Unfortunately, this item is a bit rare to get a hold of, especially the States, but if you are lucky enough to find it in your local Asian/Japanese grocery store, then I would highly suggest picking it up. I picked mines up for around $3.50/$4 and was definitely pleased by it, despite the fact that pieces are small w/ only 8 coming in a box--that's just what you get with a lot of Japanese snacks!

Readers, have you tried different Oreos other than ones found in America? What are your favorite flavors? Let me know!

WILDWHEAT BAKERY CAFE - KENT, WA

This past weekend, I went to this wonderful breakfast spot in Kent, WA. The place is called Wildwheat Bakery Cafe and it is located in a surprisingly quiet little area of Kent with an old-American vibe.

Not only do they serve breakfast but they have an array of pastries and fresh baked breads and drinks they sell if you are just looking to pick up a quick snack 

I started off with their house made chocolate syrup hot chocolate and I loved the presentation of it! The little design that's typically seen in espresso drinks was on the hot chocolate. It was creamy and not too hot and it wasn't too sweet either.

I went with my mom and she ordered the Dungeness Crab & Asparagus Omelet. This was absolutely delicious! I usually highly dislike omelets, especially when the egg is mixed in with all the filling. This omelet, however, was perfection. They weren't cheap on the crab meat and loaded it up. The asparagus was chopped and still had their nice green color and a nice crunch. The cheesy cream sauce on the outside was a nice layer of flavor too. Add a bit of Tabasco to the top and you're good to go! The potatoes that were served with the omelet were really good too-well seasoned and not too salty. The bread was delicious too--I think its the one they bake themselves! With the butter and the jam? Perfection!

My dish was the Blintzes (named with grammy or something, sorry I can't remember!) They were filled with either ricotta or cottage cheese? I thin k it was cottage cheese, but either way it was extra yummy! The blintz pancake part was nice and eggy. I kind of wished there was more of the cheese filling, but other than that I have no complaints. The strawberry compote wasn't too sour or overly sweet--it added a nice tartness to the dish. For a little extra creamy flavor, the sour cream added a nice touch as well. Both dishes came with the smallest/dinkiest piece of watermelon though, so that was almost unnecessary.

Overall I am a happy camper and would love to come here again and maybe also for lunch too. Inside, the place is packed with people and there's a lot of hustle & bustle. I'd recommend getting there earlier as opposed to later so you don't have to wait long. We only had about a 10 minute wait but ended up with a small table, but we didn't mind since we were hungry! The service was great and the waiter that helped us was friendly.

Readers, do you love breakfast foods? What is your favorite breakfast dish? Let me know!

PIKE PLACE AFTERNOON

Had some family in town and of course the touristy thing to do is to take them to Downtown Seattle and the ever-so-popular Pike Place Market! Here are just a couple shots from the day--enjoy! =)

         

        

        

 

        

 

Of course we ate a lot too. Some Samosas and mango juice from Saffron Spice.... and then of course some of the popular mini donuts from Daily Dozen.. sampling along the way, we found ourselves and my favorite French Bakery at Le Panier and had some pistachio eclairs, macarons and of course my favorite feuilletes (puff pastry), a champignons (mushrooms in cream sauce). We walked a little further, more sampling, then made a pit stop at Piroshky Piroshky Bakery for some piroshkies and borscht (Russian beet soup). 

 

It was nice day out so my uncle was able to take some awesome shots of the market. No matter how much of a 'tourist attraction' Pike Place Market is, I still love going down there and enjoying all the fun colors and wonderful food! If you are ever in the Seattle area, this is a must-stop spot!

 

 

CHUPA CHUPS GUMMY

I haven't done a review on candies in awhile and I figured this was the perfect time too since I hauled a bunch of new Japanese candies! I've always been a fan of those little Chupa Chups lollipops and didn't know this popular Spanish brand of candy found its way into Japan!

 

Almost any type of candy or snack that comes from Japan always has a 'kawaii' aka cute factor to it with the packaging to match. This take on the classic Chupa Chups lollipops is taken into gummy form with three flavors. I can't read Japanese, and the flavors weren't exactly the most distinct, but from the pictures on the packaging, the flavors are: grape, cherry, and ramune/soda.

 

The gummies are in little lollipop shapes coated with a sour sugar dusting. The gummies themselves are pretty firm/chewy, more so than your average gummy but not in a stale way. These definitely don't remind me of the original lollipops anymore after I tasted them.

 

It is for sure a fun candy to try out and it is nice that the bag is able to be resealed so you don't have to finish it all in one setting. This candy is a bit pricey at around $3.79 for the bag, but if you're into confections like me, I'd definitely give it a try if you can find it!

 

Readers, have you had Chupa Chups before? Would you ever try Chupa Chup gummies? Let me know!