Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Phoenix Food Boutique Hong Kong Style Shrimp Wonton



Today we have some Hong Kong style Shrimp Wonton Noodles for our random meal. You will find a whole shrimp in each and every piece of wonton.
Found at Phoenix Food Boutique in South Pasadena, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/60, iso 6400)

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Sbarro Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza



Our random meal brings us a slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza. This is a simple random meal.
Found at Sbarro in Los Angeles, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f2.8, 1/320, iso 200)

Monday, June 28, 2010

American Farmhouse Grill Tri-Tip Sandwich



Mr Butter Roll, I introduce you to some grill Tri-Tip. Ahh, the grilled Santa Maria Tri-Tip Sandwich is our random meal of the day. This single picture breaks diets all around the office. Mere mortals quiver at the mention of the tri-tip sandwich.
Found at American Farmhouse Grill in Manhattan Beach, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/100, iso 200)

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Class 302 Mango Strawberry Shaved Snow



Our random meal treat today brings us round 2 at Class 302. For today we have the Mango Strawberry Shaved Snow. The shaved snow starts with some vanilla flavored ice that is finely shaved into a shredded cheese like texture. These layers of shaved snowed is then topped with strawberry and mango. This is large enough to share or not if you want to really indulge.
Found at Class 302 in Rowland Heights, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/80, iso 280)

You can see the finely shaved layers of the shaved snow.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Lattitude Thai Garlic Prawns with Noodles Special



Our random meal today brings us a deliciously wonderful order of Garlic Prawns with Noodles. This random meal is on the specials menu on the board so it may be randomly served. The prawns are infuse with an abundance of garlic that trickles down to the noodles. The fusion of the prawns and noodles complements each other perfectly and makes this dish uniquely special.
Found at Lattitude Thai in Santa Monica, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/80, iso 560)

Our meal started off with an order of the crab rolls.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Dinah's Famous Fried Chicken



Today our random meal brings us some good old fried chicken. My coworker recommended to me a place that he said served good fried chicken. The funny thing about this is that he never actually had the chicken here. Good thing the chicken actually turned out to be really good. I am a fan of the white meat pieces.
Found at Dinah's Family Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/60, iso 500, +0.30ev)

You can always choose to have an order of the dark meat pieces.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

KFC Mashed Potato Bowl



We have a mashed potato bowl today for our random meal. It starts with a bed of mashed potatoes and then you top it with fried chicken tender pieces. You then add corn, cheese and gravy to complete the random meal.
Found at KFC in Los Angeles, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f2.8, 1/80, iso 1000)

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Eastside Market Italian Deli Roast Beef Pastrami and Cheese



We have the here the Roast Beef, Pastrami and Cheese sandwich. It starts with a mountain of roast beef and then topped with a hill of pastrami. A wonderful tomato base sauce coats the sandwich to complete the random meal or random meals to be more precise. I can now successfully eat this sandwich and only use one napkin!
Found at Eastside Market Italian Deli in Los Angeles, CA.

(Nikon D700, 35mm, f4.0, 1/40, iso 900)

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Original Rinaldi's Turkey Sandwich



Our random meal today brings us a classic turkey sandwich piled high with meat in a non classic roll. This is a hearty healthy meal.
Found at The Original Rinaldi's in El Segundo, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/80, iso 250)

Monday, June 21, 2010

McChicken Mini Meal



We have for today the McChicken Mini Meal. It is a "happy meal" sized for adults looking to eat a bit less at the double golden arches.
Found at McDonald's in Los Angeles, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/80, iso 250)

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Winchell's Powder Sugar Donut



A simple classic powder sugar donut is our random meal treat for today. Sometimes the simple things gives you the most pleasure in life.
Found at Winchell's in Pasadena, CA.

(Nikon D700, 60mm, f8.0, 1/80, iso 1000)

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Havana Mania Rabo Encendido aka Oxtails



Let me start by stating that this was not my random meal but my buddy's random meal. This was our second trip to Havana Mania and he wanted this specific meal for round two. We have for today the Rabo Encendido or Oxtails. Yes, oxtails. This would have be a truly random meal for me but I couldn't venture that far off the beaten path.
Found at Havana Mania in Redondo Beach, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/80, iso 2500)

The Lechon Cubano pulled pork is standard fare.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Big Mike's Cheese Steak



Today we have some cheesy steak goodness for our random meal. We have a Philly Cheese Steak with grilled onions and provone cheese.
Found at Big Mike's in El Segundo, CA.

(Nikon D5000, 35mm, f2.8, 1/100, iso 220, +0.67ev)

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Louisiana Fried Chicken



We have some fried chicken for our random meal today. Cheap and delicious.
Found at Louisiana Fried Chicken in Torrance, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/60, iso 640, +0.30ev)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Rascal's Teriyaki Grill Chinese Chicken Salad



I can't believe that I am craving a salad for my random meal of the day. I guess this isn't just any typical salad, this is the one and only uniquely special Chinese Chicken Salad. I don't even like vegetables so it is odd that I would willing go out a buy a salad. The super secret special sauce is the key here. This has to be the best Chinese Chicken Salad I have ever eaten. Shoot, if salads taste this good all the time, then I will be eating salads all the time. But alas, this is a special salad that I have to really make an effort get to, but it is so worth it. Again, for a salad???
Found at Rascal's Teriyaki Grill in Torrance, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/80, iso 360)

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

American Farmhouse Grill French Toast



Breakfast is a meal that I always enjoy eating. Now when your random meal for lunch is also breakfast, it becomes a bonus of not having to wake up early. Today we have French Toast with Portuguese Sausage. My only question is what happened to the other half of the toast? I count only three half slices. I guess the mystery of the delicious missing half slice of french toast will remain unsolved.
Found at American Farmhouse Grill in Manhattan Beach, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/200, iso 200)

Monday, June 14, 2010

Daisy Mint Pineapple Duck Curry



Pineapple Duck Curry highlights our random meal today. This is the first duck featured on random meal of the day. The curry is an "Asian Fusion" twist to the typical curry dishes as it is savory, sour and sweet at the same time.
Found at Daisy Mint in Pasadena, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f5.6, 1/80, iso 1100)

Sunday, June 13, 2010

The French Crepe Co La Napoleon



We have the La Napoleon crepe for our random meal dessert treat. The La Napoleon, is a build your own crepe by choosing three fillings to complete the crepe. I choose Strawberries, Nutella and whipped cream. The three fillings was suggested by Yelp reviewers and that was a great suggestion.
Found at The French Crepe Company in Los Angeles, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/250, iso 200)

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Boston Market Meatloaf Plate



Meatloaf is the theme for our random meal today. This is a "wholesome home‐style meal" with a side of mashed potatoes and corn.
Found at Boston Market in Pasadena, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/80, iso 900)

Friday, June 11, 2010

ichi ichi Fusion Shabu Spicy Pork Bone with Rib Eye



Wow, shabu-shabu has been redefined and shall now be known as ichi ichi. OK, maybe not that far, but ichi ichi truly redefines the experience of our random meal. It really starts with the broth base that everything cooks in. For me, my prior experiences with a few shabu-shabu restaurants would be described as community bland. Good thing ichi ichi changes this experience.

The first thing you notice on the menu is that you have a wide variety of broth choices. The choice you make with the base, defines the rest of the meal. Another bonus is even with a group, the broth is still your own. So what you throw in there is for your flavor. There is a whole sauce bar to enhance the flavor of the broth to your own liking.

I had the Spicy Pork Bone Broth with Angus Beef Rib Eye steak. You also get a side platter of veggies and side items with a list that fills up the almost the length of the menu. Yummy!
Found at ichi ichi Fusion Shabu in Rowland Heights, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/80, iso 5600)

The Angus Beef Rib Eye.



The Veggie side item plate.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

El Tarasco Taco Thursday Special




Today our random meal brings us the Taco Thursday Special. We have some crispy fried up tacos for your enjoyment.
Found at El Tarasco in Manhattan Beach, CA.

(Nikon D5000, 35mm, f2.8, 1/100, iso 1000, +0.67ev)

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Sando's Sub Shop Hot THC Sando



Paper is still king. It is surprising how having your restaurant featured in a magazine will increase your business. Anyone can post a blog, but to get published is something different. Today our random meal brings us the Hot THC Sando.

This sandwich was featured in "Los Angeles Magazine’s 17 Great L.A. Sandwiches". This restaurant was closest to the office so we made the trek out to see what the big deal was. The funny thing was that this was the largest lunch group that ever went out together in one trip and Sando's was by far the smallest location for our large group. We barely fit the 10 of us inside the Sub Shop to place our orders. Good thing the beach was a hop step and a skip away so we all ordered our sandwiches to go and headed to the beach to enjoy our random meal.

The sandwich concept is somewhat simple. THC = Turkey, Ham and Cheese. Such a simple sandwich concept, and it made the top 17? Well, one bite and you are in heaven. The sandwich is grilled into a perfect blend of turkey, ham, and provolone cheese. I topped the sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onions, and hot peppers. How good is this really, well, I came back 4 days later to have the same sandwich again and this time in peace by myself. It felt really strange eating at the same place and having the same meal again so soon. I guess it is a not so random, random meal of the day.
Found at Sando's Sub Shop in Manhattan Beach, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/320, iso 200)

Here is an order of the wonderful home chips.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast



We start off the day with the Deluxe Breakfast for our random meal. This is a meal that I normally share as this single random meal pretty much makes you skip your next random meal.
Found at McDonald's in Los Angeles, CA.

(Nikon D700, 60mm, f5.6, 1/80, iso 3200)

Monday, June 7, 2010

WaBa Grill Half-Half Bowl



Today our random meal brings us a half beef and half chicken rice bowl. This is a healthier meal as the meat is grilled. The bowl also weights in at 455 calories.
Found at WaBa Grill in Glendale, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f4.0, 1/80, iso 280)

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Fosters Freeze Hot Fudge Sundae



We have a simple Hot Fudge Sundae for our random dessert treat.
Found at Fosters Freeze in Los Angeles, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f5.6, 1/80, iso 500)

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Daikokuya Ramen



The hunt for the perfect bowl of ramen has gone full circle. For our random meal today we have ramen from Daikokuya. It is the broth that transcends this bowl of ramen to the upper echelons of ramen. I subtracted the bean sprouts and the ramen became the perfect bowl.

I still remember the first time I have ever passed by Daikokuya many years ago. I was thinking, these people are nuts, why would you wait for a bowl of ramen. Well, fast forward to the present and I am one of those people waiting patiently for a table here. It is sometimes deceiving because what you think is a short wait is really not as people wander down the street shopping after they put down their names on the waiting list, and magically appear right in time for their names to be called.
Found at Daikokuya Ramen in Los Angeles, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/50, iso 1600)

Friday, June 4, 2010

Taco Bell Crunchy Taco



This is a classic crunchy beef taco. Yummy!
Found at Taco Bell in Manhattan Beach, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/100, iso 200)

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Carl's Jr Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich



We have a Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich for our random meal today. This was an interesting sandwich that I wanted to try because of the television commercials.
Found at Carl's Jr in Los Angeles, CA

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/80, iso 320, +0.30ev)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Moishe's Restaurant Bacon and Egg Boerek



Today we have Boerek for our random meal. My particular Boerek came with bacon and eggs. The Boerek is freshly baked in a brick oven for you. It starts with a fresh dough and then you add 2 eggs over sunny side up and delicious strips of bacon. This is all baked right in front of you. This was my lunch but could be a breakfast also. It reminds me of a Khachapouri without the cheese on top. There is no sauce with this. There are actually many different combinations of Borekas and you can choose one with cheese on top.
Found at Moishe's Restaurant in Los Angeles, CA.

(Nikon D700, 50mm, f5.6, 1/200, iso 200)

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Noah's Blueberry Coffee Cake



We start up our day with a Blueberry Coffee Cake. It is packed full of berries.
Found at Noah's Bagels in El Segundo, CA.

(Olympus E-PL1, 20mm, f2.8, 1/100, iso 200)