Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Morning Bun at Tartine Bakery



Today we start a three part random meal of the day feature of Tartine Bakery. It was a magical visit. We start with a Morning Bun for breakfast. The morning bun was simply amazing. You get this fantastic balance of a crispy outer crust and a moist feathery fluffy inner core. The sweetness of the morning bun had just a right balance of a honey like sugar coating while allowing the actual bread stand out. Every single morsel was just heavenly.

Found at Tartine Bakery in San Francisco, California.

Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm, f1.2, 1/250, iso 100, +0.67ev

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Chicken Tender Taco at Sharkeez



Our random meal of the day brings us a Chicken Tender Taco. I was reading the description for this taco and it reads "Crispy breaded chicken and bacon". The bacon sold it. The other taco is a fish taco. Bacon trumps fish. ;)

Found at Sharkeez in Manhattan Beach, California.

Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm, f2.8, 1/80, iso 400

Friday, January 20, 2012

Grilled Chicken Tacos at Qdoba Mexican Grill



Our random meal of the day brings us an order of some Grilled Chicken Tacos on a crispy corn tortillas. So would this considered a healthy random meal if a layer of lettuce is sprinkled over the tacos?

Found at Qdoba Mexican Grill in Hawthorne, California.

Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm, f2.0, 1/125, iso 400

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Chicken Massamun Curry Lunch at Ayara Thai



We have for our random meal of the day an order of Chicken Massamun Curry. This is part of a lunch special and was very smooth.

Found at Ayara Thai in Westchester, California.

Nikon D700, 60mm, f3.0, 1/160, iso 200, +0.67ev

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Chocolate Twist Donut at Mr Goods Donuts Shop



Our random meal of the day treat brings us a Chocolate Twist Donut. This is the breakfast of champions.

Found at Mr Goods Donuts Shop in Pasadena, California.

Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm, f2.8, 1/60, iso 400

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Santa Fe Turkey Burger at Carl's Jr



Our random meal of the day brings us the Santa Fe Turkey Burger. I really enjoy the creative commercials that Carl's Jr produces. Hey, I have to give a company props for making "Chipotle" almost as commonplace as ketchup. This burger was lit this time with only one external LED video light overhead behind an umbrella and a small reflector bouncing the light forward.

Found at Carl's Jr in Pasadena, California.

Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm, f2.8, 1/200, iso 3200

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Fire Grilled Steak Burrito at Cafe Rio



Our random meal of the day brings us an order of the Fire Grilled Steak Burrito. The funny thing was that I was determined today to eat something random, but it was just one of those days where I could not make up my mind so off to a not so random meal for me. I actually had this burrito quite a few times but I never did post a shot of it. It is simple but fantastic. We start with an actual hand made flour tortilla and layer it with a green file rice. I held off on the beans and continued by adding fired grilled steak. A handful of cheese and a layer of hot sauce completed this random meal.

Found at Cafe Rio in Manhattan Beach, California.

Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm, f2.0, 1/640, iso 100, +1.33ev

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Pork Meatballs with Shrimp Rolls at Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa



Our random meal of the day brings us an order of Pork Meatballs with Shrimp Rolls or otherwise know as Cuon voi Cha Ram Tom. There are four of these delicious mouth watering rice paper rolls. You start with some tender grilled pork meatballs and then you layer it with a crispy fried shrimp egg roll. Shredded lettuce, carrots and a stick of chives are added as the garnish before you roll the rice paper up and make the wonderful Pork Meatballs with Shrimp Rolls.

Found at Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa in Rosemead, California.

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

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Coconut Milk Tapioca Drink at Phoenix Food Boutique



Our random meal of the day treat brings us a Coconut Milk Tapioca Drink. This refreshing, semi frozen drink just hits the spot. The mini clear tapioca balls gives the drink texture and nicely rounds the drink out.

Found at Phoenix Food Boutique in South Pasadena, California.

Sony A55, 30mm, f4.0, 1/50, iso 200, +0.3ev, LED Lit

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Baja Fiesta Salad at The Veggie Grill



Our random meal of the day brings us the Baja Fiesta Salad. This is an interesting leafy salad. We start with a bed of chopped romaine lettuce and then layer quinoa over the lettuce. Chopped cubed papaya and cucumber are then mixed in. A layer of roasted corn salsa and slices of avocado round out the salad. The finishing touch is a sprinkling of toasted tortilla strips. The key to the Baja Fiesta Salad is the ginger-papaya vinaigrette. This dressing just made the salad pop!

Found at The Veggie Grill in El Segundo, California.

Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm, f4.0, 1/80, iso 400, +0.33ev

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Combo Teriyaki Chicken and Beef Rice Bowl at Mako Bowl



We have for our random meal of the day a large Combo Teriyaki Chicken and Beef Rice Bowl. This random meal was lit by three different LED video lights. Two of the lights are directly overhead behind a large umbrella and the third was under the shooting table.

Found at Mako Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Panasonic GF3, 25mm, f2.0, 1/60, iso 160, +0.33ev, LED lit

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Pulled Pork Benedict at Marston's Restaurant



Our random meal of the day brings us an order of a Pulled Pork Benedict. This is a twist on a eggs benedict as instead of Canadian bacon, we use BBQ pork. Also to give the Benedict an extra kick, it is topped with a spicy hollandaise sauce.

Found at Marston's Restaurant in Pasadena, California.

Nikon D700, 85mm, f4.0, 1/160, iso 1100, +0.33ev

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Berrytale or Blueberry Cream Cheese Bun at 85C Bakery Cafe



Happy New Year Random Mealers! We ring in 2012 with one of my favorites the Berrytale. The Berrytale is a fantastic blueberry cream cheese bun and is the perfect way to start the first random meal of the day for 2012.

Also since this is a new year, it is resolutions time. My new years resolution is simple, no new camera bodies for 2012. Yikes!...
Also ringing in the new year, I will start mixing it up by using more external lighting for my takeout orders. It is time to light it up!

Found at 85C Bakery Cafe in Hacienda Heights, California.

Canon 5D Mark II, 100mm, f8.0, 6s, iso 100, +0.67ev