Kat's 9 Lives

Eat and shop at the same time? Sure! If the place is packed and you have some time to kill then you can peruse around the Tommy Bahama store. Of course I am all about the food but it never hurts to have other options. We were lucky to arrive early because the place started to get packed as time went on. As soon as you walk in the doors there are people to greet you and a nice bar area to the right for some delicious concoctions.
Stepping through the doors, the setting is very reminiscent to a calm serene island decor. I love the use of fresh orchids.
Our server highly recommended their cocktail menu. Ms. Lin and I started off with a Coconut Cloud Martini and Cant-E-Lope Martini. Got to love the names. For the CCM they used Tommy Bahama White Sand, Stoli Vanil, Cruzan Coconut, and Cream of Coconut topped off with shredded Coconut. This drink might look airy and fruity. but it definitely packs a punch. The CT was made with Ketel One, Melon Liqueur, and Fresh Orange finished off with fresh Cantaloupe Melon Balls. This drink is very dangerous because the drink tastes like a candy drop and you can't feel the effects of the alcohol.
Everyone was super friendly and they provided top notch service. We started the night off with a bang. They brought us a nice serving of Ahi Tuna Tacos. Stuffed between Wonton Shells were Asian Slaw, Ahi Tuna, and Wasabi-Lime Infused Avocado. There are slight hints of ginger embedded that take away any fishiness from the tuna. I really liked this starter because it was light and refreshing. It would definitely be a great snack after a nice day on the beach. I was very greedy and got a second order at the end, but I think I was too full to enjoy it as much as I did in the beginning. Lesson is not to be greedy and to order this again on my next trip, because after all there are plenty future trips to come.
Ms. Lin and I were unanimous that we need to have the Lobster Corn Dogs. They use whole claws covered in a Sweet Corn Batter and served with Mango Ketchup plus a Sriracha Mustard. Props to them for being creative with the dipping sauce. You can taste a slight tangy difference in the ketchup. They didn't skimp on the quality and portion size.
We were ecstatic to see that they offered a Lobster Mac & Cheese as a side. The price is very reasonable so we were a little afraid of how it would turn out. To our surprise they use a good amount of lobster and cheese, which is of course the most important part to us. The lobster mac & cheese was made with Cavatappi, Shiitakes, Truffle Oil, and 3 different Cheeses. For me, I wished it was a little bit more salty and cheesier. Still, it was nicely made and flavorful. As a side, it would go well with most dishes as it does not fight or compete in flavor with other components on the plate.
A surprisingly delicious dish was the Ahi Noodle Salad part of their Specialties menu. At first I was very skeptical because I normally don't go for the healthier looking dishes but I am a fan now. The Ahi Tuna is Lemongrass Encrusted and Seared then paired with Shredded Romaine, Carrots, Edamame, Peppers, Wakame, Buckwheat Soba, Ponzu, and Red Miso Vinaigrette. I thought the flavors really popped and it was a great mix of savory with a slight tangy kick. The aromatic sesame seeds used really enhanced the dish. Not only do you get a tasty dish, there's a lot of healthy components that help balance out the dish.
They have a nice selection of drinks to pair with the dishes. Ms. Lin decided to try the Bahia Sangria with Brandy, Red Wine, Pomegranate, Orange, Green Apple, and Lemon. The fruity flavor emanated through the alcohol. This is perfect for those who don't like a strong alcoholic flavor but enjoy a drink every now and then.
We were fortunate enough that they made us a little sampler of the P.E.I Mussels with White Wine, Meyer Lemon, and served with a Grilled French Baguette. The most important part of eating mussels is to submerge the bread early on so that it will soak in all the flavor by the end.
I looked forward to try their Shrimp BLT because you can never go wrong with mixing shrimp and bacon. Actually just having bacon and avocado in any dish kicks it up a notch. Inside the sandwich was Grilled Shrimp, Nueske's Applewood Bacon, Romaine, Romas, Avocado, and Garlic Aioli all between Grilled Sourdough with Fries on the side. I loved what was listed, but I wished this was just a little more savory so that it would pop more, but that could just be a personal preference.
What night would be complete without Filet & Shrimp. A nicely cooked 6 oz. Beef Tenderloin, Herbed Cheese, and Cracked Pepper Demi-Glaze served with Chipotle-Lime Shrimp and Whipped Yukon Golds. The shrimps were delicious, well seasoned, and grilled to perfection. I could go for a whole dish of these shrimps or maybe even an appetizer set. The filet was good but I wanted more oomph and flavor. Maybe Ms. Lin has affected me with her salty taste, but it is just personal preference. We kept most sauces to mix and match with the other dishes.
Not sure if this is how they normally serve their Root Beer Float dessert but they brought us the cutest miniature mugs. They use Abita, Ciao Bella Vanilla, White Chocolate, Caramel, and Whipped Cream. My only qualm is that even though the tiny mugs are adorable, I want more! Root beer float is a secret weakness of mine. Of course the ones I make at home aren't nearly as tasty or fancy but once I start... I can't stop. Hmmm maybe I need to go back just for this and some ahi tuna dishes.
They brought us the Banana Cream Pie with an Almond Crust, White Chocolate, Whipped Cream, Toasted Coconut, Caramel, and Caramelized Bananas. Needless to say my favorite part was the nicely caramelized bananas that were sweet with a slight crisp. I like how they don't do the same old banana cream pie. Instead they use a tart shaped crust filled with banana cream and topped off with caramel. It was huge and perfect to share with a group of friends.
Another choice of dessert is the Triple Chocolate Cake with four layers that include Chocolate Ganache and Mocha Mousse Whipped Cream in between the cake. This reminded me of the motherload cake from Claim Jumpers, but more moist and less crazy. If you are a chocolate lover then this would satisfy your craving.
For those of you who don't like to finish off the night with a sweet dish, then you should definitely go for their Cheese Plate. At first I didn't think they would have a great selection because I have never been to a Tommy Bahama store and would never have thought they served food. Well they proved me wrong because they paired their cheeses with Truffled Honey, Fig Jam, Fruits, Nuts, and French Baguette. After one bite of the truffled honey, I was a believer. They actually had a decent variety of cheeses. The truffled honey alone is worth ordering the cheese plate so you can feel the elated joy we felt after whiffing the delicious aroma of truffle flavor embedded into the honey.
All in all it was a great evening filled with great drinks, great service, and great food. Who knew that Tommy Bahama offered more than clothing? Located near the beach makes it convenient for snacking, a meal, or even just a drink while spending the day along the waters. Be sure to look into reservations because they were pretty busy on a weeknight. The secret is out that Tommy Bahama serves food so be sure to get in and try it out for yourself.

Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach
400 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 376-6881

The first time I ever went to 230 Forest Ave was when E had her bachelorette day out. This is my 3rd trip around. i didn't have a great experience last time but Holly wanted to lunch here. Sure, why not? I'll give them one last chance. The place looks the exact same. Space is tight and you can really gt to know your neighbors! lol They have a bar near the entrance. I've always felt that 230 Forest Ave completely embodies the Laguna Beach vibe.
They offer fresh hot bread with their homemade spread of Olives. I can easily fill up on their bread.
In my memory, I recall that the appetizers were the best part of the meal. I played smart this time and decided to just go for two appetizers for lunch. =D The Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp caught my immediately. I had a similar appetizer at The Olive Kitchen and Bar a month ago and it left a lasting impression. How can you ever go wrong with delicious shrimp enveloped by prosciutto. Yum! At 230 Forest Ave they lay it on top of fresh Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, and drizzled with Herb Pesto & Balsamic Vinegar. The shrimps were plump and the prosciutto was wonderfully crisp. I highly recommend this appetizer. Should have ordered two of these and I'd be set!
On my first trip I remember that the Sugarcane Tenderloin marinated in Sweet Soy with Mango Slaw was very good. Doesn't it sound great on paper? For some reason that day the meat was a bit chewy and the sauce somehow tasted fishy. I had Holly try it and she felt the same way. For a while I debated on what I should do but this was just not edible IMHO and I was afraid of their service. Little did I know they were super friendly and happy to help exchange the appetizer. Bonus points for the service.
I exchanged it for the Hoisin BBQ Duck and Brie Spring Rolls. The description said that its Cucumber Slaw served with Sweet and Sour Sauce. It actually tasted looked and tasted like julienne scallions and carrots. I couldn't really taste the brie and there was barely any duck in there for me. It was not bad, but I wouldn't order this dish again. I'd definitely stick to the Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp, delish!
Holly opted for the Soup and Salad combo with Field Greens and their Maui Onion Soup. The soup was covered with Gruyère Cheese and Provençal Croutons. I thought the soup was very sweet and savory. The cheese was perfectly melted and encrusted the bowl. You can never go wrong with melted cheese on bread. *drool*
All in all I am glad that I gave them a 3rd chance. The service was much better than the last trip with their speedy and delightful attitude. I normally feel super guilty about sending things back or complaining, hence I just write and complain on my site. They made me feel comfortable with my choice, which is important to enjoy the meal and leave a warm feeling inside. Definitely worth a return visit in the future.

230 Forest Ave
230 Forest Ave
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 494-2545

I missed the Grand Re-Opening at Tutto Amore Gelato because of the Elite event in LA. The owner, Timothy Lin, was nice enough to invite me to try their gelato in a separate event. As it turns out it has become a big event on 12/28/08 where anyone with me will be getting a Free Gelato and Espresso or Hot Chocolate. Everyone is welcome to come! Just let me know how many people so I can get a head count! ^_- By chance I was at another event and ended up coming here with everyone after dinner. Currently they offer that if you buy 2 scoops of Gelato and put a suggestion for a new flavor into the box, they will give you a FREE PINT to take home!
My new GPS does not like me and made me take a super long route to reach this place. It's near PCH where Broadway hits. The drive home was much smoother and quicker than the drive here. It was FREEZING outside, but we still came and I am glad we did. As soon as I walked in Timothy recognized me without ever having met me. My face must be so scary and distinguishable! lol We were greeted warmly and offered to try the Mystery Flavor Gelato. As soon as I had a small taste I knew what it was! Whoops, I blurted it out immediately... I guess I should have waited to see if anyone else would get it. There's no way my tongue would be easily duped by flavors. =9 The mystery flavor was Caramelized Bacon!
So here is my honest opinions about certain flavors. What I really enjoyed was the Green Tea (Matcha), Ferrero Rocher, and Garlic Gelato! When Timothy told me about using high quality matcha for the gelato I just took the information as random information. As soon as I had one bite of the Matcha Gelato I could tell it was made from superb raw materials. You can really taste the richness and aromatic flavor of the powder. I immediately knew that Ms. Lin would love it when she tries it on 12/28! PK and I were raving about the taste. The Ferrero Rocher tastes just like the candy. Of course with the good there are some flavors that weren't as impressive. It's not that they were bad but they were lacking in comparison of the others. To be fair, it could be that the others were too good and it's hard for everything to be like that as well. Another reason can be personal preference.
Timothy tried to make Salted Caramel and the flavor was not bad, but it was just too buttery in taste for me to enjoy. I am still a huge fan of Bi-Rite. They had Persimmon, which was a very interesting flavor. After a few bites I knew immediately that it was Hachiya Persimmons based on the flavor and texture. The Baccio (Hazelnut) was good but PK and I were discussing that there was something lacking. I think it was the richness of the hazelnut flavor. They had Tiramisu that was flavorful but it was a little icy. This could be due to the liqueur flavoring. We were given complimentary Espresso. WOW! Can we say strong!? lol I have had Espresso all over Europe last year, but I think this is stronger than that if you can imagine! Luckily I am not affected by caffeine but it was very strong in taste with a bitter aftertaste. I dumped two packs of brown sugar in and bam! It was sweet as heck! I recommend maybe one pack at most now. O=)
I am very grateful that he made fresh Garlic Gelato for us. Wow was the garlic flavor strong and DELICIOUS! lol I think having fresh gelato is very interesting because the texture and consistency was totally different. The Garlic Gelato tasted like Sweet Garlic Butter. We all joked that we should whip out some bread and spread the gelato on it! Yum Yum! lol The flavor just lingered in our mouths. Before we left he packed us a huge quart of the Garlic Gelato out of the kindness of his heart. PK and I both love it and eat it happily. O=9 We both also got a pint of the Matcha. I brought mine home to my parents that night at 2 AM to share with them since I like the place. They DEVOURED it! I was going to save the Matcha for Ms. Lin but it's all gone! lol
Most of the flavors were pretty good, some were okay, and some were great. They often change flavors due to what is seasonal and certain experiments. I think the owner is extremely passionate about his store and an intricate part of the creative thought process. We all enjoyed meeting with him and chatting. He has done a great job re-painting and decorating the store. It has a very inviting feeling and the couches are so soft and nice. If it wasn't so far away, I'd probably come by more often. Be sure to come try this place and have a nice chat with Timothy while you are here. He's always around ^_-

Tutto Amore Gelato

I have been meaning to post this return to Eva's Caribbean Kitchen in Laguna Beach with Tofu. Mango and Coconut were suppose to come with us but they bailed on us. Their loss. =9 We had a nice drive to the beach and found parking easily on the street since it was earlier in the day. We arrived right as they opened and were welcomed in. I really liked how everything was so luminous because the sun was still out strong. This time I have improved my camera skills 10 folds, so the picture are much better than our first trip. You will be able to tell when the photos are taken a while ago or recent. ^_- The plants are nicely placed outside and I loved how they turned out in the photos.
We were sat near the patio so it was very refreshing and nice to get a closer look at the patio decor. As soon as the bread was baked they brought out fresh rolls that are always very tasty with the butter. I love hot bread that just melts the butter away and absorbs the flavor. Each bite was great and we ate a lot of fresh hot bread.
To start off the night we ordered drinks. I am not one to order drinks a lot unless I see something I really like or there is something I want. Since Tofu was leaving soon and there were so little meals left, I decided to splurge a little. He ordered the Guava Mimosa and I got the Mock Mango Tango. Sorry, I don't like alcoholic drinks all that much... Despite what others may think =P **Burumun!** lol I really liked my drink. It was sweet and flavorful. The mango they used was delicious! I even ate the skin! ^_^ The drink looked so beautiful and cute. Eva is always as sweet as ever and as I finished my drink she poured the remaining liquid in the blender into my cup before I could order another. She's always so sweet and nice.
Tofu and I decided to share and try the Crab and Sweet Corn Cakes. It's Dungeness Crab meat and Sweet Corn seasoned with Herbs & Spices from around the Caribbean served with Pineapple, Mango Salsa. We both really enjoy them. I liked the crisp texture of the outside and moistness within. The flavors were good by themselves only enhanced by the salsa.
I wanted to try something new so I got the Cornmeal Louisiana Catfish. It's fresh Catfish Filet seasoned with Garlic, Shallots, Thyme, Scallions, Chilies, Bacardi Limon and dredged in Cornmeal. This dish was great. It was extremely flavorful. You could smell the dish as they brought it out. I was ecstatic that it was boneless and it was a huge piece of fish. The fresh vegetables were good as usual. I love the Plantain that comes with every dish. Sometimes I wish we could order a side order. ^_^
Tofu decided to try something new too. He ordered the Curry Chicken. It's succulent pieces of fresh Chicken sautéed with Madras Curry, Garlic, Cumin, Katchula, and Potatoes. This dish was plentiful too. The flavors were good and there were a lot of chicken in the dish. There is a lot of sauce for you to mix with the rice.
Like I said, we were kind of splurging a little and ordered a dessert to share as well. Okay we are very silly together, we often can't come to a decision. We debated for a long time. It was time to pop out a coin and let the gods of fate choose. lol So we decided to try the Coconut Crème Brûlée only to find out that they didn't have any that night. Back to the drawing board again. We decided to try the Banana Passion Flambé. It's sliced Bananas sautéed in Passion Fruit Liquor, Sweet Butter, Brown Sugar, and set ablaze with Dark Rum served with Vanilla Ice Cream.
I agree that the show would have looked much nicer at night so that you can see the flames rising. Bear with me on the collage. I tried my best to catch the flames in the bright light. Luckily Tofu was wearing a darker shirt so that you can see it better on his shirt maybe? lol This dessert was totally drenched in alcohol flavor. It was a little too strong for me. The presentation was great, but I am not that into alcoholic things. I tried to eat as much as I can, but Tofu was able to finish more. The ice cream helped mellow it out. I mean the dessert was good, just not my cup of tea.
All in all the food was great and the service was great as usual. I like it best when Eva came around. That night I talked to her about having my B-day dinner here, which I will post really soon! ^_^ I think it's a very quaint and adorable place. It gives off a wonderful feeling and experience. So I thought it would be nice to share with all my friends. And of course to meet Eva who is such a sweetheart! ^_-

Eva's Caribbean Kitchen
31732 Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 499-6311

Lil Bel took R & I out for our B-day for an early celebration. She is always so sweet and cute! You can just put her in your pocket. A little ray of sunshine! ^_- She recommended Mozambique in Laguna Beach. I have never heard of this place and she said it was good so I said why not. It was pretty easy to make reservations at 6PM on Saturday. They are not open until 6PM and we had to wait outside or in the lounge. We decided to wait outside because there were beautiful parrots outside and a sitting area. At night the counter with fire rocks are lit up, but at 6PM it's still very bright but it still looked pretty.
I spent some time playing with the birds. One was out of its cage and throwing stuff off the counter. It was fun to see them. Not long after 6PM we were seated. It was pretty barren. The decor was very interesting. You can see the grill area as you walk in and the dining room had this authentic feel to it. Parts of it reminded me of Morocco but more green. I guess it's suppose to be an African feel? Still it was nice and we sat next to the fire place. We started the night off with some drinks. Lil Bel got the Virgin Daiquiri that was pretty tasty. The server recommended the "Soul" Punch. She said it was Guava, Passion Fruit, and Grenadine. The drink was good, but it tasted just like Pineapple juice and nothing else. We all had a really good laugh about it being "Soooooouuuuul" Punch. **snicker snicker**
They served us Cheese Bread and Rolls with Pecan Butter. I think the butter was interesting. You can't really taste the pecans but it was good. The cheese bread was not what I suspected but decent. They have a texture that's hard to describe. It's not your normal bread, but still good.
We ordered two appetizers to share. Lil Bel wanted to try the Prawns Gone Wild. I guess she was attracted to the name! ^_- We joked about how the shrimp must be showing some skin. **wink wink** It's 6 Shell-on Grilled Peri-Peri Prawns, served with Mango Salsa and Mozambique Spicy Company Peri-Peri Sauce. We didn't quite like the sauce, but the flavor of the shrimp by itself was fine. The shrimps were big and nicely butterflied, then grilled. I don't know why they say it comes with mango salsa because it was mainly cantaloupe and honey dew. It was still a very good fruit salad. I thought this dish was good overall.
The Jumbo Lump Crab Cake was very good. It comes with Shoyu Mustard Sauce with Asian Slaw, Baby Greens, and Black Pepper Crème Fraîche. The crab cake takes about 20 minutes to bake and it's one big crab cake. There were tons of crab meat inside and the taste was pretty good. I didn't feel any fishiness, which means the crab was still fresh. I think this was my favorite dish of the night.
I decided to order the 10 oz. Center Cut Filet Mignon. Grilled over a hardwood fire. Seasoned with Mozambique Spice Company Steak Rubs and Sauce. All their meats are Prime & Choice USDA Grade meats from Chicago. All served with House steak and béarnaise sauces. This dish came with two HUGE Asparagus, a lot of Arugula, and Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes. The sauces were dreadful and I avoided them. At least they grilled my meat well enough. I was not too impressed with the meat, I am sorry to say. Hopefully Lil Bel won't be mad when she reads this. I mean I had a WONDERFUL time with them, I love hanging out with them, and it's so sweet of her to take me out. The meat was not horrendous, it was just decent. I am so glad that I am going to Mastro's on my B-day because it will be so much better! ^_^ *hopefully* When they asked how I felt about it, I told them the sauces weren't good and they said that I should ask for A1 Steak Sauce. I did think about it but it really ruins the flavor of the filet mignon and it's kind of crass to do so in a nice restaurant. Luckily the meat was tender enough for me to eat without any sauces. I wished there was salt & pepper at the table to season it.
R ordered the Famous Mozambique BBQ Plate. It's BBQ Short Rib of Beef, South African Mozambique Farmer's Sausage (beef) with a 1/4 Rotisserie of Peri-Peri Chicken served with Country Slaw and Cottage Fried Potatoes. The portion was nice and the sausage was good. They have an interesting sauce, but I think I still prefer my Lucille's BBQ or other BBQ places. I guess I am not normally a big fan of BBQ but R enjoyed it!
What was really upsetting is that the server messed up Lil Bel's order. She ordered the Mozambique Caesar Salad. It's their signature Caesar-style Dressing with Sun-Dried Tomato Croutons and shaved Parmesan Cheese. You can add shrimp, chicken, or salmon to the dish. Lil Bel asked for Salmon and she totally messed it up. The flavor of the salad was good. I enjoyed the slices of shaved Parmesan. The croutons did not seem to be sun-dried tomato. It was a solid salad, nothing extraordinary though, but still good.
This is why I am upset. So it turned out that the server put in an order of Wild Salmon Brulée. I thought it was weird that the salmon didn't come out on top of the salmon. During the meal I mentioned something but I didn't want to interrupt their meal to flag down the server. The dish was Mozambique Salmon Rub, Corn & Leek Ragout, Sweet Polenta, and grilled Curried Eggplant. The salmon tasted fine, but I did not enjoy the sweet glaze that was under it. I didn't really notice any corn or leek ragout. This dish was fine but it definitely was not what she ordered. The ironic thing is she took off the salmon and put it in our her salad plate. She didn't want anything else there, yet because the server made a mistake she had to pay $23 more for that dish? I would have said something. It was the servers fault because I can swear that she never said the dishes name. You would notice if someone did.
Since we were celebrating our birthdays they brought us a nice dessert free of charge. We waited a while to get the dessert menu and they brought out the Macadamia, White Chocolate and Banana Bread Pudding. This was actually really good. I enjoyed the parts of the bread pudding and a dab of sauce. This was probably the best dessert dish on the menu. Lil Bel kept suggesting that I choose another dessert but nothing on the menu looked that good. We were also full and I brought a cake to her apt so we decided not to get another dessert.
All in all the food was good, but I think the appetizers were the best part. The service had its ups and downs. Of course the best part of the evening was being able to spend some quality time with Lil Bel and R. It's been a while since I have seen them! They are always so sweet and BUSY! lol I asked her when will be the next time I see you and she said probably in November. Yup, she is just that popular! ^_^ Thanks again Lil Bel for a great evening! You are always so sweet and cute!