Kat's 9 Lives

I keep my promises! I have always said that if I ever get a reservation to El Bulli that I would drop everything and fly out to Spain. The time has come for me to fulfill that promise. Thanks to Ms. Lin’s hard work, we are ready to go for an evening that we will never forget. As El Bulli has announced the closing of their doors, a reservation is nearly impossible. The wonderfully kind folks at El Bulli have opened their hearts and doors for us to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity.

We take nothing for granted and are super grateful for this lovely gift bestowed upon us. Kat’s 9 Lives will be leaving for Europe immediately! I’ve booked my flight and thought about packing my bags (which reminds me that I should start). In less than a week I will be leaving for a 3 week adventure all over Europe! Stay tuned for all the sights and stories from my travels. I have even acquired a digital SLR to spice up the photos! Soon I will be mapping out my foodie journey.

Of course I would love for all my readers to comment or e-mail me suggestions on where the best eats are. My current itinerary will be: starting out in Milan, to Venice, to Florence, to Pisa, to Rome, to the Vatican, to Barcelona, to Roses, to Paris, and back to the good ole United States! Sounds crazy?? Well you have NO IDEA. I am going to be packing it in! Whatever is famous there, I will be there. Whatever is tasty, I will be there. Will I be deathly poor after this trip? You better believe it! Will it be worth it? HECK YAH! There’s really no time to breathe or second guess on this tight trip. I’ll just have to keep going like the Energizer Bunny! If you think there is something I must see, somewhere I must go, or somewhere I must try just let me know.

Time is short. I am almost outta here, but don’t worry I will be checking in and trying my best to keep everyone updated! For the most part I will only be using an iPad, so I will most likely upload to my Facebook Fan Page if you would like to check for the most current updates and any awesome pics I take!

Before Strawberry Fest, Burumun and I got up to grab breakfast/lunch. 3 Square Cafe & Bakery is located on Abbott Kinney, where it is a very laid back and anti-conglomerate/support the local small shops kind of place. There really is no big sign for this place so it was kind of hard to tell which restaurant I was eating in. lol The dining style had a very European feel where you watch people go by as you eat. It's also the kind of place where you can bring your dog in. Technically, it's outside dining area since it is basically an open area of sorts so pets would be okay. I thought there were some cute dogs around. =p
Apparently this place is "known" for their Pretzel Burger with Swiss Cheese, Caramelized Onions, and French Fries. I debated for a while on what to order. In the end, I chose what they are most famous for... The burger looked promising but it was dry! It needed more flavor or some sort of sauce. I felt the meat was overcooked and had way too much of a burnt grill flavor on the meat. Maybe they need to clean the grills so there isn't remnant burnt flavor. I was very disappointed by the burger. =**( In the end, it felt like torture to try and finish it. The pretzel bun was unique and cute, but such a thick bun really needs a juicy and saucy burger to compliment it well. I had to give up eating the bun because I just found it hard to swallow towards the end. To make matters worse, the burger took forever to come because they were cooking it for so long.
Burumun made a wise choice to get the Potato-Leek Quiche with Smoked Salmon and Poached Eggs. Maybe she tricked me! She was the one who convinced me to get the burger... **shakes fist in the air** lol Her quiche was nice and light. The flavors were simple but came together well. I thought the individual components helped bring out the natural flavor of the opposing dish. The plate was nicely presented. Burumun kept with the light and healthy theme by ordering a Fresh-Squeezed OJ. At first the idea of a vegetarian quiche didn't sound too appealing, but pairing it with smoked salmon and salad was a nice take. This dish saved my opinion of this place. =9
All in all I really didn't like what I ordered. Burumun's dish helped save the day and allowed me to say that this place is nice and quaint. I normally like coming down to Abbott Kinney for the environment and of course Jin patisserie, which we went to afterwards. O=) As we were sitting there that day, we were goofing off with our cameras and camera phones. I think I was paying a little more attention to our environment because I suddenly heard BooM! Right across the street a guy opened his car door and a bicyclist ran right into it. The ambulance was called and the whole street was almost blocked off. Burumun didn't even know it happened! It was a crazy day. I think that person was fine, it was just a crazy hectic moment. Hey it is LA... anything can happen. lol In retrospect, I think I would give this place a second chance. I definitely would not recommend the burger, but I would like to try some of their other dishes. Besides, it is just nice to be on Abbott Kinney. ^_^

3 Square Cafe & Bakery
1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 399-6504

It's astounding that I have not posted about this place. I have so many pictures hidden on many hard drives lol. Here is the most recent visit to Jin's Patisserie. It's a small, quaint, and zen patisserie on Abbot and Kinney Blvd. The small courtyard where you can sit and enjoy pastries with freshly brewed tea. They have special cakes on the weekends so be sure to get there early enough to snag one. We came after our meal at Ocean and Vine for an after lunch and dessert... snack? haha O=9
They don't have that many tables so when we arrived during the afternoon we had to wait for a table. I immediately ran in to stake my claim on the Spring Bouquet and to check out what cakes are left in the case. There were only 2 Spring Bouquets left and I made sure they were mine. O=9 I have had a bunch of their cakes and I always try to experience a new flavor. Burumun's favorite cake has always been the Spring Bouquet and I tried it a long long time ago but didn't quite like it that much. As time has moved on, she always gets a Spring Bouquet for her B-day and last year I got to sneak a piece that has turned over a new leaf. I really liked it! Hence this time around with Ms. Lin and PK, I had to have it and take one home. Actually sitting here typing and looking at the photos, I really want to go up to LA for cake now! lol Any takers? O=)
It was a very very cold and windy afternoon. The heat lamps were on and the three of us were bundled together to keep warm. We were all in the mood for a hot drink. PK and I decided to try out their Hot Chocolate. We both thought it was a bit pricey when we saw it on the menu for $5.50 but we both weren't in the mood for tea. Everything here is a bit pricier but worth it and the same theory applied to the Hot Chocolate. It came out in a pot! PK and I were both shocked. I was lucky enough to catch a photo as the server was pouring. ^_^ The Hot Chocolate was very thick, rich, and dark... but way too much after a cup. If we had knew that it was a pot, PK and I would have shared. It was almost torture trying to finish it off. Also, with the cakes you have to be very careful or you won't be able to taste the delicate flavor.
Ms. Lin decided to try the Adéle H Black Tea. "In the spirit of the traditional Chai tea, with Assam and spices, this combination of a thousand fragrances is a tribute to India and its splendor. A beautiful blend mixed with rare tea blossoms, spices, chili and vineyard peach." The tea comes out freshly brewed in a small pot. Ms. Lin thought the tea was fine but wished that they would just pour more hot water in to continue the brew, but sadly they only give you the tea in the pot. So for the price, it really isn't that worthwhile. They also had changed their tea in the past year and I don't think they are as good as before.
I of course got the Spring Bouquet that is Fluffy Meringue, Light Exotic Cream with Fresh Mango and Strawberries. The Meringue melts in your mouth and the flavor just pops. Everything blends together perfectly. It is fresh and light. I can sit there and eat a million of these without feeling heavy or any guilt. O=9 This was the winner of the table as everyone devoured it. Every bite was light and chewy with delicious fresh fruits. Mmmmm Mmmm GOOD.
Ms. Lin decided to try the Inspiration that is Soft Caramel and Bittersweet Chocolate with a touch of Sea Salt. The cake was moist but it was way too sweet. After a few bites the flavor just takes over the mouth and you definitely can't drink the Hot Chocolate with this. Water please! lol I wished the caramel had a hint of burnt flavor and a tad more sea salt.
PK decided to get the Green Tea that is Mousse made from Green Tea along with Red Bean Paste. As soon as I saw the Red Bean, Azuki, I knew that cake was not for me. Still, I am open to trying anything out. The flavors were light and smooth but it didn't have any wow factor. I think the Spring Bouquet was the perfect balance of flavor and delight.
All in all it was a nice evening and experience. Even though we were cold, good times were had by all. I relished the Spring Bouquet. Now I just want more! lol While we were sitting there they were sampling cookies. First they missed us and eventually made their way to our table. They were sampling the Lavender Shortbread and a Chocolate Covered Nut. The chocolate was good but the Shortbread was unimpressive. My favorite cookie is the Cornflake cookie because of the extra texture that jumps out at you. Nonetheless, I love coming here and I always enjoy my dessert or lunch. ^_^
Jin Patisserie
1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 399-8801

I will be the first to admit that I lead a somewhat sheltered life and have never eaten or really seen a taco truck! Shocking! I know... so I had to rectify this by following the group to The Brig on Abbot Kinney. For precise times look up their schedule on their website because... it's a taco truck... hence... vroom vroom... moving! lol I hear it's mostly at UCLA in the day time. We were able to talk to the people behind the idea and it was a very interesting conversation. Three friends who all have day time jobs at nice hotels came together with this idea that has been growing in popularity. They have already been asked to franchise, but currently don't want to rapidly expand and let their baby grow up without their special care & guidance.
The people seemed very nice and there is a bowl of Kimchi placed right where you order for you to grab and eat or put in your taco. There usually are cans of cold soda for $2 shoved inside the ice near the Kimchi for purchase. It is a brilliant idea to be near a bar late at night because there are a lot of people drunk and looking for munchies... or hungry after partying and want a late night snack. Either way, it's a smart move ^_^
We had a full meal and Scoops before we came, so of course I was very full. I could only save room for 2 tacos, the Spicy Pork and the Short Ribs. They are $2 each. The winner of the night for me is the Spicy Pork, which had a tangy sweetness mixed with the spice. It provided a much stronger pow wow than the other tacos. They use a sweet citrus vinaigrette atop the shredded lettuce laid in the taco that brought out the natural flavor of the Spicy Pork. Don't forget to squeeze the lime to give it that extra kick!
To be fair... they are not very consistent because the 2nd Spicy Pork Taco I had was nowhere near as good... and that was only a 10 minute difference in time of order... Yes, I said I could only fit 2 tacos but I liked the pork enough for a 3rd... but I just got greedy and was disappointed. The Short Ribs Taco was very chewy and not very flavorful. I think mine had a tendon and hurt my tooth a little.
I called Burumun to come join and so she did. She tried the Salad and Chicken Taco. The salad had a very strong citrus flavor that was almost overpowering, which I did not like. As for the Chicken Taco was much spicier than the Spicy Pork and not as flavorful. The taste was very one-dimensional. I say stick with the Spicy Pork Tacos, but beware of inconsistency. Still, it's a cool and fun idea! Now I can proudly say that I have eaten from a Taco Truck and to top it off... it is a Korean BBQ Taco Truck ^_-