Emporium Thai Cuisine in Westwood

Emporium Thai Cuisine in Westwood

By Erin

One of my favorite kinds of  foods to eat is Thai Food. When I received the invite for a media dinner here, I couldn’t resist as I am always on the lookout for great places to have Thai food at. If you also have a love for Thai food or are an adventurous foodie wanting to try something new, then you have to check out Emporium Thai Cuisine in Westwood.

Emporium Thai Cuisine

Emporium Thai Cuisine has been serving families and the surrounding community for 14 years and they specialize in Southern Thai food with a very large menu that is sure to have something to please everyone in your party. One unique aspect on their menu is the “spicy scale” which allows you to choose how hot or mild you want your food on a scale of 1-10.  I don’t like my food terribly spicy, the majority of our dishes were at a “3” on the spicy scale. This worked well for me. It wasn’t too hot or spicy for me at this level.

Another quality that I love about this place is that it is family owned and run. Dining here truly is a family affair and I love being able to help out and eat at a family run restaurant. While you are here, you will be treated like one of the family.

Now onto the food! Here is what was on the menu for us for the night. 🙂

Coco Mango Salad with Fried Tofu (Southern Thai Specialty dish) and Thai Iced Tea

EmporiumThai Ice Tea

Shredded raw mango mixed with dried coconut fresh chili, lime juice and fried tofu. A  Southern Thai Specialty dish, it was really light and refreshing. Perfect for these hot summer days. A great way to start out any meal.

Crying Tiger Beef (Southern Thai Specialty dish)

ETC Crying Tiger Beef

Thai-style marinated beef, served with their homemade chili sauce. I really enjoyed this one as the meat was very tender and flavorful.

Continue reading »

Summer is Here!

Summer is Here!

By Erin

As of today, Summer is officially here! Just thought I’d post a few pictures honoring this time of fun in the sun, long days, and hot nights. I hope everyone is ready for lots of summer time fun! What are your favorite things to do during this fun time of year? It’s the best time to enjoy so many different outdoor activities. I hope to be posting some fun adventures that you can enjoy for yourself as well. Enjoy!

Summer 2014

There are so many fun things to do in the summer time! Where to start? The beaches, fairs, festivals, spas, pools, water parks, amusement parks, too many things to do to list here! It’s time for some much needed rest, relaxation, and lots of fun! I am looking forward to all the county fairs coming up and many beach days ahead.

Happy Summer

Beautiful summer blooms. I love the smell of all the beautiful flowers and roses during this time of year! These are a few from my own backyard!

Wine GrapesIt’s a great time for some wine tasting! 😉 No matter where you live, you are sure to find a winery or wine tasting room not too far from you.

Summer Margaritas

Drinks for a hot summer’s eve? Making some fun fruity drinks is always something I enjoy. Mango Margarita anyone?

Summer Time Fun

Some good old fun out on the river! A fun Waterskiing show out on the Mississippi River in Minnesota!

Do you have any fun plans for this summer? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below! 🙂

Happy Summer!

Good Eats at Who Song & Larry’s in the OC @WSLCantina

Good Eats at Who Song & Larry’s in the OC

By Erin

There’s a hot new restaurant in town that you won’t want to miss. Located at the Stadium Promenade in Orange County, an unexpected party-crasher is here; Who Song & Larry’s – a Real Mex Restaurant. It is conveniently located right near the Honda Center and Angel Stadium, so it’s the perfect spot to stop at before or after a game, concert, movie, show, or whatever else happens to bring you to the area. Personally, I would just come here to come here to Who Song and Larry’s as I had such a great time here and the food, drinks, and service are top-notch! I was invited to come out and try the menu at Who Song and Larry’s and I am so glad that I did!

WhoSong&Larry

I love the open floor plan and all of the outdoor space. It will make you feel like you’re leaving the city and embarking on a little mini vacay, even if it is only for a few hours! 😉  Which was the whole concept of Who Song and Larry, to feel as if you have traveled the world with them. An array of 12 unique chandeliers shine over the restaurant’s separate dining areas. The cantina includes tall communal tables, and in the heart of the restaurant, the custom-built indoor-outdoor bar connects the cantina with the patio. With two beach palapas  and a 10-foot fire pit, the outdoor patio is the ideal setting to enjoy a sunny afternoon happy hour, a weekend brunch with family or late night drinks with friends.

WhoSongLarryDecor

Who Song & Larry’s is a unique new restaurant concept that combines the fun and flair of Mexican culture with handcrafted cocktails and a fusion of foods from around the world. With an emphasis on “social eats,” Who Song & Larry’s offers food, drinks and an ambience that are sharable, unexpected and eclectic.

The restaurant concept originates from the fictional story of two best friends – Who Song and Larry – who traveled around the world meeting good people, eating great food and sharing many drinks. The two friends then decided to open a restaurant filled with their favorite food, mementos and friends. Upon your visit you will experience the spirit of the duo and their adventures through the restaurant’s eclectic décor and unexpected menu.

To complement the wonderful food, Who Song & Larry’s cocktail list will make you dizzy just looking at it and making it hard to choose. Libations  include hand-crafted cocktails, specialty margaritas, flaming Mai Tai’s, sharable drinks served in wooden buckets and an extensive selection of tequila and mescal brands. Pick your poison. You want it, you can bet they probably have it!

WSLDrinks

My favorite drink that I tried, the Blood O Margarita, on the left, the Strawberry Moon in the Middle and Jack & Jill on the right.

The Blood O consists of Cazadores Blanco, Blood Orange, Agave Nectar, Handmade Sour, Muddled Blood Orange & Chile Pequin and is very light and refreshing. I love anything that has Blood Oranges in it, so it’s no surprise that I loved this drink! The Strawberry Moon was my second favorite drink of the night, Strawberry Moonshine, White Lightnin’ Moonshine,Strawberry and Lemonade. If you are looking for something to share with a group, then the Jack & Jill is an excellent choice. 3 Olives Berry, 3 Olives Grape, 3 Olives Orange 3 Olives Dude, Blue Curacao, Handmade Sour,Blueberry Red Bull, Served in a Wooden Pail (no water).

The Who Song & Larry’s menu was created by Executive Chef Johannes Bernau and his team and consists of a very eclectic mix of favorite flavors from around the world. With his Japanese, Dutch and Indonesian background, Chef Johannes’ menu includes everything from quintessential SoCal Mexican favorites to fresh seafood, specialty salads, sharable starters and a unique Cal-Mex sushi menu.

Let’s take a look at the food now shall we?

WSL Feast

A feast fit for a king I think! Where to start?

Continue reading »