Tako Sushi: Berkeley

I went to Tako today with my friend Karen and ordered off their Student Specials Lunch menu. I got rice and curry with Chicken Katsu and it was so yummy! I didn't even finish it all, but it did make my tummy very happy! And it only cost me $6 plus tax and tip!

California Pizza Kitchen: Emeryville

In our six hour practice break, my friend Karen and I decided to take a shopping trip to Emeryville to go shopping at Victoria's Secret. While we were there, we decided to go to CPK for some lunch. I had mango lemonade and two appetizers - their Mediterranean Focaccia (which is new on their small cravings menu), and I got the Spicy Chicken Tinga Quesadilla as well! Overall it cost me maybe $10 and I was stuffed. I ended up taking my leftovers home and eating them for a snack later in the evening.

Cheesecake Factory: Walnut Creek

Monday was National Cheesecake Day, so a few of us traveled to The Cheesecake Factory nearby for some cheesecake and dinner after a long practice. I filled myself up with a really yummy Crispy Chicken Costoletta and then split two cheesecakes with my friend. We had the Pineapple Upside-down Cheesecake and the White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake. I only finished about a third of my entree, but it was really yummy and super filling!

Yay for national cheesecake day!

Racha Cafe

I went here for a team dinner for my cheerleading team, and it was absolutely delicious. I'm a fan of Thai food, and this place really hit the spot. I split a Pad Kee Mao with a friend and then both had a plate of fried banana with vanilla ice cream for dessert. I washed it all down with a yummy Thai Iced Tea. It seriously filled me up without breaking the bank! It is a bit of a hole in the wall, but totally worth it. The inside is clean and the waiters are exceptionally friendly!

Wat Mongkolratanaram

The name is long and confusing, but the food is absolutely amazing. For $10, I got plenty of Pad Thai, a side of pork and egg, rice, and a Thai tea. This also includes the sticky coconut rice dessert that two friends and I split. It was absolutely delicious and a real steal. However, you do have to get there early because the line gets pretty long. It's a great place for brunch if you're up for the trip! I had enough to fill me up for lunch and still have leftovers for a light dinner the next night! You can even bring your own plates and tupperware for them to fill up. They're only open for brunch on Sunday though, but its a great cause to help keep the temple running!

Wat Mongkolratanaram
1911 Russell Street
Berkeley, CA 94703

McCovey's Restaurant: Walnut Creek

I had a delicious burger at McCovey's Restaurant in Walnut Creek a few weeks ago. I realize I haven't posted in a while, but this was really yummy, not too expensive, and the service was lovely. Look how delicious their Grand Slam burger looks! I got it with a side of macaroni and cheese.

Lamb Loin Chops with Macaroni

I saw lamb chops at Trader Joe's. I used to hate lamb. I don't know why. Something about my being a Ram under the Chinese zodiac made me really paranoid about eating lamb when I was growing up. I felt like it was bad luck or something. Like I was somehow going to be damned for eternity. I highly regret that I felt that way. I love lamb. It is delicious. And I was getting awfully tired of microwave-meat. I like the taste of lamb by itself, so I didn't do much to them in terms of seasoning. I was more than satisfied.

Macaroni:

- Cook the macaroni in boiling water (about 7 minutes) until al dente.
- Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Drain macaroni. Put macaroni back in pot.
- Place pot on stove on medium high heat and add salt and pepper to taste as well as a little butter and cheese.
- Once it is heated through, take off the stove and add some mayonnaise to taste (you really do not need that much).
- Place to side (or in fridge if you prefer) until the lamb and vegetables are done cooking. I usually start it all at the same time, so my macaroni ends up a bit over room temperature if I toss it in the fridge for a little.

Easy Lamb Loin Chops:
- Pat lamb chops dry with a paper towel.
- Using a fork, GENTLY poke each side of the lamb chop a few times (I do ten quick pokes) to tenderize.
- Sprinkle salt and black pepper on both sides, and spread it evenly with the fork.
- Heat up oil in a pan. Once hot, place seasoned lamb chops in and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. I cook on medium high heat to achieve a chop that is medium to medium rare.
- After both sides are cooked, turn the loin onto its bone so the meat on the side of the bone can cook as well. (I like to make sure my meat is fully cooked). You do not need to cook it for too long, just until it is no longer pink (maybe a minute more or less).
- Let sit for five minutes to finish cooking.
- DO NOT TOSS THE FAT THAT WILL COOK OUT OF THE LAMB.

Vegetables:
- Chop some vegetables into bite-sized, somewhat uniform pieces.
- Toss into the pan that you used to cook the lamb and saute until cooked through. The lamb fat will somewhat infuse into the vegetables and make them extra yummy.
- Sprinkle some salt to taste.

Plate lamb, macaroni, and vegetables, grab a fork, and dig in!