Rocksugar rocked my Soul!!

            While I was thinking I had seen everything exciting and eaten everything enticing in LA, we discovered a new place that sky rocketed to my top favorite restaurants list as soon as I sipped my drink!! That is what prompted me to open my blog again after months!! Rocksugar is a Pan Asian Kitchen ( as they call themselves), that offers enormous variety in their food and drinks and probably the most captivating ambience you can find in a restaurant. The first few minutes after I entered, I couldn’t lay my eye on one single wall without saying Wow!!! It’s the most inviting, interesting and invigorating feelings you get when you step into a restaurant famished!! Yes, we were extremely hungry on that day. The place I am sure is packed for dinner, cause the waiting area was huge!! Beyond are 6 booths with coal to keep you warm and then comes the hostesses’ desk. The Asian theme is evident from the entry, with wood carvings, antique stuff, lanterns, whoever did this place deserves compliments. They do have indoor and patio seating.

Entry of the restaurant, Picture coutesy www.enlightermagazine.com

A look at their menu online got us both confused and intrigued. Being Pan Asian, they do have all kinds of Asian cuisines included in their menu but the first glance may not give you a taste of what you are going to experience. The genius here is that all the ingredients are a mixture of Asian cuisines, but the flavors, ooohhh the flavors are absolutely fleeting, taking you to places you wouldn’t imagine! I mean, even though you may not be familiar with all the ingredients, the flavors are a little familiar, but also a little fresh and new! The price range for this place on Yelp is $$$, so we were prepared for the slight prick, but nothing told us how good we would feel when we finally left the place.

                So coming to what we had. I apologize I wasn’t able to get great pictures for you cause one, we didn’t have our DSLR with us, and two, our table was not exactly in the best lighting for the food.

Lime-Mint Squash

                So the complimentary inviting snack was saggu biyyam vadiyalu! Well you would know what I just said if you are Telugu, but to translate, it’s basically Tapioca crackers, also called Saabu daana in Hindi. Its was served with a sweet and spicy tomato based sauce, that really surpized us considering the way we ate these crackers as kids, just plain or with rice and dal! We tried their non-alcoholic drinks that gave us a sample of the uniqueness of this place. Pineapple Tamarindo is a crushed ice drink Made to cool you down thoroughly! A good balance of the sweet and tangy with a dash of lime is always the best way to relax. Lime-mint Squash, which is basically lime juice with mint is flavored with Calamansi limes, was made to perfection. Even though it was just a virgin form of Mojito, I would pick this glass up instead of my fav drink!! Looking at these perfectly made drinks, we were pretty sure we would like what we ordered next, the Crispy Imperial Rolls.

                The rolls come with minced pork or chicken. We went with chicken. They are again basically spring rolls, but with a twist. The meat is minced, has Indian flavor, and is combined with cellophane noodles and shiitake mushrooms! Add to this a smash hit sauce to dip into and leaves of basil, cilantro and lettuce to wrap and/dip with. I must say, each ingredient gives you a unique ride. Just the rolls, very good!, dipped in sauce, spicy/sweet and great!! Wrap roll in basil and lettuce and dip them, superb!!! Do it again with cilantro, and you have a completely different feeling!! Now I really cant explain enough. You need to try it to believe me.

Crispy Imperial Rolls

                Our main course included Festive rice and Thai Basil Cashew Chicken. So the waiter arrives, with the chicken on one plate looking almost burnt! And an inverted cone of, I think a banana leaf covering yellow rice! Now, by first glance, this meal portrays nothing unusual. But one morsel of the rice with a piece of chicken, proves to you again, its well worth it!! Festive rice is Jasmine rice with coconut, lemongrass and cashews. It’s the perfect balance really. Just a hint of the coconut and lemongrass and jasmine rice is like pulao! Now the Chicken, it was special because of its sauce that contained caramelized onion, and a wonderful combination of Red chillies and garlic. Caramelizing is not easy to do. And to find it done so well is amazing! We were full to the neck. Not that the portions were too much also. But some how, we did get quite stuffed. The flavors did everything I guess…

Caramelized Banana Custard Cake

                For dessert we tried their famous Caramelized Banana Custard Cake. They give you 2 slices of banana cake with a layer of Malted Crème Anglaise (custard caramelized on the surface) and milk chocolate ice cream. Also sprinkled on top was Nut Brittle. I must confess, the Brittle was my favorite!! I just can’t describe Brittle to you. Its basically ‘Chikki’ as we call it in India, made with all kind of nuts including pistachios. It was yummy! I found the dessert too overratedthough. Firstly the combo of milk chocolate ice cream and banana cake didn’t strike me as the best. The cake itself seemed a little dry, probably to compensate for the custard on top, but still it needed more moisture. Custard on its own was good enough. I would rate it a 2.5/5.

Overall our lunch was a 4.5/5. Ambience was a hit and the food was absolute bliss! Looking forward to visit them for dinner some time!

Check them out at: http://www.rocksugarpanasiankitchen.com/
Westfield Century City
10250 Santa Monica Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA-90067

San Diego Wilderness

   San Diego is world famous for its zoo and safari and the sea world. I believed it only when I experienced it! A wonderland for children, and no less for adults, these attractions make any aged person say 'amazing'!! Here are some interesting tips and guidelines for visiting these places, and loads of pictures with my favorites.

Macaw

     The San Diego Zoo is located in the area dense with trees inside Balboa park of San Diego. When you are visiting here, make time for a day for each park. Unless you slowly walk along and see all the animals you wouldn't cover all of them right? And its going to be quite an interesting walk so I am sure it will be slow too. We took advantage of the multi-day pass and got free visitor tickets for my sis in law. We could visit 2 parks in two days. And that was exactly what we planned to do! The ticket includes the bus ride in the zoo and he tram ride in the safari park for the two of us, but the third person needs to buy tickets for these rides. The first thing we did was take the bus tour. The map was very clear, but we needed to see what we were in for before we walked all the way to the other side to see something we thought we liked. The tickets for the bus tour are sold exactly opposite to the entrance. And the loading point, a little further. Quite a few buses were coming along to take all its passengers, but it did seem like we were wasting time But in the mean time, we were greeted by plenty of peacocks and peahens! I couldn't get a good picture of them but I did bring back a good pic of the macaw that welcomed us to the bus. A bright red bird watching all of us as though it were to keep us in order in the line. It was so beautiful.
     The sightseeing bus took us to all the major locations of the zoo, slowly explaining about the animals, and the stops that they have along the path. So once we were done, I knew where I wanted to go. The two aviaries. The Scripps and Owens Aviaries are at the heart of the zoo, amongst all the chimps in the place. One useful this about the map and the sign boards along the pathways was that they are not only named they also tell you how long it takes to hike along to finish it, and whether it is moderate or easy or steep terrain.

Golden breasted Starling

Victoria crowned pigeon

     One thing I loved about this zoo compared to the ones I have seen before was the way the animals were free. Certain animals like say the birds of certain kind were free in the aviary and sometimes could fly to you. Kids could interact with them. Amazing birds they were. A paradise for me and my husband with our camera!

Skyfari

    Once we were done with the birds and the chimps, we wanted to go to the other side of the zoo to catch a glimpse of the polar bears. at the Polar Rim. To do that, we could either walk all the way, or take the Skyfari. It is an aerial tram that runs all day long. The line is very long so you need to be very patient. At the other end, the polar bears were sun bathing. It is interesting to know the names of all the animals, and they also have descriptions of what each bear is like. Active, or lazy, their favorite thing to play with , etc everything is written on the walls. We were told that the best time to see them would be earlier in the day. We were hoping to see some in the water, but no luck.

Polar Bear

     Next it was time for Panda Canyon!! A sweet family of Pandas resides in the zoo. A cub was born 6 months ago, and they were having lunch when we visited them. Sorry I cannot recollect their names but I brought you pictures!!

Baby Panda

    It was now time for the elephants. They have both african and indian elephants spread across a large area. But before that, We saw the most spectacular Lion ever. A lion and a lioness were having their meal. Chewing and gnawing at a chunk of meat on a bone. He was so majestic, they dont call him the King of the jungle for nothing!

Lunch time!

     The elephants were calm strolling in their spacious courtyard. A baby elephant was hopping along the mother eating straw. it was a pleasant sight. There is also a show sometime in the afternoon that introduces visitors to the elephants and their life.

Indian Elephant

     After watching many other cats like snow leopards, black leopard, hyenas, I stepped into my favorite place in the zoo. The reptile house has about a hundred kinds of reptiles and I loved the various kinds of snakes they had. Each one so discreet, poised, watching through the other side of the glass.

Pit Viper

     My experience here was fun, amazing, and tiring with all the walking. We had a field day with taking pictures and admiring natures creations. It is a well kept zoo and I enjoyed it thoroughly. For more lovely pictures, go to, http://www.vijayram.net/

The Mediterranean break

    
    Have you ever eaten something that makes you feel renewed on your palate and so satisfying you want to try more? Thats what I felt when we went to eat at Ali Baba's Kitchen in Newbury Park, CA. After repeatedly eating Italian, American, India, and Chinese, it felt like I was basking in the sun on a warm morning!

    We chose to eat the small family combo which consisted of everything Medi food is essentially made of. The most popular Medi food people most often like is Falafel. Made of Chickpeas and some seasoning, this fried pattie/ball is eaten with pita bread or just plain.At Baba's, it is served with a tasty tangy dip. Its filling, its tasty, and has a great taste! As part of the meal they served us some fresh salad too, which had a very distinct flavour to it. I am sure there is something special in the dressing used cause it had a sharp flavour and freshness of cucumber!

Falafel, Baba's salad and Pita bread

     Now the next favourite in this food is Hummus! Of course you have eaten it in many places, and in many flavours but it is amazingly fresh with chili powder drizzled on top and olive oil along the edges. The meal does not include the hummus so you will have to order extra to eat with the warm pita bread that is included though. Believe me, there is nothing like fresh hummus!

     Next course is the Chicken Shawarma with rice and Chicken Kabab. Shawarma is shredded meat that is grilled. and mostly served in the form of a sandwich. Now in this meal its served with flavoured rice. And the Kababs are diced chicken marinated in lemon juice olive oil and vinegar and skewed. Its the most delicious kabab I have had in ages(in US)!!

   Hey, I almost forgot, for dessert, try their Baklava. Its a puff pastry with a layer of nuts, spices and honey. It is yum yumm yummm...
    So if you want to fill your tummy with happiness, do check this place out. In the mean time, I am gonna try some more of their yummy dishes and fill you in! babyee!!

Ali Baba's Kitchen
2110-B Newbury Road
Newbury Park CA-91320

http://alibabarestaurant.com/