Not Bad for a Hump Day: Feijoada Wednesday!

The conference rooms in the San Paulo office are named after traditional Brazilian dishes – Churascaria and Feijoada. Upon learning that Feijoada is a black beans and meat stew that is traditionally enjoyed as a Wednesday or Saturday lunch in Brazil, I would salivate every time I entered the conference room, just imagining how wonderful it would be to enjoy a big bowl of the hearty stew.

Unfortunately, my work ended at an odd time on Wednesday and had to miss lunch, but I was still determined to try Feijoada somewhere (anywhere!) before lunch hour was over and dinner began. Around 3:00 p.m., I walked by a restaurant that still had some patrons dining, so I decided to see if it had the dish I was looking for.

Lucky for me, this place offered food buffet style, and customers would pay based on the weight of the plate. This was very convenient for me for several reasons. First, the obvious reason, is that I didn’t have to exercise my meager Portuguese (all two words I learned) and order something expecting it to be one thing and turning out be something completely different. And second, because it gave me the chance to nourish my body with much-needed vegetables.

After mounting the plate with salads and side dishes, I finally arrived to the bean stew and poured a ladle-full of it on the bed of flavored rice. The stew had bits and pieces of everything – from beef chunks to sausages – and looked very hearty … and it certainly was. It was a total comfort food, and a good temporary departure from all the heavy meat dishes that I’d been devouring for days.

Let the Good Times Roll: Montana Grill Churrascaria

Do you think these skewers will fit into my suitecase?

There are some things in life that are so fascinating that you just have to put it on your “things to do in your lifetime” list. For some, it may be to climb Mt. Everest. And for others, it may be to run a marathon in all 50 states. Although my action items are not that ambitious, I too have the “list,” and to nobody’s surprise, many revolve around food. I want to enroll in Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. I want to go (just to go) to Tsujiki Fish Market in Tokyo. And I want to experience churrascaria in Brazil. Well, thanks to my new friends in Brazil who took the time to show me the great Brazilian culinary ritual, I can check off one from the list.

Churrascaria, a Brazilian steakhouse where waiters serve different types of meat on a huge skewer at a table, is not only delicious, it’s an experience in its own. We went to Montana Grill located only a few miles from the office, and although the restaurant is not as famous as Fogo de Chao which is the oldest, and the most reputable churrascaria in Brazil (and has a restaurant on La Cienaga and around the world), it was still as authentic and still delicious.

Cachaca with Passion Fruite. It’s typically made with lime.

The group that took me out to lunch this day was so out-of-this-world hilarious that I ended up crying the entire time from laughter, and when you add a few glasses of cachaca (the famous Brazilian liquor made out of sugarcane), you can just imagine how much of a side-splitting fun I had. It was me, Aldo, Essio, Gabriella, Monica and Bia, my little angel.

The lunch started out with the visit to the all-you-can-eat salad bar that puts ordinary buffet to shame. My favorite items here marinated eggplants, white asparagus, beef carpaccio with mustard and capers, and pickled octopus. There were salmon sashimi and sushi rolls there too. (FYI, what you see on the picture above is my second plate … the first one was a lot more packed with food.)

Right when I returned to the table, the skewers of meat started appearing non stop, and I had to flip the little card that reads, “no thank you” just so that I can pace myself! As each meat arrived, Aldo explained for me what it is. “Oh, this is ‘Picanha’, the sirloin, and the most popular cut of steak here” and “This is lamb, you’ll like it.” When Cordeiro arrived, however, Aldo couldn’t find the word to translation it, so instead, he pointed at his rib and said, “it’s this, it’s this.” And Essio, the comedian, said, “That’s not a rib, that’s FAT!” and we all died of laughter (note: Aldo is a slim man). Essio told me that his motto in life is, “I may lose friends but I’ll never lose my joke,” and Aldo’s is, “I may lose my self esteem, but I will never lose my joke.” In a span of just an hour, I had every part of a cow imaginable, including the heart which was chewy and flavorful. I meant to take more pictures of food but I was so busy devouring the meat

Aldo, the adventurous one, took me to the kitchen to show me how the meat is cooked. The manager of the joint was so gracious for allowing us to go inside and even letting me pose with a skewer! I was so tempted to take it and run!

Montana Grill Churrascaria
Av. Pres. Juscelino Kubitschek, 817, Sao Paulo

Tender Meat and Tender Memories: Trilha Do Trigo

I am amazed at the level of intelligence and diversity the people I met in the Brazil office posses. Not only do they have a strong command of the English language (written and verbal), most of them are virtually fluent, and English in not the only foreign language they speak and understand. Many of them speak Spanish (which is very similar to Portuguese), French, and even Japanese (there are a high population of Japanese-Brazilians in Sao Paulo). The saturation of highly educated people here is probably due to the fact that our company is an American company and communications are conducted primary in English and this high, multi-lingual percentage may not be an accurate representation of all the businesses around, but still, this is a pretty fascinating phenomenon. And did I tell you that they all have wicked sense of humor?

Beatriz, perhaps one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met (and reminds me very much of my best friend, Maya), and her team took me to the little restaurant next to the office for lunch. She kept apologizing that this place is nothing fancy but I thought it was very cute. The place was called Trilha Do Trigo, and although I have no idea what that translates to, I’m assuming it has something to do with a chicken or a rooster because the place was full of the quirky bird decorations. We sat in the patio-like area by the entrance but there’s a huge dining area in the back suitable for big banquet or a meeting, as well as small tables to accommodate solo diners who’s looking for a quick lunch.

I was told that pasta dishes are delicious here and patrons can watch the chef make fresh pasta from the glass window located in the center of the restaurant. When I dine, especially in a new place, I like to try the daily special the restaurant offers. There was something I saw under the “winter special” that caught my eyes (I couldn’t believe from the 75 degree whether that it is winter here) and I asked my friends what it is. They searched for the word, and after a moment, they said enthusiastically, “Oh, it’s a sheep! It’s a sheep!”

For a second, it didn’t register that sheep is a lamb, so I thought I was being adventurous like Anthony Bourdine for trying something I’ve never had before. After I realized that I had just ordered a little baby lamb, I felt a bit guilty, but after the first, very tender and flavorful bite, I didn’t care what I was eating.

There was something magical about the cannelloni beans that accompanied the dish. They were so delicious — easily the best-tasting beans I’ve had. They had a nice texture, simple flavoring and nothing like the ones that come out of the can. Rice cooked with garlic and onion was delicious as usual, and I was also pleased to see the side of broccoli sitting pretty on the plate (vegetable!).

The food was delicious but it was the company of the new friends I made here that made this dining experience such a special one. I am so blessed that I had the opportunity to come to Brazil for work and meet these fantastic bunch of people, and although I’ll be leaving here in a few days, I know that I will cherish these tender memories for a long, long time.

A Little Homesick (but still eating well)

I had a hearty plate of steak, rice and beans at a little hole-in-a-wall diner a few blocks from the hotel. I actually wanted something else on the menu but they were out of all three items I wanted to try. I was happy with the dish I ended up having, but I was hoping that I would have maybe a side of vegetable to go with the steak (what was expecting?). The restaurant was part diner, part bar (and a juice bar too) and part convenience store — a one-stop shop for everything and anything you need.

Just to ensure that I’m getting enough vitamins for the day, I ordered an acai smoothie which were bright purple and delicious. My boyfriend called me on my Blackberry while I was dining there and I suddenly got home sick (yes, I was the strange Asian girl chomping down on steak and fried egg with watery eyes!). I really wish he was in Brazil and sharing these delicious food and experiences with me. I miss him, and my friends and family, very much.

Room Service Du Jour at Caesar Park Hotel, Sao Paulo

I’m realizing every day that I’m not one of those sensitive people who lose appetite when they’re under work stress or pressure (or just plain busy). Instead, I’m one of those unfortunate ones who eat under pressure – and eat enormously. And it certainly doesn’t help when the food here in Sao Paulo is so darn good – perhaps one of the better food I’ve tasted in a long time.

One thing I had decided before arriving to Brazil was to reintroduce meat back into my daily diet. I will eventually stop eating animal flesh again, I know this, once this whirlwind of travel is over in a few weeks (I’m off to New York after this for work … hello steakhouses!) and I’m back into my normal routine. But until then, I’ve decided to unapologetically enjoy the fine Brazilian cuisine this place offers. So far, I’ve been sticking to my commitment, even maybe a little too well.

If you omit meat from the Brazilian diet, you’re left with pretty much nothing, or at least nothing as exciting. It seems like steak, rice and beans are the center stage of the Brazilian gastronomic life. Of course, there’s always an option for me to dine at an Italian restaurant or other non-traditional cuisines in town to avoid meat during my stay here but I think that’s would a shame when you have some of the greatest tasting meat in the world here. And I’m not kidding when I say this. The way the meat is prepared here is simple, often with only salt and pepper, but this simplicity makes each bite so juicy, flavorful, and soul-satisfying. And the rice that accompanies meat is flavorful too with strong seasoning, very similar to the Cuban way.

On the first night here, I ordered a room service for dinner, because all the restaurants nearby were closed. Unfortunately, there are no fast food restaurants around either where I can just grab something to go (maybe there are some around, but I haven’t found them yet) so the room service was the only resort to tame my hunger. The food offered at the downstairs restaurant, as well room service, is very fancy but Westernized and generic, much like the repertoire you would see in any hotels in the states but one thing that caught my eyes was this — Filet Mignon Escalopes with Wild Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto (above).

Maybe because it was truly the first time I indulged in a beef of this caliber in a long time, but my taste bud started exploding after the first bite. The steak certainly lived up to the reputation. Risotto was surprising amazing too – rich, cheesy, perfectly cooked with still a bite left in the middle of each, crystal-like grain.

A basket of rolls.

Monday Morning:

The next morning, I decided to try the Pao de Queijo, traditional Brazilian cheese roll, for breakfast that my friend in the states suggested that I must try while I’m here. Unfortunately, by the time I took a bite into this tiny cheesy delight, it had already gotten a little hard. There were a bit disappointing, but I’m determined to try them again when they’re still piping hot from the oven, maybe elsewhere.

Tuesday Breakfast:

Delicious omelet with fine herbs and tomatoes, with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Totally delicious.

Here are some pictures from my home away from home.

The hotel room.

The hotel bath.

The view from the window.

P.S. My body is craving vegetables and I think I gained at least five pounds in the last few days, no joke. My pants that I brought with me are a bit snug now I went to the gym last night and ran five miles but I still feel very out of shape and bloated with all these meat!

**********

Note: A few days later, I FINALLY got a dose of vegetable and fruit via this grilled vegetable sandwich and a side of steamed vegetable, along with the sweetest mango I’ve ever tasted!

Caesar Park
Sao Paulo, Faria Lima

Hungry Gal in Brazil: Andiamo Ristorante

Hello from Brazil!

After 14 hours of flight, plus the two-hour layover in Miami, I arrived to Sao Paulo safely. The flight was surprising pleasant with no delays or unnecessary troubles that often accompany international travels. The service provided by the American Airlines flight attendants — a mixture of both U.S.- and Brazil-based crew — was superb, an adjective not often associated with airline services but quite appropriate for my experience this time. Dinner (a cardboard meat with a side of rubbery mashed potatoes and defrosted, watery vegetables) and breakfast (piping hot croissant what quickly became hard, from the galley oven, accompanied by a cup of yogurt that certainly didn’t taste like one) served on the flight, however, was a different story altogether but it’s my fault for even expecting it to be somehow edible.

I arrived at Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport in the morning, and although my body was still operating under the Pacific Standard Time which is four hours behind, I was wide awake. It is surprising what adrenaline can do. Even after picking up my luggage and clearing custom and arriving at the hotel around noon, I could not sleep. So I did what I know best – go out for lunch

Unfortunately for me, the part of Sao Paulo I’m staying is a major business district so there aren’t much around. It’s an understatement to say that it is quite on a Sunday. I see NOONE on the streets! I took a quick walk around the very quite neighborhood of Vila Olimpia, found the office I’ll be reporting to tomorrow, and found an only place that seemed to be open for lunch at this hour.

Andiamo Ristorante is a little Italian restaurant on Rua Do Rocio, a street populated by office high rises and cute eateries that make businesspeople happy every day. Italian cuisine wouldn’t have been my first choice in a city full of wonderful, unique native dishes had there been more places open, but I was happy with my selection when I was greeted by a kind, English-speaking hostess. This may be an equivalent of a chain Italian restaurant in the states, but what the heck. This place was cute and I was hungry!

I was seated in the back booth that made even a solo diner comfortable. I don’t mind dining alone. In fact, I enjoy it, but the atmosphere of the restaurant can really dictate how the overall dining experience would turn out. The waiters spoke no English so I thought the communication would be difficult but the magic of food is so powerful, that it brought one English- and Japanese-speaking hungry gal and Portuguese-speaking staff together!

Simple is good.

A glass of red wine the waiter recommended.

I ordered a dish called Fusilli Rustico — butterfly-shaped pasta tossed with sliced olives, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and topped with a generous portion of grated Parmesan cheese. It was a simple dish but a delicious one, with juicy tomatoes adding distinct tanginess to the dish.

I heart strawberries.

For dessert (who could resist one when they bring you a tray full of sweets to choose from?), I had this strawberry cream concoction that had the perfect combination of fruity tanginess and subtle sweetness. It reminded me of the way that French eat strawberries where you pour milk on a bowl full of the fruit and squish them, making it a delicious milk dessert. My mother likes eating it this way too, and although it may not sound appetizing at first, it is most certainly a great way to enjoy this heavenly goodness! The drizzle of strawberry liquor added a punch to this lovely plate.

The street the office located.

An interesting graffiti I found on the way back to the hotel.

The fatigue finally caught up with me after lunch. Once I got back to the hotel, I went straight to bed and slept for the next five hours! It was a great start of my Brazilian trip and I’m looking forward to tasting some more wonderful dishes in the days to come.

My home away from home for the next six days.

Andiamo Ristorante
Rua Do Rosio, Sao Paulo

Heavenly Goodness: Milk

I had to drive over the hill to conduct some “worldly” business this morning in the La Cienega-Wilshire area, so I decided to stop by Milk to pick up some goodies on the way back to the office. It’s not too often that I get to come to this area during the day so I didn’t mind driving a couple miles on a busy Beverly Blvd to get my hands on the silky smoothness of its famous creameries.

When you walk in to this cafe/ice cream parlor, the first thing you see is the glass showcase filled with pre-made ice cream sandwiches and plethora of pastries that would make any sweet-tooth squeal in delight. The interior is much more plain and unsophisticated than you would expect from the cute, welcoming exterior, but it’s still very modern (and very LA) with white walls and high ceiling.

Unfortunately, I could not indulge in the creamy goodness, alas ice cream sandwich or a good old scoop, right then and there because I needed to drive (and I can’t drive unless I have both hands on the wheel), but I had them pack a Prosciutto and Provolone Hot Pressed Sandwich with arugula, slivered potatoes, pickled onion and black pepper cream, for me to enjoy once I got back to the office.

But determined not to miss out on the heavenly ice cream, I decided to take back a pint of Chocolate Mint Chip with my lunch. I also bought chocolate and vanilla Cupcakes in ice cream cones for my friends at the office.

The sandwich was pretty tasty with interesting texture of mushy potatoes adding the fun to each bite. The bitterness of arugula – which I love so much – surprisingly went well with the slightly tangy pink picked onion. Maybe because I haven’t had meat in a while (I’m slowly trying to bring them back into my diet) but Prosciutto was just a little too salty for me.

Despite the cute and creative presentation, the Cupcakes were a disappointment. The frosting was too sugary and the cake was pretty nasty. I would recommend that you resist the urge to buy it and spend the money on ice cream cones or a sundae instead.

The Chocolate Mint Chip ice cream was AMAZING. It was a lot more “mint-y” than your ordinary mint-flavored ice cream and it was twice as much refreshing. The generous offering of those tiny chocolate chips makes the experience out of this world and extra special.

Move over, Cold Stone … the new ice cream parlor is in town!

Milk
7920 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
★★★★☆

Unpleasantly Surprised: Lavanda Restaurant and Wine Bar

When the Epi-”curious” Threesome (or the Gastro Monsters, or the Hungry Trios, or just “Three-Friends-That-Go-Around-Town-in-Search-of-Great-Food”) gets together for dinner, it’s a guarantee good time. But, deciding on where to dine can be a challenge at times, because we want to try everything and narrowing down to just one is virtually impossible! Needless to say, we take preparation very seriously, as careful research is definitely the key to maximizing our dining experience. Tiffany’s epicurean inspiration comes from Chowhound and Gabriel relies on the trusted Zagat, and I dive into my favorite blogs to give us the best recommendations.

We were in the Silicon Valley together for business a few weeks ago, and we all agreed, after serious discussion as to where we should go, to drive down to the neighborhood of Palo Alto, a home of many fine restaurants. We had narrowed down to several places that were Chowhound- and Zagat-approved, but when we drove by Lavanda’s warm and welcoming décor, we just had to throw away our plan and go in.

Despite our unlikely spontaneous act, the night seemed promising. The place was beautifully lit with the natural light of the late afternoon sun, and the fully stocked wine bar showed pride the restaurant has in its fine vino. We were seated on a table by the window overlooking the hip yet sophisticated University Avenue where, I suspect, is the destination of many local Northern Californian’s very discriminating pallets. Lavanda, it turned out, boasts an impressive resume.  Not only was it dubbed by Michelin Guide as one of the best restaurants in the Bay Area, it is the recipient of Wine Specter Magazine’s “Best of Award of Excellent” for featuring, “one-of-a-kind wines from around the world.”

The threesome, who can never settle for just one, ordered the Red Wine Flight that allowed us to sample three of the popular reds, and ordered three tapas-like appetizers to get the night started.

The first appetizer we ordered was Stuffed Risotto Fritters. The little orange-like balls were wonderfully golden brown with well-cooked Risotto but the flavor of the blue cheese that oozes out on the first bite was just a tab too overwhelming for my taste as it took away the goodness of the Arborio rice.

Vince’s Avocado and Grilled Bread, on the other hand, was more on the simple side, but lacked any character. It was nothing more than an avocado smeared on a piece of tasteless bread. I would have loved to taste a drizzle of olive oil or a sprinkle of sea salt on it for more depth in flavor.

The tomato salad we ordered was my favorite appetizer of the night. The mixture of fresh tomatoes, red onions and other summer vegetables tossed in light vinaigrette was refreshing – a perfect plate for the hot summer night.

Unfortunately the fun ends there.

I ordered the Fettuccini with Mushroom Ragu from the special menu with anticipation. The dish had all the characteristics of a true winner – with homemade fresh pasta and wonderfully pungent wild mushrooms – yet the dish was, I hate to say, one of the worst pasta dishes I have ever tasted. The fresh pasta didn’t translate well on the plate as they were mushy and overcooked, and they reminded me so much of the consistency and the texture of an Instant Noodle (yikes). The Ragu was flavorless, somehow silencing the lovely flavor of mushrooms as if it were ever possible. It was so unfortunate because I was really looking forward to this.

Tiffany’s Shrimp Risotto was not any better. I understand how difficult it is to make a perfect Risotto, but this one seemed to lack effort. The rice was still coarse and tasted very “rushed”, as if the chef didn’t give enough love and time for the dish’s magic to truly come out. Shrimps were slightly overcooked which made the texture very rubbery.

The House Made Ravioli of Artichokes with Manouri Cheese, Kalamata Olives and Wild Fennel that Gabriel ordered were our favorite, or should I say the lesser of two evils. The artichoke filler was interesting and the cheese added creaminess to each bite.

Lavanda, to me, is a place that purely relies on its untarnished reputation and not on the craftsmanship of the folks in the kitchen. With wonderfully written reviews from some of the most reputable publications in the Bay Area, I’m sure that Lavenda is full of charm. We, unfortunately, were not able to experience that during our first and last visit.

This night made us really rethink about deviating from the original plan and spontaneously giving an unknown venue a chance, which was perhaps the most disappointing part of this entire dining experience.

Lavanda Restaurant and Wine Bar
185 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
★★★☆☆

A Real “Happy” Hour: Maggiano’s Little Italy

Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant in Woodland Hills is a perfect place for me to get together with my former coworkers who still work at the company, because it’s a quick, five minute drive from the office I once called home (and a very dysfunctional one at that). So when my long lost ex-colleague called me out of the blue, we agreed to meet at this family-style Italian restaurant to catch up over some wine and great appetizers.

I was actually really looking forward to this soiree with my friend because I had not seen him or talked to him in more than two years. I wanted to hear about how his life is going, and wanted to share some of the things I’ve done since we last spoke. Good drinks, wonderful appetizers, and a great company … how bad could it be, right? Well, Ina, you were soooo wrong on this one (if you don’t get this reference, please watch this).

There aren’t that many things that bother me in life, but punctuality is one of my pet peeves, so you can probably imagine how antsy I was when he showed up an hour late. But I let that one slide because I know how things get, especially at the end of the day.

When he finally arrived at 8:00 p.m., we walked into a dim-lit bar where I ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and he a chilled Chardonnay (our drinks of choice had not changed since last time). After we ordered a couple appetizers, we finally got situated to talk about all the things we’ve missed – or so I thought. Before the food arrived at our table and even before I was able to tell him some exciting things that’s going on in my life, a stranger walked in and sat on the stool next to me. My friend turned to the man, shook his hand, and started a conversation. It took a second for me to realize that they know each other and that he had invited this guy, who turned out to be his coworker, to our dinner. I like meeting new people and he turned out to be a really cool guy, but I was a bit caught off guard … wasn’t this suppose to be the time for two old friends to catch up? Instead, I ended up listening to two men talk about work and other boring shit, completely removing me from the picture (come on, I love to hear office gossip but at least talk about people that I actually know, you insensitive fools!). I never felt more invisible in my life and I wasn’t even at a super-trendy Hollywood bar or anything!

It gets worse. After spending an hour listening to irrelevant crap, it turned out that they had a softball game at 9:00 p.m. I wasn’t even finished with my food and wine when they got up to get ready to leave. My friend opened his wallet, handed me over his credit card, and said, “The dinner is on me. And I’m going to leave this card with you so now you HAVE to come to the softball game and cheer for us!” WHAT THE F%$@? Was this guy serious? Was he really going to desert me in the middle of dinner?  Couldn’t he just wait five more minutes to close out the god damn tab?  I hope he didn’t think he was being cute with the “come cheer for us” shit because it definitely wasn’t.

So here I was, completely alone in a crowded bar at Maggiano’s, stuck with my unfinished dinner and a half-full glass of wine. I managed to finish most of the food and emptied out the drink, but they no longer tasted good. I felt really foolish sitting there all by myself while the waitress looked around, wondering where the two men disappeared to.

After I paid for dinner, I left the restaurant feeling miserable, and dreaded going to the park to return his credit card. I didn’t want to waste an hour watching his stupid softball game, so I went to a nearby bookstore to kill some time. After about an hour, I drove to the park but it turned out that the game had ended and he and his teammates were headed over to a nearby sports bar. Although I had asked him to wait for me for a few minutes until I got there, he still left! So I had to turn my car around to find the bar, which, yes you guessed it, was already closed (with my luck that night, of course it would be). I ended up waiting for him for 20 minutes in front of the closed bar like a fool, until he finally arrived.

Well, there are more to the night but I’m not going to continue this rant because even just thinking about it makes me upset all over again. I guarantee you that he’s completely oblivious to what he had done and how shitty he made me feel, but I’m not going to take the time to dignify it with an explanation. I had wasted enough time already. Instead, he received a lovely email from me, which stated, “Now I know why we only see each other every two years.” Actually, make that 20 years and shove it!

If there is anyone out there who actually managed to read this entire post (I appreciate your patience), please note that it’s not a good idea to ① invite strangers to dinner without your friend’s consent, ② fleet dinner while the food is still hot and leave your friend all stranded, and ③ leave your fucking credit card expecting your party to not only close out the tab for you, but return it. But please DO go to Maggiano’s, it’s a wonderful place to ACTUALLY catch up with real friends.

(Thanks for allowing me vent.  I know this is really childish of me, but I feel so much better now.)

Maggiano’s Little Italy
6100 N. Topanga Canyon Road, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
★★★★☆

A New Kind of Mexican: Sharkey’s

I love Mexican food.  Black beans, rice, tortilla and chunky salsa  … you name it, I would eat it (and a lot of it). But ever since I’ve given up eating meat (except for occasional beef here and there), I don’t make a trip to Mexican joints as frequently as I once did (in search of juicy carne asadas). I’m a little more selective when it comes to which joint to go now, making sure that the place serves organic ingredients, plethora of vegetarian dishes, maybe some fresh fish plates.  And don’t forgot those great pico de gallo — that’s very important.

Sharkey’s Woodfired Mexican Grill fits everything on the bill, and thank goodness for them. In a time where so many Mexican restaurants are compromising quality to keep costs down, Sharkey’s manages to provide freshness and flavor in all the dishes it serves at a very, reasonable price. Granted, it’s virtually impossible to make Mexican food super healthy but you can definitely taste the difference in the ingredients here.

My favorite here – especially when you’re in a mood for something different – is this Four Cheese Pizza made in stone fire, with diced tomatoes, four cheese blend, grilled red onion, cilantro sour cream, tomatillo cheese sauce on a thin jalapeno-cilantro crust.

The staples are as delicious. Here’s the Tempura Battered Mahi Mahi Tacos, and

Grilled Vegetarian Burrito, Ranchero Style.

Sharkey’s Woodfired Mexican Grill
In Burbank Empire Center
1791 North Victory Place, Burbank, CA 91505
★★★★★