Restaurant Review- (Road Trip Edition) Grassa

 

My family just got back from a road trip up the Pacific Northwest. We are actually planning to move to Washington, and we were checking out different areas in the state. We stopped in Vancouver which is located right above Portland Oregon on the other side of the Columbia River. While there we visited a couple of food stops and found this really great place that makes yummy, handcrafted pasta dishes, Grassa. Grassa actually has four other locations in Oregon, a casual place where you order at the counter. Don't be fooled though, the food here is fresh and delicious. Aside from several pasta dishes to choose from, they also make a few Italian appetizers and crafted cocktails that I unfortunately did not get the opportunity to try. That's okay though I definitely plan on coming back. 

This was the Burrata, fried bread with lemon jelly, pistachios, local cherries, burrata and basil. This was amazing, a perfect shared plate. The creamy burrata was complimented by the tart cherries and sweet lemon jam. 

I ordered the Pork Belly Mac & Cheese and was so glad I did. The mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy and the addition of the barbecued pork belly, jalapenos and corn bread crumbles took it to another level. 

Chris had the Chicken Parm Cannelloni. The cannelloni were stuffed with chicken and topped with a spicy marinara and a whipped ricotta cheese. 

Penelope ordered the Campanelle which contained blistered cherry tomatoes, black olives, olive oil and herbs and a baked feta topped with some pepperoncini's. 

All our pasta dishes were cooked perfectly al dente and did not lack any flavor. I am so ready to go back and try some of the other things on the menu. Who knows, we may just end up in the Vancouver area. Stay tuned...

Grassa 

780 Waterfront Way 

Vancouver, WA 98660

360-360-4687

Taste of Home Special Delivery Subscription Box

 

If you are a foodie and love kitchen related things than you have to check out out Taste of Home's Special Delivery subscription box. This quarterly subscription box delivers curated cooking products and recipes straight to your door. So far I have received two boxes and have been very pleased with the contents of each box. I am going to share my last box with you, the fall box. 

The fall box was filled with 5 kitchen items, a Budget-Friendly Cookbook and a handful of recipe cards. First of all I love the cookbook you receive in each box, it is always a different theme,  but filled with recipes that look delicious and are easy to make. I am a cookbook collector so I love getting a new cookbook to try out some recipes and to display on my shelf. 

The items that were sent in this box were premium gadgets and multi-purpose tools. Like this Kitchen Innovations 3-In-1 Slotted Turner (center). This spatula flips food, has a silicone edge for scraping on one side and a serrated edge on the other that cuts through foods. It is really convenient and well made. 

The Joie Steamer Basket (right) is a collapsible colander that fits easily into your kitchen drawer. It is made of silicone and the perfect size for straining veggies. 

The Zulay Premium Apple Corer (bottom left) not only cores apples, but you can also use on pears, bell peppers, even cupcakes! It is made of sturdy stainless steel and doubles as a pitter and seed remover. This is a tool I was excited about receiving because it is something I would never think of buying but is great to have on hand. 

The Kitchen Innovations Silicone Lid (top left) can be used as a bowl cover, a splatter guard, a saucepan lid and for reheating in the microwave. It has a functional raised handle but takes up little space in your drawer. 

The Honey Dipper & Spreader (center) I thought was so cute. It is s small spoon perfect for dipping, drizzling and spreading honey. Made out of beechwood, it can also be used for glazing and icing. 

The Zulay Parchment Sheets (left) are small parchment squares perfect for baking cookies, wrapping homemade treats and as liners. I have a burger press and these are perfect for separating burgers and making sure they don't stick in the press. 

I love receiving surprises in the mail especially when they are things I will definitely use. You can currently get your first Special Delivery box on sale for only $29.95 plus Free Shipping. You can purchase just one box or sign up for the quarterly subscription where you will receive a box each season. I am currently anticipating my winter box. 

Go check it out!

Temecula Crumbl Cookies Grand Reopening!

 

Have you heard of Crumbl cookies? They are one of the fastest growing cookie companies with over 800 stores all over the United States, and if for some reason they don't have a location where you live...well guess what, they also deliver. So what is so great about Crumbl? The cookies of course! With a weekly rotating menu they have so many delicious creations to try. Their cookies are thick, chewy and baked in store so you get fresh cookies every time. This week's cookie menu includes their Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk, Guava Cake, Monster, New York Cheesecake, Cookies & Cream Milkshake and Brown Sugar Cinnamon. All served to you in their famous pink box. 

One of my favorite cookie flavors at Crumbl is their Sea Salt Toffee, salty, sweet, chewy with a crunch, it can't be beat. I was bummed when I went by the Temecula location to find out that it was closed but I just found out why. It is under new ownership and preparing to reopen this Friday, September 29. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held when doors open at 8am, and the first 100 people in line will get a FREE Crumbl t-shirt! Plus, there will be music hosted and provided by 102.5 The Vine starting from 10am to 2pm. The celebration will continue on Saturday from 1-4pm with a live DJ and a fun prize wheel where customers can win free Crumbl merch! If you live in the area be sure to stop in and join the festivities and get yourself some tasty cookies! The Temecula Crumbl location is located at 31867 Rancho California Rd. If you are not in the area, no worries! Stop in to your local Crumbl and this weekend and enjoy some cookies too! 

New! Kraft Mayo Buffalo Style Dressing Review

 

As a member of Influenster I recently got to try Kraft's New Mayo Buffalo Style Dressing and let me tell ya, this stuff is really good! It's creamy, zesty, tangy and spicy and makes a really good wrap. 

I tried it on a sun dried tomato wrap filled with turkey, blue cheese crumbles, lettuce and tomato and it was everything. If you have yet to try this new mayo from Kraft I would definitely give it a try. You can find it at your local grocery store. You won't be disappointed! 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Mode Chocolate Review

Are you a chocolate lover? If so, then I have something to share with you! It's really tasty chocolate that's healthier for  you. Made without all the extra sugar, all natural ingredients and sweetened with monk fruit. 

Mode Chocolate  is a better option for those with a sweet tooth. These tasty chocolate bars come in both milk and dark chocolate. the dark chocolate option contains only 1g of sugar and is only 3 net carbs while the milk chocolate option contains 4g of sugar and only 4 net carbs. This is just a teeny amount compared to some other popular chocolate bars. I have to admit I was a little worried about whether or not I would like the taste of this chocolate but I did! It is creamy and taste like...well, really good chocolate. They are also about the size of a Hershey's bar so you are getting the same size snack in a better for your version.  Chris is a chocolate fiend so I knew in order to seal the deal with this chocolate I had to get his stamp of approval. His thoughts, that's really good, do you have any more? Unfortunatly I was only sent one bar of each flavor to review however, you can purchase Mode Chocolate bars online in 5, 10 and 20 packs. They even have a subscription option so you never run out of chocolate. If you practice a low carb lifestyle or are looking for healthier options for yummy treats, than give Mode Chocolate a taste! Visit their website for a chance to win a years supply of chocolate! 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Restaurant Review: Chef K

One of my favorite places to eat Chinese food in Temecula is Chef K. They have  a really good menu with several Dim Sum options. While I order take out from here most often I really prefer dining inside. The large plate of complimentary wonton strips with sauces is a great snack to enjoy while you peruse the large menu. 

On this particular visit we ordered a few Dim Sum options. 

The Salted Pepper Calamari is a little different than your typical fried calamari. The breading is very fluffy more like a fish batter. The BBQ Pork is absolutely delicious, sweet and savory and of course you have to dip it in some hot mustard. 

The Shumai and Soup Dumplings are steamed to perfection. Be careful biting into the soup dumplings as the broth is hot. We also had some custard buns, not pictured. They are Penelope's favorite and she always orders enough to take home. 

Finally we had the House Special Fried rice filled with beef, shrimp, and BBQ pork and oh so good. I am a bit bummed that each time I have dined in and tried to order the Peking Duck it was unavailable. I guess I gotta keep trying. 

If you are looking for yummy Chinese food in the Temecula area check out Chef K. I also love that they make it really easy to order online. 

Chef K

31757 Temecula Parkway 

Temecula, CA 92592

951-302-2777

Restaurant Review: Urban Island

I had been wanting to visit Urban Island since I heard about it. They call themselves a Filipino American Craft Eatery. Urban Island serves Filipino favorites and Filipino twists on American foods and they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My mom and I stopped in on a whim on a Friday evening. It was full and we were seated at a small table by the entrance. Not exactly the most comfortable spot. We were informed that breakfast was available all day. Apparently their traditional island breakfasts and twists on breakfast classics are popular. However, we decided to skip breakfast and order off the rest of the menu. They have several cocktails on the menu. We tried the Tita Margarita, a twist on a classic Margarita with the addition of calamansi juice and the Pointing Lips a mango juice, calamansi juice and vodka concoction. We both decided we don't like calamansi juice. It is bitter and over powered the drinks. If you are not sure what calmansi is, it is a citrus fruit popular in Filipino and South East Asian cooking. It is very tart and bitter. 

We also ordered two appetizers. The Chicharron was hot and crispy and served with a spiced garlic vinegar for dipping. 

The Lumpia was filled with ground pork and tasty, but a little on the oily side. Also, my favorite Lumpia are small, crispy and plentiful because Lumpia is addictive. I could have ate more of these. 

My mom ordered the Philly Pino sandwich, it was filled with beef short rib tapa, onions, roasted peppers, gouda cheese, garlic aioli on top of a French roll. I was not a fan of this sandwich. It had a strange blue chees-y taste to it which was peculiar because it does not say it contains blue cheese. The fries were under salted.  

I ordered the Sizzling Sisig. Sisig is a popular filipino dish made with pork and seasoned with calamansi, chilis, onion, garlic and vinegar. This one was made with diced pork belly and then topped with a fried egg. It was served with a side of their rice. I believe the rice was flavored with turmeric, it was just okay. My mom and I agreed that every food item we tried could definitely use a bit more seasoning in it, a little salt goes a long way. All in all we were not that impressed with Urban Island, I would like to return and try some of the breakfast items though. 

Urban Island

27423 Ynez Rd. 

Temecula, CA 92591

951-587-0050