I'm going to venture out there and say that for the most part, people don't make plans to go out and eat salad with friends. Do you call up your buddies and say, "Hey y'all, let's get a salad tomorrow!" often? Likely not but maybe you will once you dive into the self-proclaimed "salad bistro" known as Vinaigrette. I first laid eyes on the restaurant's photo while going through a large event planning industry magazine which featured the unrivaled oak tree in the back patio as a stunning centerpoint for diners in Austin. The restaurant itself has roots in other locations, having begun in New Mexico (Santa Fe and Albuquerque), but more specifically, its beginnings boast homegrown sourcing paired with an attention to balanced dishes.


The menu has more than just salads (soups, sides, sandwiches, etc) but these entrée salads are nothing to push aside. Their ingredients are tossed with just the right amount of dressing (mostly vinaigrettes...hence the name) and can be accompanied by a variety of generous protein portions. Aside from the culinary execution, what makes the salad-centric dishes special is the ingredients' origin. 70% of the produce used in the New Mexico locations come from the owner's own 10-acre farm, and a farm in Bastrop hosts the produce for the Austin location; all of the restaurants attempt to minimize food waste by returning it to the farm to feed the animals and/or composting, depending on what it is. Not only would your dining at Vinaigrette fill up your own stomach but anything remaining would be repurposed to continue the farming cycle. All of that is just the bonus to the lovely atmosphere inside and outside the restaurant of course which is welcoming and friendly throughout.


When we arrived with our friends, there weren't as many diners in the late morning but it filled up quite quickly. Blame the good weather and the enticing menu, especially the beverages. We ended up choosing a colorful variety that made for refreshing sharing as we all wanted to taste each other's choices. There was the Earth Bite ($4.75 - golden beet, grapefruit bitters, soda, pineapple and lime), The Pepino ($4.25 - cucumber, lime juice, club soda, lightly sweetened), Ginger Turmeric Tonic ($4.50 - turmeric, ginger and carrot juice with lemon and seltzer), and Moscow Mule ($8 - ginger beer, vodka, fresh ginger and mint). Each one was thirst-quenching, sweetened seemingly only by the fruits' natural sugars. There were plenty of other options we didn't get to try so if you're wanting to drink a bit of each, make sure to bring a couple of friends with you!

Our friends' opted for some savory salad choices, one getting the Arugula Duck ($14.95 - duck confit tossed with baby arugula, creamy goat cheese, balsamic roasted pears, and hibiscus vinaigrette) and the other choosing the Tuna Salad Salad ($18.95 with seared tuna steak added, $11.95 without - baby greens with shaved carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and pickled fennel tossed in a Romesco dressing). The duck salad was extremely hearty as the heft of the duck confit combined smoothly with the goat cheese's creaminess and roasted pears' caramelization. As for the seared tuna steak, it was so tender that it came away with a gentle push from a fork and was a soft accompanying contrast to the crispness of fennel and carrots. Both were excellent choices.


We also added some protein to our own dishes, and when they arrived, we were surprised by just how generous the additions were. Duc's Apple Cheddar-Chop ($15.95 - grilled pork tenderloin over baby arugula, julienned green apples, pickled fennel and sharp cheddar, chopped and tossed in a ruby port vinaigrette) featured very moist pork tenderloin. Many places tend to err on their pork being dry and tough but somehow, Vinaigrette got their piece perfectly. Combined with the green apple tartness and pepperiness of arugula, the pork was a fantastic match.

I got ahold of their The Omega ($18.50 with cilantro lime shrimp added, $11.50 without - leafy greens chopped and tossed with sweet corn, diced bell pepper, tomato, avocado, red onion, cilantro and toasted pine nuts, dressed with blue cheese vinaigrette) which I happily took up on the suggestion of adding shrimp. I didn't expect near prawn-like shrimp that was quite large and meaty. They could have been seasoned more strongly but were still a great combination with the sweetness of the corn and bell peppers along with the creaminess of the avocado. The salad actually was quite thick once you mixed together both a blue cheese-based dressing with avocado that inevitably got mashed as I forked around the mix.

The portion sizes of these entree salads seemed nearly insurmountable when they arrived at the table but because of their make-up, it wasn't long before we had cleaned our plates. If you're hankering for a solid, healthful salad spot, Vinaigrette is located at 2201 College Ave, Austin, TX 78704 near SoCo. It's lively in design, hearty in dish, and vibrant in service. I'm thinking about the next time we'll go back already!

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

The main broth at this ramen-ya is tonkotsu, a broth made from pork bones that takes many, many hours to make. There are other ramen styles here as well such as tsukemen (dipping ramen), chicken shoyu, and veggie but the focus is on the tonkotsu. Those wishing to spice up their bowls even more can opt to add on "bombs" like the Spicy Bomb or Yuzu Kosho Bomb which range from $1 to $1.50. We wanted ours straight to best gauge what made this restaurant so beloved.

Duc ordered the Mi-So-Not ($10 - pork bone broth, miso blend, goma pork, ajitama, scallion, napa cabbage, bean sprout, and corn) and added on kikurage for $.50; there is also a spicy version of this bowl called the Mi-So-Hot if you are so inclined. Stacked high with quality toppings, the ramen had a sturdy broth base that coated one's palate with just the right amount of creamy smoothness. It was different to not have chashu be the main protein but the minced goma pork was a welcomed change; it was seasoned well and mixed into everything perfectly to give you some meat per spoonful.

I was particularly fond of my Tonkotsu Original ($9.50 - pork bone broth, chashu, ajitama, woodear mushroom, and scallion) to which I added on marinated bamboo for $.60. Since this one did not have additional miso added to it, the broth was purer and gave us a stronger sense of its prowess. Here was a good bowl of ramen. The chashu was thicker than I am accustomed to but still flavorful and crisp in the right places. We both also noted that they made delicious ajitama (the marinated soft eggs) that came out as hot as the broth with a molten, bright yolk. I'm looking forward to checking out more of their broths in the near future.

If you are craving a hot bowl yourself, visit them at 8557 Research Blvd #126, Austin, TX 78758 and be prepared for some lovely comfort food. Heck, take us along why don't you? My meals need more ramen in them!

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

66-472 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Cajun, Creole

Cajun food?! Count me in! Food truck wrangle? Sounds intriguing. After an awesome skydiving adventure off the North Shore on Oahu, we were huuuuungry. The search for shrimp truck gatherings was on after we had heard how fantastic they were. On our way to another section of the North Shore, we came upon a large parking area where several trucks were set up. Surveying the scene, we were curious about all of the garlic shrimp dishes but what ended up really catching our eye was Dat Cajun Guy because it boasted New Orleans fare. It had been a long time since I had been to NOLA, and Duc had never had a proper po'boy before so we had to give this truck a try. I'm so glad we did.

138 E Canon Perdido St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Pricing - $$/$$$ | Dining - Dressy Casual | Cuisine - New American
www.restaurantjulienne.com

On our infrequent excursions to visit spots, my friends and I always want to get at least one "nicer" dinner in, and our short trip earlier this year to Santa Barbara resulted in a reservation at Julienne to experience the tasting menu. The restaurant prides itself in serving seasonal, local flavors which highlight the bounties of the Santa Barbara Farmers' Market, a community-loving concept that we all support. We had read up on there being a chef's tasting menu that would allow us to explore what the popular restaurant had to offer so it was with that in mind that we sat down in the intimately-lit space to dive into the dishes. I tried my best to take what photos I could then in the dimness without disrupting the meal experience for guests around us so please forgive the following pictures for not aptly depicting the delicious adventures I describe afterward!

83 N King St, Honolulu, HI 96817 (Neighborhood: Chinatown)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - New American, Asian
www.thepigandthelady.com

I feel so behind on all of these posts of amazing places that we devoured on our Hawaii trip. Part of it is because we got swept up in other, more time-reliant articles but part of it was that we just indulged quite a bit without thinking to write it up. This piece comes months and months late so the menu items are likely no longer available due to the restaurant's commitment to seasonal offerings but the styling and dishes can give you a glimpse into what to expect when you dine at The Pig and The Lady, a restaurant our Hawaiian native friend could not stop raving about ever since we met him. We finally were able to get its food into our mouths and yes, all of the accolades he had were warranted. Thoughtful and creative, the dishes we ravenously consumed were a good indicator of why exactly the restaurant so easily went from just a pop-up dinner at farmers' markets to a brick-and-mortar hip-and-happening always-packed joint.

38 W Victoria St, Ste 122,  Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Italian
http://www.thepastashoppellc.com/

When in Rome, eat fresh pasta. When in Santa Barbara, eat fresh pasta as well. Wait, what was that? There's fresh pasta available? My friends and I salivated and bit into several plates of the stuff when we visited the Santa Barbara Public Market one trip (hats off to one of my friends who researched the place ahead of time) and were quite pleased with the results. Italian has long been a cherished cuisine of mine, and any chance I get to partake in some fresh pasta indulgence, I will. The Pasta Shoppe makes it easy by being the first stand to your left when you walk in the doors to the Santa Barbara Public Market. Bags of dry pasta sit on a shelf waiting to be taken home as well as a glass display of their fresh varieties. If only Santa Barbara were home, I'd gladly take a few pounds back to a kitchen to play with but since it was not, we were grateful for the chef's counter to dive into some dishes!

2292 E Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90807
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual, To Go | Cuisine - Hawaiian
http://pokeetc.com/

We were in Hawaii not too long ago but there are aspects of it that we already miss. One of those dear things is the poke. I don't mean poke as in jabbing at someone with a finger. I mean the popular Hawaiian dish called poke (poh-kay) that is a raw "salad" of sorts usually made with ahi tuna. The chunks are tossed in inamona, sea salt, sesame oil, some kind of chile pepper, and soy sauce for starters; variations of it do exist. There have been several Hawaiian restaurants gaining notoriety in the Orange County/Los Angeles area lately for their fresh poke. I, for one, need to start seeking these out more. OC Weekly recently covered a spot that I knew I had to visit right away. Poke Etc. just opened in Long Beach as the second location of its company, and the feedback was high in praise. This was enough to pique my interest and justify a trip with some friends over to get ourselves some fresh, authentic Hawaiian poke.

3808 N Williams, Suite 127, Portland, OR 97227 [Neighborhood: Boise-Eliot]
Pricing - $$/$$$ | Dining - Dressy Casual | Cuisine - New American
www.lincolnpdx.com

It's been a long while since our Portland trip (and we have an impending vacation soon too out of state!) so this post comes a little late to the game BUT it's not because I didn't want to write it. It's because I wanted to make sure that I was in the right state of mind and could give the respect that this restaurant is due based on our meal there. Lincoln Restaurant is one of the restaurants by Chef Jenn Louis whom we first met and chatted with at the 2013 Taste of the Nation event in Laguna Beach. Named one of Food & Wine's 2012 Best New Chefs and a semifinalist for both the 2010 and 2011 James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef Northwest” awards, Chef Jenn is impressive but never gives the inkling of being so important in the culinary world when you meet her. We never got that sense when we dropped by the restaurant during our Portland trip but were ever so eager to check out the menu and dive into all that we had been drooling over in the year that we'd been following her on social media. There was no disappointment that evening - just a glorious, memorable meal.

32441 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Pricing - $$/$$$ | Dining - Dressy Casual, Casual | Cuisine - Steakhouse, American
http://savannahchophouse.net/

We have been meaning to come down to Savannah Chop House for the longest time now. The first time we had heard of the place was because of the Golden Foodie Awards where they received a few nominations. It looks like they're up for more again this year so we'll see how that goes. Because we were doing pretty much a day trip in more southern areas of California that day (had driven to Carlsbad in the morning), I suggested that we finally pay this acclaimed place a visit. An early dinner was in order.


There are definitely different types of ambiance you can choose from. The moment you walk into the restaurant, you enter a dimly lit "steakhouse" feel with an expansive center bar. We were encouraged to sit outside in the patio with a view of the water - excellent choice. It was cool outside and with plenty of lighting for great pictures. We started off with some bread and light butter before an amuse bouche came out (not typical). This was just one scallop from their regular menu item Day Boat Scallops Brulee ($25.95 - U10, potatoes corn hash, basil emulsion), and it was the perfect starter. I wouldn't have thought myself to brulee a scallop but when you really think about it, the natural sweetness of the seafood makes sense with some crunchy burnt sugar on top. The sweet potato corn hash brought it over onto another level of goodness too. For drinks, we opted for Skinny Cocktails ($10) of Grapefruit Zero (Finlandia grapefruit vodka, fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruit, agave nectar, and a splash of 7-Up) and Asian Mojito (Snow Maiden sake, fresh mint, splash of lime, splash of lemon, and splash of orange), both of which were very delightful and packed heavy citrus flavors.


Our beautiful starters were a specially made Beet & Heirloom Tomato Salad and the Dungeness Crab Cakes ($13.50 - with organic poblano-caper remoulade). The salad had beets, heirloom tomatoes, a sweet balsamic reduction, smoked paprika olive oil, edible flowers, basil in chiffonade form, thinly sliced shallots, and overall tangy but savory flavor. We both really enjoyed this, and the combination of the vinegar with oil was good enough for me to sop my bread in it. The crab cakes were generous in the amount of actual crab in them which I don't always see in restaurants. These came alongside a succotash combo of sorts that provoked a comfort food feel while remaining fresh and bright on the tongue.


The entrees were calling out to us ever so loudly by then because the starters were just teasing at the main attraction. He opted for the Blackened Ahi Tuna ($25.95 - with saffron risotto cake and ginger shiitake gravy) and I for the Filet Stroganoff ($19.50 - with filet tips, mushrooms, papardelle pasta, and a brandy dijon sauce). The presentation of the tuna was actually almost a turn-off because the tuna looked as if sliced against the grain; the spinach was also unattractive in look. However, you can't judge a dish by its appearance which held true in this case because the tuna plate was delicious. The tuna was just perfectly soft and ahi-tangy, easily slicing off in pieces as our forks penetrated the flesh. The risotto cake was a very excellent touch especially by managing to stay crunchy on the outside but gooey on the inside. The gravy was also very thick and strong in umami. As for the stroganoff, papardelle is my favorite pasta, and this was noticeably housemade. Love at first bite eh? The filet tips were tender and doused in a palette-opening dijon that maintained the balance between creamy-heavy and mustard-light. We declared that we absolutely had to return.


Both on our ways in and out, we ran into and talked at length with Executive Chef Chris Tzorin whom we've met on several occasions. He was so excited to show us his kitchen and staff that we were led around and around, snapping shots where we could. How else could he show us his pride in the kitchen? By letting me be a part of it for the briefest of moments. At the pace of a kitchen during a Friday night dinner rush (yeah, we just have the BEST timing huh?), Chef Chris showed me how to fire up the creme brulee they serve, top it, powder it, and go on my merry way with it. Throughout the entire interaction, he could not stop from talking about Savannah Chop House with the greatest of passions in his voice. My hats off to the crew there for their hard work, and I hope that they all do extremely well in the years to come, especially with their focus on sustainable, local, and organic produce!


Photography by Duc Duong while Minerva burned stuff in the kitchen.