Tag Archives: Food

Cooking Observation at the Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California

I’ve been on quite the hiatus — first it was Nashville for the KEEN Digital Summit, and then I had a health issue to address… but I’m back into the swing of things again! I’m ready, you ready? Cool. Let’s get it then.

So I first visited the Village Kitchen Shoppe nearly a year ago.

Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.com

When I get people gifts I often like to give experiences, rather than things. And being that my dad loves to cook (he’s basically an undercover gourmet chef) I thought it would be fun to gift him a cooking demonstration for his birthday.

The idea of sitting back, relaxing, and drinking a couple glasses of wine while observing new cooking techniques followed by a delicious meal sounded right up our alley! And it was.

Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.com

I’ve been back to the Village Kitchen Shoppe many times over the last year. Their well-stocked shop is a great place to find cooking-related gifts. Each time I go I discover exciting, new trinkets and tools — like colorful, magnetic, stackable measuring cups & spoons or the absolute coolest mixer I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.com

So… last month, when I discovered a pair of passes to another one of these cooking demonstrations at an auction organized by the David & Margaret Home, I was determined to win them to surprise my dad with a sequel to our previous culinary training.

The $50/person “TAB (Take a Break)” class was lead by 1 head chef, Gina, 1 sous chef and about 8-10 observers. It lasted from 10:30am – about 1:30pm. Gina, who has been working at the Village Kitchen Shoppe for four years, is likable and full of interesting knowledge.

Gina at the Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.com

A sample of things I learned specifically about eggs from Gina during the TAB class:

Egg shell attracts egg shell. If you break an egg and a piece of the shell falls into the bowl, use another piece of shell to help fish it out.

Egg yolk is always the same size. It’s the egg white that differs amongst the various sizes of eggs. Who knew?

As you can see below, the demonstration was best seen from the overhead mirror that reflected the table Gina worked on.

Take a Break Cooking Demonstration at the Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.com

Take a Break Cooking Demonstration at the Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.com The food itself was fabulous! During this particular demonstration (the menu is different each time) they served a sweet and sour holiday brisket, a massive iceberg salad with refreshing dressing and blue cheese, roasted fingerling potatoes and carrot coins, goat cheese popovers, and a pumpkin pecan cake bar with a cream cheese vanilla bean frosting.

Salad with Blue Cheese Ranch Dressing at the Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.com

The brisket was tender and full of incredible flavor. The goat cheese popovers, perfect for mopping up the crazy good sauce from the brisket, were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The vegetables, deceivingly simple to make, seemed like there just had to be some fancy, special secret to them.Fingerling Potatoes, Carrot Coins, & Goat Cheese Popovers at the Village Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.comThe gloriously gigantic pumpkin pecan cake bars were a perfect way to end the meal and indulge in the festivity of fall. Moist, sweet, surprisingly light, yet still wonderfully rich — I was a big fan.Pumpkin Pecan Bar with Cream Cheese Vanilla Bean Frosting at theVillage Kitchen Shoppe in Glendora, California via ZaagiTravel.com

The following weekend I made the fingerling potatoes and carrot coins (with a Beer Braised Beef dish by the Pioneer Woman) and it was boyfriend-approved! Both recipes were ridiculously easy to repeat but tasted like I’d slaved in the kitchen. Loved that.

Overall: I recommend the classes at the Village Kitchen Shoppe to anyone in the San Gabriel Valley area looking for a new way to spend a Saturday morning or celebrate a special occasion.

Best Italian Food Outside of Italy: Aldolino’s in Azusa, California

Aldolino‘s was recommended to me by my mom’s hair stylist. As a lover of Italian cuisine I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Thank goodness I did. It was truly the best Italian food I’ve had outside of Italy! And now one of my favorite restaurants ever.

As we pulled up I tried not to pass judgment based on the exterior — an unassuming location, in a fairly old shopping center, with a Mexican grocery store as a neighbor. In fact, it has served up Italian food in this location for nearly 60 years, including back when Arrow Hwy was still a dirt road.

Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.comAs I entered I quickly observed how clean and charming the interior was.

Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

Gabriel, our server (who also happens to be the owner), was a beaming ray of sunshine. He could easily pass as an Italian — handsome, charismatic, and with a genuine desire to serve up the best Italian food you’ve ever had. He and his brother Jesus (the chef) love to cook. They each have an impressive resume with collective experience in nearly a dozen high-end restaurants around the Los Angeles area — establishments like Il Fornaio, Palm Restaurant, Arroyo Chop House, Twin Palms, etc.

Owners at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

The menu displays a photo of the original owner, Aldolino Formica, whose own charisma helped land him on TV shows like I Love Lucy (with Lucille Ball below) and the Ed Sullivan Show, among others.
Menu at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

Inside the menu you can find a diverse variety of reasonably priced and delicious Italian dishes, including recipes that have been passed down from the days of Aldolino himself.Menu at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

This particular visit I ordered the Venezia Insalata. My other favorite dish to order is the Pasta Della Casa. Unfortunately for you, the salad looked so irresistible that, well, it was gone before I could remember to take a picture.

Below is the dish my dad ordered, Rigatoni Al Forno. If you like Italian sausage you truly can’t beat the incredible version served up at Aldolino’s.

Fun fact: All of the sauces here are made fresh, from scratch and by taste.

Rigatoni Al Forno at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

One of my other favorite dishes (I know, there are so many!) is the Ravioli di Vitello — a beef raviolo in a mushroom herb creme sauce drizzled with white truffle oil. This stuff is to die for. The bread at Aldo’s (which is utterly amazing also, do you see a theme here?) goes perfectly with the mushroom sauce. I could literally order a bowl of the sauce and eat it with a bowl of the bread. Can’t believe I just admitted that, but it’s true!

Ravioli Di Vitello at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

And if all of this weren’t enough to convince you that you NEED to try this place… just scroll down a bit to see the apple dessert with homemade cinnamon ice cream.

Fun fact: All of the desserts are made on-site by Gabriel himself.

Apple Dessert with Cinnamon Ice Cream at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.comEnough said.

Apple Dessert with Cinnamon Ice Cream at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com Is it just me or do those pictures make you want to lick the screen?

Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.comAldolino’s truly deserves all the praise in the world. I wish them many more years of success (I simply never want to stop coming here)!

Aldolino’s Italian Restaurant is located at 659 E Arrow Hwy, Azusa, California 91702.

Have you ever been to Aldolino’s? What’s your favorite dish?

Kogi Food Truck: Korean BBQ in Los Angeles

IMG_5839The Kogi Korean BBQ food truck is one of the most famous food trucks in the country. It has been serving up tacos, burritos, quesadillas, sliders, burgers, chocolate tres leches (and more!) since 2008.

Kogi BBQ menu via ZaagiTravel.com

The co-founder/chef (and self-proclaimed milk-shake connoisseur) Roy Choi was born in Seoul, Korea. Choi was recognized for his seriously awesome food truck skills when he was voted Best New Chef in Food & Wine Magazine’s 2010 contest.

Kogi BBQ has also been featured in a multitude of other publications including TIME magazine, Sunset magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the Hollywood Reporter and LA Weekly.

Last week I learned that one of the four trucks comes to Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday evenings from 6-9pm.

So I decided to go and see what all the fuss was about.

Kogi Food Truck via ZaagiTravel.com

I went. I waited. I ordered. I devoured.

Verdict: Kogi BBQ was one of the best decisions I made all week.

Kogi food truck tacos via ZaagiTravel.com
My dad hand modeling a short rib taco.

I recommend the tacos (short rib, spicy pork, chicken, and tofu) for $2.29 each and the Kogi sliders for $6.00 which you can eat by themselves — or add a taco and drink to create a combo for $9!

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The Kogi website describes the sliders as “short rib, sesame mayo, cheese, salsa roja, and a cabbage-romaine slaw tossed in a chili-soy vinaigrette on toasted buns”. You can also swap the short rib for another meat if you’d like.

Kogi BBQ Sliders via ZaagiTravel.com

Kogi BBQ Sliders via ZaagiTravel.com

I don’t know about you but my mouth is watering just looking at these photos. Is it Thursday yet?

TIP: the Kogi truck is known to run a bit late (at least to the Cal Poly Pomona location). Aim to arrive around 6:30 instead of 6:00.

ANOTHER TIP: The truck can be difficult for first-timers to find. When it comes to Cal Poly Pomona it parks near the Valley Blvd & Temple Ave intersection. Head towards the mobile home park on the west side of Valley Blvd.

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And thanks to Josue for the service with a smile!