It is hard to break out and go some place new, especially when you are busy and just want something comfortable. This last Sunday Dianne and I wanted to go out for Breakfast and after throwing out all the staples, we decided on something different… Kafe Neo. We both enjoy going there for dinner, and every time we see the Breakfast menu and say we have to try it out. We finally did and here are my thoughts.

To go some place new and just eat the same thing that you would someplace else is not very adventurous. So after looking at everything on the menu and evaluating what I should order, I chose the Lamb Chops and Eggs, not something that appears on the standard greasy spoon menu. Dianne decided on the Breakfast Burrito that was filled with potatoes, feta, and Greek sausage. I had a cup of coffee to start while D went for the hair of the dog mimosa. The coffee was really good. The waitress explained that it is a very unique blend and very few places serve it. I got the name and wrote it down but for the life of me I cannot find it, so I guess that you are going to have to go and try it for yourself. Dianne’s momo was doing the job and the food was soon to come.

The food arrived in due time and looked fantastic. The plating was very pleasing as were the smells that were emanating from our plates. We slowed down for a sec to make sure that we took good pictures and then it was time to enjoy. My Lamb Chops were perfectly cooked at Medium Rare. The meat was super tender, just red at the center, and practically fell off the bone. The seasoning that was applied was a perfect companion for the robust lamb flavor while not overpowering it at all. The eggs were large and full of wonderful creamy yoke. I would have to say that the potatoes were just ok, but the rest of the plate made up for it. As a toast lover I was impressed with the freshness of the bread and the fact that it was toasted to perfection.. This may sound funny, but too many places either burn or come darn close with their bread. Dianne thoroughly enjoyed her burrito. It was stuffed with fluffy eggs, a good amount of feta, and the Greek sausage that gave it a little different twist that set it apart from the run of the mill.

Next time you are looking for a new spot to have breakfast and chill, try out Kafe Neo. They have great service, reasonable prices, and if you so wish a nice outdoor patio to help take in all that is the LBC.

Until Next Time, Keep Eating Long Beach,

Cliv

Dianne and I were out looking at venues for our wedding, and after seeing two different places and visiting Roy Robbins Gifts for invitations I needed a drink. Dianne thought about Shoreline Village since we were already down that way, and I had never been to Parker’s Lighthouse so we decided to wander in. I was very pleased with how awesome the inside of the building was. With lots of windows and and light paint you really feel the warm wood accents and well appointed furniture. We asked the hostess about Happy Hour and she escorted us to the bar. We sat in a booth right next to a elegantly placed wine cellar that goes up the center of the building with stair cases twisting around it. The Happy Hour menu was right on the table so we glanced and ordered. A glass of Chardonnay for her and a 7&7 for me and garlic cheese bread as well as a large crab cake.

Within a few minutes we had our drinks and about five minutes after that came our food. My drink was poured a little on the light side for me, but hey, not everyone pours drinks like Tommy at Crow’s. We quickly got into the food, neither one of us having had lunch. The bread was fantastic, with great flavors of cheese and garlic co commingling with artisan bread that was wonderfully toasted. The crab cake was also a delight, pan fried to perfection and about an inch and a half thick. It was served with a corn salsa and what I think was a chipotle mayonnaise, both very complementing. With four drinks and two appetizers it came out to $39, which is not too bad! Next time you are in the Shoreline Village area on a weekday afternoon, stop in for treat at Parker’s Lighthouse.

Until Next Time, Keep Eating Long Beach,

Cliv

On another adventure to find somewhere new to eat, Boneman and I wandered into King’s Burgers and Chicken. Located at the corner of Anaheim and MLK, King’s is a great find for sure. As we drove by we noticed that they had a Grand Opening banner outside and thought we should give it a try. We pulled into the lot and made sure that we were appropriately hungry, then found our way to the front door. As we walked in I thought about what a great job they did putting this place together. Taylor asked the girl behind the counter “What’s good, we have never been here before”? She quickly said “Well this is our first day”! How fortuitous, and yes I know what it means.

We took a gander at the menu and decided to order the whole chicken dinner with three sides and flour tortillas. We then watched the cash register total a whole 15 dollars and change, while the guy in the back pulled out a huge chicken and started chopping it up for us. Within minutes they were calling our number and the feast was before us. We quickly found a table and started to dismember our selectively separated bird. Along with the chicken we also got whole ranch style beans, mashed potatoes, Spanish rice, and a nice sized salsa fresco.

I quickly started to grab at the tortillas and prepared a chicken taco with the meat and sides that I had available. In the process I got a large piece of chicken skin and it was fantastic. The meat was cooked just right and it fell off the bone. The dark meat was full of flavor and super moist, and the white meat followed suit. The beans worked great in my tacos, as did the rice. The mashed potatoes left something to be desired as they were just instant without any accoutrement. If I was to draw a comparison, I would have to say that the food is very much like the chicken that you would find at El Pollo Loco but a bigger tastier bird and a much smaller price.

By the time that Bone and I were both stuffed there were two pieces of chicken left and about a third of all of the sides. This was a bit too much food for us but would be great for a normal family appetite. If you are just looking for a reasonable lunch you can get a half chicken and tortillas for around 6 bucks. If you have not yet tried it, get on over there and feed the family. I promise you will enjoy it. Oh< and by the way< tell them that LB Food Review sent you.

Until Next Time, Keep Eating Long Beach,

Cliv

As Taylor and I do every Wednesday night, we went looking for a new place for dinner before Swoop’s World, and this time we batted a thousand. We stumbled into Eva’s Soul Food, located at the Cal Bowl on Carson. As we walked in the door, the sign announcing the special of the day to be Chicken and Dumplings let me know right away that I was in for something special. Set up like an old southern diner with a lunch counter and plenty of tables, Eva’s is more than welcoming for any number of people that you want to roll in with.

We found a seat and started to peruse the menu. It did not take long for me to find the meatloaf and if you know me, that is what I am going to have. Meatloaf out is not always a good choice (and rarely does it even come close to what I make), but being at a soul food establishment and seeing the order on the guy’s plate behind me was convincing enough for my judgment. Taylor decided on the Smothered Chicken which was two very large legs and one thigh of southern fried chicken covered in a very thick and rich brown gravy. Both of our meals came with three different sides and two cornbread muffins each. I chose the Mac and Cheese, Collard Greens, and Red Beans and Rice. Taylor’s selection substituted Green Beans for the Collard Greens, but followed suit on the rest.

With my mouth watering so much that I thought that I was going to drool all over the table we waited all of about five minutes before the food started to roll out. First came the sides, and let me tell you they are served like an entrée. Plated on dishes with the dividers so that everything gets its own home, the mound of food is amazing in its own right. Then came the main course and again the amount of food blew me away; as mine was three slabs of meatloaf about five inches in length and two inches thick it was a meal to behold. My meatloaf was seasoned to perfection and the gravy was just right. The greens were good, but the Mac and Cheese and the Red Beans where great! The few bites of Taylor’s chicken that I had were very satisfying and his Green Beans took the cake for being the best side on the table. As you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, but would have preferred all of the food to be a bit hotter in temperature, as by the end of our feast everything was pretty cooled off. Still, that is a minor issue when your gut feels like it is going to pop!

Next time that you are looking for some good old comfort food, you have to make the trip to Eva’s. If you don’t have a huge appetite you may want to share, but you can also always take it home for late night snackin’s.

Until Next Time, Keep Eating Long Beach,

Cliv

The first weekend of the month brought Mothers Day, and Dianne and I decided to take a trip down to San Diego for a little home cooking at her parents’ house. As we arrived I could smell all of the deliciousness wafting out of the kitchen. When I asked what we would be having, Larry (Dianne’s Dad) said “London Broil, Ribs, Potatoes, and salad” and let me tell you that it was a feast! The London Broil was super tender and cooked to a perfect medium rare with a homemade gravy with green peppers and mushrooms. The ribs fell off the bone and the garlic bread was some of the best I have ever had. Naturally, we filled up like normal and took plenty home.

The next weekend I was off to Reno for the “Goin’ for Broken” race being put on by the 24 Hours of Lemons guys. The drive from Long Beach to Reno while towing a trailer takes about 12 hrs with stops, so we got into Reno very late as we did not leave until about 4PM. After waking up in a Motel 6, I decided that I wanted a good local breakfast joint to get this day started, so we used Yelp and found Pam’s Glorified Ham and Eggs. The menu had all the normal stuff so I asked the waitress what the best thing was. She replied that the Chef George’s Benedict was the most ordered item, so I dove right in. Now I love Eggs Benedict and many of its variations, but this blew them all out of the water. The dish consisted of two pieces of English muffin, each topped with a chorizo patty, basted egg, and chipotle hollandaise sauce. It was so rich, flavorful and unique that I have never had a better Benedict, and I doubt that I ever will.

The third weekend Dianne and I were off to Palm Springs for the Lions 4-L2 convention. Dianne has spent ample time in Palm Springs, so after we fulfilled our duty at the convention she could not wait to show me some of her favorites. We ended up at Sherman’s, a popular establishment and Kosher Deli. I looked over the menu and then the waitress shared the specials with us… and I cried out with joy, “Pastrami Benedict please!!” Now I know that I said that I would never come across a better Benedict just in the previous paragraph, and this was not better but right on par. The pastrami was tender, thinly cut, and just salty enough to balance the rich gravy-like hollandaise sauce. The plate was served with perfectly crisp potatoes and strong coffee. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every bite.

Last but not least, Dianne and I headed out for the TJ of the AZ, Tucson. Our friend Kyle was getting married and we could not wait to party with our friends. We stayed at the Lowes Ventana Canyon resort, and it was beautiful. With a big pool, great rooms, and always something to do the weekend went by way too fast. As far as food went, there are two meals to talk about. The dinner at the wedding was fantastic. I had the chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes, with a side of asparagus and a light salad. The meal was delightful and kept the hangover from being too bad, but the meal that took the cake was breakfast the morning that we left town. We wanted to find the best breakfast place in town so we searched and came up with Bobo’s.

Bobo’s ended up being the perfect breakfast place. It is super divey like Babe’s, but cheap like no other breakfast dive that I have ever been to. They had all the usual suspects, including my fave Chicken Fried Steak, which is exactly what I had. It was perfectly cooked, covered in some of the best sausage gravy I have had in a long time. They also have killer biscuits and gravy and we ended up with three huge orders of them as well. I have to say that the best thing that I tasted at Bobo’s by far though was the banana pancakes. We were talking to the waitress about them and she brought us one for free. It was unbelievable, like bananas flambé, with brown sugar and tones of bananas and not to mention it was as big as the entire plate. Best of all it was not in need of any syrup or butter. If you ever go to Tucson check this place out!!

It has been a fun-filled month of eating and traveling. Here’s hoping you enjoyed May as much as I did!

Until Next Time, Keep Eating Long Beach… or wherever else you may be,

Cliv