Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 5 - Dinner: Indian)

Day 5: Dinner - Indian (south coastal cuisine)
Restaurant : Home

After 5 days of eating out in different restaurants and different cuisines, my daughter and myself were craving home comfort food. So, we decided to eat at home tonight. What better way to end the journey than going back to your roots :)

Food:
Like most other countries, Indian food also varies vastly over different regions. I hail from south central part of India from a state called Karnataka (most of you will know the capital city Bangalore which is the silicon valley of India). The food I made today is from coastal region of Karnataka that also borders with another state Maharashtra.
I made a simple dal (lentil curry) seasoned with ginger, turmeric, asafoetida, mustard and curry leaves. Today I served it with steamed white rice.
I also made shallow fried spiced potatoes and shallow fried sardines marinated with Indian spices.
Served all of this with some Indian Mango Pickle.

Taste:
My daughter said it was her favorite meal in 5 days. I will take that as a compliment ❤️

Ambiance:
What better than sitting together with family and sharing comfort food :)

I had taken a week off from work to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I had the best time with my daughter this week. We learnt about different countries and their culture. Thank you for taking this journey with us and hope you enjoyed 

 — at Del Sur, San Diego, CA.

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 5 - Lunch: Italian)

Day 5: Lunch - Italian
Restaurant : Capri Blu

Food:
Started with fried Calamari.
Entree: Penne pasta with chicken and vegetables in a light wine sauce.
Sword wish in a green sauce which was their special today and it came with roasted potatoes and zucchini. They were out of Sangria so could not try it.
The Dessert menu looked good but, we were full. Also my daughter wanted Macaroons which was not on their menu.

Taste:
Service and taste were good. The server was very friendly. They served warm bread and marinara sauce which was on the house and very tasty.

Ambiance:
Great ambiance for a date night or girls night out.

It cost us around $55 including tax and tips.

I have taken a week off from work to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food.

 — at Capri Blu Italian Bistro & Wine Bar.

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 4 -Dinner: Mongolian)

Day 4: Dinner - Mongolian
Restaurant : Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot

Food:
To begin with we had a Grilled Chicken Wing Skewer
We got a half and half broth (spicy and house special). We got 2 meats (Chicken and Beef), 2 veggies (Baby Bak-Choy and knotted Sea weed), Head on Shrimp and House special noodles.
Sour plum juice.
They gave 6 pieces of sliced oranges along with the cheque.

Taste:
It was good. It is not the best hot pot I have had. But, the ones I have had before are not Mongolian but Schezwan. Maybe my expectations were different. Vegetables and Meats were fresh. Sour Plum Juice was our first and tasted like BBQ sauce.

Ambiance:
Good service. Clean and nice place. The servers were friendly and helpful in explaining the choices. My daughter had fun cooking and eating.

It cost us around $45 including tax and tips.

I have taken a week off from work to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food.

 — at Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot, San Diego 小肥羊.

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 4 - Lunch: Thai)

Day 4: Lunch - Thai
Restaurant : Pattaya Thai

Food:
Disclaimer-We ordered from dinner menu so we could try different dishes. Portion sizes are huge and what we ordered would be easily served for 4-6 people. We have leftovers for weekend :)

To begin:
Tom Yum Soup
Drunken chicken wings

For Entree:
Raad Nah- Flat rice noodles with brown sauce
Golden Pampano fish-whole fried fish with garlic sauce (they have a choice of sauces)
Spicy Chicken fried rice

For Dessert: Fried Banana wonton with coconut ice cream

Taste:
I was in seventh heaven after eating this food. Loved every dish thoroughly. Be ware of the spice levels. I can eat very spicy and 6 (out of 10) was spicy for me.

Ambiance:
Good service and clean and nice place.

It cost us around $80 including tax and tips. Again we ordered from dinner me u and would be enough food for 4-6 people.

I have taken a week off from work to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food

 — at Pattaya Thai Restaurant

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 3 - Dinner: Moroccan)

Day 3: Dinner- Moroccan
Restaurant : Kous Kous Moroccan Bistro

Food:
Shak-Shukha: Tomato and Onion based chutney spread on pita. They served a side of Carrots cooked in spices along with this.
For Entree: Chicken Tagine (came with a side of saffron rice and Moroccan bread with aioli.
For Dessert: Custard with orange blossom and toasted nuts.

Taste:
Everything was very tasty and flavorful. Their hot sauce complimented with all the dishes. The Saffron rice was fragrant with butter and saffron which is a delicate balance. The chicken Tagine was a lemony goodness. The bread was warm. Crispy on the outside and soft inside. Aioli was spiced with cumin and garlic which was different from some of the others I have had. Even the carrots were very tasty. The dessert was lightly flavored with orange blossoms and toasted nuts.

Ambiance:
Great for a date night or family get together. Very well decorated and the service was very good. They started by asking if we have been to their restaurant before and if we know about Moroccan food which us a nice thing.
I thought the music was a little too loud. Otherwise everything else was great!

It cost us around $45 including tax and tips.

I have taken a week off from work to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food 

 — at Kous Kous Moroccan Bistro

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 3 - Lunch: Argentinian)

Day 3: Lunch- Argentinian
Restaurant : Puerto La Boca (Puerto La Boca)

Food:
Empanada- we had the chicken
Morcilla - Argentinian blood sausage
Mollejas Al Jerezo A La Parilla - Sauteed Sweetbreads
For Entree: Picana- Slices Cullote
For Dessert: Milhojas (layered pastry)

Taste:
Chicken Empanada was excellent.
Blood Sausage was very different than what I expected. Creamy in texture and well spiced.
Sweetbreads was the first for me. My daughter likes the crispiness and taste of it and I just could not go beyond the gaminess of it and not my favorite I realized.
Stake was cooked just right with slight crispy bits of fat at the ends. Went very well with their home made Chimmichuri sauce. Garlic fries it came with were great. Crispy and garlicky.
The dessert was carameley goodness.

Good price I thought. Was around $45 including tax and tip.

Ambiance: Very nice. Good service. Quiet well set tables inside. We sat street side and it is nice place for eating while people watching and watching those planes fly by to land at the airport.

I have taken a week off from work to do a culinary stacation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food.

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 2 - Dinner: Japanese-Yakitori)

I have taken a week off from work to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food 😊
Sorry there were too many pictures and hence had to make the video.
Day 2: Dinner- Japanese 'Yakitori'
Restaurant : Yakyudoori
Food: Love love loved it!!!
We kept on ordering the never ending yumminess.
For the Yakitori- we had Spicy Jelly fish, Chicken gizzard, Chicken heart, Chicken liver, Squid legs, Smelt fish, Beef tongue, Tsukune meatballs.
Fried items- Soft shell crab and Oysters
Taste: loved everything! This would be my recommendation for anyone trying any of the innerds for the first time. They were cooked just perfectly and tasted amazing!
Ambiance: We got seated at the prime spot right in front of the smily faces chef who served us himself right off the coal grill while we sat looking at the sizzling and mouthwatering smoky goodness.
Go early to secure this spot.

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 2 - Lunch: Persian)

I have taken a week off from work to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food.

Day 2: Lunch - Persian
Restaurant : Grill House Cafe
Food: One of the best Persian I have eaten.
We started with 'Doogh' their yogurt drink flavored with mint.
Ash Reshteh- very flavorful soup with beans and green leafy vegetables.
Beef and chicken combo plate- I asked to substitute rice for Tahdig (crispy rice). Came with a huge salad.
Dizi: a Lamb shank stew mixed and served table side. Served with mint, onions and bread.
Persian icecream for dessert: yummy!!!
Taste: loved everything!
Ambiance: clean and neat and smiling staff. Very friendly. See More

 — at Grill House Cafe.

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 1 - Dinner: Peruvian)

I have taken a week off from work to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food :)
Had an amazing day today. It is very different hanging out with a 10 year old. She had opinions and thoughts which surprised me at times. Laughed and giggled like I have not for a very long time. Looking forward to the week :)

Day 1: Dinner - Peruvian

Restaurant : Cafe Secret

Food: They give a small bowl of Cancha (kind of like unpopped Corn nuts) to begin with which is complimentary.
We had Shrimp Causa from their starters which is a layered stack of spiced and mashed potatoes with spiced shrimp and Avocado. It is a very well balanced summery plate with An yellow peppery sauce.
We had Macho from their Entree section which is a seafood medley with slightly spiced creamy sauce served with rice.
Portions were pretty good size and we did not have place for desserts.
I wish they had Cusco Sour. Apparently they have only a partial liquor license :(

Taste: It was a good meal. Very rich and modified for American Pallet. Not one of the best Peruvian I have had (the best I have had is in Florida. I will post a review on my page next week).

Ambiance: Very pretty and cute but I felt it was on the pricier side. We paid $50 for just two dishes

Have a great night all and we will continue the journey tomorrow 🙏🏽

Around the world in a week with my daughter - Culinary Adventure Staycation (Day 1 - Lunch: Ethiopian)

I have taken a week off to do a culinary staycation with my 10 year old daughter who is a bigger foodie than myself and an adventurous foodie too.
I wanted to make this experience a memorable one and squeeze in a little bit of learning too.
We will be exploring different cuisines from around the world and learning about their culture and traditions around food 😊

Day 1: Lunch - Ethiopian

Restaurant : Awash Ethiopian (stopped by Hamara first but was closed)

Food: we got a veg combo and meat combo in single plate. Came with 5 meat Wats and 5 veg Wats (wat-stew). Soft and tangy Injira (kind of a pancake).

Taste: Well balanced Spices. But, not one of the best Ethiopian I've had.

Ambiance: Hole in a wall (literally). Back of the grocery store. Friendly staff. 

 — Awash ethiopian restaurant & market.