The Divine Dish

Great Affordable Burgers at Rounds in WeHo

Posted on Feb 10, 2011 under Archives | No Comment

Earlier this week I stopped by to check out the new Rounds Premium Burgers in WeHo.  West Hollywood was really lacking a good burger joint so I was looking forward to sampling what they had to offer.

The inside area is cozy with several small round tables and barstools and a nice long counter overlooking Santa Monica Boulevard which is perfect for people watching.  The owner let me know that he is planning to expand the seating area (which is good because it is a bit small) out to the patio which will double the capacity.

The set up is similar to The Counter, where you can build your own burger, but a lot simpler to order and much less expensive.  You can easily get a good cheeseburger with the basics, fries and a drink for about $10.  If you want to add premium toppings such as more cheeses, onion strings, jalapenos, guacamole, bacon, chiles, fried egg, pineapple or mushrooms it costs a buck for each additional topping.  The regular toppings including lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, 1,000 island dressing and onions are free with your burger.  Protein choices include beef, chicken, veggie and turkey burgers.

You can also choose your bun, fresh briouche, sliced sourdough, wheat, or opt to have your burger lettuce wrapped or over mixed greens.  Nicole is watching her gluten intake so she opted for a lettuce wrapped burger with sweet potato fries.

Guests can choose from two sides, house cut sweet potato fries or french fries.  The dipping sauces include chipotle mayo, bbq, garlic mayo, chipotle ketchup, tabasco ketchup, buttermilk ranch, buffalo, southwest and teriyaki.  My friend Nicole and I tried most of them and we both loved the buttermilk ranch and garlic mayo.

There are lots of reasons to visit Rounds, affordable and easy to order burgers, fresh ingredients, figure-friendly options, great sauces and open late – till 2 am most nights, but you better get there fast.  As soon as more people know that an inexpensive tasty burger and fries with killer sauce options joint is available in WeHo, Rounds will surely be packed.  Located at 8871 Santa Monica Boulevard.

Universal Studios International Cafe Bloggers’ Tasting Event

Posted on Feb 10, 2011 under Uncategorized | No Comment

Last night I attended, with my neighbor Todd, a very nice food blogger’s tasting event held at Universal Studios International Cafe.  The event was held to celebrate the Cafe’s recent Santé Award for Outstanding Achievement in Culinary Service and Hospitality, Chef Eric Kopelow’s 2010 Chef of the year award by Chef Magazine, and to offer food writers a chance to sample the delicious food offered at the Cafe.

The folks at Universal made us feel like stars from the beginning, leading us down a red carpet to the cafe.  We really thought this was a classy touch.

The cafe was nicely set up with satin napkins and beautiful flower displays at each table.  About thirty food writers/bloggers attended.

The European style International Cafe opened its doors at Universal in 2010, providing a new type of healthy “theme park” food.  The menu offers a wide variety of salads, cheese plates, soups and artisanal sandwiches, as well as juices and mineral waters.

After enjoying some champagne, I posed for a quick picture with Chef Eric Kopelow before the tasting began.  He then greeted all of the attendees and before each course was served came out to describe what he was serving.

Our first course was a trio of soups, included roasted cauliflower with cheddar, chanterelle mushroom and corn bisquue, and New York clam and mussel chowder.  No butter was used to prepare the soups and each one came in under 100 calories.

All three were yummy, our fave was the roasted cauliflower with cheddar. Next was a nice arugula salad with olive oil, buffalo mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Next came a nice trio of sandwiches.  All the bread is made in-house daily at the Cafe.  We were served oven roasted turkey with muenster cheese and a roasted garlic sauce, smoked salmon with pickled onions and cucumbers and a dill sauce, and shaved roast beef with brie cheese and roasted pears with a peppercorn aoli.  My fave was the roast beef, Todd’s was the turkey.  It came with some tasty house made garlic dill pickles and marinated olives, as well as homemade bbq potato chips.

After sandwiches, Chef Kopelaw was awarded two honors, the Santé Award for Outstanding Achievement in Culinary Service and Hospitality for the Cafe and the 2010 Chef of the Year award from Chef magazine.

Our tasting finished with two nice desserts, a chocolate cake and mousse with chocolate ganache and a banana meringue tart.  Both came with chocolate dipped strawberries.

These probably weren’t as figure friendly as the rest of the menu items, but they were delicious.  It is nice to know that the next time you head to Universal you can enjoy tasty and healthy food in between the tram tour and rides.

Rest, Relax and Rejuvinate at the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort and Spa

Posted on Feb 08, 2011 under Archives | No Comment

Many associate Cabo San Lucas with crazy nightlife and wild students on spring break.  There is a spot on the tip of Mexico’s baja peninsula where you can find a secluded sanctuary overlooking the crystal clear sea – at the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort and Spa.

A winding path leads to the adults only luxury resort.  Upon arrival, guests are greeted with warm eucalyptus towels and a stellar view of the Pacific Ocean.

All of the 154 zen inspired rooms include unobstructed ocean views, pebble inlaid tile floors, large comfy beds, water, teas and onyx accents.

The patios are perfect for whale and turtle watching.

The two infinity pools are steps from the beach and are surrounded by palm trees, cacti, bougainvillea and flowers.  Guests can choose from the warmer circular pool or the crescent shaped lap pool with a swim up bar.

There are also Zen inspired sand gardens, meditation areas, a jacuzzi and a labyrinth.

The Siempre restaurant serves up a wellness inspired menu with lots of local fresh fish choices and the perfect view to enjoy a margarita at sunset. The resort’s all-inclusive option lets guests enjoy gourmet cuisine, in-suite dining, tropical drinks, daily yoga and fitness classes and other amenities for one price.

The outdoor fire pit and various private canopied beds along the sand provide a romantic atmosphere along the 2-mile private beach.

Guests can also unwind at the Armonia spa with a variety of treatments including facials, wraps and massages, a fitness center, steam room, salon and plunge pools.

Free shuttles regularly run into town for those seeking shopping or nightlife, but Pacifica is so relaxing you might be tempted to never leave the resort.  Reservations and more information is available at 1.800.990.8250.