Hugo's for Brunch

I had a weird experience at brunch this Sunday. I went to one of my favorite neighborhood places for weekend breakfasts, Hugo's in Studio City. Hugo's is known for quality, healthy homemade food and a wide variety of teas. I don't go much for tea, but I love healthy food. When I was, for health reasons avoiding red meats (for about a decade), I loved the fact that I could order almost anything on the Hugo's menu without the worry of eating a mammal. Hugo's is very accommodating to full Vegetarians and Vegans as well.

Because of the varied yet ever so good for me menu, I like to try different things when going to Hugo's. This time I tried an oatmeal frittata. The menu said it was steel cut oatmeal folded into a frittata garnished with cottage cheese, applesauce, and strawberries. I like oatmeal and eggs... I love strawberries and cottage cheese... This sounds like it could be a really good thing. Well, I can't say this dish was bad, but it wasn't good either, It certainly missed the mark for my favorite breakfast of all time. It was like something the chef might have experimented with one hungover morning in pursuit of a full stomach and a good bowel movement. I can attest that I was blessed with both after this meal, but I have had better tasting food than this at Hugo's. The service was excellent, the pre-meal rolls, delish, and the company I shared the meal with, a true treat. I highly recommend Hugo's especially to those who like to eat from a more enlightened selection on life's menu, but I would stay away from the Oatmeal Fritatta, after all, maybe you can have too much of a "good thing."

Hugo's Restaurant
12851 Riverside Dr
North Hollywood, CA 91607
(818) 761-8985

Visiting Family in Vegas

OK, there were the holidays, we went away, and Father of Food is in the hospital. The family apologizes for not posting. I know you just can't wait to hear what we may be eating these days. Both Daughter of Food and Son of Food spent some time in Vegas this past week visiting Father. We tried some new things. Here's the quick report....

Buffet at Asia is a busy Mixed Asian food buffet at the corner of Flamingo and Eastern. The selection includes Sushi, Dim Sum dishes, Crabs Legs, Shrimp, Mongolian Barbecue, Thai, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese fare. The food was decent, if you picked from the trays that were fresh. I liked the Crab Won Tons and the Shrimp tempura, but the Pad Thai was barely unrecognisable as Pad Thai. The meal cost $12.00 for dinner and the kids ate for free. I didn't flip over this place, but I would go back.
4090 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV‎ - (702) 650-0290‎

Another Buffet we had (it is Vegas after all), was the breakfast buffet at Boulder Station. Breakfast is breakfast, an amazing brunch this is not, however, and if you're hungry and your funds are limited, you should go. We took our family of four on Friday morning and ate all we could eat for under $12 including tip (3 and under eat free). It was a heck of a lot more satisfying than the Burger King meal we had the next day for $20. As far as breakfast buffets go, this one was fine, but I did not like the omelet I got, mainly due to low quality, stale cheese. The chunky applesauce was very tasty on my so-so potato pancake. The bacon was greasy. Did I mention the cost was less than $3.00 a person? In these economic times, it was fine, really.

The last place I'll mention was featured in a post last year and it's called Metro Pizza. We went to the Boulder Station location. The pepperoni didn't impress, but I would recommend the white pizza. We were not able to get the legendary salad Melissa mentioned in the comments of the earlier post. If you go on Friday night, you can "enjoy" the Kareoke at the bar across the way.

Boulder Station Buffet and
Metro Pizza at Boulder Station
4111 Boulder Hwy
Las Vegas, NV 89121

Did I say smear?

Mother of Food and I had just picked up her brother (Uncle of Food) at McCarran Airport. He mentioned he was hungry and could go for some old fashioned deli styled salami and eggs (probably testing to see if we had any kosher styled deli here in Sin City). Now we have the Stage, the Carnegie, and Canters delicatessens’ and many other fine deli’s but if you want the real Las Vegas deli experience then you must go to Harrie’s Bagelmania.

Harrie’s is located about 5 minutes east of Las Vegas Boulevard in a strip center well past it’s prime. It is open from 6:30 AM - 3PM serving breakfast, brunch and lunch. If you like a New York style bagel this is the place. Their Bialy’s are great and they have the best lox in town (did I say smear). On any morning you will find many of the movers and shakers of LV or resident entertainers holding court.

Now about the salami and eggs pancake style (I had mine with onions added) - super! Harrie’s Bagelmania is certainly more than bagels, they have great tasting food. You will find all types of egg dishes, fresh salads, fish platters, sandwiches, homemade soups including chicken with matzo ball or kreplach and of course items like chopped liver, potato pancakes, noodle kugel w/raisins or different types of knishes. Take home some black and white cookies or rugalah for later.

Stop by on Tuesdays for special pricing on bagels, corn beef and pastrami.

Location - 855 E. Twain Ave., Suite #120 Las Vegas, NV. 89169
Tel.# - 702-369-3322 (Delivery Available)

Three in Austin

Travel kept me away from the blog, but don't worry... I brought you something from my trip to Austin, Texas. No, it's not a t-shirt that says, my blogger went to Austin and all I got was this lousy t-shirt(although I know where you could find such a shirt). No, I bring you reviews! If you are going to Austin in the near future, or you are there right now, here are a few places for you to try.

For Breakfast or Brunch, I would recommend The Old Pecan St. Cafe. The service was excellent, although we may have had special treatment because we had our incredibly adorable twin babies with us and our server was a twin herself. The food was quite good. My turkey and spinach omelet may have seemed a run of the mill choice, especially next to the many crepes on the menu, but boy was I glad I ordered it. It came with terrific potatoes and a homemade sweet cake that was just Divine. Husband of Food had the French Toast and I think he was jealous of my meal.

For Lunch or Dinner you may want to stop for some tasty Texas dining at the Iron Works Barbecue. Man, was this meal good. Brisket, Chicken, Ribs, and of course barbecue sauce; accompanied by, to quote Friend of Food, "the sweetest potato salad I've ever had." Another Friend of Food tried to take a jar of the BBQ sauce home, but her sweet memory of Texas was confiscated at the airport. Don't worry, Friend of Food, the terrorists haven't won, you can order another at the Iron Works Website.
http://www.ironworksbbq.com/

For an evening of Fun, I will suggest something a little different. We had a great time at The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. This theater is known for it's campy interactive movie shows. Now, what does a theater have to do with food? First of all, they have it, a full menu and wine and beer bar. We went to the Elvis Sing Along for Elvis' birthday and the special of the night was Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches. The seats all have a bar in front of them where your food can rest and waiters quietly take orders written on slips of paper during the show. I wish I could get that kind of service at an Arclight! If you stop by the Drafthouse, also check out it's cool t-shirt making service in the lobby. It's a great place to get that "My Blogger Went to Austin..." T-shirt I didn't get you at the top.

The Old Pecan St. Cafe
310 East 6th Street
Austin Tx, 78701

Iron Works Barbecue
100 Red River
Austin, TX 78701

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
320 E 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701