I Brake for Pho

There's something about water drops falling from the sky that confuses Southern Californian drivers, especially the Asian drivers. OK, not all the Asians, just the older ones and yes, most of the female ones. sigh Their usual bad driving is almost considered bearable when compared to their patience wearing, fist shaking, curse inducing driving when it rains.

Yes, I'm a female Asian driver, but not a bad driver. I don't brake for no apparent reason. I don't make a left or right turn from the middle of the road. I can successfully parallel park on the first try 99% of the time. When I make a 3 point turn, it's a 3 point turn, not a 13 point turn. I can go on...

Despite knowing there would be maddening traffic due to this record setting storm, I drove myself into the heart of Alhambra. This weather calls for PHO 79. I order the usual hot bowl of pho ga and deep fried eggrolls with spicy fish sauce. The fried, crisp eggroll skins give such a satisfying crunch when you bite down. Each order comes with four eggrolls. Yes, four. I know there are only two pictured.


So if i can put myself in bad Asian drivers' way, what are you waiting for?

Go out.
Eat.
And be fat.
Like me.

Vegas Vacation: Year of the Ox

We got bent over, with no lube. That's how TV1 would describe our overall gambling experience. And she's absolutely right.

At first I had some luck with the Wheel of Fortune machine. I hit three numbers at the roulette wheel within 10 minutes, pretty good, right? Then I got ka-raaazy and started playing $100 hands at single deck blackjack. It was quite exciting. I came out $500 ahead! Then it turned. And when the luck turns, it turns fugly. But enough about the fugly.

I played blackjack with Mrs. California - United States and her husband. What a fun and beautiful couple! You don't see it much nowadays, but that's a couple who really adore each other.

Our comped room at Encore was gorgeous. Everything at Encore was gorgeous, as I imagined it would be. TV1 and I loved all the luxury and nice touches that came with a five star hotel, including the remote controlled drapes, all lights on dimmer, and the phone display and television greeting me by name.

The Monaco Suite at Monte Carlo certainly didn't compare to Encore, even though they try to tout themselves as a four star hotel. The only thing I'll say for it is that it's roomy. I don't know who the hell they bribed to get that extra star, but it's certainly not a four star hotel in my book. They've been going through remodeling and are obviously trying to be young and cool like Hard Rock. So far, I remain unimpressed. Anyway...

I cashed in on my comp at the Monte Carlo mainly for the $100 credit I could spend. My plan was to enjoy a good meal at their new steakhouse, Brand. We were impressed with that steak. So juicy and definitely a perfect medium rare. The creamed spinach with truffle oil and mac & cheese were rich and yummy. The lobster mash and the chilean sea bass...quite unremarkable and fishy. They should be ashamed of those items.

Another great meal we had was at Pho, of Treasure Island. I was pleasantly surprised that it was authentic Vietnamese pho. The fried egg rolls, I'd stay away from. Thems is not so authentic. sigh

We ate well, and apologies for the lack of pictures. We usually waited til we were starving so taking pictures kinda left my mind. I'll try to remember that when we go again in a couple of weeks...this time comped at the Palazzo! weeeeee!