Gastro Monkey // 美食家

After trying Joe's in Chicago for my birthday one year, I was hooked. Their stone crab, freshly flown in from Florida, is (for lack of a better word) incredibly fresh and sweet. It's perfect plain, or with some lemon. They also have their own aioli that goes with it, if you prefer. Service was impeccable, the vibe so classic and mellow - it's one of my favorite restaurants. If you can't make it to Chicago and you live on the West Coast, then Vegas is a great option! The best stone crab. Best. Key. Lime. Pie. I am forever grateful to the server at the Joe's in Chicago for giving me my first one for free after ordering a different pie that I can't even remember anymore. Perfectly crafted Old Fashioned. Lots of fancy goodies in front of us (Pappy, Whistle Pig) Located inside Caesar's Palace (Forum Shops) 3500 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89109 If you go later at night like we did, you won't need reservations. However, if you ...

Normally, I do most of the restaurant selection. This trip however, The Boyfriend did. Milos was one of his top picks because of the octopus. We are both partial to octopus because it's one of those things that are hard to come by, and labor intensive (have you seen those videos of guys slamming it against rocks to tenderize it?!).  The location and timing worked fantastically as it is located in the Cosmopolitan - same as the Emil Chau concert we were headed to that same night. I wasn't sure how busy they would be at 5pm on a Saturday, but I figured it couldn't hurt. We arrived a little early for the reservation, and the place was mostly empty. Staff was welcoming and friendly. Upon being seated, the waitress/server explained the menu and how the seafood selections are made. Food is served family style, so be prepared to share. She was helpful too, in letting us know if we were ordering too much, or not enough. We selected the octopus right off the bat, along with a Gre...

Every summer that I went back to Taiwan was spent with family. The best part of being with family and just letting them take me everywhere. While there are a lot of people who don't really explore, my family loves food and loves trying new places along with their tried and true favorites. The bad part is not being really able to go off and do things on my own at farther locations. Keelung was one of those farther away locations I never had a chance to visit. Although, I have to say, I wouldn't trade the other places I went instead (Taroko Gorge, Hualien, and a good chunk of the East Coast).  Now, when I go back to Taiwan, I stay a few days in Taipei which leaves me time to pop over to Keelung. Keelung's Miao Kou Night Market is arguably, one of the best night markets in Taiwan. The seafood alone is already a huge draw. Most of Taipei's fresh seafood comes from Keelung. Aside from seafood, they have a plethora of other options based on rice, pork, or beef. There is ...