Gastro Monkey // 美食家

I suppose it was only a matter of time before I made my way to The Kitchen. Known as one of the top dining experiences in Sacramento, it is, for lack of better words, an experience. I would even argue that it's more about the experience of dining here than it is for the food. For the majority of restaurants, guests are passive in their dining. You eat whatever is placed in front of you (unless you're at a buffet, then, you know what to do). At The Kitchen, guests are active participants. You are told to wander around the kitchen and patio and sample whatever you see around. And if you don't see anything interesting, ask because you never know! I overhead other diners saying something about oysters in conjunction with "Hog Island" and "in the back fridge", so of course I wove my way through the kitchen. It definitely felt weird being back there with the staff who were all busy peeling garlic, prepping sauces, washing plates. So I'm sure I sounded ...

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 ...

A few years ago on a flight to Taiwan, I saw advertisements all over the place for Kavalan Whiskey. It was my first time hearing this brand. Upon finding out that it was a Taiwanese brand, I was pretty skeptical. I guess that's what the world thought until Kavalan started winning awards for best whiskey. Curious? Don't believe me? There are various articles abound marveling at the emergence of Kavalan as a whiskey powerhouse: Eater Time The Independent NBC News It only makes sense, Taiwanese people love whiskey. I am not a hard liquor fan typically, especially with age. But, when a whiskey is good, it's good . We decide to take the bus to Yilan and spend a day there eating and checking out the distillery. On the way back, we'll just "swing by" Keelung for some more food. Things to note - the bus to Yilan stops behind the train station, so you'll have to walk around to the front of the station where the bus to the distillery is. If you wan...