Mimi and Bob

We went to Mimi's Cafe' yesterday for dinner to a new location in Las Vegas.
I like Mimi's because of it's New Orleans theme. It's like a little dose of New Orleans.
...only cleaner. *wink*

The website notes the feel as "French Cottage-y" but it's New Orleans with New Orleans decorations and Jazz stuff.

Bob Evans Farms, Inc. owns the Mimi's Cafe restaurant chain, which consists of 144 locations throughout the United States. The restaurants feature family upscale dining with a French and New Orleans' flair. Guests dine in one of several themed rooms: the Garden, the Café, the Bistro, the Winery, or the Patio.

I don't know where we sat last night, but I want my Las Vegas bedroom to look like that. *wink* They had some cool cute design things I want to see if Lisa's sister can do next time she's visiting in Las Vegas.

The first Mimi's was at Disneyland. COOL. Find out more HERE.

I looked into it a little and chuckled to find that it's not even in Louisiana, but has a New Orleans feel to it. They served up a nice plate or irony there. *wink*

In 2004, Bob Evans Farms Inc. bought the chain. Interesting. If you have spent some time in the mid-west you know the red Bob Evans building surrounded by snow look like this one to the left.

When reading about Bob Evans at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Evans_Restaurants I read this:

"The company also operated a Mexican-themed restaurant called Cantina del Rio in the mid-1990s, a move which Bob Evans himself called "a disaster."^[1]"

Oops.

MiMi's

I went to MiMi's Cafe with Lisa this past weekend in Las Vegas. ...and felt a little like I was in New Orleans. YEA!

It's a chain restaurant and it's all over, so it's not that special except it was with Lisa which made it VERY special. I had seen it several times before all over as I travel, but I have never tried it. I am usually too busy trying to figure out where to find local flavor that if I go to a chain, I feel like I am cheating the area. Know what I mean, jellybean?

My favorite things about the place besides being there with Lisa is that the whole theme of the restaurant is New Orleans. ...and Lord knows, I can't get enough of that. I loved it. It was so cool. It was like casual New Orleans in Las Vegas. YEA!

I had a yummy chicken picatta and Lisa has a chicken cordon bleu that was so good. (I always want what she orders. You think by now I'd learn, but no.)

I wondered, "Who the fuck is Mimi?" Visit http://www.mimiscafe.com/WhoIsMimi.aspx to find out.
I investigated and found all about the Mardi Gras flavor they wanted and the vibrant New Orleans with European cottage feel. SUPER!

Lisa mentioned that it might be owned by a familiar restaurant that we miss from Ohio called Bob Evans. She was right. http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/11/12/daily16.html Bob Evans owns it. Furthermore, it's another Columbus, OH based company right around where Lisa and I used to work at the hotel together. (She ran the hotel, I just pretended. It's kind of like that Queen of England thing. The Parliament really runs it, she just a figurehead.)

If it's fun and good food you seek, you can stop by a MiMi's near you. ...and find one near you HERE.

Kitchen 24 - Los Angeles

I came across this note in a p.i.n.k. vodka email I was reading today.
...not only does the drink sounds good called a "Strawberry Lemonade" but the rest of the menu looks good too.
Next time I ask someone in LA where we shoudl go to eat, let's think about this place.
YUM!

The New Numbers

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Cafe' Audrey

I am in a bit of a cafe' mood recently. I like finding "undiscovered" places in Hollywood and trying them. The problem is when they are "undiscovered" they usually lack something or they would be ummm... discovered. It's a switch blade.

I got up early this morning and went on a walk down Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood Blvd. looks different in the morning. ...and not the same different like New Orleans does in the morning. (Boy that was a mouthful.)

I found this place on the next block from Starbucks and passed up the green giant to try this black and white diamond.
The place is crazy black and white, in fact, there are a few colors inside, but other than that, I would think we went back to a black and white time. ...that was way cool. There is Audrey Hepburn stuff ALL OVER! on the walls, the seats, even the ceiling.
They have Audrey Hepburn merchandise, photos, and hundreds of other all Audrey, all the time. *wink*

On my quest for drinks, I ordered this unique drink called 'Elixr' brand, with the flavor being called "Virtual Buddha" It was good. It was peaches and herbs. You can find out more about Elixr HERE. I wont' be rushing back, but it was worth finding a parking spot for some other day.

Roscoe's Chicken N Waffles

Angel and I went to to dinner two nights ago.
We chose to dine at Roscoe's Chicken n Waffles upon Lisa's recommendation a few weeks ago and since I have been on a waffle kick here lately. (Just ask Travis.)
It's a California take on Soul Food. (Angel is food for my soul a lot of times.)

I can't thank Angel enough for indulging me on these whims when I get them.
He's the Lisa of California. *wink*
I started by calling him on the way home from work telling him that I needed crawfish.
I know they are out of season, so any that we do find are probably going to come from China, but hey, that's fine.
I couldn't stop thinking about them.
We went to Popeye's on Hollywood Blvd and they didn't have any. *sigh*
We walked back to my apartment and drove over to see Roscoe.

If I had any inner gospel, it wanted to come out that night.
The venue was dark, wood paneling on the wall, and had a faint glow of pink neon from the Roscoe's sign on the wall.
It felt like some of the backroom restaurants in New Orleans that you have to wait in line for after church on Sunday with all the loud mouthed and loud outfitted black ladies.
I loved that part.
I wanted there to be Gospel music and a warm humid climate waiting for me when I finished dinner, but that part didn't happen.
It's okay.
I like having a dining experience rather than just a meal.
This was certainly one of them as casual as it was.

The waffle was so good, major points there, the chicken breast I had was also yummy, but I am so lazy that I hate picking things off bones. (I don't like bones to pick.)
Aren't there people for that?
ARGH!
I had a number 13, Carol C.'s special.
You can see the menu HERE.
We both has fun drinks too, I had a mix of yummy real lemonade with iced tea and Angel had lemonade with orange juice.
I am a drink fanatic and sometimes, drive around just looking for a new and unique drink that's refreshing.

I think we will visit Roscoe again soon.

Red Pearl and Valet Girls

Fabrice and I went to eat at the Red Pearl Kitchen in Hollywood a couple of days ago.
It was good, I liked it. (I feel like I am writing a first grade book. See Spot run.)
The waitresses had sexy Asian outfits on. I wanted to beat her up and take it.
It's a place I would recommend.

He also pointed out the valet was all female and the company was called the 'Valet Girls.' Sure enough, they have a freaking website. It's like models meets valet meets celebrities. Fierce.
I checked www.valetboys.com and it's a company in Salt Lake City. ...could be hot.