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Lived in Fullerton for yearsx and I was finally able to dine here last night! My boyfriend made reservations as we were celebrating my birthday. Upon entry, it was a bit creepy, but after being seated, it was very private, cozy, and romantic. Moscato, Oceano (Sparkling) —————————– Probably the best Moscato I have ever had! Light, crisp, and fresh! Tasted like a beautiful pear and apple cider. I really enjoyed this throughout my meal. Charcuterie (appetizer) ———————— We ordered the Charcuterie for the appetizer. It consisted of three different types of meat, honey, fig jam, cornichons, and a few berries. It was a great way to start of the meal, and we were given the perfect amount, so we were not too filled up for our entree. Duck a L’Orange —————– Seriously the best duck I have ever had at a fine dining restaurant! The skin was crispy and seasoned well, which paired well with the fatty and soft flesh. There was a hash on the plate that was out of this world, which consisted of potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and Brussels sprouts. SO GOOD. Elk Tenderloin ————– My boyfriend ordered this dish, and it was very good as well! The Elk melted in my mouth, super tender. It was served with delicious gnocchi in sage and brown butter sauce. I mean, come on. Mind-blowing. Truffle Mac & Cheese ——————— The gruyere and cheddar cheeses paired well together (as they do), and the truffle flavor added another layer of depth, however, I wish there was more of an actual sauce on there. It was a baked dish, so I realize that the sauce mainly dried up from being baked, but this is me being nitpicky. Chocolate Souffle with Strawberry Sauce —————————————– It’s been years since I’ve had a souffle so I forgot the taste and texture. After taking a bite, I was in dessert heaven. It was so light and surprisingly so enticing. The strawberry sauce was also not very heavy and paired very well with the chocolate souffle. Yum! ————- This was an amazing birthday dinner! They even gave me a creme brulee for a birthday dessert. Everything was fantastic, and the service was top notch. Thank god this place is close to my house, so I can make more excuses to dine here again!

• Duck Duck Goose Menu with Prices 814 S Broadway, Baltimore
• Utamaro Sushi Bar – Menu with Prices – 1900 Main St #107, Sarasota
• LOT185 Café + Wine Bar – Menu with Prices – 1055 Canada Pl #78, Vancouver
• Stem Wine Bar – Menu with Prices – 1311 Johnson Ferry Rd #516, Marietta
• Château 13 – Menu with Prices – 535 13th St W, Bradenton
• Midnight Bakery – Menu with Prices – 11th St S, St. Petersburg
• Chang Kao Thai Cuisine – Menu with Prices – 6233 14th St W, Bradenton
• Sabai Thai Eatery – Menu with Prices – 1113 Corydon Ave, Winnipeg
• Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates – Menu with Prices – 1801 L St #60, Sacramento
• Saint Jacques – Menu with Prices – 6112 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh
• DeBrand Fine Chocolates – Menu with Prices – 5608 Coldwater Rd, Fort Wayne
• Voila French Bistro – Menu with Prices – 10135 E Vía Linda, Scottsdale

Duck Duck Goose Menu with Prices 814 S Broadway, Baltimore

Really have to hand it to Duck Duck Goose for making my friend’s birthday dinner an unforgettable experience. We decided to pop in here because the Choptank next door had a ridiculous wait time. We were initially hesitant when Duck Duck Goose said they could seat all 9 of us, RIGHT NOW. Even though the ambiance of this place screams high-end, the staff made us feel welcome even though we weren’t all dressed-to-impress. The drinks were amazing. The Golden Goose was great but for 18 dollars seemed a little out-there and the gold leaflets were unnecessary. The french beer on the menu (won’t attempt to spell it here) was also BEYOND refreshing. They brought out bread with a sweetened butter that was killer!!! I ordered the English Pea Risotto with the Duck Confit ($5 extra) and if you get a bite of the risotto, pea, duck, and goat cheese, then you’ve captured exactly what this dish intended. Unfortunately, after a few bites, the duck is overwhelming and becomes all you can taste. Still delicious though! I also tried the lamb main dish and that was excellent but the lamb was definitely left to shine on its own (no crazy seasonings). The highlight of the night came when we mentioned our friend’s birthday to the waiter who came out with a full round of complimentary champagne for the table along with a sparkler for the birthday. IT was breathtaking. We didn’t expect anything, but hoped for maybe a dessert for my friend or something. This was above and beyond. THANK YOU Duck Duck Goose for making this one to remember.

Utamaro Sushi Bar – Menu with Prices – 1900 Main St #107, Sarasota

It looks like your typical strip mall restaurant, but when I walked in it was even smaller than I expected. Maybe 1/2 dozen booths and another 1/2 dozen tables. I ordered the Duck Strip appetizer which was deep fried breaded tenderloin duck strips. It said it would be served with a Cucumber Sauce. I didn’t taste any cucumber, but the Duck Strips and the sauce was very tasty. I next got the Volcano Lave Sushi Roll. It consisted of Crab, Salmon, creme cheese, masago, avocado and spicy mini scallops and it was also very good. The server was prompt and came across as not rude, but less than friendly. Maybe she was distracted by something, not customers as it wasn’t busy.

LOT185 Café + Wine Bar – Menu with Prices – 1055 Canada Pl #78, Vancouver

Their Dine out was amazing! The staff were so professional and kind. They constantly checked up on us and seem very passionate about their job. It is located in the convention center. Casual restaurant that usually serves pizza and small bites at night. If you have the chance definitely check out their dine out menu! I had the pork belly which was really tasty but the best dish by far was the lobster bisque. You could really taste the lobster and it was smooth and creamy. For the main the short rib was tender and delicious. The veggies were cooked perfectly and the sauce was yummy. Someone else on my table ordered the duck which was delicious and had the right amount of seasoning. Her only complaint was the portion could have been slightly bigger. The desserts were all fantastic but the chocolate mousse was definitely the best one. Unfortunately they ran out of it and we had to get a different dessert instead. I will definitely try this place for lunch.

Stem Wine Bar – Menu with Prices – 1311 Johnson Ferry Rd #516, Marietta

Disclaimers: – I’m not a wine drinker so their wine list would be lost on me. I do appreciate them having a full bar and a very good cocktail list; – I have only been here once thus far on a Monday for a private Mother earth Beer Dinner and have no knowledge about the regular menu choices. With that being said, I expected the atmosphere inside to be more vibrant and the bar more spacious. Instead it is just pretty much the bar and 3 small tables. Again, I do not know what this place is like on a regular day as far as the crowd, noise level etc. The beer dinner consisted of 5 courses, all paired with Mother earth beers or house cocktails for those who do not drink beer. We were greeted right away and were given a basket of beer pretzel nibs with a side of mustard. I personally prefer a bread basket. We also ordered pre-dinner drinks – Vieux Carre and Maine “something”, both rye based – and both were delicious. First course was Red snapper crudo and although lovely, did not need the oil at all. They paired it with some kind of a wine/pom/champagne concoction which I wasn’t a fan of. Second course was Chorizo, fig and focaccia stuffed calamari and this was probably my least favorite dish. Other than the calamari itself, there was no texture to the dish. The stuffing was just mush. Third course was my absolute favorite – Braised pork cheek with stewed hominy, corn, and okra. I can eat this every day. It was so tender, rich, and robust, but not overwhelming. Strangely, they paired it with Paloma cocktail with is kind of light and citrusy and did not go with this dish. I would have done a manhattan or something. I was very much looking to the forth but was quite disappointed – the duck breast was overcooked and extremely tough. I couldn’t even cut into it. They did end up bringing a replacement with looked 100% better but unfortunately just as tough. The hash was good though and the duck leg meat in it was extremely tender (which is usually the opposite). This was paired with the Vieux Carre. The fifth and final course for me was orange flan (substitution per request) and it was excellent. They paired it with lemoncello but their version was jsut too sweet on top of the sweet desert. Overall: the service was prompt, I loved the drink menu, and there is plenty of parking. All of the courses were explained as well as the beers, and for $75 pp with drinks and gratuity included it was a great deal.

Château 13 – Menu with Prices – 535 13th St W, Bradenton

This is probably one of my favorite restaurants now. My family and I came here to celebrate a birthday and we had an amazing experience. The entire staff, and especially our server, Tina, was so nice. After reading the reviews I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to get a table or we would have to wait a really long time since they don’t take reservations. Although, we went on a Wednesday around 6:15pm with 5 people and even though there were two groups in front of us to be seated we were at our table by around 6:45pm. 5-7pm seems like it was the peak time because there were actually a lot of empty tables after we got seated. But in the meantime we were able to sit at the bar and order some drinks. The restaurant itself is so cute and it just seems like a great place to go with friends and have a fun time. We tried a lot of the dishes. We loved the chateau plateau and I honestly think you couldn’t go wrong with that if you’re looking to share some charcuterie with a group. We also got the truffle parmesan aioli frites, the mussels provencal, and the cured duck breast and all dishes were so yummy. The mussels were probably my favorite. My dad got the Normany salad and he also really enjoyed it. Honestly, just these dishes alone filled all 5 of us up but we also shared the filet mignon and the seared salmon and both were awesome. My parents liked the salmon the best. For dessert we tried the belgian waffle sundae and the chocolate torte. Both were so tasty. I preferred the chocolate torte because I love chocolate, and it wasn’t too dense like some other tortes are. The chocolate mousse with toffee that comes on top of the torte really makes it so yummy! The belgian waffle sundae is a whole belgian waffle with a scoop of ice cream and whip cream on top. When they they bring it to your table they drizzle chocolate syrup on top. Maybe ask for another scoop of ice cream if you plan on eating the entire waffle! I would definitely go back here for dinner again if I’m in the Bradenton area!

Midnight Bakery – Menu with Prices – 11th St S, St. Petersburg

This is awesome! Delicious dessert, baked fresh when you order and delivered hot to your door??!! At 2am?? I had Classic, which is a sort of chocolate chip cake-like cookie, with chocolate drizzled on top. And Honey Badger, a butterscotch and honey flavored cookie-cake. Servings were generous, I ate some still warm, melty and fresh and had a couple leftover to eat for breakfast! I love new, small businesses because they add personal touches and really care about the products they create. Fantastic! Keep up the good baking! I can’t wait to try one of the specialty items! How the heck are they keeping ice cream cold and fresh-baked stuff fresh on the Peanut Butter Fudge Soufflé- when it’s delivered??? I will just have to find out!! ?

Chang Kao Thai Cuisine – Menu with Prices – 6233 14th St W, Bradenton

My mother and I ate here tonight. This was our first time here after the change. It used to be another Thai restaurant but I can’t remember the name. I’m not sure if they just change the names or if they changed ownership as well. What I can tell you is that both the food and the service were amazing! Our waitress was very friendly, very knowledgeable and very helpful. My mother ordered the coconut soup for her appetizer and it was so creamy and delicious. We also ordered edamame and Som Tum, which is a shredded papaya salad. For dinner, my mother ordered the spicy eggplant stir-fry and I ordered the roast crispy duck dinner with the basil sauce. My duck was cooked to perfection and so incredibly delicious. We ordered the mango sticky rice for dessert and I highly recommend that you give it a try. My mother and I like to try new restaurants and this one did not disappoint. We will definitely be coming back!

Sabai Thai Eatery – Menu with Prices – 1113 Corydon Ave, Winnipeg

My husband, a friend and myself went to eat here after work this week. The restaurant is small but inviting. We were seated in a leather booth. You know, the kind that squeaks a bit when you fidget around. Their menu contains two pages of food choices. This is a plus for the hubby. He has a hard time making choices. After some contemplation, the waitress arrived and we were ready to place our order which consisted of: Drinks: husband and I had the Thai iced tea- really tasty but 3.50 is a little steep. Friend ordered the monks blend tea which I have to say, is really good. I’m no tea snob but was quite impressed. It leaves tasty little aftertaste in your mouth for a few seconds which I quite enjoyed. Appetizer: thai’d up shrimp: this was exactly what it sounds like. 6 pieces of shrimp, each on a skewer wrapped in vermicilli noodles and fried. Served with peanut sauce I need to learn how to make. Overall simple dish but quite good. You can never go wrong with meat on a stick. Main dish: Hubby: pad Thai – they didn’t ask him how hot he wanted it. I guess it comes with one option – really f’n hot! He can handle his spice and this plate was making his nose run. He ate it all though and enjoyed it. I snagged a single, lonely bean sprout off his plate and had to immediately douse my palate with some water. Too hot for me. Friend: green curry chicken: We were told that the green curry was hotter and were expectingas such. This dish however, was not hot at all. I really enjoyed it and found it to have a very smooth taste. Would recommend this one. Me: BBQ duck in a red coconut curry with lychee. $18.00 This dish is found in a section with a note that says something a little different and that’s exactly what I got. I was quite surprised to learn that duck and lychee, though an odd combination, compliment each other quite nicely. This dish was pretty darn tasty. My only complaint was the bones. I had to ask for a knife to seperate the meat. The neat was cooked well and was not overly fatty which is always a concern when I order duck. Side: rice $2.00 (I feel the rice should be free or a smaller bowl included with the curry dishes) Overall, we were all very full and satisfied after our meals and will go there again. I’d like to give a 3.5 star rating but yelp won’t let me so I’m going with 4. Though my dish was one of the more costly items on the menu, it is duck… And I’ve paid a he’ll of a lot more for duck than 18$ before. Decent prices go a long way in my books.

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates – Menu with Prices – 1801 L St #60, Sacramento

If you ever want to be paralyzed with a first-world problem, come to Ginger Elizabeth and try to pick out a dessert. My friend and I spent about 15 minutes agonizing over what to get. You’d think with so many small options, like a macaron and a truffle, it’d be easy to pick, but all the flavor options kept my head in a spin. Just when I thought the decision was made, the team offered some samples of their macarons – I assume because it was the end of the day – and it threw me back into choice confusion. My friend probably picked best, though. She got an Earl Grey truffle “stick”(around $4), which had such a soft and perfect flavor, and the gentle crunch made for a very unique dessert. Don’t get my wrong, though. My dessert of macarons and chocolate truffle cookie were also great. I went for a classic pistachio and vanilla almond macaron. The texture was perfect! Only as I was leaving did I notice the ice cream sandwiches listed on a menu high above the shelves. They all sounded so enticing, so I am glad I only saw it after the purchase was made.

Saint Jacques – Menu with Prices – 6112 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh

I came here for my birthday this year and I loved every morsel of food so much! It’s taken me a long time to try out Saint Jacques, mostly because it’s in a shopping center and has literally zero curb appeal. I will say that the experience is dampened by the location because it doesn’t feel as special as it could feel given a more unique location. But I’ll stop griping! The food however is phenomenal. We started off with wine and cocktails, both of which were generous and delicious. The complimentary bread is also great. For an app we shared the foie gras which was nicely prepared although small which is standard. The flavors went well together! For entrees my husband got a special of the night which was a fish entree and he loved it. I ordered the duck and SWEET JESUS it was incredible. One of the best meals I’ve ever had and definitely the best duck I’ve ever had. I wanted to lick the plate it was so dang good. I made sure I didn’t leave one crumb! Perfectly cooked and tender, loaded with flavor. Amazing. For dessert my husband got the s’mores dessert and I got the butternut squash and chocolate cake. They brought it out with a candle and writing on the plate which was a nice touch. Service was great and I loved the amuse bouche. Overall a wonderful meal even if it felt like I was dining in my grandmas house! Lol

DeBrand Fine Chocolates – Menu with Prices – 5608 Coldwater Rd, Fort Wayne

A round of hot (dark) chocolates for the ladies! Simply delightful when paired with a ‘Cassia’ from their connoisseur collection. IMO pace yourself and plan to savor the experience…for the finest chocolate you’ll ever have anywhere. If you are not a dark chocolate fan just choose the White Chocolate Key Lime truffle for a treat. ? Go to and sit in the plush and cushy seating that is somewhat hidden around corner of the display case. They’ll bring your clear glass mug of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream to you there while you wait in spoiled comfort. We always stop at DeBrands for a luxurious end to a great day of girl shopping in FWA. And, we never forget to ask them to bring out a water with our desserts. Believe me, its needed to counter the chocolate rush! Mmm…So good. ?

Voila French Bistro – Menu with Prices – 10135 E Vía Linda, Scottsdale

I don’t think I have enough stars to rate the new owner/ chef Jean Christophe! Last night we celebrated my husband’s 50 th birthday! I had vaguely mentioned his love for foie gras and had asked if they could make something with that in mind! I have to say I was blown away at how thoughtful and creative the meal was!!! And mind blowing delicious !! They even made a cake ( I had not even requested one I thought we would put a candle on a slice of something sweet) , a mouthwatering cake!!! And they remembered details of what we like. I am very thankful! Thank you to Jean Christophe and Segolene! We always love eating there but last night was very special!! Updated review for mother’s day brunch ! What a wonderful brunch we had on the lovely patio. As usual everything was delicious. A s special menu for the occasion that we shared with our sons. The egg Benedicts tasted the way they are suppose to taste but never could at other places. My boys who are picky ate with appetite! Beef bourguignon and apple tart ! Thank you for the rose! Another update : last night January 19th we had another amazing meal. It was a great night spent with my parents visiting from Europe. We had the foie gras made to perfection by chef Jean Christophe and the scallop/salmon appetizer that was equally delicious. All but me had the bouillabaisse spécial and my parents and husband said it was amazing. I had the filet mignon with foie gras sauce , gratin potatoes. We paired this lovely meal with a nice bottle of champagne ( Louis Roederer). Last but not least the raspberry soufflé was a big hit, I had the profiteroles and my dad had the crumble. Spectacular evening as usual!