Restaurante Review: The Odyssey (Granada Hills) [Rana]

This restaurant is high end. Not really, it attracts a great crowd and the atmosphere is amazing. The view is perhaps the best part of the experience, at least that's what people say. My favorite part of the experience is the Creme Brulee. Yup. We'll get to that later though.

The link: The Odyssey Restaurant



My brother ordered the seafood medley. There's a lobster tail, a scallop, white fish(I don't know which), and a slice of salmon. That all on a bed of pasta. My brother couldn't even finish the lobster tail, I ate some.



This is what I ordered. Filet mignon, cooked medium rare, over mashed potatoes(which were amazing), topped with fried onions, and a side of veggies. I finished the meat, and had two bites of potatoes. Honestly, it's waaaaay too big a portion.



This was my dessert. When I saw Creme Brulee on the menu, I just had to have it. And when I saw that it was topped with seasonal berries? I nearly fainted. I did what I always do. Slowly pick the berries off and eat them one by one, then dig into the sweet, creamy custard and crunchy chewy sugar coating. It's amazing. This is the dessert to order when you get here, no questions asked. My brothe had the red velvet cake, and hated it, so he stole a bite from me. Look, let me just tell you, when I'm eating Creme Brulee, you do NOT steal a bite from me. :]

-Rana

Steak, couscous, and grilled bread (Rana)

It's official. This is my favorite food. Depending on the time, I can almost guarantee you that I will always be up for eating steak. It's so simple to make, I really only used olive oil and Montreal steak seasoning, as you can see in the picture. I cooked the steak to a medium rare, and it was melt in your mouth delicious. Especially with a huge dollop of A1 steak sauce(the condiment I use on EVERYTHING).

The couscous was storebought, on sale for a dollar in the managers special aisle. It was really sweet and delicious, a wonderful texture and a great light side for an otherwise heavy meal.



That's the steak, raw, and drizzled with olive oil. I was outside, about to grill it, and I couldn't wait.



Mmm, look at those beautiful grillmarks. Sometimes I don't cook it thoroughly enough to produce grillmarks, but that's only when I get fresh meat that I know wont kill me if I consume some type of bacteria or something. You can even see a little of the grilled bread, which was warm, olive oily, and very chewy and delicious.



That's my steak, medium rare, a little of A1 on the side, and some amazing couscous salad to accompany the smoky, grilled flavor. I have no shots of the grilled bread, but trust me, it was delicious. Yum yum yummmm!!!! I have no ingredients or anything, it's a simple recipe. I just eyeballed everything.

-Rana

Rana and Vivi cook together! :D

It happened, kids! We finally found the time, in between work and just an outrageous busy schedule, to get together as friends(with Rana's best friend Laila) and makes some good eatin'!

Want a list of what we made?

Caprese Bites(Rana)
Chicken Fajitas(Rana)
Arab Carne Asada(no, it's not Shawarma...)[Rana]
Tomato Salsa(Rana)
Shrimp Patties(Vanessa)
Spinach and Mushroom Enchiladas(Vanessa)

Mind you, Vanessa worked her butt off on those shrimp patties, and the sauce that came with them. But the recipe or picture wont go up just yet. Vanessa's making a new batch, and then putting up the recipe when she gets internet again. For now, you guys are stuck with my recipe. Sad, huh?

I'm providing the recipes for the Caprese bites, and the Arab Carne Asada.

First off, the Caprese bites are an idea I got from Yummyland, a food blog I frequent. The recipe is so easy, and those pictures do absolutely no justice. Grrr. Just go to her blog, she does a much better job, and doesn't stupidly use her phone camera.



Now time for the Arab Asada(I've shortened the name, so sue me...). It's only called that because I have no idea how to make carne asada, and Vanessa(Vivi) thought of a Mexican food themed get-together. So I spiced it up a bit. This is my recipe:



Arab Asada:

Ingredients:
As much thinly cut meat as you want.(I got the meat for Carne Asada especially because it was on sale!)
Cumin
Salt
Pepper
1 onion, cut in half then sliced
1/2 a bulb of garlic
1 tsp ground rosemary
3 tbsp Olive Oil

Slice the meat as thin as you want it, I did thick slices, and slice against the grain so the meat isn't too chewy. Place in a big bowl. Sprinkle with as much cumin as you'd like, I did around 2 teaspoons. Crush or slice the garlic and add to the mixture, add the olive oil, the rosemary, the onion, and some salt and pepper to taste. Let sit for a while(when I was making this I was also working on some failed plantain chips and the Caprese bites). Heat up a pan and a little bit of oil, then dump all the bowls contents into the pan and fry it all around. I wanted to serve it medium well done, but they sat too long(for good reason).

Place the complete and hot meat and onions into a soft taco, as much as you like. Garnish with cilantro(Laila hates it), salsa, fresh sliced avocados, and sour cream. Whatever you'd like! I had one, but if I could have eaten more, I would have. I know what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow. ;D

So there you have it! Afterwards me and the girls went to Rite Aid for ice cream, but I was the only one who got some. Mmmm, Mint 'n' Chip!

-Rana