[Pasadena] [American] The Novel Cafe

The Novel Cafe
1713 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 683-3309
http://www.novelcafe.com

My sister bought a $25 gift certificate for The Novel Cafe from Restaurant.com.  Their menu looked good and healthy from their website.  We decided to go there for dinner and use the GC.



We weren't really sure if it was a coffee shop, a restaurant, or a wine bar.  It was more like a combination of all three.  We walked in, and nobody was there to greet us.  We walked up to the bartender and he told us to sit anywhere we liked.  A waitress brought us the menu a few minutes later.  We showed her the Restaurant.com gift certificate, and she just said, "oh we are no longer taking those."  That was all she said.  But why?  The GC wasn't even expired.  So my sister just bought them for nothing?  Can restaurants do that?

[Pasadena] [Mexican] Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill

Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill
841 Cordova Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 568-3500
http://www.sharkys.com

After my sister read about Sharky's on my blog, she wanted to try the salmon burrito, too.  Since I was up in San Gabriel Valley, we went to Pasadena Sharky's for a healthy and delicious organic Mexican lunch.


Chipotle BBQ Chicken Stone Fired Pizza ($8.29)
Chipotle BBQ Sauce, 4 Cheeses, Tomatoes, Red Onion, Green Onion, Cilantro, Chipotle Crust

I wanted the salmon burrito, but I also wanted to try something different.  It was so hard to decide because everything looked good on the menu.  I finally settled for Chipotle BBQ Chicken Stone Fired Pizza.  The pizza was made on a baked thin crust crispy tortilla.  I liked all the ingredients on the pizza.  Chicken, cheese, tomato, onion, green onion, cilantro, and BBQ sauce.  This was a very light pizza comparing to regular pizza.  Very good.

Save Money Shopping with Mr. Rebates

I wrote about Ebates last time.  Thanks to my reader, Jenny!  She left a comment and told me about Mr. Rebates.  Mr. Rebates works the same as Ebates, and offer even more cashback!  But Ebates does have more available stores for cashback.  So what's the best thing to do to save money?  Join both of course!  Always check with both websites before you make an online purchase to get the most money back.

[Rosemead] [Malaysian] Ruben's Kitchen

Ruben's Kitchen
銘廚馬來風味
8728 Valley Blvd #101
Rosemead, CA 91770
(626) 307-1157

After taking my parents to a horrible lunch, they don't trust my restaurant suggestions anymore.  For dinner, they want to take me to a restaurant that they think it's good.  They said they've been to Ruben's Kitchen for Malaysian food a few times, and have never been disappointed.


咖喱海鮮湯麵 Curry Seafood Noodle Soup ($7.95)

Curry Seafood Noodle Soup was my dad's favorite.  But he doesn't eat it like a noodle soup.  Instead, he pour the thick curry soup over white rice.  That's his favorite way to eat this dish.  Lots of shrimp, fish cake, and squid in the noodle soup.  I love the puffy tofu that soaked up all the curry soup.  The soup was slightly spicy.  Delicious!

[Industry] [Chinese] Flaming Spice

Flaming Spice
鍋盆碗裡
18518 Gale Ave
Industry, CA 91744
(626) 964-6569

My friends went to Flaming Spice for dinner and posted pictures of the food online.  I thought the photo of their hot pot looked so good.  I got the restaurant info from my friends, and took my parents to go try this new hot pot restaurant.



We went for lunch.  They had individual hot pot lunch special during lunch hour.  The all you can eat for $20/person option was also available.  Their buffet wasn't even ready when we got there.  So we opted for the lunch special hot pot.

[Irvine] [Chinese] Chong Qing Mei Wei Szechwan Restaurant

Chong Qing Mei Wei Szechwan Restaurant
重慶美味川菜
5406 Walnut Ave #C
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 651-8886

We wanted to eat Chinese food for Chinese new year's eve celebration.  The obvious choice was our favorite Chinese restaurant in Orange County, Chong Qing Mei Wei.

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They were super busy that night.  We had to wait for a while for a table, but it was well worth it.  They redecorate the restaurant a little.  Now they have better comfy chairs, hanging lamp above every table, and rustic looking iron chandeliers.  I like it.

[Shopping] Nordstrom Rack Finds

I didn't really have plan to shop.  But after happy hour at Elephant Bar, since Nordstrom Rack is right there, might as well go in to take a look.  I had to let Dr. P know that... I didn't plan it, seriously!  Nordstrom Rack just "happens" to be right there.  (*wink wink*)  haha....  I love bargain so I love Nordstrom Rack.  Nordstrom Rack is pretty much the outlet for Nordstrom.  We chatted with the cashier last time we were there.  He told us that they receive new merchandise from Nordstrom EVERYDAY except Sunday and Monday.  Here's a good tip from the cashier:  They receieve the biggest shipment on Saturday and Tuesday.  But Saturday is always crowded.  So the best time to shop at Nordstrom Rack would be Tuesday.  Those were the bargains I got yesterday.


Børn 'Lovely' Flat ($89.95 $29.90)

Aren't those shoes cute?  At first I just thought they were cute.  Then I tried them on.  It was soooooo comfortable with the cushion bed.  Had to get it.  The shoes are still on Nordstrom's website for sale with regular price.  How lucky was I to find this pair, and just my size?!