(Photos shot with Stephamie's SD1000)

Sobahn Express is located inside a Korean market, H Mart, inside Diamond Plaza in Irvine. I've seen this place so many times since Diamond Plaza's opening, but never actually stopped by. On this cold night, the crew and I decided to try something different to warm our bellies.

This place had about 2 dozen dishes on an attractive photo menu including things like bibimbap, soon tofu, and a bulgogi wrap.

Infrared rays improve the taste?? Im psyched!!

A clever wooden box makes handling easier.

Pork and kimchi soon tofu:

It came out boiling with two side dishes.

Maybe it's just my expectations. I've only had Korean tofu soup from about three other local restaurants, but this is easily the bottom of the list. Apparently, those were all not legit, "slow foods" neither, but they were at least satisfying.

Broth at Sobahn Express was lacking and even watery. This is what I'd imagine instant tofu soup would be like.

My favorite part was that the pork was served in a whole chunk.

Tofu soup here costs is not any cheaper than nearby tofu houses and it came with fewer and worse side dishes. BCD Tofu House in the same plaza is open 24 hours, I see no reason to come back here for the soup. The food court was fairly crowded with customers of Sobahn, though.

Maybe the wrap is where it's.

The infrared rays have failed.

Sobahn Express (inside H Mart's food court)
2600-2100 Alton Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 660-8085

The holiday season is upon us and when it's cold outside, nothing's as nice as cozying up with a nice, hot beverage (while donning your Snuggie). When you want a cup of hot cocoa, making it at home is really not that hard. It sure beats the packaged instant mixes too.

Using chocolate will give a bit of a richer taste, but you also use cocoa powder and add cream for a similar effect. 101 Cookbooks has compiled a nice list of user-submitted suggestions for drinkable chocolate.

What you need:
4 cups milk
2 ounces cocoa
1/3 cup sugar

heavy whipping cream
cinnamon sticks
whole nutmeg

Method:
Add the cocoa (or chocolate), sugar, and half of the milk to a pot. Heat gently at 50% heat until it starts to boil, then add the remainder of the milk.

Whip with an electric beater until you get soft peaks:

Pour the hot cocoa into a glass and top with some whipped cream. Sprinkle with some cocoa powder, or cinnamon and nutmeg shavings.

This recipe is for Weekend Wokking, a world-wide food blogging event created by Wandering Chopsticks to celebrate different ways ingredients are used across cultures. The host this month is Erbe In Cucina (Cooking with herbs). If you would like to participate or to see the secret ingredient, check who's hosting next month.

This Vietnamese Boiled Cabbage recipe is incredibly simple. What makes it different is the dipping sauce that goes with it!

Ingredients:
1/4 to 1/2 head of cabbage

fish sauce
1 hard-boiled egg
lime

Method:
Boil the egg(s), about 8-10 minutes.
Chop the cabbage into large pieces (about 1.5" x 2").
Boil the cabbage for about 2-4 minutes until tender.
Mash up about 1/2 a hard-boiled egg in fish sauce. You can add a squeeze of lime juice and some chile pepper too.
Serve with rice.

For 15 years, chef and owner Tanya Petrovna has been cooking up organic / vegan cuisine at Native Foods. Five locations in Southern California list slightly different menus to ensure freshness of ingredients.
(notice inside that this restaurant is powered by helicopter blades...)

Aside from The Veggie Grill, vegetarian / vegan restaurants aren't top on my dining list. On this rare occasion I visit with Trujillo and the fam to grab some night time eats.

Trujillo's self-dubbed "Mango Boner Salad":

I love the presentation on this corn chowder. It tasted bland though. The nachos (not pictured) were also bland.

For dessert: awkward moments served by the queen of said moments, Snard, as she snares the friendly busser slash accountant for a chat.

These babies, however, stayed in the display/anti-swine flu case:

Native Foods
2937 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 751-2151
Hours:
Monday-Sunday
11AM - 10PM

Adding bacon to something I already love?: Genius! You don't have to decide between breakfast and a Big Mac anymore. And count them--THREE meat patties! Let the Mega Tamago (egg) up your cholesterol in one fell swoop. Why would they make this only available in Japan???

Albeit not as bold as KFC's Double Down, the Mega Tamago still gets my vote.

My only comfort is knowing McDonald's food is as poorly prepared as it is in the States. Google Images:Mega Tamago.

Please bear with this guy's excessive swearing to describe the burger:

"My, that's mediocre." LOL.