Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank, California

Before heading to the Ellen show in Burbank, CA our friend Ana Lydia from Cabeza de Coco took us to Bob’s Big Boy, the home of the original double decker hamburger! Oh boy, were we in for a TREAT! This was our first time at the Historic Californian restaurant.

As soon as we opened the door and took a few steps in, we were warmly greeted by the host! He politely asked for our name and number of guests…when we asked how long the wait would be, he told us around 10 minutes and also mentioned that there were a few seats available at the “bar” if we wanted….
YES! I love eating at the bar, especially at diners or places that have that old school vibe, ya know what I mean? Hehehe. So we we quickly seated at the bar…and greeted by our server, Alma (who was GREAT, she told us about the classic car show held every Friday night and the 50s costume contest and classic car show trophy night held the first Saturday of every Month)!

I really couldn’t keep my eyes off of all of the memorabilia and decor in Bob’s Big Boy, it was BEAUTIFUL!!! Directly in front of where I was sitting, there was a two tier glass case with the original model of the first Bob’s Big Boy, different size Big Boy figurines and toy cars from the 1950s. Ah, I wish there were more places with the retro feel of the 50s!! Oh, and I heard that THE BEATLES ate here while they were on tour in the 60s!!

At Bob’s Big Boy you can buy anything from the classic breakfast favorites (pancakes, french toast, belgian waffles, omelettes, etc) to burgers (their FAMOUS BIG BOY burgers, gourmet burgers and sandwiches) and Bob’s Classics Chili Spaghetti. Wait that’s not all, they also have quesadillas, fried chicken, steak, shrimp/fish and Italian spaghetti!! And for those who prefer salads, they have  a couple choices for you too! 

Bob’s Big Boy has a great list of dessert classics from the 50s! Milkshakes, floats, sundaes, pies and cakes! Oh, and the classic Coca-Cola (Vanilla, Cherry and Chocolate).

So what did we order? I ordered “The Original Big Boy Combo” which is their original double-decker hamburger with two all-beef patties on a grilled sesame seed bun with crisp shredded lettuce, American cheese, dressings, an their “special” relish. It is served with french fries and a salad. I got onion rings instead of fries tho 😛 

The dinner salad was a big portion and there were many dressings to choose from. I went with my favorite, Ceasar. It even came with croutons and parmesan!
Original Big Boy Combo: $8.59

And to drink I had to have my favorite classic, a root beer float made with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and a whole lot of root beer! So much, that it’s served on a saucer for the over-flowing root beer hehehe. 
Root Beer Float $3.59

Check out the original double-decker hamburger and root beer float below!  I ate everything and was one step away from lickin my plate…ahahaha it was THAT GOOD! Everything tasted fresh!!

My husband, Gabriel ordered the “Super Big Boy Combo” which is basically the same double-decker hamburger, just with 50 percent more meat and cheese! Don’t mind his mixture of ketchup, mustard and hot sauce on the plate..lol
Super Big Boy Combo: $8.99

And to drink he had a Rich Vanilla Milkshake made with real ice cream, topped to the rim with whip and a cherry on top! There was also a little extra in the silver tin it was made in to fill up, yuuum! Gabriel says it’s one of the best milkshakes he’s had.
Rich Milkshake: $3.89

Uhm, my mouth has been watering the whole time I’ve been writing this post and now I want a double-decker hamburger and a root beer float!!! But it’s clearly TOO early for that, so I will go back to sleep and dream of being at Bob’s Big Boy eating…what’s in the photos below ahahaha.  Have a great day!! XOX
BOB’S BIG BOY
4211 W Riverside Dr
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 843-9334
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Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank, California

Before heading to the Ellen show in Burbank, CA our friend Ana Lydia from Cabeza de Coco took us to Bob’s Big Boy, the home of the original double decker hamburger! Oh boy, were we in for a TREAT! This was our first time at the Historic Californian restaurant.

As soon as we opened the door and took a few steps in, we were warmly greeted by the host! He politely asked for our name and number of guests…when we asked how long the wait would be, he told us around 10 minutes and also mentioned that there were a few seats available at the “bar” if we wanted….
YES! I love eating at the bar, especially at diners or places that have that old school vibe, ya know what I mean? Hehehe. So we we quickly seated at the bar…and greeted by our server, Alma (who was GREAT, she told us about the classic car show held every Friday night and the 50s costume contest and classic car show trophy night held the first Saturday of every Month)!

I really couldn’t keep my eyes off of all of the memorabilia and decor in Bob’s Big Boy, it was BEAUTIFUL!!! Directly in front of where I was sitting, there was a two tier glass case with the original model of the first Bob’s Big Boy, different size Big Boy figurines and toy cars from the 1950s. Ah, I wish there were more places with the retro feel of the 50s!! Oh, and I heard that THE BEATLES ate here while they were on tour in the 60s!!

At Bob’s Big Boy you can buy anything from the classic breakfast favorites (pancakes, french toast, belgian waffles, omelettes, etc) to burgers (their FAMOUS BIG BOY burgers, gourmet burgers and sandwiches) and Bob’s Classics Chili Spaghetti. Wait that’s not all, they also have quesadillas, fried chicken, steak, shrimp/fish and Italian spaghetti!! And for those who prefer salads, they have  a couple choices for you too! 

Bob’s Big Boy has a great list of dessert classics from the 50s! Milkshakes, floats, sundaes, pies and cakes! Oh, and the classic Coca-Cola (Vanilla, Cherry and Chocolate).

So what did we order? I ordered “The Original Big Boy Combo” which is their original double-decker hamburger with two all-beef patties on a grilled sesame seed bun with crisp shredded lettuce, American cheese, dressings, an their “special” relish. It is served with french fries and a salad. I got onion rings instead of fries tho 😛 

The dinner salad was a big portion and there were many dressings to choose from. I went with my favorite, Ceasar. It even came with croutons and parmesan!
Original Big Boy Combo: $8.59

And to drink I had to have my favorite classic, a root beer float made with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and a whole lot of root beer! So much, that it’s served on a saucer for the over-flowing root beer hehehe. 
Root Beer Float $3.59

Check out the original double-decker hamburger and root beer float below!  I ate everything and was one step away from lickin my plate…ahahaha it was THAT GOOD! Everything tasted fresh!!

My husband, Gabriel ordered the “Super Big Boy Combo” which is basically the same double-decker hamburger, just with 50 percent more meat and cheese! Don’t mind his mixture of ketchup, mustard and hot sauce on the plate..lol
Super Big Boy Combo: $8.99

And to drink he had a Rich Vanilla Milkshake made with real ice cream, topped to the rim with whip and a cherry on top! There was also a little extra in the silver tin it was made in to fill up, yuuum! Gabriel says it’s one of the best milkshakes he’s had.
Rich Milkshake: $3.89

Uhm, my mouth has been watering the whole time I’ve been writing this post and now I want a double-decker hamburger and a root beer float!!! But it’s clearly TOO early for that, so I will go back to sleep and dream of being at Bob’s Big Boy eating…what’s in the photos below ahahaha.  Have a great day!! XOX
BOB’S BIG BOY
4211 W Riverside Dr
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 843-9334
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Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles

Gabriel and I finally made it up to the iconic Griffith Observatory for the first time on our most recent trip to Los Angeles. We were SO thrilled to finally explore and observe the most visited public observatory in the world!!!

We decided that we were first going to take in the views from atop. We walked around the Griffith Observatory and enjoyed the astronomical views of LA, the Hollywood Sign and beyond. Yes, that little white blur in the first photo is the famous Hollywood Sign hehehe.  

After taking in the views from outside, we headed in towards the Ahmanson Hall of the Sky where we got to explore the Sun. In this hall you can learn about what causes the day and night, seasons, and Moon phases. My favorite part in the Ahmanson Hall of the Sky was being able to use the Solar telescopes to get a LIVE view of the Sun!!! 

Besides being obsessed with the Moon and the rest of Space, Gabriel and I also enjoy watching pendulums (energy), so we were excited to see the Foucault Pendulum while walking through the W.M Keck Foundation Central Rotunda towards the Wilder Hall of the Eye. You can also find beautiful Hugo Ballin Murals at the Rotunda, I fell in love with the mural on the ceiling from where the Pendulum hangs.

In the Wilder Hall of the Eye we learned how observing the Sky has changed over thousands of years and how it affects the way we perceive Earth and the universe. My favorite learning activity in this hall was the Sky dioramas, where illustrations explained how different peoples used the Sky to improve their lives. I could also sit and stare at the Tesla Coil for hours, it’s so cool! 😛

The Gottlieb Transit Corridor is a tool that demonstrates how the movement of the Sun, Moon and stars are linked to time and the calendar. 

Ok, so my FAVORITE section of the Griffith Observatory may be the Edge of Space because it’s where I got to see a part of the MOON!!!!!! YES!!!!! Nina got to see a part of the Apollo Moon Rock up close and personal! I also got to see a Meteorite collection, Cloud and Spark Chambers and other objects from space.

And finally, the Gunther Depths of Space where we were able to explore exhibits dedicated to The Planets, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, Stars and so much more of what’s out there in the Universe!

I still can’t believe that the Griffith Observatory is FREE!!!! THANK YOU Griffith J. Griffith for the amazing gift you’ve given to millions and millions..and millions of people. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the view from the Roof Terrace is UNREAL. Next time we visit the Griffith Observatory I’d like to go at night to look though the telescope on the Roof Terrace. Maybe a picnic too?

Have you ever been to the Griffith Observatory?
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Guisados in Los Angeles

When it comes to eating tacos, I admit I’m kind of a snob. I partially blame it on Gabriel (my husband), Pedro and Mariana (bil+sil) for always taking me to the BEST taco joints in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. 

Some of my pre-requisites before buying/eating a taco are:
1) Tortillas must be freshly handmade 
2) Ingredients must be fresh
3) Various salsa options
4) Lots of limes handy
5) FRESHLY made hot sauce, none of this Valentina/Tapatio business
Anyways, when we were in LA, our friend took us to this taco spot called GUISADOS. Oh boy, first thing I noticed when I walked thru the doors of their Boyle Heights location was their huge comal. As I peeked over the counter, I saw the fresh tortillas being cooked, YES YES YES, I was so stoked because I love fresh tortillas hechas a mano! Also noticed that they served aguas frescas de horchata, jamaica, melon and limon! YUM! When we were looking at the menu, the lady at the cash register mentioned that everything was made fresh!!!! ^.^ 

The variety of tacos was good: Steak Picado, Bistek en Salsa Roja, Mole Poblano, Cochinita Pibil, Chicharon, Chuleta, Chorizo, Tinga, Calabacitas, Hongos con Cilantro, Frijoles con Queso, Chiles Toreados, Camarones, Pescado and Quesadilla. Each taco sold for $2.50.

They also had an option called the “Sampler” which is your choice of 6 mini tacos from the list. Gabriel and I both choose the Sampler so we could try some of our favorite kinds of tacos at Guisados for the first time! Let me tell you, I was very happy with my picks:  Mole Poblano, Cochinita Pibil, Chicharon,Tinga, Steak Picado and Bistek en Salsa Roja.  I had my limes and salsa picante handy on the side! And to wash it all down, Gabriel had bolted across the street for a 6 pack of Pacifico…the perfect pairing for tacos is always a cold cerveza 😉

If I had to pick my top two tacos from this experience at Guisados, it would be the Cochinita Pibil and Mole Poblano! Agh, just thinking of them is making my mouth water ahahaa. Guisados is by far THE BEST TACO joint we’ve experienced in Los Angeles.
Boyle Heights
2100 E. Cesar Chavez Ave
LA, CA

Echo Park
1261 W. Sunset Blvd
LA, CA
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Homegirl Cafe in Los Angeles

You know I love to eat, especially when I am on vacation! You could say that I eat almost anything and everything in sight. Hahaha, seriously you know I’m not lying if you follow me on instagram!

While we were in Los Angeles last month, my friend Ana from Cha Cha Covers introduced us to Homegirl Cafe. We made it right on time for breakfast which ends at 11am.

I love Mexican breakfast, and almost ALWAYS order chilaquiles, either verdes or divorciados (half red/half green). So what are chilaquiles? Chilaquiles is a plate of: fresh tortilla chips topped with either red or green salsa, queso, crema, sliced red onions, and cilantro with 2 eggs sunnyside up and a side of black beans.

At Homegirl Cafe, your chilaquiles come with an option of black beans, homegirl potatoes, or house salad. I obviously went with the the black beans. And the two eggs were also optional, at an extra cost of $3, which I had to fork over.

Overall, I was pretty happy with my plate of chilaquiles from Homegirl Cafe. My only “but”, my egg was a little over done..everything else was FRESH! I ate it all and even licked my plate clean ahahaha. 
Why is it called Homegirl Cafe? Because the women working there are “serving you instead of serving time.” GULP, yes that’s right. Homegirl Cafe is a part of Homeboy Industries, an organization “that serves high risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with a continuum of free services and programs.” Homegirl Cafe is one of “seven social enterprises that serve as job training sites.”
  • HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES/ homegirl cafe
  • 130 W. BRUNO ST.
  • LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
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Chili’s Mexico in Puerto Vallarta

We don’t have Chili’s here in Vancouver, so whenever my husband and I are in the USA or Mexico, we make sure to always hit it up at least once! On our most recent trip to Puerto Vallarta, we were dying for some yummy burgers, so it was obvious where we had to go!

I am a loyal chicken burger eater, so I ordered the Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich. The Ranch sauce is smothered on the buns and the chicken breast usually comes drenched in Frank’s hot sauce , but I like to ask for both sauces on the side so the buns don’t get soggy. This way I can administer how much sauce goes on 🙂

Personally, I love Chili’s Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich, it’s my favorite! My husband loves anything with bacon, so he ordered the Bacon Burger, which was a hit! And my father-in-law ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger! Hi five’s all’round, we were all very happy with our burgers!

Plus the view from this Chili’s in Puerto Vallarta is stunning. You can see the cruise ship arrive and depart from the Bay right before your eyes while enjoying the yummy food. Not only that, but if you are in Chili’s in the evening you can witness  BREATHTAKING sunsets!

The service at this location is fine, nothing outstanding, but not the worst. Food arrived within 15 minutes. 
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Hooters in Mexico City

After a long bus ride from Guadalajara we finally arrived at Mexico City at 6 in the morning. We stopped into Samborns for some breakfast before we continued our journey of finding a couple important offices in the City…oh boy, we walked around like chickens with our heads cut off for about 10 hours, without stopping for tacos or huaraches. So by the time we arrived at our aunts house it was 5pm and we were STARVING….y que tocamos la puerta y nadie contesta, not even the lady that helps around the home. 
We were so hungry we dragged ourselves (and our luggage!) a couple blocks to the first restaurant we encountered…HOOTERS. Like I said, we were desperate…
I had never been to Hooters before, so I admit that I was a bit intrigued to see how big the hooters were hahaha. Anyways, we were quickly seated and the chicks were all googley eyed over my husband…didn’t let that bother me, I guess that’s one of their specials of the day? 
What did we order?
2 Hooters Burgers: These burgers were disgusting and the only reason we ate them was because we were SO HUNGRY we couldn’t send them back and wait for another. The patty was very bland and dry. Burgers did not come with fries, but a TINY spoonful of potato salad (that was also disgusting).
Curley Fries: Nobody can serve bad curley fries,right? WRONG. Our curley fries came cold and hard as if they had been out all day, bleh. I also think it’s such a RIP-OFF that your burger does not come with fries!!!
Nachos: The worst nachos i have EVER had in my life. Gawsh, just thinking about them makes me want to vomit…I mean just look at that picture. The nachos were stale, the ground beef was bland and tasted awful. The cheese, looked like slices of Kraft Singles that were just thrown on the top.  We didn’t finish this plate…
Not only was the food HORRIBLE, the service was just as bad. The servers were not interested in customers, but each other as they frolicked around playing with each other’s hair and flirting with the manager. The food took approx. 25 minutes to get to our table, and the servers never asked us once if we were enjoying our food. They probably know better than to ask that, right? And to top it all off, we’re pretty sure everything was popped into the microwave to warm up, I mean “cook.” The only good thing about our visit to Hooters were the hoo..pints of beer we drank. Hahaha
Save your taste buds, stomach and wallet! Yes, wallet too because Hooters is expensive for a burger kinda joint. $150 Mexican pesos for a burger with NO FRIES or salad? Come on…
Sucursal San Miguel
Insurgentes Sur No. 2018
Col. San Ángel.
Entre Miguel Ángel de Quevedo y Altavista.
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"La Casa Azul" Museo de Frida Kahlo: Family Photographs, Diego Rivera and Retablo’s

Two weeks ago I shared a little bit about my first experience at La Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo’s home (click here to read first post), today I am going to show you a few of the photographs I took in rooms three, four and five of La Casa Azul.


Room three is absolutely breathtaking. It’s full of Kahlo’s family photos, her parents, her sisters, and of course her love Diego Rivera. There are also some of Frida’s sketches and a paper mache set that she made.


Room four is dedicated to her amor eterno Diego Rivera: his sketches, paintings and even blueprint and photographs of the museum/home he as building “Anahuacalli.“


Room five is dedicated to Frida’s “Retablos.” From what I have read, Frida and Diego had hundreds of Retablo’s displayed throughout their home. A retablo is a painting that includes three basic elements:

  1. A scene depicting a tragedy or someone with a grave injury/illness,
  2. A Saint or Martyr that intervened and made a Milagro (Miracle),
  3. An inscription describing the tragic event and giving thanks for the Divine intervention.
Retablos
Note: I did pay 60 Mexican Pesos for a photography pass, which allowed me to take photos throughout La Casa Azul.
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"La Casa Azul" Museo Frida Kahlo: Room #1 and #2

Third time’s a charm…

I had always wanted to go to el Museo de Frida Kahlo on our previous trips to Mexico City, but for one reason or another, it never worked out. So, it was a DREAM COME TRUE when we finally went to Frida Kahlo‘s home, “La Casa Azul”  in November 2012.

As soon as we drove up to La Casa Azul, I couldn’t believe it! Everything I had seen and read in books was right before my eyes. And I got a rush of excitement and energy that I could’t contain, I was BEAMING, smiling from ear to ear! I was eager to dedicate a whole day to feeling Frida, to walk through her home and astounding garden I had read so much about. 

The first five rooms in La Casa Azul are dedicated to Frida Kahlo‘s paintings, sketches, personal/family photographs, Diego Rivera, and ofrendas (devotions). The following images are from the room #1 and #2 in La Casa Azul. 

It was an amazing feeling to be in the presence of Frida Kahlo…
[Above: Frida and the Cesarean Unfinished]
[Above: Don Guillermo Kahlo, Frida’s dad]
[Above: Portrait of a Girl Unfinished]
[Above: Self Portrait Unfinished]

[Above: Frida’s Family Tree Unfinished]
[Above: Viva La Vida Watermelon]
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Coleguita in Puerto Vallarta

En nuestro último viaje a Puerto Vallarta mis papas insistieron demasiado en que fuéramos a comer todos a Mariscos El Coleguita. La descripción que hacían de los platillos era  de una manera casi exagerada, decían que la atención al cliente era excelente y sobre todo hicieron mucho énfasis en los tequilas que te ofrecen al llegar y durante tu estancia, por cortesia de la casa.. al final nos convencieron.. 

Cuando llegamos al lugar, no habían pasado ni 2 minutos cuando nuestro mesero ya estaba presentándose con nosotros, ofreciéndonos caballitos de tequila para abrir el apetito mientras disfrutábamos de una rica brisa, música de trio y Mariachis. Inmediatamente otro mesero se nos acercó ofreciéndonos un caldo de camarón preparado por ellos mismos, haciendo una mancuerna perfecta con los tequiliux. 

Al poco tiempo llegaron nuestros platillos, su presentación era totalmente colorida con porciones grandes, bien servidas y siempre con un toque de frescura al incluir ensalada o verduras frescas en tu platillo. Entre los cuatro platillos que pedimos en esa ocasión, había una combinación de pescado fresco, camarón y pulpo, en diferentes presentaciones como empanizados, a la diabla, al ajo y natural. Solo puedo decir una cosa.. Mis papas no estaban mintiendo ni mucho menos exagerando!  Los platillos eran enormes y sobre todo deliciosos! Y eso no es todo..  al terminar nuestros platos fuertes arribaron los postres! El Coleguita te regala platanitos fritos con Leche condensada (lechera) acompañado de un caballito de licor de café para rematar y cerrar la experiencia con broche de oro. 

Definitivamente mariscos El Coleguita es un ‘must go‘ en tu estancia por Puerto Vallarta, cuentan con tres diferentes locaciones muy bien distribuidas pues se encuentran en la entrada, en la salida y en el corazón de Puerto Vallarta, haciendo este lugar uno de nuestros preferidos! Thanks to mis jefes! Thumbs up pa’ los coleguitas!

Nota: Todos los platillos incluyen un Caballito de Tequila, un Caldito de Camarón y de postre, Platanito Frito y Licor de Café.
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