Vino, Va Bene!

I really do love a good glass of wine.  I think my love was truly born after studying abroad in Italy.  It was there that I really began to appreciate Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and the like.  When I returned to the states, I immediately sought out wine bars where I could further my appreciation.  LA has tons of gems such as Bodega, Sheddy's, and Bottle Rock to name a few.  But after moving to Orange County, I found that the area has a severe lack of wine bars.  Until I found Bacchus' Secret Cellar.

Secret is definitely the word for this wine shoppe/bar.  It's nestled away in the Quail Hill neighborhood of Orange County, stuck between a Subway and a Thai Food restaurant in the local shopping center.  Sure, the location may sound weird, but once you walk inside you forget that someone is making 6-inch subs next door.

The walls of the cellar are lined with various wines from all over the world and tucked away in one corner is a cheese case highlighting different kinds of cheeses that would go well with your wine.  There is one bar, and the rest of the space is adorned with tables, couches, and comfy chairs.  You really do feel like you are in someone's cellar and not in some trendy bar.  If you are looking for more of a homey vibe, Bacchus definitely has it.

Vino, Va Bene!

The cellar offers different wine "flights" - 3 2.5oz glasses of different red or white wines for a set price, or you can order by the glass (or bottle) off of their extensive menu.  In addition to the cheese, Bacchus also offers various meats and other small bites to enjoy with your glass of wine, and of course some very decadent-looking chocolate truffles.

Overall, I was impressed with Bacchus' Secret Cellar.  It's a good stop for a nice date night, or just a casual drink with a friend.  With so many wine varieties to choose from, I think I'll be making more than one return trip to Bacchus.

Bacchus' Secret Cellar
6735 Quail Hill Parkway
Irvine, CA 92603

Taco Rosa makes my heart sing

Being a Southern California native, I just happen to LOVE Mexican food.  Guacamole and rice and beans oh my!  However, when I found out I was allergic to corn of all things, I started to see many of my Mexican food-filled dreams fly out the window.  No more salty tortilla chips with guac.  No more fresh tamales.  No more mini taquitos and tostadas.  The horror!  Since Mexican food is a very heavily corn-based, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to eat at many Mexican restaurants anymore.  But then I remembered, there's Taco Rosa.

Taco Rosa is a lovely Mexican Cantina that was created from Taco Mesa founders Ivan and Marco Calderon.  While Taco Mesa serves fast and fresh Mexican dishes, Taco Rosa can be viewed as Taco Mesa's more refined big sister.  I have mad mad love for both establishments, but right now this post is dedicated to Taco Rosa (which doesn't mean that Taco Mesa won't make an appearance in the near future).

Taco Rosa's cuisine is something you could imagine yourself eating if you were actually in Mexico City.  The restaurant offers many classic Mexican dishes, with a slight French or Spanish influence.  If you are looking for more "Americanized" Mexican food, let me tell you, Taco Rosa is NOT that.  If you are in the mood for classic, Mexican flavors with a bit of a twist, this is your place.  Plus, they have happy hour weekdays from 3-6 so you can enjoy all of their delicious beverages for half the price.  But more on the beverages later.

The menu has all of the standards - Quesadillas, Fajitas, Enchiladas, Tostadas, etc.  They are also more than willing to accomodate any dietary needs.  Everytime I go in there I ask for flour tortillas instead of corn for all of my dishes and they are more than happy to oblige.  Oh, and they make the tortillas on site so you KNOW they are good.

When you first sit down, you are presented with some carrots, onions and vinegar (aka escabeche), a couple flautas, and some guacamole.  It's the perfect way to tease your palate of the yummy goodness that is to come.  Now Taco Rosa is well known for their homemade margaritas with agave nectar and sea salt, but I also have a love for their house sangria with fresh fruit.  The drinks are big and strong so you definitely get your money's worth.

Decadant Sangria and a Blended Margarita

On the food front, their Chicken Quesadilla, Carne Asada Burrito, and Calamari Tostada are all fantastic choices.  But of course, I have got to call out their Chicken and Shrimp Fajitas that are always just SIZZLING with flavor when presented.

Just look at that sizzle!

One of Taco Rosa's most popular dishes is the Enchiladas Mexico City which is made with pulled chicken in a tomatillo sauce and smothered in cheese.  Corn tortillas are traditionally used for this dish, and sometimes it's best not to mess with tradition, so my review is strictly based on word of mouth.

If you want something yum and meaty, try the Carnitas Pibil which is made in a wrapped banana leaf, or the Alambre Tacos with bacon and peppers.

Just make sure you leave room for dessert.  Oh, the dessert.  Sopapillas happen to be one of my favorite Mexican desserts, and many restaurants do not serve them.  For those who do not know, a sopapilla is a Mexican quick bread that is made with flour, shortening, oil, and baking powder, to creat a small pillow-like shape.  The sopapillas are then dipped in a fryer and usually served warm with ice cream.  Taco Rosa however, takes sopapillas to the next level.  Once the sopapillas are fried, they are served piping hot over vanilla bean ice cream with fresh strawberries, and honey and chocolate sauce for dipping.  Words cannot describe.

Perfection

Now that you are officially full of Mexican food goodness, you can roll yourself out of the restaurant and take a nice long siesta while your belly digests all that delicious food.  Taco Rosa only uses the finest and freshest ingredients, so you don't leave with that greasy Mexican food feeling. 

There are two Taco Rosa locations in Orange County - one in Newport Beach and one in Tustin.  Both are fine establishments, but if you are looking for something a little quieter and more intimate, the Newport location is definitely for you.  Regardless of which Taco Rosa establishment you dine at, you MUST order the sopapillas.  Just trust me on this one.

Taco Rosa

Tustin Marketplace
Bridgepark Plaza
13792 Jamboree Rd., 92670
(714) 505-6080
fax (714) 505-6133

Newport Beach
2632 San Miguel Rd., 92660
(949) 720-0980
fax (949) 720-0982

An Ode to Sprinkles Cupcakes

So I happen to be a fan of cupcakes.  More specifically, a fan of Sprinkles Cupcakes.

Sprinkles was the first of many cupcake shops to pop up all over Southern California.  While I have sampled some of the other bakeries, Sprinkles will always have a special place in my heart.  Not only are the cupcakes made with the finest all-natural ingredients, it's one of the few desserts that I can enjoy without worrying that it has been laced with corn syrup. 

I love that the bakery has seasonal flavors (Eggnog Spice or Caramel Apple anyone?) and that they also have classic flavors that never go out of style such as Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, Black and White (chocolate cake with vanilla icing), and of course Red Velvet.  The cupcake shop even introduced a Gluten-Free Red Velvet flavor, so those who have a gluten intolerance can enjoy these little gems as well.

Just look at these beauties (even though they have been clearly eaten and/or mashed up)

Thanks Sprinkles, for always being there for family occasions, friends' birthdays, and office parties.  Also thank you for creating take home mixes even though the cupcakes I create at home are never as good as in your bakeshop.

xoxo,

Allison

Sprinkles Cupcakes
Corona del Mar Plaza
944 Avocado Ave.
Newport Beach, CA 92660

R+D Kitchen Take 2

Ok, so I may be a teensy bit obsessed with R+D Kitchen, but I promise I dine at other fine establishments in Orange County as well.  But since my friend suggested that we go to R+D Kitchen for my birthday dinner, I couldn't exactly pass that up now could I?

For those of you who don't know, R+D stands for Research and Development, which is exactly the premise behind this restaurant.  New dishes are tested in this restaurant, and if they are a success, will pop up at other Hillstone group restaurants such as Bandera, Houstons, etc.  Since the menu changes pretty frequently (especially as the seasons change), you can expect to see more posts about R+D Kitchen in the future.

But now the important stuff.  The food.

Last time when I dined at R+D Kitchen I had the Roasted Chicken and Mashed Potatoes, so this time I wanted to try something completely different.  My friend and I decided to have a balanced meal of salads, wine, and french fries.  Observe:

Light crispy fries seasoned with sea salt.  Delish.

The fries were lightly seasoned with sea salt, and had the perfect amount of crisp.  They were the perfect starter to go along with our Dragonstone Riseling which just happened to be pretty amazing.  I don't always rave about wine, but this Riseling was pretty fantastic.  I must find a bottle of it somewhere.  BevMo perhaps?

For my entree, I decided on the Mango Chicken Salad which had fresh diced mango, chicken, jicama, cucumber, almonds, noodles, cilantro, carrots, and lettuce. The salad also came with a soy-peanut vinagrette, but since I am unfortunately allergic to soy, I passed on the dressing. But the salad was still delicious without it.

Freshly made Mango Chicken Salad

My friend got the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad which had goat cheese, beets, egg, avocado and lettuce. I stole a bite of her seared tuna and it was prepared perfectly. You could definitely tell the fish was fresh.

Look at those delicious tuna slices

We were both so stuffed by the end of the meal that I ended up passing on the Pot de Creme (again!) but later had some flourless chocolate cake to share. All in all a great evening - good food, good company, and good wine.  R+D Kitchen, you never fail to impress me.

R+D Kitchen
555 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Heading East: Going underground in Boston

For the 4th of July this year, I headed east with the family to celebrate America's Independence in the place that started it all- Boston.  Having spent only a small amount of time on the East Coast (must remedy that ASAP), I was excited to make my first trip to Beantown.

Let me begin by saying that I absolutely LOVED Boston - the people, the food, the city - it was all pretty fantastic.  I loved the cobblestone streets and how you could turn a corner and there was history staring at you right in the face.  After taking the famous Freedom Trail, I realized just how much historical significance was packed into a small-ish city.  And yes, the weather was hot!  I had forgotten what summer feels like (hint hint California).

But let's get down to business.  The food.  I found all of the food for the most part in Boston to be excellent, although I did not get to enjoy as much seafood as I would've liked.  I also was impressed with how aware the waitstaff and chefs were of food allergies and sensitivities at many of the places I dined at.  Now onto the food.

The Paramount: http://www.paramountboston.com/

This no-frills breakfast spot was quick, easy, and cheap.  It was your typical New York style deli with the no-nonsense line cook who just wanted your order without a million modifications.  I chose to keep it simple with a big bowl of oatmeal, fruit, and english breakfast tea.  And I have to say, the oats were pretty fantastic.

Very Patriotic oats too I might add

 Slow cooked with milk and topped with fresh berries; not too bad for a deli-style cafe.  The eggs and pancake dishes also looked pretty delicious, and clearly I wasn't the only one who thought so.  In the two times we dined at the Paramount Deli the line was out the door.  No-frills definitely takes the cake sometimes.

Rustic Kitchen: http://www.rustickitchen.biz/

Entrance to Rustic Kitchen

We dined at the Rustic Kitchen which was adjacent to our hotel, and the entire meal from start to finish was excellent. Many of you may recognize Rustic Kitchen from "The Cooking Show" which is actually filmed on a kitchen set every Friday inside of the restaurant.  Unfortuantely we were not there while they were filming, but it was cool to see all the behind the scenes action.  Anyway, on to the food.

I started with an '06 Merlot from the Raymond Estates in Napa Valley along with some fresh olives and cheeses that were brought to the table. When I first looked at the menu at Rustic Kitchen I pretty much wanted to eat every single item off it.  The restaurant was incredibly accomodating to my food allergies, and even prepared my entree separately so there wouldn't be any chance of cross-contamination.  So what was my entree du jour?  After going back and forth between the Baked Macaroni and Cheese, a Portabello Mushroom Pizza, and the Rustic Burger, I finally decided on the pizza. 

And boy was it delicious.  Carmelized onion, goat cheese, thyme, and mushroom on a thin crust.  It was decadent but not TOO decadent, and I shared the Rustic Bistro Salad with my mom beforehand so I definitely got some greens in with my meal.  If you are ever in Boston, take the time to have dinner at this place.  You definitely won't regret it.

Finale Patisserie: http://www.finaledesserts.com/

Lastly, and most appropriate, we have Finale.  After an exhausting hunt for Boston Cream Pie (and no time to go to the Omni Parker Hotel where it was invented), we stumbled upon this cute Patisserie that looked like it would've fit right in along the river Seine in Paris.  While Finale offers a lot of tantalizing looking desserts, my family and I had only one thing on our mind.  Boston. Cream. Pie. 

Beautifully executed Boston Cream Pie

Now of course, Boston Cream Pie is more like a cake and less like the literal word "pie", but when you've got a dessert sitting in front of you looking like that, does it really matter? The Boston Cream Pie (cake) was light and fluffy, with layers of cream sandwiched between yellow cake and chocolate ganache. I am now determined to somehow recreate the deliciousness that was placed before me at Finale. Somehow, some way, I will enjoy Boston Cream Pie again.

If Boston Cream Pie doesn't float your boat, be sure to check out the other desserts that Finale has to offer such as freshly baked cookies, tarts, and other cakes. Plus, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is a big fan, so it can't be all bad right?

Aside from the 3 places listed above, other notable food mentions go to Legal Seafoods, Joe's American Bar and Grill, and Dunkin' Donuts (as sampled by my dad).  If you ever find yourself in Beantown, be sure to check out some of these places. 

And someone please tell me the perfect recipe for Boston Cream Pie!

R+D Kitchen = Bliss

I've been a big fan of Hillstone Group restaurants - Houstons, Bandera, Gulfstream have all ranked fairly high in my book.  So when my friend suggested that we go to R+D Kitchen in Fashion Island for dinner, I was definitely intrigued.

Having just relocated back to Orange County this past spring, I've been pleasantly surprised to see the new crop of restaurants popping up all over the place.  Instead of the generic chain restaurants (which some are actually quite delicious mind you), I've been seeing more "concept" type restaurants, something that I couldn't get enough of living in Los Angeles.  The concept behind R+D is to "offer crisp and flavorful cuisine in an indoor-outdoor space."  Was the cuisine crisp and flavorful?  You betcha.  And the indoor-outdoor concept in a place like Fashion Island is perfect.

We started our meal with a glass of wine - I had the Hill Family Merlot which was smooth and delicious (I've been on a Merlot kick lately, especially since it hasn't been super hot out lately).  For entrees, I was initially eyeing the Veggie Burger until the waitress kindly informed me that the burger contained soy sauce.  Of course, soy is one of the many things I am allergic to so I had to pass.  But I immediately gave R+D bonus points for knowing EXACTLY what was in each of their dishes when I brought up my allergy concerns.  That my friends, is a sign of a restaurant on top of their game.  This also confrmed to me that the restaurant was making all of their food fresh in house, and not loading it with artificial preservatives and ingredients.  Just by reading the menu I could tell that most of the dishes were made with just simple, NATURAL ingredients.

I settled on the Roast Chicken with mashed potatoes (substituting out the tabbouleh because of the corn in it) and my friend had the Pan Fried Fish with spinach and mashed potatoes.  Both dishes were light and flavorful, and the mashed potatoes were melt in your mouth creamy.  We both devoured our dinners so fast that I forgot to take pictures, which was unfortunate.

While the Chocolate Pot de Creme looked awfully tempting to order for dessert, we decided we were just a bit too full from our dinners to indulge.  Oh well, there's always next time.

One of the other things I love about R+D Kitchen besides their food allergy awareness and indoor-outdoor space is that they are constantly changing the menu to use seasonal ingredients.  I've always felt that eating fruits and vegetables in season was a million times better than eating stuff out of season, and I'm glad to see that R+D Kitchen plans on keeping their menu fresh.  Plus, it keeps you coming back to see what's next!

Some other dishes that looked enticing were the Cheeseburger on a homemade bun (with the fresh cut french fries I was eyeing), the Mediterranean Seared Tuna Salad with avocado and goat cheese, and the Chicken Meatballs with Spaghetti.  Looks like I'm going to have to make a trip back to R+D Kitchen soon!

But don't just take my word for it - try it yourself.  And be sure to order the Chocolate Pot de Creme for dessert.

R+D Kitchen
555 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Current (food) Obsessions

I've been making my way through a lot of Orange County eats, many of them good, a very minor few not so much, and of course there are the standouts. The places and dishes you keep coming back to, or WANT to come back to time and time again. So here is the first edition of Current (food) Obsessions:

1. The Gyro Pita Sandwich at Chicken Dijon

This sandwich has fresh lamb off a skewer, tzatiki sauce, onion, tomato and lettuce all on a warm pita. And it's perfection. Oh, and only $5 bucks. Can't really beat that.

2. Sangria de la casa at Taco Rosa

When I first ordered the Sangria de la casa at Taco Rosa, I was a bit overwhelmed by the giant carafe that was set down in front of me and the waiter's insistence that I drink every last drop (I didn't). But the flavors were spot on: red wine, agave nectar, fresh watermelon and pineapple, and Grand Marinier. If you are going to go for broke, this is definitely the way to do it. Extremely close second is the classic Taco Rosa Margarita on the rocks (consumed on an entirely different evening of course).

3. The entire menu at Zinc Cafe

Ok, Zinc Cafe may be a tad overpriced, but their menu certainly justifies their Laguna Beach prices. The breakfasts are perfectly filling, the lunches hit the spot, and I can always find something in their marketplace to pick up as a treat. This is one of the few places where I literally want to try just about everything on the menu. And for someone with food allergies, this is quite a rare occurance.

4. Currant Scones with Orange Zest at Britta's Cafe (I'm noticing a cafe theme here...)

Can we just say yum? Freshly baked scones with currants and orange zest and whipped butter. Need I say more?

5. French Onion Soup at Vie de France

After parting ways with my favorite Little Next Door in Los Angeles, I feared I would never find French Onion Soup love again. Fortunately, Vie de France has filled that void, and at half the price. Rich onion soup topped with cheese and french bread. Oui oui!

Honorable Mention goes to the Irish Soda bread at Muldoons in Newport Beach.  I could eat a loaf of that. Not that there is anything wrong with that.