There's a Queer In My Soup

The $6.53 Open Face Pizza Sandwich From Ball Park Pizza in Laguna Niguel

2011-01-30T19:29:00.001-08:00

Deep in South OC, far from any convenient freeway offramp, a little mom-n-pop pizzeria in Laguna Niguel called Ball Park Pizza is serving up open faced pizza sandwiches which are not unlike a gourmet version of one of those frozen Stouffer's pizza breads that you'd find in any supermarket frozen foods section.

Of course this version is packed with superior ingredients, has more topping selections and has the price to match.

But if you're in the area or if you took an embarrassing wrong turn off the 5 freeway and you don't feel like reheating cardboard out of the freezer, Ball Park definitely gives you a more delicious, more satisfying alternative.

Ball Park Pizza
30120 Town Center Drive
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 249-2778
http://www.eatballparkpizza.com

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Maracas, Tambourines & Sushi @ Sushi Studio, Long Beach CA

2011-01-29T21:01:00.001-08:00

So there we were at Sushi Studio in Long Beach thinking to ourselves "What could possibly make this evening more fabulous? Oh I know! Maracas and tambourines!"

Then guess what? This happened ...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

Meatball & House Special Sandwich at Cortina's, Anaheim, CA

2011-01-29T19:04:00.001-08:00

Just had easily some of the best sandwiches in Orange County: the meatball & "special" from Cortina's Italian Market. The beauty of these are the freshly made bread, rich homemade filings and overall culinary satisfaction. They're terrific excuses for destroying that pesky New Year Resolution. And it's no wonder this place was named "Best Italian Restaurant" last year by OC Weekly.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

God I Love The Beef Gyros by Louks To Go

2011-01-24T13:04:00.001-08:00

Beef Gyros by Louks To Go
Yesterday at the OC Almost Great Park, during their pathetic weekly farmer's market, I had the chance to partake in my favorite beef gyro of all time, the ones served by gourmet food truck Louks To Go.

In my ever so humble opinion, this $5 handheld masterpiece packs more flavor, texture and satisfaction than a lot of shitty & over-priced versions that are unfortunately served here in Orange County (I'm looking at you Village Cafe of Mission Viejo).

What makes it tasty is the consistently moist and flavorful protein, the crisp fries, the freshly made pita and the creamy yet balanced sauce. Pretty much everything.

As usual, you can find them on Twitter, Facebook and on their website. Look them up, get this traditional Greek sandwich and maybe you too will be obsessively monitoring their next stop like I am.

Mollie’s Country Kitchen, An Oddball Mexican Restaurant In Drag (Laguna Niguel, CA)

2011-01-22T17:16:00.001-08:00

Chili Verde Burrito
Mollie’s Country Kitchen, Laguna Niguel, CA
Given the menu selection at Mollie's Country Kitchen in Laguna Niguel (which we like to call “Ta-Mollie’s Country Kitchen”), one can’t help but wonder to which country are they referring?

Once you step inside, you immediately have the look and feel like someone's grandmother exploded all over the walls. Then, you take a gander at the menu and you think you were at a local South of the Border eatery. Afterwards, you listen to the conversation and you feel like you're at Cheers, where everybody knows everyone’s names.

Fortunately, they have pretty good quality food to back up the oddities, like the chili verde burrito you see above. At about $10 you get a burrito bursting with braised carnitas, sides of potatoes (or rice), guacamole and sour cream. Add to that extremely attentive service - which borderlines on obsessive - and you've got yourself one unforgettable, South County dining experience.

Mollies Country Kitchen
27932 La Paz Rd # M
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-3922
(949) 643-9174

The Tacos at Albatros of Lake Forest Huuuuuge!

2011-01-21T19:28:00.001-08:00

Check out the size of this al pastor taco from Albatros in Lake Forest! Is it the best? Nope. Do they use the best cut of meat? Not really. But it's still packed with flavor and, at $2.25 each, a total deal yet very satisfying!

The seasoned pork is grilled perfectly where it isn't overcooked but still has a little char. It comes standard with house pico de gallo salsa and guacamole. And you're definitely gonna need a fork to finish of the fallen meat, trust me.

FUN TIP: If you're a fan of shit holes like nearby Café Rio, please do us a favor and stay there. Leave these small little dining gems for the rest if us who don't like over-priced candy pork. Thanks!

Albatros Mexican Food
23591 Rockfield Bl, #G
Lake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 859-9600

Go to Taco Asylum in Costa Misery … NOW

2011-01-19T00:20:00.001-08:00

Let’s get a few things out of the way, namely the following common queries to which have the unsurprising & rather predictable response of “yes”:

Is it expensive?
Is it true it is NOT traditional Mexican cuisine?
Does parking suck?
Wait, the chef isn't Mexican?
Why doesn't Sarah Palin just shut up?

Sorry the last one was rhetorical. Good, now that's out of the way, let me tell you why I still enjoyed myself: I didn’t feel ripped off.

(Click here to check out my photoset on Facebook)

Of course the night wasn't without its problems: in an eight taco flight, the flour tortillas get remarkably chewy and tough about four tacos in.

Other than that, the choice of flavors, the ambiance and the overall vibe is undeniably exceptional and one-of-a-kind here in Orange County. (Trust me, I’m going to get shit for doting upon this place.)

However, just like a former ex-Alaskan governor, don't look for anything profound in the culinary sense and you'll have an enjoyable evening. Basically, taco asylum is a great unique experience that I wish would occur more often here in these parts and I want you to judge it for yourself. Hopefully one day more bricks and mortar places would just as daring, bold and satisfying.

To be perfectly honest, unless there's a radical change in the menu worth investigating, I doubt I'll be back anytime soon. Nevertheless, I certainly wish the fellas at taco asylum the best of luck and that Sarah would just shut the hell up.

taco asylum
2937 S Bristol St, Ste B102
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
http://www.tacoasylum.com

Just Had The WORST Fish Taco at El Taco Nazo (La Habra, CA)

2011-01-15T16:43:00.000-08:00

Yeeeeeouch!! Easily one of the WORST fish tacos I've ever had! Which is sad since they claim to have "the best in the world".... whatever world that may be!!

First and foremost the fish was not fresh, it smelled old, the flesh was an off grey color and definitely mandated a return to the kitchen, something we did immediately after the first bite.

And what in the name of Baja California is up with all that sour cream!?! Maybe they were trying to drown out the stink on the fish?!

When I brought it back to the register, a lady in the back insisted it was fresh to which I said "Have you SMELLED mine?!" Nevertheless they did exchange the offending tacos for their "okay" carnitas.

Did I have a bad batch? Maybe. Will I be going back? Probably never. Sorry.

The Burnt Truck: Too Much Money For Too Little Flavor

2011-01-04T22:01:00.000-08:00

(L to R) Fried Bologna, Vietnamese Pork & Fried Chicken Sliders

The Burnt Truck

The problem I have with a lot of food trucks is that often I end up spending too much money for bland, mediocre food when I know I can easily pay a visit to a local taqueria and/or lonchero spend less and get more flavor ... The Burnt Truck is no different.

Sure this particular food truck is the darling of Yelp and a few food bloggers have showered them with praise, but let me put things into perspective here.

The three sliders above that I got tonight during a food truck round up in Lake Forest cost $2.25 each or $6.75 total. I understand this isn't a ginormous sum. It's just that although they were good (not spectacular, just good), knowing that I could have traipsed over to Albatros next door and got an even more satisfying chicken burrito for $4.00 makes them even less appetizing.

To be perfectly honest with you, the Fried Bologna slider that you see above is actually pretty good and really is worth a repeat visit. It's definitely the most flavorful of the trio. But, if I come across this truck again and I know there are cheaper, tastier alternatives out there, I'd even skip that, too.

Sorry not one of my favorites.

Farmhouse Grill at Strawberry Farm (Irvine, CA): Come For The Omelette, Stay For The View

2010-12-12T13:40:00.001-08:00

Shhhh … can I tell you a little secret? There’s a fabulous little breakfast and lunch place in Irvine where you get a beautiful view of graceful rolling hills, most menu items are under $10 … and, it’s seriously under-populated. No, this isn't Fantasyland, it's the Farmhouse Grill at Strawberry Farm in the City of Irvine.

The food images on this post are pictures of just a few of their generously portioned omelets, which are served only until 11AM sharp by the way. Mine was loaded with meats, veggies and cheese and perfectly fluffy and juicy inside.

Now, I wouldn't say any culinary milestones are being attained at this eatery, nor is the service here something for hospitality textbooks. But what makes this place remarkable are the above-average quality meals, the reasonable prices and the tranquil, lazy ambiance. It’s just a great way to spend a warm 80 degree Sunday morning in December just sitting out on the veranda overlooking the golf club’s driving range, all the while sipping on your beverage of choice.

Essentially, dining here will undoubtedly give you the look, feel and exclusivity of an over-privileged country club member ... but without the back breaking dues.

Farmhouse Grill
Strawberry Farms Golf Club
11 Strawberry Farm Road
Irvine, CA 92612-2300
(949) 551-2560

http://www.strawberryfarmsgolf.com

The Damn Satisfying $6 Taco Alambre at Tacos Ruben Y Mulitas (Santa Ana, CA)

2010-12-09T15:32:00.001-08:00

What you're looking at is the tacos alambre that I got last night at Tacos Ruben Y Mulitas when I was out and about near the Artists Village in Santa Ana.

This all encapsulating meal onto itself essentially consists of diced pork, beef, ham, green bell peppers and onions, which are all then sautéed together with jack (?) cheese. Then, the protein-packed mixture is finally served up with three freshly made and nicely toasted huarache tortillas perched right on top.

Once it's handed to you, you simply make three tacos out of it given the ingredients listed above.

The result? A meaty, smoky, cheesy, yummy goodness on three (count them THREE!) shoe-sized tortillas. The one I had didn’t contain too much fat or gristle, so hopefully the one you’ll have will be just as good.

Of course, to get to this location will require a short walk from the Artists Village and a quick traipse past a few tranny hookers (no joke) before you'll find this lonchera parked here. Also, they’re only there from 3pm to 10pm everyday (I think). So, plan accordingly.

Highly recommended.

Tacos Ruben Y Mulitas
125 E Walnut St
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(Click here for their Yelp Page)

White Rabbit Food Truck: Very Good Tacos - But OMG That Dessert

2010-11-23T19:58:00.000-08:00

(L to R) Side Dish of Fried Egg, Chicken Adobo Taco,
Sisig Taco & Pork Tocino Taco

Yes, White Rabbit Food Truck uses low grade meat. Yes, Filipino food & Mexican tortillas is anything but traditional. But, yes it's damn good. Let me explain ...

(Click here to check out the rest of the photos.)

In all of the tacos you see above, the flavors are loud, garrish and overpowering. However, there's something about pairing each with a freshly made tortilla that balances it out. If you're not a fan of a little bit of fat and/or gristle, then don't even bother with these tacos because they're definitely there. Fortunately, the accompanying flavors of the tortilla, the toppings and the sauces are there to help compensate for that misgiving. Nevertheless, they're still worth a try.

Now, let me tell you about the fucking good dessert ...

White Chocolate Champorado

The White Chocolate Champorado is simply outstanding and completely worth a second, third, ok fourth visit to this truck. Essentially, it's a rich, creamy and flavorful rice pudding topped with barquillio crumbles. The result is a rich, satisfying combination of flavor combinations unlike any other champorado I've ever had.

White Rabbit is an absolute must try. The tacos might not be the best you've ever had, but the champorado just might be.

A Sad And Dissapointing Meal At Thai Nakorn of Stanton

2010-11-21T19:32:00.001-08:00

Thai Nakorn has for many years been arguably the darling of OC's culinary community both online and off. Being that it's one of the most recommended Thai eateries in the area and having been to the other locations myself a few years ago with positive results, I had above-average expectations. So tonight's less than stellar meal comes as quite the pointed disappointment.

Firstly, the combination Pad See Ewe (excuse the spelling) at the top of this post came with rock hard Chinese broccoli and chewy low grade chicken, beef and pork (allegedly), all of which were woefully overcooked.

Further the deep fried trout above had a distinct not-so-fresh "fishy" smell and seemed to have far more bones than usual. Fortunately the accompanying mango salad was rather tasty and peppy, but it wasn't enough to get rid of aforementioned odor.

I really wanted to like this place. The fact that I have fond memories of this restaurant makes this sub par experience especially sour - kind of like the bitter asshole of a waiter that we had tonight.

Maybe we came during an off night? However, given the quality of tonight's meal I doubt we'll be back anytime soon to find out.

Thai Nakorn Restaurant
11951 Beach Boulevard
Stanton, CA 90680-3600

Excellent Arepas At Mil Jugos of Santa Ana

2010-11-20T07:37:00.001-08:00

In between a friend's wedding and his reception yesterday in Santa Ana (which is the time period I like to refer to as "Oh shit, what have I done!?"), we had a couple of hours to kill and we were starving.

I've been to Mil Jugos, a little Venezuelan eatery on 5th just west of Broadway, a couple of times already and I knew their small but satisfying arepas would be perfect for an in-between meal - and we were not disappointed.

The $4 "Con Todo" you see above is about 3" in diameter but was loaded with flavorful shredded chicken, pulled pork and savory beef. All of which was served tucked into a piping hot, freshly made pita-like pocket made of corn.

What even brought it up a notch was the spicy, dark green sauce that they have on all the tables.

Definitely a must try.

Mil Jugos
318 W 5th St
Santa Ana, CA 92725

http://www.miljugos.com

If You Prefer Subway's Sandwiches Over Cortina's Italian Market of Anaheim - Please Stay There

2010-11-13T16:36:00.001-08:00

The sandwiches that they serve at Cortina's Italian Market of Anaheim, CA, are large, fresh, well-made and are definitely worth a detour if you're passing by along the 5 Fwy.

Yes, the portions are hefty and they have the slightly higher prices to match. The 10" cheese and meatball one you see above was about $8 and change. Not too bad, especially since it could've easily fed two people - or one of me.

The bread was absolutely fresh and perfectly crispy. The GINORMOUS meatballs were clearly made with high quality ground beef, completely devoid of excess fat and ligaments. And, the sauce rounded out the meal harmoniously with it's exquisite tomato flavors.

With such high quality and good value available if you skip Cortina's for a place like Subway's, please do us all a favor and stay there ... the place is too damn crowded and lacking in parking as it is.

Cortina's Italian Market
2175 West Orange Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92804-3556
(714) 535-1948
http://www.cortinasitalianfood.com

Why weren't you at the Lake Forest Food Truck round-up?

2010-11-09T21:54:00.001-08:00

I just got back from the weekly Tuesday night food truck round-up at Forest Lanes of Lake Forest and had this fabulous taco trio from the Seabirds truck for $6 and the 12oz beer from the hosting bowling alley for $ 3. Yet for the quality and the prices hardly anyone was there.

No lines. No entrance fee. No one trying to justify arduous circumstances with the foodie cliché "... but it was worth it!"

Yet there were plenty of food truck choices and reasonable prices. What gives?

If you live within a few miles and opted for Taco Smell next door and spent the same amount, then you should probably stay there.

But the rest of you really ought to try this poorly populated culinary gem at least once. You might not like one thing from one truck, but there are plenty of other alternatives that could easily please your palate and who are serving much better fare than the strip mall dredge you'd find a mere Mexican Pizza's throw away.

DEL TACO: FREE Big Fat Crispy Chicken Taco With Purchase for Facebook Fans

2010-05-14T13:33:00.001-07:00

Facebook Fans of Del Taco get a FREE Big Fat Crispy Chicken Taco if they buy something else and present this coupon. But, before you click be sure your printer is working! It's one of those damn safeguards to make sure you don't go printing multiple copies and then passing out already-printed versions on your food-related blog. Now, I wonder who on Earth would do such a sinister thing?

Taco Bell Drive-Thru Patron Didn’t Get Order, Got $2,000 Instead – No Seriously

2010-05-14T06:04:00.001-07:00

(Via I'm Cool, You're Not)
Don't you hate it when they mess up your order at drive through windows? Well, someone in Dayton, Ohio doesn't.

Last Tuesday morning, Dayton police say a young woman in her 20s, driving a silver SUV, went through the drive through at a local Taco Bell and instead of a bag containing her order, she got a bag containing the restaurant’s morning bank deposit — about $2,000.

Apparently, an employee said she was working the drive-through window and mistakenly gave the customer the bank deposit. The restaurant manager explained it was store policy to put the bank bag containing the deposit in a Taco Bell bag. The manager would then drive up to the drive-through window, and an employee would hand him the bag.

Hmmmmm.... time to hit up all of Dayton's drive throughs .... road trip anyone??!!

Häagen-Dazs: FREE Tues May 18th 4pm to 8pm – No Coupon

2010-05-12T08:13:00.001-07:00

It might be Häagen-Dazs' birthday, but you get the gift! According to this email promotion, next Tuesday May 18th from 4pm to 8pm - the ice cream store with a name it seems only Google can spell correctly - is giving away free scoops in celebration of their 50th birthday. Hmmm… why can’t they turn 50 everyday?

DRINK UP: “Pet Sweat” Bottled Water from Japan

2010-05-10T15:39:00.001-07:00

(Via Tokyo Times)
The next time you go for a jog with man's best friend, don't let his/her perspiration go to waste!

Actually, according to Tokyo Times, this liquid refresher is actually made to help dogs relax & recharge after a vigorous workout and isn’t intended for human consumption – unless, of course, you’re into Fido juice.

Happy Hour at Bistango’s of Irvine, CA

2010-05-08T16:47:00.001-07:00

Happy Hour at Bistango is an excellent value with a great atmosphere.

Between 5pm to 9pm (not 5pm to close, as stated on their website) all tapas listed on their happy hour menu is $5 each. They also have $5 martini specials and the portion of their menu which reads "Main Course Small Plates" are served 1/2 portion, 1/2 price during that time as well.

Since the tapas portions are indeed small, ordering numerous plates will quickly turn an otherwise cheap outing to a pricey affaire. So don't come here for the happy hour starving, hoping to have an inexpensive meal.

In fact, I had dinner before hand and arrived to have a two plates and two drinks. At $20, it was incredibly reasonable given the quality & variety, especially since my friends like to share as well. ;)

As for the quality of the culinary fare, the items we tried hovered around "average" to "above average", but definitely worth the $5 price tag each - if not more.

We sat outside since it was a beautiful night and we wanted to escape the noise generated by the jazz cover band that plays on Friday nights. The Brazilian downtempo music they piped into the patio area gave it a cool, chic lounge vibe. So, try to sit outdoors if possible.

Check out my entire photoset on Facebook, which you can view without a membership.

Bistango
19100 Von Karman Ave
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 752-5222
www.bistango.com

The Anatomy of a Gold Fish Cracker

2010-05-06T16:33:00.001-07:00

(Source: Moist Production)
Hopefully you'll never have the occasion to confirm the correctness of this diagram the next time you bite into a Gold Fish Cracker, but in case you do you'll at least now what's in your vomit.

CHICK-FIL-A: Reserve Your FREE Spicy Chicken Sandwich on Friday May 21st

2010-05-05T15:25:00.001-07:00

What? You act like you've never made a reservation for a fast food restaurant before?

Well, technically, starting on Friday May 21st reservations made on Chick-Fil-A's site (click here) are actually for a FREE sandwich, not for permission to dine there.

But, I do believe it will be the first time Chick-Fil-A (or any fast food joint for that matter) will have clients walking up to the counter saying with a straight face “Excuse me, I have a reservation?”

Happy Cinco de “Mayo”!!!

2010-05-05T06:46:00.001-07:00

Hope you have a delicioso day!!

UK’s Cadbury Ice Creamland: Rollercoaster & Ice Cream Challenge … OF COURSE!!

2010-05-03T14:39:00.001-07:00

What better way to promote your amusement park's death defying rollercoasters and your delectable ice cream products than by videotaping people enjoying both products - at the same time! BTW, if you've ever wondered why they ban food or drinks on rides, this video just might satiate that curiosity ....