Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

Have you seen ALL the Chili Cheese Fries on Nibbles of Tidbits?  We’ve reviewed a lot more than the ones pictured here.  These are super good, but unfortunately not easily available to most, unless you live or work in Irvine.  They’re made by Peter’s Cafe, a small Cafe located on the ground floor of the Daimler Chrysler Building on Irvine Center Drive.  If you’re around the area, they’re worth trying — I think it’s the Oil they use that makes them so tasty.  If you’re not local, please see our Chili Cheese Fries link which includes photos and reviews of Chili Cheese Fries offered my many restaurant chains across the nation.

Chili Cheese Fries Comparison (Photos & Reviews):
http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1110

Peter’s Cafe:  (949) 753-0855

Our Holiday meals most often include this amazing Barbecued Chicken made by my Dad.  I’m grateful for this day and so much more.  God Bless us ALL.  The Chicken and its accompanying Sauce  RECIPE was previously posted on Nibbles of Tidbits and is linked below.  It’s all about the Sauce — So simple, yet so good.  The recipe has been in the family for more than 60 years.  Enjoy!

Related Link: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=57

Easter Cookies appear to be the most colorful of Holiday Cookies – It’s all the bright pastels, which may make them the most fun to decorate.  Here we decorated Bunnies, Ducks, Easter Eggs, Tulips, Sunflowers, Carrots, Butterflies and Sheep.

As previously reported on Nibbles of Tidbits (See ‘Cookies’ Category), I get together with my BFF’s to decorate Sugar Cookies most holidays.  It’s a fun way to spend time together and we get to take home yummy cookies for our families.

A special thanks goes to Loretta for baking all the Cookies and making all the Icings, whereas the rest of us just show up with FOOD, Wine & Coffee, plus the intangible – jokes, political debates, funny stories, concerns, questions, irritations, and gratitude for the time spent together.

Chocolate Dipped Oreo Cookies matching the season are always a part of our Cookie Decorating gatherings.  This time the Oreos were dipped in White Chocolate and then swirled with a hot pink colored Chocolate – They’re so good each time.  Happy Easter!

See more Cookie Decorating Ideas HERE:
http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?cat=2746

Kimera Restaurant • Lounge has little signage on the outside and its Complementary Valet Parking may be a little tricky to locate for some, but you’ll find it — And it’s truly worth finding.  The food is excellent.  We enjoyed all aspects of our meals, the Meats, Sauces and Sides.  All was top notch.

This evening we had the Chef’s Special which included Shrimp in a Beurre Blanc Sauce and Steak — Unfortunately I don’t have the eloquent description of the Steak and Sauce as it was presented by the Server, but all was cooked perfectly.  And we had the Boneless Pork Rib Rack Chop with Cremini Mushrooms, Soft Polenta and White Truffle Essence.  It was fantastic too, especially the Mushroom Sauce. 

Kimera is a pretty stylish place — The lounge appears to bring in a good crowd, but don’t forget the dining room.  It’s got a lot to offer too.  In fact, they’re currently offering a few incentives to enjoy the restaurant.  One is 50% Off Food on Monday Nights, a terrific value for high quality food.  I’m not sure how long that enticement will continue — Forever would be good.

And for Dessert we tried the “Birthday Cake” a la Mode with Banana, Strawberries, Chocolate Sauce and Candied Walnuts, YUM.  And the Flour-less Chocolate Torte.  I learned that Kimera’s operators and staff truly want you to have a great experience.  You need to get over there and treat yourself — I’ll be going back soon.

Kimera Restaurant • Lounge: http://www.bistango.com/kimera.shtml#

Cooking Demonstration at Bloomingdales: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=2888

One of the magazines I currently subscribe to is Orange Coast and in this month’s issue is this amazing recipe.  It’s Baked Eggs in Ham Cups with Mushrooms and Shallots by Chef Jamie Gwen.  I fell in love with the photo, and the recipe is fairly easy so I had to make it. 

The taste and homemade presentation happily lived up to my initial reaction to the magazine photo (below left).  This recipe is so delicious and impressive looking.  A yummy sautéed Mushroom mixture is layered over the Ham and under the Egg, as you can see before it’s baked (below middle). 

The photo and recipe in Orange Coast Magazine (April 2009) are found within a Special Advertising Section by South Coast Plaza, 13-15. 

These Baked Eggs in Ham Cups are definitely worth making, especially for company.  They’ll definitely be a part of my Brunch repertoire in the future – They’re too FAB!

Chef Jamie Gwen INFO: http://www.chefjamie.com/

Orange Coast Magazine: http://www.orangecoastmagazine.com/

Note:  Leave comment HERE if larger recipe print is needed.

Our DC Food Correspondent, Steven Woo sent these fabulous photos to Nibbles of Tidbits.  Since the Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom, he was inspired to make this Cherry Pie.  He considered using a prepared Pie Crust (Shell) from the grocery store, but said all were cracked — Thus he made his own Pie Crust using good ole Crisco.  And he opted for the Comstock Cherry Pie Filling, as it’s quite the endeavor to pit fresh Cherries for an entire Pie.  I completely understand, but still aspire to do it someday.  His Pie Crust looks rustically good and flaky.  And his co-workers said it was delicious.

Crisco INFO & Recipes: http://www.crisco.com/

Comstock Fruit Pie Filling & Pie Related Tips:
http://www.birdseyefoods.com/comstock/perfectPie.asp

Cherry Blossom Festival INFO:
http://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390

Instead of just one Burger, why not make homemade Sliders for fun and variety — Pictured (L-R) we made a Blue Cheese Burger with Tomatoes, Lettuce and Pickles, a Bacon Cheddar Burger, and a Jalapeno Jack Burger with Tomatoes and Arugula.

We added a little Worcestershire Sauce, Salt and freshly ground Pepper to the small Burger Patties, buttered and toasted the mini Buns/Rolls and laid out all the fixins. 

We fried these Burgers in a pan (after we brought home the Bacon) and topped with Cheese after turning — Then transferred all to Buns with their corresponding counterparts. 

“Shelly’s Sliders” turned out pretty good.  It was fun eating a variety of Burgers and deciphering what tastes best.  We’ve got some great ideas for our next Slider Smorgasbord and would have made them here, but didn’t have Chipotles, Pineapples, or Chili on hand.

If local and don’t feel like making your own Sliders, check out the restaurants and photos linked below.

3-Thirty-3 Sliders: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1939

Charlie Palmer’s Sliders: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1036

More INFO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger

What’s the exact difference between a Cupcake and a Muffin?  I pondered that question one night, then made these from a Cake Mix.  I didn’t use Cupcake Foils, over-poured the mix, and topped each with a Cinnamon and Sugar Crumble.  Are they Muffins now?  Or does the Cake Mix need more Baking Powder and/or Flour or other?  I’m not sure  –  And I’ve since learned there’s a lot of thought on it (below).  Regardless, these were good whatever they were, and their preparation is yet another way to use a Cake Mix.

What’s the difference between a Muffin and a Cupcake?  ANSWERS:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/337338

http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2007/05/cupcake-vs-muffin-update.html

http://curiousfoodie.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/muffins-cupcakes-why-they-are-different/

http://nosheteria.com/2005/03/its-muffin-no-its-cupcake.html

There was a lot of fanfare today and FREE Slices of Pizza at the new Domino’s Pizza location on 17th Street in Costa Mesa – They moved across and down the street and today they were giving away Free Pizza Slices between 11AM and 1PM.  I tried the Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch, one of Domino’s American Legend Pizzas.  Loved the Bacon, but my slice didn’t come with Chicken.  It was still good and with a little more Sauce I’d have it delivered.

To celebrate their Grand Re-Opening, Domino’s Pizza also had a couple Laker Girls signing stuff and employees were waving from every corner for two blocks.  You couldn’t miss the hoopla if you were driving by, so hopefully you stopped and got your Free Slice of Pizza.

Domino’s Pizza DIRECT: http://www.dominos.com/home/index.jsp

Here we visited the Roman Cucina Restaurant in Costa Mesa.  They are also in Sunset Beach, Laguna Hills and Fullerton.  The service is good and I like the decor, especially the chandeliers at Costa Mesa’s Roman Cucina off Newport Blvd.  This night we had the Shrimp Scampi with Penne (above), and the Pasta Rosa with Chicken Milanese (below), which needs an extra side of Sauce for the Chicken — Once received we were happier.

And we had the “Ala Checca” with Spaghetti, Olive Oil, Garlic, Roma Tomatoes and Basil.  All dishes were served with really good Bread and a Salad — They’ve got a tasty House Italian Dressing too.  This location has indoor and outdoor seating and a fabulous, hip and comfortable atmosphere.

More INFO & Menu:  http://www.romancucina.com/

WOW, this Ice Cream deserves a tablecloth and I sure wish I had a black one for these photos.  In any event, we love the densely creamy texture and bold flavors of Häagen Dazs New FIVE Ice Cream.  Nibbles of Tidbits conducted a Taste Test of 6 flavors – Pictured above from (L-R) are Ginger, Coffee, Vanilla Bean, Brown Sugar, Milk Chocolate, and Mint Ice Cream.

Häagen Dazs FIVE comes in 7 flavors – Passion Fruit wasn’t included in the Taste Test with the others, because I couldn’t stop eating it in the days leading up.  OMGosh, I’m in love!  It’s luxuriously creamy and the Passion Fruit taste is intense and exact.  I’ve got to have it again.

After the Taste Test, I asked our six tasters what one flavor each would pick and the tally is as follows:  Ginger (1), Vanilla Bean (1), Brown Sugar (3), Mint (2), and my favorite was the Passion Fruit (obviously), and the Brown Sugar in this Taste Test.

Milk Chocolate reminds me of the Best Fudgesicle I had as a kid, and the Brown Sugar tastes like a Werther’s Original (Toffee Candy) with notes of Black Licorice — It’s an interesting punch of flavor.  And the Ginger was a fun surprise, it’s spot on and enjoyable.  FIVE is an excellent Ice Cream and I was happy to try them ALL.

Häagen Dazs DIRECT:  http://www.haagen-dazs.com/

More INFO re FIVE: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=3592

Four of us recently shared one of Carl’s Jr.’s New Kentucky Bourbon Burgers and the consensus is that it’s pretty good.  We all liked it.  One said the Bourbon Sauce might be too sweet for him, but the rest of us thought it complemented the Burger nicely.  We especially like the Crispy Onion Straws, Pepper Jack Cheese and Bacon.  All together it’s a really good combination.  Pictured here is the Six Dollar Burger option — Apparently it comes in three sizes, a Single, Double, or Six Dollar Burger variation.

Carl’s did a good job on this menu item and the restaurant (Irvine Center Drive) did a good job preparing this Burger.  My main hope for all fast food restaurants is to maintain the consistency of respectable products.  All should look as heavily advertised, except for the dripping Sauce — I’m not a fan of that.

Carl’s DIRECT: http://www.carlsjr.com/

WHO?: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl’s_Jr.

Steak Sandwich: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1519

Crispy Burritos: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=2978