Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

The Cheesecake Factory now offers a low priced “Small Plates & Snacks” Menu.  It’s currently in paper form and separate from their laminated menu-magazine.  The Small Plates Menu presents several unique and tasty food choices under $5.   We’ve only had the Fried Artichoke Hearts (pictured above) for $3.95.  That’s a pretty good deal, so I look forward to trying more options.  The prices make it possible — They’re great for the quality the Cheesecake Factory seems to maintain.  Also pictured is the Grilled Chicken Tostada Salad, one of the CF’s Salads that come in full portion only.  It’s a perfect Salad for two, since it’s served on two separate Tostada Shells.  It’s obviously not on the Small Plates Menu, but we shared it this day.

We’ve reviewed other Cheesecake Factory dishes and LOVE their Taquitos and many other items.

Share Our Strength’s goal is to END childhood hunger in America.  That’s important!  Children shouldn’t have to live hungry.  When you’re hungry it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.  SOS raises money to feed ALL of America’s children.

One GREAT way to donate to Share Our Strength is to attend one of the “A Tasteful Pursuit” dinners, which will be taking place in a different city each month throughout the year.  Save up and buy a ticket.  It’s an evening with some of the country’s TOP CHEFS, amazing cuisine, and the opportunity to bid on fabulous auction items.  It’s a win-win.

Foodbuzz is sending (1 – 2) Featured Publisher Correspondents to report about each city.  I’ve submitted a proposal to (hopefully) be one of them.  Buzz me up on the bottom link below.  Also linked is Share Our Strength’s website and more about the A Tasteful Pursuit events taking place between January – November 2009.

Related Links:

http://www.strength.org/

http://www.strength.org/a_tasteful_pursuit/

http://www.foodbuzz.com/blogs/us/california/costa_mesa/744411-it-s-all-about-the-food-for-others–

“Food-ology, You Are How You Eat” offers great insight regarding YOUR eating habits.  Its founder really seems to be in tune with the correlation between the way people eat and what it reveals about their personalities.  The Food-ology website is well done, informative, fun and helpful.  I just took the posted Monthly Quiz, which appeared to accurately describe me — I’m not telling.  GIVE IT A TRY.

Apparently there’s much YOU can learn from how you prepare your food, how you eat it, shop for it, order it, and more.  So, not only are we “what” we eat, but now “how” we eat.  Knowing that, it’ll be helpful to learn what it says about us.  Insight is good, isn’t it?

I’ve deemed http://www.food-ology.com/ a fun FOOD-OLOGICAL site.  They might want to trademark that too, if not taken already.  Thanks!

Newport Beach Restaurant Week 2009 starts Sunday, January 18th and goes through Thursday, January 22nd.  It’s a good time to try top-notch restaurants at a great price.  Several restaurants throughout Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, and Balboa Island, Peninsula and Village offer gourmet prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner.  A couple of us are starting at Tommy Bahama’s Island Grille tomorrow for the 3 course $20 lunch.  The menu looks fantastic — I know one of us will have to try the Lobster Cove Grilled Cheese, Maine Lobster with Four Cheeses, served with “From Scratch” Heirloom Tomato Soup.

See 2009 participating restaurants and menus HERE: http://newportbeachdining.com/restaurantweek/2009participating.asp

2007 Restaurant Week Review – A condensed version of this article was published in The Current Newspaper on February 9, 2007 – http://www.ineedtext.com/Review%20-%20NB%20Restaurant%20Week%202007.pdf

Does My Blog Look Good In This (“DMBLGIT”) is a monthly food photography contest initiated in 2005 by Spittoon.  It’s now hosted by a different food blog each month.  The submission criteria requires that the photograph be published on a blog the previous month — My January submission appeared on Nibbles of Tidbits in December.  The competition is always stiff, but I hope to win sometime.  So far this month I have a chance, but entries are being accepted until January 20th.  We’ll see what happens.

Check out ALL entries here below — Mine is photograph #9.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kochtopf/DMBLGITJanuary2009#

Related Link:  http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1583

I Need Text Company Press Release:

http://www.prlog.org/10161179-dont-eat-your-words-save-your-appetite-for-the-food-in-2009.html

I’m very impressed with Little Caesars “Pizza Pizza” who is giving back to our injured Veterans.  They’re really changing lives and making more opportunities for deserving people.  I hope other companies will do the same.  Here’s more information regarding Little Caesars Veteran’s Program. 

http://franchise.littlecaesars.com/VeteransProgram/tabid/76/Default.aspx

I previously wrote the following SIDEBAR for a book that never got published, so I’ve decided to print it here on Nibbles of Tidbits.  It’s a short summary about FOOD in ORANGE COUNTY.

Orange County (“The OC”), California is more than one narrowly portrayed personality, as seen on TV – But we’ll focus on the food.  It’s a fine blend of many personalities, specialties and ethnicities. It’s a county made up of 34 diverse incorporated cities that span almost 800 square miles.  To associate Orange County with just one character, note or dimension wouldn’t be true.  But again, let’s get away from the gaggy OC television programs and back to its food.

Instead of one incentive to eat in Orange County, there are a multitude of motivations to enjoy a meal there.  From Aliso Viejo to Yorba Linda alphabetically, or San Clemente to La Habra geographically, you would be hard pressed not to find the best of your favorite dish there — The odds are in your favor and the payoff can be delicious.  One does not need to travel out of the county to find the best Steak, the best Taco, the best Fried Rice, or the best Fish, etc.  All can be found in the OC.

Many people still travel to Buena Park to stand in line for Mrs. Knott’s Fried Chicken, which has been served since 1934.  Since that time, the available food has evolved in such a way that there is now something remarkable for everyone.  The growth of the Hispanic and Asian populations in recent decades has significantly influenced its culture and food offerings.

Some of the finest Mexican food is here in almost every city — And who doesn’t love Mexican food?  The Asian cuisines are also well represented in Orange County.  Excellent Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants can be found without roaming too far.  Sushi is also very popular.  One can voyage to the coastal cities, such as Newport Beach and Dana Point to take pleasure in its fresh Fish offerings and oceanfront dining.  Oh, I can’t leave out Italian food, since I’ve had the absolute best in this county.  And finally, Indian food deserves a most honorable mention, since Orange County is where I learned to love it.  The flavors are intense and the OC’s offerings are top quality.

Many great chefs appear to be venturing out in this direction making the choices even better.  Fondue restaurants seem to be popping up recently in a few locations throughout the county.  And Irvine is the the hub of the business district, which tends to entice some of the more sophisticated restaurants.

Orange County has more than its share of small hidden treasures and fine dining establishments.  This sidebar merely touches upon the various specialties in the OC.  As stated, Orange County doesn’t just have one draw — It has too many to mention here.

Related Links:

http://www.visitorangecounty.net/

http://egov.ocgov.com/portal/site/ocgov/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_California

I’ve read that Burger King has started selling FLAME, a new cologne for men — It’s supposed to smell like a Flame Broiled Hamburger.  HA.  I’ve got to get my hands on a bottle.  I need a couple joke gifts and this cologne would be perfect. 

I called a few local Burger King Restaurants and most didn’t know what the heck I was talking about — It was fun trying to explain it.  Another fine example of good corporate communication (not) and advertisement without infrastructure.  I checked online and they appear to be sold out, unless I can get it WHERE???  What up BK?

Related Links:

http://www.rickysnyc.com/

http://www.firemeetsdesire.com/

http://www.burgerking.com/bkglobal/

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/16/burger-kings-flame-broiled-mens-body-spray/

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/12/19/confirmed-new-burger-king-cologne-smells-like-gasoline/ 

Here’s where to find the latest FOOD NEWS:

http://www.foodnews.org/

http://www.topix.com/food

http://www.junkfoodnews.net/

http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/

http://www.foodqualitynews.com/

http://www.cnn.com/FOOD/news/

http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/

http://www.medicinalfoodnews.com/

The menu reads “The use of cellular telephones interferes with the Taleggio Sauce on Chef Bracken’s Macaroni and Cheese” — That’s funny.  It’s one of the items we tried, along with the Lamb Chops below.  Both were excellent, not inexpensive, but worth it.  We had them in the lounge, which is a very comfortable place to hang out.  Island Hotel Newport Beach is where the Four Seasons used to be on Newport Center Drive.

I had read about the ‘Mid-Week Bites & Delights at Palm Terrace Restaurant and Lounge’ offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but they’re not happening during the holidays.  That’s too bad because the food and prices sound great, especially the 2 for $5 gourmet Sliders, such as the Chicken and Truffle Slider on a Pretzel Bun with Oven-Dried Tomato Aioli.  I’ll report more if they reconvene the offering after the holidays.  I hope so — We’ll see.  Related Link:  http://www.islandhotel.com/

I’m busy getting ready for my 14th Annual Christmas Par-tay, whereas each guest (close friend) brings an appetizer.  I award a PRIZE and RIBBON for the Best Voted Appetizer — It’s a super fun and yummy party.  It’ll be interesting to see what comes this year and every first Friday in December.  Check back.  🙂

The recipe is real, but the story behind it isn’t.  You must have heard the story about the lady who paid $250 for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe from Neiman Marcus?!  When I heard about it, the amount was $2,500 — You know how stories get exaggerated.  Either way, Snopes reports it to be false.  The full interesting story is linked here.

http://www.snopes.com/business/consumer/cookie.asp

Aside from that, an old friend recently reminded me how “freaking good” they are.  I used to make the recipe a lot and do think they’re possibly the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the world — The blended Oatmeal and grated Chocolate certainly contribute to it.  I usually add Walnuts, Pecans or Macadamia Nuts.  The recipe is linked above and below on an album page I created over ten years ago.  It’s not fancy but includes four bonus recipes if interested.

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Top Chef New York just started, so I thought I’d give some quick first impressions of Opening Night.  I usually look forward to watching Top Chef — It can be an intense competition.  I’d be way too Chicken to compete there and wouldn’t want to get cooked. 

I was reminded how brutal it can be — You’ve gotta be a fast cook, quick thinker, good planner and beautiful presenter.  There’s no room for error.  Although I can make some fabulous food, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and wouldn’t want them mercilessly spotlighted.  I do like and respect all the Judges, but yikes sometimes.  I’d love to try the food with them.  Can I take Ted’s place???

Here’s a few excerpts if you missed it — The Chef Competitors, an Apple peeling and fine dicing contest as an immediate ‘Quick Fire Challenge’ that doesn’t allow one Chef to continue, then a toast to those who made it into the New York high rise apartment, the ‘Elimination Challenge’ and judging with Chef Jean Georges, and then say goodbye to the two Chefs hugging below.  To get the full story visit Bravo.

Sometimes all a dish needs is a little Salt and Pepper — Said by Chef Tom Colicchio this episode and it’s so true.  And I’ll add Freshly Ground Pepper to that mix.  Be sure to stop by after the next episode and I’ll tell you who I like.  Top Chef Season Five is on Wednesday nights at 10:00 on channel 76 here, but you’ll need to check your own listing if not with Time Warner Cable in Orange County, CA.

Related Links:

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/about/index.php

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/blogs/index.php

foodie-iq-test2 

At the time it was open, it almost looked the same as this – HA.  It was cool though — No signs, no outside lights, but there was a fun food party going on inside.  I loved Sid’s Cajun Baked Shrimp, or something like that.  You had to peel them, but they were worth it.  And if you ordered Jack Daniels you’d be kicked out — maybe.  I don’t know the whole story there.  Plus NO Salt & Pepper for you.

If you remove the beat up car, I could possibly hope it’s open again.  Or is it and YOU just don’t know about it yet?  HA.  That won’t happen for various reasons not to be reported here.  You’ll have to dig that up elsewhere.

Most of The Yard House’s Appetizers are half price Monday through Friday from 3:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.  Here’s a few we recently tried at the Fashion Island location.  The Lettuce Wraps are really good – I like the accompanying Sauces.  The Chinese Garlic Noodles are okay, a little boring, but the unique California Roll made up for it.  It’s flavorful and different than any California Roll I’ve ever had.

We finished with the Pint Sized Trio Sampler with included a Chocolate Souffle, a Lemon Souffle and a Peach Apple Cobbler.  It was a dream combination for me.  WOW!!!  I want it again.

Related Links:

http://www.yardhouse.com/flash/default.asp

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=762 

http://www.shopfashionisland.com/

It looks like the Aloha Grill & Tiki Bar is finally open in Costa Mesa.  You’ll see it off Newport Boulevard on Superior.  I wanna try a Hula Burger and “World Famous Rainbow” or the Kahlua Pork Hawaiian Plate and an Aloha-Rita.  I like the nice big outdoor patio – It’s always a plus in my book.  The MENU is linked HERE.  http://www.alohagrill.com/

Where’s your favorite place to get Chili Cheese Fries?  We’ve been trying a few around town and would love to know whose Chili Cheese Fries you like BEST.  Some are extra good and some are just okay.  We describe a few, but want you to be the judge too.  Each photograph will have a brief description and related restaurant link directly below it.  And we’ll be adding more Chili Cheese Fries photos and observations, so keep checking back.

The Hat’s Chili Cheese Fries with Pickles & Tomatoes – You get a lot of them.  It’s heavy.

Tommy Pastrami’s Chili Cheese Fries – It’s got nice Steak Fries, but the Chili is a bit Tomato-Paste tasting.  It has big chunks of Beef in it, which is ok, but generally not preferred in a CCF.

Carl’s Junior’s Chili Cheese Fries – They’re not bad.

Fatburger’s Chili Cheese Fries – For some reason I expected more, but they were good.  Fatburger offers a choice of Skinny Fries or Fat Fries.  Pictured here are the Skinny Fries.

SONIC Drive-In’s Chili Cheese Fries – I haven’t tried these yet, but others like them.

Orange County Fair’s Chili Cheese Fries – You can only get them during the OC Fair.

Wienerschnitzel’s Chili Cheese Fries – Unfortunately they’re not one of my top picks.  I’d have to go with Carl’s Jr.’s Chili Cheese Fries before these (above).

Pink’s Chili Cheese Fries – Very good.  Second favorite to Original Tommy’s Chili Cheese Fries.

Del Taco’s Chili Cheese Fries – I’d pick them over Carl’s Jr. ones, since the Fries are better.

EZ Take Out Burger’s Chili Cheese Fries – I liked them, especially the French Fries.  Their Hamburgers are similar to In-N-Out’s Burgers, but dare I say I like EZ Take Out’s Fries better.  And Chili Cheese Fries don’t appear to be an option at In-N-Out Burger.

Johnny Rocket’s Chili Cheese Fries – They’re acceptable.  Nothing to rave about, nor rag on.  On a separate note, their Hamburgers are very good.

Original Tommy’s Chili Cheese Fries – They still stand as my favorite over all those pictured.

Wendy’s Chili Cheese Fries — It’s made with Chili that should be served in a bowl with a side of Buttered Crackers, but instead it’s dumped over French Fries and topped with Cheese.  I don’t think so.  They’re not recommended.

Jack in the Box Loaded Chili Cheese Wedges — Good with the Onions picked out.

Portillo’s Chili Cheese Fries — Portillo’s Chili has a really good flavor that goes well with their crinkled-cut French Fries and a little melted Cheese.  We’d have them again.

Santa Fe Cafe Chili Cheese Fries — They’re best had on their outdoor patio with a Pitcher of Beer.

MORE TO COME.

Click this link to learn where you can get a FREE Coffee, Ice Cream, Cinnabread and/or Donuts for Voting TODAY – http://food.theplainjane.com/2008/11/03/voting-free-food/

It’s fun to be picked for any award, so thanks Blog Of The Day Awards (BOTDA) for picking Nibbles of Tidbits as a Blog Of The Day, especially on Halloween.  It was a treat instead of a trick.  I just added the COOL AWARD on the right — I like its nostalgic old west design.  Thanks again!

Related Links:

http://blogofthedayawards.blogspot.com/2008/10/nibbles-of-tidbits-food-blog.html

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1247

You probably wouldn’t want the Lemon pictured here, since it’s pretty freaky looking — But there are several Lemon trees in front of Kohl’s at the Bella Terra Shopping Center in Huntington Beach.  And you’ll also find a few Rosemary bushes there too.  So if you’re local and need Lemons and/or Rosemary for a recipe, drive down to Bella Terra to save a few bucks.

Related Link:

http://www.bellaterra-hb.com/

Here’s the article:  http://www.restaurantica.com/blog/Shelly-Borrell–A-Food-Writer-in-the-Making/124/

Restaurantica offers more than 350,000 restaurant listings across the United States and Canada.  Its format is similar to Yelp and Chow.  Restaurantica’s been providing down to earth, honest restaurant reviews since 2003 and now has more than 184,000 reviews.  You can search for the restaurant you’re looking for, after searching for it here of course. 🙂

I’ll be their Costa Mesa expert, if you will.  I’ll be posting monthly on Restaurantica about all the fabulous food finds in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Orange County, and wherever I might travel.  The above photo is related to my post about Nick’s Pizza Ristorante Italiano.  Restaurantica has ALL the yummy food pictures and details.  http://www.restaurantica.com/blog/Nicks-Pizza-Ristorante-Italiano/130/.

Be sure to check the Restaurantica Blog for monthly reviews and food photos by me, then write about your favorite restaurant.  The more reviews the better.

Related Link:  http://www.restaurantica.com/blog/

Foodbuzz’s live blogging event which hosts 24 Posts by 24 Foodies around the world in 24 Hours is happening right now.  Since September’s 24, 24, 24 was such a success, Foodbuzz may be making it a monthly event.  Below is a medley of September’s 24 with fun music, but you’ll need to log on to Foodbuzz to see what’s cooking in October.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpIMNHiFQEo

http://www.foodbuzz.com/ 

Related Link:

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1025