Regretfully I don’t even taste the Sourdough in this Bread, let alone the “Extra” Sourdough. What’s up with that? Have you also noticed that about many so-called Sourdough Breads?
The Park Bench Cafe — An outdoor Cafe in Huntington Beach that caters to dogs and people.
A serene place for Breakfast or Lunch — Dogs are treated to Canine Cuisine and people pay.
We had the Club House Sandwich pictured at top and the Supreme Melt below.
And Leon had the Peanut Butter Puppy.
Water is available for the Dogs.
And the surrounding park and lake are picturesque for all.
The French Fries are extra good.
Back view of The Park Bench Cafe and its outdoor seating.
And view from car, before backing out to head for nearby dog beach to soak in the sun.
Dog day afternoon without a bank robbery — I see why it always looks busy when I drive by.
Chicken samples from the backyard grill on Mother’s Day — Anticipated and appreciated.
Bouquets of flowers and fruit flourish.
Tortilla Roll Ups with Smoked Turkey, Ham, Peppers, Cream Cheese, Chives and more.
Specific recipe for above to be posted soon — A past similar recipe is linked here.
Happy Mother’s Day Mom! Thanks for ALL you’ve done and who you are.
I’m blessed and lucky.
It’s worth repeating and repeating and repeating, because it’s fast and easy to make, and always tastes good with a side of Sour Cream and Tortilla Chips, if on hand — Eggs hard or soft cooked in any fresh, jarred or canned Salsa is a favorite Breakfast for Dinner meal here.
The lovers, the dreamers and me at Sushi Wave for a lunch escape, next door to Radio Shack.
A (blurry) vision, but not an illusion — It’s a House Salad and Rainbow Roll at Sushi Wave.
Delight on a whim — Past ready for lunch, I stepped away from the audio/video connector’s world for a peaceful, fresh, satisfying bite. Don’t let this option hide from you on Newport Blvd.
Title and word play inspired by a favorite songwriter and the pictured Rainbow Roll.
Invited by a friend for my birthday, I’ll gladly be attending and reporting about the farm to table gourmet tastes prepared by celebrity chefs at Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation at Montage Laguna. I’m ready to sip on wine, watch the sun set over the ocean, listen to live music, and bid on “fabulous” auction items to help end childhood hunger. Eat so all may eat.
Pictured ingredients are from another Share Our Strength event — See you in Laguna.
Truly free BC, or from a public garden today, as we must pay for property space to produce.
Grow your own food, FISH and pick fresh Herbs from communal locales along the way.
While on a walk, look for Rosemary, Mint, Basil, Lemon, Lime and Orange trees and bushes offering Fruit and Herbs. You’ll be surprised how many you see, especially those named here. We appreciate ALL that grows and yields nourishment for life. Air is the best of the free!
NOW is the window of time to enter a Competition at the Orange County Fair.
Did you know it costs less to enter a Fair Competition than it does to get in the Fair?
When you enter a Competition, you receive a Fair admission ticket — Enter here.
Do your Tomatoes look better than previous winners (above)? If so, enter the Garden & Floral Competition. Have you taken a dazzling photograph or do you paint? Yes? Enter the Visual Arts Competition. Or view the complete list — There has to be a Competition for you.
Bottle Beer or Wine, can Jams or Pickles, or bake? Enter the Tasty Creations Competition.
More Competition INFO can be read here and the specifics regarding all Culinary Competitions are linked here. Enter most contests in May and June, and Single Day Contests (in person competitions, shown below) now or after the Fair opens. See schedule here. Good luck!
Don’t miss the sign up deadline(s) — You might just win.
Partly titled desperado, because I didn’t capture what I set out to feature from an exploratory visit to the Natural History Museum, Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits and California Science Center — Yet still piece together far reaching, less spectacular photo remnants, with no complaints about an awe-inspiring day that held the past, present and future in many ways.
Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Can is an obvious food angle, but how about above? Do you see the Claussen’s Pickle Jar holding the Paleontologist tools? That’s it, and I like the photo.
Lions eating Zebra, not pretty, but interesting to see in a museum.
Ostrich Eggs — Ever had one? I haven’t and hear one roughly equals a dozen Eggs.
We had Fish Tacos from The Surfer Taco, a Food Truck lined up with others near the La Brea Tar Pits. The extra food options came in handy before continuing our museum day and drive back to Orange County, along the coast with more discovery stops along the way.
Ever eat Walrus? We’re going to pass on that one, and hope those below wouldn’t eat us.
A bib for the baby? Here you go — Happy Cinco De Mayo! It’s now on to La Espiga De Oro.
And we might want a big, fat, wet Burrito don’t you know.
Or we’ll make Nibbles of Tidbits’ Chipotle Barbacoa Beef Copycat Recipe?!
Or opt for Chinese take-out to avoid crowds and labor — TBD after the Cadillac.
Much to possibly do — Salud to a new Superman too! Milk is good food.
Nibbles of Tidbits hopes to be at The OC’s “Golden Foodie Awards” and looks forward to a Summer of foodie events leading up to it. We hope to be everywhere that’s happening to report about it — Please see the http://goldenfoodieawards.com press release below:
I’ve yet to experience the ideal Coffee Pot design. Even when I focus on the pour, I still spill. Is it just me? Granted I haven’t spent a lot of money on a Coffee Maker, nor poured from the King’s pot, but it just seems that too many Coffee Pots have an imperfect design. That’s it.
Warning: Pictured spill may be exaggerated and is closer than it seems.
For whatever it’s worth, May is National Asparagus, Barbecue, Egg, Hamburger, Salad, Salsa, Strawberry, Chocolate Custard, Mediterranean Diet, Gazpacho Aficionado and Artisan Gelato Month — Linked sources say. Why not observe by eating more (or less) of these things?! 😉
Chilled Tomato and Cucumber Gazpacho with Shrimp.
A Fancy Smancy Steakhouse Burger — Our contribution to National Hamburger Month.
Party Salad from an earlier post.
Deviled Eggs, Salsa Baked Eggs and/or Huevos Rancheros will happen this month regardless.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus on the grill — Enjoy May with or without these foods.
After seeing traffic resulting from Nibbles of Tidbits / I Need Text Company pins, especially from this post, I joined Pinterest. In honor of our most popular pin, oddly a fake appetizer platter, we present the Super Platter (above), which looks to be real. Pin this. Photo credit.
I made a variation of these Baked Green Bean Fries — They question whether or not they can be called “Fries” since they’re not fried. What do you think? Are Fries determined by shape or cooking method? I understand the debate, but can’t take a side. We say both.
We dipped them in Ranch Dressing, just like French Fries, but call ’em Stix if you insist.
Either way, I likely won’t be making them again, as they’re just okay for the effort.
Heather’s RECIPE is HERE — The Green Beans are basically coated with Egg and seasoned Bread Crumbs, then baked in the oven. I used Panko Bread Crumbs instead and seasoned them with Smoked Paprika and Ground Chipotle, Salt and Pepper. They were of interest to try, but I prefer Green Beans simply made with Butter, Lemon Zest and S & P, or with Bacon.
Apologies for the poor copycat photos — Love to experiment with almost everything.
Have you been to Prime Cut Café & Wine Bar yet?
We happily discovered it down the street from the Honda Center.
The service is indeed warm and friendly, as described in The Prime Cut Difference (above).
Starting Monday, April 30th, they’ll be offering prix fixe Three Course Dinners for $20.
Nibbles of Tidbits got to pre-nibble it — Somebody has to make sure all will be up to par.
For Starters, we opted for the Tomato Bisque.
And the Marinated Roasted Beet and Avocado Salad — The portion sizes are generous.
For our Entrees, we selected the Spice Roasted Chicken (top) and Shortrib Pasta (above).
And the Wild Berry Sorbet and Carrot Cake for Dessert.
I love the Café’s lighting — It just feels right and goes well with the classy food.
Dining at Prime Cut Café could save money on a movie ticket too — A Theater is next door.
Bar area (below), straight ahead as you walk in.
Cheers to a great deal — The Three Course Dinner MENU will be available M – TH.
Excellent Wine isn’t included in the price, but highly recommended.
What fortune would you write? I was fairly uncreative, since I made them on a whim.
Though not perfect, from thought to fruition I had Fortune Cookies in 30 minutes.
Most recipes for Fortune Cookies seem to be the same — One of the many I stumbled upon.
And must give a shout out to the SILPAT — It’s perfect for Fortune Cookies (and much more).
RECIPE — While still warm, fold Cookies in half over the fortune, then bend ’em over the rim of a glass (or similar), as blurrily shown (above) to cool. Voila! I may add Orange Zest next time.
You will soon receive a large sum of money said my Fortune Cookie. What? Is that legal?
Wow it’s right, I did blog about it — Illustration Credit.
Finally inside The Arboretum, our Los Angeles Fantasy Island this day — Ever been there?
We fed turtles (and crazy fish) Cheerios left on the dirt by others — They loved ’em.
The turtles didn’t have much of a chance for a Cheerio with the big-mouthed fish in the water.
And birds stood by scouting for plentiful small fish (and whatever else).
Across the lagoon is the bell tower where Tattoo famously exclaimed “De Plane, De Plane.”
There’s beauty and wonder at The Arboretum — It’s an exploratory way to spend the day.
Bring a camera, cold beverage and good walking shoes to be prepared to see all comfortably.
Food Garden Coming Soon — For those who don’t eat insects, live fish and dirty Cheerios.
A peek inside the old Santa Anita Depot — In photo vintage cooking utensils weave between reflections of today, behind me and up close, as we reflect about life yesterday. See it?
All this splendor is there for YOU to see.
Below is the Queen Anne Cottage seen on Fantasy Island. Do you remember it? Some outdoor scenes were filmed around the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden.
It sure was peaceful lounging on the Queen Anne Cottage porch.
Already an adventurous day, before heading to Santa Anita Park nearby for its last weekend.
Where’s the FOOD? It’s here. And you thought it meant something else…
We like the price of Burgers and Wine at The Counter during Happy Hour.
Mini Cheeseburgers are $2 for two, featured Wine is $3 a Glass and Starters are 1/2 off.
The service is good at Westcliff Village in Newport Beach — Its operators run this location too.
We relished 2 Glasses of Wine, 4 Mini Cheeseburgers, a large plate of Parmesan French Fries with Rosemary (not pictured, blurry) and a Coke for $16.15 — That’s super and all was terrific.
Responsibility never tasted so good they say — 100% of the profits from Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails go to aid people affected by vision impairment and blindness. How often does that happen? It’s a wonderful thing, as is the waterfall wall seen as you walk in.
It’s touching to see how loved Andrei was by his family — The restaurant was created in his honor and now helps others. Read more about that here and you’ll want to dine there.
The restaurant is upstairs and special events are hosted downstairs and up.
It’s an open, airy space with lots of big windows.
More about Andrei’s is told on the menu and more about the menu is here.
They have a Happy Hour, Free Corkage on Tuesdays and a Flamenco Guitarist some days.
It’s called Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails, as they “care deeply” about all aspects of food sourcing, serving, and creating an environment where sharing a meal enhances relationships.
During a Happy Hour pop in, we shared a few Small Plates.
Andrei’s Crab Cakes.
Vegetable Arancini.
And Grilled Tomato & Cheese — Our favorite of the bunch was Andrei’s Crab Cakes.
Bar and lounge area with cozy couches and pillows.
Everyone was so nice, without the mention of Nibbles of Tidbits, our regular M.O.
The valet parking area reminds me of Palm Springs — I like the feel and thought of it all.
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