Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

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

The “Special Menu” is the Cheesecake Factory’s New Small Plates & Snacks and Specialties Menu.  Here we had the Beets With Goat Cheese Salad and a Margherita Pizzette.  The plates are “small” as they note, but the prices are small too — Each was $4.95.  It’s a better lunch than fast food for the same price, except for the tip. 🙂

Related Links:

http://www.cheesecakefactory.com/menu.htm

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1960

I think I’ve had these before — Not from Carl’s or The Green Burrito, but when I was in elementary school.  They taste like Burrito Day back when.  And they also taste like those Mini Tacos in the frozen food’s section of the grocery store, plus a food sample I once received at Costco on a Saturday afternoon. 

In other words, the flavor combination is reminiscent of foods gone by.  And I actually liked Carl’s Crisp Burrito’s flavor and texture.  I received a coupon to try a 3-Pack, but two are enough.  Three were a bit heavy, but they do hit a tasty note I’ve enjoyed before.  Next time I’d need a side of Sour Cream and Hot Sauce.

Coupon: http://www.carlsjr.com/promotions/coupon/free-small-drink-with-purchase-of-3-piece-or-5-piece-crisp-burritos/

I’ve come to love this restaurant — Tradition by Pascal in Newport Beach serves spectacular food and offers excellent friendly service.

This day we had the Lunch Prix Fixe Menu, which is a great deal.  It includes a choice of four Entrées — Three are pictured here.  Starting from the top on down are Pascal’s Baked Chicken Crêpes with Gruyere, Rainbow Trout with Steamed Organic Fingerling Potatoes and Caper Meuniére, and My Mother Therese Homestyle Cooking, which is Veal, Broccoli Rabe and Fettuccine.

The Lunch Prix Fixe Menu also includes one of three Starters.  We chose the Homemade Pâté and Soupe Du Jour, which was a Puréed Vegetable Soup without Cream.

We were celebrating a Birthday, so they customized one of the Desserts with a candle.  This day it was Flan.  We added a Lemon Tart for a little more sweetness.  A Chef’s Choice Dessert or Glass of House Wine is part of the Lunch Prix Fixe Menu ($22) — I like the Wine/Dessert swap because I don’t always want Dessert, and it’s an extra savings on a sought after beverage.

Here’s a link to Tradition by Pascal and MORE: http://pascalnpb.com/

Pascal Epicerie Food Photos

Happy Birthday Arlene and Thank You Very Much Shanda.  The food and company are always GREAT!

Happy Hour Week is approaching in Orange County.  It’ll take place April 12th through the 18th in 2009.  The restaurant line-up already looks great and more will be added before the kick-off.  Thanks OCFoodies.com for continually seeking to provide great food related deals for the locals! 

MORE INFO re Happy Hour Week: http://www.happyhourweek.com/

JOIN Orange County Foodies Network: http://www.ocfoodies.com/

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is celebrating the coming of Spring with a Tea Party at all company-owned retail locations.  Tea enthusiasts are invited to attend the Tea Party at their local The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store to enjoy a complementary 12oz. Over Ice Tea Latte prepared with whole Loose Leaf Teas, including bold Chai, fruity Pomegranate Blueberry and aromatic Raspberry Ceylon — Invented by creative Coffee Bean team members, Over Ice Tea Lattes are Loose Leaf Teas freshly “espressed” through Espresso machines, then infused with Vanilla flavor, whisked and poured over ice.

Be sure to stop by one of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stores between 2:00p.m. – 6:00p.m. on Thursday, March 5th ONLY to try one for FREE.  I’ve been advised that all California and Arizona locations are company-owned and most, if not all franchise locations are in Hawaii, so unfortunately there’s no free Tea in Hawaii that day.  Aloha.

Related Link: http://coffeebean.com/

Today at the Bloomingdale’s Cooking Demonstration, Executive Chef Owner Cathy Pavlos of Lucca Cafe announced that Orange County Restaurant Week has been extended for another week.  That’s great news!  There’s more time to enjoy the prix-fixe meals being offered at several OC Restaurants.  Pictured here is the Braciole al Forno we had for dinner at Il Farro Caffe Trattoria.  More about our visit will be reported in an upcoming post.

MORE INFO: http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/

The First Annual Orange County Restaurant Week officially starts today and continues through February 28th — More details about it are linked below.  As previously reported on Nibbles of Tidbits, participating Chefs are giving cooking demonstrations at Bloomingdale’s Home Store at South Coast Plaza.

Here Chef Paul French of The Californian at The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach makes their Wild Mushroom Ravioli with sauteed Jewel Box Mushrooms, Farmer’s Market Vegetables and Brown Truffle Butter Sauce.  WOW, it’s the best we’ve sampled (thus far) during these demonstrations.  And it’s fortunately one of the dishes being offered during OC Restaurant Week.

Related Links:

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=2623

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=2489

http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/

http://huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/index.jsp

To gear up for The First Annual Orange County Restaurant Week, 13 top Chefs from participating restaurants are demonstrating the preparation of their signature dishes.  Today Ruth’s Chris Steak House Chefs showed us how to prepare their Sweet Potato Casserole and Creamed Spinach.

And this is ‘Ruth’ of Ruth’s Chris Steak House.  Her last name isn’t Chris, but you’ll need to learn the rest of the story regarding the name on their website.  The Chefs pre-prepared the Steaks, Shrimp and Desserts pictured above, but we didn’t get to try them. 🙁

If I ordered the Sweet Potato Casserole in the restaurant, it would be for Dessert — It is sweet city!  And my rechargeable battery conveniently died at the Creamed Spinach.  That’s okay, because I really wanted the Steak they weren’t serving. 🙂

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: http://www.ruthschris.com/

The Loft at The Montage Laguna Beach Cooking Demonstration:
http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=2489

Orange County Restaurant Week INFO:
http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/

Today Orange County Restaurant Week kicked off its pre-event festivities with the first of 13 Cooking Demonstrations to be held at Bloomingdale’s Home Store, South Coast Plaza.  Chef De Cuisine Brian Black of The Loft at The Montage Laguna Beach prepared Barbecue-Braised Laughing Bird Shrimp with Warm Winter Citrus Vinaigrette, Spinach and Pine Nuts.  It’s one of the dishes to be offered during the inaugural Orange County Restaurant Week, February 22-28, 2009.

Participating restaurants will be serving three-course pre-fixe lunches for $10 & $20, and dinners for $20, $30 and $40.  During that time and leading up to it, select Chefs will demonstrate how to prepare dishes featured on their respective OC Restaurant Week menus.  It’s a good way to sample a few items and see how they’re made. 

The related Demos started today and will continue through the end of  OC Restaurant Week.  We’ll hopefully see and taste more.  Chef Manny Gomez of Ruth’s Chris Steak House Irvine will be making Sweet Potato Casserole and Creamed Spinach at Bloomingdale’s Home Store on February 19 — That’s of interest.  The rest of the schedule and more information is linked below.

Orange County Restaurant Week INFO:
http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/

Laughing Bird Shrimp INFO:
http://www.wedge.coop/meat/meat-sustainable-shrimp.html

I got all of this at Ikea’s Restaurant & Cafe for $3.99 — It’s Penne Pasta with a combination of Marinara & Alfredo Sauce, Vegetables, Garlic Toast and a Salad.  That’s less than you’d pay at a fast food joint, and a lot more food.  As previously reported, the environment is relaxing and its cafeteria style ordering is fun. 

HOWEVER, although this looks good, it’s kinda bland.  I liked the Garlic Toast and the Salad Bar, but their Ranch Dressing has that tart taste I avoid in some.  Overall, for the price I’d doctor it up with Salt, Pepper, and the Parmesan Cheese they offer with it.  And I’d try a different Salad Dressing.

Ikea’s Salmon: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=2199

Ikea’s Meatballs: http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1743

Ikea’s Restaurant & Cafe is one of the best places for lunch.  On Wednesdays I work in an office across the street from an Ikea — The inexpensive menu, unique foods, spacious dining area, cafeteria style ordering, and large windows make if a perfect place for lunch.  And I’ve finally figured out how to leave the place without having to walk through the entire store, HA.  That’s important!

I’ve always had their Swedish Meatballs, but they’ve got other dishes I’d like to try.  This week it was Salmon with an Apple Glaze (I think), with Potatoes and Carrots.  The vegetables were over-cooked, but tasted okay.  The Salmon was good with the Lemony Sauce they offer, but I really didn’t taste “Apple” in/on anything.  Until I must have the Meatballs again, I look forward to trying new things on Wednesdays.

See Ikea’s Swedish Meatballs HERE:
http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1743

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.

Mesa Grill & Barbeque is on 17th Street where Baja Fresh used to be.  I just learned there’s two, this one in Costa Mesa and one in Santa Ana.  I recently received their menu and generous coupons in the mail, which gave me a great reason to give them a try.  I got all this food for $13.47, 50% off its regular price of $25.  Either price, it appears to be a good deal.

It’s the Mesa Platter for 2, which includes Half a Chicken, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Tri-tip, Pulled Pork, Mesa Chicken Wings, Rosemary Potatoes, Tri-tip Beans, Corn on the Cob with Mesa Butter, Garden Salads, Cornbread, and a Spicy Cheese Fondue with Homemade Potato Chips.

Mesa Grill & Barbeque did good by distributing its menu and deals.  Unfortunately I hadn’t seen too many people eating there, but this night they had quite a few.  And I now know that the food and service is definitely worth a re-visit.  I especially liked the Tri-tip, Pulled Pork, Corn on the Cob, and Spicy Cheese Fondue with crispy Potato Chips.

Related Links:

http://www.mesagrillbbq.com/

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1269

UPDATE 08/01/09:  It unfortunately appears that this restaurant closed.

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/

This time we tried the Spicy Thai Chicken Pizza and Moo Shu Egg Rolls.  Both were top notch, just like most dishes at the Yard House.  The price and quality are there.  And the varied menu items are consistently good.  There’s more photos of other fabulous Yard House appetizers linked below.  We’re getting around to trying them all.  Why not?

Related Links:

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1310

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

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/

I hear the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is having its 45th Birthday.  I would have never guessed it.  I thought they were younger, but it appears they’re older and wiser.  Happy Birthday. 🙂

I like the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf because they don’t call their small drinks a “Tall” if you know what I mean — That really bugs me about their main competition.  I’m not going to call an obviously short cup a tall.  It’s blatant trickery I tell you.  And somehow the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stores seem a little more hometown friendly, although they have 676 stores in 19 countries.  Apparently the first one opened in 1963 in Brentwood, California.

In celebration of their Birthday, they’re offering a SPECIAL EVERY TUESDAY in September through the first Tuesday in October.  The specials include 0.63 cent Coffees and Hot Teas, 20% off Pounds of Coffee and Tea Bag Tins, and a FREE Espresso Shot added to your drink.

The picture above is of the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on 19th Street in Costa Mesa, California.

Related Links:

http://coffeebean.com/

Most of my Cookbooks have come from Border’s bargain section.  They’ve got a great selection and the best deals in many towns.  These pictures are from the Costa Mesa location on Newport Boulevard.  It has a Cafe too.

On the westside entrance is a Rosemary bush.  It’s always nice to save a few bucks by picking local public herbs. 🙂

Related Links:

http://www.borders.com/online/store/StoreDetailView_260

http://www.borders.com/online/store/Home

Since I live across the street and receive a bi-monthly coupon in the mail, I’ve been trying a variety of El Chinaco menu items.  This time it was Adobada (Spicy Pork) and Pollo Combination Plates, respectively shown here.

For more in-depth reviews of El Chinaco’s food, visit ChristianZ’s OCMexFood Blog, which reviews Mexican Food establishments all throughout Orange County.  His blog offers high quality, interesting and helpful information. http://ocmexfood.blogspot.com/search?q=el+chinaco

The Clipper Magazine publishes a 2-for-1 Coupon every other month.  It’s worth using.

Related Links:

http://ocmexfood.blogspot.com/

http://www.blogger.com/profile/10926523379961771939

http://www.clippermagazine.com/getcoupons_clipper.cfm

Thank you for the birthday gift Islands — And what a great gift it was.  I truly LOVE your burgers.  I most often get the Hawaiian Burger, which is what you see here.

These pictures are taken on the patio at the Irvine, California location off Bison.

The Kona Pie is very good too.  I’ve enjoyed it a few times in the past, but this day I was on the run without refrigeration.  The waiter brought it by for a quick photo, but then I gave it to a large party timed for dessert.  That was fun to do — They were excited about it too.  I REALLY wanted to take a bite, but you can’t give it away after that, and I knew I couldn’t finish it all — So I’m glad it went to a bigger cause.

Thank you Islands.  Your birthday gift was generous and pleasing.

http://www.islandsrestaurants.com/

Thanks for the Feliz Cumpleanos and $7.00 towards a Rubio’s Meal.  I chose the Chipotle Ranch Salad, since I love Chipotle Peppers.  With a drink, I ended up spending $0.52 for this meal.  Gracias.

Although I truly appreciate it, I don’t think I would pick this particular item again.  I thought it needed a lot more Chipotle flavor — It tasted too much like Ranch Dressing.  I like Ranch, but wanted and expected Chipotle.  

I was also a little confused by the glowing orange chip sticks on the Salad.  They weren’t good.  The orange powder spice is way too salty.  The Salad can definitely do without them.  I should mention that the Chicken looked and tasted very good.

And one more thing while I have your attention… I bet your Tacos would taste even better with different, thinner corn tortillas.  Can you change them for me?  I’m not sure if others feel the same way?  I’d love to read some opinions on this.

Related Links:

http://www.rubios.com/

Thank you for the birthday gift!