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| Click to access coupon. |
To all recent graduates:
Congratulations to all graduates this summer! Don't throw away that student ID card just yet! Check out this free meal offer from IKEA. Download the coupon by clicking the image below or click here. The offer is only valid from June 19-July 2.
Bruxie is perfect anytime of the day
What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word "waffles""? Breakfast. But no! Bruxie has changed my mentality forever on the concept of the traditional waffle. Bruxie features gourmet waffle sandwiches that can be sweet or savory! This is a completely outdoor, standing eating area, meaning---no chairs!
This is the Bruxie Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffle. It comes with bits of coleslaw and delicious sweet, tangy dipping sauce to pour on your chicken. The waffle itself is very light and airy, with a slight subtle crunch. I would have preferred it to be crispier, but I'll just have to remember to make that request next time I go! The drink peeking in the back was their fresh-squeezed old fashioned lemonade! This combo was soo refreshing (especially after waiting 20 minutes in line).
For dessert, I tried the Liege Waffle with Powdered Sugar, and a cup of warm Nutella. This waffle was really different from the previous one. This one was thicker, crispier and tasted more like your traditional breakfast waffle. I didn't expect the Nutella to be warm, so that was a nice touch. This menu item was not overly sweet, and just a nice way to end a meal.
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| The Savory Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffle |
This is the Bruxie Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffle. It comes with bits of coleslaw and delicious sweet, tangy dipping sauce to pour on your chicken. The waffle itself is very light and airy, with a slight subtle crunch. I would have preferred it to be crispier, but I'll just have to remember to make that request next time I go! The drink peeking in the back was their fresh-squeezed old fashioned lemonade! This combo was soo refreshing (especially after waiting 20 minutes in line).
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| The sweet, Liege Waffle with Powdered Sugar & Warm Nutella |
BRUXIE
Old Towne Orange
Old Towne Orange
292 North Glassell Street
Orange, CA 92866
Open 9am - 9pm Daily
http://bruxie.com/
http://bruxie.com/
Satisfy your sushi craving
As for taste, I'd say it did the trick. It's not the BEST sushi I ever had, but it was decent enough to satisfy my craving for it. Oh, and there's a $15 minimum to get free delivery, but it's equivalent to eating at a sushi restaurant for three rolls. Would definitely order again :)
PHO: Good for the soul
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| My rare steak and flank Pho |
This beautiful bowl was crafted at Pho Thang Long in Westminster, CA, where upscale decor and cheap prices coexist. This is a place where water isn't served in the smallest cup possible, or charged $0.50...it is FREE and REFILLED to your heart's content. You can even enjoy your meal in peace next to their wall waterfall:
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| Photo taken by Ryan N. on Yelp! |
Do's and Dont's of All-you-can-eat Seats
I went to a Dodgers vs Giants game and sat in the pavilion for the first time, which basically means CHEAP SEATS & ALL YOU CAN EAT! Yes, you will rub elbows with your neighbors, and even get cheese sauce on someone's hair in front you (true story), but I love these seats! I recommend everyone to try them at least once...or twice! But of course, to maximize your all-you-can-eat experience, I compiled a handy Do's and Dont's list.
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| ..and there's more where that came from! |
DOs
- Get there early so you can not just beat the line, but get first dibs on fresh hot dogs and nachos
- Pace yourself. You may get overwhelmed by the initial plethora of food, but relax it's going to be there the whole. entire. game.
- Get a tray. You may think that you can carry everything in your pockets, but this just makes it easier to eat and enjoy the game.
- Fill your tray with a variety of snacks (as shown above) so you don't get bored of eating one thing
- Get TWO sodas (not shown) at a time because you will be thirsty under the hot, hot sun!
- Leave before the final inning so you can take some snacks to go (I got three extra bags of peanuts, and two Dodger Dogs)
- Do not skip breakfast. You might think that not eating before the game will allow you to consume more food, but you will actually be so hungry you will eat a TON of food by the 1st inning and be in a food coma for the rest of the game. DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST.
- Do not pay $15 for parking. Instead, find street parking just below the Dodger Stadium. This will leave you in happy mood, and make you feel like these seats were more worth it.
- Do not start a fight. Pavilion seats have some of most hard-core Dodger fans.
hard-core fans + all you can eat food = getting food thrown at you. - Don't go there just for the food. All you can eat is enjoyed best when you complement it with the natural pleasures of a baseball game.
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| View from pavilion seats, not bad right? |
DOGZILLA! (Not your typical weiner)
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| The Dogzilla truck is here! |
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| Objects are larger than they appear |
Dogzilla Dog (Top)
All beef frank topped with avocado, grilled onions, bacon bits, Furikake seasoning (Japanese Seasoning consisting of sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, salt, and sugar), Japanese mayo (also known as JAYO), and teriyaki sauce.Furikake Dog (Bottom)
Spicy hot link topped with grilled onions, spicy Japanese mayo blend, teriyaki sauce, Furikake seasoning, Nori strips (Roasted Seaweed Strips)
Comparing the two hot dogs, I'd say the Furikake Dog wins, hands down. I felt like I was eating a sushi roll, but it was a hot dog. Definitely played tricks on my palette. Each hot dog was about $5, but it fills you up! I definitely will be back, and Dogzilla will too! Their truck will be at the University Town Center Leasing Office in Irvine, CA every Tuesdays from 12:00-2:00pm this month! :)
Bottega Louie in Downtown Los Angeles
For this post, I will be ranking the food by YUMS. One YUM is the lowest and three YUMS is the highest!
This wasn't the first dish I started off with but....I came here for my very good friend's birthday! This was her birthday "cake"--a classy remake of the traditional---the Passionfruit Macaron (in the middle) was a burst of fruity flavor and had three crunchy layers. TWO YUMS. Next, the three macaroons were soooo good. This was actually my first time having macaroons so I don't have anything to compare it to...but if I were to make a prediction, I bet these would be the best macaroons I will ever have! THREE YUMS. That's the highest rating so far.
I didn't try these cupcakes, so I can't give a YUM rating. They just looked really interesting so I decided to take a picture of them! I love how each cupcake is topped with a macaroon. There is something about macaroons that makes everything look cuter :)
Again, not something that I tried but looked tasty! The little white balls remind me of tapioca though, but I'm sure it's something else...
Did you read the caption? LEMON. RICOTTA. PANCAKES! Okay, I think I overhyped it when I was ordering, but I really thought it would have more lemon flavor. I tried really hard to taste it and I guess I got a subtle hint of lemon flavor, but it wasn't very apparent at all. My friend commented that maybe they forgot the lemon? Anyways, the ricotta definitely gave these pancakes a much smoother, and richer texture. Oh and they gave us their homemade blueberry syrup (not pictured) which made up for the lack of lemon flavor because that was soo good in combination with everything! One YUM.
So what is in this plentiful haul you wonder..I know it looks kind of simple, but sometimes the simplest dishes are often the best tasting (if you do it right). First, you have two softly-poached eggs topped with Reggiano parmesan. Then, throw in some haricots verts, potatoes, golden baby beets, shiitake mushrooms, and tomatoes..you know...ingredients that you probably would never have in stock in your kitchen. And voila. I give this dish double YUMS.
The Portobello Fries were quite unexpected---I thought it would have more crunch, but then again, I remembered that it was just a mushroom. The portobello fry itself is actually kind of tasteless UNTIL you add their special dip, then it goes from zero to 60 in terms of flavor impact! One YUM.
On my way out, I just had to snap another picture of their macaroons. I love how they display them in these big clear jars, makes me want to buy macaroons in bulk so I can have them as a snack whenever I please :) Anyways, come to Bottega Louie to experience a comfortable, but upscale setting. It is perfect for a daytime lunch or brunch.
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| Passionfruit Macaron with mini macaroons (Left to Right): Earl Grey, Raspberry, Vanilla |
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| Gourmet cupcakes also topped with macaroons |
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| Sweet treats! |
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| Lemon Ricotta Pancakes |
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| Farmer's Market Breakfast Haul |
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| Portobello Fries |
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| Macaroon HEAVEN. |
I'd love to wake up to this every morning...
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| Banana Walnut Pancakes, drizzled with lots of syrup |
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| Croissant French Toast and of course, fresh strawberries |
Let me start off by talking about the Banana Walnut Pancakes--they had like the perfect proportion of walnuts to bananas to pancake mix. The pancakes were so soft and fluffy. I really didn't need to add the syrup because the bananas were sweet enough, but I wanted the pancakes to look shiny in the picture :)
Next up is the Croissant French Toast (see recipe at end of this post). When I took my first bite, I was seriously confused. I really couldn't say I was eating a croissant, or have french toast. It is a very surprising texture that I did not expect at all. It was hard to convince myself that it is a hybrid of croissant and french toast. But I loved it! One thing to note is that the price for strawberries is seasonal--we added $4 for some strawberries, which is kind of a splurge.
I felt like I wasn't in the city anymore and maybe on vacation somewhere...Anyhoo, would I come back again? OH YES. YES. & YES!
Croissant French Toast Recipe (EZ Version)
So after eating here, I found out that to make Croissant French Toast..is actually quite simple. The quick and dirty version is to just buy croissants and dip them in egg, and make cook it on the skillet how you normally would to make french toast. Pretty easy huh? I should probably start making this for breakfast..would totally jumpstart my groggy mornings!
Rachel Ray's Croissant French Toast Recipe (Fancy Version)
Croissant French Toast Recipe - Every Day with Rachael Ray
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| Stephen Scott Gross Everyday With Rachel Ray |
The ice cream sundae is 119 years old!
Enjoy a traditional, all you can eat Swedish Easter Smorgasbord for a great price.
Friday April 15th, 2011
5-7pm
Tickets must be purchased at the store in advance. Seating is limited.
Check your local IKEA store page to see if they have it!
Friday April 15th, 2011
5-7pm
Tickets must be purchased at the store in advance. Seating is limited.
Check your local IKEA store page to see if they have it!
Foodie In Italia
Last summer, I spent a month in Italy, traveled extensively and took these delicious photos. These culinary delights were taken from Sienna, Arrezo, Rome, Florence, Venice, Cortona and Cinque Terre. Enjoy.
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| Delicious gelato in Cortona, Italy with Waffle, yums. |
YAY! Gyu-Kaku is coming closer to the OC
I CAN'T WAIT.
This is going to be my new spot for Happy Hour! Gyu Kaku is my favorite Japanese grilling restaurant. It's a little on the pricey side, but that's what their Happy Hour is for. If you've never been, check this guide:
Wine makes everything classier, doesn't it?
This Saturday, March 5--OC Custom Wine in Anaheim is featuring Cheeseburger Night! But, this is not your average fast food! $13 bucks gets you this gourmet burger with a glass of wine. Not bad, but you need to make a reservation because seats will run out. To reserve your spot, click here.
If you do miss out on this event, you should still visit OC Custom Wine when you get a chance.
A little bit about their business
And it only costs $25 to make your very own custom wine, which includes your own custom label. If you don't want the bottle for yourself, it makes a great gift too. Everyone loves personalized gifts :)"OC Custom Wine buys grapes from premier vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma, and the Central Coast. You taste the wines we have made direct from the barrel. Based on what you like in a wine, we will create a wine for you by blending wines from the different barrels to match your taste preferences. You get to bottle the wine the same day you taste it, and if you want you can make a custom label to put on to your custom wine. The next time you decide to have wine with dinner, you could be drinking your very own creation!"
The. Best. Travel. Mug. EVER.
We've all been there. You buy a stylish new travel mug only to find that it leaks, and doesn't really keep your drink cold/hot for more than an hour-tops. Well ladies and gentlemen, trust me when I say I have found THE BEST TRAVEL MUG EVER. IN THE WORLD. Maybe, don't quote me on that. Anyways, here it is!
Featuring, the AUTOSEAL® Aria Stainless Steel Travel Mug from Contigo. Clever brand name isn't it? I bought these when they were selling them at Costco for $19.99 in a two pack. It came in two colors, blue and green.
I did my own little experiments to test this new travel mug:
1. To see how long it would keep my drink warm, I poured in hot water in the morning at 10:00am and did not drink it until 1:00pm. The result? IT WAS PIPING HOT! I almost burnt my tongue. But nonetheless, I was very excited that indeed this travel mug keeps my drink not only warm, but HOT! :)
2. To see how long it would keep my drink cold, I poured in cold water in the after noon at 12:00pm. I left the mug in the car on a very hot afternoon and did not return to it until 5:00pm. And lo and behold, my water was still icy cold. Ah--so refreshing.
3. To test how leak proof this mug was, I poured in water, closed it, and shook it vigorously several times. No leakage all around. I also purposely dropped the mug on the floor several times and once again, no leaks and the button-top stayed closed. Yay.
Well, there you have it. This is the best travel mug ever. I love it and I have been using it everyday. Try for yourself.
NEW JOINT: Okinawan Dining at Habuya
As read on Habuya's Yelp page:
ANNOUNCEMENT: First Okinawan Dining Restaurant in Orange County has come!!Ok, I'm pretty excited to try this place. This article was printed in the FOOD section of the Los Angeles Times today and already, there have been some great reviews on Yelp (4-5 stars!). This is definitely something different to try in Orange County. Read more about Habuya in this Los Angeles Times article here.
Japanese Okinawan Dining
14215 Red Hill AveTustin, CA 92780
(714) 832-3323
Tea To Go!
I'm totally not a coffee drinker, so I prefer to drink tea. It's healthier, since I'm not adding cream and sugar, and it still does the trick to keep me awake. But on a really busy morning, I don't have time to boil water and make tea. I just want to get out of my apartment and go! So, I found this "Tea on the Go" from Crate & Barrel! It can brew loose tea leaves and tea bags. Now, I can make tea even with cold water, which saves me so much time.
Nothing but EXTRAODINARY
Imagine a stylish, architecturally pleasing dessert shoppe that features an endless variety of homemade tortes, cakes, fruit tarts, cookies, creme brulee, cobbler, bread pudding, mousses and of course homemade ice cream. Now imagine that remarkable array of desserts on a menu that changes daily. Sound too good to be true?
Yesterday, I took a spontaneous trip to San Diego's Extraordinary Desserts. Extraordinary Desserts has two locations in San Diego, one in central downtown and the other in Little Italy. This review is for the Little Italy location, which is apparently the newer, trendier spot for late night dessert. If you have never tried this place, oh my goodness, it's a heaven-whipped patisserie that serves delectable layers and layers of extraordinary flavors that melt in your mouth. It really is, that good.
Here's what I ordered:
White Chocolate Linzer Torte
French Pie Strawberry
Devonshire Napoleon
Chocolate Truffle Loaf
GAME TIME!!
Okay, we all know the Super Bowl XLV, the biggest annual event in America, is today. But, of course for me, it's all about what I will be eating. The Food Network website featured a special recipe list of a variety of 58, yes FIFTY-EIGHT different tasty Super Bowl snacks! I'm drooling...
Here are a few of my top picks:
Wishlist: Egg Waffle Pan from Williams Sonoma
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