SeaLegs Wine Bar: an OC Eat Up Night

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Gathered Wednesday night last month was a bundle of epicures hosted by OC Foodies for an intimate #OCEatUp soiree at SeaLegs Wine Bar.

With Melissa’s Produce as the main purveyor of our fall tasting menu, we blissfully savored on 6 intriguing courses, unsurprisingly accompanied with paired wine (and cocktail for the last course).

Course 1: Kabocha Squash Coconut Curry Crab Soup topped with Creme Fraiche, Yuzu Zest, and Pumpkin Seeds

Not certain whether this piquant, luxuriously creamy crab delight belongs to the healthy side or indulgent side, this nevertheless assured me to discover it’s both because I dislike taking sides anyway.

Complemented wine: Marston Family Vineyard Proprietary White Wine

Course 2: Organic Hidden Rose Apple, Pear, Beet Salad with Rocket Arugula, whipped Goat Cheese, Blood Orange Vinaigrette, and Pomegranate Arils

This complex medley wondrously synced together with bittersweet, fruity, and tart elements. At the same time it felt like a palate cleanser between the previous course and the subsequent one.

Complemented wine: Darloush Vlognier

Course 3: Seared Scallop Spaghetti Squash, Sauteed Mushrooms, Yuzu Thai Basil Beurre Blanc

From the subtly sharp tang of the beurre blanc to the effortless, natural zing of the vegetables and scallop, it’s my personal all-time favorite that I purposely took small, enjoyable bites of this dish.

Complemented wine: Hanzell Chardonnay

Course 4: Roasted Apples, Brussels Sprouts, Persimmons with Smoked 5 Spice Pork Belly and Candied Walnuts Maple Glaze

Inspired by the Chinese version, the cast iron-executed, family-friendly dish was evidently a crowd favorite due to its tender, indulgent pork. I personally was as enamored with the caramelized fruit and veggies that I easily scooped these up when everyone else concentrated on the meat.

Complemented wine: Darloush Merlot

Course 5: Braised Oxtail with Roasted Cipolline Onions, Rainbow Carrots, Sunchoke Puree, and Cabernet Reduction Sauce
This melt-in-your-mouth moment lingered throughout every piece cut through this indulgent “steak,” which interestingly looked like a 6-pedaled flower.
Complemented wine: Marston Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Course 6: Apple Pear Persimmon Cast Iron Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
As the last of another snapshot-calling, family-style platter–although the granola crust proved lots of toughness in the chew–the flavors fully delighted my satiety of baked apples and cinnamon with any kind of grain of crust with them.
Complemented drink: Housemade Irish Coffee

Thank you, Nick Q, for the cordial invitation, and thank you to SeaLegs owner, Alicia Whitney, for having us over to eat merrily and snapshot eagerly.

SeaLegs Wine Bar
21022 Beach Blvd #105
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-5700
www.sealegswinebar.com

Melissa’s Produce
5325 N Soto St
Vernon, CA 90058
(800) 588-0151
www.melissas.com

Foodie at PoqetDONUTS

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In Irvine, at the 405 near the Jamboree Blvd exit (which is the same exit for the 1st U.S. 85C Bakery) leads to a new artisan donut shop called poqetDONUTS, whose grand opening was Saturday, November 14th. If you happen to be one of first 100 guests in line for a free donut: I hope you liked it!

In spite of a small shop, whose pronunciation of the first name sounds exactly the same as “pocket,” a vast, eclectic array of these colorful fritters stun curious, sweet-loving customers.  As of this writing there are at least 17 signature flavors to choose from, additionally with their “Mini Me” counterparts.

Dear friends of mine would know already how zealous I get with anything blueberry, so I assertively needed to have at least one donut with this tinge. With just 3 notes to describe this palm-sized treat: fluffy, slightly sweet, and tart done right especially with its blueberry glaze.

My boyfriend chose the Pistachio Creme Brulee and revered its utter indulgence topped with crunch. The flavor of cream filling particularly reminded me of licking some good ice cream.

Personally a surprise, my all-time favorite signature treat would be the gently sweetened Matcha Green Tea. Rest assured that they genuinely used the legitimate powder to give off that comforting stance found in your go-to green tea lattes.

That said, how poqetDONUTS stands out even further from a multitude of other shops (no matter the tier): the custom-built option.

Without going rather insane on the flavors to instead focus more on a tried-and-true approach, a staff member helped me construct a simple glazed doughnut topped with that aromatic, gorgeous glaze; fresh blueberries; sliced almonds; and cream cheese in the center.

Possibilities are endless with this BYOD option–starting with one of 4 bases: glazed, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, and vegan–that I’ve seen fellow foodies show off their artsy, tasty-looking creations.

Whether opting for custom-made or signature, poqetDONUTS is a handful–or a box full–to enjoy.  Other notable sweets I deemed yummy are the Maple Bacon and Avocado–yes, you read right (and bottom center of the photo).

(Almost) random fact: I really thought “poqet” was pronounced like the raw fish marinated with sesame oil and soy sauce.

P.S. I want to thank Moxxe PR for the invite; I came to the shop the 2nd time and on its 2nd day unannounced, as an FYI.

poqetDONUTS
17655 Harvard Ave Unit B
Irvine, CA 92614
http://www.poqetdonuts.com
(949) 932-0800

poqetDONUTS Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Foodie in Edmonton (Alberta, CA)

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Certainly one does not depart her 1st Canadian trip like Edmonton, Alberta without ever gorging on a heaping, cheesy pile of poutine (unless the traveler is a devout vegan).

Yet, there’s more to this oil-industrialized city than fries, gravy, and cheese curds. During my brief weekend primarily for my best friend’s wedding, I nonetheless experienced more delicious foods than I really imagined.

With the help and enthusiasm of my best friend, her significant other, and new Edmontonian comrades, I gained a marvelous taste from what the city offers.

I was welcomed with open arms to Earl’s Kitchen + Bar, which houses well for mingling while watching an Oilers game. My best friend, who has visited Edmonton several times, raved about their juicy and tangy Hot Wings, which can be removed off its thin bones very smoothly.

One friend showed up slightly late and eyed on their seasonal Gingerbread Cake with vanilla ice cream and spiced apples. If it were a house, I’d demolished it with a hardy silver spoon and my drooling mouth.

The next day the [now newlywed] couple and I embarked on relevantly titled La Poutine just south of downtown Edmonton. One of the recommendations was the Party Poutine that absolutely threw a happy festivity thanks to the ground beef, sour cream, green onions, and Frank’s Red Hot sauce. Their beefy Western Canada gravy integrated well with this and the bacon-rich Supreme Poutine (1st photo of this post).

After an exploratory walk around River Valley, over a few kilometers north of the University of Alberta resides the Duchess Bake Shop, known for their scratch-made French pastries just like these toothsome macarons. I still have that wondrous, perennial Spiced Plum taste (i.e. the purplish macaron) etched in my tongue.

Dinner (and drinks) required a round-trip cab ride for my best friend and me; her life partner celebrated with his dudes several kilometers away from our hotel, while the significant others watched over the kids. Good thing Cured–which was a very affordable distance from our stay–treated us well especially with their amazingly savory and tender 10-ounce Alberta Ribeye with patatas bravas and salacious marrow butter.

Fast-forwarding from Saturday’s Big Day at the Muttart Conservatory to a cozy evening get-together at another couple’s luxurious suburban house, I was introduced to a familiar Mediterranean cuisine but not-so-familiar name to my takeout order: a gyro-resembling Regular Spicy Donair from Simon King.

So far, somehow, the beefy taste in Alberta has been simply outstanding not just from that steak but from this shaved, juicy donair–alongside their white sauce and flavorfully sauteed red onions. Moreover, another dose of poutine just couldn’t eschew me after I noticed the phone-order takeouts.

My last, freezing day–and a few hours left until my flight back to my OC home–came with a bustling, crowded visit to Tasty Noodle.  Better known for their dim sum and other Chinese delicacies, I kept reminiscing about the most delicious and meatiest Chicken Feet I’ve ever noshed. That’s a fetish I’m not ashamed to admit, and I certainly wasn’t alone due to other families swiping this platter right after it left the busy kitchen.

Hours went by and I returned home at one, exhausted piece. One of the tangible takeaways I kindly received was these addictive, not-at-all-greasy Old-Fashioned Ketchup Flavored Wavy Chips from Lay’s. My American posse also kept dreaming about these after I introduced these at an early Thanksgiving potluck.

Oh, and my Canadian trip wasn’t complete without first comforting myself with Tim Hortons’ Coffee plus an appropriate Canadian Maple Donut. In an American perspective think of a Dunkin’ Donuts with a spread like wildfire such as Starbucks.

That concludes my indelible weekend at the capitol of Alberta, trailing off with a summation of these notable eateries and locations.

Earl’s Kitchen + Bar
1505 99 St NW
Edmonton, AB T6N 1K5
www.earls.ca

La Poutine
8720 109 St NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1E9
www.la-poutine.com

Duchess Bake Shop
10718 124 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5M 0H1
www.duchessbakeshop.com

Cured Wine & Bar
2307 Ellwood Dr, Ellerslie Crossroads
Edmonton, AB T6X 0A9
www.curedwinebar.com

Simon King Donair
9070 51 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 5X4
www.simonkingdonair.com

Tasty Noodle
3203 Calgary Trail NW
Edmonton, AB T6J 5X8
www.tastynoodle.ca

Foodie at Reunion Kitchen

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Sunday was a late morning to reunite with a couple who I haven’t seen for almost 3 years. Together with a super good friend, her fiance, and my significant other, we triple-dated for brunch at the Reunion Kitchen + Drink, nestled in Anaheim Hills near the 91 freeway.

In spite of the 11:15am reservation and my perusal of the online menu 2 days before the rendezvous (and being notified impromptu for my boyfriend’s cousin-in-law’s birthday dinner at a Korean BBQ joint), I already settled with one lunch/dinner dish that my server confidently assured me “that’s a good choice.”

But first, we cheered with some alcoholic beverages on-hand.

I chose the classic, lightly gingery Moscow Mule over the more popular yet personally too sweet Caribbean Mule. Just a few sips of my “mellow,” vodka-based drink brought a big buzz to my already overly active mind–so imagine a swig of that.

My friend, aka the person who organized our reunion, opted for a Bloody Mary with a Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno and Slim Jim as a “garnish.” The consistency of the drink was quite diluted but contained a delicate amount of horseradish.

While sipping our drinks we dove into a couple of their appetizers.

Our Brussels Sprouts, cooked with cider vinegar, bacon, maple syrup, and shallots, were the rhythm of the day when all these tastily diverse ingredients contributed to teamwork equally. Also participating were the slightly crispy, caramelized outer texture towards the softer interior.

In addition to this dominantly veggie-filled skillet, I sinfully bit into these decadent, devilish Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos.

Hoping that the silky raspberry jam or cream cheese would slake my burning mouth, these savory peppers still lingered, even when deluged with that sweet sauce.

Then came the main courses, including the one I honed in 2 days ago…

My Pan-Roasted Salmon consisted of unexpectedly fluffy brown rice, roasted zucchini and Italian squash, lemon (juice), fried scallions, capers, and the astoundingly delectable whole grain mustard cream. This cream enlivened the tender fish even more that if social etiquette deemed it acceptable, I would seriously like the plate clean–but leave remnants of the excessive rice and veggies.

I then got chance to chomp a bit of my boyfriend’s tasty Hickory [Bacon] Burger with a marvelously toasted English muffin.  The Cajun Tater Tots were downright addicting with a peerless, fine amount of cajun seasoning.

At least one dessert was expected to show up at the table. Even better was that it’s the ringleader’s [early] birthday, so the waiter brought her the Warm Butter Cake with vanilla ice cream–candlelit. Whether it’s for a celebration or a just-because, this cake was fluffy and amazingly delicious without going overboard with its buttery aroma and texture.

Finally, here are the remaining photos that I may not have even one bite of each, but they still looked delicious.

Obviously this platter was that drool-inducing Golden French Toast.

That one was the Classic Cheeseburger that can include a fried egg to invigorate that breakfast/brunch moment.

Here is the salivating Prime Rib Dip.

And this one is an interestingly yummy-looking Meatloaf Sandwich with bacon somehow attempting to escape.

The restaurant of Anaheim Hills was worth the drive from the busy 91 freeway. Regardless of distance, though, our 4+ hour reunion was eternally memorable.

Grade: B

Reunion Kitchen + Drink
5775 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd
Anaheim, CA 92807
(714) 283-1062
http://www.reunionkitchen.net

Reunion Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Foodie at Great Maple (SD)

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A beautiful, cozy Sunday in my hometown, San Diego, called for a breakfast double date with my boyfriend, best friend, and her fiance at the east side of Hillcrest, known for its colorful lifestyle and comforting food.

To inject some buzz to my weary brain and soul, complementing with a generous dose of black coffee we started off with their acclaimed Maple Bacon Donuts.

Arriving in such sensual fashion this fritter came magnanimously coated with velvety, gooey, and flavorful maple glaze plus the graciously tasty chopped bacon. Bite that together with the soft, sugar-glazed indulgence and that sweet, delicious symphony got my tongue raising the roof–of my mouth.

However, the donuts alone weren’t enough to stop suckering into this maple sweetened madness.  My best friend and I conquered through their numerous Silver Dollar (sized) Pancakes.  She was in the mood for the sultry Honey Buckwheat & Blackberry, while whetted my desire for the Fresh Blueberry–both containing their pertinent berries inside of these slivers.

Sugar sounding too excessive?  Easy: feast those hungry eyes over into the savory stage, where these respective dishes centered radiantly onto our ravenous palates.

The House-Smoked Grass-Fed Beef Brisket Hash tasted more simplistically divine than its namesake.  The physical, visual hindrance of the new potatoes, consistently tender and flavorsome meat–and more pieces of bacon–was the result of the luscious poached eggs smothered in red pepper drizzle.

Alternatively, if the word “Popover” sparked such attention, there is the same beef brisket with an addition of these eggy rolls.  Our particular plate had one puffy piece intentionally shown in the nude–i.e. no poached egg sitting atop.

In spite of these aesthetically delicious, homey items, reservations are absolutely recommended, as more and more guests have arrived.  Lesser parking slots became available over the course of 2 hours, so plan accordingly to not tune out on another brunch beat in this Finest City.

Grade: B+

Great Maple
1451 Washington St
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 255-2282
thegreatmaple.com

Great Maple Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato