I had heard about Green2 Go from a friend and was intrigued when I saw some of the photos on Instagram a few months ago. Recently, I was invited to a media tasting for Green 2 Go, and I was thrilled at the opportunity since I had heard a lot of good things about it. Founders, Joulia Kallah and Anita Allison wanted to create a place to offer healthier fast… Continue Reading
Cream Nation
When I was younger, I used to eat 2/3 of the ice cream sandwiches from the box in the freezer. You see, I was not a fan of chocolate ice cream, but back then, if you wanted anything other than vanilla, you had to get the Neapolitan kind. So I would eat the vanilla and strawberry portions and throw the rest out. Fast forward to today and I recently visited the… Continue Reading
Exploring Black Box DTSA
I think I have found the perfect place when looking for a craft cocktail and tasty burger in Orange County. I was checking out the new Black Box in downtown Santa Ana (DTSA) at a recent media tasting and was curious to see what became of the former Little Sparrow Restaurant. Black Box has a family dining area and a separate speakeasy area down a hallway (located on the right… Continue Reading
EMC Seafood Irvine
This week I had a chance to check out the new EMC Seafood in Irvine. This eatery opened about three weeks ago and already seems like a very popular place. It was early on a Sunday evening and the sleek and spacious restaurant was busy with families getting a start on their Sunday supper. The openness of the restaurant makes it a nice place to relax and their are TV’s… Continue Reading
What it’s Like to Participate in Menu Creation
I had a unique opportunity this week to participate in a focus group for Johnny Rockets. Johnny Rockets is well-known for the delicious hand-crafted original hamburgers and fountain drinks, and now they are working on creating additional vegetarian burger options to add to their chef-inspired menu. It’s like comfort food you remember with a modern twist. Johnny Rockets operates more than 340 franchise and corporate locations in 26 countries around the world. Each year,… Continue Reading
Taste of the Nation Los Angeles Recap
Last Sunday, there was an incredible gathering of renowned chefs from Los Angeles restaurants that worked together for a wonderful culinary benefit. The fifth annual Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry took place Media Park in Culver City on a lovely, sunny Southern California afternoon. I attended the event as media and am excited to share with you what it was like to attend the culinary event of the… Continue Reading
Stacked Celebrates Five Years
Last week I attended a special media event for Stacked. They were celebrating their five year anniversary and we celebrated at their newest location in Huntington Beach, California and invited some local bloggers to try their newest offerings. The atmosphere was fun and casual. The restaurant was quite busy and the first thing I did was check their monthly specials which are thankfully always displayed in their restaurant. I… Continue Reading
4th Street Market Culinary Crawl
I have to admit that I probably visit this place at least twice a month. Located in Downtown Santa Ana, the 4th Street Market is an artisanal market mecca for those like me, looking for tasty food options. Featuring seasonal offerings by local chefs, this popular stop for downtown Santa Ana employees offers a tasty array of delights for cooks, food and those looking for a place to chill. I recently was invited… Continue Reading
Utopia Restaurant Long Beach
Strolling down a charming street in the Long Beach Arts district, you will find Utopia Good Food & Fine Art. I recently was invited to a media tasting as part of the upcoming Dine Out Long Beach event. It was our date night, so we started with a glass of wine – they have a wonderful wine bar in the room that was the original restaurant when they opened… Continue Reading
Celebrating the Season at Stacked
As you know, I am all about celebrating the season and this past weekend I had a chance to enjoy a different fall flavor. Not apples or pumpkins. I am talking about garlic! You see every month there is a new flavor to celebrate at Stacked. We went to visit this past Sunday afternoon and the place filled up fast. It is a wonderful and unique restaurant here in Southern California…. Continue Reading
Maro Wood Grill
Maro Wood Grill is a lovely casual and elegant bistro located on the infamous South Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. Recently, I was invited to a media preview on a most beautiful September evening. Come along with me and let’s enjoy! Originally from Argentina, Mariano Molteni “Maro” eventually came to California and opened his first restaurant in Laguna Beach in 2010. With Executive chef Debra Sims, who brings her passion for sustainable, seasonal cuisine… Continue Reading
Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill
I had the chance to try Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill last week when they invited me to a media tasting at their Aliso Viejo location. I had never been to a Sharky’s before, so I was really looking forward to visiting their restaurant. It was a warm summer evening and the restaurant was busy when I arrived. I was greeted by David Goldstein, COO of Sharky’s, who gave us some background on… Continue Reading
OPM Huntington Beach – Grand Opening
Last Sunday I was invited to check out the newly opened OPM Restaurant in Huntington Beach. You may have seen my photos on Instagram. What an experience! When I first walked in I noticed the chic lounge area with a lovely and welcoming Bloody Mary bar. Wow! What a great set up. There was a DJ providing great tunes in the background, which added to the friendly and upbeat vibe of the… Continue Reading
Picnic Fun at Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market
If you live in Southern California you no doubt heard of Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market, a wonderful haven for fresh and I heard that they have expanded to a tasty sandwiches. I’ve been to one of their Los Angeles locations before, and I was so excited when they invited me to check out their new location (their 10th restaurant) in Irvine California. The restaurant was founded in 2005 by Mario Del… Continue Reading
Sunday Brunch at Steak N Stein & a Giveaway
Do you brunch? I love relaxing brunches and recently I had a fun experience hosted by Steak n Stein. Nestled in the San Gabriel Valley in the city of Pico Rivera, Steak n Stein is a landmark restaurant that has been here since I was a kid, which was, ahem, a while ago. . Walking into Steak n Stein will take you to a different time. It is… Continue Reading
Stacked Restaurant
I have to tell you, I have been wanting to try Stacked Restaurant for a while now. I had heard that Stacked offers its customers a “build your own? meal concept. I had a chance to attend a media tasting recently, and really enjoyed the meal and the ability to “stack” menu items. When I walked in, I loved seeing all the art on the walls and the place had a friendly, trendy,… Continue Reading
nFuse Bar and Kitchen
The newly created nFuse Bar and Kitchen is part of the recent $15 million renovation recently completed at the Anaheim Marriott. When I was in college, we used to come to the Anaheim Marriott quite a bit when we would go to the theme park and celebrate holidays. The hotel transformation is really beautiful and a great place to chill. The guest rooms have been renovated and are tech-forward with work desks, high-speed internet… Continue Reading
Exploring Wild Restaurant in Las Vegas
There is a really trendy vibe going on in Las Vegas and I am not talking about the Strip but the new Downtown Las Vegas #DTLV . The newly renovated area features shopping, nightlife and boutique hotels. I recently was invited to check out Wild in Las Vegas and before your mind starts wondering what it means, Wild Restaurant in Las Vegas is, it is a lovely restaurant in the… Continue Reading