OCTongue

Birthday Month Eats 3 November 2010

2010-11-30T20:57:00.000-08:00

Homemade pancakes with Michigan maple syrup..perfect for a weekend morning.

Easy homemade salmon with green beans and pilaf...birthday chocolate cake.

Birthday Month Eats 2 November 2010

2010-11-30T20:46:00.000-08:00

Fish tacos and blackened halibut sandwich at Nick's. Look at the roasted vegetables. Crunchy good.

Birthday Month Eats 1 November 2010

2010-11-30T20:05:00.000-08:00

Birthday Eve Dinner 2010....Jay loves that duck...You can hardly see the fish under this sauce but it's there. The meat is Chilean Sea Bass with mustard cream sauce. The broccoli, cauliflower, haricot vert and veggie souffle remind us of a food playground. We love Gemmell's, just love it.

Did you know that "Chilean Sea Bass" is a marketing-related name given a fish which is neither Chilean nor a sea bass?

Stonehill Tavern Feb 26 09

2010-02-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

Harbor House January 11, 2009

2010-01-11T18:40:00.000-08:00

Savannah - 10th Anniversary January 2009

2009-02-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

Savannah in Laguna Niguel ran an anniversary special in early 2009...several entree selections for a mere $10. I typically get the halibut, which is mild in flavor, has good texture and is a great value. Jay usually gets the steak that is on the menu. Both are full-size entrees, so this special was just that, really special. Since then, Savannah has increased their special entrees to $12.99, with selections such as halibut, steak, chicken and crab legs from which to choose. These are good until 6:30 p.m.

Savannah is a great neighborhood restaurant with the air of a fine dining establishment. But you would not know if from these specials. There is live music mid-week on in the dark, lodge-style lounge. You can also enjoy your dinner in that room if you want a more casual atmosphere.

Laguna Culinary Arts Jan 25 09

2009-01-25T18:56:00.000-08:00

January 09 - At home

2009-01-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

Lemon pappardelle cooked in poor man's pasta style. The noodles are from Trader Joe's. Extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, crushed red pepper, then toss in the pasta. How easy is that? This has a lot of flavor for something so easy and simple.

Dessert of french vanilla ice cream with blackberries.

Mozambique, Laguna Beach - 08.31.08

2008-09-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.mozambiqueoc.com/

The reason we went to Nirvana Grille the previous night was that I came by here couple days back and had the Peri Peri Chicken Pops for an appetizer and they were bone dry and did not want to risk dinner on that. As you will see below, that (Nirvana Grille) turned out to be an excellent choice.

Nevertheless, we wanted an afternoon of relaxation and to enjoy the cool vibe of the Mozambique patio. I gave it another shot on Sunday. The upstairs patio is an excellent selling point for Mozambique. The Sunday afternoon sun was shielded by the overhanging tarps but warm and bright enough to know why you enjoy Laguna.

What we needed to top this vibe off was a carafe of their Sangria. This was refreshing and with all the apples, oranges and berries in it, we got our daily fruit intake as well.

Appetizer: Prawns Gone Wild – Simple, butterflied prawns barbecued and served with mango salsa and peri peri dipping sauce. Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Great barbecue, smoky flavor and the peri peri sauce is unique in its savory flavor and just the right amount of tang.

Ok, what the hell, desert sounds good. Why not another bread pudding? Here though it is white chocolate macadamia and it excelled as well. So, fully satisfied we're glad we came back the next day. I would like to try dinner with one caveat. If you get reservations, know that they are for the downstairs which is a bit more different in that you can't enjoy the vibe like upstairs. For dinner upstairs, it's first come, first served.

Nirvana Grille, Laguna Beach - 08.30.08

2008-09-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

OK then… It's been a while. But on with the review.

Nirvana Grille - http://www.nirvanagrille.com/ August 30, 2008

I actually made reservations for Mozambique for tonight but changed to Nirvana Grill at the last minute and was very happy we did, (more on that later). The décor inside was very nice, clean lines and warm lighting, so the cover of the book looked good. Onto the food:Starter: Pommes Frites w/ Blue Cheese. Simple as it sounds, but these French fries were, as Larry David would say, "Pretty, pretty, pretty good." They were crisp on the outside and lots of flavor with garlic and blue cheese prominent.

Oops, forgot about – Wine: Angeline Pinot Noir, Russian River. – Not too bad, not too great. I guess it served its purpose.

Entrée #1 - Cioppino Fish Stew – This was excellent. Lots of delicious shrimp, mussels, fish and super scallops swimming in a tomato broth that was just spicy enough to make you feel it. Also large enough to take home for leftovers and an excellent lunch the next day.

Entrée #2 – Pistachio Crusted Chilean Sea Bass – We saw this on the menu and it became apparent that it was mine. The sea bass was tender and the pistachio crust gave it just enough texture to contrast with the softness of the meat. The yukon gold potatoes sat directly underneath the sea bass and one had to take a piece of both the fish and the starch to get the full effect. It was decadent. The dish was balanced out by asparagus spears that were simply sauteed.

Desert: Chocolate Bread Pudding w/Raspberry Compote. – Whoa this was rich. Excellent for two though. Also had a good port of which memory fails me. Our tab for two would have been around $120, but due to a minor problem they comped us quite a bit, actually much more than they certainly needed to and needless to say it was appreciated. There is no doubt that Nirvana Grill now jumps into the restaurant rotation and rightfully so.

Spring/Summer 2008

2008-06-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

Basil's, Minneapolis May 08
Herb Crusted Walleye Celeriac Potato Dauphinois, Asparagus, Truffle Chive Beurre Blanc...it was so good i had it twice that week.

Mercat a la Planxa, Chicago Jun 08 Cream of Mushroom

Iva Lee's, San Clemente - 10.07.06

2006-10-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

We walk into the “joint” and are greeted by the sound of a standing bass and smooth blues as you feel you’ve stepped into a comfy house party. Red feather boas hang from the ceiling of the restaurant and healthy yet agreeable sounds of chatter fill the room where we are to be seated. We peruse the menu and see many a southern favorite (Fried Green Tomatoes, Jambalaya, etc.). What catches our eyes though is the three piece dinner which included one soup/salad, one entrée and one dessert for a reasonable $28. We both went for it with different options.

First came a basket with slices of white bread and perfectly-made cornbread (formed in the shape of hearts). The cornbread was moist and we could not help but ask for a second serving.

Jay started with the Gumbo, chock full of chicken, anduille sausage and shrimp. The broth was hearty and a good kick of unknown spices added to the soup which could easily pass for a meal. He saved half of it for lunch the next day.

Anna Lisa had the Butternut Squash Soup. It was perfect for this time of the year. It was a fairly cool night and a typical autumn soup sounded inviting. It had pieces of toast and what tasted like candied walnuts on top. It was sweeter than I expected, the consistency not too thick but very smooth. I probably would not order it again but don't regret trying it once.

For the entrees we went for surf and turf….One of each obviously. Jay had the Grilled Pork Chop. The glaze of brown sugar and pecans, combined with the perfect grilling of the bone in chop made for an incredible meal. He has commented before about pork chops being too lean these days and lacking the flavor of the Midwest chops he grew up on, but there would b e nothing but compliments tonight. The sides of mashed potatoes were a good compliment but the collard greens were a bit bitter for his liking. To save room for dessert this also partially came home to join the Gumbo.

Anna Lisa had the Barbecued Shrimp with candied yams. At first, the sauce tasted identical to Jay's but I later realized that it was thicker in consistency. The shrimp were large and topped with julienned vegetables. The sweetened yams were just that, sweet. I had debated between this dish and the salmon and was recommended the shrimp. Overall, not a bad choice but I left the vegetables and yams relatively untouched.

Lastly came dessert, fitting it in would be a challenge. Jay went for the Pecan Pie with French Vanilla Ice Cream. What arrived as a crudely cut slice of pecans was forgotten as the first bite was brought in.

Perfectly sweet and with the compliment of ice cream was a great wrap up. Too much food, as half of this goes home. Jay now looks back and realizes Sunday’s lunch in front of the games is going to be great.

Anna Lisa had the Pumpkin Cheesecake. It was, perhaps, the best part of the three-course meal. It wasn't too sweet and it had a nutty flavor even before biting into it.

We’ve heard mixed reviews on Iva Lee’s in the past but tonight from us there would be only raves as the food, combined with the ambiance made for a great night. We skipped the wine and Jay had one cocktail and the total with tip was $78. Pretty reasonable to top it off. A great date night place, if you don't mind the blues music. It would be a good place to celebrate a birthday with a large group of friends. We'll be back, but we're not in a hurry.

Piero's Acqua Paza, Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs) - 09.14.06

2006-09-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

Piero's is described as having innovative Continental-American cuisine in a beautiful setting. Anna Lisa traveled with a group of six women to Rancho Mirage, where we stayed at Rancho Las Palmas. We took the 3-minute drive across the street to The River, an outdoor mall, for dinner on a Friday night.

We all decided we did not want to visit a chain so we waltzed right into Piero's Acqua Pazza. The decor is very modern and colorful. At the entrance is a large neutral-colored flat waterfall which made the atmosphere inviting. You will walk through a small bar before you arrive in the dining room.

The menu was extensive and diverse - - from oysters to quesadillas to calf liver. The dishes were moderately priced and I looked forward to trying what it had to offer.

We started with the whole roasted garlic and garlic dip, which whetted my appetite. It was perfect and divine at $8.95. After the appetizer, my party ordered a variety of entrees. Mine was the Pan Seared Maine Sea Scallops ($21.95). It was served in a mango sauce and a vegetable medley and yukon mashed potatoes. The presentation was lovely and colorful on a white background. The scallops were large and tender. Overall it was delightful - - a tad mild on flavor but worth recommending.

I had a taste of the Maine Lobster Ravioli stuffed with lobster meat and fresh ricotta cheese in a lobster bisque reduction ($20.95). It was one of the two choices I had in mind before ordering. It was flavorful but a bit salty for my taste.

Chart House Dana Point - 08.26.06

2006-08-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

The Chart House in Dana Point is located on a hill overlooking the Harbor. It is a great location and allows panoramic views of the water. Inside, there is a stairway that leads directly down to the bar and restaurant. The decor is a bit outdated but the restrooms look like they have just been renovated.

We visited Chart House in September 2006. We started at the bar, which has low seats and televisions that beam football and other sporting events. The lounge area is festive and the service is fast and friendly. It looked like an ideal place for a mid-week happy hour, but we have not tried that yet. It took a bit longer than expected (40 minutes or so) to be seated after arrival. We were both hungry and glad to be transferrred to the dining room.

The dining room is circular, open, has glass windows which overlook the ocean and is, overall, unique for Orange County. It reminded Anna Lisa of a space-ship; it reminded Jay of the TV show about the 4 waitresses back in the '80's...(It's a Living). The room had a different feel from other OC restaurants because of its open layout. It is not what we would call a romantic destination - - it is very lively and everyone sees everyone. There are servers walking back and forth all the time. We both thought it was interesting although the carpet and decor scream that they were leftovers from the early 80's. We sat in one of the booths that lined the inner part of the dining room. It was comfortable and made it fun to watch everyone else in the room.

Jay had the Spiced Yellowfin Ahi - - Cajun spiced and grilled, ginger soy butter, wasabi cream, spinach & bok choy. He says it was good. If it wasn't for the fact that it felt like we were eating in a spaceship, it would have been a much better dinner. Really, it satisfied him. He says he would recommend this dish, despite it being a standard item on just about every OC menu.

Anna Lisa had the halibut with crabmeat on top. It's not on the web menu but it was absolutely fantastic. It was very rich and it was almost hard to distinguish the halibut from the crab. The entree was full of flavor and I would definitely get that again.

Rendezvous, Part II, San Juan Capistrano - 08.19.06

2006-08-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

This was our second visit to Rendezvous, the San Juan Capistrano classic restaurant that opened in Fall 2005. It is located at the train depot, next to Sarducci's. As with our first visit, Rendezvous impressed us with the decor - - very New York, DC or Chicago in vibe. It has rich woods on the floor and furnishings and bears the trimmings of a fine dining restaurant.

This time around, we started off with the Maryland Blue Crab & Potato Raviolis Crispy Sage & Lemon Brown Butter. We first visited Rendezvous in November 2005 and recalled having a ravioli appetizer of some sort. We both assumed that this would be substantially similar to the one we enjoyed nearly a year earlier.

Although this ravioli dish is good, the pasta was a bit hard and lacked the tenderness that would have made it melt in our mouths. The big crab meat that came with it made up for it though.

We brought in a pinot called Iron Horse. It was good. If memory serves, it had coffee and leather flavors, which we realize are unusual for a pinot but there it is.

For his entree, Jay went out on a limb and ordered the Chicory Coffee Crusted Bison Rib-Eye Yukon Gold & Green Chile Potato Puree, Wild Mushroom Ragu. He had read several favorable reviews of this dish and thought it was worth trying. Unfortunately, however, the meat proved too lean and lacked the flavor that the other meat dishes would have provided. He had once ordered the flat iron steak with absolutely no complaints. Jay's take on the Bison - - this was a very rough one to handle as he had looked so forward to it: The coffee crust on the meat not only dried it out but evaporated all the flavor from the already too tough and too lean piece of meat. He did not enjoy it at all and sadly, had to let the proprietors know.

Anna Lisa selected the Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut Hazelnut Romesco Sauce, Homemade Gnocchi, Asparagus, Baby Artichokes, Wild Mushrooms, Crispy Prosciutto. This was a departure from the usual salmon, shrimp or pasta dishes to which I have limited myself. So I went out on a limb as well, only with a bit more success.

The presentation was very colorful and consisted of several segments. It reminded me of a playground with several sections and toys to be tried. The fish was tender, the flavor was mild but the different elements on the plate distracted me enough to give it a favorable review. Would I order it again? Probably not. I will likely try the scallops next time.

The best part of the evening was desert. But then again, how can anyone trifle with Vintage Chocolate Souffle Home Turned Creole Cream Cheese Ice Cream?

We were both saddened to be disappointed by our second visit to Rendezvous. While our first mid-week visit in 2005 was unforgettable, this one, was equally memorable but not for the right reasons.

Ruth's Chris Steak House, Irvine - 07.01.06

2006-07-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Another decadent evening at RCSH. This place is a classic and one of our favorites. We were seated immediately upon arrival in time for our 8:30 reservation. Always get a booth if you can.

We started with crab cake appetizers. We received two big chunks of nothing but crab meat slathered in butter and a light sauce of peppers and spices. That was delicious and piping hot.

Jay had his usual big chunk of meat -- sizzling of course. You can still smell the butter melting off of it. Anna Lisa ordered the salmon and on second thought should have ordered the halibut. There is just no way to justify paying $30 for salmon, especially when it is simply broiled. Nevertheless, the dinner was delicious as usual. The service was good, though it was a bit crowded that night. There was a large party within the same section and the servers appeared preoccupied with them.

Wine came from BevMo - a 2000 cabernet sauvignon from Napa. What is the name of it? It started out very leathery, heavy and punchy. We had to ask the server to decant it, which he was willing to do. Over the next two hours, it mellowed and became more drinkable.

Ruth's Chris is always a winner, even for vegetarians.

P.S. re Indigo (Mikey's Place)

2006-07-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

It's been six months since we wrote the review re Indigo. It's July 3, 2006, Indigo has become nothing more than a great story. Our dear friend Mikey left his bartending job and along with him, the fun of going to the restaurant in the first place. He has since gone on to pursue his acting career and - - gasp - - is actually on TV. Well, sort of. He has been selected to be one of ten contenders - - out of thousands - - on the cheecky show called I Wanna Be a Soap Star on SoapNet TV. So, stay tuned, TiVO the show and get a whiff of what we mean when we say Mikey made Indigo HIS place.

Gemmell's Dana Point - 06.06

2006-06-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

We have been to Gemmell's a little over half a dozen times. Each time has been memorable and left us both mouth-watering and wishing we could live there. Gemmell's is truly a hidden treasure right in the heart of Dana Point. The service is impeccable and the culinary adventures are spectacular.

One of the first few times that we went to Gemmells, Jay had the lamb chops. The dish came to our table very red and savory. Needless to say, Jay loved it. It was tender, meaty and the sauce of roasted garlic and fresh thyme was delectable.

Anna Lisa had the Chilean sea bass with mustard cream sauce - - her favorite dish of just about all time. As always, the fish melts in one's mouth and each bite is worth taking one's time to enjoy. That night, we took the recommendation of our server, RG, who suggested that we try Star Hill pinot noir. The selection was lovely and not too overpowering for the dishes we picked.

We have been back to Gemmell's many times since this visit and look forward to returning again and again. Here's a tip - - call ahead and reserve the corner booth. Your dinner will be especially private and memorable.

Rendezvous, San Juan Capistrano - 11.30.05

2005-11-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

We heard about a new restaurant in San Juan Capistrano. Actually, Jay heard about it through a chance encounter with someone in one of the local hangouts. Anyway, it was recommended; we looked at the impressive website and decided to go to a rare mid-week dinner.

We were both immediately pleased with the decor and atmosphere. It has a bar with a baby grand piano and the overall effect of Rendezvous is classy and established. We met the proprietor, who turned out to have owned a couple of restaurants in the East Coast. It made sense that he is manning this one because it has a very Northeastern feel to it.

enjoyed it. We had just gone to a place called Vine in San Clemente a few weeks before this trip. We could not help but compare this ravioli dish with the one at Vine. The raWe chose a ravioli dish as an appetizer and by looking at the photo, it is clear that we bothvioli appetizer at Vine had truffle oil and was a tad more delicate than the one at Rendezvous. Nevertheless, it was heartily enjoyed.

Jay ordered the Prime Flat Iron Steak prepared with Cilantro Chimichurri & Tzaziki Sauce, Rendezvous Bistro Fries, Summer Tomato Salad. It was delicious, meaty, juicy and hit all the right spots. The fries were packed with flavor and it made the experience promising.

Anna Lisa chose the Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut with Hazelnut Romesco Sauce, Homemade Gnocchi, Asparagus, Baby Artichokes, Wild Mushrooms, Crispy Prosciutto. I had to pick out the bacon but enjoyed the fish and all else that came with it. It was presented beautifully - - with colorful red, yellow and green sauces.

Rendezvous was well worth the mid-week dinner. The service was a bit sloppy - - we waited longer than expected for our entrees - - too long for a Wednesday night. Still, we knew on the way out that we would be back.

The Ramos House Cafe, San Juan Capistrano - 11.27.05

2005-11-27T19:22:00.000-08:00

We were both starving one Sunday morning. We decided to drive to San Juan Capistrano but most of the local restaurants which offered brunch had long waiting lists. We had been to Ramos House before but this time was different. We opted for the Sunday Brunch - - a four- course meal for $30.

Ramos House is located by the train depot and across railroad tracks. It looks like a small house because it is a small house. After a short wait, we were seated at one of the handful of tables in this quaint outdoor restaurant.

The Brunch includes a choice of beverage, a starter, a main entree and a dessert. For starters, Jay picked the Sweet Corn Hush Puppies w/ Sweet Pepper Jam and Anna Lisa selected a bowl of pumpkin soup. Really, we tried a bit of each and enjoyed both as well. The starters made us look forward to the main course.

Jay's main course was the Smoked Bacon, Baby Spinach & Caramelized Onion Scramble - - yum. He throoughly devoured this dish and Anna Lisa had a little bit of it as well. She opted for the Large Plate of Basil Cured Salmon w/ Herb Sauce & Toast Points. As expected, it was a little salty but really delicious and perfect for a Sunday morning.

Ramos House is one of those unique places worth returning to and spreading the word about to all we know. You will likely find a wait on a weekend morning. You will likely be glad that you stuck around because you will enjoy the experience.

Indigo, Dana Point - or - Mikey's Place

2005-11-06T19:19:00.000-08:00

Our inaugural posting of OC Tongue - We - a food loving couple - eat out way too much and enjoy it way too much to not help our common diner. By the way, pics in future columns will be expected as my woman is a photo junkie.

Indigo opened roughly nine months ago to little fanfare due to it being in a location that has doomed many a restaurant in spite of its excellent location. Rib Trader and others have failed in this locale while others around it have succeeded. The effort is there, the direction is not.

Caveat (he hates this word) - This review is based on our first visit, when it was a mere two months old. Since then, we have returned on multiple occasions...and we'll report on this later.

DECOR/AMBIANCE - Oh my gosh, after ten minutes of starting and stopping his review, I finally had to take over the keyboard...OK, here it goes. Decor is generally not a factor that attracts or detracts us from a joint but we thought it's a good element to talk about. Some interiors can really take your breath away...Now back to Indigo. There is a blue-purple discreet neon light that spells the name of the restaurant. It's not tacky at all, just enough to intrigue a commuter driving down PCH and Violet Lantern. During our first visit, I noticed that each table had a touch of blue on it...a tribute to its name, perhaps? Back then, the joint was still in its beginning stages and it was clear that it had not yet decided on a theme. We saw big screen TVs that played no sports but instead, hypnotic visuals of identical colorful aquariums. I liked them. Well, enough about that. Rating 6.9 out of 10.

FOOD - Now to the important stuff, and yes I am back to what I know about. First, the wine list - On our initial escapade, we were met by the wine steward (well, not really, just the guy who walked up with a sheet of paper that listed wines on it). He was friendly enough, but more about service later...J gives the wine list a B or B-. It had a lot of Central Coast wines in the boutique mold, kind of like the ones you think you've heard of before but aren't quite sure...We like the buttery chardonnay - if you order it that way, you are likely to get the one we're talking about. This was two months ago and we never bothered to remember the name on the label...we just order the "buttery chardonnay." Wine by the glass needs improvement, as the choices were a half dozen, nothing stood out and a selection that forces you to the bottle...no, seriously. Wine List Rating 7.2.

We started with the scallop appetizer, which came in a Chinese style with bokchoy and varies between 3-5 scallops, depending on size. We found it the highlight of the night. Very tasty and good texture. Brown on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. Dressed to impress. Rating 8.1.

The paella was recommended, but it required a 35-minute prep-time and we were both hungry. ALB ordered the salmon, which was grilled with a good seasoning but it really was not spectacular for the roughly $18 price(y) tag. JDL ordered the pork chop, which while very well cooked, had a good amount of fat on it. While the fat added to the flavor, it cut down on the size of the pork chop!!! Salmon Rating - 5.8 Pork Chop Rating - 7.5

Keep in mind, this review is based on a visit from two months ago so future blogs will have greater detail.

SERVICE - The pork chop initially was a bit undercooked and it took the waitress (whom we later found out was in training that night, so we eased up on her) ten minutes to correct the problem. Outside of that, service is probably the highlight of Indigo. The GM, Mike, is unbelievably personable and you can tell that he treats it as if it were his own place. The "wine steward" allowed us to taste two different varietals. Unfortunately, he is no longer there, but the service remains. Another welcoming character is Lucky, a sixty-ish year old friendly young man who seems to have just come out of a lucky charm box. He is friendly and warm and we like that.

If you find that the bar has extra seats, take them and take them now! Consider eating at the bar. Why? Mikey (yup, that's what he wants to be called), the cornerstone of this restaurant, will entertain you and leave you coming back again and again. He is the epitome of good service, especially for one who tends bar. How often do you go into a restaurant bar, only to be greeted by "what'll it be"? No chance here...as Mikey will greet you by name, know your drink and maybe make you regret that you sat in one of the booths. Seriously, one of the reasons we have been back about two dozen times is the homey atmosphere that we get there...It's like Cheers all over again...and they scream "Norm!" when you walk into the door. Well, they scream JDL and ALB.

Live music has been attempted. It has succeeded and failed at different times. ALB really liked the solo blues guitarist-vocalist (who is no longer there). JDL disagreed.

Service Rating - 8.6

Overall, Indigo is a good neighborhood restaurant. We really wanted it to succeed, we understand the growing pains of new establishments...which is why we will give it another try. Read our review of Indigo Volume II when we get to it.

Overall Rating - 7.1 out of 10.

Next up...Gemmell's, Dana Point.