The Stand- cheap, healthy, and great!

i ate at The Stand in laguna beach this past week and had a great experience. i ordered 1/2 an avocado sandwich and 1/2 the veggie salad ($4.95). i got sweet and sour dressing on both instead of the lemon herb and they were great! the avocado was farm fresh and perfectly ripened and the salad was raw with beets, sprouts, carrot, tomatoes, and cucumbers. the dressing is addictively good and not too sweet...i truly could have soaked my sandwich in it. i think it is made with agave nectar from the taste!

my husband had the special burrito loaded with black beans, guac, salsa, etc. it was enormous and served with a generous portion of havea chips ($6.95). it was just spicy enough and more than enough food for one person. we finshed it off with a side of "soft serve" made with your choice of fruit ($2.50). i had mango and he had banana strawberry. it is 100% fruit and tasted like a creamy version of sorbet. i personally like it better than pinkberry (it is much healthier and non-dairy) but my husband would disagree with that statement. bottom line- the stand is awesome, healthy, and extremely affordable. next time you are around thalia street, stop by!

Taco Loco es bueno

i frequent a great taco joint in Laguna Beach that i think is a great spot for fresh fish tacos. the menu has tacos, "burgers", salads, etc. among my favorites are the mahi tacos, the calamari burger, and the mushroom and tofu tacos. each taco/burger/salad comes topped with fresh salsa (mild/med/spicy) and guacamole with a side of tortilla chips and salsa. the ingredients are so fresh and you can easily eat for under $10. they also have a great selection of beverages, including one of my faves, reed's ginger beer brewed right in LA. so, next time you are craving a fish taco visit taco loco.

Tuna Town in HB- horrible service

i visited tuna town in huntington beach this past weekend with some friends. 3 of the 4 of us arrived and were seated in about 30 minutes. it is an extremely loud place (owned in part by a member of the band Korn)...they constantly blast hard rock and some rap so don't bring your grandma here. when we were seated, the other friend called and said she was walking down main street and would join us in 2 minutes. the waiter came by to take a drink order and we said we would wait for our friend...his literal words were "why do you need your friend to decide on a drink. that is my pet peeve". what a horrible start!

she arrived 2 minutes later and we all ordered our drinks, which took 15 minutes to recieve. i ordered Michael's Special Poke Salad for my entree ($14) and so did 2 of the other girls. after we had waited for 10 minutes the waiter came by in all of his glory and said that michael was busy and our salads would be another 30 minutes...he did not offer to let us change our order and didn't offer some edamame or miso soup to save us from starving. i really couldn't beleive only michael could make the salad- what happens when he needs a day off?

when the salad did arrive, it was very good. a huge mound of dark green lettuce was topped with sashimi (tuna, salmon, octopus, white fish, etc) avocado, and pickled carrots, in a light asian sesame style of dressing. it was a great value for $14. unfortunately, the service did not get any better. the sad thing is i have eaten here before and had another waiter who gave equally bad service. i asked if she could box up my food and she never returned with it...even after i asked twice! that time i had the sushi dinner ($20) which is more food than most can eat. it comes with salad, miso, rice, 8 pieces of assorted sushi, and a large cali roll. pretty good bang for your buck and the sushi is solid.

so, the choice is yours...is the food worth the terrible service? with all of the good sushi restaurants around, i am thinking not.

Avanti Cafe- costa mesa is on a roll

since i just mentioned avanti cafe i figured i needed to let you in on the secret. it is tucked away in a plaza in costa mesa and serves vegetarian, organic food. i heard about it through the grapevine and was surprised when i arrived that it was such a tiny establishment. we started with the extra virgin roasted garlic ($1.75) served with fresh baked bread. the garlic was wonderful and the bread was so pure. the whole spot has a very european vibe, with the fresh baked breads, a wide cheese selection, and an interesting wine assortment. we also ordered a pitcher of margarita maxima- an agave nectar and citrus blend. perhaps one of the better margaritas ever...not overly sweet and so smooth. for my entree i had the gourmet cheese, olive, and hearth bread salad ($7.75). it was served with candied walnuts, apple, strawberries, ripe tomatoes, brie, goat, pecorino romano, and a homemade red wine dressing...so amazing. the dressing was phenomenal (i wish i had the recipe) and the cheeses were so un-americanized. they were the real deal- creamy, buttery, silky, and rich for the brie and goat and firm, sharp, and powerful for the pecorino. my husband ordered a sampler of their daily deli specials ($8.75)- two types of pasta which were both better than he expected. i really could eat at avanti weekly...next time i may just order a big glass of wine and the cheese, olive, and bread sampler. they had a tamale that looked great too- maybe i will have to go back twice this week!

Native Foods- Best Vegan Restaurant in Orange County

if you have never been to Native Foods in costa mesa, you must try it. they have a huge menu of organic, vegan favorites and have rightfully earned a reputation as one of the best vegan spots in the country. this week I dined there and ordered the soy amigo salad ($7.95) a taco salad with greens, cabbage, soy taco meat, salsa, tortilla chip croutons, corn, cilantro, green onion garnish and creamy chipotle dressing. i also added avocado...what an amazing salad. some of the best soy meat i have ever had. my husband ordered the bali surf burger (it is one of their specialties) with grilled tempeh, lettuce, carrot, red onion, vegan mayo, and a side of their fries. ($7.65 plus $1.35 for the fries). once again outstanding...the tempeh was great and the fries were second to bouchon (thomas keller's restaurant). i really couldn't believe how much potential vegan food actually has...it set a new standard for all of my former favorites. to finish i had a piece of the carrot cake with dream cheese frosting. nothing fancy, served in a to go container with the icing on the side. the cake was decent and the frosting was really good. not the best carrot cake i have ever had (that award goes to Avanti Cafe) but a good compliment to the rest of the meal. Orange County is luck to have Native Foods!

nobu is not overrated

i am sure most of you sushi lovers have heard of nobu matsuhisa...he is perhaps the world's most famous sushi chef. my husband and i recently dined at matsuhisa, his flagship restaurant in LA. the place is very low key to be such a celebrity haven. we were seated promptly at our reservation time, which is not the norm in LA. we started off with nobu stout draft ($6), which was a pretty good beer. then we ordered two sushi dinners ($36). the sushi dinner included 2 appetizers of the day, miso soup, salad, 8 pieces of sushi, and 1 roll. the amount of food was enormous. for our first appetizer, we had a sort of mixed seafood ceviche...the best i have ever had...please forgive me for my descriptions because they were randomly given and our waiter spoke broken english. the second appetizer was a white fish sashimi with some sort of ginger based clear sauce...it was outstanding. the miso soup was also the best i ever had. it tasted nothing like most i have ever had before...much smoother in flavor and less salty. the salad was also better than average because the dressing tasted like it was made 10 minutes ago. when the entrees arrived i was already a little full!

the eight pieces of sushi include tuna, albacore, salmon, white fish, yellowtail, mackerel, octopus, and sweet shrimp. each piece was the highest quality i have ever tasted. the colors of each piece of fish were bright and pure and each piece literally melted in your mouth. the sushi roll was spicy tuna and like a broken record, the best i have ever had. not mayonnaise filled as in some restaurants.

there is no doubt why it has received zagat's highest rating. we were very pleased with our visit. and in true LA style, we passed john mayer's table on the way out.

Oysters in CDM

oysters is a cute little spot in corona del mar. every time i drove by it was busy so i decided to make it my next stop. we started off with the hawaiian ahi sashimi ($15). honestly, i have had better...much better. but oysters isn't a sushi restaurant so i decided not to judge too harshly by their sashimi. for my entree i had the roasted sea bass ($28). it was served with white corn, edamame, and black truffle butter over a daikon potato puree. it was actually pretty good...the flavors, especially the truffle butter, complimented the fish perfectly. we also tried the oak grilled wild king salmon ($29). it was served with a wild rice salad, grilled asparagus spears, and a soy maple glaze. this dish was not as enjoyable...a little too predictable. overall my experience at oysters was just OK. they did have a wonderful piano player and a nice bar but the restaurant is a little small and gets extremely loud. with all of the great restaurants around, i doubt i will become a regular here.

the news room- best waffle in LA

best waffle in LA...i know it is a bold statement but i mean it. it may be the best waffle in america. the news room is a "healthy" spot on trendy robertson blvd. right across from the ivy. inside there are tv's, a news ticker, and juice/coffee bar. they also have a great patio. it has to be my favorite place for breakfast when i am in town. this past time i ordered the blue corn waffle ($7.50)...with blueberries inside and out. it is also topped with bananas and toasted pinons. The taste of the batter is outstanding and the fresh blueberries, which are cooked into a blueberry sauce, are irresistible. they also have one of the best organic house coffees i have ever had. it has a hint of cinnamon and is so smooth. but after you have this wonderful breakfast, make sure you finish it off with fresh squeezed OJ or at least some water, unless you will walk out with blue stained teeth from the blueberries!

Zinc Cafe- Not That Great

the patio is wonderful, the cafe is cute, but the food and service...not impressed. i have been there 2 times and the first time i went around 12:45pm and ordered the eggplant sandwich. they told me they were out. so i ordered mediterranean sandwich instead ($7.25). it was just okay. it was on rye bread filled with roasted tomatoes, pesto,smoked gouda and arugula...sounds good but was a little dry and flavorless. the service was horrible too. another person at our table ordered a sandwich and they forgot to bring it. we had to remind them 10 minutes later. they did offer a free dessert. we passed. so, a few months later i found myself in CDM again and thought i would give zinc another try. i was with 2 other people and we walked in at 1:30. once again, i tried to order the eggplant sandwich. once again they were out...and as a matter of fact, they were out of ALL of their sandwiches. so, we walked out and i don't give 3rd chances.

Back in OC

i am back in orange county, ca...thank goodness! plenty more reviews to come!

A Diamond in the Rough

if you haven't figured out already, i am not really a fan of the food in myrtle beach. BUT i dined at my favorite restaurant there last night called Collector's Cafe. the restaurant includes an art gallery featuring artwork from local and regional artists. the surprising decor takes you away from the "redneck riviera" and makes you feel more like you are in an urban oasis. we were seated promptly at our reservation time. the wine list is extensive...we had a wonderful bottle of pinot noir that was priced at $44. there are a lot of wines in the $40-60 range and they also have a good selection of wines $100+. we started with the artichoke ravioli appetizer ($13.95). it was truly a surprise. i thought it would be good but it was outstanding. the ravioli was handmade, filled with an artichoke puree, and topped with lump crab meat and a saffron cream sauce. for my entree, i ordered two more apps. i started with the cuban black bean cakes ($11.95), which were served with fresh guacamole and sour cream. very good bean cakes but not nearly as memorable as the ravioli. i also had the yellowfin tuna, grilled rare, and served over oriental couscous salad ($11.95). this was another wonderful dish...the tuna was sliced and the flavors were organically asian. we also ordered the filet entree ($29.95). although i didn't eat the filet, my accomplice said it was one of the better he remembers. it was served with a caramelized mushroom brandy cream sauce which was addictive...i could have literally has a bowl of the sauce with bread and have been content! it was served with a side of sun dried tomato mashed potatoes, which were better than average. overall, this is the best restaurant in Horry county (no not whorry, o-ree...what a horrible county).

A wonderful brunch in Charleston, SC- Tristan

i love to get away to charleston for a weekend when i am in the south. the best city on the east coast in my opinion. i ate brunch at a wonderful restaurant called tristan in the market. i started off with a bellini-$6 which is a pretty good deal in my opinion. then the bread basket arrived. it was full of the best mini scones i have ever had- not too sweet or dry. i opted for the lunch menu and ordered the pressed forest panini ($10)- with wild mushrooms, goat cheese, and essence of mushroom for dipping. the flavors were excellent- my only complaint was the bread was almost too toasty and hard. but overall an excellent sandwich. we also had the duck panini ($11) with blueberry honey, swiss, and macadamia nuts on sour dough. i know i don't eat too much meat but i tried this sandwich and it was outstanding. the duck was tender and the flavors were a perfect match. and both sandwiched were served with a organic salad of mixed greens, cranberries, and blue cheese- what a great compliment. i highly recommend this restaurant. i have been here several times for dinner but lunch/brunch is also outstanding. the live piano music is also a wonderful touch. 4 1/2 stars for tristan

Dinner in Myrtle Beach- Pretty Good For a Change

Well, i must admit i have found a decent asian restaurant in myrtle beach, sc. it's called e noodle and company and is in north myrtle beach on hwy 17 s. it is a mish mash of chinese, thai, and japanese, and it is all pretty decent. keep in mind, we are in myrtle beach so don't expect nobu, but this place is good. i started with the seaweed salad ($4.50), which was pretty standard with a little kick. we also had the vegetarian egg roll ($2.10) which was one of the best i ever had. just crispy enough and not greasy thank God! for dinner i had 2 orders ($6 each) of fresh shrimp spring rolls with an eggplant dipping sauce that were great. they actually are not on the menu, but if you ask nicely, they will make them for you! we also ordered bangkok shrimp ($13) which was in a curry sauce. very good, not the best curry, but still addictively spicy. all in all, a good meal and very inexpensive. they also have a decent wine list with most glasses costing $5. you can't beat this meal in myrtle beach.

I Am Heading South Ya'll

Yep, this weekend you will get blogs from the lowcountry. Hopefully there will be some good finds!

I LOVE EVOS!

i have this favorite fast food restaurant...it is the In and Out Burger for health freaks like myself (i pretty much stick to fish and organic foods). It's called Evos. i found them when i lived in tampa, where they were founded. they now have 3 spots in tampa, a sarasota location, and now one in good old henderson, nv. i was so excited that i made a detour there on my way in and out of vegas. they have everything from veggie burgers, to thai crispy trout wraps, to free range steak burgers. their airfries (baked not fried lovers!) are outstanding and don't forget to try an organic espresso shake. and for the love of food, please someone open one up in OC, where i know it would take off like pinkberry. check them out at http://www.evos.com/ and to the owners of evos, please look into the haven for health- southern california!

Mesa Grill Las Vegas

last week i had the opportunity to go to Sin City for a couple nights and i chose to eat at a restaurant in Caesar's called Mesa Grill. owned by Food Channel famer Bobby Flay, i had my hopes high and they were not disappointed. i started off with the tiger shrimp and roasted garlic tamale ($16) which was the best tamale i ever had. The shrimp were cooked to perfection and the flavors of the tamale came together in perfect harmony. we also had the blue corn pancake with barbeque duck ($15). i skipped the duck but the flavors of the pancake were unique and my foodie accomplice said the duck was tender and mild. for my entree i ordered the wild striped bass, which was served with a roasted sweet corn pepper sauce and a sundried tomato pesto. once again, a very unique blend that was perfect. the bass was also salt and peppered and cooked perfectly to have a crispy finsh. i must say, i was pretty impressed with bobby flay's restaurant. was it the best place i ever dined at? i can't say that...the restaurant is awfully loud (but hey, its vegas what do you expect) but the experience, service, and food were outstanding.

Me- the Coastal Foodie

i grew up in the deep South, where good food was hard to come by (unless you consider tube steak a delicacy) and grocery stores stocked only white bread and pork rinds. i was a from a wonderful northern family that traveled often. my parents made us try EVERYTHING and i began to develop an affinity for things other than fried chicken. not that all Southern food is bad, as a matter of fact, we only lived 2 hours from Charleston, SC, which happens to have some of the best food on the East Coast. but i quickly learned that i loved food and wouldn't easily find it where i lived. so, as i became an adult, i moved from Atlanta to Tampa and then found home right here in Orange County, CA. But to this day I travel back and for from coast to coast and make it a point to try new restaurants and food everywhere i go. Now, i will warn you...i am a fishatarian...meaning i rarely (meaning once a year at Easter when my grandmother makes her italian wedding soup) eat any meat other than fish. i also love vegetarian dishes too. but in spite of this (which hopefully only some of you will find to be discouraging), i dine at some pretty great places and hopefully help you find great food on both coasts too!