Showing posts with label costa mesa. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Holsteins Shakes and Buns - Amazing Food, Fantastic Service and an Ever Changing Menu

My friend Carla and I went to go check out Holsteins Shakes and Buns in Costa Mesa. This is only their second location, with the first being in Las Vegas. They are known for their burgers, appetizers and what they call their Bam-Boozled, alcohol-infused shakes.

Take a look at that amazing Campfire Smores shake in the photo above. A delicious and refreshing smores made into a shake with Smirnoff marshmallow vodka added to it. This makes a perfect dessert shake.

I love the popcorn that's brought to your table. Good comfort food to munch on while you look through the menu.

The Buffalo Chicken dip is a must have appetizer. Think of shredded buffalo chicken and queso mixed together with house made tortilla chips. Spicy, cheesy and easily one of the best things I have ever eaten.

Let's take a closer look at that shake list. Find anything you like yet? Or should I say have you found several that you have to try?

Next we had the Azuki Coconut shake. Yes, azuki, that awesome Japanese sweet bean paste blends so perfectly with the subtle flavor of coconut that you will want another.

If Bam-Boozled shakes aren't your thing, never fear there are more than enough wines and beers to keep you happy. The wine and beer list is on this handy tablet.

The other reason to come is for the burgers. This is their simple Classic Burger and honestly one of the best cooked hamburger patties I have ever tasted.

Friday and Saturday nights they have live music. Happy Hour is 6 days a week. So come check out Holsteins for great food, drinks and service!

Learn more at their site:
holsteinsburgers.com

Monday, May 9, 2016

Restaurant Review: H2O Sushi & Izakaya in Costa Mesa AYCE & AYCD

Time to bring back restaurant reviews and here is my first one for 2016. This is my review for H2O Sushi & Izakaya in Costa Mesa. This is the only one of their locations to offer All You Can Eat ($28.95 per person) and you can also add bottomless hot sake and Sapporo draft to your AYCE for $11.95. That is a great deal. There is a two hour time limit which gives you more than enough time to eat and drink more than your fill.

Time to start with a bottle of hot sake and an ice cold Sapporo draft.

Started off our meal with the garlic chili edamame. Perfectly spicy and a perfect way to start off the meal.

Look at that color of the sashimi. Tuna sushi (on the left), yuzu tuna sushi and salmon sushi to start off the sushi fest.

Do not pass up the seared garlic tuna sushi!

Greek Wine Review: The Best Tasting Wines You Are Not Drinking!

A few weeks ago I was invited to Los Angeles for a Greek Wine tasting event. I never had the opportunity to try Greek wines before and was intrigued. Here is one of the oldest wine producing countries and yet I have never had a glass of Greek wine in my life.

What better place to try my first Greek wines than right here in California, home of Napa Valley and several other well known wine producing areas. How would the Greek wines compare with the California varieties?

Let's start with my favorite whites. All three of the above are from the Domaine Porto Carras, the largest organic vineyard in Greece. From left to right, the 2012 Melissanthi and the 2012 Assyrtiko are both minerally and refreshing. The 2013 Malagouzia was more fruity with a light melon finish. These were some of the cleanest, smoothest white wines I have ever experienced. I was very much surprised to find that all three are under $20 a bottle.

Next up are my favorite red wines. Starting once again from left to right, the Chateau Porto Carras was made up of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Limnio. The Magnus Baccata is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This has a fruity yet spicy taste with a hint of chocolate at the end. The Limnio is made entirely from the Limnio grape and had a lovely fruit and cinnamon taste. This proved to be my favorite and I will go into some of its history below.

This was my favorite of all the wines there. I love history and hearing the stories behind wines but this one was the most intriguing. This varietal was not only Plato's favorite but is mentioned by Aristotle in the Odyssey. I loved this varietal so much as well that I had to find where I could buy it in Orange County.

Here is the bottle of Limnio I purchased. The only place that carries it in Orange County is my favorite place to purchase wines or any alcohol for that matter, Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa.

All of these wines reminded me of our California varietals and as well they should. The region where Greece and California produce wines is nearly identical in latitudes and climates. Greek wines are beginning to take a foothold in restaurants and local wine shops across the country. Look to see if your local wine shop carries Greek wine and prepare yourself for a treat and quite possibly a new favorite or two.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Restaurant Review: Ritter's Steam Kettle Cooking in Costa Mesa

Time for another restaurant review! This time, my friend Daisy and I headed to Ritter's Steam Kettle Cooking in Costa Mesa!

Rolls! I love rolls! And they will bring you more if you would like!

We ordered the Cajun Calamari. The calamari is fried in Cajun seasoned flour and served with cocktail sauce with horseradish for kick! This is one of the best fried calamari in town! The calamari is not rubbery like most other places serve it. The calamari is tender and if I didn't know it was calamari I would have been hard pressed to have been convinced in what it was. All calamari should be prepared this way!

Daisy ordered the Ritter's Famous Pan Roast a tomato cream based creole dish served with rice and trinity! She got it house style which included shrimp, clam, crab and lobster. It was creamy and rich!

I ordered the cioppino! An amazing combination of white fish, shrimp, crab, calamari, mussels and clams cooked in a sherry wine tomato broth over linguini. So good and the best cioppino I have ever had! The flavors go so well together and you can really taste the freshness of the seafood!

You get to choose your spice level from none to 10. I went with a 4 and it still had a nice kick to it. I can't even begin to imagine what a 10 is like!

Great food served in large portions and equally great service make this the best Cajun Restaurant in town!

RITTER'S AT SOUTH COAST METRO

1421 W MACARTHUR BLVD UNIT G

SANTA ANA, CA 92704

(714) 850-1380

HOURS: 11am - 10pm Sunday - Thursday | 11am - 11pm Friday - Saturday

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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Restaurant Review: Bruxie Coffee Tasting for The Bold Blend!

Lil Oishi and I went to the Costa Mesa location of Bruxie to try their new custom crafted coffee, The Bold Blend! Would it be Bold enough to stand up to the Bruxie name? Well, we were here to find out!

The coffee blend is the brainchild of Bruxie partners Dean Simor and Kelly Mullarney. They set out to create a coffee that could stand up and compliment the menu. They found a local roaster who blended their 100% fair trade coffee beans. The blend is made up of the four origin coffee beans of Sumatra, Brazil, Ethipoia and Costa Rica.

Taking my first sip of The Bold Blend and I instantly tasted the boldness of the flavors. A rich, robust coffee with a smooth finish. I love strong coffee and immediately needed more.

Lil Oishi and I shared the first cup of coffee with an egg and sausage breakfast waffle. The strong flavors of the coffee blended perfectly with this waffle sandwich.

I also got to pair the coffee with Bruxie's prosciutto and gruyere as well as their smoked salmon lox and dill cream cheese. The strong flavors in both of these waffles once again paired perfectly with the equally strong flavor of the coffee.

As I stood here with both Dean and Kelly, I found it hard to believe that I was there on opening day of their first Bruxie location in Orange in November of 2010. That was pretty much my first food review! How far everyone has come since then!

Even my review vehicle, a 2014 Kia Optima needed some coffee!

Come and try this fantastic coffee blend for yourself with a waffle or two! I cannot wait to be back for more!

Follow Bruxie on Facebook and Twitter for updates on specials and promotions.

Bruxie has the following locations in Southern California:

Orange – Old Towne
Brea – Downtown at Birch Street Promenade
Chino Hills – The Shoppes at Chino Hills
Huntington Beach – The Strand on 5^th
Irvine – Heritage Plaza Center
Costa Mesa – 17^th Street

For more information on Bruxie, including menus, locations, directions, and hours visit their website at www.bruxie.com.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Restaurant Review: ARC Restaurant Food & Libations Lunch Review!

I finally got to go back to ARC to have lunch there. I have been wanting to go back specifically for lunch to try their awesome looking burger! Would it meet my expectations? Well, let's find out!

One of my favorite things to see is the cords of wood stacked up around the restaurant. They cook everything over an open fire. It's a modern take on what caveman did!

The best place to sit is at the bar! You can watch all the action in the kitchen while you talk and drink!

Check out the lunch menu! The full dinner menu is also available to you!

They also make great handcrafted cocktails! I wasn't driving so I felt "obligated" to try one!

I ordered their cigarettes & coffee, one of their most popular drinks. It was an awesome mix of rye whiskey, smoky bitters and Portola Coffee Lab beans.A good stiff drink to enjoy in the afternoon or after a long day at work! I think I found my new favorite drink!

Check out this massive burger! The bun is dusted with cornmeal bun and smeared with garlic aioli and a huge pile of fresh vegetables including bright yellow heirloom tomatoes, Fresno chilies and red oak lettuce. The lettuce has been tossed in a roasted garlic vinaigrette. There was a choice between bleu cheese or aged cheddar cheese. I went with the aged cheddar! The patty is made up of rib-eye short rib that has been ground up with bacon lardons, herbs, caramelized onions and duck fat.

This gorgeous burger is almost too pretty to eat. I said almost! I did my best to pick it up with two hands and try to eat it like a regular burger but this was a bad idea from the start! I couldn't even get my mouth to take a bite out of it! So, I decided to treat the veggie part of the burger as a salad. This was a much better idea.

One of the best burgers I have ever had! And I pride myself on trying to find the best burger in Southern California! The veggies are all fantastic! The heirloom tomatoes are juicy and sweet! The Fresno chilies have a great amount of kick! The lettuce tossed in the garlic vinaigrette makes the salad of veggies complete! The massive burger is more like a meatloaf! The flavors are unparalleled! The beef, bacon and duck fat combine perfectly for a taste unlike any other!

Using Lil Oishi as a size comparison! This burger is almost twice his height!

Another great time at ARC and so worth the wait to come back to try to the burger! Now I want another burger right now!

Arc Restaurant Food & Libations

3321 Hyland Ave
Ste F
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(949) 500-5561

arcrestaurant.com

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Restaurant Review: Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee

Kellie cannot wait to get her hands on a doughnut and a cup of coffee!

I finally made it to Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee in Costa Mesa with my good friend Kellie. She is turning out to be my partner in crime when it comes to doughnut adventures!

I love the simple and clean look of the place!

I have been wanting to try this place for quite sometime and was happy to go with Kellie for both of our first times! Sidecar is known for using the best ingredients and never using preservatives in their doughnuts!

Everywhere I go I see Mickey!

Lil Oishi is ready to try his first Stumptown Cold Brew!

Besides amazing doughnuts they also carry Stumptown Coffee from Portland, Oregon! These guys are right up there with Portola Coffee Lab in Costa Mesa for their dedication to quality. Quality in their relationships with the coffee bean growers, the coffee making process and the communities that you find them in.

The Cold Brew is just that, coffee brewed without heat. It's a long 12 hour process that results in a smooth, full-bodied brew. Perfect just out of the fridge! Perfect with all of the quality doughnuts from Sidecar!

Sidecar makes about 12 different doughnuts each week and they rotate through all of their flavors. You can go to their site (at the bottom of this post) to see what flavors are available!

This is the best maple bacon doughnut I have ever tasted! The doughnut is light and airy, not heavy like your typical doughnut shops. The maple is subtle and not overpowering which allows for the great taste of the crisp bacon to come through. Just perfect in my opinion!

This was my first experience with huckleberry. Not only is there huckleberries in the glaze but also in the cake! The sweet and tart taste quickly made this another favorite!

I am a sucker for twist doughnuts and this madagascar vanilla twist was one of the best ever. Light and airy and not too sweet made this just perfect for me!

Last but not least is the malasada. Now with parents born and raised on Oahu, Leonard's is famous! And I was just mentioning to some friends why isn't there a malasada on the menu anywhere? Well here it is! These are not quite the same as Leonard's but every bit as good! Soft, light, airy and sugary! I could be back on Oahu right now!

Yes, the doughnuts are pricy but worth every penny. You can taste the quality in every bite. Plus, paired with quality coffee and you have a great meal or snack! I will gladly be back!

Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

270 E 17th St
Ste 18
Costa Mesa, CA 92627

(949) 887-2910

www.sidecardoughnuts.com

Hours: Mon-Sun 6:30 am - 4 pm

Monday, May 13, 2013

Restaurant Review: ARC Restaurant!

Finally got to check out ARC, a great new restaurant in Costa Mesa in the OC Mart Mix that is also the home to Portola Coffee Lab and Seventh Tea Bar!

This non-descript building is the home to ARC!

ARC cooks everything over fire and you can see that by the cords of wood at the entrance that you are going to be in for something entirely different. This a throw back to the time when cooks used only fire as their fuel.

There is not a lot of seating and because of this they do not take reservations. So, we ordered some beer and waited for a table or three seats at the bar. They also offer wine and make some great looking cocktails. I will order one of their cocktails next time for sure.

The bar is a great way to watch the chefs at work. Because the place is fairly tiny, it makes for a much more intimate setting.

We ordered a few items to start. Everything is cooked over the open flame so everything comes in an iron pan! Careful these pans are going to be hot! We each ordered an appetizer. The meatballs came out first. There are three large meatballs in a fresh marina sauce. The meatball was perfectly cooked. It had a slight crust on the outside but was nice and light pink on the inside. The meat literally melted in my mouth! Great start! You also get a couple slices of wonderful garlic bread!

We also ordered the dip, a delicious concoction of tomatoes, peppers and ricotta with more of that amazing garlic bread to scoop it up with!

We also ordered the calamari which was a perfect blend of calamari, onions, shishito peppers and potatoes mixed with vinegar and citrus.

ARC also cuts all of its own meat and has special aged cuts that are off menu. One of my friends is a huge meat fan and asked if he could see the choices. The presentation was fantastic and they recommended that since this was our first time here to order off the menu and see if we liked their style of cooking and when we come back and if we would like a different cut of meat then we can order from there special selection.

There was another tray that was brought out with some expensive cuts. Perhaps next time.

One of my friends went with the tart which was a flatbread with onions, parsley and their hand cut bacon.

My other friend and I both went with the steak! This dish was amazing! The potatoes were great and dare I say the portion was too much! The steak was cooked to perfection! There is a slight crust on the steak seasoned with salt and the meat was still pink on the inside. It was moist and tender and if I had room I would have ordered another one.

Great service, a fun environment that seems to have quite a few regulars, plus great food makes this a new favorite of mine! I can't wait to come back!

Oh and they do not offer desserts on the menu. This may change in time! Keeping my fingers crossed!

ARC Restaurant Food & Libations