Top 10 Food and Drink Options at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival 2018

The 2018 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is currently underway until April 12th. Here are my Top 10 food and drink recommendations:

10. The Tropical IPA Shandy from The Brewhouse. Sculpin IPA, which already has the taste of grapefruit, is combined with guava and pineapple juice makes this into a delicious beer-mosa. A refreshing beverage to enjoy with the lovely Spring weather.

9. The Beet Kombacha Sangria from Eat Your Greens. Another refreshing beverage that is similar to seltzer water meeting a berry sangria. Oh, and you cannot taste the beets at all.

8. Grilled Asparagus Caesar Salad also from Eat Your Greens. I love grilled asparagus and this combined with Caesar dressing and grated cheese and croutons is a wonderful light and tasty snack.

Lillie's Q in Brea Has One Of The Best Sunday Brunch's You Aren't Going To...Yet!

With the risk of having one of my favorite places for Sunday Brunch becoming a packed house where a reservation will be strongly encouraged, I bring you the awesome Sunday Brunch at Lillie's Q in Brea! They are right up the street from the widely busy Tap's Sunday Brunch so it was nice walking into a place that is quiet and you can really enjoy your time with your friends!

Sunday Brunch is only $24.99 per person and it is an all you can eat Southern feast with bottomless mimosas! And the wait staff is very good about making sure your glass is always full! Then when you are ready, just pick up a tray and help yourself to pancakes, bacon, sausage, sausage biscuits and gravy, green beans, collard greens, tilapia, mac n cheese, sweet corn on the cob, smoked turkey, smoked ham, amazing brisket, pork rinds and a personal favorite the kool-aid pickles!

But wait, there's more with this made-to-order list that is also included with Sunday Brunch!

This massive Pig Lover omelette is filled with the most amazing parts of the pig including bacon, ham, hot sausage, pulled pork and topped with white cheddar cheese!

Another monstrosity is the Memphis Breakfast Burrito filled with eggs, fried potatoes and pulled pork with salsa verde on the side!

Southern Eggs Benedict is another fantastic offering with a biscuit topped with ham, a poached egg, fried green tomato and hot mess hollandaise!

This is the steak & eggs featuring tender smoked tri-tip, fried potatoes and a poached egg.

But my absolute favorite thing on this made-to-order menu is their take on chicken n waffles with tender smoked chicken breast, house made waffle and warm Vermont maple syrup.

And there is also a dessert bar featuring a chocolate fountain for strawberries and rice krispie treats, peach cobbler, banana pudding, chocolate stout brownies and make your own strawberry shortcakes!

Everything up and down the lineup is fantastic and you are not going to leave hungry! So bring your stretch pants, your friends and most important of all, your appetite!

Lillie's Q
240 S. Brea Blvd.
Brea, CA 92821

Sunday Brunch is from 10am to 2pm
$24.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids ages 3 to 10

Sasaki Time's Top 15 Disneyland and DCA Food Items You Need to Eat Right Now!

Here are my Top 15 Disneyland and Disney California Adventure food items that you need to try if you haven't already!

15. The world famous clam chowder bowls come in at number 15! There is nothing better than the fresh baked sourdough bowls from the Boudin Bakery in DCA! The clam chowder is fantastic and that bread is even better if you let some of that chowder get absorbed into the bread! Remember to get some butter so you can also butter your bread if you aren't full!

14. Number 14 is the fantastic chili cone queso from the Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land! I love chili and since it is one of Walt's favorites, it's fitting that chili make it on the list! The beef chili, cheese and corn chips in the bread cone is a perfect meal on the go! We will be returning to this same cone a few times!

13. Coming in at lucky number 13 is the Oswald Sundae in a souvenir "Mickey Pants" from Clarabelle's on Buena Vista Street. You get three scoops of ice cream covered in whipped cream, chocolate chips and a cherry on top! Oswald's ears are made up of two chocolate covered bananas! Plus, you get to keep the "Mickey Pants" sink dish!

12. Coming in at number 12 is what I consider the best deal in the parks when it comes to eating and those of you with a hearty appetite like myself. The Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is all you can eat for a great price! Lunch is only $23.99 a person and you get beans, chicken, ribs, cornbread, corn on the cob wheels and coleslaw!

11. Mickey shaped beignets are next! A powdered sugar covered bit of heaven if you ask me! They are coming out warm and go great with a mint julep or a cup of coffee! You will find these in New Orleans Square at the Mint Julep Bar!

10. The Mickey waffle from the Carnation Cafe comes in at Number 10! A delicious way to start the day! Pair it with a side of bacon or sausage and you have a wonderful breakfast right in the middle of Main Street U.S.A.!

9. We have come back to the Cozy Cone in Cars Land with the chorizo and egg cone! Only served for breakfast this delicious mix of chorizo, scrambled eggs and pico de gallo is a handy and hearty way to get your morning going down Route 66!

8. Dole Whip from Adventureland comes in at Number 8! This cool tasty pineapple treat is perfect on a hot day or any day! Look at that perfect swirl! Almost too perfect to eat, like I said almost!

7. Coming in next on the countdown is the butcher's plate from The Carthay Circle Lounge on Buena Vista Street. The plate features various cheeses, salamis, capicola, seasonal fruits and nuts. You also get some toasted bread. A perfect snack with some drinks and a good friend or two while listening to the light jazz in the lounge area. This is my favorite place to take a break from the park while still being inside the park.

6. Coming in at Number 6 is the best chicken in town! The broasted chicken at The Plaza Inn is one of my favorite meals in the entire resort! The chicken is tasty and moist, the mashed potatoes are thick and made from scratch and the seasonal vegetables are perfect! You can't even see the biscuit that comes with the meal! So much good food that you won't go hungry after this!

5. Number 5 is the lobster nachos at the Cove Bar in Paradise Pier! This massive plate begs to be shared! Corn tortilla chips, smothered in cheese, beans, lobster, salsa, mild peppers, and cilantro make for a perfect snack with a bunch of friends or a great meal for one! Enjoy with a beer or a cocktail and feel as if you were at the beach!

4. Number 4 we head back for the last time to the Cozy Cone in Cars Land for the bacon and mac and cheese cone! Thick mac and cheese with diced bacon on top make for a hearty meal!

3. Number 3 is the fried pickle appetizer at the Carnation Cafe on Main Street U.S.A.! These panko fried pickles are one of my favorites and I always get these when I dine here! How they can deep fry something and keep that pickle nice and crisp I will never know!

2. We don't have to go very far for Number 2 because it is the meatloaf at the Carnation Cafe! I love meatloaf and this one does not disappoint! A huge thick slab of moist meatloaf covered in gravy served with mashed potatoes, vegetables and a roll with butter makes me feel at home! Comfort food and it's very best!

1. And here we are at my Number 1 favorite food items from the parks and it is the Matterhorn macaroon from the Jolly Holiday Bakery! I always take this silly photo of the macaroon with the actual Matterhorn attraction! See how much they look alike? The awesome shape of the macaroon does not compare with the amazing amount of coconut this treat contains!


Well there you have it! My Top 15 Food Items from both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure that You Need To Try Right Now! Hope it made you hungry! Let's go to the park and eat!

Restaurant Review: Lillie's Q in Brea - Award Winning BBQ and Kool-Aid Pickles?

Here is one more restaurant review for 2014! This is the new Lillie's Q in Brea that opened on December 6th, 2014! This is the fourth location of this barbecue concept and the first to be located in California. The original location is in Chicago. you will come here to experience award-winning barbecue, down at home Southern cuisine and moonshine cocktails!

Lillie's Q founder and owner Charlie McKenna partnered with TAP's owner Joe Manzella for this branch in Brea.

Check out this awesome variety of BBQ sauces! Trust me, the meats at Lillie's Q are so good that you don't need BBQ sauce! But if you want to try them and I think you should, let me break down what to expect from each one! Starting from left to right, the ivory is a southern Alabama vinegar, mayo and spices that is great for fries and chicken and fish. The Carolina Gold is from South Carolina has a mustard content that is perfect on the hot links. The ENC is the Easter Carolina that uses cider vinegar and spices with no tomato. The Carolina has Western Carolina influences. The Smoky and Hot Smoky are traditional Memphis sauces and the most popular.

The Catdaddy Cocktail using Catdaddy vanilla moonshine and your choice of either root beer or cream soda. I went with the cream soda. Smooth and refreshing! If you are looking for something on the sweeter side then this is the drink for you! I love that they are served in mason jars!

My friend with the apple hooch and ginger which combines apple pie moonshine, ginger ale and lime. An equally smooth and refreshing drink.

We ordered the pork rinds and Kool-Aid pickles! That's right Kool-Aid pickles! The pork rinds are awesome and I love the kettle it is served in but the must have item is the Kool-Aid pickles! Kosher dill pickles marinated in cherry Kool-Aid with secret spices is fantastic! The sweetness of the Kool-Aid balances with the saltiness of the pickles and the spices put this over the top! I am already craving my next order! Plus my friend who can't stand pickles loves these! If that's not saying something then nothing is!

My friend ordered the Taste of LQ, a choice of three meats! Pulled pork, a hot link and tri-tip were all selected and a side of Mac N Cheese was added. Bacon was added to the mac and cheese. The pulled pork was perfectly tasty and fatty. The fat just melted with the pork. This is what I would get the mac and cheese with the next time! The tri-tip is tender and flavorful. You can see that char line! Perfect! The hot link is actually a hot link! Most places offer a hot link but it's usually just a kielbasa and not even a spicy kielbasa at that.

I ordered the Taste of LQ as well. I got the hot link and the trip-tip but added the baby back ribs. The ribs have a fantastic dry rub and an apple glaze! The meat is fall off the bone and did not need one drop of BBQ sauce! I added the cornbread with honey butter! Perfect!

It should come as no surprise that Lillie's Q have TAPS brews. This Hog-Tied Ale is specifically brewed for Lillie's Q. It is perfect for BBQ offering subtle malt flavor and hop bitterness.

For dessert we got an adult root beer float that includes vanilla moonshine and a banana pudding! Both were exceptional! The adult root beer float didn't have any hint of the moonshine so this could be a very dangerous dessert! The banana pudding had great chunks of banana mixed in with nilla wafers, pudding and vanilla meringue!

Great service and even better food makes this my new favorite BBQ place!

I am waiting for them to begin offering their $325 whole hog dinner and currently looking for dining companions to join me in this feast!


Lillie's Q is located at 240 S Brea Blvd in Brea, (714) 482-2001 

www.lilliesq.com.

Restaurant Event: Summer Fest Open House at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (2014)

Once again I was invited to the Summer Fest Open House at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in downtown Disney in Anaheim to enjoy food, drinks, entertainment and of course to check out their 6 Festive Private Rooms!

The highlight of the evening was that Ralph Brennan himself was there! It was a wonderful opportunity to not only meet the man but to talk with him and of course get a photo!

My friend Kristen and I attended the event and we started the evening with a hurricane! Not only is this one of their speciality drinks but this is also one of the best ones I have ever had. It is blended perfectly and you can hardly taste the alcohol.

There were several excellent appetizers being served including this fantastic buffalo chicken and waffle slider! The perfect combination of sweet and savory! I could have had about ten more of these! Plus, the staff carrying the appetizers were all fantastic and offered a Disney style level of guest service.

A delicious shrimp gazpacho came by next. The delicious tomato base with the fresh shrimp made for a perfect appetizer on a warm summer evening!

Deep fried okra became one of my favorites! Great earthy flavor made this an item I could also eat all evening!

Another favorite was the deep fried artichoke hearts! I love artichoke, so to have it deep fried made it even better!

Out on the balcony area, where 80 seated guests or 100 guests can gather for a reception, there was an impressive assortment of fresh seafood! The largest collection was this wooden canoe of shrimp! It was sweet and buttery! I could eat this shrimp all night long as well!

Next to the shrimp was the mussels! Don't they look delicious? Mussels are another one of my favorites!

And next to the mussels were clams! It was like they made a menu with me in mind as these are another one of my favorites! Look at all the vegetables and bacon with these clams!

This was my first time having a buffalo oyster! The oyster is perfectly meaty and plump. They are crispy on the outside but rich and creamy on the inside. Top that with buffalo sauce and ranch dressing and you have a wonderful appetizer!

Also out on the balcony was this mac and cheese station. I had them combine both the crawfish and the andouille sausage.

Watching the magic happen right before my eyes!

Doesn't that look amazing? What a perfect combination of flavors! The sweetness of the crawfish combined with the saltiness of the sausage made for a fantastic mac and cheese!

In the Wine Room, that seats a party of 18, they had this martini salad bar!

You just told them what ingredients you wanted.

Then they combined it into a martini shaker! Shaken and not stirred and you got an amazing salad with dressing mixed perfectly throughout the entire salad!

There was also a carving station for moist and juicy prime rib. There were various sauces to try with the prime rib and a fantastic Zinfandel au jus!

Here is my martini mixed salad with prime rib with the three olive salad and the Zinfandel au jus! Perfect dinner and perfect presentation!

In the Queen's Room, that seats 50 to 60 people or 80 for a reception with a private balcony, was the dessert room as well. There was cotton candy!

As you can see I am a big fan of cotton candy!

Butter! Lots and lots of butter for the next dessert!

Toss in some alcohol and you get...

Flames! And a New Orleans classic, bananas foster!

Who wants some bananas foster with vanilla bean ice cream? I thought so! This was so amazing! One of the best bananas foster desserts ever!

The Voodoo King and I wish you a fond farewell from Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen!

Thank you to the awesome special events team for the invite once again! Another night of amazing food, friends and entertainment!

So keep the Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Downtown Disney in Anaheim in mind for your next special event:

- 6 amazing rooms for your next special event

- 5 hours of FREE parking with validation plus all day parking packages are also available

- mention SUMMER FEST while booking and receive a complimentary passed appetizer during your event!

Book today by calling (714) 563-7261

Also check out their web site: Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen: Private Events

*Disclaimer: Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen invited me to their Summer Fest Open House but the opinions and photos are strictly my own.*