Costa Mesa's Corner Retreat: Plum's Cafe

I don't know how I did not visit this place before last weekend.  I have been sorely missing out in life.  Plum's is probably the best brunch that Orange County has to offer.  It has pancakes, bread pudding french toast, breakfast burritos and my fave - eggs benedict.

Eureka: How UCI got cool.

Okay, I don't know if it will make UC Irvine cool, but this new chain called Eureka is exactly what the campus needed.  Although the pub has been voted best bar in Orange County by OC Weekly, Eureka caters to the community not just students.  As much as I love the pub, it does make me feel like I am trying to relive my glory days.  Eureka doesn't judge me.

the cowboy: bbq burger

For my 100th post I give you the best restaurant in OC - Il Garage

Yes, you read that right.  Il Garage is the best restaurant that I have eaten at in OC.  While I can think of a few places that are as tasty (or tastier), this place brings something that other places don't have - a garden.  Tucked in the middle of nowhere Stanton (yes that is in OC), Il Garage is hard to find.  In fact, you have to drive along Beach Blvd and then keep driving.  Once you have found Park Ave restaurant, you must walk through it into the backyard.  Then, and only then, will you find this treasure.

And with a heavy heart I introduce to you...Iron Press

I really wanted to like this place.  Very badly.  Every time I visit The Mix, or OC Mix Mart, or SOCO, or whatever the hell that place is called, The Iron Press is always packed.  So on one sunny Saturday, I was stoked when there were tons of seats for my friends and I to sit down and grab some lunch.  I had been waiting months to have some chicken and waffles.

A piece of fried chicken and a waffle

Gyu-Kaku: the gift that keeps on giving.

I first attended this glorious restaurant in LA.  It was new and all the rage when I was in high school.  Unfortunately, that was quite a long time ago.  Anyway, this place is still a fun spot - especially during happy hour.  So when I was trying to think of a place to grab dinner at 8:00 on a Friday, I thought why the heck don't I try this place out again?

An odd place for a happy hour.

Good Morning Gents and Ladies.  It's my favorite day of the week - Thursday.  Why you ask?  Well once upon a time it meant the start of the weekend: toga parties, bar crawls, etc.  Now it is one more day to the weekend, but I can see the light; I am finally happy that the weekend is so close; and I am not exhausted from an entire week of work.  Plus Friday is really just a short work day anyway right?  (Sorry work, I am absolutely kidding about that...)

Beachwood BBQ

So I finally ventured out of my little comfort zone and made it to Long Beach.  While not actually a part of the OC, it seems that most residents of Orange County have been making their way to the restaurants, bars, and food festivals in the area.  So when I had to find a middle spot between LA and OC to meet my parents, I chose Beachwood BBQ.

San Francisco Must Haves!

stuffed french toast from Zazie

So my number one must eat when I visit San Francisco is San Tung.  It is by far my favorite Chinese food in the Bay Area and quite possibly my life.  The original dry fried chicken is the best thing on the menu.  Once you try it, you will crave it FOR-EV-ER. The dumplings are a big hit and any type of noodles.  This place is a little unique because it is a Korean-Chinese family cooking Chinese food so things are a bit different (and spicy), but they still serve beef and broccoli for us white people.

string beans, "crack" chicken and veggie low mein

As you know, I like brunch.  Like a lot.  So when we needed a spot to have our family reunion in SF we quickly chose Zazie.  As all brunch spots in SF, Zazie is ALWAYS crowded.  However, unlike other spots, it has an outdoor patio that is really cute and comfy and not super loud.  The best part is the food though.  First order yourself a custom mimosa (yes custom - you can add sherbet into it), then find five friends to help you share as many items on the brunch menu as possible.  I highly recommend the stuffed french toast (and this is coming from a girl who doesn't eat french toast EVER).  If that's still not your thing get one of the many types of benedicts available.  Tip: the front tables are first come first serve!

There are so many other spots that I personally love in SF: Brenda's in the Tenderloin, Guerras out in Sunset, Nick's Tacos in Russian Hill, and Suppenkuch in Hayes Valley are just a few of them...can't wait for my next visit!

Summer time and the living is...busy.

Summer time in Orange County can mean laid back beach weather, or crazy adventures attending all of the summer events going on in the area.  As a "porcelained skin" (read: pale as hell) person, I prefer to go to the events then lay on the beach.  So this past weekend, I packed in my adventures and had a great time at the OC Fair and Del Mar Horse Track.

 

fried cookie dough = heaven

A hidden treasure.

I have been trying to follow as many blogs, websites, people, newspapers, etc. as I can lately to learn about the new restaurant openings, closings, and OC events so that I can 1) attend obviously, and 2) try to let you know about it!  So when Stick a Fork In It mentioned a new spot called Fireside Tavern I was so excited to try it.

Reverse Happy Hour is the ISH!

As we know, I have a big thing for sushi - HUGE.  So when my friends mentioned reverse happy hour and on a weekend nonetheless, I ran to Tomikawa as fast as my feet could get me there.

crunchy salmon roll with spicy tuna

A great lunch spot, dinner, and even drinks.

3-Thirty-3 was always a place I avoided in college because it is where the "old people" went to hang out on a Friday night.  Well apparently now I am that "old" person and I am definitely hanging out there on a Friday.

 

build your own burger and sweet potato fries

 

The Playground, brunch edition.

If you don't remember, I visited The Playground for dinner a few months ago.  It was so good (especially the fried chicken - dont ask just get it).  So when my boyfriend's plans for our brunch fell through (aka he didn't check to see if the restaurant was open on Sundays), I remembered the Playground serves brunch and we headed over to try it out.

The menu was much shorter than expected.  They have small plates such as cinnamin rolls and donuts, and then some main plates.  We decided to skip the small plates and just order the barbacoa huevos rancheros, and eggs, bacon and toast. Knowing that dinner was so good, we had high hopes. 

Unfortunately EVERYTHING was covered in salt on my plate and the huevos rancheros was lukewarm and there was barely any meat.  I was really bummed by the fact it was so unimpressive because the price was not cheap.  The great news is that the menu changes daily so there might be things worth trying!  And of course there is always chicken and waffles...

3.0/5 for decent food, but it wasn't hot and it wasn't priced well for what we got.

Another trip into LA

steak and eggs

I know, I know, I travel far too much on the weekends, but I like to have fun.  This past weekend was no different and I headed up to Los Angeles for the day.  I started out my morning at easily the best brunch spot I have ever had - Eggslut.

Where to post up for the (final) game.

USA takes on Germany in its final game of group play tomorrow at 9 AM.  Yes, 9 AM.  For some of you that don't have to be at work and secretly stream it on watchespn.com, quite a few places are opening up early for your viewing pleasure.  Below are a few I recommend:

I really hate when I get bad service.

Whenever I hear about a new opening, I try to visit the restaurant as soon as possible.  Bosscat Kitchen was no different, and I was even more inclined because it is around the corner from my work and a friend had visited it with great reviews.  So when I needed a place to celebrate my birthday, this was my first choice for my girls' night out.

shrimp and grits

Something fun for the weekend!

If you haven't noticed by now, I enjoy drinking wine.  So when my friend asked if I would try the wine tasting at Hi-Times, it was an easy yes.  Hi-Times used to be this place that I would drive "all the way out to" in order to get our cheap booze  in college (think Popov and Jose).  Well now its where us fancy pants can get craft beer, fancy liquor and the largest assortment of wines I have seen in a store in Orange County for decent prices.  Thank god times have changed...

Fun night out that won't break your budget?

Orange County can be one of the hardest places to find a good spot to go out at.  The Peninsula is where all the 21 year olds drink until they are blacked out and then drink some more.  Triangle Square is where the out of towners hang out.  CDM is where the cougars go...so where are the 20 and 30 somethings hanging out?  The best bet? The Boulevard.

Happy Hour at Scott's

Once a location I never thought I would enter, I found myself at Scott's for happy hour before Book of Mormon.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Although my friend refuses to go here (there was a health code violation issue, and lets just not go into it right now), my Aunt and Uncle wanted to grab drinks and then head to the show.

salmon spring rolls

Date Night (with some friends)

So now that I work 100s of hours a month, I have to schedule a date night with my boyfriend so that we actually have time to see each other and talk.  It's a weird concept, this growing up thing.  For our date night, we actually decided to invite some other friends to sushi with us.  (We weren't ready to spend alone time, jk, kinda.)  We decided to get together at Jack's Fusion Sushi in Costa Mesa.

:lobster roll: