Dear Food Gods, Thank you for 370 Common

Well hello again friends.  It has been awhile, mostly because it was the holidays, a little because I worked too much, and also because I just was eating too many good foods to have time to share.  But now I am back and I would like to start with one of my new favorite places - 370 Common.

free bread is always a good start to the meal, especially when its pretzel bread

370 Common is tucked away in the cute beach town of Laguna.  Surrounded by other restaurants, bars and stores, it is unassuming and appears to be just another restaurant in the long list of restauarants.  Boy, could that not be more wrong.

a different take on calamari (and peppers)

Walking into 370 Common, there is a lot of hustle and bustle going on.  Date nights, family dinners, friends chatting loudly, and the wait staff running around to best help everyone.  On this occasion, my boyfriend and I had taken his visiting parents to try out a new place.  Casual, yet expensive enough for "special occasions," 370 was spot on for this family reunion.

my go to side dish - brussel sprouts

We ordered a TON of food.  I had to roll out the door when we were done.  But it was so tasty I couldn't control my appetite.  We started with the calamari and broccolini.  The broccoli was probably one of my favorite vegetable dishes.  Although small it had an egg, prosciutto (always a winner), and Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top - I highly recommend it.

scallops on peas - a "light dish"

I ordered the mussels and brussel sprouts.  The brussel sprouts were amazing.  Legitimately some of the best I have had.  The mussels were good, but I thought the other dishes stood out.  I am not a big fan of meatloaf, but when I say its a must order I mean it.  Its bacon wrapped meatloaf on top of a huge pile of mashed potatoes.  It is heaven...I still dream about it.

beer bathed mussels

We also ordered the scallops which were quite tasty and the pork loin and mac and cheese.  Everything was so decadent, so tasty, so mouth-watering good that I can't really choose a favorite dish.  I honestly don't know what I will do when I go back - order my beloved dishes or try something new???  The struggle is real people.

pork loin on a "bed" of mac n cheese

370 Common gets a 4.5/5 in my book.  I only ding it because I want a reason to go back and give it more stars.  Definitely a great staple to have in the OC.

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.

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

 

Gulfstream...heaven in my mouth.

I am a huge fan of the Hillstone Restaurant Group and quite frequently eat at Houston's, R+D Kitchen and Bandera.  So when I was asked to choose a place for my birthday dinner, it wasn't hard to pick Gulfstream - their "fish restaurant."  I am so glad I did because I now dream about this meal...

Halibut and slaw: seems minimal, but mashed potatoes are hiding under the fish

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.

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...

A cheap(er) trip to Naples

I recently visited Pizzeria Ortica in Costa Mesa for some good ol' pizza and Italian food.  I grew up on this type of food so I would arguably say I have a pretty good palate when it comes to Italian.  Pizzeria Ortica pleasantly surprised my expectations, but the service did not.

Fresh and local - the new trend

Places all around OC have been popping up that sell local, organic, fresh, trendy stuff.  True Foods is one of those places, but its actually fairly decent.  Its location at Fashion Island means it is upscale and more expensive than it needs to be, but it is a great place to take clients, co-workers, or those people you want to impress.  I took my parents...

literally you can order a giant bowl of veggies...and you have to pay for it

So OC...

Fig & Olive just opened its doors a few months ago, and it is already popping with life.  It has locations throughout the nation and has gotten raves reviews in Los Angeles.  But its having a bit of trouble in OC...
 

tartlet

Boats, brunch, booze, baseball, bread...

Oh hey there weekend! Thank goodness you have arrived.  After a long week I like to usually unwind on my lovely couch with all the trashy tv I missed during the week, and sometimes sleep through the commercials or boring parts and then eventually make it off the couch to grab food, only to return again.  Well this weekend, we both should try something different.  I will be finding my way to LA but you should check out these sights...

Newport Beach Boat Show - Do you like yachts? Did I really just ask that...Anyway, Newport thinks you do and is having a event to show them off.  Fifteen bucks for adults, at the Marina Village.

excuse me...who can afford these?

Baseball Exhibit at The Nixon Library.  America's Favorite pastime and your favorite president together at one location.  Just kidding, I like football.  But the Nixon library is supposed to be beautiful.  Wear your little league uniform and get in free.

photo cred: yelp

Wine lessons and tastings at Laguna Culinary Arts on Sunday.  For those wanting to learn about wine or just want to blow $200 on three classes, head to SoCo on Sunday April 8, 15, 22. $175 for all three classes.

National Grilled Cheese Month at Shuck.  I am sorry this is the most amazing thing I have ever heard.  Who doesn't like grilled cheeses!!!  Enough said.

Margarita flights...that's a thing apparently.

 Red O, the new swanky want to be Javier's, is now hosting Sunday brunch.  And you KNOW it includes Endless Bloody Marys, Tequila Sunrises and mimosas for just $20. I'm in.

Cocktails anyone?

I've blogged A LOT this week.  Maybe too much for your liking.  But one last post and I will leave you with a wonderful (hopefully rainy) weekend.

This Sunday starts the beginning of OC Cocktail week.  Yeah I write a lot about booze.  Sorry...wait no I'm not.  I'm young, don't have kids and like my booze.  The deal with OC Cocktail week is that for $20.14 you get cocktails paired with appetizers and small bites.  (See being safe with the munchies!)  For example: Wild Goose has a cocktail of your choice, a starter, and an entree for only $20!  To be honest, this might be even better than restaurant week! Whose up for happy hour???

Well look who made it to Restaurant Week...

...but then didn't order from the prixe-fix menu.  Oops.  But I am lactose intolerant and I think I have a shrimp allergy, so the options were slim.  However, I did have a wonderful time at Charlie Palmer.

Ladies who Lunch (and Gentlemen too)

There's nothing better than that mid-day break.  Not only do you get to stop working, but you get to stuff your face with some yummy goodness before that afternoon nap going back to work.  So when my co-workers took me to a place literally behind our building that was super tasty, it felt like I had entered heaven.  Food coma, and a short walk, it can't get better than that.