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Orange County Restaurant Week 2019 Returns March 3 – 9, 2019

February 28, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The 2019 Orange County Restaurant Week makes its return Sunday, March 3 through Saturday, March 9 with more than 150 restaurants participating in the weeklong event. Restaurants will offer prix-fixe menus within the following price categories: lunch for $10, $15 or $20, and dinner for $20, $30, $40 or $50. Participants involved are listed online at www.OCRestaurantWeek.com.

With the number of participating restaurants, there’s something for everyone from casual and family-friendly establishments, to upscale and fine dining. The restaurants will be offering a special three-course menu, many with a cocktail or signature item at no additional charge.

This year, the Cocktails of Restaurant Week will be highlighted to complete dining experiences. Many participating restaurants will be showcasing a special OC Restaurant Week cocktail for $11 (in honor of 11 years of OC Restaurant Week), featuring Chambord, Ketel One, Maker’s Mark and Hornitos.

Take a look at the varied options being offered this year:

Breakfast-For-Dinner Option: http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/breakfast-for-dinner.html

Cocktails of Restaurant Week: http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/cocktails-of-restaurant-week.html

Family Friendly Dining:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/family-friendly.html

Vegetarian Dining:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/vegetarian-dining.html

Date Night:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/date-night.html

Gluten-Free Dining:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/gluten-free.html

Girls Night Out:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/girls-night-out-.html

California Restaurant Month: Newport Beach Restaurant Week 2019

January 13, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

January is California’s Restaurant Month, a celebration of American farm-to-table cuisine, and Newport Beach shares its region’s top highlights. Newport Beach Restaurant Week returns for its 13th year from January 14-27 for two weeks filled with the best cuisine!

This 14-day dining event showcases Newport Beach as Orange County’s premier dining destination, offering a wide variety of culinary experiences. Participating restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus with lunches available for just $10 – $25, and dinners for $20 – $50.

Top restaurants participating in this year’s acclaimed event include local favourites like Moulin, Olea, Farmhouse, Nobu, and more. Read more about these palate pleasers below!

Moulin

Committed to delivering an authentic French experience, Moulin is filled with the smell of fresh-baked pastries, the taste of rich wine, and the sound of people speaking French throughout the bistro.

This celebrated restaurant, owned by French chef Laurent Vrignaud, has two locations in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, with a third location slated to open in 2019 in San Clemente. The innovative Chef Vrignaud also plans to open an antique store adjacent to the Newport restaurant.

Olea

Newly opened in 2018 and the talk of the town in Newport Beach, this restaurant continues to receive only rave reviews from locals.

Named for a genus of trees that flourish in tropical regions, Olea offers a European twist on Napa-inspired spirits and cuisine, with dishes like crispy Jidori chicken schnitzel with wild mushrooms. Restauranteur Russ Bendel has plans to expand his collection of restaurants in 2019.

Farmhouse

Farm to fork comes to life in this iconic Newport Beach setting at Roger’s Gardens. The gorgeous, scenic background is paired with incredible cuisine, like the grilled Dijon soy glazed pork tenderloin and the house cured salmon with grilled pumpernickel bread.

Chef and owner Rich Mead has been developing relationships for more than 20 years with local farmers markets to source the freshest ingredients.

Beachcomber

After nearly two decades, Crystal Cove renovations are set to begin again this month, restoring the historic Crystal Cove State Park cottages where the Beachcomber Café is located.

This quaint, beachy space boasts oceanside views and a perfect outdoor space, accompanied by delectable dishes like blue crab stuffed salmon and handcrafted cocktails like the “luscious lemonade.”

Nobu

This famous global sushi bar opened its Newport Beach location in 2017 under the direction of Executive Chef Frank Gorriceta, who spent 14 years cooking under the guidance of famed chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa and has since been at Nobu for 11 years.

With items like squid pasta and prime filet with pomegranate teriyaki on the menu, it’s no wonder why this chain is so popular.

Taco Rose

The talented chefs at Taco Rosa use natural ingredients, spices, and flavours passed down through generations to create delicious dishes. Fused with contemporary techniques and innovations, these foods come from a variety of regions throughout Mexico.

All of the menu items are prepared using non-GMO corn, responsibly sourced seafood, greens from local organic farmers, and humanely-raised meats.

Other 2019 Newport Beach foodie events:

August 17-18 2019: Pacific Wine & Food Classic offering guests the chance to taste vibrant summer-inspired cuisine and cocktails from the best local chefs.
August 2019: 11^th annual Lobsterfest where diners can fill up on food and fun while also raising funds for charity.
October 2019: Newport Beach Wine & Food is one of the most exclusive epicurean events featuring dinners with celebrity chefs and tastings from 40 top restaurants.

Orange County Soft Serve: Mr Matcha

September 28, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

During a Southern California trip with my family this past summer, I visited Mr Matcha, a local dessert shop known for serving organic matcha soft serve. They have three locations in SoCal (Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Alhambra). I went to the one in Santa Ana, Orange County on the way back to Los Angeles from San Diego.

Mr. Matcha Menu

Mr Matcha is best known for their soft serve in matcha or black sesame flavours. They also serve a sundae and a variety of hot and cold drinks (teas, lattes). Aside from matcha, they also have drinks in houjicha (roasted tea) and black tea flavours.

Interior

The interior of Mr Matcha was minimal with the ordering counter/preparation area occupying most of the space. There is a counter by the window with some stools but no dining tables inside.

There is a cute neon sign that says, “We’re a matcha made in heaven.” Mr Matcha has more of a SoCal vibe rather than traditional Japanese.

What I Tried

I went with the Matcha Soft Serve ($5) in a black charcoal cone. The photo I have below does not do justice to the perfect swirl I actually received. Unfortunately, I collided with another girl who was trying to take an Instagram-worthy photo and that is why the tip of the cone is deformed in my photo!

I thought the matcha flavour was excellent and it seemed of a high quality grade. There was a nice, slight bitter aftertaste which balanced with the sweetness of the soft serve. The waffle cone was very sturdy and held the soft serve well (ie, no leakage).

My husband was surprised, like other people who have commented the same thing on Yelp, that the soft serve was hollow through the middle. I thought it was acceptable because you can’t get that pretty swirl if you try to fill it in!

Overall Impression of Mr Matcha

I thought the Matcha soft serve cone was pretty good at Mr Matcha and would recommend it. Next time, I’ll have to be more careful around other people who are also trying to take that perfect Instagram photo! Rating: 4/5

Mr Matcha
Address: 305-105 E 4th Street, Santa Ana, CA
Website: www.gomrmatcha.com

How to Have a Beercation in San Diego

September 26, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Did you know that San Diego is the Craft Beer Capital of America? From the most discerning aficionados to craft beer newbies, San Diego is home to 150+ breweries, countless beer bars, innovative tasting rooms and a unique beer culture. Here are some ideas on how to have a beercation in San Diego.

How to Have a Beercation in San Diego: Breweries, Tours and Events

Credit: Visit California

San Diego Beer Week

San Diego welcomes visitors to raise a pint and toast the milestone 10th anniversary of San Diego Beer Week, November 2-11, 2018. Presented by the San Diego Brewers Guild, this premier, annual celebration showcases beers from more than 130 local craft breweries at events held throughout San Diego County at participating breweries, bars, restaurants and more. One of the country’s biggest beer weeks, San Diego Beer Week is expanding Beer Week 2018 by welcoming breweries from neighboring Tijuana and Baja, Mexico, paying homage to the Cali-Baja culture that makes San Diego a unique destination.

Credit: San Diego Beer Week

Stay & Drink

Navigating the region’s 150+ breweries requires a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, many of San Diego’s luxury hotels serve up both comfy rooms and tasty brews.

Located in the heart of downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter, the historic landmark U.S. GRANT Hotel presents Cask Ale Nights every Friday at 4 p.m. when Cicerone Jeff Josenhans and Chef de Bar Cory Alberto partner with a local brewery to curate a deliciously unique brew of the week finished in The U.S. GRANT cask. Past collaborations have included Mission Brewery Kolsch infused with Douglas fir and Saaz hops, Iron Fist Brewing Spice of Life Bier de Garde with autumn spice and Acoustic Ales Groupie Belgian Ale with chocolate fudge.

Credit: US Grant Hotel

The bayfront Grand Hyatt taps into San Diego’s craft scene with the launch of Brew30 , a modern craft beer gastropub showcasing the city’s finest breweries, from its taps to elevated bar fare. True to its name, Brew30 features 30 rotating taps, 28 of which are dedicated to local craft breweries. Food inspired by local brews includes pretzel bites with Stone West Coast IPA cheese dip and Texas smoked brisket with Julian Hard Cider BBQ sauce. Brew30 also partners with local breweries to create exclusive, limited-edition ales like Oceans30 IPA, a mild hop-forward IPA with tropical fruit, citrus, spice and pine flavor, created in collaboration with Mother Earth Brewery.

Credit: Grand Hyatt

Guests of the stylish Pendry San Diego can go on a San Diego craft brewery tour from their bar stool at Nason’s Beer Hall. Nason’s serves two dozen local craft beers on tap, as well as globally-inspired comfort food, live local music on Thursdays and Fridays and vintage bar games like beer pong, giant Jenga and table shuffleboard. For beer connoisseurs traveling with their furry four-legged friends, Nason’s hosts a daily Pints with Pups on the patio where guests can fetch a beer plus dog treats for Fido.

Pendry San Diego

Get informed with a Beer App

Pouring over San Diego’s craft beer scene can seem a little overwhelming, but thanks to the San Diego Brewers Guild’s official new “SD Beer” mobile app (available for iOS and Android), all the info visitors need is just a tap and a swipe away. The definitive digital pocket guide features an easy-to-use interactive map of breweries, list of events and profiles of all Brewers Guild brewery and allied retail members.

Credit: SanDiego.org

Discover BEERology

Discover how agriculture, cities, writing and religion all have ties to ancient craft brewing at the fascinating BEERology exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Man in Balboa Park. Sponsored by several San Diego breweries, the exhibit explores ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Chinese, and even beer-loving headhunters from the Amazon that perfected the brewing arts in interesting, and even strange, ways. Visitors can learn fascinating stories and see phenomenal artifacts that reveal the links between beer and culture, such as the solid gold beer cup of an Inca king.

Credit: San Diego Museum of Man

Go on a Tour

Explore the sudsier side of San Diego on customized private or public tours, featuring a driver and tour guide that picks up guests at their hotels. A fun and safe way to visit San Diego’s breweries, companies like Brew Hop, Brewery Tours of San Diego and San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tour do all the driving while visitors partake in all the beer tasting.

Notable tours include Brew Hop’s chauffeured luxury transportation and San Diego’s only Sailing and Brewery Tasting Tour; Brewery Tours of San Diego’s food pairings and souvenir glasses, and San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tour’s popular Beer Train Trolley Tour.

Credit: San Diego Beer and Wine Tours

A few handy brewery tour tips: Stay hydrated. It’s recommended to drink at least 16 oz. of water at each stop. And don’t rush. Time and hydration are the two best defenses against overindulgence. For those who opt to go on self-guided tours, brewery hopping is safe, easy and convenient with taxis or Uber and Lyft ridesharing; drivers are available day and night throughout San Diego County.

Relaxation with Beer

Visitors can tap into spiritual well-being and inner peace at San Diego breweries with Hoppy Yoga, offering yoga sessions for all levels at a featured brewery followed by an optional beer social. The cost is $20 per person and includes a tasting flight or pint. Money saving packages are available, including the 2-pack ($35) and 6-pack ($90).

Credit: Hoppy Yoga

Every Friday night (7:30-10 p.m.), Flagship Cruises hosts a Hops on the Harbor craft beer dinner cruise featuring a different San Diego brewery each month. Chef Brian Gist collaborates with local brewers to create an exciting dinner menu that pairs perfectly with the distinctive flavors of each brewer’s beer selections. Cruise highlights include craft beer flights by the featured brewery, gourmet food stations, meet and greet with brewers, dancing, prize giveaways and spectacular panoramic views of San Diego Bay.

Credit: Flagship Cruises

How to Book & Save with Expedia Add-on Advantage

August 1, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Thank you Expedia for sponsoring this post. Book your travel on Expedia.ca to save with the Add-On Advantage!

Hey everyone! I’m back from my summer trip to Los Angeles and San Diego in partnership with Expedia.ca and I’m excited to share with you some travel planning tips and tricks. Have you heard of the Expedia Add-On Advantage program? It’s a way to book with ease, flexibility and savings. You can get discounted hotel rates when you add on to your existing trip and it’s exclusively for Expedia travelers. For this trip, I used the Expedia Add-on Advantage to score great savings on hotels. Read on to find out how I did it.

HOW EXPEDIA ADD-ON ADVANTAGE WORKS

Begin by shopping for your flight, car or package on Expedia.ca.
Hotel savings (of up to 50% on Expedia.ca) on select properties are instantly unlocked up until the start of your trip.
The hotel stay needs to occur within the travel dates of the flight, car or package purchase.
The hotel stay does not have to be in the same destination as the flight, car or package purchase – i.e. If a traveler books a return flight to London for three weeks, he or she can book a Paris hotel deal for that trip using the Expedia Add-On Advantage.
When you’re ready to shop, look for hotels with the Add-On badge. The discount will already be reflected in the lower price. Simply book and save.

My experience with Expedia Add-on Advantage

After booking my flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles on Expedia.ca, I didn’t book my hotel accommodations right away. This was great because Expedia Add-On Advantage lets you take the time you need to research the perfect hotel at the perfect price. However, the hotel booking needs to be made before the start of the trip because that is when the unlocked hotel discounts expire.

Just a few days before the trip, I searched for hotels in Los Angeles and San Diego and the ones that were part of the Expedia Add-on Advantage were identified with the Add-on Badge (highlighted in yellow).

With the Add-on Advantage, I received a 6% discount on our stay at America’s Best Value Inn & Suites.

For Chula Vista Inn, the discount was already reflected in the lower price.

Some highlights of the trip including trying these vegan, 3D popsicles in Santa Monica.

Visiting Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, 90210 and doing some window shopping.

Visiting LEGOLAND and embarking on a real submarine at Deep Sea Adventure.

Strolling through Balboa Park in San Diego in the evening.

It was wonderful to have incurred savings on hotel stays through the Expedia.ca Add-on Advantage. To find out more, visit Expedia.ca.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Pretty Woman Filming Locations on Rodeo Drive

July 29, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

One of my favourite Hollywood on-screen couples is Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. So when I visited Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills last week, I made it a point to visit some of the filming locations for Pretty Woman.

Regent Beverly Wilshire

The Regent Beverly Wilshire at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard (Wilshire and Rodeo Drive) is the luxurious hotel where Edward and Vivian stayed. The exterior and the lobby of the hotel were featured in the movie but the rooms were a set built at the Disney Studio in Burbank.

9500 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills
CA 90212

Giorgio Beverly Hills

Giorgio Beverly Hills at 273 Rodeo Drive is the first luxury boutique to be founded on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It is also where Vivian was able to get that stunning red cocktail dress for dinner. The Giorgio Beverly Hills brand was sold to Avon in the 80s and the store’s name was changed to Fred Hayman Beverly Hills. 273 Rodeo Drive is now a branch of Louis Vuitton, but Fred Hayman Beverly Hills has a smaller boutique nearby.

273 North Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills
CA 90210

Donald Trump Walk of Fame Star Vandalized

July 29, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

During my trip to Los Angeles last week, I revisited Hollywood Boulevard and took a stroll along Hollywood Walk of Fame. Just outside Hollywood and Highland Center at 6803 Hollywood Boulevard was Donald’s Trump Hollywood Walk of Fame star which he received in 2007 for his reality TV series, NBC’s The Apprentice. The star has been noted to have received negative attention since Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. As I passed by the star, I witnessed first hand the negative attention the star received as a man aggressively scuffed his shoes against the star. Here’s a photo of it as the man stood to analyze the amount of damage he did. Trump’s star certainly looked like the most damaged star along Hollywood Boulevard.

I’m putting up this post as I find it interesting (though not surprising) that a few days after I took this photo someone had taken a pickax and smashed Trump’s Walk of Fame star. Check out this video from TMZ which shows the man going to town on it. According to TMZ, no one tried to stop the man (who would approach a man swinging a pickax?) and the man later surrendered.

Some have reported this to be “copycat” attack because the star was previously damaged by a man with a sledgehammer in 2016. It was interesting to have seen Trump’s star intact for a brief moment during my trip.

BREAKING! President Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was just destroyed. We’re following up on #2NEWSAM. pic.twitter.com/qiad6yIMCn

— Ron Bird (@KUTVRon) July 25, 2018

LEGOLAND California Deep Sea Adventure [Review]

July 28, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Earlier this month, LEGOLAND California unveiled their widely anticipated and newest attraction: Deep Sea Adventure. In this 4-minute ride, guests embark on a real 22,000-pound submarine through a 350,000-gallon aquarium where they’ll go underwater to discover a world filled with 2,000 real sea animals including sharks, rays and tropical fish. On our trip to LA/San Diego last week, my family and I had the opportunity to visit LEGOLAND and experience this latest ride at the park.

Disclosure: I visited LEGOLAND as media where my admission was complimentary. Opinions are my own.

The lineup was about a half and hour long but we were kept cool in the hot weather with some umbrellas. Closer to the entrance, the line becomes sort of a loop and in the middle is a small play area for kids to be entertained.

When we got inside, we received a “mission” delivered to us by a 3-foot-tall LEGO diver whose face, with the help of a projector screen, is animated as he gives instructions.

The mission entailed using the interactive touchscreens at each porthole inside the sub to help the LEGO minifigure dive team identify LEGO treasures like gems, pearls, gold coins and more. Guests are to match the treasure picture on the screen when they see it in the deep. You can reach one of three levels during each ride: Junior, Senior and Master Explorer.

One slightly confusing aspect of the ride is that the submarines don’t actually stop for you to get embark. You need to get onto the moving submarines and immediately descend a short flight of stairs to the seating area.

Another interesting aspect is that the submarine isn’t actually fully submerged in water. The bottom half is underwater and that is where you get to see through the portholes.

While the capacity of the submarine is 12 people, ours had just had 6 so it was quite cozy and comfortable inside. Each person has his or her own touchscreen to play the game.

As we passed through the waters, we saw different LEGO treasures. In terms of wildlife, I saw various fish and a stingray.

The admission to Deep Sea Adventure is included in your ticket to LEGOLAND. Riders under 52″ may only ride with a supervising companion at least 14 years old and 52″ tall.

Overall, we enjoyed the Deep Sea Adventure ride albeit it was too short (as always!). I would definitely recommend giving this new attraction at LEGOLAND California a try.

To find out about how to buy discount LEGOLAND California tickets, visit here.

LEGOLAND DEEP SEA ADVENTURE OVERVIEW

Length of ride: 4 minutes
Number of passengers per submarine: 12
Weight of submarine: 22,000 pounds
Tank size: 300,000 gallons
Animal species: Eventually 2,000, including Blacktip Reef Sharks, Southern and Cownose Stingrays, Blue-lined Seaperch, Bigscale Soliderfish, and Foxface Rabbitfish.
Underwater treasurers: crown, pearl, sword, portrait art, treasure chest, six gems

Reference:

Jack in the Box New Triple Cut Premium Burger

July 28, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Last month, Jack in the Box introduced Triple Cut Premium Burgers to the menu for a limited time at participating locations. The Triple Cut Premium Burgers feature a special patty with a custom blend of three cuts of beef: sirloin, chuck and brisket. They are available in two varieties: Classic Bacon and Manchego Cheese & Lemon Aioli.

During my trip to San Diego, I stumbled upon a Jack-in-the-box and decided to give the Triple Cut Classic Bacon Burger a try. It features the tri-blend patty (sirloin, chuck and brisket), bacon, two slices of American cheese and mayo on a brioche bun. The Classic Bacon Burger is $4.99 USD on its own or $7.09 USD as a small combo.

At first bite, I found the burger to be very tasty! I can’t recall a better tasting burger in recent times that I have had at a fast food chain. The special patty certainly had lots of flavour and is much better than bland beef patties I have had from fast food restaurants. The bacon was well-executed being very crispy. The brioche bun was also very good: light, fluffy and buttery.

In terms of nutritional information, the Triple Cut Classic Bacon has 960 calories, 71 grams of fat, 1390 mg of sodium, 40 grams of carbs and 40 grams of protein.

Overall Impression

I would definitely recommend the Classic Bacon Triple Cut Premium Burger. It’s a simple burger that delivers in terms of taste and value. The blended patty is definitely worth a try. Rating: 4.5/5

How to Buy Legoland California Discount Tickets

July 27, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

If you’re planning to visit Legoland California, there is a way to save money by buying discount tickets. I recently discovered Undercovertourist.com, an authorized online seller of discount Disney tickets, Disney hotels, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, ski vacations and more. Here’s how you can buy Legoland California discount tickets using Undercover Tourist.

Disclosure: The links below are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up. Thanks for the support!

Different LEGOLAND Ticket Types

If you don’t know already, LEGOLAND California consists of three ticketed portions: the regular LEGOLAND part, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and the Water Park.

There are three ticket types that I am going to be comparing: 1-Day LEGOLAND California Ticket; 1-Day LEGOLAND California & SEA LIFE Aquarium + 2nd Day Free; and 1-Day LEGOLAND California Resort Hopper + 2nd Day Free.

Price Comparison

As a point of reference, I’m going to use today’s date (July 27, 2018) to showcase the price comparisons between Undercover Tourist and the official Legoland website. Below are screenshots of the ticket prices. Scroll below for an analysis of the savings.

Undercover Tourist

LEGOLAND Official

Price Comparisons for Adult (13+)

Using Undercover Tourist, you can save between 21 % – 23% depending on the ticket type. To see the ticket pricing, you need to go to Undercover Tourist > Discount Tickets > San Diego > Legoland Calfornia

Ticket Type (Adult, 13+)	UnderCover Tourist	LEGOLAND Official	Savings ($,%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California Ticket	$86.30	$109	$22.70 (21%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California & SEA LIFE Aquarium + 2nd Day Free	$95.99	$125	$29.01 (23%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California Resort Hopper + 2nd Day Free	$100.91	$130	$29.09 (22%)

Price Comparisons for Child

Using Undercover Tourist, you can save between 21 % – 23% depending on the ticket type.

Ticket Type (Adult, 13+)	UnderCover Tourist	LEGOLAND Official	Savings ($,%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California Ticket	$81.07	$103	$21.93 (21%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California & SEA LIFE Aquarium + 2nd Day Free	$91.06	$119	$27.94 (23%)
1-Day LEGOLAND California Resort Hopper + 2nd Day Free	$95.99	$122	$26.01 (21%)

As a note, you can upgrade any ticket for the SEA LIFE Aquarium and/or the Water Park. The upgrades happen at the LEGOLAND door. For SEA Life, the upgrade at is $22 each. For the Water Park, the upgrade is $30. However, you save more if you don’t upgrade at the door and buy the appropriate ticket ahead of time.

Using Undercover Tourist will help you save around 22% for your ticket to LEGOLAND California. Hopefully, this article has helped you in saving on your next trip!