Dining
WE LOVE STARFISH LAGUNA TAKE OUT!
09.04.11
Review by Sheryll Alexander
Now that summer is over and weekday evenings seem to be exhausting, Starfish Laguna brings fine Asian fusion cuisine to your car door. We recently tried this fabulous take-out service by renowned Laguna restaurateur Nancy Wilhelm, who also runs Laguna's award-winning Tabu Grill.
Yes, our family thoroughly enjoyed a Starfish Laguna feast after a long, stressful day. Isn’t it amazing how some Thai-inspired food can perk up your spirits so?
We started our palates dancing with light-as-air, yet savory “ma po” tofu lettuce wraps. The kids loved the hearty Kobe beef sliders. The highlight of the appetizer course, however, was the creamy wok-fried mussels swimming in a delectable basil coconut curry broth (along with bell peppers, roasted garlic, micro leeks and crushed lemongrass).
We were also impressed with the wild mushroom garlic noodles (YUM!), “yu sang” eggplant (a stew-like entrée eaten with jasmine, brown or coconut rice) and curried pork satay skewers (also comes in chicken teriyaki, lemongrass filet or green curry chicken skewers).
The star of the meal for everyone around the kitchen table was the slow-cooked, five-spice baby back ribs. These fall-off-the-bone ribs were more spicy than sweet with just the right balance of crunchy bits, tender flesh and fatty goodness.
Starfish Laguna, 30832 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-9200, www.starfishlaguna.com.
Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California. Follow her! @sheryllalexande or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheryll-Alexander/252517508109644.
Dining
ZTEJAS LAUNCHES CHILE FEST MENU!
09.02.11
By Sheryll Alexander
Every September, we get excited about the annual "chile fest" menu at South Coast Plaza’s Z’Tejas. Held from Sept. 6-25, this year’s chile fest features eight chile-inspired dishes. Plus, $1 from each child fest entrée is donated to the Costa Mesa Fire Department’s Woman’s and Orphan’s Fund.
Start your meal with a frosty margarita and an order of chile-and-onion rings ($7.99). Next, order an entrée such a chicken tinga rellenos ($11.99/lunch and $12.99/dinner), jambalaya farfalle ($16.99/lunch and $18.99/dinner), prickly pear glazed meatballs ($10.99), Ancho trout ($17.99) or green chile carne guisada ($13.99). Lunch-only items include chile chicken salad ($12.99) and Corona pork enchiladas ($10.99).
Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill, South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-979-7469, www.ztejas.com.
Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California. Follow her! @sheryllalexande
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