Dining

Hidden treasures of the sea
11.12.09
Local foodies—from Chowhound to OC Weekly’s Edwin Goei—have quietly been hailing Mariscos Puerto Esperanza in Orange as one of the best Mexican seafood restaurants around. The family-owned eatery is hidden in a strip plaza and may be a bit hard to find (it’s behind the Chevron gas station), but once you find it, you’ll be rewarded with a bounty of deliciousness from the sea: Grilled rock lobsters in a smoky chipotle sauce, marinated whole striped bass that’s slowly grilled to perfection, calamari tacos, and another must-try: the camarones azados, grilled shrimp slathered in a delectable citrus mustard sauce.
Mariscos Puerto Esperanza is located at 1724 N. Tustin St. in Orange.
714.998.3599
Hours:
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday
11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
www.mariscospuertoesperanza.com
Blog

Chocolate Love!
11.10.09
Local chocoholics, I have the best news for you since Tracey Downey moved to Xan Confections. C.C. Brown’s Hot Fudge Sauce (est.1906 and reportedly the country’s first chocolate sauce) is now available online or at the Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. It took Clarence Clifton Brown two decades to perfect (you have to love that kind of dedication/obsession). A long celebrity fan base includes icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Bob Hope, John Travolta, Michael J. Fox, and Phil Collins. Back in the day, long lines formed at C.C. Brown’s Hollywood Boulevard ice cream shop near Grauman’s (now Mann’s) Chinese Theater. It costs $7.50 per 10-ounce jar, or online $30 per case (four jars), making it a perfect gourmet gift for holiday giving. 3801 E. Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. 949.760.0331.
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