Dining
STONEFIRE GRILL QUINOA SALADS ROCK!
05.06.12
Review by Joanne Tucker and Sheryll Alexander
When we headed to Stonefire Grill in Fountain Valley (and Irvine!) for lunch with grandma to test out the restaurant’s new quinoa salads, we were not expecting such a delicious experience. Stonefire Grill, however, delivered a memorable meal and lots of leftovers for a rather low price.
Quinoa has been given “super food” status because it is both high in protein and contains all nine essential amino acids. Harvested in the high altitudes os South America’s Andes Mountains, quinoa is also free of gluten and has no wheat. When steamed, quinoa has a creamy, al dente texture that also takes on the flavor of the dish (like arborio rice in risotto).
Stonefire Grill created three new dishes with quinoa including a simple side salad prepared in vegetable broth with a dash of lemon mint and green onions ($1,59 single, $2.99 small, $4.99 medium, $8.99 large).
We first tried the “healthy hybrid” ($7.99). This Mediterranean-style salad was creamy and tangy with its fluffy quinoa, garbanzo beans, red onion, green bell peppers, Kalamata olives, cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese, artichoke hearts and Dijon mustard vinaigrette.
The “keen green” ($8.99) salad was deemed our favorite dish. This blend of quinoa, fresh spinach leaves, pesto, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese and huge avocado slices was dreamy (and pairs well with your next meal of steak, shrimp or chicken!).
Stonefire Grill Pizzas
We kept our lunch way under $50 by ordering the two huge quinoa salads above and a large half-veggie, half-cheese pizza (plus one soda and two beers!). While $44 may sound like a lot for lunch, we ended up taking half of each salad home and ate them with two other meals.
When the pizza arrived piping hot atop a metallic stand, we gasped. It was literally still steaming, bubbling and popping. We let it cool for quite a few minutes and then devoured a piece of this rather thin pie, which has a super tangy tomato sauce base peppered with garden herbs.
Headed home with our two quinoa salads, we were happy to nibble on them later as a side dish with a barbecued steak for dinner. There was even enough left over the next day at lunch for an entrée-sized salad! We tossed the slightly dried quinoa with our homemade dressing (extra virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, fresh garlic) and the little gems plumped up perfectly for just one more healthy meal.
Stonefire Grill does quinoa right with its relatively inexpensive, healthy and super fresh salads.
Stonefire Grill, 18727 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, 714.968.8300; Stonefire Grill, 3966 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, 949.777.1177
Mother-daughter writing team Joanne Tucker and Sheryll Alexander run a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California.
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 12.20.24 – The Huntington Holiday House: A Festive Winter Wonderland by the Beach!
- 12.19.24 – Four Days Left to Experience The Nutcracker Magic!
- 12.18.24 – Studs Now Open at Irvine Spectrum Center: Your Earscaping® Destination!
- 12.17.24 – Breakfast Republic After Dark: Costa Mesa’s New Evening Hotspot
- 12.17.24 – Celebrate Christmas Eve at Darkroom with Haus of Prime Rib
- 12.16.24 – Traditional Christmas Dinner Made Easy with The Meat Cellar’s To-Go Offerings
- 12.16.24 – Dreamers Market at Anaheim Packing District
- 12.11.24 – 714 Holiday Market at Anaheim Packing District
- 12.11.24 – Warson Wines: Crafted with Passion and Precision
- 12.10.24 – Elevating the Art of Cocktails: SOCIAL Kitchen + Craft Bar Unveils a Bold New Menu
- 12.08.24 – Celebrate the Holidays with Polly’s Pies’ Prime Rib Specials!
- 12.07.24 – Fermentation Farm Expands to San Juan Capistrano – Where Wellness and Flavor Thrive
- 12.06.24 – Your Invitation to Radiance: Aesthetic Event with Dr. Seify
- 12.06.24 – Cannery Artist Collective Holiday Open Studios with Special Guest Kathryn M. Ireland
- 12.04.24 – Experience the Magic of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade at Post 291!
- 12.03.24 – Descanso Restaurant’s Pozole for a Cause: Supporting Local Communities This Holiday Season
- 12.01.24 – Born in OC: Book Signing & Celebration of Local Visionaries
- 12.01.24 – Don’t Miss the 2024 Oats Cashmere Warehouse Sale in Costa Mesa!
- 11.29.24 – $25 Off OC Restaurant Week VIP Tickets – Black Friday & Cyber Monday
- 11.29.24 – Experience the Magic of A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory
More Daily Doses
- 12.20.24 – Restored Crystal Cove Cottages Now Open for Online Reservations
- 12.16.24 – Molly O’Neil Opens Luxury Design Studio and Home Decor Shop in Costa Mesa
- 12.16.24 – River Street Marketplace Welcomes First Wave of Shops and Eateries to San Juan Capistrano
- 12.16.24 – Celebrate the Season in Style at RJB Restaurants’ Coastal Favorites
- 12.11.24 – Mercado Mesa: A New Culinary Experience at Paseo 17
- 12.10.24 – Bar Becky Brings Italian-American Innovation to Long Beach Exchange
- 12.08.24 – The Lido Theater’s 12 Days of Christmas Movies: December 11–23, 2024
- 12.06.24 – Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade: 116 Years of Holiday Magic, Lights, and Cheer
- 12.04.24 – Celebrate 10 Years of Holiday Magic at Winter Fest OC!
- 12.02.24 – Exclusive Holiday Event: Beauty, Raffles, and More
- 11.29.24 – Festive Fun at Pete’s Christmas Vacation at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach!
- 11.26.24 – Newport Dunes’ 34th Annual Lighting of the Bay: Holiday Magic!
- 11.22.24 – Celebrate Thanksgiving in Style at South Coast Plaza
- 11.22.24 – Discover Holiday Magic at Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy in Laguna Beach
- 11.20.24 – Festive Holiday Event & Nightly Light Show at The District at Tustin Legacy!
- 11.18.24 – Holiday Magic with the LA Master Chorale: Festival of Carols at Musco Center
- 11.15.24 – The Lido Theater Launches Café Pop-Up Experience
- 11.13.24 – Crews Quarters Moves to Via Lido Plaza: Discover the New Location!
- 11.06.24 – Chefsgiving Culinary Celebration For a Cause at Pendry Newport Beach
- 11.04.24 – California Wine Festival Returns to Huntington Beach
