ZTEJAS LAUNCHES CHILE FEST MENU!

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