New Menu at Crow Bar and Kitchen

June 03, 2012

The Crow Bar and Kitchen in Corona del Mar just announced their new menu by James Beard nominated chef John Cuevas. The menu is a pleasure to read. It not only features their famous burgers but also gives history of the importance of local farms, and their beer list is hard to put down. For example, their guest keg Stone’s More Black than Brown IPA reads deep brown, a bit hazy, with tan foam, a powerful hop blend. Modest body with lingering bitter, drying end hints of roasted malt/chocolate. After reading that, how can you not want to wash down…

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STONEFIRE GRILL QUINOA SALADS ROCK!

May 06, 2012

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…

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PALM TERRACE ANY TIME!

May 04, 2012

Review by Sheryll Alexander Palm Terrace Restaurant and Lounge is an iconic fine dining spot in OC and for good reason. We recently enjoyed a delicious dinner with Island Hotel Newport Beach’s new executive chef, David Man, who also just happened to be rolling out his menu of what may become some “new” classics. We happily sat down in the restaurant’s relaxing tropical-inspired dining room and started with a refreshing housemade cocktail. (Don’t want to dine in such a formal atmosphere? You can get the same cocktails, wines and most menu items while chillaxing in the lounge.) Next, order one…

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TRY MIRROR WINES!

May 04, 2012

Review by Sheryll Alexander We love to review wines and especially vintages with a good story to tell as well as bold flavors and smooth finishes. So we were excited to taste test Mirror Wine, which just so happens to be the passion of former NFL player and now vintner Rick Mirer (pronounced like mirror hence the company name). Former Oakland Raider Rick Mirer founded Mirror Wine Company when he met Jeff Smith of Napa Valley’s Hourglass. Mirer was an Hourglass aficionado and Smith was a devoted Raider fan. The two football lovers formed a friendship. Then, the bromance became…

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TREAT MOTHER TO SOUTH COAST PLAZA!

May 03, 2012

Review by Joanne Tucker and Sheryll Alexander We were excited, as always, to be welcomed by Charlie Palmer South Coast Plaza at Bloomingdale’s for Sunday brunch. And this near nirvana food-and-drink experience got us to thinking about Mother’s Day Brunch. Here’s a list of South Coast Plaza brunches on Mom’s special day as well as a dish-by-dish review of Charlie Palmer’s ultimate make-your-own Bloody Mary brunch. Charlie Palmer Bloody Mary Brunch Review NYC- and Sonoma-based super star chef Charlie Palmer has brought his idea of a relaxing Sunday brunch to Costa Mesa ’s South Coast Plaza. Every Sunday afternoon --…

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