February 2015

Saturdays at the 4th Street Market

February 25, 2015February 24, 2015Leave a comment

Ever since visiting the Anaheim Packing House, I am obsessed with open dining complexes! When I heard about the new 4th Street Market in Santa Ana, I couldn’t wait to go! When I heard there was a Portola Coffee Lab there, I knew I had to go there, NOW!

Obviously, my first stop was Portola Coffee Lab. I ordered the Gaspar which is their version of a cortado. There is a reason that Portola has been chosen as Roaster of the Year. From the sourcing, to roasting, to brewing, everything is done with craft and care. Their goal is to serve only the utmost quality brewed beverages to their customers, and that they do! Click here to learn more: http://www.portolacoffeelab.com/index.html

It’s okay. You’re allowed to drool. This was the second reason I needed to rush here! Long story short, Wagyu Chuck is 1 of several food stands in the market from Jason Quinn, the culinary genius behind Playground and Dough Exchange. After seeing the ‘Double’ on Instagram, I knew that I had to give it a try. It was like In-N-Out’s Double Double on steroids. The meat was of the utmost quality and the over-the-top cheese and sauce were absolutely FANTASTIC! I have craved this burger every second of every day since taking my last bite.

INSIDER TIP: I will be going back for the $14 burger, which takes up a mysterious blank space on the menu. Rumor has it, it is THE Playground burger.

This fried chicken was easily the biggest surprise for me. This fried chicken could not have gotten more perfectly crisp on the outside and more perfectly moist on the inside. YUM YUM YUM! The first taste that hits the tongue is definitely cinnamon sweetness, but it’s immediately cut by the perfect combination of Southwestern spices. The coleslaw was perfectly sweet and acidic and a great accompaniment to the chicken.

Click here to learn more: http://4thstreetmarket.com/pfc/

This market has transformed Downtown Santa Ana and has given people a whole new reason to explore the burgeoning area. There are still several vendors that I need to try and I can’t wait to go back!

Click here to learn more about the 4th Street Market: http://4thstreetmarket.com/

Tastemade Time at Jist Cafe

February 17, 2015February 17, 2015Leave a comment

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to brunch by a fellow foodie! My friend Nitar works as the Community Manager for Tastemade, basically the coolest foodie app ever – think Yelp meets Youtube. I was in the mood for a sweet and savory brunch, so she suggested Jist Cafe in Little Tokyo. It’s safe to say that I am obsessed. From the outside, it looks like a little hole-in-the-wall, but the inside inside reveals a cute, light-filled room with casual tables and a register to order from. A small side door reveals a sizable dog-friendly patio, perfect for a more low-key Sunday brunch with friends. It feels like you are dining at a friend’s house, not a restaurant in the middle of Little Tokyo. Scroll and down to read more and Watch our Tastemade video!

We indulged in one of their signature dishes, the Chashu Hash Skillet. This is easily one of the best savory brunch items I’ve ever eaten. The marinated pork belly is served with perfectly crispy and diced breakfast potatoes and topped with two 6-minute eggs. The eggs. The perfectly cooked eggs – YUM! Everything is better with an egg on it, and it gave us a great ooey-gooey food shot in our video! If you need something to break up the rich flavor of the marinade, you can order a side of white rice with it.

I don’t take pancakes lightly. Every breakfast place makes them, but a lot of the time they are less than satisfying in either flavor or consistency. I was hesitant to try pancakes here for this reason, and I feel stupid for even questioning them. It was the last day they were offering their seasonal Pumpkin Spice pancakes, so obviously we had to try them before they were gone. O.M.G. If all of their seasonal pancakes taste this good, I can’t wait to come back and try them. They weren’t overly pumkpin-y or too sweet and had the perfect mix of spices to compliment the flavor.

Between Stumptown Coffee, the patio, and the delicious food, this place is my new favorite! I highly recommend planning your next Sunday brunch here!

For more information, visit http://jistcafe.com/.

To watch our Tastemade video, click here: https://www.tastemade.com/places/jist-cafe-116-judge-john-aiso-st-los-angeles-ca/1zzQ5nRDSdmSdRKd4V6fsg

Better than a Box of Chocolates

February 12, 2015February 10, 2015Leave a comment

I have a huge sweet tooth and holidays of any kind are a great excuse to indulge! Whether you’re showing your mom, bestie, or girlfriend some love, I have some sweet treat recommendations that are so much better than a box of chocolates!

1. Susie Cakes

With several locations all over California, these baked goods will remind you of baking with your grandma. This is the owner’s goal because these recipes are straight from her grandma’s kitchen! You will find cupcakes in all of the classic flavors, moist cookies, the most decadent cake slices you can imagine, and some nutty treats, as well.

2. Sidecar Doughnuts

Who doesn’t love doughnuts? There’s a reason that hoards of people gather outside of their OC location every Sunday morning. Their classic and seasonal doughnuts are all to die for! You have to show up early to get your pick of the lot, but it is totally worth it!

Expert tip: One of the best doughnuts is the Green Eggs and Ham, but they run out soon after opening, so get there early and come hungry!

3. Compartes Chocolatier

Ok, ok. I know I said that I would highlighting desserts that were better than a box of chocolates, but this box of chocolate truffles from Compartes is the absolute best of the best if you want to go the traditional route.