seafood – Page 2

My Trip Down to Garden Grove and Sabroso! Mexican Grill

July 9, 2014July 8, 2014Leave a comment

I don’t know if Sublime ever came here on their “trips to Garden Grove,” but if not, they were definitely missing out. Sabroso! Mexican Grill is a hole in the wall in a strip mall off of Harbor Blvd. in Garden Grove. It is always crowded and always warm inside, so if you have little patience or body temperature control, this isn’t the place for you. If you don’t need a 5 star ambience and you love good food, then this is the place for you.

My mom enjoyed the Menudo and the Camarones al Mojo de Ajo. The menudo was a wonderful mix of spicy and meaty with a taste as if my grandma had made it for me. Unfortunately, I am allergic to shrimp, so I had to take my mom’s word that this was her favorite and only dish she will ever get here. The shrimp are cooked perfectly and they are served with delicious rice and beans. The beans are Peruano beans. No lard is used to prepare these beans, yet they taste so indulgent, rich, and creamy. Hands down the best beans I have ever had.

I loved the Ensenada Fish Burrito! The fish was fresh and the rice, beans, lettuce, cheese, and secret sauce were served in perfect ratios inside the heavenly tortilla. It will definitely be difficult for me to stray from this dish because I enjoyed it so much.

Last, but certainly not least, my father indulged in the Torta Milanesa. The breaded chicken and roasted pork were the perfect pair in this beautiful sandwich. It was one of the best tortas I have ever had outside of Mexico. The bread was perfectly crunchy and stuffed to the brim with fresh ingredients.

If you enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine, look no further than Sabroso! Mexican Grill! The food is amazing and every single member of the staff is genuinely friendly and welcoming. I cannot wait to return and try everything on the menu, but I am expecting the crowds to rise after July 11th, as they are scheduled to appear on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on the Food Network, so keep a look out for that!

Spring 2014 at Fifty Seven: Chef David Nayfeld

June 5, 2014June 4, 20141 Comment

Opened in late March, Fifty Seven took over the Heinz ’57 loading dock in the Arts District. Their concept revolves around a rotating roster of chefs that will take over the restaurant for a season to showcase their style and unique menu.
I had the pleasure of dining there last Sunday during Chef David Nayfeld‘s turn as Chef in Residence serving, what Fifty Seven described as, Progressive American cuisine. Once you hand over your car to the valet, the first thing you notice is the unique location and space. The copper and exposed brick throughout the restaurant is aesthetically pleasing and seems like it will transition well as the chefs and cuisine change with the seasons.

My dining companion and I opted for the Prix Fixe menu in which you could choose a Starter, Main, and a Dessert for $48. The first thing you notice is that all of the dishes are beautiful. I felt like I had a work of art in front of me, not food. I will be honest with you, the starters were kind of lost on me. While they were delicious, the separation and presentation of the various vegetables, dressings, and accoutrement were a bit overwhelming.
Next, I enjoyed the Heritage Pork served with Spatzle, mustard, beet, and apple. This main course was wonderful. If I could eat spatzle every day of my life, I would. I had only ever had savory spatzle at Suppenkuche in San Francisco, but this offered an entirely different take. The apple, cinnamon, and brown sugar complimented the pork beautifully.
Lastly, we enjoyed the Chocolate and Meyer Lemon desserts. The Chocolate came with salted caramel, wild rice, and Laphroaig 10 year, a single malt Scotch whisky. The consistency was that of a flourless chocolate cake; every bite was smooth and delicious. The Meyer Lemon offered a completely different take on dessert. The lemon and ricotta cake was extremely tart and served with a distinct basil sauce. Alone, the basil was strong on the palate, but with the cake, it provided a balanced and crisp flavor combination.

I felt honored to experience a menu curated by Chef David Nayfeld. He served as senior sous chef at Eleven Madison Park for 3 years. In his time there, the restaurant received three Michelin stars and six James Beard awards. Up to this point, I have only experienced the elevated New York dining scene by watching food related television shows or movies. Enjoying Chef Nayfeld’s dishes made me feel like I was dining at a dimly lit private table on Madison Avenue.

Chef Nayfeld concluded his time at Fifty Seven on June 4th. Chef Josh Drew will be stepping in as the next Chef in Residence at Fifty Seven starting tonight. This menu is said to focus on local seafood, meat, and produce with the summer season as the underlying tone for the dishes. It will be interesting to see how the decor and staff hold up in the midst of the seasonal shake-ups.

Don’t miss Chef Josh Drew while he is at Fifty Seven. Make your reservations, here.

*photos from Fifty Seven

Fish are Food, not Friends, at Fishing With Dynamite

May 27, 2014May 27, 2014Leave a comment

The South Bay is attempting, successfully I might add, to make a name for itself in the Los Angeles food scene. With restaurants like Little Sister and MB Post, both on this year’s 101 Best Restaurants List by Jonathan Gold, they are doing a good job of that. While this evolution is exciting, it’s a little weird to think about foodies traveling from Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles to come to the South Bay, my old stomping grounds, for dinner.

Making waves in this culinary movement is Fishing With Dynamite. Chef David LeFevre made his mark in Manhattan Beach with the popular as ever MB Post, which opened in 2011. Next came Fishing With Dynamite, a true reflection of Chef LeFevre’s travels and love of seafood. Upon entering, I was surprised at how small and dressy casual the space was. It had the perfect vibe and decor for the beach cities crowd. I came here after I read Jonathan Gold’s review highlighting the New Zealand snapper. Gold is always spot on with his selections and he did not lead me astray this time. Along with the delectable Hamachi and Crab claws, the Whole Fried New Zealand Thai Snapper was perfection. The combination of garlic, bok choy, ginger, and lime was heavenly and addicting. We ate and ate and ate until there was no longer a beautiful fried fish, but merely an empty plate of bones. Since we didn’t really indulge in the Raw Bar section of the menu, it was a treat to have the table next to ours order about 5-6 Raw Towers. It was a sight to see and something to look forward to for next time if the snapper isn’t a special for the evening. If it is, I guarantee you I will order nothing else.

Run, don’t walk, to Fishing With Dynamite if seafood is your game because New Zealand Snapper is the name.