During Orange County Restaurant Week, I had the pleasure of joining two food-loving friends, Patty (My Foodie Page)  and Bobby (100 Eats, 100 Days) for lunch at the Silver Trumpet in the Wyndham Hotel, Costa Mesa. Other than my Travel Easts posts, most of my dining adventures are local to Orange County and I must say that all three of us came away from the Silver Trumpet 100% satisfied and very impressed with Executive Chef Robert Biebrich’s execution and creativity in realizing the farm-to-table vision for this first-rate hotel restaurant. The only thing that struck us as odd is that it seems to be a secret, that’s why the Silver Trumpet is This Week’s Obsession…

Lovely lakeside patio dining or, on this hot day, we chose the casual elegance of the dining room with its musically-themed bright, modern decor.

First Course:

Grilled Peach, Prosciutto, Arugula, Goat Cheese

Tomato, Watermelon, Basil Sabayon

Chilled Roasted Corn Soup

Main Course:

Lobster Pot au Feu

Grilled Scallops, Watercress, Oil-cured Tomatoes, Citrus Emulsion

Pan Roasted Chicken Breast, Wilted Spinach, Crispy Onions, Truffled Chicken Broth

 Dessert:

Kettle Corn Sundae

By the end of the afternoon, we owned the place!

(truthfully, we lingered and the staff prepared for a buy-out by clearing around us )

The Silver Trumpet’s close proximity to South Coast Plaza and the surrounding high-rise office buildings makes it a natural choice for business lunches or post shopping nosh. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner it’s also the perfect place for those power breakfast meetings or dinner with clients. Just steps away from Segerstrom Center for the Arts, lovers of the arts can enjoy their pre-fixe theatre menu.

Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar

3350 Avenue of the Arts

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

714.442.8593

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This Week’s Obsession… Once again, The Capital Grille entices us with their Generous Pour summer wine event where Master Sommelier George Miliotes has hand-selected a perfect summertime collection of nine highly rated wines from around the world. Whether you consider yourself a savvy oeniphile or simply a wine lover, at the end of the day (or week, if you practice restraint M-F ) we all appreciate a generous pour to melt away the rigors of daylight toil and lead us gently into the night.

As if more than the exemplary service and impressive cuisine that is the hallmark of The Capital Grille is required, from July 12th through September 4th guests can enjoy as many of the 9 world-class wines as you desire for  $25 with dinner during The Capital Grille’s Generous Pour Summer Wine Event. Let the pouring commence…

Don’t miss the event of the summer – The Generous Pour is a tasting experience that rivals all others! I was fortunate to be among those invited by our co-hosts Anita and Holly to the preview where Master Sommelier George Miliotes (pictured below with Anita) described the wines and mingled with guests and, of course, we were able to sample each of the wines which were expertly paired with bites from The Capital Grille’s menu.

Cheers to the weekend !

Photos courtesy of Albert Evangelista Photography.

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With consistently excellent food and service and a breathtaking view of the Santa Cruz pier and shoreline, Aquarius in Santa Cruz is This Week’s Obsession…

The cool and breezy interior is especially romantic at night when the moon casts its glow onto the sea and, in the summer, lights from the Boardwalk roller coaster shimmer in the distance.

The creative American coastal cuisine at Aquarius is inspired by fresh and local products and produce, including local sustainable seafood, complemented by a regional wine list. Aquarius is a proud supporter of FishWatch program, promoting sustainable seafood and clean oceans.

Pictured above are the Diver Scallops with Lobster Risotto and Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette. Twice seduced by the thought of perfectly seared delicate scallops in a bright Meyer Lemon vinaigrette and a creamy risotto with chunks of lobster; both times coming away fully satisfied with no regrets.

Lobster Rolls: fresh Maine Lobster salad on Parker House Rolls with potato crisps

Fortunately, with the Young Baker attending UC Santa Cruz, I have an excellent excuse to make a trip to the other Surf City  several times a year. After months of dining hall food, the Young Baker is famished and wants everything on the menu We both love seafood and agree on the Lobster Rolls and Dungeness Crab Wontons as appetizers. For her entree, she is ravenous for some good quality beef and has to go with the filet, described by our server as “melt-in-your-mouth” tender – it does not disappoint.

Dungeness Crab Wontons

Bacon-wrapped Filet with Shrimp and Bernaise Sauce

Aquarius

175 West Cliff Drive

Santa Cruz, CA  95060

Located adjacent to The Dream Inn, a Joie de Vivre Hotel

Happy 4th of July!

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Since The Young Baker is attending UC Santa Cruz, I figure I’ll be spending quite a bit of time there in the next four or five years and I’m thrilled that she landed in such a beautiful place, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and redwood forests in the midst of a eco-minded, artsy community. Naturally, I’ve been scoping out the local dining scene, from student favorites to fine dining.

This Week’s Obsession is student favorite Burger - where, you guessed it, nothing but burgers are on the menu, from grass-fed beef burgers to chicken, salmon, and vegetarian burgers. Pictured above: The Bada Bing meatball sliders with garlic (lots) fries.

Ingredients matter at Burger. Simply stated on their website: our food  is wholesome and  delicious. Though it can be challenging, we are committed to offering our guests an exceptionally flavorful, nutritionally superior product. As well as providing California grass fed beef, whenever possible, Burger Santa Cruz purchases produce and other products locally. In order to reduce waste and as an effort to keep more plastic out of the landfills, Burger Santa Cruz is packaging your food in 100% post consumer recycled boxes with 100% compostable cups, glasses and silverware.

BURGER

1520 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831.425.5300

A celebrity mug shot is your number.

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I am thankful for the beauty that exists in our world. For this week’s obsession, I offer you a glimpse of Italian sculptor Antonio Canova’s exquisite Cupid Awakening Psyche (1793) at the Louvre. Absolutely my favorite – it is love carved in stone.

According to myth, Cupid awakens Psyche from eternal slumber with a kiss.

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The Lime Truck (a Yelp winner at the OC Foodie Fest), Barcelona On the Go, and other trucks including Dan Dan BBQ, Taco Dawg, Komodo, Seabirds, Piaggio on Wheels, and Crepes Bonaparte gather at Teller and Michelson in Irvine every Wednesday from 11:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Have you found your favorite yet?

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I’ll be having a few of these this weekend! What’s your favorite margarita or summertime beverage?

P.S. Only two more weekends to enjoy some of these refreshing margaritas and Blues and BBQ at the Hyatt Regency Resort in Huntington Beach!!

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Post tags: Blues and BBQ, Hyatt Regency Resort Huntington Beach, Pete's Sunset Grille

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Breakfast Cake

(hover over photos for captions)

After judging the professional competition at  Cupcake Camp OC,  along with Elise, the Cupcake Activist and Tiffini from Yummy Cupcakes. I thought I might never desire another cupcake. But I was wrong… today I indulged in an adorable owl cupcake made of  delicious, dense chocolate cake with creamy, chocolate buttercream frosting that my daughter and her BFF made yesterday.

I wanted to congratulate the winners of Cupcake Camp OC in both the amateur and professional competitions. As well as, Crystal, who won the cupcake eating contest by polishing off 23 cupcakes in less than 2 minutes. And let’s not forget the reason for this event: with nearly 1000 people in attendance, 90 registered bakers, 5201 cupcakes, the organizers of this event raised $9,100 to help aid El Pozo, an organization that works to raise awareness and funds to stop human trafficking.

Judging is no cake walk –  it’s difficult having so many tastes and selecting a winner by considering taste, texture, and presentation. Fortunately, each competition had three categories:  Most Unique – Exotic Flavor/Ingredient, Most Orange County Inspired, and Most Childhood Inspired. The judges for the amateur competition had 52 cupcakes to taste! We had only 37.  I would have to agree with the Cupcake Activist that many of the amateur cupcakes were decorated better than some of the professional entries. We didn’t sample any of them because we had to save our taste buds and tummies for our judging.

AMATEUR COMPETITION

Most unique/exotic flavor or ingredient:

Sue Ann Molina — Ube (Purple Yam) and Macapuno (coconut) Cupcakes

Most OC
 inspired:

Stacie Chan, Hannah Wollmann, and Sadia Naqvi — In-N-Out burger Cupcakes

Most Childhood inspired:

Elaine Heisinger — Peanut Butter and Jelly cupcakes

In n' Out Burger cupcake

PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION

Most unique/exotic flavor or ingredient:

Sugar|Tart Desserterie — Chicken & Waffles Cupcakes

Most OC 
inspired:

Meringue Bake Shop — Orange Crush Cupcakes

Most Childhood inspired:

My Delight Cupcakery – Chocolate Sundae Smile Cupcakes

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Banana Blossom Salad at Xanh Bistro

Banana blossom, Vietnamese mint, sesame seeds, peanuts, shrimp and grilled pork served with lime and cilantro dressing.
Come back for the full post about Xanh Bistro and Chef Haley’s demo on how to make spring rolls tomorrow

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Sol Cocina’s LOBSTER & SHRIMP TACOS (each with a different salsa: one with mango habanero, one with pico de gallo and one with tomatillo (or pick your fave).

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Post tags: lobster tacos, Newport Beach, Sol Cocina

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