Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

Pinot Provence — I’ve always been impressed with its exterior, its lights and sign, but never made it in to this fine French restaurant set within the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel.

Wow, its interior surpasses expectations — I did not know.

It’s stylish, romantic and sophisticated — Warmth and charm of Southern France, they tout.

A walking bridge (across Bristol) leads to the restaurant and hotel, if at South Coast Plaza.

If inside the Westin South Coast Plaza, Pinot Provence is at the end of this hallway.

It leads to the Bar, where we enjoyed Pinot Provence’s New Social Hour this day.

Social Hour is in the Pinot Provence Bar and on the Patio, Tuesday – Sunday, from 3-6PM.

Love the Trois Petites Bouchées Menu with $3, $6 and $9 bites.

Social Hour doesn’t include typical Happy Hour items — A few options are pictured.

Top down — Goat Cheese and Jalapeno Beignet and Bacon and Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates.

Grilled Shrimp with Chipotle Aioli (I think).

Lamb Sliders with Tzatziki Sauce and Feta — My favorite this time.  I want to try a few others.

Tater Tots with Cheddar Cheese Sauce.

They’re different — Crunchy on the outside and mashed inside, very delicate.  I like them.

Pinot Provence outdoor patio (above) and Westin gathering area in the hotel (below).

I need to be more social at Pinot Provence (especially), the Westin and South Coast Plaza.

THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF^® CELEBRATES NATIONAL COFFEE DAY WITH ITS SECOND ANNUAL CBTL^® TRADE UP YOUR CUP COFFEE MACHINE EXCHANGE ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 AT ANGELS STADIUM

Trade in any Coffeemaker for a new complimentary CBTL^® Americano Machine to create authentic Espresso, Coffee, Tea, and specialty beverages at the touch of a button

WHAT:  On Sunday, September 29, Coffee drinkers are invited to the Angels Stadium of Anaheim to celebrate National Coffee Day at Trade Up Your Cup, the second annual event hosted by CBTL^®, the Single Serve Beverage System by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf^®. Guests (13 years of age or older) can exchange any electric Coffeemaker with a cord, for a brand new CBTL^® Americano Machine (valued at $149.95, while supplies last). The first 250 people in attendance will also receive a free CBTL^® Milk Frother (valued at $49.99, while supplies last). Guests can also load-up on CBTL^® Espresso and Coffee Capsules with the one-day promotion of three 16-count capsule boxes available for $20. Last year’s inaugural event took over iconic Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood with overwhelming response. This year’s event, to be held at Angels Stadium of Anaheim in Orange County, is slated to bring in an even bigger crowd. To further celebrate National Coffee Day, bottomless Coffee will be served for guests in line from 6 a.m. – 8 a.m., before the event begins. Coffee-related games and other fun surprises will also be available for guests to enjoy throughout the event. Coffee machines collected during the event will be donated to Goodwill Enterprises to be redistributed across Southern California.

WHEN:  Sunday, September 29, 2013

8 a.m. – 2 p.m. (or until supplies last) — Gates open at 6 a.m. with bottomless Coffee

WHERE:  Angels Stadium of Anaheim — 2000 E Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806

Guest Entrances: Gene Autry and Orangewood entrances only

COST: Trade Up Your Cup is free and open to the public

CBTL^® Beverage Capsules will also be available for purchase

RULES:  Guests (13 years or older) can exchange any new or used electric Coffeemaker with a cord, for the CBTL^® Americano Machine. Exchange is limited to the CBTL^® Americano model available in black and valued at $149.95; limit one CBTL^® System per person while supplies last. The first 250 people will also receive a free CBTL^® Milk Frother (valued at $49.99, while supplies last). Vouchers for the exchange are only valid on Sunday, September 29, 2013.

ABOUT CBTL^®:

In 2010, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ^® launched the CBTL^® Single Serve Beverage System that allows consumers to make their favorite espresso, brewed coffee, tea and specialty beverages at home, at the touch of a button. With the CBTL® System, customers can recreate their favorite The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf^® authentic espresso, coffee, tea and specialty beverages at home—with just one touch of a button. The stylish CBTL^® System comes in a variety of machine models and colors, each featuring a twin pressure system that allows the machine to reach the high pressure needed to make authentic espresso and lower pressure for perfectly brewed coffee and tea. With its sleek Italian design based on the CAFFITALY SYSTEM technology and premium features, this multi-tasker is a welcome addition to any countertop. In addition to selling the system in The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ^® stores and online at CBTL.com, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ^® has teamed with Sensio Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of small kitchen appliances, to distribute the CBTL^® System in U.S. department stores, mass, discount and big box retailers as well as home shopping networks. For more information, please visit www.CBTL.com or www.facebook.com/CBTL.

Source: Press Release not written by me, but I do have an old Coffeemaker to replace.

The ten winning photographs in the Idaho Potato Recipe Photo Contest are now posted on the Idaho Potato Commission’s website here.  As previously reported, one of my ten entered photographs was chosen as a winner.  Pictured here is the Idaho Potato Vegetable Casserole Supreme, which didn’t win, but is our victor for flavor — Recipe and winning photo are here.

I concur with Julia — When asked the question above, I wonder… who else is here?!?

All my hard work paid off — I won at least (1) of (10) $500 prizes in Idaho Potato Commission’s Recipe Photo Contest.  I just received notification that my photo of the Idaho Potato, Jarlsberg Lite and Roasted Vegetable Terrine was chosen to represent the recipe on the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC’s) website.  Thank you!  I’ve previously posted about the contest and my participation in it here, here and here.  The pictured is not the actual winner chosen by the IPC.  It’s a similar photo that was taken for the contest, but not submitted.

Wow, I’m this week’s ‘Philly’s Best Fan’ aka winner of a Cheesesteak Sandwich and T-shirt, and now in the running for FREE Cheesesteak Sandwiches for a YEAR.  I’d sure love that.  You may enter too — Just upload a photo of yourself eating a Philly’s Best Sandwich.  Good luck all!

The La Palma Chicken Pie Shop Restaurant and Bakery has been in existence longer than I’ve been alive — Yelp reviews will tell you more.  I’m new to this old establishment.

I love the prices — They’re old school, like the waitresses who may be original too.

I’m told (and have read) that the Chicken Pie is the best item to order, so it’s what we had.

With Dinner, the Chicken Pie comes with Soup and Salad, a Roll and Dessert.

I got the Ranch Dressing, which isn’t good (tangy) and I’ve since read their Roquefort is best.

Dinner also comes with a choice of Potato — We got the Mashed Potatoes.  Gravy covers it all.

I like smothered Gravy — The Crust was still crunchy and has a good flavor and texture.

It is loaded with big pieces of real Chicken, dark and white — You can order it with all White Meat too.  I may do that next time, just to be on the safe side.  No Peas or Carrots are inside.

Peach Pie for me and Matt had the Chocolate Pudding (not pictured).

The interior is old too and filled with decorative Chickens and long-standing booths.

Is that a flower pot on Matt’s head and a Chicken on his shoulder whispering in his ear?

Come back, says the Chicken.

It’s also a Bakery, as identified — We were too stuffed to try anything.  Next time.

The Baked Chicken Pie Lunch ($5.00) and Dinner ($6.75) are cheap, satisfying meals.

If I’ve ever had Mrs. Knott’s Fried Chicken before, I don’t remember.  I should have, since I’ve probably been to Knott’s Berry Farm a hundred times.  I grew up nearby.  Most of the time there’s a long line and I don’t like long lines.  This day it was free and clear.  We walked right in the very day we resolved to stand in line for it — At Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

In one of several dining room areas — It’s fairly large inside and often full.

I came away thinking it could be the Hot Buttermilk Biscuits they stand in line for — WOW, they are good!  They’re warm and something special.  And I’m not one to get excited about Biscuits.

Soup and Salad is served with all Chicken meals — Mrs. Knott’s Famous Fried Chicken for us.

It also comes with the choice of Cabbage seasoned with Ham or Sweet Kernel Corn.

Though the Cabbage with Ham looks basic, it’s flavorful and rich — I’d get it again too.

We split a meal, like others often do, we’re told — It’s a lot of food for one.

Prices have changed in 70+ years — Today all is $16.99, and the same was only $0.85 in 1940.

We upgraded to all White Meat — It’s $3.59 more, perhaps $0.15 back in the day?!

We like the STAR with longevity too — Fried Chicken.  Okay, I’ll stand in line for all.

Shouldn’t they be offering Knott’s Jellies, Jams and Preserves?!  What’s up with the Smucker’s?

We took a short trip to Temecula to celebrate our engagement.  Thanks for the engagement gifts and money.  We didn’t expect anything and finally cashed a few checks sent over a month ago.  Sorry.  We were set to spend it on backyard lounge chairs, but couldn’t find one long and comfortable enough for Mr. 6’4″, then considered it towards a new dishwasher, until deciding to spend it on a spontaneous weekend of eating and exploration.  Thanks for the fun!

It started with Coffee, King’s Hawaiian Rolls and a Lottery Ticket from 7-Eleven in Fullerton.

Without any research, we stopped at various places of interest along the way and all day.

Once in Temecula, we started with a Mango Margarita at Rosa’s Cantina.

Where next?  We picked on a whim.  If it sounded good and had AC we were in.

One of our favorite stops was at Crush & Brew, where we sniffed and tasted Wine.

We liked #3 (above) best and contemplated buying a bottle, but wanted to stretch our bucks to try more places and things.  Crush & Brew also offers the largest Flat Breads we’ve seen.

We had the Greek Flat Bread, which filled us up good (and we were trying to save room).

We take a moment to thank you for this opportunity — On to more Temecula finds…

I’m not sure what Death Paste (above) was/is — We didn’t want any. 😉

Soro’s Mediterranean Grill was our next stop for Dolma (aka Dolmades) and Iced Tea.

Blackbird Tavern is below — It’s a large, super-cool, indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar.

What a great space they have — You wouldn’t know it from the front.

All this outside is hiding inside — Blackbird Tavern is the place I miss living next to the most.

I’m not sure what you call the toss-the-beanbag-game, but we played it — See it in flight?

I liked the starter (below) so much, I recreated it at home — See the recipe here.

It’s called Olives & Almonds on their menu.

Menus are inside album covers — I don’t know Lee Evans.  Also pictured is The Blackbird.

We finally scratched our scratcher and won nothing — No worries, it’s a great day.

All pictured above are located on or off Old Town Front Street in Old Town Temecula.

Stopped at PALA Casino with only $20 of our $250 designated towards hopeful multiplication.

It was instead hijacked from the bunch after a short time in play.  Adios.

On the road again… We bought Avocados off the side of the road.  I always want an Avocado.

On the way home, we stopped and walked around Oceanside — View from its pier on an overcast day.  The sun disappeared awhile, but do you see the giant bubble?  Some guy was making them.  Since we still had adventure money to spend, we planned to stop at The Beach House in Laguna Beach to exhaust the rest, but there was an hour wait and we didn’t want to.  Instead, all was saved for the next day’s escapades in the SOCO District of Fullerton.

We started at our favorite Tea Lounge — Tranquil.  Iced is always refreshing and flavorful.

Ended up at Joe’s No Limits! Bar & Grill — We sought to eat and drink on patios only.

Had ‘Joe’s Picks’ Sausage selection — I liked the Chicken & Jalapeno Sausage, primarily.

Though the menu doesn’t say, we were glad the above came with really good French Fries.

After Joe’s, we went to The Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Kitchen (below).

Cheers to more food and drinks on SOCO patios.

The Slidebar offers a long list of Opening Acts (they call ’em) aka Appetizers.

We had the Smothered Tots and Deep Fried Pickles — Well prepared and different.

And the Deep Fried Mac N’ Cheese — Not the healthiest options, but it just so happened.

Do you know where this heart is found?

It’s at Fullerton Train Station.  We considered eating there, but opted for Hopscotch Tavern.

We were down to our last few engagement-dollars and almost done eating.

On our final SOCO patio of the day — Hopscotch Tavern we had a shot of Tequila — Mezcal.

And Donuts with Lavender, a dessert special — I like the Hopscotch menu and will go back.

We appreciate the weekend journey — It was worth it all and so much more.

Smiling faces here. 🙂