Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

IHOP® RESTAURANTS THANK VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY
ON VETERANS DAY WITH FREE RED, WHITE & BLUE PANCAKES

Servicemen and Women are Invited to Savor Time with Family and Friends Over a Made-to-Order Breakfast at IHOP on November 11, 2016 — Including a Free Pancake Offer From 7 AM – 7 PM

WHAT:

On Friday, November 11th, Veterans and Active Duty Military can enjoy three of IHOP restaurant’s hot-off-the-griddle, world famous Buttermilk Pancakes with glazed strawberries, blueberry compote and whipped topping for free at participating U.S. locations, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., as part of the Red, White & Blue Pancake promotion for retired and active duty military personnel.

WHERE:

Participating IHOP Restaurants in the United States.

WHY:

For close to six decades, IHOP has been the leader in bringing guests a freshly made breakfast served any time of day, every day, as well as unique, made-to-order limited time menu items. IHOP is proud to honor veterans and active duty military this holiday.

WHEN:

FRIDAY, November 11, 2016, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Photo Credit:  The pictured Cake is unrelated to the Pancakes being served at IHOP — The Cake recipe is linked here if you want to make it for someone special this Veterans’ Day.

And IHOP is just one of many appreciative businesses offering deals to deserving American Veterans on Veterans’ Day.  That’s nice of IHOP and others.  Additional offerings to Veterans are linked here. I’m grateful for the service of each and every serviceman and woman and thank all so very much.

I wrote about Wings Cafe five months ago and I finally see its runway leading us there.

We rode bikes there last week to sneak a peek and we were invited in by its owners.

Brian and Sherri White were there putting the finishing touches on their cafe.

What a GREAT JOB they have done to make Wings Cafe unique, cool and stylish — Mission accomplished.  Above is an actual plane nose cone that’s showing real footage that was shot with the camera built into it.  It prominently hangs on a wall.  And the airplane it’s from is shown below.

The ceiling at Wings Cafe — It was new, then each square was hand distressed by them to the point of perfection.  The final result compliments the historical and other creative aspects of the cafe.

The flight suit and helmet of Brian White’s father stands in one of the cafe corners — He’s a decorated Marine.  Thank you for your service, and thank you Brian and Sherri for inviting us in.

A few days later we attended a Wings Cafe opening event and saw more finishing touches.

The glass partition was illuminated, airplane components were added to booths and more.

I love the peek-a-boo window where all can see what’s happening behind the scenes.

Much in Wings Cafe is made from airplane parts.  Each piece has a different story and they can probably tell you about it.  And the view… there are moving airplanes.  It’ll be a fun place for all.

Wings Cafe is scheduled to land October 5, 2015 (Soft opening with Bacon, Eggs and Pancakes) with its Grand Opening to be October 10, 2015, provided inspections go well — They have two more to go and then Wings Cafe can really take off.  We wish Brian, Sherri and staff many years of success.

Where is Wings Cafe?  I thought it was supposed to be open at Fullerton Municipal Airport by now?

Wings Cafe will someday occupy the space above, but it looks like it’s going to take longer than we hoped, as much still needs to be done to the lobby of the airport below, let alone Wings Cafe.

Above is the airport lobby as it looks today, and below is Wings Cafe, yikes.

For those who live nearby, it’s disappointing how long it’s taking.  What’s the hold up?  I hope government isn’t impeding progress, as it too often does — It’s not good for business nor the people.

Airport Day happens here in three weeks, May 9, 2015 and I’ll be happily shocked if all is complete.

We hope for that and wish Wings Cafe much success, once it’s able to open — We’ll be two of its first customers, since we can walk to it.  And we’ll be at Airport Day to check for expedited progress.

Wings Cafe expects to open this spring, but Fullerton Municipal Airport’s website states “Opening Summer 2015,” thus it’s still unclear when it’ll be landing.  We’ll let you know when we know.  At a minimum, we hope the airport lobby construction is done in time for Airport Day.  It doesn’t make sense to host Airport Day in its current condition, the way it has looked for too long.  We’re coming for inspection that day.  Looking ahead optimistically, Wings Cafe menu may look like this one.

It looks different than most I’ve had, but the pictured Huevos Rancheros at the Golden Ox Restaurant in Fullerton is one of my favorites for breakfast, lunch or dinner, which is served all day.

As a bonus, it comes with Bacon, Beans, Rice, Hash Browns, Tortillas on the side, and Salsa.

It’s not a fancy place as you can see, but they do a great job there.  The Huevos Rancheros is consistently good, even when had three times in a week.  I’m hooked.  And now my husband is too, which helps get me there more often, yay.  It’s off Commonwealth where North Brookhurst ends.

Dine in or drive through — Inside food is served on plastic plates.  It’s a little fancier than fast food.

The Sauce on the Huevos Rancheros is excellent.  It has a long, home cooked flavor and we love it.

Also, I’ve never been a Hash Browns fan, but I’m a big fan of theirs.  I look forward to having them almost as much as the Huevos.  And it shouldn’t go unmentioned that the Bacon is always extra crispy, and the Beans and Rice are above average too.  All make up a masterpiece at the Golden Ox.

We shall have it again soon, I’m sure.

Have you had the Sticky Toffee Pudding at The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant?  It’s one of the BEST Desserts I’ve had in my life and it’s perfectly served in warm Heavy Cream.

I’ve had it three times and still can’t stop thinking about going back for it again.  I suggest going to The Olde Ship each time we’ve dined out recently, but my husband needs more food variety.  It’s a rich dessert that’s best shared, so not to be put over the Sugar edge.  The unsweetened Heavy Cream balances the sweetness beautifully.  I love The Olde Ship for this dessert, other authentic British dishes and its cozy atmosphere, especially during Christmas time.

I searched for The Olde Ship’s Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe online, but didn’t find it, I’m told it’s made with Dried Apricots and other things.  I may attempt a copycat recipe after a little more study.  I visited The British Grocer, a store run by the same people at The Olde Ship in Fullerton and Santa Ana.  The British Grocer is in Fullerton, down the street from The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant on North Harbor Boulevard.  I’ve yet to visit its Santa Ana location, but hear it’s larger.

Pictured directly above is a prepared, canned Sticky Toffee Pudding I purchased from The British Grocer.  I was told by a clerk there that’s its flavor is most like the one made at The Olde Ship. The store offered two options, one that’s frozen and this one that was canned.

Surprisingly this one is made by Heinz and it does have a similar, rich flavor that’s good served with warm Heavy Cream, though it has a different, more Bread Pudding like texture, rather than a loose, Bran Muffin texture like the Sticky Toffee Pudding prepared at The Olde Ship.  I’ll buy more of both.

I served the Heinz Sticky Toffee Pudding the same way, which made it taste great.

It’s romantic and beautiful inside the Pub, with hundreds of lights in December.

Pictured below is the Great British Breakfast that’s served with a Banger, Baked Beans, Irish Bacon, a Tomato, Mushrooms and Fried Toast.  At first glance, the Toast looks basic, but it’s fried. I thought I’d like that more than I did, but toasted is better.  I like the Baked Beans a lot.

The Olde Ship’s Famous Clam Chowder is very good too, with lots of Clams.

Back to why this post started… The magnificent Sticky Toffee Pudding at The Old Ship (below).

Until we meet again, aka when my husband is ready to go back — I have to be reasonable.

I’ve had a lot of great Brussels Sprouts lately, but DANG — The Brussels Sprouts glazed with Honey and Sriracha at the Egg Cracker Restaurant in Fullerton are the BEST.  They’re perfectly crispy on the outside, sweet and hot, and each is tender enough to eat, which is very important.  If any are still too hard to eat, it’s often bitter and inedible though served.  Twice we’ve had the Brussels Sprouts at the Egg Cracker and each little Sprout was cooked to perfection, which is specifically important we learned from one of the owners.

Not only do they have the Best Brussels Sprouts, but the Egg Cracker Restaurant has one of the best-priced, high-quality, convenient-time Happy Hours — It’s from 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm, so you don’t need to speed after work to get there.  You order off a menu too and the price for the quality is fantastic.  The Brussels Sprouts are $3 during Happy Hour and $5 regularly.

Current Happy Hour Food Menu (above) and Chilaquiles (below).

We also tried the Portobello Fries (below), which are sliced Portobello Mushrooms with a Panko Breading to form Fries — They’re meaty and crunchy and good with the Sauce.

Zucchini Bread (below) is served to all, with all, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner — I think.

We had breakfast at the Egg Cracker twice before and received it then also.

For Dessert we had one of the Egg Cracker’s most popular Breakfast items, the Campfire Pancakes with Chocolate, Graham Cracker Crumbles and Homemade Marshmallow Cream.  I just love the Egg Cracker’s MENU.  There are many things I want to try — Breakfast is served all day too.  And it should be mentioned that Beer & Wine is only $3 during Happy Hour.

We’re going back for more of everything (and much we have yet to try).

First, we LOVE Tortilla Republic’s location, location, location.  It’s in Laguna Beach off PCH with an outdoor patio view of the ocean.  We recently sampled a few items from its Brunch Menu.

Though it’s often hard to park in the heart of Laguna Beach, there’s a small parking structure directly behind Tortilla Republic.  It’s best to park there, as there were spaces available.

Tortilla Republic’s Brunch Menu is impressive — Several items are pictured here.

I highly recommend the Salsa Trio and Guacamole sides (above).  All three Salsas were different and flavorful, and the Guacamole was fresh, dense and excellent tasting.

My photos don’t do it justice — It’s a cool looking, nautical-ish, dark and light, stylish place.

The front is completely open to allow most inside to view the ocean across the street.

They have a Brunch, Lunch, Afternoon and Dinner Menu and/or Bar for just a drink.

I’m not sure, but believe the above is a Hibiscus Margarita — They offer many unique drinks.

Pictured from top down, we tried Tortilla Republic’s Huevos Rancheros, Fresh Corn & Blueberry Pancakes, aforementioned Salsa Trio and Guacamole, and Egg White Omelete.

Carnitas Tacos (above) — See Tortilla Republic’s Menus for additional descriptions of all.

Pescado a la Parrilla aka Seared Albacore Tuna Taco (above).

Chilaquiles (above).

Machaca Burrito (above).

Mole Enchiladas (above).

Black Beans & Mexican Rice, a side option.

Seared Albacore Tuna & Sweet Potato Hash, served with two Poached Eggs (above).

At Tortilla Republic Restaurant in Laguna Beach — View from inside looking out.

Hallway in and out — It’s hard to see, but it’s the sea, past the nice cars out front.

Cheers to Tortilla Republic with their Prickly Pear Bellini!

Show your ID at Denny’s on your birthday to receive a FREE Grand Slam Breakfast — Thanks!

Not sure that my photos will be chosen this go around, but we enjoyed the meals, though I’d rather have the $500 per photo prize from the Idaho Potato Commission for entries in their Recipe Photo Contest.  There’s still time to enter for a prize, or at a minimum eat a good meal.

The pictured weren’t chosen as official entries in the Idaho Potato Commission’s contest.

Each is a different dish/recipe in the contest, ending May 29, 2014.  I made and entered (3) of the (6) posted recipes (from top down) — The Salmon and Shitake Idaho Hash that’s half eaten, the Western Scramble introducing the Eggs, and the French Red Wine Infused Idaho Grown Fingerling Potato Salad, a snooty sounding Salad with hard to find Fresh Chervil.

Ladyfingers, Fruit, Whip… Ladyfingers, Fruit, Whip… Ladyfingers, Fruit, Whip — That’s basically how you make it.  Insert any Fruit for the “Fruit.”  I used Strawberries, Blueberries and Kiwis.  The Ladyfingers were store bought to save time, but I will always whip my own Heavy Cream with a little Sugar to make it taste best.  The pictured Fruit Trifle was made for Mother’s Day.

If wanting to make it extra pretty, create the Trifle’s outer design separately from its layering.  Fruit looks best vertically through the glass, but is layered horizontally — In other words, place the Fruit and Ladyfingers against the glass as shown, or how you want it, and then layer as chanted in the middle/inside.  Repeat process as you build upward.

I tried one of these Chicken Biscuit Sandwiches one day while having lunch at Chick-Fil-A.  They were offering samples.  I couldn’t believe how good it was and I’m not a Biscuit person.

Ever since then, I’ve wanted one for breakfast, but rarely seem to be near a Chick-Fil-A, while it’s open and still serving Chicken Biscuit Sandwiches (until 10:30 and not on a Sunday).

When nearby, it’s a must and always a treat.

I’ve liked Chick-Fil-A’s Original Chicken Sandwich for several years and now highly recommend their Chicken Biscuit Sandwich.  It’s surprisingly almost better than the original.  Try it and see.

It’s buttery, flavorful and delicate, and compliments the Crispy Chicken well.

We recently spent a night in Sequoia National Park and cooked up Bacon in the morning.

The trees are crazy amazing — It’s so beautiful there, a minimal food angle gets it on here.

Bag of munchies (above) for our 5-hour drive to and from the park.

Coffee stayed warm in our thermos for days, guarded by a friend acquired one fine day.

Spotlight on the Freeze Dried Peach Slices — Loved them and all freeze dried fruit.

We properly stored food in our anti-bear storage locker and luckily didn’t see any.

We camped in a great spot, aptly named Sunset — It’s in the Grant Grove Area.

And we visited nearby Hume Lake, where I went to Summer Camp many years ago.

We fished along the banks and caught nothing but joy, and kayaked on the lake too.

Pictured is the Mess Hall where I dined, one-week every Summer for 3 years while in HS.

I have the best memories of my time spent at Hume Lake Christian Camp.

It was incredible to be back  — Thanks to my parents for sending me there many years ago.

Special Water for Leon too — He’s allowed to be with us in the park.

It was the Ponderosa Camp where I stayed, by way of First Baptist Church of Lakewood.

Cabin similar to one I once camped in (above) — I couldn’t recall the exact one, two or three.

I never expected to go back — What a special treat to be here again.

Camp was in between groups, thus we were able to walk through all.

New kids were to be arriving the next day — Lucky for us.  More bear warnings are here.

Coincidentally, Matt visited the spot (above) while in Boy Scouts and I did while at Hume Lake.

Views at Sequoia National Park are breathtaking every turn along the way.

The trees are giant and absolutely magnificent — Thank you Lord.

Bacon and Scrambled Eggs in a humbling place.

It’s nice to be back and we’ll go back again (and maybe catch fish).

It’s toasted Sourdough Bread and sliced Avocado drizzled with Olive Oil and spattered with several evenly distributed dots of Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce with Salt & Pepper.  This snack, lunch, dinner and/or breakfast was originally prepared to fill the What to Make with Avocados post and to best use all the California Avocado Commission Avocados received, but I’m now having this tasty combination (almost) every day.  It’s simple to prepare, yet so very good.

Pretty in Purple Deviled Eggs — Any Deviled Egg recipe will do.  It’s the addition of Beet Juice that makes them pretty in purple.  Once boiled the Eggs were peeled, and then soaked in Beet Juice in the fridge for a day, way longer than necessary to give them a striking color.

It only takes minutes to give the Eggs color — Less time in Beet Juice yields more of a contrast between the purple and white (a purple ring), and more time in makes ’em mostly purple.

The Beet Juice imparts a sweet, earthy flavor into the Eggs adding a tasty dimension.

Bagels, Lox, Cream Cheese and the usual accompaniments, Onions, Tomatoes, Capers, Baby Greens and tactically scored Cheese for teeth, could start your day off with a laugh — Der.

Peaches & Berry Bramble Natural Gourmet Oatmeal was what I wanted to try most, but nooooooooo, the dog ate it, I swear — This time it was true.  It was too close to the end of the counter and got snatched over to the sneaky place, like too many casualties before it.

I was glad to still have the Cranberry O’ Nut Natural Gourmet Oatmeal to sample.

And was completely impressed with the clear tops — For that reason I’d want to buy it.

It’s great quality too — A little Hot Water in the Cranberry O’ Nut made an excellent breakfast.

Also had to try the Bourbon Salted Pecan Pancake & Waffle Mix — Sounds so interesting.

I made Waffles with the mix and they cooked up nicely, despite overfilling the Waffle Iron, but ultimately I wanted a lot more flavor from them.  Overall it was fun sampling (and almost sampling) a few of the products sold on Snazzy Gourmet — They offer some cool food stuff.

Happy Cinco de Mayo amigos — Ideas regarding what to make, eat and drink are here.

I hope not to receive any drunnnnk texts from this dog.  Be on alert. 😉

How about this for a Cinco de Mayo Breakfast?  Assembled Kiwis, Bananas & Tangerines.

Best to slice ’em for Bananas Foster, Banana Cream Pies, Banana Bread, Banana Splits, etc.

Photo credits here and here.

Off Street Café — It’s off a street alright, but twice I could hardly recall where.  I now know it’s off Studebaker and Artesia in (yes) Cerritos and it’s worth finding, especially for breakfast.

We last enjoyed the Eggs Benedict, a Southwest Skillet and a Coconut Pineapple Muffin.

Off Street Café’s English Muffins are surprisingly extra good — They’re made in-house I’m told.

The restaurant was once featured on Restaurant Impossible with Robert Irvine.  Chef Irvine revamped their Dinner Menu and a one-and-a-half-day renovation gave Off Street Café a French provincial, livelier atmosphere.  It looks okay, but we prefer the old fashioned counter.

Oh happy day — Feliz Easter!  Hope it’s a feaster. 🙂

Happy Valentine’s Day — To avoid the crowd, we celebrated a couple days before with dinner at Soprano’s (soon to be reported on) and further plan to observe the holiday with cards and surprises the day after.  Heart shaped Toast today with much to look forward to tomorrow.

This Heart Shaped Egg is on our test list — Do you think it works?  More ideas are here too.