Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

Actual TIP:  Cook Wine until there is less of it, 1/2 of it, or it turns into syrup.

“You’ve got to try the Combo Salad at Ho Sum Bistro” I’ve heard (and read) over and over.  It’s like… “You’ve got to see the baby” on Seinfeld — Well, I finally tried it aka saw the baby, and it’s not breathtaking.  In real world terms, it’s okay, better than the TV reference.

The Combo Salad is the Ho Sum Chicken Salad (Roasted and shredded Chicken Breast with Lettuce and Red Ginger Dressing) and the Sesame Seed Chicken Salad (Romaine Lettuce tossed with Sesame Seeds, Almonds, shredded Chicken and a Sesame Oil and Vinegar Dressing) combined.  It’s good, but next time I’d try a few Dim Sum dishes I saw on the menu.

It’s a lot of Salad.  Pictured is the 1/2 Combo Salad to go — Two can share it.

With respect to Sonic’s Cheesy Bacon Pretzel Dog, everything is tasty about it except for the Pretzel Bun, what got me to buy it in the first place — A similar situation to Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger.  I love a good Pretzel Bun on a Sandwich, only if it’s made right.

A Pretzel Bun shouldn’t be too thick, dry or bland.

Though Sonic’s Pretzel Bun looks pretty, it doesn’t have much flavor and it’s too stiff and thick.  The Hot Dog slides out the other end when taking a bite.  It’s otherwise quite appetizing.

On a different or improved Pretzel Bun, Sonic’s Hot Dog could be a winner — This one fell short.

It’s “A Little Something” called Almonds & Olives at Blackbird Tavern in Temecula (below).

I liked it so much, I recreated a better version of it at home (top photo) — It’s made with a medley of Greek Olives, Marcona Almonds, Orange Slices, Fennel Seeds, Red Pepper Flakes and Olive Oil.  The Olives were baked in a foil pouch with the Orange Slices, Fennel Seeds, Red Pepper Flakes and a little Olive Oil at 425° for about 15 minutes, then all was tossed with Marcona Almonds, the improvement (I think) to Blackbird’s starter.  I’ll make it forever.

And there’s a sweet back-story soon to be told about this trip to Temecula.

CalFresh — Must you heavily recruit?  No, for many reasons I see.  Respect taxpayers too.

What would you do for a Klondike Bar?  Uh, how about just buy one if you want it?!

The OC Fair has left the county with a few FOOD stats to report — After the last pickle was wrapped in Bacon, Corn Dog deep-fried, piglet petted, carnival plush won and concertgoer rocked, 1,374,579 Fair-goers had heeded the OC Fair’s invitation to “Come & Get It” in 2013.

For the 2013 season, which ran from July 12-August 11, the OC Fair saw its second highest attendance. Plus the Pacific Amphitheatre saw its top-grossing summer concert series which included 11 sold-out concerts. Here are more fun facts about the 2013 OC Fair:

Food at the 2013 OC Fair:

• Chicken Charlie used 7,500 gallons of vegetable oil to fry up 24,000 Bacon-Wrapped Pickles, 100,000 Deep-Fried Oreos, and other wild concoctions like 25,000 balls of his top-selling Deep-Fried Cookie Dough.
• Biggy’s Meat Market sold nearly 2,000 Big Chics on a Stick and 4,500 The Big Ribs, and used 13,500 pounds of potatoes for orders of giant Curley Frys.
• Bacon A-Fair used 20,000 pounds of bacon around turkey legs, inside chocolate, wrapped around cheesy bombs or sprinkled around chocolate peanut butter bananas.
• Tasti Chips used 23.75 tons of potatoes and 690 gallons of cheese sauce.
• Juicy’s sold more than 75,000 smoked turkey legs and used 300 gallons of ketchup and 250 gallons of mustard.

Source: Partial Press Release from the OC Fair & Event Center and Photo Credit.

Do you have an event coming up?  I recommend The Promenade Event Centre & Gardens by The Turnip Rose.  I worked within walking distance from it and enjoyed its gardens and many introspective lunches at Cafe Rose Express.  And now, a couple years later I have an event.  Photos here are from a tasting event held there for current and potential customers.

Pick a date, package (if applicable) and food favorites, and all shall be great.

Mini Sliders & French Fries, Seared Ahi, the best Chicken Skewers ever, and more are options as Hors d’oeuvres — Taste all and choose a favorite for your event.

Crab Cakes too — Contact The Turnip Rose directly for actual choices and official dish names.

The service has always been exceptional at all Turnip Rose venues and events.

Your choice of an Entree is also in order — A small sampling of a large sampling is below.

Several Chicken, Fish and Steak selections are available.

I need (at least) one more tasting to be sure.

Dessert Bars, Cappuccino Bars, Candy Bars and Beer & Wine Bars by request, oh my.

Rock Candy Swizzle Sticks for the Coffee Drinks — I want them too.

It’s a comfortable and classy indoor/outdoor Event Centre with great food to consider.

If getting married and/or having a reception, a Wedding Cake by Creative Cakes is included.

Cheers to all — Thanks for coming.  Okay, let’s party now!

See you in January and in between with possible reports leading up, then happily ever after.

Why do some ask Owls that question?  Hoo cares and STFU already says all owls — I read that.

I’m still confused — Is that a decimal point or comma above?  The world may never know.

If unlimited toppings, add Jalapenos, Artichoke Hearts and Roasted Garlic to the Pizza.

Frog Legs — We finally tried them and don’t think they taste like Chicken.

Yes, they look like a pair of Frog Legs (below).  Not terribly appetizing, butt [if you know what I mean] we ate them — You could think you’re eating a Chicken Wing around some parts, but they really don’t ‘taste’ like Chicken, as told by people who have and haven’t tried them.

Frog’s Legs have more of an aquatic flavor and tough fish texture, with the look of an extended Chicken Wing — We would like them better if they had the texture of Chicken.  They’re not something we need to have again.  It’s officially checked off our crazy food list.

The flavor is hard to describe, perhaps Chicken is an easy way out — I get it now.

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).

On the way home from Sequoia National Park, we stopped at this Honor System Fruit Stand on the side of the road — I can’t recall exactly where it was, but we thought it was great.

We weighed out a lb. of Peaches, Plums & Nectarines, inserted money and went on our way.

It’s easy to eat all above, especially Blueberries and Pineapple — Stay hydrated my friends.

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.

Pie Society is inconspicuously set within the back of Pitfire Artisan Pizza in Costa Mesa.

When I first read… Experience the Speakeasy Sanctuary from Tedium — I thought, what?

It’s Pie Society, a separate, connected, somewhat secret Bar, open Tues. – Sun., from 5p.m. to “Close” whenever that may be — Enter through Pitfire Artisan Pizza, if you can find how.

There’s also a back entrance to this speakeasy-type Bar — I love the idea.  It makes it cool.

And you can tell from its look, menu, drinks and related peeps — It is cool!

The Bar is framed with parts of the old Marie Callender’s Pie oven that once occupied the spot.

Pie Society has its own Signature Menu, with mostly different food than Pitfire Artisan Pizza.

Prior to its opening last week, media got to experience the reminiscence of Pie Society.

Signature Menu items are pictured throughout and ‘loosely described’ herein from top down.

Loosely, yes, since the Pie Society House Drinks and Iconic Selections positively detonate!

I tried a few and the El Primo with Sombra Mezcal, Home-made Lime Cordial, shaken with a Lime Wheel was a favorite.  I fell for Mezcal at Pie Society — Good thing I walked there.

Cheers to El Primo (above), the Pool Side (below) and the Hemingway Daiquiri — Ask for ’em.

I can’t name all pictured Pizzas, but Pie Society offers a few from Pitfire and a few unique to it.

It’s very dark inside which is part of the fun, but it makes it tough for photos.

Food media events bring out the best to capture ALL best.

Drinks Stars — I love the house-made (almost) everything… Juices, Syrups, Cordials, etc.

When there, sliding doors sometimes open up to a Pizza oven and additional seating (below).

The view back into the Pie Society Bar area (below).

See the exit sign in the Pitfire Artisan Pizza restaurant (below)?  It’s a way in to Pie Society.

Pizzas are exceptional on both sides of the building, at Pie Society and Pitfire Artisan Pizza.

We tried a Trio of Bread & Butter Pickles with Sriracha and Dill, Pastrami Peanuts with Smoked Sea Salt, and Smoked, Marinated Olives, and Superba Fried Chicken, Tater Tots with Chorizo Fondue, Crispy Dim Sum Shrimp, Cheeseburger Hot Pockets, Kimchi Deviled Eggs and Sweet & Sour Crispy Pork Belly.  The Chorizo Fondue and Pork Belly stood out as superstars to me.

I felt big love and blow its cover.  Another provides more information here.

We enjoyed stiff Cadillac Margaritas, Pizza and more at Black Knight Gastro Lounge (new and improved) at The Triangle — It once was on 17th Street as The Little Knight, a cool dive bar.

It has a more polished, clean look and a larger outdoor patio, something I usually hope for in a place.  Pizza is available inside and at times via the pass-through window adjacent to it.

The Cheese Platter was generous in size and unique with spicy, sweet and colorful Cheeses.

Our Salad (forgot which one) was good to share too — Check their website menu when it’s up.

Upstairs view from The Triangle at Broadway and Newport Boulevard.

And the Wild Goose Tavern has landed at The Little Knight — It too looks spiffier.

We look forward to trying it, especially the Grilled Romaine and Truffle Herb Fries.

Happy Birthday fellow June Birthday family and friends — This is your shared birthday card.

Burrissimo Fresh Italian — One try got me hooked on the Pasta Bowl with Salmon.

It’s in Costa Mesa and I’ve already been back for seconds of the same.

Burrissimo makes me think of an Italian Chipotle.

It’s similar in that YOU choose the Entree… a Burrissimo, Pasta Bowl or Chopped Salad Bowl.

And then choose a Grill Item… Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Meatballs, Steak or Salmon.

Choose a Sauce — Pomodoro, Diavolo and/or Alfredo.

The final step is to Top-It-Off with a combination of whatever YOU like best.

I’m now hooked on the Peppadew Peppers — They’re perfectly sweet and hot.

It has a good size interior and an outdoor side patio and/or it’s well set up to-go.

The Salmon Pasta Bowl decorated with my faves is too good — I may never try anything else.

What is a Burrissimo?

It’s Angel Hair Pasta, a grill item, fresh Vegetables & Sauce wrapped in Italian Flatbread.

It’s different and actually quite tasty — Pictured is the Meatballs & More Burrissimo.

My first Pasta Bowl (above) doctored to my satisfaction, awaiting the Garlic & Lemon Salmon.  I ended up liking this place a lot more than I thought, and one Pasta Bowl can be two meals.

EXTRA EXTRA:  Friday, June 7th is National Donut Day. To celebrate, Burrissimo in Costa Mesa is offering a Free Zeppole Italian Donut with any purchase that day.

June is National Candy Month and boy do I like Candy.  It’s fitting to now discover the finest Rock Candy artisans in the world — They’re at Sticky making traditional hand-made yummy (they describe) and will customize the Candy to look however and say whatever you want.  It’s the coolest.  Check out Sticky’s well-designed website for easy options and a quote.  Each Candy piece is a little work of art.  I’m happy to discover ’em and plan to design one sometime.

Yes, it’s also National Egg Month — There seems to be a day or month for every food.

I bought this Microwave Egg Poacher because it was under $2.00, but PEEEE. UUUU.

It stunk up the house while cooking and just plain stinks in all ways.  When the lid/top is fully open, it tilts the bottom/base causing some of the raw Egg to fall out — Not good.

The result was an Egg horror film, hahaha — I was literally frightened by how they looked.

The Yolk was desperately trying to get away and/or cooked to hell — A stinky, scary situation!

Didn’t even want to taste it, so all went into the trash — Eyes were reserved for transplant onto other food.  They were added to improve its look and for a redeeming feature chuckle.

As a better replacement, I was hoping to find an Eclair on top of the trash.  I’d eat it.

Thank you isn’t enough for such an important sacrifice — We’re forever grateful here.

Now free to BBQ in America.

Honor, and then chow down — A Hot Dog and Hamburger for me, please.