Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

Thanks to my cherished friends (and sis) for delivering the wonderful Appetizers and Desserts to my 14th Annual Christmas Party.  It was a blast like always.  Michelle’s Pesto Loaf (above) was voted Best Appetizer.  Congratulations!  The recipe is linked below.

And every party needs a Fresh Vegetable Platter — Ours was over the top good with Yellow and Red Bell Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers and more.  And continuing on down (L-R), this year we enjoyed Artichoke Dip and Chicken & Lemongrass Spring Rolls.

Chicken Tamales with Colorado Chili Sauce, Salami, Brie and Smoked Cheese with Crackers, and Fresh Homemade Salsa and Tortilla Chips.  The Salsa deserves an honorable mention for its restaurant quality flavor.  I’ve got to get the recipe.

Egg Rolls, Pesto Loaf, and Cream Cheese with Blueberry Preserves and Crackers.  Then moving on to the bakery quality Desserts prepared by Loretta — She took the prize for that category with her Lemon Bars, Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Icing, Magic Cookie Bars, and Chocolate Dipped Oreos and Graham Crackers as the Cake presents.

We had more than pictured here, but some photos didn’t quite make the quality cut.  I do appreciate ALL the food!  We mostly enjoyed Champagne, Chardonnay, Juice and Bottled Water, but many options were available.

This year I have a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree — It’s cute, don’t you think?  Here we are in a rare people picture on Nibbles of Tidbits.  I didn’t get my friend’s approval for the posted photo so it could come down if someone doesn’t like the way they look.  You know how some girls can be – HA. 🙂

Related Link:

Winning Appetizer Recipe (Pesto Loaf) – pesto-dip-appetizer

For the daily readers, I’ll get to the Christmas Party Appetizers shortly, but now I have to mention the luxurious Tea I’m enjoying.  What a treat!  One of my fabulous party guests gave me an amazing gift.  Have you seen this before?  I hadn’t.  It’s cute, practical and the Crimson Nectar Tea is a layered flavor explosion.  I love it all — Thanks again.

Related Link:

http://www.teaforte.com/

I’m busy getting ready for my 14th Annual Christmas Par-tay, whereas each guest (close friend) brings an appetizer.  I award a PRIZE and RIBBON for the Best Voted Appetizer — It’s a super fun and yummy party.  It’ll be interesting to see what comes this year and every first Friday in December.  Check back.  🙂

I buy and a co-worker flies, and buys more for the office.  It works out well for a few lunch meals.  One of my professions requires that I work in an office across the street from The Irvine Spectrum, a fun place that offers a multitude of dining experiences. 

Today we were craving the #12 from Johnny Rockets — It’s a Hamburger I used to love.  I hadn’t had one in years.  And of course we had to compare their Chili Cheese Fries to those already posted on Nibbles of Tidbits.  A few others got Chili Cheese Dogs.  As you can see it was a low calorie lunch this day. 🙂

Although it’s not that far and we phoned in our order the last minute, the food didn’t travel well.  The Burger was a bit soggy and flat, but I’m glad to admit the tasty flavor was still there — I might want to eat it at the restaurant next time.  The Chili Cheese Fries are rated in a related post linked below.  And the Hot Dogs were good but messy and greasy.

Related Links:

http://www.johnnyrockets.com/index2.php

http://www.shopirvinespectrumcenter.com/

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1110

Happy December.  A friend gave this to me last year for Christmas.  I love it!  The lights flash like a real sign, my name is spelled correctly and it’s so darn cute.  I had to display it all year.  I told myself I’d put it away in January, but do I have to?  🙂

Related Link:

http://www.department56.com/

Swanson’s Chicken Broth/Stock is okay.  I’ve used it many times, but it’s not gourmet.  If the sponsor (Swanson’s) hadn’t paid to be on Top Chef, the Judges might scoff at it being added to a recipe.  Maybe — Although they wouldn’t want to injure a brand.  Instead the products were highlighted in way too many frames.

Related Links:

http://www.swansonbroth.com/default.aspx

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1332

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1360

Edamame are one of my favorite snacks.  I prefer them warm with Salt — That’s what I just made HERE.  Most Japanese Restaurants appear to serve them chilled.  I’ve seen and like both offerings.  When not eating out, I buy them frozen, cook for 10 minutes, drain, Salt and eat.

Related Links:

http://www.edamame.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edamame

Thanks to my Parents for this wonderful Thanksgiving meal.  A few of us can’t hold back from eating the Crispy Turkey Skin (with Salt) before the Turkey is carved, hence its less than pristine exposure. 

And Chef Lexi made Apple Betty for Dessert — She shows how good it was.  More Chef Lexi meals and recipes can be found under the ‘Kid’s In The Kitchen’ section.

Everything was great as usual.  I’m a bit spoiled in that all I have to do is show up and eat.  I’m thankful for all my blessings and I do help with the dishes.

This time we tried the Spicy Thai Chicken Pizza and Moo Shu Egg Rolls.  Both were top notch, just like most dishes at the Yard House.  The price and quality are there.  And the varied menu items are consistently good.  There’s more photos of other fabulous Yard House appetizers linked below.  We’re getting around to trying them all.  Why not?

Related Links:

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1310

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=762

The recipe is real, but the story behind it isn’t.  You must have heard the story about the lady who paid $250 for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe from Neiman Marcus?!  When I heard about it, the amount was $2,500 — You know how stories get exaggerated.  Either way, Snopes reports it to be false.  The full interesting story is linked here.

http://www.snopes.com/business/consumer/cookie.asp

Aside from that, an old friend recently reminded me how “freaking good” they are.  I used to make the recipe a lot and do think they’re possibly the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the world — The blended Oatmeal and grated Chocolate certainly contribute to it.  I usually add Walnuts, Pecans or Macadamia Nuts.  The recipe is linked above and below on an album page I created over ten years ago.  It’s not fancy but includes four bonus recipes if interested.

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Munchos are so salty good.  I remember eating them as a kid and then they seemed to disappear, so I was thrilled when I saw Munchos again a couple years ago.  And it’s great to see that they’re readily available here now.  Since I’ll eat a whole bag in an instant, I don’t buy too many, but I’m glad to know that I can.  It’s the only Potato Chip I eat without Dip — It must be that it’s a Potato Crisp?!  I’ll let Wikipedia tell you more about Munchos history.  It’s interesting.

Related Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munchos

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Munchos

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/munchos/potato-chips

It’s Chicken Liver.  I fry small cubes then add them to any basic Stuffing / Dressing recipe.  Here I made Mrs. Cubbison’s Original Recipe – Basic Dressing Casserole.  It’s on the back of the box, which also notes a Lite Recipe.  After making the Original Recipe (OR), I learned that next time I’ll try the Lite Recipe.  I thought this one was too buttery — The OR seems to call for an unnecessary amount of melted Butter.

If you’re not completely adverse to Chicken Liver, you’ll love it in a good Stuffing Casserole.  Just bake it on the side or in the Turkey or Chicken.  Thanksgiving is around the corner — Why not give this addition some consideration?

Related Links:

http://www.mrscubbisons.com/

There are so many restaurants in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.  You especially notice them if you’re on foot.  Below is a pictorial view of our walk from Costa Mesa to Newport Beach, then back.  Are you local?  Can you trace the route by street?  These pictures are in travel order from (general) start to finish.  Aloha Grill was our first stop, which is finally open — Then working on down (L-R) is Super Pollo, Santa Monica Seafood and continuing.

Mesa Grill & Barbecue, The Omelette Parlor/Chester Drawers, Billy’s at the Beach, Wine Lab Newport, Villa Nova Ristorante and A Restaurant (formerly The Arches).

On to Woody’s Diner, Avilas El Ranchito, Ten Sushi Steaks, Woody’s Wharf, The Crab Cooker and The Chicken Coop.

I’ve tried most of the above and wrote about some on Nibbles of Tidbits and for other publications.  I haven’t yet tried Mesa Grill & Barbecue, The Omelette Parlor, Ten, A Restaurant, or the Wine Lab Newport, so check back HERE for future information about them.

Related Links:

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=875

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1266

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1259

http://ocmexfood.blogspot.com/search?q=super+pollo

This Pizza was okay.  I bought Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough and Pizza Sauce, then added what I had on hand — It has Cheddar Cheese, Salami, Pineapple and Jalapeno.  The Sauce was good and the Dough works, but I might want to try it another time with Mozzarella, Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Olives, Pineapple, Artichoke Hearts, Jalapenos, and maybe more. 

I think I overcooked this Pizza and made the Dough too thick.  Good thing I didn’t videotape myself trying to spread out the Dough and make it stay – HA.  I really wanted to throw and spin it up in the air, but feared I’d drop it on the kitchen floor.  I wished I had a big bolt of plastic to lay down.  I might pick some up before the next Pizza.

Related Links:

http://www.traderjoes.com/

So far I like the European Guys better than Team Rainbow.  I think Hosea’s Hot Dog was the best during the Quick Fire Challenge, and Radhika’s second best, although I didn’t have the actual pleasure.  The Beef Carpaccio made by Fabio was my favorite during the Elimination Challenge.  And Carla deserves an honorable mention for her food and personality.  I think the appropriate person, Jill was eliminated tonight. 

Related Links:

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1332

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/about/index.php

Pastrami on a Hot Dog Bun is currently being sold at Wienerschnitzel formerly known as Der Wienerschnitzel — For some reason I’ve been wanting to cook Pastrami, so I tried this Sandwich for a quick fix.  And now I really want to make my own.  It didn’t taste bad at all, but I want to freely bite into a Pastrami Sandwich knowing there’s no fat chunks in it.  Is it just me?

Related Links: 

http://www.wienerschnitzel.com/

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1110

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1298

I finally ate at my house, I mean Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant.  It has only been in Costa Mesa for 30 years — And I’d heard many good things about it.  So three of us recently went there for a friend’s Birthday.  We had excellent Margaritas and the food you see here.  It’s a Beef Burrito, Chicken Taco and Chili Relleno Combination, and a Beef Taco Combination.

We just happened to meet the owner, who seemed like a sweet man.  It appears he runs a great place to have in the neighborhood.  We liked our meals and I’d go out of my way just to get a Mi Casa Chicken Taco.  It was gigantic, crispy and tasty.  They also surprised us with a Birthday Pumpkin Frozen Dessert — I didn’t get the actual name, but it was good too.  My friends ate most of it, HA.

Related Link:

Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant & Bar – http://www.micasa1.com/

It appears we’re working our way through all of Island’s Burgers at Bella Terra and other locations.  This time it was the ‘Sunset‘ with BBQ Sauce, Cheese and fix-ins minus the raw Onion.  A BBQ Burger isn’t usually a top pick of mine, but the Sunset was excellent, like all Island’s Burgers I’ve had thus far.  Now we’re heading to Kilauea.

Update 01/28/10:  The Sunset Burger appears to have a new name — It’s now called a “Mavericks” Burger.

I recently conducted a Mystery Shop for an un-named company — The assignment was to order something TO GO from The Cheesecake Factory at Fashion Island in Newport Beach.  It sounded like a great project to me, so I chose the Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta, called it in, then picked it up about 15 minutes later.  And I was very happy to report that the service and food quality were excellent.  I’d have this dish again too.

I love Fashion Island — It’s got some great restaurants and three of many are just steps away from each other.  Actual view pictured above from left to right is California Pizza Kitchen, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and The Cheesecake Factory, where I picked up my lunch.  During the day you can see the Pacific Ocean from the windows of these restaurants.

Related Links:

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1185

http://www.shopfashionisland.com/

http://www.pfchangs.com/

http://www.cpk.com/

Top Chef New York just started, so I thought I’d give some quick first impressions of Opening Night.  I usually look forward to watching Top Chef — It can be an intense competition.  I’d be way too Chicken to compete there and wouldn’t want to get cooked. 

I was reminded how brutal it can be — You’ve gotta be a fast cook, quick thinker, good planner and beautiful presenter.  There’s no room for error.  Although I can make some fabulous food, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and wouldn’t want them mercilessly spotlighted.  I do like and respect all the Judges, but yikes sometimes.  I’d love to try the food with them.  Can I take Ted’s place???

Here’s a few excerpts if you missed it — The Chef Competitors, an Apple peeling and fine dicing contest as an immediate ‘Quick Fire Challenge’ that doesn’t allow one Chef to continue, then a toast to those who made it into the New York high rise apartment, the ‘Elimination Challenge’ and judging with Chef Jean Georges, and then say goodbye to the two Chefs hugging below.  To get the full story visit Bravo.

Sometimes all a dish needs is a little Salt and Pepper — Said by Chef Tom Colicchio this episode and it’s so true.  And I’ll add Freshly Ground Pepper to that mix.  Be sure to stop by after the next episode and I’ll tell you who I like.  Top Chef Season Five is on Wednesday nights at 10:00 on channel 76 here, but you’ll need to check your own listing if not with Time Warner Cable in Orange County, CA.

Related Links:

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/about/index.php

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/blogs/index.php

foodie-iq-test2 

Today a friend gave me some fresh caught Rockfish, which I don’t think I’ve ever tried.  I asked how she prepares it and she told me that her husband kinda poaches/simmers it in Butter, Pickle Juice and Lemon.  How easy!  And she said it’s always awesome.  

With that combination I had to do the same, and I’m so excited to know about this quick and tasty recipe.  I cooked the Rockfish for less than 10 minutes.  It just flaked apart and the broth was delicious.  I added a little Parsley at the end.  Thanks Kat and Doug.

Related Links:

What is Rockfish? – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockfish

I love Bubbie’s Pickles – http://www.bubbies.com/

Most of The Yard House’s Appetizers are half price Monday through Friday from 3:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.  Here’s a few we recently tried at the Fashion Island location.  The Lettuce Wraps are really good – I like the accompanying Sauces.  The Chinese Garlic Noodles are okay, a little boring, but the unique California Roll made up for it.  It’s flavorful and different than any California Roll I’ve ever had.

We finished with the Pint Sized Trio Sampler with included a Chocolate Souffle, a Lemon Souffle and a Peach Apple Cobbler.  It was a dream combination for me.  WOW!!!  I want it again.

Related Links:

http://www.yardhouse.com/flash/default.asp

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=762 

http://www.shopfashionisland.com/

Tommy Pastrami’s NY Blackened Pastrami Sandwich (above).  http://www.tommypastraminydeli.com/home.asp 

OR

The Hat’s “World Famous” Pastrami Sandwich (below)?  http://www.thehat.com/index.htm

Both Sandwiches are good yet different from each other.  I liked the look of Tommy Pastrami’s Pastrami.  The meat was lean and athetically pleasing.  The Hat’s Pastrami was fattier, and I most often prefer a leaner meat — However, it’s not all over with that observation.

The Hat’s Pastrami was more flavorful and juicy.  In comparison, Tommy’s Pastrami was unexpectedly bland/dry, but tasted good with Mustard.  Between these two Sandwiches, I may wear The Hat for a while.  Whose Pastrami do you like better?  I know there’s a lot more Pastrami Sandwiches out there, but do you have an opinion on these two?

Related Link:  http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1110