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El Pollo Loco You’re Acting Like a Crazy Chicken.

July 25th, 2008 No comments

I have been one of your biggest cheerleaders for years, but some of your recent decisions have been disappointing.  It started with the cutback of Tortillas.  Having received 3 Tortillas with a Chicken Combo Meal since EPL’s opening in California, the downgrade to 2 Tortillas was quite obvious and lame.  At first I thought it was a mistake, but then learned what’s up after a few visits.  Not good.

Then one day, NO more Chipotle Dressing for the Salads.  Why?  It was tasty.  I was eating Salads at EPL all the time.  Dressing can mean everything to a Salad.  That crazy decision was hard to get over.

And now NO more Chipotle Salsa — Another bad move.  It was your best Salsa.  I tried its new replacement Salsa (top left in above picture) and it’s okay.  It has a good spice, but it’s a little too thin.  The Chipotle Salsa went better with the Chicken and Tortillas.  The thinner Salsa tends to make the Tortillas soggy.  Bring back the Chipotle Salsa!

El Pollo Loco you have been my favorite fast food joint for many years, but you’re acting crazy.  You’re changing things that worked well for many.  Can you explain your corporate position here, or better yet, change these things back?  I’ll like you more.

BTW, your Crunchy Taco is pretty good — I hope its time isn’t limited, but I somehow suspect it will be.  But PLEASE don’t take away the Chicken.  It’s excellent.  I keep trying to recreate its flavor, but haven’t so far.  All the copycat recipes I’ve tried miss the mark.

Related Links:

Tell EPL you want 3 Tortillas, plus the Chipotle Dressing and Chipotle Salsa back – http://www.elpolloloco.com/

Pictured respectively below are the Crunchy Taco, the Value Menu Nachos, and a Small Garden Salad with the Creamy Cilantro Dressing, the runner up to the Chipotle Dressing.

epl-002.JPG     epl-004.JPG     epl-019.JPG

Bountiful Home Grown Tomatoes.

July 16th, 2008 No comments

I’m lucky.  Four family members are growing Tomatoes this year and keep giving them to me.  This time I scored and broiled a batch in the oven, then peeled and chopped all to make a Sauce for use tomorrow.  With what?  You’ll see someday.

                 roasted-tomatoes-002.JPG       roasted-tomatoes-005.JPG

I added minced Garlic, Olive Oil & Salt and simmered for about 20 minutes.  This process makes a good, fresh tasting Sauce.  And if I have fresh herbs around, I’ll toss them in – Basil, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Parsley, or other.  🙂

                 roasted-tomatoes-008.JPG      roasted-tomatoes-010.JPG

With recent Tomato uncertainty, these gifts have been a commodity.

More about Tomatoes and growing them:

http://www.recipezaar.com/library/getentry.zsp?id=151

http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/Vegetables/tomatoes.asp

http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/growing-good-looking-tomatoes/index.html

About

April 24th, 2008 20 comments

Administrator

Hello.  Welcome to Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog.  I’m Shelly Borrell Freis and its publisher.  We report about and photograph all things FOOD related — Cooking, dining out, recipes, competitions, events, products and a whole lot more.  We review and feature many Southern California restaurants and other fabulous food finds discovered through travel and eating on Earth. 

Nibbles of Tidbits is a blog about the GOOD, the BAD & the FUNNY regarding FOOD — From Yikes to Ooo La La.  In addition to above, we emphasize food comparison, experimentation, various cooking techniques, uncommon ingredients, easy meals, helpful tools, shortcuts, cool ideas, copycat recipes, great deals and fun stuff.  Read about tasty dishes, as well as “dishes gone wrong.”  If you’ve been cooking a long time, you know that many dishes turn out great and some just become that (hopefully funny now) incident of enlightenment.

When not dining out, the goal is to prepare unique and flavorful, high-quality meals on a daily basis.  Why not?  We report the results of our testing and tastings, good or bad.  We’re a Tavern on the Webto take away yummy inspiration or learn what not to do next time.  Thanks for visiting and do check back often.

I’ve been a cooking (and eating) enthusiast for years and have been LUCKY enough to WIN a few recipe/food contests — To learn more about all that, see the following links:  The Milk Contest, Hof’s Hut Burger Contest, Hof’s Hut Burger INFO, BBQ Prize, Name on the Menu, Various, Better Homes & Gardens, Zespri Prize, Zespri Kiwi Semi-Finalist, More Kiwi Contest INFO, OC Fair Ribbons, OC Fair Ribbons, Pie Competition Honorable Mention, and yet more OC Fair Wins.  More about Nibbles of Tidbits and contests I didn’t win can be learned here.  Contest WINS and links are slightly out-of-date and shall be posted soon.

If seeking information regarding Freelance Writing Services, please visit main site I Need Text Company (www.ineedtext.com) — To view non-food-related writing samples, see hereAnd if you want more food, I previously published as Orange County Food Examiner on Examiner.com.  Aside from all that, I love interesting TIDBITS, so leave us something to NIBBLE on.

All the Best, Shelly Borrell Freis

Matt Freis (Photographer)And officially introducing… Matt Freis (pictured right), my dear husband and better photographer in our family, who will be contributing many photos here on Nibbles of Tidbits.  He loves photography, food and my cooking too, and just got an impressive new camera — It’s a winning combination no matter how you look at it.  I’m grateful for all and he’s cute too.  We’re team Freis West of Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog.

 

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