Summer of Sustainability at Slapfish on now

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Mad Hungry Woman

This week, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish launched a campaign entitled “Summer of Sustainability” which runs for six weeks and features a new item each week. Andrew has always been a leader in using sustainable seafood, first on his gourmet food truck, and now, in his restaurant. We were invited in to try all six items all you seafood lovers will be treated to in the next month and a half. (photo courtesy of Mona Shah-Anderson)

Week One (June 3-June 9) going on right now until Sunday features Wild Pacific Albacore Tuna Melt ($9.50) a richly flavored flaked albacore sandwiched between rustic sourdough filled with spinach, cucumber, tomato, and “awesome sauce”.

Week Two (June 10-June 16) which starts on Monday is a BBQ Yellowtail Banh Mi Sandwich ($9.50) a play on the traditional banh mi with fresh baked Vietnamese baguette, picked radish, cucumber, carrots, jalapeno and spiced yellowtail topped with grill sauce. The flavors are intense and addicting and was one of my favorites of the featured items.

Week Three (June 17-June 23) will appeal to those who love mild white fish. Alaskan Halibut Po Boy ($11) is fried halibut in a toasted roll packed with lettuce, tomato and pickled peppers and the most delicious tabasco aioli to boot. I loved the spicy kick of this creation!

Week Four (June 24-June 30) will have me rolling back to Huntington Beach again for this stunning Crispy White Seabass Taco ($7). I couldn’t believe how light this fried corn shell was. It wasn’t greasy or viscous at all. Light and crunchy, the pickled red onion and cabbage, with the flaky fish drizzled with rooster dressing is absolutely perfect!!

Week Five’s (July 1-July 7) Copper River Salmon Hand Pie is more a pastry than a pie. The salmon, avocado and chiles and rolled in phyllo dough and gently fried and served with a tomatillo sauce on the side. The piquant flavor of the tomatillo marries perfectly with the flaky pie.

I wasn’t able to taste Week Six’s (July 8-July14) Baked Carlsbad Luna Oysters (market price) because of my oyster allergy, but it looked marvelous. Topped with a wild mushroom and bacon stuffing and baked, you can order these to your liking — one, two, four, or a dozen!

You have only a few days left to enjoy the wild albacore tuna melt and this week’s giveaway won’t make it in time for you to go, but I highly recommend you just DO IT! I have a $35 giftcard to Slapfish, entries end on Sunday, winner announced Monday. Leave me a comment and tell me which of these six items you would most like to try. You have to leave your FULL name in order for your entries to be valid. Good Luck!

Slapfish
19696 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Tel: 714-964-3900

Fish Camp

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Mad Hungry Woman

I had seen Fish Camp off PCH many times while driving and often wondered if it was any good. Recently, I shared a meal with some friends and managed to try a slew of things off the menu. For a fast casual seafood joint, the menu was extensive without being overwhelming and there is definitely something for everyone.

I started with a Cajun Bloody Mary ($5.95) which I could’ve kept drinking had I not driven myself and my son. It was delicious with the right amount of kick. I later found out there was a good amount of horseradish in it!!

We got some soup to try and New England Clam Chowder was surprisingly good. My son hogged the bowl after we had a taste. The flavors were good, but without being goopy and overly thick.

Spicy Red Seafood Chowder was just okay. The broth was nice, but I wasn’t fond of the salmon which was overcooked and tough. The soups are $2.95/cup, $5.25/bowl, or the sourdough bread bowl for $7.75.

We were all fans of Fried Calamari and the one here is quite delicious. You can enjoy half a pound for $7.95 or a whole pound for $13.75 which was great for the four of us to share. They were not greasy and served with a nice aioli.

Ahi Poke ($8.75) was very fresh although a tad underseasoned. I added a little soy sauce to it and it was great after that. There are peanuts in here for a slight crunch — not traditionally used in Hawaii by any means — so if you have an allergy, be aware of this.

We all loved the Steamed Manila Clams ($7.55) which were beautifully flavored. They serve it with a little extra broth for you to dip either the clams or the garlic bread in.

Wild Parmesan Crusted Sand Dabs ($12.95) were tender and had a nice lemon caper sauce drizzled over it. I could totally eat an entire order of this on my own. The parmesan crust was a great addition to the mild sand dabs.

My son’s Eastern Sea Scallops ($16.75) plate was quite good. They’re not as large as diver scallops, but prepared well and surprisingly, retained its moisture even though they were grilled which is often hard to control. Entrees come with a choice of two sides.

Beer Battered Fish & Chips ($12.75/3pcs) were a bit greasy but the fish was flaky and tasted great. Some malt vinegar helps cut the grease some.

What I loved about this place was how they have some healthy but also, delicious sides to choose from such as sauteed spinach, grilled zucchini and stir fried vegetables. The cheesy grits are a must as it is creamy, rich and so decadent!

My friends also had fresh oysters and thought the accompanying mignonette sauce very respectable!

If you’re not full after all the food, you can try the desserts. The Key Lime Pie ($4.45) was quite mouth-puckering, even for me and I love tart.

The Banana Pudding ($4.45) was surprisingly good and I ended up eating quite a few spoonfuls of this. My only complaint is that there wasn’t enough banana slices in it. Six spoonfuls and I got one banana slice.

I would totally eat at Fish Camp again! This location is a little far for me, but if they open one nearby, I would definitely visit more often!

Fish Camp
16600 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Tel: 562-592-2267

Rubios — fast food I eat from time to time

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Mad Hungry Woman

I don’t eat much fast food, but when I do, it’s always because my son is starving and needs food NOW! Even he is picky about which fast food places he eats at, and we have a few we stick to. Rubio’s is one of them.

I recently ate at Rubio’s again after many years and was impressed by the array of seafood items on the menu.

The salsa bar has four different salsas ranging from mild to spicy, and I do like that their picante is really picante, not some watered down spicy salsa other places like to pass off. There is also pickled carrots and jalapenos which I like to take a bite of in between bites of my food.

The Original Fish Taco using wild Alaska pollock is hand-dipped in their signature seasoned beer batter but was a little too thick on the batter. I did enjoy the Rubio’s white sauce, mild salsa and crunchy fresh cabbage on top. I added a little of the chipotle salsa I acquired from the salsa bar.

Salsa Verde Shrimp Taco is filled with pan-seared shrimp topped with a salsa verde sauce made with tomatillos, poblano chiles and fresh herbs. Hass avocado slices top the shrimp along with cheese and creamy chipotle sauce. The shrimp had nice flavors and the flavor combination is really nice. My only complaint with this item was the flour tortilla it was served on — dry and hard.

I also tried the seasonal Langostino Lobster Taco, something I’ve tried before and enjoyed. The guacamole is flavorful, the creamy chipotle sauce, salsa fresca, red and green cabbage, cilantro and onions all add to its flavors, but again, the tortilla was hard and dry. I ended up eating the inside which was really tasty.

I’m guessing maybe the tortillas were not steamed long enough during the lunch rush, but otherwise, the shrimp and langostino were both seasoned well. For a fast food joint, the food is pretty good and serves well for a quick fix.

This week I have meal tickets from Rubio’s to giveaway. Three lucky winners will have the opportunity to win one of these tickets to check them out and perhaps try their seasonal menu item. Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite fast food establishment is — I won’t judge based on your answers, I promise! As always, entries close Sunday, winners announced Monday.

Rubios — various locations

discovering the new Landmark Corona del Mar

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Mad Hungry Woman

I’d never been to the old Landmark Steakhouse so when I received an invitation to try the menu at the newly re-launched Landmark, I was intrigued. The restaurant is modern, but comfortable with chic dining rooms and a more casual, and colorful patio area for dining al fresco.

They weren’t kidding when they said we’d be dining at the Chef’s Table. We were shuttled into the kitchen at a table where we were able to watch everything Chef Travis Flood and his team were preparing for us that evening.

A graduate of California Culinary Academy, Chef Travis’ experience includes working with Laurent Gris at his San Francisco restaurant Fifth Floor and is also a huge advocate of the local/sustainable movement.

** please note, photos depict a tasting size portion while prices listed are off the menu **

We started with a bread basket of pretzel roll and a whole wheat bread served with whipped honey butter, all of which are made in-house. I particularly enjoyed the whole wheat bread with a smear of the honey butter.

Our first dish was a selection of bite sized items from the menu to start.

A Hawaiian staple, Poke ($16) here consists of ahi tuna, cucumber, avocado, pickled ginger, wakame, ponzu and served with taro chips. We were treated to a bite of this delicious raw fish on a taro chip, the perfect accompaniment to poke.

Roasted Beets ($13) are a must on any current menu with these beautiful root vegetables still in season and sweet as sugar. Speck, tangerine, scallion ash yogurt, arugula and almonds complete this wonderfully refreshing salad.

If you’re in the mood for a burger, then look no further thanThe Landmark ($16) a 6oz dry aged, ground in-house burger on a house-made pretzel bun with charred onion jam, truffle aioli and Hooks four-year white cheddar from Wisconsin. The burger is juicy, flavorful and the onion jam added a touch of smokiness resulting in a really tasty burger.

Next came PCHA (Pacific Coast Hawaiian Atlantic $50/$90) — seafood including Prince Edward Island mussels, clams, lobster tail, Dungeness crab and California caviar. I’m not sure this would be the exact plate you get, but what we got was absolutely stunning and the seafood was allowed to shine on their own without a lot of fussy dressings. Just a touch of extra virgin olive oil, seaweed salad and white sesame seeds complete its composition.

Shaved Garden Vegetables ($13) was so simple, but was full of flavor and color. Vibrant carrots, various beets, zucchini, cucumbers, were all sliced paper thin and tossed together with broccoli rabe florets in a toasted caraway vinaigrette. It was genius and I knew right away I would steal this concoction to serve at home.

When I saw Sweet Pepper and Onion Soup ($13) I was so excited because I love onion soup, but it wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. Instead, onions rings, basil and paprika are presented in a bowl and a sweet pepper soup poured tableside ensuring the onion rings remained crispy on the outside and the onions possessing a crunch on the inside.

Pacific Yellowtail (normally Lingcod on the menu $29) was prepared exactly the same way as the lingcod with roasted tomato, fennel, artichoke puree, grilled bread and a sauce which embodied the taste of bouillabaisse, filled with umami and the aromas and flavors of the ocean.

A small portion of the French fries and house-made ketchup was also brought out for us to try. These fries resembled yuca fries and were thicker than normal fries or chips. The exterior is very crispy with a moist interior. As for the ketchup — and I really dislike ketchup — I loved it! It wasn’t sweet and had a little kick to it. I wouldn’t mind a jar of this thank you very much!!

When the next dish arrived, I was thankful we weren’t presented with an entire steak, but rather, just a small portion of the Paso Prime Grass Fed Dry Aged Beef: Rib Eye (regularly 10oz for $55). Served with a brown butter potato puree, tater tots, and vegetables with a horseradish beef jus, I couldn’t get enough of the meaty, rich jus. I noticed there wasn’t a tater tot and chef said it was because I was complaining about how full I was.

Of course, chef then quickly whisked out a tater tot for us to try. It was so crispy on the outside and melty soft on the inside. Yeah, this was well worth risking a severe stomach ache for.

But then, we started chatting about these lobster croquettes we had heard about and what happens? A lobster croquette miraculously appears in front of us. Oh dear lord! I could only manage a bite of this creamy, gooey, cheesy deliciousness with bits of lobster dotted inside. ($12/5pcs)

Of course, there was still dessert to come, but since I’m not a huge fan of desserts, I took a bite or two and pushed the plate back. I liked the Chocolate ($9) a slice of black magic cake served a rich, decadent dark chocolate coffee ice cream with smoked white chocolate caramel and roasted peanut praline crumbs. Being the ice cream fiend that I am, I polished it all off.

Lemon ($9) was a pistachio crepe mille, layers of crepe formed to resemble a cake with a mouth watering tart Meyer lemon custard served with a scoop of burnt honey ice cream. Take a guess what I devoured off the plate — yep, the ice cream, but also, the custard was quite addicting.

If you’re looking for a place for dinner this weekend, definitely check out Landmark. The restaurant is also nice enough to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.

This week, Landmark has a $25 giftcard for one of my readers to win. Just leave me a comment with your FULL name for a chance. You have until Sunday to get your comments in.

Landmark
3520 E Coast Hwy
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
Tel: 949-675-5556

tasty bites at Shuck Oyster Bar

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Mad Hungry Woman

I didn’t plan on going to Shuck, after all, with my oyster allergy, I figured there wasn’t much I could eat anyway. So when Austin suggested we lunch there, I was a bit skeptical, but he assured me there were other things besides oysters on the menu.

Located at SoCo, I immediately liked the airy space with that minimalistic feel. There are a few tables but prime seating at the counter is highly suggested. This is where you can watch first hand, master shuckers opening oysters to order.

Just because I can’t partake in the oysters doesn’t mean the others can’t. The $20 Oyster was extravagance on a shell. A Belon oyster is topped with creme fraiche, a dollop of osetra caviar and some citrus caviar (fingerling lime) finished with lemon zest. It looked scrumptious — and I was told it was.

Oyster fans can pick their own array from the menu board.

There were items on the menu for me and we ordered almost all of them starting with Grilled Cheese ($10), beautifully pressed cheesy sandwiches made with OC Baking Company’s delicious bread. I was very pleased with these non-greasy grilled cheese morsels. Unfortunately, I only got one piece since my son hogged most of the plate.

Next came Clam Chowda ($8), again, impressing my finicky palate. It was seasoned just right with a consistency I’m happy with. Honestly, there was nothing I would do to tweak it, it was pretty perfect with plump clams throughout.

Seafood Stew ($14) was reminiscent of cioppino with a tomato base and comprised of mussels, clams and mahi mahi. Even my boy slurped the flavorful broth with glee and soaking up the remainder liquid with the accompanying toast.

Since we were all clam fans, we couldn’t leave without trying Sausage and Clams ($10) which were wonderfully seasoned with bits of sausage resembling chorizo dotted between the plump clams. So delicious!! I absolutely loved this.

Everything was perfectly executed and tasted great. They can get busy so if you don’t want to wait, go during the mid-afternoon lull, you’ll get to chowing down in no time.

Shuck Oyster Bar
3313 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Tel: 949-420-0478

new fall menu items at Seasons 52

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Mad Hungry Woman

It’s that time of year again when restaurants revamp their menus to reflect the changing season. Seasons 52 prides itself in incorporating seasonal produce into the menus and I was able to try some new fall menu items which embodied an autumnal air about them even if the soCal weather isn’t helping us along in any shape or form.

Now, you know I’m not a big drinker, nor do I talk about wines much, but this time, I was quite pleased with some of the wines paired with our meal so I will mention the ones which stood out.

Portabello Mushroom Flatbread ($10.95) has been featured before and I was happy to see it return. Meaty slices of portabello sits atop the thin crispy flatbread the restaurant is known for. I love mushrooms and these are full bodied in both aroma and taste.

One of the new items — Double Hummus & Sea Salt Lavash ($7.50) — was quite lovely. I especially liked the salty crispy lavash which I enjoyed even on its own. The minted edamame hummus was mild in flavor while the red roasted chili hummus packed a slightly stronger punch. I liked both but the latter definitely stood out a little more than the other since I love bold flavors when it comes to food.

(For photo purposes, the flatbread was moved to create a better shot. It usually is served standing up in a cone in between the two plates of hummus).

I was extremely surprised by Cider-Glazed Grilled Chicken Skewers ($9.95) expecting them to be….. well….. chicken skewers. These tender pieces of chicken was so moist and having been marinating in the cider glaze, produced a nice, even flavor throughout. The accompanying Fuji apple slaw was also rather tasty with a slightly sweet finish, working together with the acidity of the cider. Topped with sun-dried cranberries and toasted pumpkin seeds, you get a mouthful of textural contrasts in every bite.

The pairing for the chicken skewers was Farrier Andiron Semillon, Alexander ’09, a crisp, light white wine which wasn’t too dry and worked well with the sweet tartness of this dish.

The Maple Leaf Farms Sesame Duck Salad ($15.25) makes a reprise this fall, with chopped greens, apples, mint, cranberries, butternut squash and toasted pecans. I’ve had this dish before and really like the freshness of the mint with the crunch of the pecans. The portion makes for an ample entree, or you can share it as a starter.

Seasons 52′s use of All-Natural Piedmontese meat is apparent throughout the year and this fall, they are featuring a Bone-In Strip Steak 11oz ($28.95) served with roasted asparagus, cremini mushrooms and Fingerling potatoes.

However, the star of the evening was definitely Manchester Farms All-Natural Grilled Quail ($25.95 dinner only), succulent quail perfectly prepared and served with truffle mushroom risotto, leaf spinach and roasted cipollini onions with balsamic glaze.

With the main courses we were given two wines, but I definitely liked the Michael David Petite Petit, Petite Sirah, Lodi ’09/’10 the best. In fact, it was my favorite wine of the night. Smooth, rich, and incredibly sexy, this red complemented both the steak and the quail perfectly.

If you’re familiar with the restaurant’s Mini Indulgences ($2.75 each), on top of all the familiar dessert shooters, the new pumpkin pie with ginger snap crust is an absolute must for pumpkin pie lovers. Adorned with a house-made ginger snap cookie, this was a dessert even my non-sweet palate couldn’t say no to.

I always suggest you visit when there has been a menu change. The months go by rather quickly and before you know it, the winter menu is in place and you’ve missed out on the wonderful fall items.

This week, Seasons 52 has generously donated a dinner for two to giveaway. Leave me a comment with your FULL name, along with the reasons you love fall for a chance to win. Entries close on Sunday. Good Luck!

Seasons 52
3333 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Tel: 714-437-5252

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