Amore at Mezzaluna?

Ah! There's nothing like a sunny, hot day at the beach to start one's Orange County odyssey. And when in Orange County, do as the Orange Countians do... Which is to "lunch" in style on PCH!

And that I did at Cafe Mezzaluna in Dana Point. It's right off Pacific Coast Highway in Monarch Beach, just across the street from The Ritz-Carlton and Salt Creek Beach. But for such a tony 'hood, the prices were pretty low.

However, the quality of the food wasn't. I ordered ravioli alla vodka, and I got house made pasta stuffed with ricotta and herbs, then topped with tomato sauce spiked with vodka and a touch of cream. The dish had a good balance of tang, spice, and creaminess. It felt like just the right dish to order on a hot, sunny beach day.

And along with the ravioli came a basket of garlic bread. It was like the garlic bread that comes with delivery pizza, only done with real garlic and parmesan, and baked fresh on site. I'm usually not crazy for this kind of "garlic bread", but this was good stuff and I couldn't stop dipping it into the excess tomato vodka sauce. So far, so good.

Since I had worked up an appetite with all my morning beach excursions, and I was about to do more at Salt Creek, I treated myself to dessert. Their New York Cheesecake tasted as authentic as one from an Orange County Cal-Ital ("California style Italian", that is) joint can get away with serving. It was rich and sweet, but still had that nice cream cheese tang, and it was more than light enough to keep me from getting an upset tummy.

All in all, I had a lovely lunch at this pleasant Monarch Beach hideaway. It reminded me of the many things I miss about Orange County, such as the pristine beaches, relaxing sea breezes, and quaint holes in the wall serving good grub that won't bankrupt me. It's not that often I get to enjoy any of that back home in Vegas.





















Style: Beach Casual Cal-Ital
Price: $
Open: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 4.6 (out of 5)
Service: 3.0 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 1.9 (out of 2)
Overall: 9.5 (out of 10)
Very Satisfying Good Grub

Z'Tejas Es Z'Bueno!

While I was saddened to have to leave town just as Vegas Uncork'd was arriving, I at least had a few Orange County culinary delights to comfort me. Z'Tejas was one of them.

It's always been one of my favorite restaurants here, and it's been a favorite because it serves great food. It's an interesting Tex-Mex joint from Austin that marries together plenty of Mexican spice with Southern soul... And it actually isn't hokey!

This time, I was in the mood for something sinful (maybe I was homesick for "Sin City" already?), so I ordered their new mac & cheese dish. And much to my delight, it arrived hot, rich, creamy, and cheesy! I was certainly feeling better.

What also helped was the irresistible cornbread served beforehand. It was baked fresh and served piping hot. I could still taste the sweet corn kernels, and it tasted even better with the butter served alongside.

And for dessert? Since I wasn't missing this, I just had to try the key lime cheesecake! It had a lovely, citrusy, tartness balanced by a nice, delicate sweetness. It definitely ranks among the better cheesecakes I've eaten.

Don't believe me? See below!











I know it doesn't make up for missing the most fabulous foodie weekend in Las Vegas. But for Orange County, I could do far worse. I really can't complain. ;-)

Style: Casually Elegant Southwestern
Price: $$
Open: Lunch & Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 4.8 (out of 5)
Service: 3.0 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 1.9 (out of 2)
Overall: 9.7 (out of 10)
Outstanding, Destination Eating!

La Cave Revisited

Remember my fabulous time at La Cave in December, right after it first opened? Well, I hadn't had a chance to visit in a while... But I finally returned a few days before I left town. And much to my delight, the food still delighted me. And to make my evening even better, I discovered its pool view terrace!

Where should I begin? How about drinks! I ordered a mojito, and I got a good wallop of good rum! It was sweet and refreshing, but not sickly sweet and showing off enough lime tartness to keep it interesting and fun.

I had another flatbread/pizza, but I still wanted to switch it up, so this time I ordered one with prosciutto, caramelized onions, arugula, and a light cream sauce. It all came together beautifully. The salty prosciutto, sweet onions, and pepper arugula made for a great contrast of flavors. And the bread still tasted as fresh and soft as ever.

What also put a smile on my face is perhaps my new favorite dessert, the American Chocolate Cake at La Cave! I know I'm a sucker for nearly anything chocolate, but I have a hard time seeing anyone turn away all that rich chocolate ganache covered in rich chocolate fondant. It's just so sinfully delicious!

And now that summer pool season is raging in Las Vegas, do try to snatch a table outside if dining around sunset. The views of Wynn's breathtaking pool are captivating. For a moment, one might forget about the sweating hoi polloi gorging on footlong margaritas and nasty buffets when noshing here. ;-)


Style: Elegant Casual

Price: $$$

Open: Lunch & Dinner


The Rating

---

Food: 4.9 (out of 5)

Service: 2.9 (out of 3)

Ambiance: 2.0 (out of 2)

Overall: 9.8 (out of 10)

Outstanding, Destination Eating!

While Vegas Uncork'd Kicks Off...

I'm actually out of town. Jeez, just my luck!

Yes, kids, I'm back. It's been a busy month, but I do have a backlog of restaurant reviews to post here.

Also, I do have a special treat for you. You'll have to wait to see what the surprise is!

And at some point, I'll have to figure out how to rejigger my schedule to post more often and regularly here. ;-)

Sens-Asian-al Jazmine?

OK, one more Reno post. Before I forget, I must mention Jazmine. Why, you ask? Well, look below!











Is it anything like the amazing grub, whether it's Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese, that you'll regularly find in our own dear Chinatown? Nope. But for Reno, it will do.

Until China Mama opens a Washoe County outpost, it's OK to settle down here and grab some potstickers. The veggies inside did taste fresh, and the potstickers did keep me satisfied. And the egg rolls were fried just right... Not too greasy, but still crispy outside.

I also ordered the braised tofu with black mushrooms and bok choy. Everything was quite tender to the mouth, and the tofu actually acquired some good flavor from the salty-sweet soy marinade used. But at the same time, I could still taste the natural flavors of the veggies. All in all, not bad.

So while I may not be flying to Reno any time soon to drive to South Meadows in search of "the perfect Asian meal", at least I know I can come here for good grub. (Did you hear that, Santa Fe fans?)

Style: Casually Elegant Pan-Asian
Price: $$
Open: Lunch & Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 4.5 (out of 5)
Service: 2.9 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 1.8 (out of 2)
Overall: 9.2 (out of 10)
Solidly Good Grub

Bite of Reno: Sadness at Santa Fe

Have you ever been let down by something that was meant to be "THE experience of a lifetime"? Isn't it saddening? Frustrating? Annoying?

That's how I felt after dinner at Santa Fe in Reno.















See that food? There was really nothing special about it. The bread tasted like it was from a mass production factory. The soup tasted like it was from a can.

And wait, it doesn't stop there! The chicken tasted extra greasy, and the pork chops were really dry. So this place is supposed to be a "local legend" and they can't even serve decent pork chops?

And what was "Basque" about any of this? I saw a pimiento pepper here and vaguely "Spanish" spices there. As Gertrude Stein would say, "There's no THERE there."

At least the ice cream at the end was OK... But I could tell that was also from somewhere else. Dreyer's, perhaps?

I've made far better Basque food at home. Maybe this just wasn't a good weekend at Santa Fe, so I won't say "NEVER!!!" just yet. However, next time I will ask more questions if someone in Reno tells me about this place I "just HAVE to try!!!" If it weren't for the low prices, I would have been even more let down. Without a doubt, I won't be complaining about spending a few extra dollars next time to enjoy a quality Spanish meal locally at Julian Serrano or Jaleo.

Style: Family Style Neighborhood Hangout
Price: $
Open: Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 2.3 (out of 5)
Service: 1.7 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 1.5 (out of 2)
Overall: 5.5 (out of 10)
Bitter Aftertaste, Don't Bother With This Dud

Bite of Reno: 5th Street Bakehouse

These were some of the sights and tastes of 5th Street Bakehouse in Reno last weekend.

I had a "California Breakfast" sandwich that was out of this world. The bread was super fresh, along with the tomato and avocado. The egg was cooked superbly, and was quite fluffy. All in all, I had a good time with that sandwich... And I'm not usually into breakfast sandwiches.

In addition to that lovely sandwich, I also sampled their delectable pastries. In particular, the peanut butter toffee scone really put a smile on my face. It was rich and sweet, but not overly or sickly sweet. The scone also had a flaky texture that made it that much more enjoyable.

Oh, and this place also knows how to do coffee right! My white mocha tasted the way a mocha should, meaning I could still taste the coffee. And thankfully, they used good quality coffee.

And you know what the best part about this breakfast was? It felt "down home"... In a good way. I never felt rushed. We held our table as we awaited more friends. Magazines were available at a table near the front door. It truly felt like a neighborhood cafe.

Getting back to what I talked about yesterday, Reno's culinary culture is quite different from Vegas'. Here, true neighborhood hangouts are few and far between. There, it's just another day at the favorite corner bakery. Here, breakfast on The Strip can be an elaborate affair with eclairs and sushi and sparkling champagne... While breakfast off The Strip is considered "decent" if it didn't come out of a freezer or paper bag. But in Reno, this may actually be awaiting you upon awakening.

Strange, isn't it?

Style: Bakery, Neighborhood Hangout
Price: $
Open: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The Rating
---

Food: 4.9 (out of 5)
Service: 1.8 (out of 3)
Ambiance: 2.0 (out of 2)
Overall: 9.7 (out of 10)
Outstanding Destination Eating!