Tag Archives: fashion island

A Gastronomic Delight at True Food Kitchen

It’s no secret that I love True Food Kitchen.  I’ve blogged about it numerous times and waxed poetic about the cookbook (and no, I am not sponsored by Fox Restaurant Group).  When I was invited to participate in a media dinner at True Food, I jumped at the chance to dine at my favorite restaurant.

As much as I love True Food Kitchen, I tend to order the same thing every time I go.  Brunch is almost always the Greek Frittata, Lunch is the Chicken Chopped Salad or Turkey Pita, and Dinner is the Turkey Burger,  Tuscan Kale Salad, Sweet Potato Hash or Pizza.  This dinner was a great opportunity for me to try some of the other dishes True Food Kitchen had to offer.

Our meal began with a variety of appetizers – pita with hummus, raw crudités and edamame dumplings.  All of the appetizers were delicious and I was so preoccupied with them that I forgot to take a picture.  If you are really curious as to what the hummus looks like, check out this post.

The next two courses were salad courses.  The first salad that came out was the Farmer’s Market salad made with kale, radish, carrot, broccoli, beet, avocado and manchego cheese with a champagne vinaigrette.  This salad was light and refreshing and I know I will be recreating this one at home.

The second salad (and when I finally decided to whip out my camera) was the Harvest Chopped which came with squash, apple, pomegranate, goat cheese, walnuts and greens and topped with a balsamic vinaigrette.  I thoroughly enjoyed this salad as well (except for the walnuts since I am allergic) and loved the squash texture and flavor to the salad.

After the salad courses, we were presented with the Panang Curry, which came with tofu, potato, brown rice, broccoli, carrot, ginger and mushroom in a coconut milk broth.  I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t care too much for curry, so I only had a couple of bites.  It definitely had a fair amount of heat to it, and if you like spicy things, then this dish is for you.  The Englishman loved this dish which is saying something since he does not normally like tofu.  Well played, True Food.

Entree number two was the Grilled Albacore Slider with the Tuscan Kale Salad and Sweet Potato Hash.  I was particularly excited about this dish since I love the kale salad and sweet potato hash.  The grilled albacore came on a flax seed bun with avocado and wasabi mayonnaise and was delicious.  I loved that the albacore was seared and more on the raw side.

Finally it was time for the piece de resistance – dessert.  We were presented with three different desserts to share amongst the table, and I think it’s safe to say that they were all delicious based on the mmms around the table.  The first dessert I tried was the Squash Pie with coconut whipped cream.

Since I am a huge fan of pumpkin pie, I had a feeling I would like this dessert and I did.  The coconut whipped cream just took it over the top.  And if you are a vegan, then this dessert is definitely for you.

The next dessert was the Flourless Chocolate Cake, which I have had before and found it as tasty as ever.  If you have a gluten allergy, then this cake is definitely for you.  It’s made with 72% cocoa and is covered with caramel and vanilla ice cream.  Decadent indeed.

Last but not least was the Apple Crisp with Pecan Maple Ice Cream.   This definitely seemed to be the crowd favorite.  The apples were warm and the crisp topping melted in your mouth.  And I must figure out how to make pecan maple ice cream.

The best part of this meal is that everyone left pleasantly full but not feeling overstuffed or lethargic which often happens after big meals.  The dishes at True Food are so light and fresh that you can’t help but feel good after eating them.  I’m really glad I got to try a few new menu items and happy to report I have new favorites to add to the list.

Until we meet again True Food Kitchen!

 

 

Brunching at Le Pain Quotidien

This past fall I had the pleasure of dining at Le Pain Quotidien for lunch.  The Englishman has heard me go on and on about my lovely lunch, so finally I decided to take him to Le Pain Quotidien, only for breakfast instead.

We started out our meal the true french way with a coffee and a croissant.  The croissant was light, flaky and buttery, and reminded me of the delicious croissants I enjoyed when I was in Paris a few years back.

The menu had lots of tantalizing breakfast items, but I decided to keep it simple and ordered a bowl of steel-cut oats topped with fresh berries and milk.  It may not be the most exciting breakfast, but it sure did hit the spot.

The Englishman ordered a ham and gruyere omelette that came with a slice of wheat bread and a baguette.  I took a few bites of his dish and loved the delicious melted cheese inside the omelette.

Le Pain Quotidien is a perfect little breakfast/brunch spot if you are looking for something light and tasty.   The pastries are definitely the standout at this spot, and I highly recommend the buttery, flaky, croissants.  Get a croissant and a coffee, sit outside on the patio and you will feel like you are sitting on the Champs Elysses in Paris, at least for a little  while.

Le Pain Quotidien

401 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Lunching at Le Pain Quotidien

Le Pain Quotidien was always favorite stop of mine when I lived in the L.A. area.  I enjoyed the open-faced sandwiches, freshly baked bread, and delicious beverages.  But when I moved to Orange County, there was not a Le Pain Quotidien in sight.  Until now.

As luck would have it, Le Pain Quotidien opened in Fashion Island this past fall, and I’ve been itching to make a stop there.  When my mom suggested we burn off some of our Thanksgiving dinner by facing the Black Friday crowds at Fashion Island I made sure our lunch stop was at Le Pain Quotidien.

The interior of the Fashion Island restaurant was very similar to the ones I had experienced in LA – lots of big communal tables, glass displays of freshly baked goods, and a patio area.  Since it was a beautiful Southern California day, my mom and I opted to sit on the patio.

After perusing the menu and ordering much needed glasses of iced tea, I finally decided on the Paris Ham and Gruyere Tartine.

I was very pleased with this dish.  It came with a trio of different mustards and little cornichons on the side.  The ham and cheese were also very flavorful.  It was light, but not too light and left me satisfied.

My mom ordered the Tuscan Bean and Proscuitto salad, which I became immediately jealous of as soon as it emerged.

The salad came with arugula, parmesan and basil croutons which basically looked like cubes of Le Pain Quotidien’s freshly baked bread.  I tasted some of her salad and it was excellent.  Mental note made.  I will be ordering this next time.

It was a lovely lunch and the perfect fuel to get us through the rest of our Black Friday shopping.  I definitely want to make a stop at Le Pain Quotidien for breakfast in the near future, as their breakfast pastries cannot be beat!

Sorry for such the long hiatus, Le Pain Quotidien.  But fear not, I WILL be dining at you again in the near future.

Le Pain Quotidien

401 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660