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Garlic & Chives

The 2017 edition of Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants shows Garlic & Chives as #93. As a food critic for the Los Angeles for a number of years, he uses this numbering system to rate restaurants in the Los Angeles area, with a few thrown in from Orange County.

I am not sure exactly what criteria Mr. Gold uses to determine which will appear in the annual culinary publication. This was my conundrum when having lunch with Julie at Garlic & Chives this week. Our expectations were high, but we were disappointed. Perhaps we expected too much from a restaurant listed as #93. But still – it was in the book. We ordered 3 items items to share – coincidentally the same 3 that were listed in his review. These were also recommended by our waitress when we told her that this was our first visit.

Salmon Belly battered in garlic seasonings and fried crisp, served with house special sauce. The picture in the menu showed large pieces of salmon. In actuality, they were thin strips so heavily battered we could not taste the salmon. The sauce was quite tasty though. See all those peppers? We requested no peppers.

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The Baked Corn Cheese was baked in a hot skillet and topped with mozzarella. This is supposedly a Koreatown dish, but there was nothing special about it. It tasted like it came from a can.

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The redeeming dish was the Pomelo Salad with grapefruit, shrimp, port, banana blossom, carrots, onion, mint and peanuts tossed with house vinaigrette. This was a nice blend of flavors and textures.

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In all fairness, we did not order any of the numerous entrees. The menu is quite extensive. Also, when you see Asians dining in an Asian restaurant you figure it must be pretty good.  Our experience, however, did not warrant our return.

The Other Thing — Since June is my birthday month, Julie started it off by giving me a lovely lemon birthday cake and a  little package that read “Your Birthday Week – Open a Gift a Day”. It looks very intriguing but I can’t open it until June 20th. Thank you Julie!!

 

 

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Artsy Saturday

On a bright sunny day, me, myself, and I headed south for some cultural enrichment. My first stop was the Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar. I don’t really know that much about art but I know what I like. If it speaks to me in some way and is visually appealing then it works for me.

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My friend Caesar Alzate Jr. is one of the artists on exhibit. The gallery was closed for the entire Holiday weekend, but owner Jeannie Denholm answered the phone when I called the number on the front door, and she was kind enough to open for me. Her gallery is a delightful open and light space. It has been a focal point for art and related activities for 14 years. She has been active in the art business for 3 decades and has an extensive background assisting corporations and private collectors with art acquisitions and curatorial services.

Jeannie is pleased to show Caesar’s work. Two of his pieces have sold, with interest in 2 more. Entitled “Mano/Mono”, the featured artists in this exhibition use media in a monochromatic style. Since Caesar is color blind, he chooses to work in one color. In his multi-layered pieces, he uses paint straight from the tube, and with a heat gun, he vaporizes the paint. It is very labor intensive using thousands of layers. The results are amazing.

“We believe art is one of the key ingredients in creating a stimulating and satisfying home. Our strategic commitment in this area stems from this conviction,” says Jeannie. For more information about exhibitions and activities, visit her website at scapesite.com.

Now, off to the Laguna Museum of Art. Local art icon Tony Delap is having a one-man show, and it is pretty awesome. One of the docents told me that he was on site every day for the 2 weeks it took to install his works. So you know that everything is hung in the exact location he wanted. Tony is 91 years old and still producing art. Don’t we wish we could be doing the same at that age!!

To top off the day, I had a great lunch along with a cold refreshing  “Pear Mule” at Skyloft. I sat outside on the first deck with a view of downtown and the ocean.

The Other Thing – I had an enjoyable day on my own, and as my brother often says,”Sometimes you’re just your own best friend”.

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Glen Ivy Hot Springs

Spent a beautiful sunny day with my daughter Kathleen being pampered, catered to and generally spoiled in our private cabana by the pool. All of this was courtesy of her Mr. Wonderful!! The photos speak better than any of my words.

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The Other Thing – Two totally relaxed and contented females glad neither one had to drive home.

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Cuban Film = Cuban Food

The Newport Beach Film Festival has added a Culinary division this year, and the film entitled “Cuban Food Stories” caught my attention. So on Sunday afternoon with my friend Jennifer we watched this interesting story directed and narrated by Asori Soto.

After 10 years living as an expat in the United States, Asori decided to return to his homeland of Cuba to search for the missing flavors of his childhood. It was a travelogue through the small villages of Cuba – most of which we have never heard – interviewing the locals and watching them prepare their traditional Cuban dishes. Cubans have lived off the land and the sea for generations. Many of the people interviewed had never before seen a camera.

Asori  Soto along with his producer and others of his team were in the audience for a question and answer session. The last question asked Asori was where would he go today in Orange County to get traditional and authentic Cuban food. He response was, “to Porto for a Cubano Sandwich!”.

How could we resist this. We looked up Porto on Jennifer’s GPS. The closest one is in Buena Park near Knotts Berry Farm, so off we went. Porto Bakery & Cafe occupies an entire newly-constructed, very contemporary building on Beach Boulevard. There is a bakery, a full coffee bar and a deli, offering everything Cuban under the sun!!

We are all about sampling and sharing, so we ordered the Cubano Sandwich cut in half and served with crispy plantain chips, Potato Balls (Papa rellena), Chicken Empanadas, Tamales filled with seasoned braised pork and wrapped in the lightest, tastiest massa ever. For dessert, there were so many sweets that it was impossible to choose. We opted for their freshly baked flakey puffed pastry filled with cream cheese…..simple but delicioso!!

Everything is packaged to go so there was no fancy plating to photograph. There were large covered patio seating areas to enjoy your food there or take it home for later. We, of course, did both. I can’t resist showing you some of the cakes. The line to the bakery was by far the longest.

What a fun afternooon, and it’s always great when you can share it all with a good friend – especially with someone who loves food as much as I do.

The Other Thing – Porto’s is also located in Glendale, Burbank, and Downey. Check out their website at http://www.portosbakery.com. Be careful though, you might just end heading for your car.

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HORAAY FOR INDIE BOOKS!

I am a lover of books – my favorite being mystery fiction, but I have been known to read best sellers, fantasy, non-fiction and poetry. I also admit to being a Stephen King fan. I have read every book he has written. I will never have a Kindle or any other e-reader. I enjoy the library and visiting independent bookstores. Call me weird but I just like the feel and smell of books.

My brother worked for a few months at the Lido Bookstore, located in Lido Marina Village, in the late 70s, and he said it was the job that has given him the most joy. I have visited it in its many entities over the years, so I decided to find out more about this independent bookstore operation. On April 2nd, I taped an interview with the owner, Dan Schmenk. Here it is.

Lido book Shoppe opened in 1972 and was owned for 20 years by a married couple who lived in Laguna Beach. He was a buyer for Norton, a major publishing company. A new owner took over in the late 1980s. He had 6 or 7 other stores and Lido Books was his first in Orange County. It closed the day after 9-11 and the space was empty for several months. When Dan stopped by one day to buy a book, he found the shop closed. Being retired for a while Dan was looking for something interesting to occupy his time. He contacted the property manager of the Village about taking over the empty space, and Lido Village Books was born.

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“It has been tough.” says Dan. “No one in their right mind will open a bookstore to make money. It is truly a labor of love!”

Dan and his wife Linda were English teachers for 30+ years. Their only qualification for book shop ownership was their love of books. I asked him about his demographic and the customers he serves. For the first 16 years, his customers were older – in the 45-75 age range and very loyal to Lido Books. In the last two years besides that demographic, the majority are in the 20-240 age range. A third of his sales are children’s books.

As an independent bookstore owner, his biggest challenge is to hire workers who know and love books, make themselves familiar with the books the store carries, be able to help customers choose the right books – ones specific to their needs. Dan feels very fortunate that his current staff meets all these requirements.

I asked Dan what sets his store apart from other independent bookstores and was surprised by his response. He feels that all independents are “in this together” in that they hand-pick books they stock and are actually curators for their stores. They refer to each other if they don’t have what the customer wants. There are only 3 indies in Orange County now, and I don’t imagine that the number will increase any time soon.

In the age of social media, he averages 10 website orders per month, and they are from the local community. His store averages 40 customers per day. In the 1/2 hour or so of our interview a half dozen people entered and 2 made purchases.

There are at least two events a month at Lido Village Books including author signings and lectures. Little Lido Kids Club meets every third Thursday for reading, live music and crafts. Attendance is from 20 to 50 children and parents. April 26th features the book “The Rainbow Fish” and May 17th is “How I Became a Pirate”. There are always raffles and special book discounts.

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The completely renovated Lido Marina Village has lured quite a crowd. It is aesthetically pleasing with lots of comfortably furnished conversation areas and a lovely view of the marina and the rich people’s yachts. The mix of retail stores and restaurants attract all age groups and appeal to many lifestyles and culinary tastes.  As for Lido Village Books, Dan said that in the last 12 months sales have more than doubled from the total for the previous 16 years! Visit the Village, buy a book, walk around, have something to eat, go back and buy another book.

Current fiction paperback and hardcover non-fiction are popular, with children’s books (including teen and young adult fiction) always leading the way. When asked about his most unusual requests, his answer was so surprising and shocking that I have decided not to mention it here. If you are curious, stop by and ask Dan yourself.

For the first 16 years social media did not play much of a part in the success of his business. But now Dan’s wife, who is in charge of all social media outlets to market Lido Village Books, has put them out there everywhere! Be sure to check out  lidovillagebooks.com, http://www.facebook.com/lidovillagebooks and @lidovillagebooks. Or if you prefer the old-fashioned way, call him at 949-673-2549. Be sure to visit the store at 3424 Via Oporto, Suite 102B, Newport Beach. Tell Dan that Barbara sent you.

The Other Thing – Saturday, April 28th is “Independent Bookstore Day”. So stop by anytime between 10am and 5pm and show your support. There will be fun for all!

 

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Dan Brown – Makes You Think!!

Not everyone is a Dan Brown fan, but I think many forget that his novels are FICTION! There is just a germ of possible truth in them that makes you think. I am of the opinion that whatever makes you actually think is a good thing. I take notes when I read his novels (the word “novel” also indicates that it is fiction). There are many names and places, art works, buildings, monuments and architectural styles that fire my imagination. I look them up in the dictionary, online, in my art history textbook to get more information. I am a little more informed by reading Dan Brown. Is that blasphemy? I think not. One is never too old to learn something new. So I say to you Dan Brown haters, lighten up. His novels are fun. I ought to know because I have read them all. The author is not trying to change anyone’s mind about religion, philosophy or science. His purpose is to entertain. But they do, however, contain a few history lessons.

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Here is what I have learned from his latest, “Origin”. The theme is a controversial one.(what else is new) – Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? I have an entire page of things to check out – because they are so interesting, and they are actual places, etc. Here are my notes:

  1. Pesseig de Gracia
  2. Islesia Catolica Palmariana – La Islesia Oscura
  3. Pope Gregory XV11??
  4. Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
  5. Antoni Gaudi – “God’s Architect”
  6.        Park Guell
  7.        Basilica de la Sagrada Familia 1882 – Tallest church in world
  8.        Casa Milia 1906
  9.        La Pedera
  10. Panots
  11. Carlist Movement
  12. Almudena Cathedral in Madrid
  13. Friedrick Nietzsche “The Peacock and the Buffalo”
  14.         275 poems about God, death and the human mind
  15. The Complete Works of William Blake – check out page 163
  16.        “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell”
  17. Paul Gauguin painting that is entitled
  18.         “D’ou Venons Nous/Que Sommes Nous/Ou Allons Nous”
  19.         Newborn baby/people of different ages doing a variety of things/”strange  white         bird” sits beside an elderly woman representing what the artist says represents         “the futility of words”

The Other Thing – Nineteen and I still have 161 pages to read. Doesn’t something here peak your interest?

 

 

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Benji’s For Sure!

 

 

One would think that the food in a restaurant in business for over 50 years with steady and loyal customers would be pretty darned good. If the restaurant is Benji’s you would be correct.  Located on Tustin Avenue off 17th Street, this place is a rare gem in the world of the traditional (dare I say “old-fashioned”) coffee shops.

I arrived after the normal lunch hours and the place was packed. I was still seated right away by a young lady with a charming smile. She brought me my beverage quicker than I could open my menu. I told my waitress Carolyn that in all my years in Orange County I had never been to Benji’s. She had several recommendations that were customer favorites and Benji specialties. I opted for the open-faced hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and house-made giblet gravy. Tender sliced turkey, just the right amount of hot, good old white bread to sop up the gravy – even the coleslaw was just the way I like it – crunchy cabbage with a dressing that is just a little sweet.

Carolyn suggested that I save some turkey to take home for dinner because she insisted that I try her favorite dessert. When I saw it listed in the menu, I knew I had to have it. As a lover of all things Italian, how could I resist something called Lemoncello Marscarpone Cake for heaven’s sake??? It was even more delicious that it sounded!!

IMG_20180321_134716727 Even the gentleman at the next table was raving about his food. He has been going to Benji’s for years. I noticed he had ordered a chocolate milkshake that was in a glass that I swear was a foot and a half tall. As he walked by on his way out, he said “be sure to come back again and have the matzo ball soup. It is really great, and so are the potato pancakes”. This entire dining experience was delightful.

The one other thing – even the Arnold Palmer was perfect, with just the right mixture of lemonade and ice tea! Who could ask for more?!!

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Black Trumpet Bistro

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The owners of Mona Lisa and Capone’s in Huntington Beach have opened another gem, this one at 18344 Beach Boulevard. Black Trumpet Bistro specializes in Mediterranean tapas, small plates bringing flavors from Italy, Greece, France, Morocco and Spain. This place was highly recommended by my friend Debbie the gourmet cook, so I already knew that it must be pretty good.

We ordered several small plates to share …. Roasted Cauliflower with Almonds, Harissa Yogurt and Caramelized Onions, Charcuterie Plate featuring 3 different cheeses, 2 types of salami, prosciutto, imported olives, honey roasted nuts, and crusty bread with fig jam, Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Pomegranate Reduction, and Truffle Fries with Garlic, Parsley and Shaved Pecorino. All of this came with freshly made pita bread accompanied by an olive tapenade made with an elegant olive oil. Everything was nicely plated and a wonderful blend of flavors. I’m starting to salivate just writing about this. And, of course, we had a little sparkling Cava Brut from Spain to enhance our culinary experience.

We told our very helpful server that we were too full for dessert. She ignored that and then brought by the dessert tray. Guess which one we picked!

Chocolate cake with marshmallow mousse filling and covered with chocolate ganache.

The Other Thing – Italian restaurants Mona Lisa and Capone’s and the New Black Trumpet Bistro are family owned. Their attention to detail in their food and in their service sets them apart.

 

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Breakfast at Kitchen in the Canyon

Jeffrey and I met Jennifer her for Sunday brunch. Kitchen in the Canyon is in Laguna Canyon near the Festival of Arts grounds. It is off the street so keep your eyes peeled.         Coffees served here are little pieces of art.

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Jeff had the Egg White Mexican Omelet with turkey, jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, spinach, cilantro and jack cheese. I ordered the Canyon Bowl with rice, potatoes, black beans, avocado spread and pico de gallo with steak. Jennifer opted for the Loaded Canyon Burrito with steak, scrambled eggs, black beans, cheese, avocado spread and pico de gallo.

The Other thing — This restaurant is an order at the counter/deliver to your table operation. No reservations taken and it does get busy. It’s worth the wait.

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