Too Much Food » Chains

Eating Out: True Food Kitchen, Newport Beach, CA

Pinjing — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:28:41 +0000

A few meals that I had recently at True Food Kitchen in Newport Beach. A restaurant concept by Dr. Weil, which features healthy, organic and functional foods that are light yet delicious. It’s become a new favorite of mine and if it weren’t such a drive from home, I’d go there more often.

The restaurant is immaculate and features an open kitchen where you can see the chefs preparing the food. There’s also an area with large tables, where they do demonstrations and lessons sometimes, I believe.

Cucumber Refresher: Cucumber and Honey Lemonade.

Hangover Rx: Coconut water, orange juice and pineapple.

Tuscan Kale: Lemon, parmesan and bread crumb. I’m used to eating kale cooked down and braised, but this crunchier, raw version was a good change from the usual.

Caramelized Onion Tart: Smoked garlic, black fig and gorgonzola. I’ve always loved the combination of a salty cheese with fruit, so I naturally loved this one. Put caramelized onions on top of anything == instant tasty.

Edamame Dumplings: Daikon radish and white truffle oil. My favorite of the night. Edamame and daikon were pureed to a silky consistency and dressed in a light broth, these were filling without being heavy. Highly recommend this one. Not sure of the truffle oil is real, but my tastebuds aren’t sophisticated enough to tell yet.

Wild Ahi Sliders: Wasabi aioli, radish, avocado and cucumber.

Another dinner, a few months later. It was my birthday and I decided I wanted to revisit because I was craving the edamame ravioli.

(L): The Natural – Fresh ginger, agave and soda. (R): Medicine Man – Olivello juice, Pomegranate juice, Cranberry juice, black tea, soda water and blueberries.. I ordered the Natural; really gingery and spicy. I don’t like my drinks overly sweet, so this was good. Others, however, felt it was a bit too spicy for their taste. My dad and sister both ordered the Medicine Man, which apparently is an antioxidant powerhouse due to the combination of olivello, pomegranate and cranberry juices. Others enjoyed this more, but I felt it was a bit too sweet for my taste.

Top: Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon: Goat cheese, roasted cashews, and cold pressed olive oil. So refreshing and delicious. The classic combination of watermelon and feta cheese paired with fresh heirloom tomatoes was a bit hit, hitting all the right notes of sweet, savory and acidity. Bottom: Tuscan Kale. We had to get this again.

Spicy Shrimp and Asian Noodles: My dad’s dish. I didn’t try this, but he remarked that it was good.

Roasted Asparagus: Smoked mozzarella, red onions and marjarom. My sister’s dish. Another new favorite, the pizza dough was chewy and was nicely crisped on the bottom.

Pan Seared Halibut: Snap peas, asparagus, purple potatoes and umami. I’m not sure what they meant by “umami” (perhaps this?), but this dish I felt was only ok; the halibut, while it was fresh, was slightly overcooked and bordering on rubbery. I also felt that it was underseasoned; I’m trying to remember what it tasted like and my mind comes up with a blank. The purple potatoes were slightly undercooked, resulting in some bites that were fine, and some that were crunchy. I would probably not order this again.

Overall, two lovely meals at a lovely place. I highly recommend recommendations if you have a large party as this place tends to be very popular for dinner.

True Food Kitchen
Fashion Island
451 Newport Center Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 644-2400

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11 am to 10 pm
Friday: 11 am to 11 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 11 pm; Brunch served until 3 pm
Sunday: 10 am to 9 pm; Brunch served until 3 pm

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Eating Out: Light Lunch at 85度C, Taichung, Taiwan

Pinjing — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 06:03:35 +0000

My last post at my other blog got me thinking about the time I spent in Taiwan last year . . . and the lovely snacks I ate while I was there. Here was a light lunch I had at a bakery chain named 85度C:

Now, this sandwich (4 layers of white bread, with alternating layers of ultra thin omelet and ham with mayo) doesn’t look like much, but ask any Taiwanese and they’ll tell you this is the ultimate comfort food. I remember growing up eating these as a kid; when my classmates’ moms packed them tuna salad sandwiches, I brought these. The bread’s always super soft and fluffy, and paired with a cold cup of green tea or soymilk, this meal makes this girl very happy.

85度C
Locations throughout Taiwan

and :
85C Bakery Cafe‎
2700 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA‎
(949) 553-8585‎

Hours:
Mon – Thu: 7 am – 10 pm
Fri – Sat: 7 am – 12 am
Sun: 8 am – 10 pm

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I haven’t tried much of the breads at the one in Irvine, so I can’t really vouch for their quality. However, there’s always a huge line out the door whenever I’m in the plaza, so there must be something about it.

Pinjing Eats Fast Food: Mister Donut

Pinjing — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:19:11 +0000

Sigh. Let’s talk, Mister Donut. I want to like you, I really do, but every time I’ve tried one of your cutesy bubbly donuts, I am inevitably disappointed. There are two camps of donut lovers, those who like the fluffy raised donuts and those who like cake donuts. You see, I’m a cake donut girl, through and through; I don’t like my donuts to be light and fluffy. Donuts should be sugary, have a tight and moist crumb, be heavy and hit my stomach like a greasy brick. Give me an old fashioned buttermilk over a Krispy Kreme glazed anyday. If I wanted diet food, I would have ordered a salad.

But Mister Donut, your donuts are neither my beloved cake donuts nor are they the fluffy, yeasted donuts that others like. They’re a chewy, bread-like “QQ” alien hybrid that was tailored to suit the Taiwanese palate. If there is food texture that I dislike more than anything, it’s that “QQ”-ness that my fellow Taiwanese love so much (I’m such an anomaly; someone must have forgotten the “must love anything ‘QQ’ gene when they were putting me together . . .).

But somehow, I keep buying your donuts. Why? Is it because they’re so damn cute? Note to self: stop buying things because they’re cute. Because usually it’s all a deception.

Let me recount a recent trip to Mister Donut (my fourth). See this box of mini donuts? Cute, right? Straight out of the box, they are perfectly round and the frosting is evenly applied; they’re so perfect they look fake!

I hate to disappoint but these weren’t great; too chewy and the frosting’s flavor was quite artificial and waxy. If I wanted bread, I would have bought bread. But I’m not saying they’re bad per se, they just don’t suit my personal taste. If you just happen to like things like mochi, gummies, and anything with that “QQ” texture, then you might like Mr. Donut. But not me.

Mister Donut
Purchased at 一中街 location
台中市北區三民路三段110之1號
04-2225-4883
Locations all over Asia (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, China, Thailand).

Edit: Apparently they do have “cake” donuts, according to their website. Should I go back and try them? Argh! Why do I keep wanting to go back despite being disappointed every single time?