59th and Lex Cafe

POACHED PEAR CHICKEN SALAD.
I went here for lunch in Fashion Island, connected to the Bloomingdales.

I wish i had a picture of it, but it is a great salad and i would pay 13 bucks for it any day. When they first bring it out I thought they got the order wrong because it looked like a beet salad (it was pink in colour) but nope it was the poached pear! I definitely recommend this salad especially if you like walnuts, pistachios, chicken, pear, goat cheese and a sweet tasting balsamic reduction.

Ear poppin' eyesight...

Orange Hill Restaurant in Orange, Ca is located....on none other than...a hill! You guessed it.
This place is incredible. The drive itself feels as though you are driving up to a castle because you can actually spot the restaurant at the very top of a hill from miles and miles away (on the highway).
Orange Hill Restaurant welcomes you with koi fish ponds, warm fireplaces on the edge of the hill and endless views of all of OC and Catalina Island.  The sights are endless and beautiful both inside and out. The food was what you would expect at a place like this. Very good. Nothing is jumping at me other then the scene itself. I was slapped on the wrist for overseeing the vanilla chocolate strawberries infused with some type of liquor, however, that was after the fact....so i guess i'll be making another visit!

Bandera's Ribs

Corona Del Mar (Crown of the Sea) ranges along a bluff at the south end of Newport Beach. Streets of Corona del Mar are named after flowers, and run in alphabetical order from Acacia to Poppy. 


This great area is also a home for some great eateries, including BANDERA, famous for their ribs and cornbread pan. The atmosphere is casual yet upscale and swarming with people. Apparently Bandera is also famous for their display of rotisserie chicken, however, i was not a fan. Im a chicken person, but my attention was drawn to the juicy fall- off- the bone, ribs and chili infused cornbread. 
Lunch spot for sure and great "at the bar eating" kinda place if you want to be a little more social. 
The bar staff wore jeans and white long sleeve shirts which threw me off a bit, while servers and wait staff wore the usual black on black. I wasn't sure if i was entering a
 western joint or what...maybe the fact that it was a bbq joint? 

Silk Thai Cuisine- Huntington Beach

Since coming to California, I have not really seen or heard of any great thai places; not authentic anyways.
My cravings for a thai lemongrass soup was in need for some fill and SILK THAI CUSINE did just that.
Silk Thai offers authentic thai food. No modernized/americanized/westernized versions that you will find in many places, (mix of chinese, american and thai). The people (Servers, cooks) were authentic thai people and the hospitality was fitting to the thai customs.
The menu not only offered a great selection of items, but listed cultural terminology  often used in the thai language.
The Coconut chicken soup (Tom Kha Guy) was delicious. I had never ordered a coconut/lemongrass soup before so it was nice to try something new and authentic.

Of course, every time i go for thai cuisine, i must order the Coconut Sticky Rice. It's just a must. This desert can never go wrong.
Coconut sticky rice is a thai specialty. It is simply a sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and sugar, drained and served with a coconut sauce which is both salty and sweet, (the saltyness pronounces the rich coconut flavors) and topped with a ripened mango. This dish is served warm and melts in your mouth.
Anyone new to thai food or curious, i definitely recommend trying the stick rice desert. It is phenomenal!

European Delight

Ingrid's French Cafe, located on Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills, brings a little taste of europe and flavor to this trend setting area.
Small enough for a line to be out the door and quaint enough to spend some one on one time with yourself, book and coffee.
This little spot is not only unique in its cultural display, but Ingrid's menu is plentiful. Breakfast (7am) lunch, afternoon tea, sunset delight (wine and cheese) and dinner (with reservations on Thurs and Fri only).

The prices are very decent, the food is fresh and the service is really great. Walking in for the first time, you may see 4 or 5 tables for two and a few tables outside and not even realize the second level. They really got the europe thing down.

Because i didn't have a chance to experience the popular 15'' paper thin crepes or the picture perfect looking pastries, I would have to say that atmosphere is what got me. I'm sure with a taste of the real menu i'd be pinching myself.

http://www.ingridscafe.com/ingridsbh_003.htm