No. 191: A "Square Meal" Bloody Mary @ The Californian (Huntington Beach)

Bloody Mary may be a quintessential daytime cocktail but it's pretty rare for me to order this hair of the dog to go with my brunch. Unlike the simpler-to-make mimosas and bellinis, there are so many components and variations to this drink, which means so much can go wrong. And I've had my share of bloodies that are too alcoholic / tart / salty / spicy / astringent or some combination thereof.

But can I build a better one myself? That's exactly what I'm about to find out @ The Californian at Hyatt Regency Resort at Huntington Beach, where I was invited to partake in a Bloody Mary mixoff against blogger Marian the Foodie & Teri from Great Taste Magazine, using the vast spread of components from their DIY Bloody Mary spread and with the hotel's management & the Californian's chef judging. Yikes!

Despite my wariness about ordering Bloody Marys, I'm rather inspired by drink's many variations, and the many ways you can switch up the recipe. One version I'm particularly enamored with is Alberta Straub of Cocktails on the Fly, whose bloody mary involves her own custom veggie juice-based mix, pepper-infused vodka and even spiced rimming salt to make a complete 'liquid meal'

Taking a page from that concept, I decided to create a 'Square Meal' Bloody Mary covering all the food categories, using approximately

2 ounces of vodka
8 ounces of their house spicy bloody mary mix
salt (half-rimmed)
juice of half a lemon, plus an extra wedge
a stalk of celery
4 fresh basil leaves
2-3 blue cheese-stuffed olives
4-5 dashes of Tabasco Habanero sauce
1/2 teaspoon of fresh horseradish
and, to cover the meat category, a slice of bacon!

And while it didn't take home the prize tonight (Marian got that honor with her "Asian Spice Bloody Mary",) I was pretty pleased with my creation, which has a nice kick balanced with citrusy & vegetal notes and a slight tinge of smokiness, and it's nice to nibble on the skewer of bacon or cheesy olive as I sipped along.

But the best part is that when you brunch here @ The Californian, you can get endless DIY Bloody Marys (or Champagne... or Mimosas) with your buffet for $38/person and for the designated driver in your group, the delectable buffet itself is $23. And considering the dozens of ingredients you can throw in there, plus over 20 hot sauces for you to experiment with, you'll be mighty thankful to have that DD along...

... not to mention a fantastic view of Huntington Beach to mellow the rest of your day away (incidentally, Hyatt is the only hotel in Huntington Beach with a pedestrian bridge going over & across the PCH, so you can easily get to the beach for a lovely stroll, skate, bike ride, dip or surf!)

The Californian @ The Hyatt Regency
21500 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA
(714) 845-4776

No. 167: Eats & Drinks During LA/OC Urban Hike

Chickens and ducks outside Knott's Berry Farms Soak City park

If third time's the charm, the fourth go-around should be full of good luck, right? That's certainly what I was hoping for on my Beach Blvd. Urban Hike, my longest one to date and one that actually includes both LA & OC. While the hike itself is a bit lackluster, there were definitely some interesting eats and drinks to be had along the way (thanks to a little homework and recommendations from fellow bloggers & friends.)

To start, I stopped by SoCal mini-chain Millie's in La Mirada for a pretty healthy breakfast - eggbeater scramble with mushrooms, spinach and fat-free cheddar, served with salsa, unbuttered wheat toast and some fruit slices. Yes, this was an item off their health-conscious menu, and it works for me since I didn't want to start off heavy and sluggish from a hearty breakfast when I got another 20 miles to go.

In hindsight, I probably should've asked them to give me the real full-fat cheddar instead of the fat-free version that reminded me of Kraft "American" cheese -- but overall the breakfast was not bad and certainly not guilt-inducing. I did have mixed emotions about not ordering a slice of their much-touted deep dish strawberry pie, but I reasoned with myself that I can always get a Donut Man strawberry donut if I still have such glazed berry & sugary carb craving at the end of the hike.

I had my sights set on Park Ave. for a heartier mid-hike bite, but found out they're dinner-only for weekends, so I hauled myself to the other notable Stanton eatery, Thai Nakorn. I was initially excited to check out this much raved place, but got dismayed when I saw how little vegetarian options there are . . . I finally settled upon Som Tam (a.k.a. spicy green papaya salad) which really hit the spot for a summer lunch, cool and refreshing yet with a pleasant chili kick that's well rounded with a citrusy tang, plus some salty-sweetness from the sauce.

There was also a slight fermented taste to it and I can't tell it was from the fish sauce (which of course, would render the dish non-veggie) but the server assured me the dish was vegetarian so I decided to turn a blind eye rather than be annoyingly scrupulous. But definitely a place I look forward to returning to when and if I go back to eating meat (and in another hindsight moment, I wish I checked out the more veggie-friendly and friend-recommended Mad Greek Restaurant instead.)

Moving onwards, time for to quench my thirst -- with a good hearty glass of beer! When mapping my route, I remembered there's a German-themed Old World Village next to the Bella Terra complex in Huntington Beach so that's where I decided to pitstop while waiting for Caroline on Crack (my urbanhiking - and drinking - partner in crime last month) to join up with me for the remainder of the route. To start, I got the light, quaffable, lightly spicy and fruity Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse. A summer perfect brew while we played a little shuffleboard.

When Caroline joined me, we studied the drinks menu and almost immediately became intrigued with their German Schnapps . . . so we both decided to order a shot. I ordered the bramble one, expecting it to taste like raspberries or blackberries (i.e. fruits of the bramble plants) but it tasted more like wintergreen-peppermint, or "Christmasy" as Caroline puts it. I thought they'd given me the peppermint schnapps by mistake but was reassured by the bartender that's how bramble supposed to taste like. Oh well, I thought, as I finished the rest of it (and thinking how this cooling-yet-fiery drink may have actually gone well with that papaya salad.) Caroline got an apple schnapps which tasted like uber-sweet, liquored up apple juice. Wrapping things up, I got a light, fragrant white wine and played a little shuffleboard with Caroline before taking leave . . .

. . . only to be stopped by a bakery that was selling apple strudels and freshly made candied pecans! Not knowing any better, Caroline and I said "We'll take one strudel!" only to have the lady present us with a pastry the size of two baguettes! So we opted instead a strudel SLICE (still substantial size for two to share) and it was divine and unlike any apple strudels I've had before... impeccably light because of the phyllo pastry and an wonderfully complex apple filling that's crisp, aromatic and not-too-sweet, which the baker explained were from six varieties of apple and just a touch of sugar and spices. The still-warm candied pecans were great too, and towards the end we tossed the two together to make a sort-of-baklava. Yum!

As we neared the beach, we stopped for one final snack break at Mother's Market & Kitchen, another mini-chain market whose in-store cafés have deemed one of the best vegetarian places by the OC Register. Caroline got a freshly-made pineapple/coconut & mango smoothie, and I opted for their grilled vegetables whole-wheat quesadilla, hot and gooey with globs of REAL cheddar cheese binding the grilled eggplants, chiles, bell peppers and zucchinis - served with generous sides of fresh guacamole, sour cream, salsa, scallions and black olives. Both Caroline and I groaned with glee as we noshed down this "healthy, but not really" treat at a bus stop.

After we hit the coastline and did a victory jump at the beach, we quickly hauled butts to our most anticipated location - Don the Beachcomber's, a revival of the famous Tiki bar & restaurant that's been forever feuding with Trader Vic's on inventing the Mai Tai.

Regardless of who made it first, I think of the two I liked Trader Vic's (which I happened to have drank the day before) more, which was smoother with a pleasant balance of fruit and orgeat. I got the Three Dots and a Dash, a little more sophisticated and herbacious, but again -- it made me wish for the better made version at Cana Rum Bar. And Caroline and I both wished the menu had a little bit of description of what each of the tiki drinks contained so we don't have to bug our waitress or do a quick search on our phones.

As for the food, I didn't expect anything spectacular and sure enough, it wasn't. I got the simply named "The Noodles" which turned out to be vegetable chow mein with udon ~ it tasted pretty standard (greasy and soy saucey) and was good enough for soaking up alchy and filling my stomach, but nothing that I'd order again. Caroline had better luck with the Kalua Pork dinner plate, at least until her teeth encountered some unappealing gristle.

Comparatively better was their Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Rhum-Caramel Sauce and cone of garlic fries, but better versions of those can be had (and for cheaper) elsewhere too. It was still pleasant checking out the space (and I had a $50 Groupon to use anyways) and I might return for some of their other famous tiki drinks (Zombie or Rum Barrel, anyone?) if I'm in the area.

As always, the best part of the hike is discovering all the eateries that I probably would've missed if I was driving by, and just when I thought my to-try list couldn't get any longer . . . on goes the like of ParkAve, Mad Greek, Tampopo Ramen and all the Korean joints that dotted the Buena Park stretch of Huntington Park. Now let's see if I can shave off that to-eats list before or during my urban hike next month (July 25, this time along length of Colorado St./Blvd. from Glendale to Arcadia!)

More photos on flickr set here

Millie's Restaurant & Bakery
14840 Beach Boulevard
La Mirada, CA
(714) 994-4430

Thai Nakorn
11951 Beach Boulevard
Stanton, CA‎
(714) 799-2031‎

Old World Village
7561 Center Avenue,
Huntington Beach, CA

Mother's Market & Kitchen
19770 Beach Boulevard
Huntington Beach, CA 92648-5927
(714) 963-6667

Don the Beachcomber
16278 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA
(562) 592-1321

Friday Quickies #76: October Ahoy!

Mini-sandwiches filled with uni and foie gras from the Bazaar, where I went for DineLA Restaurant Week last time around.

Yay, it's October -- and so ends my dine-out dieting (though I had no shortage of good eats at home, and on invites out to assorted events in the past month). Since one'd have to live under a rock to not hear about the two biggie events of the month, namely the 27th Annual American Wine & Food Festival this weekend and the DineLA Restaurant Week promotions, I'll highlight some of the less-well-known, but no less tasty, events going around town.

But first, time for an open call to recommendations: Where's a good Sunday Brunch to be had in or around Ojai? I will be up there this Sunday for a running event and will definitely be in the mood for some feasting afterwards. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Started yesterday - in case you missed the three lobster fests (Long Beach, San Pedro & Redondo Beach) that went on consecutive September weekends (like me!) or you just didn't feel like the long drive or the long lines in the sweltering heat, Savannah Chop House in Laguna Niguel and Chimayo on the Huntington Beach waterfront are doing Lobster Fest celebration of their own! For $29.99 you can enjoy a 1.5-pound whole Maine lobster prepared just the way you like it, whether it's steamed with drawn butter and a baked potato with all the accompaniments, roasted with garlic-herb butter and jalapeno cheddar potatoes, tempura-fried and tossed with a garlic-ginger sauce alongside coconut jasmine rice, or a lobster mac 'n cheese with a three-cheese sauce and a crispy parmesan breadcrumb topping. And best of all, you can actually sit, enjoy the views and have a nice lil cocktail with your lobster. Here are the slightly different menus for Chimayo and Savannah.

Sundays - Meanwhile, Downtown L.A.'s Water Grill is doing their Lobster Clam Bake, a $55pp feast that includes mini lobster rolls, steamed 1.25 pound lobster, bowls of shellfish baked with sausage and potatoes, finished off with a cobbler and homemade root beer float (with house made root beer); FoodGPS was recently invited to check it out, so you can read more about it here.

Monday, Oct. 5 - While Campanile's Monday family dinners have been a longtime tradition, this coming week's affair coincides with the launch of Chef Mark Peel's book "New Classic Family Dinners" so you can savor his fare and then recreate them at home! The $45pp menu includes pasta carbonara with asparagus, a seafood stew with lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels sea bass and white beans and a refreshing concord grape granita.

Thursday, Oct. 8 - Can't score a seat for Dudamel's Hollywood Bowl concert? Don't get mad, get full . . . at Pinot Grill or Kendall's Brasserie and Bar, both of which will offer a live simulcast of the much anticipated inaugural Dudamel performance and serving three-course prix-fixe meals at $30pp and $40pp, respectively. And for the lucky peeps who scored tix to the Music Center simulcast, Patina Restaurant Group will be grilling up assorted Dudamel-inspired specialties right outside, from bacon-wrapped "Street Dogs" topped with caramelized onions and grilled jalapenos for $6 to Venezuelan shredded beef with rice, beans and roasted plantains for $12. Cool it all down with some jamaica and paletas!

Thursday, Oct. 8 - for those further out West, Border Grill will be partnering with Tequila Corralejo for a festive four-course, margarita-paired dinner for $45pp (or $38pp if you're in their recently-debuted Border Grill Locals club). The tasty menu includes a duo of meatballs (kobe beef in a spicy salsa brava and shallot aioli, lamb with curried yogurt, oregano chimichurri and onion marmalade) paired with a curried margarita, seared diver scallops with creamed corn, serrano ham and blood orange reduction with a blood orange margarita, finished with a coconut tequila cheesecake and a tequila-spiked horchata. As an extra perk, participants will also get a Corralejo goody bag!

And as always, my favorite of foodie reads this week:

Slashfood interview culinary celebrities about their food-guilty pleasures

Meanwhile, Slate published a provocative piece on how the Internet democratize the world of wine criticsm

All the food pornage of LA County Fair (ends this week, btw) minus the artery-clogging act of actually eating them, brought to you by LA Weekly

And LA Times answered a reader's request for recipe to make Cole's fantastic bacon potato salad

Citysearch LA got the scoop on local high-end happy hours where you can eat cheap-chic at the likes of XIV and Drago Centro.

Finally, there's no noodling around this -- LA Times covers the debate between Asian pasta manufacturers against the health dept. and their refrigeration rule. And no, I am not related to H.C.Foods (one of the companies cited in the article)

Foodventure #55: Izakaya Zero (Huntington Beach) - following S. Irene's footsteps

I don't always agree with Ms. Virbila, but when I read the glowing review of Izakaya Zero in Huntington Beach, I decided to take her up on her word and check it out myself. And it's a good excuse to go the O.C. (and swing by Chuao Chocolatier at the Spectrum Center for a few truffles.)

Overall, it's pretty good (and an enormous improvement over Red Pearl Kitchen, which occupied that space before, that's just plain bleh.)

My full review is filed with Orange County Food Blogs, but I'll tease you with a few pictures and my summary ;)

Not white Sangria, but a Zen-gria.

This little piggy got soaked in sweet soy-mirin broth

Baked eggplant, upgraded with miso aioli

The Bill:
Zengria - $9
Eggplant w Shrimp - $6.95
Buta Kakumi - $5.95
Salmon Skin Salad - $4.95
Pre-tax/tip total - $26.95

The Rating:
Ambience: 4.5/5 (Comfortable and casual-hip with nice Asian-y accents)
Value: 3.5/5 (Like most other small-plate-oriented places, it's easy to run up the bill on not a whole lot of food; but portions here are deserving of the prices paid and I got quite a satisfying meal on about $20 of food)
Service: 7.5/10 (Nice and friendly without being obtrusive; given its location, the beachy surfer casual attitude is kind of there; service was only iffy from the timing of the dishes and no notice about veggie swaps)
Food: 17/20 (Pretty darn good all around, everything I tried had a tasty je ne sais quoi that made it a little bit unique; flavors could have been a little bolder, but I was pleased overall)
Bonus/Demerit: -.5 (crazy Huntington Beach parking)
TOTAL: 32/40

Izakaya Zero
412 Walnut Ave.
Huntington Beach
714.960.1278
http://www.izakayazero.com/