Galardi

The Weekly has learned that Wienerschnitzel founder John Galardi passed away yesterday after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 75.  More »

Who likes hot women? We have no issues with athletic ladies sporting purple, and you shouldn't either. Get to know a couple this month, as burger behemoth Carl's Jr hosts a series of meet-and-greets with your Los Angeles Laker Girls!

And if that's not reason enough to do your laundry, we've got more incentive. Diners will receive coupons and prizes just for showing up. And if you're wearing purple and gold on game days, you qualify for additional giveaways like tickets to an upcoming game. For specific locations and times, bounce to the next page.
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Anne Marie Panoringan

We were walking from the auto ferry to dinner when something caught our attention: the kind of scrawled homemade sign you can't help but glance at. We're glad we did, because it was one more bit of newsworthy gossip before the weekend.

There isn't a whole lot to tell, really. The space was formerly A La Carte Gourmet Bistro, a quaint cafe serving affordable fare and service with a smile. We don't know how long ago it closed, but the spot will breathe new life soon enough.
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Anne Marie Panoringan

Working hard to pick a winner

We had the pleasure of judging a very special tasting event over the weekend. Somewhere between the hosted bar, auctions and food tasting, we helped support the Boys & Girls Club of the Harbor Area in Costa Mesa. Along with Moxxe PR busybody Mona Shah-Anderson and our new friend Rudy Chaney of Foodbeast, we tackled the seven competitors with gusto.

There were three categories that restaurants were vying for: Presentation, Death Row Meal and TASTE (Totally Awesome Slider To Eat). For establishments not known for their burger prowess, we were impressed. After our Instagram/Facebook updates, this is what we concluded.
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We can't speak for San Diego or Pasadena, but the bar at Slater's 50/50 in Lake Forest is loooooooong. Like slide a pint across the countertop, Coyote Ugly dancing long. And full of male bartenders (not that we minded). Rodrigo, Bean and Tony can recommend what's on tap anytime. Our task: remember what diners enjoy about the brand that is now five locations strong.

A stand alone building in what used to be a Hooters, before that it was The Library Gentlemens Club. Now, if those two establishments couldn't survive, what makes a burger parlor think they can? Their loyal fan base, for starters. Anybody who has watched enough Travel Channel, or traveled along the 91 to the original space in Anaheim Hills will attest for the bacon-licious concept.

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Anne Marie Panoringan

LinX Artisan Sausage welcomes the public this Thursday, but in the meantime . . . . some food porn! We were some of the first paying customers lined up to taste a limited menu. Scott Brandon, Jared Cook and a nonstop stream of servers, hosts and kitchen crew helped crank out orders last Friday.

Of the three offered, we couldn't resist Neurenberger (veal and pork) bratwurst, with bacon-apple kraut and beer mustard on a pretzel roll ($6). Did we mention all franks are steamed in beer, then grilled griddled to perfection? That's haute.
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Dave Lieberman

I make them at home when the Vikings win. We don't eat many cheeseburgers during football season.

It's great to see new twists on familiar foods, particularly ones that don't smack of douchebaggery ("no ketchup for you! here, eat our artisanal tomato, piloncillo and cardamom coulis that tastes like a curry dump!"). I love the creativity we're seeing with that quintessentially American meal, the cheeseburger.

Now that sliders have gone the way of all flesh, the big trend in LA and OC has been to put the cheese and onions on the inside, resulting in a greasy bomb that will burn your lips back to the Stone Age if you don't let it cool first. Awesome. Seriously and unironically: awesome.

But chefs and food writers of Southern California, please, for the love of George McGovern, please stop acting like this is some new thing. Gosh, someone turned a cheeseburger inside out and put the cheese and onions on the inside! What a novelty!
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Those Mayans might be on to something with all this "End of the World" talk. It's spawning all sorts of mayhem. Take our local bacon overlords at Slater's 50/50. They've got one mother of a special.

Dubbed "the ultimate comfort burger with meatloaf and bacon" by founder Scott Slater. This meal is so epic, Steven Tyler should be wailing in the background.

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Photo by Kimberly Valenzuela

Harry Kho-- Small business owner and supporter, OC Fair judge and cool dad. His sandwiches are legend (wait for it) dary to anyone within a 10-mile radius of John Wayne. Having reopened last month after renovations, we heard about his desire to help others this holiday season, and wanted to share his cause.

If you're squeamish about blood, best to pass this along to fellow Forker. Otherwise, you'll be kindly rewarded for your time.


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Updated, with new information at the bottom...

ORIGINAL POST, OCT. 10, 11 A.M. If there is one fast-food company that gets universally positive coverage, it's In-N-Out--hell, even anti-fast-food crusader Eric Schlosser praised their practices at the end of his epic Fast Food Nation (and how cool that the book begins and ends in Orange County, from the depths of what Carl's Jr. has become to the promise of Irvine-based In-n-Out?). Hell, I even wonder if they have a crisis management department.

That's why it'll be interesting to see how the public and the company will react to claims today from animal-rights group Mercy for Animals that In-N-Out buys its cheese from a supplier whose workers abuses its cows.
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