Orange County Food Blog

http://ocjapanfair.com

​No, it's not another food-centric Mitsuwa Marketplace festival. It's the OC Japan Street Fair at the OC Fairgrounds, happening between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 15th. Admission is $2. Parking, $5. But they will have food, because what kind of fair doesn't have food. And it will be Japanese. Though it's unconfirmed, I'd expect to at least see takoyaki balls, tempura, and taiyaki (those fish-shaped waffle things).

Along with it, there will be taiko concerts, music, dancing, and a Harajuku section for those who like to gawk at the Japanese idea of fashion. And for those who'd rather watch robots fight, they have a so-called Robo-One ring, where, um, robots fight. Really, that's why I'd go.  ROBOTS!!!!

David Lebovitz @ flickr.com CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

​Persimmons, the fruit that looks like a tomato...wait, tomato is also a fruit...have their own party this weekend.  It will be the 10th year, in fact.  The festivities will be held in Pitcher Park in Orange on Sunday, November 15th, from noon to 3 p.m.

Edwin Goei

​Catch the Autumn Food Fair at Mitsuwa this weekend?

If you're reading this right now (it's Sunday at 5:45), you still have about two more hours to go before they pack up!

If you're reading this on Monday morning, or have otherwise missed the event, then "please to enjoy" the slideshow I put together with the help of our web editor Vickie Chang.

Mmmm! Things on sticks! Gooey, crispy, hot okonomiyaki! Rice balls! Oh my!

Fever Dragon

This zombie: Probably hot under the make-up. Hi.

​If you're looking to get a head start on Halloween this week, drag yerselves over to the coast and check out the first ever Newport Beach Zombie Pub Crawl: They Came From the Beach this Saturday.

Sponsored by LocalHipster.com (.....we know), the all-day event will take place this Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., unleashing undead zombie hordes upon Newport (make your own botox, Real Housewives, etc. jokes, if you'd like). If you prefer your brains with beer--lots of beer--head over to the Ten Waterfront parking lot, where you'll experience a zombie pep rally (brainless cheerleaders, not so much a novel concept) and where a team of makeup artists and volunteers will help you get your veeeery best zombie face on.

Practice dragging that leg behind you and your stiff walk: Zombies are afoot in Newps! For more info, just visit LocalHipster.

Now, our suggestion for next year's agenda: Vampire beer pong?

Keith May

​ Another week, another food festival at Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa. I'm kidding, of course. They don't happen that often. But they do happen more often than I remember. Not that that's a bad thing. It's good actually. Very, very good!

Just that maybe it'd be even better if they had these every weekend? Wouldn't that be nice? Rotate the vendors between stores so that we get to sample a different Japanese specialty every week?

​Orange has its International Food Fair, Irvine has its Global Village, Newport Beach has not only one food fest, but two (more on that later), and this Saturday, October 17th, Los Alamitos will have one. It will mark the 9th year for the Taste For Los Al, which takes place at The Shops at Rossmoor from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

​

​No, that's not a typo--there's not one but two Newport Beach Restaurant Weeks to look forward to. The first runs from October 16 to 22, the second one will be in January.

As much as I hate planning that far ahead, I'm prepared to make an exception when it comes to food!

Expect mainly three-course lunch and dinner deals from as little as $10, and although the website doesn't yet name names, it does say there will be around 100 venues participating.

Woo-hoo!

We'll update this post with more information as soon as we have it. But if you can't wait till then, visit the Taste of Newport fest this weekend, where a dedicated Newport Beach Restaurant Week Chefs cooking pavilion will be hosting demos and previewing menus.

Seems like, even with the economy in recovery (albeit veeery slowly), Restaurant Weeks are the way of the future.

​

​From Saturday through Monday, you can soak up everything from the wonderful country (and I say that despite having had one of the worst vacations ever in Kefalonia).

The event, held at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary church, is, incredibly, in its 60th year.

As well as a carnival, kids' games, food, drink and dancing, there'll be music too. I wonder if they'll have homages to those famous Greek bands such as, er... and, er...

Entry is free with the coupon from the website, but there's a suggested donation of $3, which sounds fair in exchange for all that fun.

​First, look at that picture to the right. See that hat? About half of the attendants at the Orange County Beer Festival on Sunday were wearing one of those. Singha Beer realized what this event was: A chance to promote their brand to people willing to pay $40 for three hours of unlimited beer.

[[For a great photo slide show of the festival, click here]]

That said, it can't really be overstated how awesome three hours of unlimited beer is, especially when it's unlimited non-Natty Light beer -- good beer, in other words. About sixty brewers showed up at Irvine Lake for this year's festival. Attendants arrived around 2 p.m., were handed adorable four-ounce mugs emblazoned with the festival's logo, and then spent three hours drinking beer from whichever tap looked the most attractive at any given moment. My ride's car thermometer hit 100 in the parking lot; the heat's effect was to make the most well-shaded beer booths into the most popular ones.

I took notes, sure. At least, I took notes about the locally brewed beers that I tried. But at a certain point, I started writing notes that are now illegible. Not sure why that is... might have something to do with the fact that I was at an unlimited alcohol-a-thon and had someone else drive me there. Hmm.

Regardless, here were the three most memorable OC-brewed beers that I tried. Keep in mind that I don't have the vocab or know-how to give a technical description of these brews, so I just stuck to the great equalizer: taste. After all, beer's the most democratic of drinks, right?
 

Mitsuwa.com

It's time for Mitsuwa's Hokkaido Fair again. This annual gathering of specialty Japanese food vendors is always a spectacle to behold, as evidenced by the nigh-impossible parking situation.

"Ramen Shingen" will make their first appearance for this event with "Shio Ramen" from Ishikari, Hokkaido. The secret of soup "mild and refreshing" is a blend of carefully prepared pork bones, vegetables, dried fish, and premium kelp and simmered for 4 days slow-cooking as giving full attention to heat..."

​Oh yes, as we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, t'is the time to taste the golden elixir from over 60 breweries from around the world, including loads of local ones.

The event is being held at Irvine Lake, and tickets cost $40, which, in light of this week's announcements that beer prices are set to rise, doesn't seem too outrageous.

See ya there!

​Now that the OC Fair is history, it's international food fair season again.  Labor Day weekend (that's less than two weeks), will bring the Orange International Street Fair (its 36th year) and October will bring the younger Irvine Global Village Festival (its 8th year).

Irvine Global Village: http://www.cityofirvine.org/globalvillage/

As we hinted at a few months earlier, the 2nd annual OC Restaurant Week will take place September 13-19.  And I've gotta say: This year's list is pretty darn impressive.  There are 117 participating restaurants so far.  Some are serious heavy hitters, like Stonehill Tavern. Others are brand spanking new hits like Watermarc.  And this, I heard, isn't even the final list.

All on the roster will offer either $20, $30, or $40 3-course dinners, or $10, $15, or $20
3-course lunches. 

There will be also a tie-in with Legally Blonde the Musical -- you get 15% off the ticket price during Restaurant Week.

But wait, there's more! 

Starting things off, Bloomingdales -- which seems to be the epicenter of it all -- will host FREE chef demos from some of the featured restaurants.  CLICK HERE for the schedule.

 

​No, not Kris Allen, but the far superior (and yummier) David Cook, who'll be rocking the stage on Sunday September 20, the closing night of the three-day event.

The other music acts are Sugar Ray (Friday) and Train (Saturday).

More than 30 establishments have signed up so far, among them Agora Churrascaria, Back Bay Bistro, Canaletto, Chakra and Kimera. There'll be cooking demos and grub tastings, and, when it comes to booze, "delicious beers, wines and cocktails".

Tickets cost $22 per day in advance, or $25 on the door. Not especially cheap, but worth it for a glimpse of Cookie.

For more details, visit the website.

​Billed as "an old-fashion country fair", the "61th" annual bash will run from August 7 to 9.

Local schools will attend the event, which is hosted by the La Habra Host Lions Club, and proceeds will be used to provide free eye exams and glasses for needy students.
 
Not only will you be able to cram your cakehole with the yellow stuff, plus other grub, but there will also be games and musical entertainment, and vendors will be selling the usual fair-like stuff such as jewelry and clothing, and they'll be doing face painting and henna tattooing.

A parade is held on the Saturday morning, and a corn-eating contest takes place on both the Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

But wait, there's more!!

You can also meet Miss La Habra and try your luck in a competition to win a car.

And if your kids are particularly photogenic, why not enter them in the baby contest? It's $5 to register; call (562) 889-2805 for details.

Festivities kick off on the Friday at 5.30 p.m. For the full rundown, visit the website.

The booze-up, held at Irvine Lake from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., will feature the county's best breweries, plus domestic and international brands, including ones from Hawai'i, Brazil and, of course, Belgium.
 
Look out for The Bruery (from Placentia), TAPS (Brea), Bootlegger's Brewery (Fullerton) and the Newport Beach Brewing Company, plus Duchy Originals (from England), which I blogged about recently, He'Brew (The Chosen Beer), Hangar 24 Craft Brewery and tons more. Over 60, in fact.

There'll be BBQ fare and grub by In-N-Out, while "entertainment" (if that's the right word) will come from Metal Shop, a "funny Spinal Tap-type parody". Who knows? Maybe they'll sound good after 14 beers.

Tickets--which include unlimited four-ounce pours and can only be bought in advance (CLICK HERE)--cost $40 (or $15 for designated drivers, who won't be able to drink).

For more information, visit the website.

The dates to remember are August 8 and 9, when the Blond One--who has four food shows on TV right now (a record, apparently)--will be on stage, working the crowd and being an all-round nice guy. He might not be everyone's cup of tea, with his shades-of-Billy-Mays (GRHS) delivery, but numerous people tell me he is down to earth, community loving and always keen to engage with his fans.

Others scheduled to attend the event, which is being held at the Hilton, include some cast members of Hell's Kitchen (no, not Gordon Effing Ramsay).


There may be more famous faces, although promoter Mary Carter couldn't guarantee it.


Anyway, there are plenty of other reasons to visit: local wineries and restaurants will be in attendance (providing tastings), and there are also cooking classes and a professional food competition with a $10,000 prize.

For Fieri's shows, Carter has generously offered OC Weekly readers the chance to double up your order: buy tickets for a Saturday demo and get another one free for Sunday. Can't say fairer than that. This doesn't apply to online orders, though: instead, call (949) 366-9938.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

Mitsuwa.com

Starting today (Thursday, July 16) and lasting until this Sunday, Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa is hosting their Kyusyu and Okinawa Fair, celebrating foods from those regions.

If you can read Japanese, you can check out more details on their website, which I link HERE. Or, just go. I'm pretty sure there will be udon of the stir fried variety, cream puffs stuffed with custard pudding, and more than enough vittles to satisfy your Japanese food jones.

Perhaps the greatest South Park episode ever made is "Scott Tenorman Must Die." If you've seen it, then you know where I'm going with this. Yes. I am making the connection between Cartman's Chili Con Carnival with this Sunday's Tustin Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off.

Seriously, if you haven't, watch the episode. It's a classic. Or perhaps, don't. Not if you intend to enjoy the Chili Cook-Off without giggling uncontrollably like a crazy person. Tustin's event deserves respect, dang it! It's been going on for 25 years now. Yep! TWENTY FIVE years! Matt Stone and Trey Parker were the same age as the South Park kids when this thing began.

There will be entertainment via Battle of the Bands, food vendors, chili teams, carnival rides, beer and other diversions. And admission is free! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO and go!

Though if a chubby kid in town has a vendetta against you...make sure you know what's in your chili. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, seriously, watch the episode.

Here's the final scene (SPOILERS!!!!)

Mitsuwa.com

Mitsuwa's "Umaimono" Japanese Gourmet Foods Fair will start this Thursday and run till Sunday. The highlight will be a special ramen shop serving well, special ramen.

I'll quote the website to tell you the rest:

"First of all, the return of "Chibakiya Ramen" with "Shina Soba". The secret of soup "light yet rich" is a blend of chicken, pork bone, and seafood. The thin curly noodle topped with a soft-boiled egg, and other all ingredients are chef-d'oeuvre of his 20 years career. It is definitely authentic and excellent."

Other vendors will feature grilled beef tongue and takoyaki.  I also have no doubt that those, too, will be "authentic and excellent." 

Since I last wrote about the event, which runs until June 2, it's more than doubled in size, with 27 restaurants, pubs and bars confirmed, including Duke's.

There are brilliant bargains to be had (check the website for details), and, even better, this chowing is for charity!

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival starts today and continues through the weekend. There will be a parade, strawberry-related food, carnival rides, entertainment, and Cloris Leachman. 

May is National Barbeque Month (yay!) and, so far, the weather's playing ball.

Good to hear, then, that Habana at the Lab recently reintroduced its Monday night BBQ (from 10pm till midnight, from now through Labor Day), held on its gorgeous, romantic patio. Assuming I could ever last that long till dinner, I might give it shot, despite my disappointing meal there this week.

True, the setting is lovely (both the exterior and the moody interior), the bar tenders know how to mix a potent margarita (sans hangover, to their credit) and the service is friendly...
 
But the food was dull. Really dull. Even at its best, Cuban food can be bland, but the dishes we tried were nothing more than huge mounds of steaming hot blah. First up, the empanadas (made of cardboard, surely?) and the pork croquettes (not bad).

Next, entrées of osso bucco and ropa vieja--both underwhelming, with nowhere near enough beans. Dessert, just to punish ourselves further, consisted of four huge pieces of fried banana with mediocre ice cream topped with whipped cream.
 
And the cost of this mountain of mediocrity? $100 for two (including tip)!!!! Get with the programa!

So I should probably stick to coming here for a lunchtime sandwich... Or for the Monday night 'cue, should I feel like eating at a time when half the country's already in bed.

The BBQ does look good--or, at least cheap: $5 for two tacos, plus veggie options (also for $5), alongside reduced-price drinks ($4 for a glass of sangría, $3 Modelo Especial beers).
 
Meanwhile, here's hoping that someone will open a truly excellent Cuban restaurant in Orange County. I'll be lining up outside, knife and fork at the ready, the minute they do.
 
Tip: If you need a charcoal fix pronto, and can't even wait till Monday, drive up to Santa Monica for the second annual LA BBQ Festival.

Habana, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, (714) 556-0176.

The 16th Annual Wild & Crazy Taco Night will be held this Thursday.

1550 Superior Avenue, Costa Mesa
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
VIP Party 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM

$60 - advance registration only
VIP Party $150 - advance registration only

There's limited availability, No tickets sold at the door

For those who haven't been, this is the charity event to benefit Share Our Strengh, which pits some of OC's best chefs against each other in creating the...well, the wildest and craziest tacos (no, Kogi won't be there).

The list of participating chefs include:

Franco Barone, Antonello Ristorante

David Bentley, Stella's Serious Italian Restaurant & Lounge

Bill Bracken, The Island Hotel

Dennis Brask, Five Crowns

Paul Buchanan, Primal Alchemy

Mark Cleveland and Tanya Fuqua, Avanti Cafe

Jeff Dobkin and Jason Coulston, The Hidden Kitchen

Alan Greeley, The Golden Truffle

Tom Hope, TAPS Fish House & Brewery

Carlito Jocson, Yard House

Louie Jocson, Family Tree Produce & Pacific Prime

Michael Kang, 5'

Jason Kordas, Jason's Downtown Restaurant

Chad Krahling, Hilton, Costa Mesa/Orange County

Rich Mead, Sage Restaurant & Sage on the Coast

Lalo Morales, Rusty Pelican

Pascal Olhats, Tradition by Pascal

Scott Robbe, Salt Creek Grille

Michael Rossi, Ambrosia at OC Pavilion

Adrien Sbrana, Sam & Harry's

Don Schoenburg, Leatherby's Cafe Rouge

Paul Squicciarini, Orange County Food & Wine Center

 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

Ruth Chris Steakhouse, California Pizza Kitchen, Bubba Gumps, McCormick & Schmick's, Rain Forest Café, Naples Restaurant, Catal Restaurant, Tortilla Jo's, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine, Alcatraz Brewing Company.

Eat, drink and be merry! Happy Hour Week runs from this Sunday, April 12, to Saturday, April 18, with more than 60 local restaurants, bars, breweries and pubs offering drinks and appetizers at "very happy" prices all day, as well as prix fixe happy hour menus.


Teetotalers needn't miss out, however: mocktails are also up for grabs.

At the time of writing, the participants were:


118 Degrees
21 Oceanfront
Ambrosia
Avilas El Ranchito
Bayside
Bistango
Bistro West
Bluewater Grill
Brix Wine Bar
Cantina Lounge
Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar
Chaparosa Grill
Citrus Fresh Grill
Commonwealth Lounge
Daily Grill - Irvine
Duke's
El Callejon
French 75
HUSH
JT Schmid's
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Kimera
K'ya Bistro & The Rooftop Lounge at Casa Del Camino
Hotel Menage
Leatherby's Café Rouge
Lucca Cafe
Mozambique
Naples Ristorante
Nirvana Grille
O'Neill's Bar and Grill
Orange County Mining Company
Original Mike's
Palm Terrace Lounge at The Island Hotel
Pascal (Tradition by)
Pinot Provence
Pizzeria Ortica
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
The Ranch Sports Grill
Royal Hawaiian
Ruth's Chris Steak House - Anaheim
Ruth's Chris Steak House - Irvine
Sage
Sage on the Coast
Savannah at the Beach
Scott's Seafood
Simply Fondue
Sorrento Grille
Stonehill Tavern
Summit House
Sundried Tomato
Sunsets Bar
TAPS Fish House & Brewery
Terra Nova
The Clubhouse
The Crow Bar
The Melting Pot
The Loft Bistro at Montage
The Red Chair Lounge
The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar
Tommy Bahama's Island Grille
Tortilla Jo's
Zov's

Some menus are already on the website, and more will be added along the way.
 
And, to get in the mood, don't forget the Mixology Masters events at Bloomingdale's, which start this Thursday, April 9.

As a preview to the upcoming Happy Hour Week (which kicks off this Sunday, April 12--more on that later in the week), Bloomingdale's at South Coast Plaza is playing host to local mixologists (and a chef), who'll showcase some of the drinks and snacks that will be offered during the event. Non-alcoholic versions will also be available.

Remember: the venue is Bloomingdale's (the home store department, Level 1).

Here are the details:

Thursday, April 9, 6:00pm:
Showcasing French 75 Bistro at Fashion Island

Mixologist John Jones prepares "Pascal Smile"; accompanied by Assorted Gourmet Grilled Sandwiches and Seared Salmon Tartar with Cured Cabbage

Friday, April 10, 6:00pm:
Showcasing The Loft Bistro at the Montage

Mixologist Sri Devel prepares Pear Endeavors, Vanilla Riches and The Loft Shandy; accompanied by cheese

Saturday, April 11, noon:
Showcasing Bistro West at The District in Tustin
Mixologist Jeremy Kinard prepares Jalapeño & Pineapple Margarita, Cobbler and Virgin Peach Colada

Saturday, April 11, 3:00pm:
Showcasing The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar at The District in Tustin

Mixologist Patrick "Irish" Quinn prepares a Mangolicious Martini and Pomegranate Martini

Wednesday, April 15, 6:00pm:
Showcasing Stonehill Tavern at the St Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

Mixologist Sten Green prepares a Trio of Cosmos, including the Tangerine Cosmo, Pomegranate Cosmo and Traditional Cosmo

Thursday, April 16, 6:00pm:
Showcasing Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach

Mixologist Jaimee Majestic prepares Aloha Express, Royal Hawaiian's Signature Lapu Lapu and XZO Pomegranate Martini

Friday, April 17, 6:00pm:
Showcasing The Red Chair Lounge at The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa

Mixologist Gabriel Regalado prepares The Red Chair Martini; Chef Paul French prepares Kobe Sliders with Cipollini Onion Rings & Ancho Harissa

You may have seen the posters plastered on bus stops throughout the county: There's the Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival this weekend at the Orange County Fairgrounds.