Huntington Beach, CA.

Whenever it gets cold here in Utah my mind continually wanders to warmer locals I've visited around the world so I thought I would let you know of some of my favorites in Huntington Beach, California.



There are so many places to eat along the PCH and the 405 in this densely populated area. Any type of food you can imagine is readily available. Which can be a good or bad thing. Sometimes I would visit for only a few days and trying to decide what I felt like and which place to eat at caused some major anxiety. I wished I was a cow with four stomachs so I could do more damage on these short visits.

So the next time you plan your visit to Disney Land, Knotts Berry Farm or Universal Studios check out a couple of these sweet stops.

Duke's Huntington Beach - http://www.dukeshuntington.com/

Start off with some Macadamian Nut Hummus with some crunchy Foccacia to smear it on. Unlike any hummus you will have ever had. Definitely try the Parmesan and Herb Crusted seasonal fish selection. If you are having a hard time deciding what to get always go with a fresh fish selection on the coast. It's hard to beat something caught a day or two ago. The Caramel Roasted Turkey Stack is a killer sandwich and very unique to Duke's. Then walk it off along the board walk area, or have fun shopping at all of the cool shops close by.

Mangia...Mangia Italian Restaurant - http://www.mangiamangiarestaurant.com/

When I want authentic Italian in this neck of the woods I head here. Having been to Italy and eaten in Venice, Rome and Florence this place is as close as I've found to what I tasted in the mother country itself. I love their Ravioli Al Gorgonzola. The creamy sauce will make you emotional with each bite. The Linguine Clams are a close 2nd. Fresh clams are so tender and not the rubbery ones we usually find in canned soups so don't be afraid.

DeSimone Deli & Bakery - http://www.desimonedeli.com/

When you want a great lunch while your out exploring the area try this local bakery. There hot seasoned pork or smoked turkey sandwiches are to die for on their daily baked breads.

Daphne's Greek Cafe - http://www.daphnesgreekcafe.com/whats-new.html

This California Greek chain is fantastic. Excellent takes on classic Greek food. I love their seasoned wraps and any of their plates. Mix and match any of the items as I've had all of them and all were consistently fantastic.

So there you have a few places to get you started the next time you head down to the beach and hang ten on the surf, Dude!

How was that for beach slang????

Indian 101

I love Indian food!

There...I said it...its out there and I feel better about it.

The more I talk to people that have never tried Indian food the more I'm met with absolute fear or scepticism. Those that have tried it but speak ill of it often speak of weird dishes they have had in their distant past or their aversion to curry.

I must admit that a lot of curry in any dish is bad thing and people from India and that region of the world can go over board with it. When I served as an LDS missionary in Canada I lived in a basement apartment of a couple from Pakistan who had curry blowing through the vents all day. The smell of curry cannot be confused to Axe body spray so I was rather sick of the smell for quite some time.

But curry done right and in measurable amounts is awesome. Plus there are so many Indian dishes that are very tasty and have very low levels of curry.

So you want Indian 101?

As more and more Indian restaurants open up around Utah and the country here are two dishes to get you started. I have recommended both of these to Indian food virgins and Indian despondents for years and they have been the safest bets.

Chicken Tikka Masala

First off, this dish has chicken in it and who doesn't like chicken???? Most places use chicken that is prepared in a tandoori oven which is made from clay and keeps the chicken really tender. The chicken is then cooked with yogurt and spices and then added to a mild-to-burn your eyes out tomato cream sauce. If you can handle tomatoes you can definitely handle this dish. I usually go medium for a little kick but like I say you can get it extremely hot if you want (eater beware). I usually poor it over the long grain Basmati rice that most places serve and then dip my Garlic Naan or Cheesy Naan bread in the sauce. Absolutely awesome. I usually wash it down with a Mountain Dew but water also works if you do not want to disrupt the flavor in your mouth. Savor it...it's worth it.



Chicken Coconut Korma  

This is another very popular dish with a very mild flavor of coconut milk but not to strong if you do not like coconut. People I've talked to that hate coconut have attested to this. I'm also a sucker for cashews that most places use but some also use or substitute with pine nuts. Again curry is only one of many ingredients used in this dish so it does not over power the other flavors. Same thing here. Pour it over the rice and use the Naan to sop up the sauce. I'm getting emotional just thinking about it!



I thought I would add some pictures so you have an idea of the look. When your are ready and know you like them try them with the traditional lamb. It is just as tender and adds a little bit different flavor. Most places will also do these dishes with shrimp or vegetarian style so they can cover a lot of different tastes.

So go giv'em a try and if I've have led you astray with either recommendation let me know and I will reimburse you .01% of your total bill...which isn't bad in these tough economic times!

Enjoy!

Salsa!!!!

Hello again!

One of my favorite lines from Seinfeld is when Jerry is describing that salsa is the new ketchup because people like saying the word "SALSA!". He was right. It is fun to say and more fun to eat. It can come in so many different varieties, flavors and heat indexes. I've noticed a new trend popping up at Mexican restaurants lately to have a salsa bar with at least 10-15 different varieties.

With the Fall temperatures setting in my tomatoes are really starting to ripen before the first freeze sets in so I have been making batch after batch of SALSA! There is nothing like the sweetness of a garden fresh tomato for making homemade salsa so if you cannot grow your own try to find someone you know who does as they are most likely trying to get rid of all of them right now.

I received this recipe years ago and I have decided to share it with you today. Some salsa is very tomato pasty, some are cooked, while others are more of a chunky garden style. This one leans towards the chunky garden style and has a ton of flavor so here you are:

     6           -     Medium red tomatoes
     3           -     Tomatillos   (Little green looking tomatoes with a leafy covering)
     2/3        -     Jalapenos     (Leave the seeds in if you want medium salsa, take out if you want mild)
     1/3        -     Onion          (You can go half an onion if you really like onions but I find 1/3 is perfect)
     10         -     Cilantro     (Cut the tops off of about 10-12 cilantro stalks)
     3/4 tsp  -     Salt
     1/4 tsp  -     Oregano
     1/4 tsp  -     Garlic powder

For less runny salsa I bleed the tomatoes before blending them with the rest of the ingredients. Take the leafy covering off the Tomatillos and cut the tops off. Set the blender for "chop" for more of a pico-de-gallo salsa. Throw it in a bowl and refrigerate.

I really don't know how long it will last because it never makes it past a couple of days in our house but I would imagine it would be good for at least a week or two.

So there you have it. Please share your recipes with me as well as I'm always on the look out for some new SALSA!.....that is so fun to say isn't it!

Washington D.C.

Good day!

All of this Election coverage reminded me that I have not blogged about some good eats in our Nations Capitol. It doesn't matter if you're Blue, Red or Independent as you are sure to find a melting pot of good food in this city.

My one recommendation is not to drive in this city. Fly in and take a taxi ride to your hotel or ride the subway to get around. None of the streets run in a N, W, S, E direction for long and the street names change depending on what section of the city you are in. My very first time my wife and I visited we ended up wasting a lot of time trying to navigate those roads. Yikes!

The second time I went I took a taxi to the hotel and then used it's shuttle to get to different locations of interest. So much less stress.

If you are going to drive, however, just get to the Union Station as quick as you can and get on one of those double-decker tour buses that will take you all over. I highly recommend it!

Now onto the food.

There were two places that stand out to me from my visits there as all of my other meals I stayed pretty pedestrian i.e. Hard Rock Cafe DC to get my souvenir cup, Quiznos for lunch, breakfast at the hotel etc.

Sequoia:     http://www.arkrestaurants.com/sequoia_dc.html

This awesome restaurant was referred to me by multiple people at my hotel and others at a conference I was at. The view from the Potomac river made it extra special. The appetizers were awesome and of course I got full on them quickly. I recommend the Seafood Bisque and the Crab & Artichoke Dip with the crispy flat bread. Awesome! For my entree I went with the Smoked Chili Grilled Salmon only because I had my choices narrowed down to "5" and that is the one our server recommended (which is always the way to go when you can't decide what to get at a new restaurant). It was fantastic and the sides were very delicious as well.

While in DC I would lean towards places that include a lot of seafood dishes as you can get a good taste of what the Atlantic has to offer and the preparations are done differently than on the Pacific side. 

Acropolis:     http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g28970-d538370-Reviews-Acropolis-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html

On my first trip my wife and I felt fortunate enough to get ourselves to the Union Station to pick up on one of the bus tours of the city and it was lunch time and we were HUNGRY! so we asked around at what was a good place to eat nearby and we were referred to this Greek restaurant at their food court. I know what you're thinking! FOOD COURT! and that is what I thought but the people there raved about their huge meaty Gyros. They weren't kidding. There must have been about a 2 lbs. of meat on that thing and it was cooked to perfection. Some Gyro meat can be over/under cooked so its a statement to have that much meat on it and it was all perfect. My wife went with the Chicken Slouvaki pita sandwich and her meat was perfectly tender as well. After chasing all of that down with some Greek seasoned fries it was all we could do to get on that bus and climb to the top. We sort of waddled like a duck. Always a sign of a good meal!

Now you have a few spots to hit on your next visit and a valuable recommendation not to drive...seriously!

Until we eat again!

London, England

I really miss the Olympics in London!

Even though they made me stay up every night  until almost midnight, it was so fun to get behind our athletes and feel like you were cheering them on from the stands...even though it was from the comfort of my own couch with some nachos!

The whole Olympic experience got me thinking about my visits to London and the food I partook of while visiting.

What exactly is English food?

For so many centuries they controlled so many different countries around the world that its hard to identify true English fare. About the only thing I wanted to make sure I tried while I was over there was English style fish and chips. We were lucky to find a place open one evening that served them after a day of site seeing but I was not impressed. The fish had to much salt and vinegar on it and the fries "chips" were very pasty. Don't let me dissuade you however as you really need to try these while your there and I just think we had a rare "bad" experience.

If you are a tea drinker definitely try some good old English tea and biscuits. Your hotel will bring them right to your room. Even if you do not drink you must experience an English pub while your there. We did a cool ghost walking tour of London one night and visited some 500 year old pubs. Awesome!

The food I enjoyed the most over there was some Indian food we ate at a Tandoori restaurant which was near our hotel. There are a handful of these types of restaurants around the city and I imagine they are all good. The service was fantastic and they were eager to bring out many different dishes to sample at one low price as we had not had a lot of Indian food prior to our visit.  Most of the nights we ate at restaurants in and around Piccadilly Circus which is the English version of Times Square in New York. I remember eating at the TGIFridays and Hard Rock Cafe. Again, try not to eat at chains while your there but I couldn't pass up the original Hard Rock.

The most English dish I can think of making sure you try during your visit is Yorkshire pudding (which isn't a pudding at all but a type of pastry with gravy), roast beef and green beans or potatoes. A meat and two veggies is the standard fare. Just do not be afraid to try other European and world cuisine while your there as they are a real melting pot of cultures and foods.

About the only type of food that is hard to find over there is Mexican. Geographically I can see why this is but I could not even find Spanish food in London and Spain is not as far as India or China?

So freeze dry some tacos for longer visits but other than that I think you will be a happy camper while navigating the Underground and seeing the amazing historical sites!

CHEERS for now!

Donuts!

Ahhh donuts!

Nothing says its Friday at work more than fresh made donuts, supplied by a generous co-worker or manager. After all, you have spent the majority of the week working hard and eating well, right?

It's funny how full circle donuts have come. They were all the rage when I was younger with Winchell's and Dunkin Doughnuts franchises all over as well as dozens of bakeries within most city limits. But they sort of died off in the late 80's - early 90's and were replaced by bagel shops. However, over the last few years I've noticed more and more specialty bakeries opening up with attention on designer donuts and cupcakes. What a great time to be alive!!!!

My favorite donuts growing up were called "Spudnuts". A place called Carmacks in Bountiful were the masters of the these types. In case you don't know what I'm talking about a spudnut is a donut made with dried potato mixed with the flour to give it more consistency and heartiness. They would rise up high and keep their thickness throughout. They were a perfect combination of substance and sweet glaze! There are only a few places around the country that still make these types but you can Google them to find out where they are in your area. I highly recommend it.

Here are a few places in Utah I recommend:

Tasty's (Kaysville):     http://www.tastysbakery.com/the_spudnut

They still make the spudnut and have a lot of varieties. I love their plain glazed spudnut, double blueberry and apple or blueberry fritters (not as greasy as others I've had).

The Hole (Roy):     http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-hole-roy

Definitley worth the trip if your heading up Ogden way. Their donuts are huge and very filling. I love the crumb donuts as well as their maple bars. Just make sure you have plenty of milk to wash them down with!

My Sugar's (West Valley):     http://utah.citysearch.com/profile/10394698/west_valley_ut/my_sugar_s_donut_shopp.html

When my job changed and I re-located to West Valley it was comforting to know there was an awesome donut shop just down the street. This is a tradition for Friday's treat day and I look forward to it like Christmas. Big donuts and a lot of different varieties. Just off the 201 freeway at 3200 West so stop by on your way out next time.

Beyond Glaze (Draper):     http://www.beyondglaze.com/

Like a box of chocolates, when you get a box of these specialty donuts they have a chart that will tell you what kind of donut you are eating. I love their maple/bacon donut. Yes! it has pieces of bacon on it. A mans donut paradise!

I also have to mention Krispy Kreme in Layton, Madbrook in Clearfield and one of my favorite grocery store bakeries Dick's Market in Centerville. It was so easy coming up with some of my favorites.

Please let me know your favorite place in your neck of the woods as I'm always on the look out for a place to feed my donut craving at a moments notice.

So stay hungry my friends and don't forget the milk!

Park City, UT

There is something about driving through Park City that just makes you feel well off. Even though I drive a 98 Sentra, I feel like my car looks better, the stereo sounds better, my cloths look better and I get the urge to buy some expensive art or invest in real estate. This place just seems to do that to me.

Not to mention when it is nearing 100 degrees outside here in the valley you can always count on Park City being 10 degrees cooler, which is nice.

A lot of people I talk too feel like they cannot eat there without spending a lot of money. While there are some very hi-end eateries, there are equally as many budget eats that are excellent.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Loco Lizard:     http://locolizardcantina.com/

If I'm craving Mexican food this is where I go. You can take the whole family and still have enough money for the Alpine slide. The Mole Amarillo is spicy but excellent. This is probably the 2nd best Mole I've had in Utah behind Red Iguana's. The Fish Taco's are a great choice and I recommend the Baja Halibut. To me halibut just makes a better fish taco as it's meatier. The Dulce de Leche Cheesecake is a great way to end you visit as it will be like no other dessert you've had.

Red Rock Junction:     http://www.redrockbrewing.com/

I've eaten at all of the Red Rock locations but there is something about being in Park City that makes this one stand out...probably due to the reasonable prices! As I've mentioned in previous posts bar type food has really come along way and no place typifies this better. I love the wood-fired Wild Mushroom pizza. Very different but very tasty. The Chinese Beef Salad is also a great choice for you salad eaters as I think I usually eat most of my wife's...bless her heart. If your not a drinker try their fresh brewed cream soda or root beer as either way you go you will be impressed.

Grub Steak Restaurant:     http://www.grubsteakrestaurant.com/home.html

I've eaten here a few times with different company functions and I always enjoy the food. There French Onion soup is a great place to start and is the best I've had in Park City. The sesame glaze on their Alaskan Halibut makes for a great fish choice but I always go for the 12oz New York Steak with the crushed peppercorn and sauteed onions. Try to go on the weekend as they will have live entertainment with some great local and national artists.

These are just a few of my favorites and with the Park City/Deer Valley area growing and adding new eats all the time there should never be a want for food. You don't have to wander to far off main street to find a place you will enjoy.

So go live life like a movie star for the day and escape the valley heat!

Enjoy!