Archives for November 2013

Rutabegorz: A Little Of Everything

Since opening in Fullerton in 1970, Rutabegorz has striven to provide healthy, natural foods to the communities surrounding its three locations, and the Tustin branch is no different. The menu at Ruta’s—so large and varied it resembles a book—is largely deli- and vegetarian-inspired but with a health-conscious ethos informing its cooking and the availability of its items. Carnivores ought to try the light yet filling garlic chicken salad or the Cockie Leeky soup (which also contains chicken) while guests who eschew the consumption of animals will enjoy a meal of vegetarian lasagna, a Dala Salad, or a falafel wrap. There are two dining rooms and as such plenty of seating, with tables outside for those so inclined, and the place has an ambience that matches what you would expect for a restaurant of this type. The portions here are more than enough for the fair prices, and service is generally very good.

Rutabegorz
158 W. Main Street
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 731-9807
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rutabegorz-tustin

Find Recipes Online with These Websites

These days, finding and sharing recipes has become an online activity, with dozens of websites full of user submitted meals for lunch, dinner and even dessert. These helpful websites will help you with your own family’s meal planning, as well as connect you to other home chefs to trade tips and tricks.

All Recipes
All Recipes is one of the most popular online cooking resources, with an expansive recipe database for just about any meal or occasion. Search the archives by ingredient, watch video tutorials, view sample menus for the entire week, or even plan your holiday spread all on this simple, friendly website.

Epicurious
The ideal site for the passionate food lover, Epicurious is jam packed with creative, inspiring recipes in the form of traditional text, videos, and slideshows of mouth-watering photos. Epicurious also features a great online community where visitors can follow other members, post their favorite recipes, and discuss topics such as family meal solutions and home brewing techniques. 

FoodNetwork.com
The beloved television cooking channel has a corresponding website, and fans of shows like The Barefoot Contessa are sure to love it. FoodNetwork.com features cooking tips from top chefs and hosts, 30-minute meal recipes, a quick recipe finder with filters for ingredients and prep time, and even a blog full of articles that foodies will find fascinating.

Claro’s Italian Market

Claro’s Italian Market wears its function on its sleeve—it sells all manner of Italian meats and cheeses, including imports, to all manners of guest, a family-owned chain with a special emphasis on providing delicious ingredients and delicious food. The variety in the deli section is enough to stall an indecisive shopper for hours but if you’re looking to eat instead of cook you can snatch up a made-to-order sandwich made with fresh ingredients for less than seven dollars. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and cooking classes are available in case you’d like to turn your top of the line ingredients into a nice meal yourself. The Tustin market is a little small and can fill up pretty quickly, especially around the times of year when home-cooked meals reign supreme (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.), and there is nowhere to sit as there so rarely is in a market, but overall Claro’s is an excellent place to grab either a bite to eat or the materials to assemble one.

Claro’s Italian Market
1095 E Main St
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 832-3081
http://www.yelp.com/biz/claros-italian-market-tustin

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Today we pay tribute to the men and women who have fought, and continue to fight, for our freedom. Thank you, veterans!

Honda-Ya: Japanese Fare

Izakaya, a portmanteau composed of the Japanese words for “to stay” and “sake shop”, refers to a place where you can eat, drink, and relax, and by that definition Tustin’s Honda-Ya fits the bill. Guests can choose to be seated at the bar, at a table, or on the tatami floor. Start with an appetizer like the crab shumai or takoyaki, then move onto an entrée like the delicious bacon-wrapped asparagus, one of the most popular items on the menu. For those seeking libations, Honda Ya offers an excellent selection of beer, sake, and even Japan’s other indigenous beverage, shochu. Green tea ice cream makes for a great dessert, especially on your birthday when it comes free. Ambience is casual, though as a fairly popular spot the restaurant can sometimes get loud. The portions can be a little small, so keep your eye on the price to make sure you don’t overspend.

Honda-Ya
556 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 832-0081
http://www.yelp.com/biz/honda-ya-tustin

Reminder: Today’s Election Day

Be sure to get out and vote today!

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