Coffee Is Served Without Gimmicks at The Lost Bean

We’re not sure where the name “The Lost Bean” came from, but it could refer to the coffeehouses of day's past—those simple, welcoming, unpretentious places that brought you good food and memorable coffee. The Lost Bean won’t try to sell you brand memorabilia or toys; the focus is top-notch organic coffee and tea. That’s it. No tricks, no branded products—just comfortable seats and good drinks, the perfect atmosphere for a casual date, a business meeting, or to kick back with a book.

Blended drinks are made with skill, food is reportedly delicious (don’t miss the broccoli and cheese quiche or the chocolate zucchini bread for dessert), and service comes with a smile. The Lost Bean is the return of the coffeehouse as an art form.

The Lost Bean
13011 Newport Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 544-2584
www.thelostbean.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-lost-bean-tustin

Chapter One: Local Dishes and Cocktails From Around the World

While the elaborately decorative, handcrafted dishes at Chapter One are made with local produce, the stylish restaurant’s wine and cocktails will transport you to all corners of the world. This foodie-friendly hotspot serves imaginative dishes for lunch, dinner and even in the evenings for hungry night owls, and its impressive menu is always updated to keep up with the produce that’s currently in season.

Small plates like the ever-popular duck fat fries give guests something to munch on while they peruse the menu, and the lunchtime soups and salads will make you rethink the way you look at these everyday dishes. For dinner, Chapter One gets really experimental with new takes on classic dishes like gnocchi, fish and chips, and even fried chicken. If you’ve always wanted to sample a macaroni and cheese made with truffle oil, smoky bacon, and caramelized onion relish, you’ve come to the right place.

Chapter One is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, and it opens early, at 10 a.m., for brunch on Sundays.

Chapter One
227 N. Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 352-2225
www.chapteronetml.com
www.yelp.com/biz/chapter-one-the-modern-local-santa-ana

Lanta Thai Fusion: Terrific Fusion Cuisine

Lanta Thai Fusion brings a mix of Thai, American, and Chinese cuisines that comes together to make some delightful dishes. The varied menu means you're likely to find something to enjoy here.

The chicken or beef satae are pieces of meat skewered and sautéed and accompanied by cucumber and peanut sauces, while the tofu with sweet and sour sauce. Lanta Thai Fusion also features an array of curries, including panang, pineapple, massaman, a classic Thai curry served with potatoes and onions, as well as spicy red curry for adventurous diners. Lanta Thai Fusion even offers a four course dinner special, allowing diners the choice of meats with dishes like pad thai, chow mein, and stir fried broccoli.

Visit Lanta Thai Fusion's website to learn more.

Lanta Thai Fusion
724 East Katella Avenue
Orange, CA 92867
(714) 532-4922
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lanta-thai-fusion-orange

Watch Out for These Surprising Sources of Gluten

Whether you suffer from celiac disease or you simply want to promote a healthier lifestyle, more and more people are cutting gluten out of their diets. Gluten is most prominent in breads and other foods containing wheat, but it also sneaks its way into some fairly surprising dishes that you might not expect. Here are a few lesser known sources of gluten.

  1. Veggie burgers. Sure, veggie burgers are a great meat alternative for vegans and vegetarians, but that doesn’t mean that they’re right for gluten-free eaters. Many store-bought brands of veggie burgers contain wheat gluten, and some homemade recipes do as well.
  2. Salad dressing. While replacing a sandwich with a salad is a great way to stick to your gluten-free diet, be careful of the dressings that you choose to top that salad. A number of the thickening agents found in salad dressings achieve their effects with the help of gluten. Check for a substance called “modified food starch” before you purchase any dressing.
  3. Potato chips. Potato chips technically don’t contain gluten because most are made with potatoes and oil, but some brands of flavored potato chips contain flavorings that contain wheat, barley, or rye. Be cautious of any potato chips flavored with things like barbecue or sweet onion.

There’s Gluten In That? [Everyday Health]
10 Surprising Gluten-Containing Foods [Delicious Living]
7 Foods You Never Knew Contained Gluten [HuffPost Healthy Living]

Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ: Come for the Ribs, Stay for the Apple Butter Biscuits

The story goes that Lucille learned to cook at her Granny’s lunch shack in Greenville, South Carolina. After following her husband to California during World War II, she longed for the tastes of home, so she started whipping up the best barbecue this side of Dixie.

Okay, so Lucille is a fictional character, but founder Craig Hofman likes to think he’d make Lucille happy. The product of years spent in barbecue joints “from the Carolinas to Kansas, Texas, to Tennessee,” Hofman serves slow-cooked treats and Southern hospitality.

Californians love it, but more importantly so do exiled Southerners. Visitors from Memphis, Kansas City, and all points rave over Lucille's pulled pork, brisket, chicken, ribs, mac ‘n’ cheese, and apple butter biscuits Note: Resist the temptation to fill up on apple butter biscuits. It’s difficult.

Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ
The District at Tustin Legacy
2550 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 259-1227
www.lucillesbbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/lucilles-smokehouse-bbq-tustin-4

2 Fascinating “This Day in History” Websites

Was history always your favorite subject in school? Do you love to share fun historical facts in conversations with friends? If you’re an avid history buff with a love for learning, these fascinating websites that feature the most important events from that particular day are sure to brighten your mornings.

Computer History
If you’re interested in technology, this site will surely get your gears turning. The Computer History Museum website posts daily facts about that day in history, describing famous inventions, births and deaths of computer scientists, and even product launches that changed the world of computers. If you missed a day, the handy calendar icon even allows you to choose a particular date and read facts that were already posted.

Today in Literature
Bookworms of all ages will love the facts posted on Today in Literature. The site uses short blurbs to describe famous books that were released on each individual day, and it also allows you to backtrack to days you might have missed. If you’re interested in a particular author or book, the site also offers links to check out the full story as well.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Order the Scallop Dynamite Roll at RA Sushi

Shopping? Hungry after the movie? RA Sushi brings you traditional and modern sushi and Japanese fusion cuisine at The District at Tustin Legacy. Your favorites are here, but the focus is on remixed, reinvented sushi, with bright colors, new textures, and surprising combinations. The Scallop Dynamite Roll, for example, is a mouthful: crab and cream cheese rolled in rice and seaweed, lightly battered and topped with red beet, spinach tempura bits, and sweet eel sauce.

Locals are generally pleased with the food, service, and atmosphere, especially given how busy it gets. Be prepared to wait, especially on weekends. Beer, sake, and wine lists are a mile long, and cocktails are reportedly stiff. Check RA Sushi’s website for hours, menus, and generous happy hour deals.

RA Sushi
The District at Tustin Legacy
2401 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 566-1700
www.rasushi.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ra-sushi-bar-restaurant-tustin

Perk Up Your Taste Buds at Grape Leaf Mediterranean Grill

Get out of your burger and fries routine and take a culinary trip to Greece at Grape Leaf Mediterranean Grill. It’s a cozy, friendly spot with a wide assortment of authentic Greek dishes that'll perk up your taste buds.

Settle in with a beer or glass of wine and a flavorful appetizer like spanikopita, stuffed grape leaves, fried cauliflower, hummus, grilled halloumi cheese, or grilled pita bread. Some yummy soups and salads are also on the menu. Pita wraps are a great choice, stuffed with a variety of fillings, including falafel, chicken shawarma, and beef and lamb. Entree choices include beef, shrimp, or chicken kabobs, chicken souvlaki, chicken or steak shawarma, and salmon tahini filet. Conclude your meal with a sweet taste of baklava or the banana banoffi, a pie of whipped cream, caramelized milk, and bananas.

Grape Leaf Mediterranean Grill is open every day.

Grape Leaf Mediterranean Grill
17582 E. 17th Street
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 544-1900
www.grapeleafgrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grape-leaf-mediterranean-grill-tustin

6 Healthy, Low-Sodium Recipes That Don’t Sacrifice Taste

When you begin a low-sodium diet, you may worry about not being able to eat your favorite foods. Because the majority of the sodium you consume comes from canned, frozen, or processed foods, it can be easy to continue to eat the things you love, provided they’re made fresh instead. Here are a few delicious recipes that will help you stick to your reduced-sodium eating plan without sacrificing taste.

Artichoke Dip [Mayo Clinic]

Pizza Margherita [Mayo Clinic]

Grilled Asparagus Salad [All Recipes]

Lemon Garlic Tilapia [All Recipes]

Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze [All Recipes]

Scalloped Potatoes [All Recipes]

Public Domain/Public Domain

Espresso Drinks Are Made With Care at Kéan Coffee

You could say that coffee is in Martin Diedrich’s blood. The coffee entrepreneur traces his roots to Costa Rican and Guatemalan coffee plantations, and his family started importing beans to California in 1972.

After building the internationally successful Diedrich Coffee chain in the 1980s and 90s, Diedrich founded Kéan Coffee to put the focus back on the beans. From roasting to pouring to maintenance, Diedrich talks about coffee with the love, care, and detail usually reserved for fine wine. The goal, he says, is to restore “coffee culture,” the leisurely appreciation of coffee in all its mystery—coffee as the center of family, business, and relaxation. Coffee beans, many of which are organic and fair-trade, are roasted on-site at Diedrich's cafe, imparting a whole-bodied, nuanced flavor to Kéan's coffee drinks.

Kéan Coffee's Tustin location is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Kéan Coffee
13861 Newport Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 838-5326
www.keancoffee.com
www.yelp.com/biz/kean-coffee-tustin

Pin It on Pinterest