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Javier’s Cantina and Grill: Elegant Mexican Cuisine and Rare Tequilas

October 23, 2014 by

Javier’s Cantina and Grill offers elegant plates of Mexican cuisine paired with rare tequilas. Chefs from various parts of Mexico use only sustainable seafood to craft such entrees as sautéed wild, Mexican white prawns, shrimp stuffed enchiladas, and quesadillas filled with Dungeness crab. Chefs also top center cut Angus beef from Nebraska with a light chipotle cream sauce and sautéed onions and serve natural chicken with avocado sauce and cotija cheese.

You can pair your meal with a selection of tequilas including silver, aged, and rare tequilas. The restaurant features close to 100 tequilas, many of which mix well into Javier’s hand shaken margaritas. The drinks are served on the rocks by the glass or pitcher. You can enjoy your meal inside a warm setting decorated with dark wood tables, a stone wall, and a giant tree growing from the center of the restaurant.

Javier’s Cantina and Grill
45 Fortune Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 872-2101
www.javiers-cantina.com
www.yelp.com/biz/javiers-cantina-and-grill-irvine

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How to Make This Year’s Halloween Party Your Best Ever

October 16, 2014 by

So you’ve decided to throw a Halloween party at your home, but where do you start? Luckily, a spooky Halloween theme offers an almost endless list of decoration and refreshment ideas to make your party a ghoulish good time. Here’s just a bit of inspiration.

Severed Finger Invitation [marthastewart.com]
Give your guests a fright before the party even starts by sending them a severed "finger" in a box as a party invitation!

Spiked Witch’s Brew [celebrations.com]
For refreshments, serve a black cauldron filled with a spiked punch that looks like witch’s brew. You can even make it “smoke” by adding dry ice to the cauldron.

Monster Face Paint [marthastewart.com]
Entertain the little ones at a Halloween party by setting up a face painting station. Even if the party isn’t a costume party, they’ll love to wear their new monster face around all night.

Mad Scientist Party [rachaelraymag.com]
If you prefer to go all-out with a unique theme, a mad scientist party is one that your guests probably haven’t seen before. Decorate with beakers and test tubes, don a white lab coat and a wild wig, and turn your kitchen into a laboratory filled with experimental refreshments.

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Honda-Ya: A Japanese Restaurant in Tustin

October 2, 2014 by

Izakaya means “a place to eat, drink, and sit comfortably.” In Japan, it’s roughly similar to a pub: simple food, straightforward drinks, and reasonable prices—a place to shrug off tradition and relax.

Don’t look for chef “performances” or wild menu items at Tustin’s Honda-Ya, just unpretentious decor, home-style food, and lots of good sake. From sushi and sashimi to tebasaki, yakitori, pork belly, and udon, locals can’t praise the big menu enough. Service is fast and efficient, but be prepared to wait; Honda-Ya gets packed, especially on weekends. However, we hear it takes just one visit to become a regular!

Check Honda-Ya’s site for hours, menus, events, and other locations.

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

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Don’t Miss the Lunch Specials at Gen Korean BBQ House

September 25, 2014 by

Regulars say that Gen Korean BBQ House stands out for atmosphere and service. If you’ve been to the three other locations, you know what to expect in Tustin: slick, comfortable, traditional-meets-modern decor and staff that anticipates your needs before you ask.

There are no complaints about the food, either. Regulars call the menu fresh, tasty, and traditional, pleasing ex-pats, newcomers to Korean cuisine, and even kids. Add reasonable prices, outstanding lunch specials (all-you-can-eat for $14.99) and deep happy hour discounts, and you’ve found a new spot for your date or business meeting.

Check Gen Korean BBQ House’s website for hours, menus, and specials.

Gen Korean BBQ House
13741 Newport Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 505-1800
www.genkoreanbbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/gen-korean-bbq-house-tustin

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Today’s Imponderable: Why Can’t Oil and Water Mix?

September 18, 2014 by

You’ve likely heard the expression “like oil and water,” and you may have even witnessed this strange phenomenon firsthand if you’re an avid baker. Although it is fairly common knowledge, do you really know why oil and water can’t mix?

The main reason why these two liquids can’t mix is because they’re too into themselves—literally. Water molecules are very attached to one another and though they usually mix with other liquids, they’ve met their match with oil, which is also very attached to its own molecules. In more scientific terms, water molecules are polar in nature and can only dissolve other polar molecules. Because oil is non-polar, it cannot dissolve in water. This causes the two liquids to almost seamlessly separate, and the oil then floats on top because it has a lower density than the water.

In nature, you can observe this phenomenon on water birds or animals like beavers. Their oily coats and feathers repel water, which keeps them warm and dry in the winter!

Why Oil and Water Don't Mix [Science Project Ideas]
Why Oil and Water do not mix? [Let’s Talk Chemistry]
Mixing Oil and Water [Science Experiments for Kids]

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The Catch: Catch Fresh Seafood and More in Anaheim

September 4, 2014 by

A range of dining options is offered at The Catch, with menu items varying from burgers, to steaks and seafood, all right in Anaheim.

Get your appetite primed with a tasty starter like Maine Lobster On a Stick with sweet corn truffle cream, Sizzling Hiramasa Sashimi with sushi rice, crispy shallots & tobiko caviar, or Castro Valley Artichoke with herb vinaigrette & lemon herb aioli. Seafood entrees feature taste tempters like Legendary Chilean Sea Bass with ginger carrot puree, lemon butter & spicy sesame tomatoes, Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut with stir-fried snow peas, shiitake mushrooms, & young bok choy, and Chipotle Glazed Cedar Plank Skuna Bay Salmon with roasted pepper yellow corn relish & chipotle herb glaze. Beef fare includes a 32-Ounce Tomahawk Chop Ribeye, and an 8-Ounce Filet Mignon.

The Catch
2100 E. Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 935-0101
http://www.catchanaheim.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-catch-anaheim-2

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Aloha Hawaiian BBQ: Enjoy Barbecue

August 28, 2014 by

Hawaiian cuisine consists of more than just pineapple, and no place is more dedicated to proving this than Aloha Hawaiian BBQ on Park Avenue. Aloha is known for its plate lunches, which it defines as “a classic Hawaiian meal composed of an entrée or combination of entrées, served with rice and macaroni salad on the side”.

One of their best sellers, the chicken katsu—which is included with BBQ chicken on the chicken combo plate—is particularly excellent, hitting the sweet spot with regards to crunchiness. The spam musubi are also very good and well portioned. The macaroni salad, a big part of every plate lunch, is luckily very good. The decor is predictably Hawaiian but bright and friendly.

Visit Aloha Hawaiian BBQ's website to learn more about this local restaurant!

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ
2336 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 258-1888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/aloha-hawaiian-bbq-tustin

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How to Get More Folic Acid in Your Diet

August 21, 2014 by

Folic acid stimulates cell growth and regeneration, enhances red blood cell creation, and even prevents against depression, which is important for people of all ages. Pregnant women benefit even further from folic acid because it prevents against fetal deformities. If you want to take advantage of the many benefits of folic acid, here are a few of the best food sources.

  1. Dark, leafy greens. Dark green colored vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens are some of the very best sources of folic acid, and even just one large salad filled with these leafy foods can provide you with enough folic acid for the entire day. Spinach is especially beneficial, as it contains 65% of your daily value in only one cup.
  2. Citrus fruits. Oranges, grapefruits, and other citruses have more folic acid than all other types of fruits. One papaya alone offers 115 mcg of folic acid, which is about 29% of the average person’s recommended daily intake.
  3. Beans, peas and lentils. While not all of these foods are high in folic acid, there are a few beans, peas, and lentils that contain impressively large quantities of the B-complex vitamin. Lentils are especially high in folic acid, containing over 90% of your daily intake in just one cup. Pinto beans, garbanzo beans, and black beans are also very good sources.

Surprising Sources of Folic Acid [Yahoo! Shine]
Foods High in Folic Acid [Prenatal Vitamin HQ]
15 Foods High in Folic Acid [Global Healing Center]
18 Foods High in Folic Acid to Prevent Cancer & Birth Defects [Bembu]

Public Domain/Public Domain
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Lola Gaspar: Spend Your Afternoon Siesta at This Latin American Tavern

August 7, 2014 by

Lola Gaspar channels the easy lifestyle of Latin America through its eclectic menu, elaborately decorated interior, and afternoon siesta offerings, which are perfect for guests who want to call off the workday a little early. The dining room is small and romantic, featuring rustic chandeliers and a very quaint, cozy seating area.

Warm chips and grilled calamari make flavorful appetizers, and the tacos are some of the most popular menu items. Lola Gaspar also serves heartier entrees, like skirt steak or spicy carnitas, and regulars rave about the perfectly crispy French fries. The weekday siesta specials include discounted snack plates and cocktails from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., just like they do in Latin countries. Whether you stop by for dinner or to spend the afternoon on the outdoor patio, Lola Gaspar is a welcome respite from the daily hustle and bustle.

Lola Gaspar is open 11:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays. The hours change on weekends, so be sure to check before planning a visit.

Lola Gaspar
211 W. 2nd Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 972-1172
www.lolagaspar.com
www.yelp.com/biz/lola-gaspar-santa-ana

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Memorize These Cooking Terms Before Tackling That New Recipe

July 24, 2014 by

One of the first steps in becoming an expert in the kitchen is having a thorough understanding of each cooking term on a recipe. After knowing your ingredient, being able to read and follow a recipe correctly is important in how the dish turns out. Here are four must-know kitchen terms to help you out.

  1. Meuniere. This term refers to an ingredient, like poultry or fish, being dredged in flour, then sauteed in butter.
  2. Hull. When preparing a fruit salad, you may be asked to hull the berries, which means to remove the green stems and leaves.
  3. Macerate. Soften and sweeten fruits by macerating them, which means to cover them with lemon juice or liqueur until they have absorbed the flavor.
  4. Proof. Before baking bread, you may need to proof the yeast. This tests if the yeast is still active by dissolving it in warm water with sugar or honey for five minutes to see if it foams or bubbles.

The Basic Kitchen: Glossary of Cooking Terms [Le Petites Gourmettes]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes and Gardens]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Cookery]
Culinary Terms: Food Dictionary and Glossary of Cooking Terms [Culinary Arts About.com]

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