Charity Poker Tournament - Newport Beach, CA

Charity Texas Hold 'Em Tournament! REGISTRATION REQUIRED (Details below) Sat. Nov 1 (12pm – 5pm) Newport Beach Marriott 500 Bayview Circle, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Hello food fans! This is a cross-post from Chubbypanda.com. It's not really on-topic, but it's for a good cause. One of my friends is helping set up a huge charity poker tournament this Saturday from 12pm-5pm at the Bayview Marriott in Newport Beach. The buy-in is a $50 donation, which doubles as your entry fee. Food and snacks are provided, beer is available for sale. Big screen TVs will be showing the college football games so you won't miss a single minute of the action. All the proceeds go to the Children’s Miracle Network and the American Cancer Association's Relay for Life. The winners can cash their chips in at the end for some fab prizes. Some of the prizes are: Several weekend stays at some fantastic Marriott Hotel properties. Different iPod models. Fantastic wines. More to be announced. Plus, everyone wins the satisfaction of donating to two worthy causes and they get to have a great time playing poker. Please register ASAP as remaining space is limited. To register, click on this link, which will take you to my friend's Relay for Life page. It is a completely secure site hosted by the American Cancer Society. Click on the Donate button just below "Welcome to Susie Hunnel's Personal Page". Select a gift amount. Your donation is your registration fee! $50 is the minimum, but feel free to donate more if you like. Select One-time gift for "gift type". Click the Calculate button. Click the Next button to go to the payment page. After you pay, print out the receipt page and bring a copy to the poker tournament on November 1. This is your registration confirmation. You will not be allowed entry without it. If you have any questions, please post them here and I will forward them to the event organizers. There are some great charities that could really use our help. Hope to see some of you there!

Red Mango - Irvine, CA

I'm a culinary skeptic. Whenever I hear about a new food fad, Sprinkles, Pinkberry, South Beach, or Atkins to name a few, my gut reaction is doubt. As the frozen yogurt craze that swept Los Angeles trickled into Orange County, I was determined not to be taken in, resisting cajoling, bribery, and other forms of peer pressure. However, I was eventually lured to the Dark Side through the clever application of a 50%-off coupon by family-run Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato in Huntington Beach. Curse my Taiwanese penny-pinching genes! When friend, OC Weekly columnist, and fellow Orange County Food Blogs contributor Elmomonster broke the news that the Red Mango yogurt chain had arrived in Irvine, I knew I had to pay them a visit. A Korean franchise business, Red Mango was purportedly the inspiration for the first Pinkberry operation in LA. Pinkberry went on to spark a frozen yogurt fad that, as the LA Times quipped, launched 1,000 parking tickets. The first thing that struck me when I stepped into Red Mango's Irvine location was the sparseness of the decor. Despite the futuristic furniture and brightly colored posters, the shop was unable to escape the chilly, antiseptic, freshly mopped atmosphere that permeates most purveyors of chilled desserts. It's a disconcertingly soulless feeling. I was also surprised by how Spartan the menu was. Two types of frozen yogurt, Original or Green Tea, and a double row of toppings dished up by the youthful staff. It was a far from the self-serve, weigh-to-pay frozen yogurt model I'd grown accustomed to. I ordered a 4oz Green Tea frozen yogurt ($3.50) with two toppings ($1.25); blueberries and mochi bits. With my first bite, it was evident that Red Mango's frozen yogurt was a high quality product. Full-flavored, gently sour, and with a smooth mouth-feel, it filled my mouth with a creamy presence. The blueberries were fresh and sweet, popping like juice-filled bubbles. The mochi had a pleasantly chewy texture that added body to the dessert. However, as I finished my frozen yogurt, the other flavors faded, leaving only the sourness behind. 4oz is half of a cup, an amount of food roughly equivalent to what can be held in the palm of one cupped hand. Breaking it down to cost per unit, I'd paid about $1 per ounce, not counting the additional money added on for toppings. By way of comparison, the other frozen yogurt chain in Irvine, Yogurtland, charged 30¢ per ounce, had 3-4 types of tart and an additional 4-6 other frozen yogurt flavors, and a self-serve toppings bar with more options. There was a difference in quality to be sure, but it wasn't great enough to justify a 300% markup. I like Red Mango and I may end up there once or twice a year. But, I have serious reservations about its ability to compete for market share in the frozen yogurt niche. With places like Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato and Yogurtland offering better return on investment, and with the name recognition of the ever-expanding Pinkberry juggernaut, Red Mango may find drawing cost-conscious customers difficult in the current economic slump. Red Mango 17595 Harvard Ave Irvine, CA 92614 1-949-955-0333 Red Mango USA website

Frozen Yogurt Craze Sweeps Orange County

Looks like Squeeze OC is jumping on the froyo bandwagon. Their latest online edition contains a list of Pinkberry and Pinkberry knockoffs in Orange County. Prepare to descend into froyo madness. When one of those hits Fashion Island or the Spectrum, I'm throwing in my towel. Resistance is futile.

Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato (Grand Opening) - Huntington Beach, CA

Looks like it's Frozen Yogurt Week here on OC Food Blogs. Breaking news via CP FoodWire: Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato is holding its Grand Opening this week. Located near the corner of Beach and Warner, it has set itself us as a direct competitor to the popular Golden Spoon franchise less than a block away. Beach Cities seems to be counting on its healthy frozen yogurt toppings to attract business from the nearby Huntington Plaza office tower. That's a tall order given the convenience and popularity of the Golden Spoon located at the tower's base. Will moribund office workers, such as myself, be motivated enough to walk the extra block for a slightly different product? My guess is no, but we'll see. According to my friend and fellow manager, Happy Hour, Beach Cities was completely empty today at lunchtime. Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato offers self-serve yogurt with 12 flavors that rotate monthly. The yogurt and toppings cost $0.30 per ounce. For a limited time, Beach Cities is offering the first three ounces for free. But, don't try to get just three ounces. Happy Hour said the owner got a bit tetchy when he asked for the free, three-ounce portion. I'll review this spot sometime in the next few weeks for Chubbypanda - The Epicurious Wanderer. Free wireless Internet access is available for all customers. (Edit 05/17/2007: Read my full, much more favorable review of Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato here. Happy Hour and I are now regular customers.) Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato 16895 Beach Boulevard Huntington Beach, CA 92647 1-714-841-3868

Farewell New Shanghai (Closing Night) - Irvine, CA

Lo, there do I see my dinners. Lo, there do I see my breakfasts, my brunches, and my lunches. Lo, there do I see the line of my meals back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me. They bid me remember the dishes of New Shanghai in the halls memory, Where their taste may live forever. - Parody of the funeral chant from the 13th Warrior Close to one month ago, New Shanghai, my favorite spot for late night eats in Irvine, closed its doors. Having been tipped off earlier by the lovely Rasa Malaysia, Cat and I assembled a group of her graduate student friends, New Shanghai devotees one and all, for a final, blowout meal. (Read my review of New Shanghai on Chubbypanda.com) (Last call.) I don't know what it was that made the food so wonderful that night. Maybe it was the nostalgic melancholy we felt as we carefully savored every dish, enshrining them in our memories. It could also have been that the cooks at New Shanghai, knowing that this was their final opportunity to show us their skills, decided to pull out the stops in one last blaze of glory. Whatever the cause, everything we feasted on was authentic and delicious down to the core. (Green Onion Pancake) Moist, flakey, and al dente, this simple Green Onion Pancake tasted like the culmination of all the green onion pancakes I'd consumed at New Shanghai before. (Sizzling Satay Beef) The Sizzling Satay Beef, which was one of my favorite dishes, arrived vibrant and bursting with flavor. The Chinese satay sauce seemed thicker and stronger than I'd remembered, as if the dish was trying to sear itself into my mind. (Kung Pao Chicken) Cat's usual order of Kung Pao Chicken, which the owner's wife brought out to us without being asked, was amazing. There are two flavors that are central to classic Sichuan cuisine; ma and la. Ma is a numbing sensation in the mouth and on the lips, usually brought about by the use of Sichuan peppercorns. The numbing helps prepare the mouth for piquant flavors by acting as an anesthetic against very spicy food, so that the flavor added by the seasonings can be enjoyed. La is a burning sensation added through a number of fresh and processed chili pepper products. In addition to heat, the peppers also contribute layers of complexity, which the ma component makes discernible. Normally, in Chinese restaurants in the West, the la component in Sichuan dishes is toned down and the ma component is practically nonexistent in order to accommodate the palates of customers who might not know how to appreciate Sichuan cuisine. Since this was the close of New Shanghai's long and successful career in Irvine, I think the cooks finally felt free to go back to China on our unsuspecting tongues. I have never had a Kung Pao Chicken in the States as authentic as the one I had that night. So painfully good! (Scalded Fish) The Scalded Fish, which the owner's wife recommended to me as one of their signature dishes, was equally deadly. Thick filets of catfish swam in a crimson sea of broth flecked with green onion slices and chili flakes, and redolent with Sichuan peppercorn. The occasional piece of leek broke the fiery surface like the emerald fin of an herbaceous shark, prowling the blood red depths. I was delighted with this dish, but dismayed that my first time tasting it would also be my last. (Stir-fried Chinese Mustard Greens with Pork) After the onslaught of Sichuan cuisine, the Stir-fried Chinese Mustard Greens with Pork brought gentle relief to our mouths. The thin mung bean sheets sashaying through the dish shimmied across my tortured tongue and down my throat like the cool, silken fingers of a skilled masseuse. Another recommendation from the owner's wife, who wanted to make sure our meal was memorable. (Eggplant in Garlic Sauce) One of Cat's friends was desperate to taste New Shanghai's Eggplant in Garlic Sauce again, but couldn't remember what it was called. In the end, she had to describe it to the owner's wife, using me as an interpreter. Rich, sweet, and mildly spicy, it was a hit at the table. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this dish until Cat's friend ordered it. (XLB) The most surprising item I tasted that night were the Xiao Long Bao, which arrived last. In my review of New Shanghai, I'd warned my readers away from ordering them due to their dryness and the fact that they often arrived broken. This night, New Shanghai redeemed their Xiao Long Bao beyond measure. With thin, resilient skins, balanced seasoning, and tender meat filling swimming in juice, the Xiao Long Bao were simply wonderful. It felt like the restaurant's way of saying goodbye. So long, New Shanghai, and thanks for all the food. New Shanghai 5408 Walnut Ave # B Irvine, CA 92604 1-949-733-3836 *** Don't be too sad, though. New Shanghai's delicious dishes live on right across the shopping center at Hsin Hsin Shao Mai Deli, which is owned by the same family and now staffed by the same cooks. For the full story behind the move, a breakdown of the dishes offered at Hsin Hsin Shao Mai Deli, and a critique of how some of my old favorites measure up in their new home, read my review of Hsin Hsin Shao Mai Deli at Chubbypanda.com.

Finding the Good Stuff (Irvine Farmers Market)

(Begging to be eaten.) Any cook worth his salt will tell you that the foundation of a great meal lies in using the freshest ingredients. The simplest recipe can attain a startling degree of deliciousness with the use of properly selected raw materials. For me, the search starts at my local farmers market. (I'll take the lot.) Once a single row of shops in corner of the University Center parking lot, the Irvine Farmers Market has blossomed into a booming fair celebrating some of the best food products Southern California has to offer. With five meandering rows of stalls selling everything from artisan breads to freshly pressed cider, there's truly something here for everyone. (I didn't know students got up this early.) Every Saturday morning, throngs of UCI students and Irvine locals comb the booths for the ripest produce and tastiest products. From the producers to you, without any middle man. It doesn't get any better than this. (Doesn't even need salt.) The main draw is, of course, the many tables overflowing with delectable fruits and vegetables harvested that very morning. Just these tomatoes alone would be enough to get me out of bed early on a Saturday. (Just like in Taiwan's markets.) Even more appealing is the wide range of Asian greens and other vegetables available. You can't find veggies this fresh in any grocery store. That's the way we Asians like to eat our food. The less time that elapses between soil and rice bowl, the better. (Bins of delights.) My favorite one-stop-shop for Taiwanese tasties is the stand for Yao Chang Farm from Ventura County. If an Asian recipe shows up on Chubbypanda - The Epicurious Wanderer, chances are I got most of the ingredients here. There's no sign, but it's the stall in the corner closest to the Stanford Court apartment complex and furthest away from Lee's Sandwiches. Just watch out for the Taiwanese grannies that staff the booth. Those ladies can really sell. (Ooooh! Pretty!) You can also pick up bouquets of the most amazing flowers. At those prices, there's no reason that your special someone shouldn't get some every week. The perfect way to say, "I love you." (Feel like an omelet?) But, farm-fresh produce is just the tip of the iceberg. Small producers like Lily's Eggs offer a variety of amazing products at highly competitive prices. You may pay a dollar more for the eggs seen here, but trust me. Once you've tasted the difference, you'll never go back. That statement holds true for all of the goods available at the Irvine Farmers Market. During my interviews with some of the vendors, I found dedicated artisans passionate about the quality and freshness of their offerings. (Full of faith and love.) At Heaven's Kitchen, Irvine residents Kay and Allen Womack offer a selection of delicious baked goods inspired by the Southeast region of the United States. Heaven's Kitchen is part of a community of faith, and is an active participant of outreach programs that provide food to needy families, toys for disadvantaged children, and Bible studies for young people. Kay makes all of her wonderful products by hand, using recipes passed down to her through four generations of African-American women. She named her enterprise "Heaven's Kitchen" to honor the women in her family who taught her how to cook, and whom she believes are smiling down on her from heaven. Kay is doing her own part to pass on the family legacy by teaching her daughter, a graduate of Georgetown University, and her two grand-daughters how to cook. Stop on by and try the Sweet Potato Pie or Peach Cobbler. As Allen will tell you, a little time in the oven to the warm pie, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and you've got yourself a perfect plate of Southern hospitality. Kay and Allen are currently looking for a production facility for Heaven's Kitchen. Until then, Kay cooks everything in her own kitchen. In addition to baked goods, Heaven's Kitchen also caters, offering a wide assortment of classic Southern dishes. Contact Kay or Allen for a catering menu or drop by the Irvine Farmers Market and say "hi". Heaven's Kitchen Kay and Allen Womack Phone 1: 1-714-997-3332 Phone 2: 1-714-926-8025 Fax: 1-714-997-2585 Email: alkaywo@aol.com (If you're interested in participating in a community of faith, or making a donation to the charitable organizations supported by Heaven's Kitchen, please speak with Kay for more information.) (A family affair.) Carlie Stone does a great job representing Delaney's Culinary Fresh, a pasta, oil, and sauce company started six years ago by her mother, Jordan, and operated with the help of Carlie and her sister. Based in Temecula, Delaney's Culinary Fresh features a variety of sauces made using extra virgin olive oil, aged Italian cheeses, and fresh herbs and spices. Carlie recommends using her mother's sauces for pasta, bruschetta, and salad. The ladies don't skimp on the flavor, and the sauces are guaranteed to be freshly made, often only a day or two before they're sold at the market. Delaney's Culinary Fresh 1-760-277-8575 DelaneysCulinaryFresh@hotmail.com http://www.delaneysculinaryfresh.com (He loves his cheese.) Daniel represents the Winchester Cheese Company, a family-run dairy operation located in Winchester. The Winchester Cheese Company produces a variety of Dutch, farm-style cheeses using raw, certified whole milk and vegetable rennet imported from Holland. Their delicious products have been recommended by the likes of Wolfgang Puck, Bon Appetit Magazine, and Savoir Faire. Winchester Cheese Company 32605 Holland Road Winchester, CA 92596 1-951-926-4239 http://www.winchestercheese.com/ (A sweet deal.) Local beekeeper, John Ford, markets his honey under two brands; Vinciana's Natural Honey and Uncle Teddy's Natural Honey. With hives along Trabuco canyon and Ortega Highway, John takes pride in offering the honey he loves so much directly to you. He likes his honey any way he can get it, but his favorite delivery methods are in hot tea with lemon, or on a piece of warm toast. Vinciana's Natural Honey P.O. Box 8473 Fountain Valley, CA 92728 1-714-465-4500 (Really knows his stuff.) Lowell from Dry Dock Fish in Fullerton is always ready to answer your questions and sell you the Catch of the Day, literally. Dry Dock Fish brings in a number of their fish from vetted producers, but also catches a good portion of their seafood themselves. Lowell can tell you what's in season, where it came from, when it was caught, and the best way to have it for supper. His passion for his product really shines through. Dry Dock Fish's offerings are far superior in quality than what you'll find in your neighborhood grocery store. In less than twelve hours, the fish go from their nets to your hands. Who can beat that? Dry Dock Fish Company 1015 E. Commonwealth Fullerton, CA 92831 1-714-879-6067 http://www.angelfire.com/trek/drydockfish/ (The tamales, not him.) Kurt of Casa Solana Homestyle Tamales runs a catering business in Mission Viejo that serves all of Orange County. He markets traditional, authentic, homemade tamales produced by a Mexican, family-run business in Riverside. The tamales are individually wrapped, certified by the US Agricultural Department, and served in restaurants throughout Southern California. This panda vouches for the deliciousness of his products. (I miss the old rep.) A longtime market favorite, Stanton-based Mom's Products offers homemade, Mediterranean oils and appetizers. As with most of the stands at the Irvine Farmer's Market, Mom's Products is family owned and operated. The old rep was a charmingly gregarious fellow who used to greet his regulars, including this panda, with a resounding "Hello, my friend!" A few years ago, he was replaced by this genial, but much more subdued relative. I still love their offerings, but I miss my old chum. Mom's Products 7441 Cerritos Ave. Stanton, CA 90680 1-714-995-1705 (An olive oil rainbow.) Petrou Foods has long been a favorite stop of mine for high-end olive oil. According to their market rep, Lena, George Petrou immigrated to the United States from Greece 12-14 years ago, bringing with him intimate knowledge of olive oil manufacturing techniques. He set up shop in San Diego, applying his skills to the production of California olive oil. Today, Petrou Foods produces some of the finest olive oil and olive products in all of California. Petrou Foods LLC 7960 Silverton, Suite 120 San Diego, CA 92126 1-858-458-1981 http://www.petroufoods.com (Good stuff.) Gourmet Tamales of Carlsbad (guess where they're from) markets homemade tamales with no lard or industrial processing that are much larger than any you'll find in a grocery store. Their selection is astounding. Manny, the gentleman I spoke with, said that there was simply no comparison between their tamales and mass-produced ones. I have to agree. Gourmet Tamales of Carlsbad 1813 South Coast Hwy Oceanside, CA 1-760-402-0805 (Fun knickknacks for the whole family.) Tired of shopping yet? No? Good! There's an entire row of booths selling crafts from local artists. (Shiny...) The Irvine Farmers Market - Where you'll find some of the very best food Southern California has to offer. Go support your local growers and producers. You may find yourself paying a little more than you would in the store, but quality comes at a price. These mom & pops need your business, and we want to keep their wonderful products available for a long time to come. (Open every Saturday from 8am - 12noon.)

Red Onion Cafe Closing

Why is it that the good die young? Why is it that sometimes, despite the best efforts of their regulars, mom & pop eateries with soul are forced to close their doors? Doesn't seem fair, does it. In one of my very first posts for Chubbypanda - The Epicurious Wanderer, I covered my favorite spot in Irvine for Taiwanese comfort food; the Red Onion Cafe. For over eight years, this cozy little restaurant tucked away in a corner of "Irvine's Chinatown" has served faithfully and well as my watering hole of choice for Taiwanese tasties. Thus, it's with a very heavy heart that I announce that the Red Onion Cafe's last day of business will be January 15th, 2007. The restaurant will not be reopening afterwards. According to the owner/manager, the family will be "taking a break" from the restaurant business. Although he mentioned the possibility that the family may open another restaurant in a different location at a later date, he sounded far from certain. I think it's fairly safe to say that this is probably your last opportunity to taste the cafe's homey fare. As such, I strongly encourage you to swing by sometime in the next week and sample their food before it's gone for good. Here are some of my favorite dishes: (Crispy pork fat goodness.) Deep Fried Chitterlings - Deep fried pork intestines dusted with a little salt and served with shredded cabbage and green onions. They're really bad for you, but incredibly delicious. Best sampled with a cold glass of Taiwan Beer. (Pouches of brothy goodness.) Xiao Long Bao (Little Steamer Dumplings) - The best in Irvine. Thin, chewy dumpling skins enclose juicy pork filling swimming in a perfectly seasoned sea of soup. You'll need to head to the San Gabriel Valley to find any that are better. (Cat's fud.) Orange Chicken Set - Cat's favorite meal here. The mildly spiced, deeply complex flavor of the orange chicken is something you won't find at Panda Express. It definitely deserves a try. (Like eating at a temple fair.) Snack Set - A trio of three popular Taiwanese street hawker snacks. These aren't the best I've ever had, but they're quite nice. In the upper left, a pork meatball soup with flavorful, springy meatballs and a soothing broth. In the upper right, a cylinder of mixed rice with dried shrimp, group pork, and shitake mushrooms topped with shredded Taiwanese pork jerky. In the center, a steamed, rice flour dumpling in a pool of sweet and spicy starch sauce and garnished with cilantro. The filling of the dumpling consists of ground pork, dried shrimp, and shredded bamboo shoots. (Scary looking, but tasty.) Baked Tomato Chicken Pasta - Despite its rather alarming color, this mild, cheesy pasta sits firmly in my comfort zone. Eating it always makes me think of home. (Little Panda's Favorite) Ham and Corn Pasta - I used to order this dish in Taiwan a lot as a child. Pasta in a creamy corn sauce with bits of ham. What could be better comfort food? The meal sets all come with a choice of complimentary desserts. I like them both. (I love all puddings.) Pudding - Inspired by flan, the Taiwanese version is gelatin-based, less rich, and less sweet. It's also a lot healthier for you. I really like these sorts of light desserts. (Hidden goodness.) Red Bean Custard - A coconut cream custard hides a base of sweetened red beans. It's more strongly flavored than the pudding. Other items to try are the Pork and Preserved Egg Rice Porridge, Fish Filet Rice Porridge, Water Dumplings, and the Clams Stir-fried in Thai Basil. Please stop by. It's not the best Taiwanese food in town, but for me it's very reminiscent of my childhood in Taiwan. I still can't believe it's going away... Red Onion Cafe 14805 Jeffrey Rd., Ste H Irvine, CA 92720 1-949-559-5888

Chubbypanda's Ten Best Ethnic Meals of 2006 (Orange County)

Earlier this week, I received an email from Lindsay William-Ross, Food Editor for LAist, inviting me to participate in their end-of-the-year Ten Best series. After no small amount of agonizing, I've put together a list of Orange County places where I had the ten best "ethnic" meals this year. (Read this article on LAist and check out their other great offerings!) 1. Japanese - Frenzy Sushi (my review) The freshness and quality of the fish served at Frenzy Sushi is amazing. The Hamachi no Hara (yellowtail belly), Saba (marinated mackerel), and Maguro (Bluefin tuna) are must-haves here. If you like rolls, order the Firecracker or Caterpillar. Frenzy Sushi 369 E 17th St, #17 Costa Mesa, CA 92627 1-949-646-1333 http://www.frenzysushi.com 2. Chinese (Shanghai) - New Shanghai (my review) Delightfully cheap and delicious, the fiery flavors of the Shanghai, Sichuan, and Hunan cuisine dishes served at New Shanghai are perfect for a cold winter's night. I highly recommend the Niu Rou Mian (Beef Noodle Soup), Gong Bao Ji Ding (Kung Pao Chicken), and Zhao Liu Yu Pian (Fish Filets in Wine Sauce). New Shanghai 5408 Walnut Ave # B Irvine, CA 92604 (Open until midnight every night.) 3. Vietnamese - Pagolac (my review) I first tried Bo Bay Mon (Seven Courses of Beef) at Pagolac and it was a dining revelation. Even better were the Bo Nuong Vi (Grilled Beef) and Tom Nuong Vi (Grilled Shrimp). Although you may be a little leery of sampling Mam Nem (fermented shrimp sauce), take the plunge and you'll experience a true flavor sensation. Pagolac 14580 Brookhurst St. Westminster, CA 92683 1-714-531-4740 4. Peruvian - Peruvian Kitchen (my review) Peruvian food is one of the world's ultimate fusion cuisines, and Peruvian Kitchen delivers the complex blend of flavors and influences for a very reasonable price. Try the Tiradito al Aji (a carpaccio of fish marinated in a spicy sauce), the Anticuchos de Corazon (grilled pieces of seasoned beef heart), and the Yucca a la Huancaina (cassava cheese puffs covered in a spicy cream sauce. Peruvian Kitchen 8610 Warner Ave. Fountain Valley, CA 92708-3132 1-714-847-7555 http://www.peruviankitchen.com 5. Fusion - Elephant Bar (my review) A chain restaurant with both style and substance, the Elephant Bar in Irvine offers a number of Asian-fusion dishes as well as Western classics. Try the Coconut Shrimp or the Miso Grilled Salmon. Additional locations are available throughout Southern California. Elephant Bar Irvine, CA 14346 Culver Dr. 1-949-651-6087 http://www.elephantbar.com 6. Mexican - Lucia's Tacos and Mulitas (my review) Do not be dissuaded by this hole-in-the-wall's less than classy atmosphere. Lucia's Tacos and Mulitas is packed to the gills with authentic Mexican flavors. You haven't lived until you've tried their Tacos de Cabeza (beef cheek), Tacos de Lengua (beef tongue), or Tacos al Pastor (rotisserie grilled pork). For an early morning pick-me-up, grab a steaming bowl of their spicy Menudo (beef tripe soup) and get some Pan Dulse (sweet buns) to go. Lucia's Tacos and Mulitas (corner of Beach and Warner) 16952 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach, CA 92647 1-714-842-2404 (If you have difficulty being understood, ask for Lalo.) 7.Korean - Korea House BBQ (review forthcoming) Nothing warms both body and soul like the rich flavors of the Korean food at Korea House BBQ. With fresh, high quality meat, an excellent selection of complimentary Panchan (cold side dishes), a number of fiery stews, and other classic offerings, Korea House BBQ is the place to go when you want to add some spice to your life. Order up some Ross Gui (prime cut beef) or Bulgogi (marinated beef) to grill and kick back with a beer. Definitely best enjoyed with a group. Korea House BBQ 5305 University Dr. Irvine, CA 92612 1-949-552-9998 http://www.koreahousebbq.com/ 8. Chinese (Dim Sum) - Seafood World (review forthcoming) Seafood World is a Little Saigon institution, and one of the best places in Orange County to get delectable dim sum. Bring all of your friends so you can sample lots and lots of the bite-sized delights. Seafood World 15351 Brookhurst St # 101-106 Westminster, CA 92683 1-714-531-5330 9. Vegan (Thai) - Wheel of Life (review forthcoming) If you've never had vegan Thai cuisine before, stop by Wheel of Life and get your healthy groove on. With a culinary history spanning thousands of years of Buddhist dietary observances, vegan Thai food is good for both the body and soul. Wheel Of Life 14370 Culver Dr # 2 Irvine, CA 92604 1-949-551-8222 http://www.wheelofliferestaurant.com/ 10. Chinese (Islamic) - Lotus Chinese Eatery (my review) One of two locations in all of Orange County serving Islamic Chinese fare, Lotus brings the flavors of Northern China to Southern California. All of their delicious food is prepared according Halal guidelines. Order the Zhi Ma Da Bing Jia Cong (sesame pan bread with green onions) or any of their Chao Dao Xiao Mian (stir-fried knife-cut noodles). I'm also very fond of their Hong Shao Dou Fu (tofu in brown sauce). Lotus Chinese Eatery 16883 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach, CA 92647 1-714-848-4940