Sugar Rush at Sports Club/LA - Orange County

My dinner the other night was a frosted sugar cookie, a 7-layer bar, a couple of mini-cupcakes, some other cookies, and some baklava. I actually don't have much of a sweet tooth, but when my gym hung up promotional posters for Sugar Rush, a members-only dessert sampling event featuring some of the most sensational sweets in Orange County, I felt I had no choice but to go town on all of the free offerings of the affair. I realize there's something inherently wrong with eating such decadent treats at the gym, but rest assured, I proceeded to run five pointless miles on the treadmill upstairs immediately after I had my last cake pop. Thank you, Sports Club/LA.

Wildflour Cupakes

There was a lot going on at the Wildflour Cupcakes table. Definitely the centerpiece of the event, the offerings from this Fullerton bakery included a variety of flavors. My favorite was the Fleur de Sel cupcake. Rich chocolate cake with salted caramel buttercream frosting, it's as if the salty flavor pinches your taste buds before they are enveloped in the sweetness of the caramel. The Mango Coconut cupcakes were also a delight. They also featured some of their cake pops. The peanut butter cake pop tasted just like a Reese's peanut butter cup.

Check out the Wildflour Cupakes website here.

SusieCakes

An all-American bakery that has received national press for the treats that come out of their kitchens, SusieCakes is well known for their signature cupcakes. Unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen at the event. I'll have to visit one of their four SoCal locations in Newport Beach, Brentwood, Calabasas, or Manhattan Beach to experience them. They did however feature their 7-layer Bar (above). It is baked with chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans on a  graham cracker crust. It was delightfully rich, but I wasn't feeling the coconut moment. Coconut is usually hit or miss for me.

Check out the SusieCakes website here.

The Cravory

The Cravory laid out just a few of their 950 cookie creations, some of them sweet and others savory. They of course had some classic pieces, such as the Birthday Cake (Sugar cookie with sprinkles) and the Ultimate Chocolate Chip (self-explanatory). I tried one of their more unconventional creations, the Pancakes & Bacon. It was rich in the pancake and maple flavors, but the small pieces of dry bacon added a bit of salt. It was like a small bite of breakfast. Another unique and savory flavor on the table was the Rosemary Balsamic, which is one of the most popular among their signature cookies. I can see the savory cookies making good snacks, but who wants a dessert that tastes like another meal?

Check out The Cravory website here.

Bakluvit

The absolute highlight of the event for me came from the Bakluvit table. Baklava is one of those desserts I hated as a kid because it wasn't chocolate cake (How prejudice of me, right?) and as adult, I like it just fine but won't go out of my way for it. That all changed when I bit into the ChocBak, their limited edition hand-crafted baklava that won me over with its chocolateness. It's rich, sweet, and it melts in your mouth. The BakScotch was even more rich and flavorful with what their website describes as "layers of crisp fillo dough, fresh California Walnuts, and a hand-crafted lightly sweetened layer of butterscotch wonderment." The founder of Bakluvit traveled the world in search of the finest ingredients, which do not include honey or corn syrup.  Wherever he went, it was worth the trip.

Bakluvit takes online orders through their webite and ships out of their Newport Beach kitchen daily. A box of 15 costs $28.00. I'll have to order a couple boxes for the next grown-up party I'm invited to.

Order from Bakluvit through their website here.

Bruxie (Old Towne Orange)

ORANGE, Calif. - I'm all about re-purposing breakfast foods so that they can  be enjoyed at lunch and dinner. Luckily, so are the three guys who opened Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches on the corner of Glassell and Palm in Orange. I realize that Roscoe's has been doing something similar for decades in Los Angeles, but the waffle sandwiches that come out of this historic Old Towne Orange shack are uniquely sensational. OC foodies have been eating up the novelty of Bruxie's creations since it opened at its location near Chapman University last Fall.

The Bruxie waffle is made in a style that originally hails from Brussles. Described as light, airy and crip, it is leavened by yeast rather than baking powder, so it isn't necessarily like the kind of doughy, sugary waffles you'd get at a greasy spoon diner. Biting into any of the menu's offerings is nothing like biting into a syrupy McGriddle (Though you can add maple syrup for a dollar).

The most popular items on the menu is the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffle ($6.95), the Bruxie Burger ($6.95) and the Prosciutto & Gruyere ($7.95).

Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffle

Buttermilk-soaked, deep fried and drizzled with honey chili sauce, this tender chicken breast with a crispy exterior is tucked in the fold of the waffle with a small helping of coleslaw. What made this sandwich for me was the honey chili. A bit tangy and a tad sweet, the sauce is reminiscent of the Asian sweet chili sauce I grew up dipping egg rolls in.

Prosciutto & Gruyere

The Prosciutto & Gruyere, which I had on another visit, packs a more subtle punch of flavor. The thinly sliced dry-cured ham is delicately salty (as prosciutto usually is), and the presence of the gruyere cheese works well against the taste of the whole grain mustard and chives. It sort of reminded me of the paninis I used to get at one of the cafes around the corner from my apartment in Florence, Italy.  

With seven items on the savory menu and six on the sweet menu, I'm certain I'll eventually get around to trying everything. There are also seasonal specials available, such as the Pulled Pork or the Pastrami. I think for my next visit, I have my sights set on the sweet side of Bruxie. I know I'll have trouble deciding between the Nutella & Bananas and the S'Mores. If anything, I'll have to bring a friend or two next time who's willing to share a few of these in one sitting. Any takers?

NOTES

• The waffle fries are deep-fried in 100% peanut oil. Good texture, but a little too peppered in my opinion.
• The beverage collection includes locally crafted pure cane sugar sodas.
• There are tables for parties of two and four in a shaded space attached to the building. There is also a counter on the other side of the building and bar-height tables in the parking lot. 
• Count on having to park on the street. Most of the nearby spots are 30-minute spaces.
• Due to the historic nature of the building, there are no public restrooms.

Bruxie is located at 292 North Glassell St. in Orange, California.

Check out the Bruxie website here.

Rao's | Las Vegas Restaurant Week

Last weekend, a friend and I caught the tail end of this year's Las Vegas Restaurant Week, a fundraising event and a celebration of food and drink on the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding areas. Out of the more than 120 restaurants that offered prix-fixe menus at $20.10, $30.10 and $50.10, we chose to snag a table at Rao's Restaurant at Caesars Palace. Las Vegas Restaurant Week opened on August 29 and closed on September 11. Participating restaurants donated $4 to $6 to the Three Square Food Bank for each meal sold off their Restaurant Week menus.

Reminiscent of its original NYC storefront on an East Harlem street corner, Rao's at Caesers Palace has two ten-table rooms and additional seating in a banquet area as well as on a poolside outdoor patio with a bocce court. The seating area outside of the entrance lets you see all the action happening on the casino floor.

Fritto Misto (That's 'Eye-Talian'): Deep fried calamari, jumbo shrimp and zucchini with remoulade and marinara on the side

A nice selection of carbs in a basket

Our waiter serving the pasta out of a covered chafing dish. By the time it's in front of you, it's still piping hot.

Pasta is served al dente. I had the Pennette alla Vodka, one of Rao's most popular dishes, which features San Marzano tomatoes, diced Italian ham, vodka and a touch of cream. We also ordered a serving of their famously hearty meatballs, which come "in pairs, both the about the size of baseballs" said the waiter. (Giggity)

For dessert, NY Cheesecake with side of berries dusted with powdered sugar.

A sitdown interview that Caesars Palace did with Frankie Pellegrino Jr. of Rao's discussing their Restaurant Week events and activities.

FOOTNOTES on Rao's

Cheapest wine by the glass is a $15 Chianti

 

Rao's is also known for specialty olive oil, sauce, marinades and dressings, which are all available for purchase online here.

Rao's Website

Rao's Yelp

Wicked Spoon (Las Vegas)

Gourmet buffet at The Cosmopolitan. $22.00 brunch, $35.00 dinner

From top left: BBQ pork slices, KBBQ short ribs, BLT salad, tangerine chicken, macaroni & cheese with ham

From top left: Lamb shank, fresh cod, pork fried rice, white clam pizza

Chocolate covered strawberries sprinkled with peanuts and Oreo cookies

Gelato station

A giant spoon at the entrance? The decor was obviously decided by a Filipino

The Cosmopolitan goes big on chandeliers

Wicked Spoon Website
Wicked Spoon Yelp

Life of Brian's | The Glory Days of Dollar Beer Nights

FULLERTON, Calif. - Every end of August, when I begin to see post after post from friends on Facebook and Twitter about the start of a new school year at Cal State Fullerton, I feel a twinge of nostalgia and a slight yearning for the "glory days." Now two years removed from college, I still have a hard time coming to terms with not being a student anymore. After all, I didn't feel like I was in college until about my third year, when I started making new friends, rooting for Fullerton at sporting events, and when I became a regular at Brian's Beer & Billiards, an off-campus pub frequented by CSUF students, alumni and Fullerton locals.

When I walked into Brian's for the first time on a "Dollar Beer Night" Wednesday with two friends, I was just some rookie who couldn't finish a beer before it got warm. I was uptight and uncomfortable with myself. I was a spazz at the bar and at parties during drinking games. I recall once throwing beer at my own face the first time I played "flip cup" and then fumbling at the edge of the table while the opposing side went down their entire line (I never was good at team sports). I was quite the awkward uncool kid, especially when drinking socially.

I'm not sure when this changed. I can't pinpoint exactly when I began to loosen up, or when I started to appreciate the taste of a cold beer on my lips. But I am positive that the experience of claiming space in this crowded bar with my friends every Wednesday night, the bouncing of quarters into cups, and the drunken sing-alongs to Neil Diamond and Bon Jovi bar anthems all had something to do with it. "Dollar Beer Night" was a constant in my social life, and it doesn't shame me to say that my attendance record at this weekly beerfest was flawless some semesters. If only I could have taken it for credit. BEER-101 W 10 p.m. Sign me up.

For the most part, Brian's today is almost exactly as I left it the last time I raised a plastic cup there two years ago to celebrate the final final exam of my undergrad. The walls are decked in Cal State Fullerton sports memorabilia, the shuffleboard is always sanded and occupied, and the same soundtrack blasts through the speakers. They have even returned to their method of selling poker chips at the door, each redeemable for any of the featured dollar beers (Bud, Bud Light, Amber Bock and PBR), a system that predates my days as a regular there.

I made a return visit on a recent Wednesday night. A small group of my friends who still live in that area have remained faithful to this bar and can be found there any given Wednesday. From their table, I observed a younger crop of students who had picked up where my friends and I had left off. It was like watching "Saved By the Bell: The New Class." Familiar story lines, same dialogue, but the characters were faceless to me. I'm sure previous generations of this watering hole's 30-year history must have watched us with the same sentiment when we were there. I'm sure many of them, like me, watched their younger successors running amok with stacks of emptied cups and thought to themselves, "I remember my first time at dollar beer night" with a snobby attitude. I guess it's all a part of accepting adulthood.

I don't know what I was in search of when I paid my visit to Brian's. In my assignments as a writer for a nightlife magazine, I'm often asked to write about what's new and hip, places that are upscale and sexy, places that aren't necessarily me. It was nice to come back to a place that was familiar, even if I can't necessarily say that this place is still me. In the very least, getting a good buzz for under $10 is not a bad way to spend a Wednesday night.

More information on Brian's here.
Please drink responsibly.

This Weekend: Orange International Street Fair

ORANGE, Calif. - Banners went up early last month near Plaza Park at "The Circle" in Downtown Orange for this year's Orange International Street Fair (OISF), an annual Labor Day weekend event in its 39th year that is expected to draw about half a million fairgoers and raise thousands of dollars in funds for local OC charities. This year's theme, "A World of Flavor at Your Fingertips" highlights the kind of variety the fair brings to the City of Orange every year. Always a highly anticipated end-of-summer event, OISF brings a blend of food, beer, music and dance from all over the world.

In your "globe-trotting" stroll through the fair, be sure to take note of all that is available to you before committing to a meal. Each street is sectioned off and dedicated to a certain country's cultural food. You may "fancy" some fish and chips on English street or some pork sliders from Polynesian Street. You may want an all-American hamburger or a philly cheesesteak to with your ice-cold beer before you move on to Greek Street for a taste of baklava. If you're like me, you'll go straight for the bratwurst, sauerkraut and hefeweisen on German Street, where The Europa Band brings a little bit of Oktoberfest into the mix with a nearly never-ending set of classic German folk music and maybe a "chicken dance" or two. The seating area at this stage is a popular (and shaded) area where you can raise your glass for a 'Prost!' with loud and proud Germans in lederhosen.

A stroll through this fair will also give you an opportunity to check out what's occupying Downtown Orange, a restaurant and bar scene that I feel is often overlooked and under-appreciated. Some businesses in and around the plaza may not be open during fair weekend, but many are worth taking a peak at, such as the beer-centric Haven Gastropub or the vibrant and Cuban-flavored Felix's.

This will be my fifth year attending the fair, and I particularly enjoy OISF weekend in Orange because of the sense of community it encourages in the surrounding neighborhoods. Residents and college students in the area (likely from Chapman University) hang out in their yards with friends and neighbors as they watch the crowds build up. Local high school students volunteer in various places in and around the fair and seem to enjoy being a p art of the production. Sure, it gets hot and crowded. And sure, some of the younger folks can get obnoxiously drunk and rude towards the later part of the evening, but if you can ignore them (or join them) then OISF can be good fun. Besides, you (and fair organizers) will have the following Monday to sleep it off.

The Orange International Street Fair opens for business on Friday and closes on Sunday.

General Info
Alcohol sales end promptly at 9 p.m. each night.

Fair hours, parking and location information here.

Check out the OISF map here.

Entertainment Schedules

MAIN STAGE

American Stage

English Stage

Greek Stage

German Stage

Irish Stage

Meixcan Stage

Polynesian