Sipz: A Vegetarian/Asian Fusion Experience

Happy New Year my fellow foodies! Hope you had a relaxing and food-filled holiday! I spent a good amount of my vacation in my hometown, San Diego. I love San Diego and everything about it- the people, the location, the lifestyle, and especially the food. It may not be the top metropolitan foodie city of California, but San Diego’s got its gems for sure. One of them is a mom and pop joint called Sipz - a vegetarian-Asian fusion experience. I come from an Asian culture and I know that the food can be hit or miss with being heavily vegetable influenced or meat influenced, especially with my specific culture. So I thought it was interesting going to a vegetarian/vegan Asian restaurant. Though I can vouch for others when they say Asian food is good but not always healthy (i.e. greasy, fatty, fried). I’ve heard great reviews about Sipz so before I went back to Orange County, some friends took me there for an early birthday dinner.

Let’s start with location. The one we went to was located on 30^th street in the North Park, a business district. That said, it’s street parking, but what can you expect at a downtown type of neighborhood? Sipz is on the same block as sports bars and other restaurants that are pleasing to the meat eater. But if you disregard the “Vegetarian” in the sign and actually go inside, you won’t regret it. The place was chic and had a very modern atmosphere. The service was of good quality. We got to experience it during rush and calm rimes since we dined right before and during the dinner rush. My friends were new to vegetarian restaurants and our waiter helped them decide what to eat. The waiter was genuine with his suggestions based on your personal food preferences and he didn’t push them to go for anything pricey; in fact, our waiter kept telling us the better ways to order some things (i.e. Get a FREE Mango Iced Tea with any entree paid for in cash, order a large option instead and share because it’s much cheaper). That sold me right there.

Japanese Fire Noodlez (Mild-Medium)

The menu was 100% vegetarian and I want to say about 40% was vegan (plus gluten-free options). It consisted of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. What I liked was how confident they were to write chicken or shrimp without quotations because obviously you’d know this was vegetarian and the taste would be almost the same. We ordered the Japanese Fire Noodlez and Tangy Orange Chicken to test out the meat. The chicken tasted pretty good and was pretty damn close to the real thing, but I guess the carnivore inside of me still knew it was imitation chicken. That would also probably be due to the fact that I’ve grown familiar to soy than tofu, that I recognized the difference in texture. Nevertheless, the food was delightful. Their ‘no meat’ dishes are packed full of veggies, like the Vietnamese Rice Noodle Soup we ordered, so I would so don’t fret about ordering something with no meat. Pricing is reasonable - less than $20 a dish and it’s a casual setting that happens to be located in a downtown-like neighborhood; so several factors are put into price. But you get what you pay for, which is good tasting vegetarian food for the healthy eater on a budget.

Vietnamese Rice Noodle Soup

Tangy Orange Chicken

Sipz was over all very good experience, even with figuring in my preconceived ideas about vegan or vegetarian ‘meat’. Like what another friend of mine who I was dining with said, the best vegetarian places are the ones where you can leave without feeling totally bloated or bloated at all and feeling good about yourself. Sipz did justice. I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars only for it’s downtown location (parking), but Sipz is definitely a place for healthy eating and happy dining :)

Sipz has 2 locations in San Diego (Neighborhoods: Clairemont and North Park)
www.sipz.com

I Got The Munchies (Pizza)!

The spirited story of Munchies Pizza thumps in the hearts of local residents of beautiful downtown Huntington Beach, and it goes something like this: "I used to work there when I was in High School, man;" "Back in the 80's we used to stick dough to the ceiling and see who's stuck the longest;" "Man, this one time . . ." And the stories are rich, fun, and never-ending. Tradition, hospitality, and the best thick crust pizza in Huntington Beach have long been staples of Munchies Pizza, but as their 35 year anniversary approaches, it's the sense of pride and ownership local HB residents take in Munchies that carries weight.

 Since 1978, Munchies Pizza has delivered the goods: Thick crust, gourmet pizza; monster wings drenched in hot sauce; novelties like garlic bread with cheese; and a homemade sauce procured from bold seasonings and the perfect amount of sweetness. But more impressively, the patrons of Munchies Pizza are the "salt of the earth" locals of Huntington Beach, rich in character and proud of the landmark that has supported them, their kids, and even their kids kids!

204 E. Adams Unit C, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Munchies is like Huntington Beach's family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation. It is a first-time employer for many of HB teens, a popular hang-out for tourists, and a charming re-imagination of what a local diner should be.

In an era dominated by haughty restaurant rating systems like Yelp, Munchies Pizza and their devoted patronage inspire me to look beyond the Yelp-happy martyrs and reveal inefficiencies in restaurant review methods.  What Yelp will never be able to accurately gauge is the efficacy a restaurant has on the people who really matter, not just the small fringe of social web users eager to pump their chests behind the veil of the Internet. And it is days like this that I am happy DishClips will help foodies discover and share pizza joints like Munchies, rather than use fear-mongering to dissuade me from discovering a gem of a diner.

Oh, and if you're ever in Munchies, try the Sarafina: Alfredo sauce, basil, pepperoncini's, garlic, and tomatoes. Bon Appetit!

Sarafina
MunchiesPizzaHB.com

California Chicken Cafe

Hey there foodies, it's been a minute since I last posted. Lately I've been eating at the same places and haven't really gotten around to trying something new. I visited a client and colleague in Santa Monica recently and I figured it would be the perfect time to explore a new gem. As I've said before, I'm familiar with the Los Angeles scene, but not much of Santa Monica other than eateries near the Santa Monica pier or the amazing food stands and hot dog trucks around. So I was very surprised to have discovered California Chicken Cafe!

I've had my fair share of visits to Peet's coffee on Woodward and that was the only shop I knew on the the street. I pulled in to Peet's then suddenly heard my stomach churn, demanding to put food in my belly. So I backed out and decided to drive down the street and randomly pick a place. It was rush hour so the first street parking I found, I parked. Cal it fate, but I parked in between CCC and Radio Shack. I took one look at the place and said "What the heck, let's try this place out."And I'm glad I did.

My first thought about the food and menu was "This place reminds me of Chicken Maison" (I wrote about Chicken Maison in a previous post). As much as I wanted to eat something light so I wouldn't feel sluggish during my meeting, I knew I had to eat something more than a simple piece of bread. So I ordered the 3-piece with 2 sides Rotisserie Combo with fresh fruit and chinese cabbage salad (red and green cabbage, green onions, almonds, sesame seeds, and sweet dressing).

While waiting for my meal, which took less than 10 minutes, I observed my surroundings. It seemed pretty crowded, but the dinner rush went by harmless. When my food arrived, I started with the fruit. Oh my word, it was sweet. I confirmed with one of the servers that the fruit was seasonal so every day it was different. The mix I had was ripe and flavorful. I took my time eating every piece of fruit because it was so juicy. Next came the salad. I've had chinese cabbage salad before and the best one I've ever tasted was homemade by an old friend who sadly moved to Florida. There was only one restaurant that had something similar to my friend's salad and that's a mom and pop in San Diego. So I kind of had expectations for this. You remember in the movie Ratatouille when Anton takes a bite of the food and suddenly nostalgia passes through his very soul, reliving a moment in his childhood? The thing about memories and when this phenomena happens is we quickly have a strong desire to go back to that moment and savor it as long as we can. That's what it felt like when I took a bite of that salad. It reminded me of my dearest friend in Florida and it certainly put me in an even better mood.

The chicken was far from dry (thank goodness), not it was appetizing. I asked the family sitting next to me if they would consider this place "healthy" because I've realized how light everything felt and even after finishing my combo and pita bread (they ask if you want white or wheat option!), I was just about full. The family next to me told me that this place was considered a healthier alternative to some of the eateries here and they like the menu and location for it as well. I couldn't agree more.

I was lucky to have found California Chicken Cafe on a last minute dinner rush and I'm glad I chose it over going to the nearest fast food drive thru. You really can't go wrong with any meal you order here. So, let's take my checklist out... Was the food delicious? Check. Was it healthy? Check. And did I enjoy my experience? DOUBLE CHECK. If you're ever out to eat in the West Los Angeles/Santa Monica Area and are looking for something fast, healthy and delicious, I recommend California Chicken Cafe. They are definitely a restaurant that promotes healthy eating and happy living :)

The California Chicken Cafe I ate at was located on 2005 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca 90025. I also know there is one on 2401 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica, Ca 90403.

www.californiachickencafe.com

I vote for Wings n' Things!

Election day is here and Americans across the country are hitting the polls with thoughts of Big Bird, bayonets, and binders full of women in their minds. I, however, am hitting the polls with thoughts of Wings N’ Things, Huntington Beach’s Buffalo wing mainstay for authentic, indelible, appetite provoking wings and, well, things. But besides the fact that Wings N’ Things serves the tastiest Buffalo meat, heartiest portions, and precision spiced sauces, there is one thing more important today about Wings N’ Things’ small business in Huntington Beach.

Just short of a year ago, Wings N’ Things experienced a small kitchen fire that left the restaurant in a state of paralysis for almost a year. Though the fire itself was small and central to the kitchen, the smoke damage that accompanied it was much more severe . . .and defiling. With small-business being a pivotal impetus of this years election, my hat goes off to small-business Wings N’ Things and their perseverance, attrition, and commitment to their community during this unfortunate hardship.

Needless to say, Wings N’ Things is now Re-Opened, and just as scintillating as the first time I sat down to indulge my taste buds almost 12 years ago. And of all the times I ate at Wings’ N’ Things over the years to celebrate personal victories and sports achievements, and revel and banter with close friends and family, this particular visit was a celebration of Wings N’ Things long-awaited return to my community. So naturally, I ordered 75 wings . . .

Gatten Sushi has "Gotten" me Excited!

Today I'm writing about a place called Gatten Sushi, which is located on California and Campus drive, right next to the University of California, Irvine. Now, I was just looking to take a study break and get a quick bite to eat, so I'm not calling this place exquisite dining, but for the price it actually wasn't bad. So just like in any sushi restaurant, as you walk in they pleasantly welcome you with a "hello!", which was nice; my friend and I decided to sit at the bar. The cool thing about this place is the revolving sushi bar, through which you can pick up whichever plate of sushi you want (as seen in the picture). You can also order straight off the menu to the waitress, and they will make the sushi for you right there. (Probably the better choice, you don't know how long that dragon roll has been sitting there.)

Honestly the best thing about this place is the quick and good service, along with the amazing price of $2 a plate! The specialty plates come with either two or three rolls, and the regular plates come with four rolls. My friend and I ordered a few rainbow rolls, a california with spicy tuna on top (which I loved), and a spicy tuna tempura. Now the key is that the spicy tuna tempura isn't on the menu, but if you ask, they usually will make it for you (I found this out, thanks to my friend), and it ended up being really tasty.

Now, of course you're not going to an expensive sushi place, but you're getting the bang for your buck. You get unlimited ginger (and that is like heaven to me, because the waitress usually wants to kill me after the third time I ask for more ginger), and it's the same deal with the spicy mayo and eel sauce. The whole experience was pretty good, with service and all that. If I'm ever looking for some quick sushi, I'll definitely be back!

Now I was almost done eating when I realized I forgot to take a picture! (I hate it when I do that, and it happens all too often, I just get too excited) But I snapped this one mid-meal:

The exact location is: 4517 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92512

The website is Gattensushi.com

I AM GRATEFUL for Café Gratitude

Meat lovers will appreciate this place. You can leave here and keep your pants buttoned!

On a side note: I've been meaning to write this blog for the longest. I really liked it that much that I kept writing about this blog. Now, after a long overdue wait, I hope you enjoy this blog!

Café Gratitude looks like a beachfront restaurant with the beautiful patio and clear window walls. The décor is cozy and simple inside, wooden chairs, giving it a natural but modern feeling. But this little gem is located on Larchmont and Melrose, pretty busy streets in Los Angeles. However, the place is just as quaint as you’d expect despite its location. I remember coming here with a friend whenever he took me to work but we’d only come for the drinks and desserts because work would tire us at the end of the day. He worked at Paramount and Café Gratitude was located right behind the studio backlots. Truth be told we were a little apprehensive about trying vegan food not just because we were meat eaters, but because of the stereotypes people label vegan/vegetarian atmospheres and the taste of the food itself back in 2009/2010.

I do need to mention that there is a theme to this place; call it a kind of ‘new age’ or anything you like.  So if this is a problem for you, then you probably will not like it.  But I’ll tell you right now, the workers are not pushy about it at all and don’t judge if all you simply want is to eat and go. It’s not just that new age feeling, it’s much more that they care that you are taking care of your body by choosing healthy meals. Café Gratitude may look new age/ hipster and may throw you off, but not once did they make me feel uncomfortable. Not that I’m not heavily into this theme but it is something I do appreciate to an extent. Don’t hate on people who do find enlightenment with things like this. Respect it because we all have your own way of self-satisfaction. And remember, you’re here for the food, which is amazing. After your meal, you feel good about yourself, and not like you just joined a cult or something because you didn’t. You just experienced great food and service.

While we’re on the service side of the blog, the staff at the LA Café Gratitude is friendly. I took two friends to dine with me and they don’t live in LA or SoCal in general. Neither are into the LA scene though but they willingly agreed to come with me because they trust my foodie knowledge. I don’t mind it because I’m a SoCal native and I’ve lived in San Diego/Orange County/Los Angeles my whole life. This is normal to me. Anyway, you can reserve a seat on open table but that should really be for dinnertime since the place looks amazing at night. But for breakfast/brunch, it’s easy to get a table.

What I love most about restaurants is their creativity. A lot of that comes from the food, but also the way they name their dishes. At Café Gratitude, dishes are named simply by how you’d feel after eating it. Kind of like the "you are what you eat" saying, except you won't be ashamed of what you eat here. Everything starts with “I am” and that supports what I mentioned that they care about what you think about yourself and your health. Ok, this may seem a little cheesy to some people, but I thought it was pretty cool. And when they serve your dish, the servers say, “You are” instead of “I am”, which was nice and still personal.

The beverages we ordered were (sorry, we forgot to take photo's of our drinks. They were just too good!):

I AM SPLENDID-ICED Citron Green iced tea. Green rooibos, lemongrass, lemon myrtle, bergamot, orange, tangerine and jasmine.

I AM WONDERFUL Fresh watermelon juice topped with mint

I AM INSPIRED Summer berry limeade with agave and sparkling water on ice topped with mint

The dishes we ordered were (In the same order as the photos above):

I AM BONITA. Rice/quinoa black beans, salsa fresca, avocado and nacho cheese topped with pumpkin seeds served with two corn tortillas

I AM FANTASTIC. Raw chia seed-banana crepe filled with fresh fruit and topped with coconut yogurt maple syrup and pecans.

I AM SUSTAINED. Steamed quinoa with fresh fruit, goji berries, cinnamon, maple syrup and coconut milk.

Our Dessert (In the same order as photos above):

I AM MIGHTY SUPERFOOD ENERGY BAR Made with hemp seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, goji berries, coconut butter, cacao butter, cacao nibs, & vanilla beans dipped in chocolate or spiced with ginger

I AM DELIGHTED SPECIAL CHOCOLATE OFFERING Chocolate truffle that is super rich and flavorful with different fillings daily

I AM SUPER DARK CHOCOLATE NUGGET An intense, bittersweet nugget of ground cacao nibs, almond butter & maca, minimally sweetened with low-glycemic yacon

The food took about 15 minutes. The three of us had a nice little chat and from time to time the waiter checked in on us for refills and to ask us their “Question of the Day”. Yes, you read it correctly. It may be a little tacky but you know what, it really turned our day around. Our question of the day was “What do you want to be when you grow up?” (Other times I went they asked “Who inspires you?” and “What is something you want to change about yourself?”). We don’t have to answer the waiter if we don’t want to, but they tell us their answers to start off. We did answer him and we started a nice conversation with him and each other. Our food came and need I say it was very delicious. Some food is raw, but you won't even know the difference. But you will notice the organic and natural taste. The fruit is naturally sweet, and the oats and quinoa grainy but in a good way. The rice and beans were warm enough to be nice additions to the actual dish (regarding the I AM BONITA) and the drizzle of honey, syrup and coconut milk/yogurt was just right. This is a vegan restaurant and I couldn’t believe the amazing food I was eating was all natural and organic. Need I say that the portions were just right? Think of the three bears. Some Vegan/Vegetarian restaurants offer too little at such high prices, others are cheap but fail in quality and taste. At Cafe Gratitude, you get exactly what you pay for and more. The second I felt like I was starting to get full, I realized I was on my last bite. Now that's a meal that's worth every cent.

Even after your meal [the plate] puts you in a happier mood. “What Are You Grateful for?” It’s really those little quirky things that Café Gratitude adds to your dining experience. It’s not new age; ignore the theme others label it as. That’s what I love about the new places I’ve been trying. The word associations to ‘vegetarian’, ‘vegan’, ‘hipster/new age’ and other ones I can’t think of mean less to me. In fact, labels never really appealed to me. They’re just words that everyone has an opinion of and that’s how it should stay. Sure there might still be that small feeling of insecurity when I try a new place, but as healthy and organic is fast becoming a popular trend in recent years, we all have to break out of our shells and just enjoy food as it is.

This is definitely one of my favorite places to go when I’m in LA. The drinks were always what pulled me in all those years ago, why didn’t I think to sit down any sooner? I come here every now and then for some feel good food and a nice time. I only wish they’d have another location south of Los Angeles, maybe in Orange County, or better yet, San Diego. Then I'd eat there everyday.

Give this place a chance. We all need some smiles every now and then. This place defines healthy eating and happy living. Your body, and mind will thank you for dining at Café Gratitude.

This Café Gratitude is located on:

639 North Larchmont Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA

www.cafegratitudela.com

Visit www.CafeGratitude.com for more locations.

Which 'Wich' Do You Choose?

Looking to get your banh mi fix on, I know just the place if you're not looking to drive that extra distance to Westminister. Especially if you're sick of the basic Lee's Sandwiches and are up for a bit of American fusion incorporated in to the menu. The place is called East Borough in Costa Mesa at The Camp off of Bristol and Baker.

Bahn Mi

The sandwiches are fresh and tasty with all the fix-ins like pickled daikon & carrots, cucumber, cilantro, & jalapenos with just a bit of mayo on the bread that come together to pop in your mouth. The fresh bread is really soft, yet crunchy too on the outside, just the right amount to not cut up the roof of your mouth...a fine line not to cross.

Grilled Pork

I can understand why some people are not a fan of this place. At first glance, East Borough seemed a little too Americanized, since what I love about most Pho places is that it's run down and no one is thinking about a dress code of looking cool. This place gives off a bit of a hipster vibe in this small outdoors covered patio with greenery and mini waterfall area on the right (watch out for that side table, you may be in the splash zone).

Vietnamese Ham with Pate

All my thoughts were washed away once I tried the banh mi and spring rolls, I was in love. The banh mi and spring rolls are definitely authentic. The whole gimmick of East Borough just throws you off a bit, making you assume it's not authentic. I love this place. The prices aren't as cheap as Westminster, but given the location at The Camp, it's understandable why the prices are $1-2 more.