Any Way You Slice It, This Is a Good Breakfast Sandwich - CLOSED

Eggslice

8340 La Palma Ave. Unit A

Buena Park, CA 90620

I don't know what it is, but there's something satisfying about starting your day off with a breakfast sandwich. Even if it's one from a fast-food spot, it kickstarts my day in the right direction. Now that I think about it, it may be that I don't eat breakfast when I have to work, so subconsciously, my brain equates breakfast with the fact that I'll have a great day free of the drudgery that is my workplace. Whatever it is, the simple truth is that I like breakfast sandwiches and have seen Eggslice open and want to give them a try. 

Apparently, I'm not the only one who likes breakfast sandwiches because when my parents, sister, and brother-in-law found out I was going to try Eggslice, they all wanted to join me. The allure of some delicious breakfast sandwiches was also too great for Katie to pass up, as she went without her customary twelve hours of sleep on a Sunday to accompany me for the short half-hour drive up the 5 Freeway. 

Eggslice has a unique story. Owner and executive chef Bill McMullan started his breakfast sandwich business in the farmer's markets of Sydney, Australia, over two decades ago. When he jumped to the US, he did pop-ups at different restaurants in OC. As of late last year, Eggslice now has a permanent home at Grange Hall 39, which is a partially completed food hall located on the backside of the Buena Park Mall, right near the massive Krikorian Movie Theater. Their current hours are 7 to 4pm every day of the week. 

What Eggslice hopes will set them apart from the other breakfast sandwiches you have eaten before is the quality of the ingredients that make up each sandwich. They use locally sourced items to build the best breakfast sandwiches around. They proudly tout many of their purveyors, like OC Baking Company, West Coast Prime Meats, Billy's Egg Farm, and others. There's also a locally made chili jam, which they boast about quite vocally. 

I met my family at Grange Hall 39 at 8am on a chilly Sunday morning. The food hall was far from complete when we visited, with only three booths occupied, and at this early hour, only Eggslice was open and operating. Their menu consists of five sandwiches, which can all be made into a protein-style version for those of you averse to carbs. Sides are limited to just tater tots and orange juice, tea, coffee, and bottled water. We ordered at the counter, took one of the tables outside,  and waited for our food to be ready. 

The Chicken Katsu Egg and Cheese ($7.99) started things off for us this morning. Both my sister and I got this one. Thanks for the hand modeling, Kristin. Joining the panko-crusted chicken was an extra-large egg served over medium, sliced American cheese and chili jam mayonnaise, all on a brioche bun. This was my favorite sandwich of the morning, not to ruin the suspense for everyone. It was very balanced with the well-made chicken katsu, the richness from the runny yolk, the creaminess of the cheese, and the slight tang of the chili jam mayo. It was all wrapped up by the beautiful brioche, which is not surprising since it was made by OC Baking Company, which makes some of the best bread in our grand county. 

Salmon has always been a little hit or miss with me, but this Smoked Salmon and Egg ($8.59) hit just the right notes with my dad and brother-in-law. This featured a good amount of cold-smoked salmon, an extra-large egg, and a dill and Dijon mustard sauce to finish it off. My dad was impressed with the salmon's freshness and the sandwich's lightness without sacrificing flavor. He also wanted me to point out that he had one of the best cups of coffee here, and it was less than three dollars. My dad is always looking for bargains. Glad he was happy with this meal. 

My mom, always the breakfast sandwich purist, went with the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese ($7.99). They used thick, smoked bacon on this, which looked lovely from across the table. She asked for this without the chill jam, unsure if she would like it. She was pleased with this sandwich and the high-quality ingredients used to make it.  

You are probably tired of me mentioning it, but Katie is on a keto diet, and I could not be more proud of her progress so far. She assured me when she started this that she'd still be able to go out to eat in restaurants with me, and I'm thankful that places like Eggslice accommodate people who live the no-carb lifestyle, like Katie. This is the Protein Style version of the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese ($9.99). With all of their protein-style options, they add an egg and half an avocado. Even though this was less good-looking than the other sandwiches, Katie enjoyed it. She was stoked with the quality of the bacon and the amount given to her. I counted 7 strips, which is pretty impressive. She also enjoyed the chili jam, which helped elevate this from a regular bacon and egg plate. 

Last but not least was my second sandwich of the morning, the Sausage, Egg, and Cheese with Avocado added ($9.98). I liked this sandwich, but the sausage was pushed to the side by the chili jam and the avocado. I'd probably ask for the chili jam on the side next time so I can apply it myself. The egg was cooked perfectly, with the runny yolk adding a nice, even richness, and the bun was stellar. 

Eggslice is the perfect spot for people looking to upgrade their basic, daily fast-food breakfast sandwich. Biting into each of these, you can taste the craftsmanship and love that went into making them. I definitely get the feeling that Egslice takes great care of what purveyors they use for their sandwiches. These are some of the best that OC has to offer, but they fall short of my all-time favorite breakfast sandwiches from Egg Slut, which has locations in LA and Las Vegas. Eggslice is definitely a solid choice for people looking to stay a lot closer to home and avoid the long lines at Egg Slut. 

Out of five coathangers (the nickname for the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, a nod to where these sandwiches originated), five being best to zero being worst, Eggslice gets 3.5 coathangers. 

For more information about Eggslice, head to their website here: https://www.eggslice.com/

Taste of Knott's Event

Taste of Knott's Media Event

8039 Beach Blvd.

Buena Park, CA 90620

When people think of amusement park food, they probably think of burgers, hot dogs, and cotton candy. However, Knott's Berry Farm, an amusement park built around a restaurant, is trying to change people's minds about what they think of when amusement park food is brought up. We recently were invited to a media event to try all the new food offered throughout the park.

Knott's is a real OC success story. Walter and Cordelia Knott moved to Buena Park in the '20s. Walter was a farmer and helped to bring a new berry to life. It was a cross between a red raspberry, a loganberry, and a blackberry. He named this new hybrid berry the boysenberry. With a family of six, they had to look for ways to make ends meet during the depression. Cordelia started selling pies, jams, and sandwiches to help the family through the lean times. Then in 1934, Cordelia served eight chicken dinners on her wedding china at an incredible 65 cents apiece. Thus Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant was born. From such humble beginnings to the present day, where they now seat 900 guests at a time and serve 1.5 million guests a year, Knott's Berry Farm and food go hand in hand. Unsurprisingly, they are also spearheading a campaign to change your mind about what you think about when your thoughts turn to amusement park food. We were lucky to get a firsthand look at all the new offerings.

Okay, these are not new offerings, but I feel it would be disrespectful to not showcase the food that started it all 78 years ago, the food from Mrs. Knott's Chicken Restaurant. They have not changed their fried chicken recipe in these seven-plus decades. For $16.90, you can have either the Mrs. Knott's Fried Chicken Meal or the Chicken Pot Pie Dinner, both of which come with a soup, salad, or cherry rhubarb; sweet corn or cabbage; biscuits, mashed potatoes and gravy, and your choice of desserts, which we will get to later. Quite a bit of food for well under $20. Biting into the fried chicken was like stepping back into my childhood. It tasted the same as when I came here as a kid. Whenever I got up to try some new food, I always returned to get another taste of the fried chicken. Of course, I could not resist their homemade biscuits with boysenberry butter either. Perfect start to a wonderful night.

The Fireman's Brigade BBQ food got some kudos at this event. These BBQ classics are available in Ghost Town, near the front of the park. The Slow Cooked Rib was one of the best I have had in a long time. The rib had plenty of meat and came right off the bone. They are very tender, and it is easy to tell that these are smoked for 11 hours. These ribs are served with garlic bread toast and a baked potato for $11.99. The Flank Steak Sandwich ($13.39, with chips and a drink) was another favorite. Knott marinates their flank steak over 24 hours and serves this sandwich on a jalapeno and cheddar roll. Big-time flavor!

Also located in Ghost Town, at the Ghost Town Grill, are these healthier options. Katie enjoyed the fresh ingredients used to make Goldie's Honey Garlic Salmon and Baby Spinach Salad ($13.99). The fish was cooked well, and she was impressed with the honey soy dressing. I will not be turning vegetarian anytime soon, but I was thoroughly surprised that I enjoyed this Black Bean Burger ($13.49, with a side item) so much. The spicy black bean patty had enough flavor to keep me interested, and the mayo and provolone cheese were great additions here. Again, not a bad burger, but don't tell any of my friends I liked a non-meat burger!

When we showed up at Knott's, these would be three things I would have bet I would not have been writing about. Located right across GhostRider, Spurs serves up three small plates you would typically not associate with an amusement park. The Bruschetta comprised fresh tomatoes, red onion, and Parmigiano Reggiano $7.99). The Cajun Lime Salt Riblets ($9.99) had a citrusy taste that went well with the natural saltiness of the riblets. I could have eaten a lot more of these. Finally, the Hawaiian Ahi Poke ($11.99) was a real surprise. Sashimi-grade tuna, green onions, avocado, sesame vinaigrette, and wasabi cream were placed on a fried wonton. The result was a multi-layered appetizer that let all of the flavors shine. Not too bad and totally unexpected.

Located in the park's Boardwalk area is this offering from the Hollywood Hits food stand, the Meatball Sandwich ($7.49). This classic meatball sandwich had a good, tangy sauce with flavorful meatballs and melted mozzarella cheese.

There was no Soak City last time I was at Knott's. Yes, it has been a long time. However, the water park got into the culinary action by preparing foods that can be devoured by the wave pool. Deli Sandwiches ($7.99) are always a great option under the sun. At Soak City, they offer roast beef, turkey, or ham sandwiches, with all the accompaniments. For healthier eaters, there is the option of having the Veggie Wrap Sandwich ($7.99). This wrap was stuffed with bell peppers, cucumbers, cheese, and tomatoes.

All of the food was really good up until this point, but I could not get this burger out of my head for some reason. This is the Coasters Cheeseburger ($13.99) from the Coasters food stand, next to the Xcelerator on the Boardwalk. What made this burger hard to forget? First, the worker put this together carefully, almost like he was working with precious metals. The burger had all the usual condiments added, but the thing that set this burger apart was the crunchy jalapeno chips that were added on top of the burger. They added a real flavor pop to a well-cooked and seasoned patty. I did have to share this with Katie, but I could have eaten another one of these for sure.

Last but not least, it was dessert time. Desserts are essential at Knott's. After all, it was a dessert that got things going for the Knott family. The Cookiewich ($5.49) and the Fresh Fruit Cups ($4.69) are both offered at the Chowhouse stand, across from the Calico Saloon. I passed on the fruit cups in favor of the Cookiewich (I am sure you are surprised about that, right?). The cookies were fresh, and the soft-serve ice cream was light. Not a bad dessert at all, and big enough to share between two people. I am sure you can tell that the pie above is the world-famous Knott's Boysenberry Pie ($3.95 per slice or $11.65 for the whole pie). This Knott's original dessert has finished many meals at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Restaurant for generations. The perfect way to end this Taste of Knott's.

As you can tell from this post, we were really pleased with everything we tried at Knott's this night. It is really a refreshing change that an amusement park is really stepping up its game culinary-wise. You get a sense that the people in charge of the food at Knott's are thinking outside what is considered normal at amusement parks and going for it with their new food items. Big flavors and well-prepared food will be a big hit with everyone.

Thanks to Knott's Berry Farm for a great night of fun and food. We even found a little time to get on a few rides after eating all the food. Nothing too scary, though! Thanks again, Knott's. We can not wait to come back again and see what else you will be cooking up.

For more information about Knott's Berry Farm, click here: http://www.knotts.com/

Getting the Royal Treatment at Medieval Times

Medieval Times

7662 Beach Boulevard

Buena Park, CA 90620

Renaissance fairs, dinner theater, and jousting are usually not my thing. That was all about to change. Recently, both Katie and I were invited to Medieval Times to sample their new menu and watch the premiere of their first new show in five years. I had never been to Medieval Times before, so I had almost no idea what I was in for. I knew that there would be no utensils used for dinner, and I knew there would be knights battling it out in front of me, but besides that I was clueless as to what was going to go on here.

We arrived at the castle at six. After checking in we received our crowns, took a picture, and perused all of the souvenirs and clothing they have to offer. They have all the weaponry, toys, souvenirs and clothing any fan of the 11th century could want. Next it was off to the Knight's Club for a drink at their bar. Before we knew it, it was time to enter the arena for dinner.

The"lords and ladies" are seated in sections corresponding with the color of their crown. Each section has a knight to root for through the tournament. We were seated in the Black and White Knight's section. The leveled seating makes every seat in the castle a great seat. Just as the show was about to begin, our wench came over to get our drink order. It is a set menu for dinner, but they also offer a vegetarian option as well. Of course we got the standard meal, and this is how it all turned out.

The new show is not the only new thing here. The food has been upgraded as well. Starting us off was a Tomato Bisque and Focaccia Bread with olive oil and seasoning. No utensils were offered, so we waited for the bisque to cool, and drank it out of the bowl. The bread was soft and chewy.

The meal may have been upgraded at Medieval Times, but the Chicken and Rib plate still remain. They were very generous with the chicken. Each lord or lady gets a half a roasted chicken all to themselves. The chicken was surprisingly tender. The BBQ Beef Rib is now even larger. The potatoes have been changed here as well.  They are now herb roasted and cut in quarters, in what amounts to a large french fry.

The dessert of the castle the night we were here was Braided Apple Strudel. This dessert was stuffed with apples and served smoking hot. I had to let this cool down before I dived into this.

The all new show was pretty entertaining. I did not get pictures of it, but the dancing horse and the falconer was the highlight of my night. Our black and white knight was one of the first knights eliminated from the competition. Thanks a lot for the effort Knight! The rest of the knights engaged in sword fights, jousting, and equine presentations, all set to a new dramatic musical score.

I am not saying that I am going to start attending Renaissance Fairs or anything, but I did enjoy myself at Medieval Times. The improved meal and the new show make this a go to spot if you have visitors from out of town, or if you have never been yourself.

For show times and more information, check out Medieval times web site here:http://www.medievaltimes.com/

Contest Alert!

Thanks Medieval Times, Dennis Gaschen, and Michelle Barwick, for the opportunity to be a part of the new show and menu at Medieval Times. If you would like to experience Medieval Times yourself, I was graciously given a pair of tickets to give away on my blog. To win just comment on this blog post, or comment on our Facebook post about Medieval Times. One comment per person on both the blog and the Facebook post.  A winner will be drawn at random on Monday, February 13th, 2012. Good luck!

Contest Update

We have a winner! It is CJ Richner. CJ we will be in touch to give you your pair of tickets to Medieval Times. Congrats! To everyone else who tried, thank you very much for taking the time to enter, and thanks for reading the blog. We look forward to sharing more eating adventures with you in the future. 

Does Portillo's Do the Windy City Justice?

Portillo's Hot Dogs

8390 La Palma Ave

Buena Park, CA 90620

I have been to Chicago once for vacation. The city and food were great. We had deep dish pizza, went to a game at Wrigley, ate a bunch of Chicago Dogs, and of course went up into the Sears Tower. My only regret from my trip is that I never got to sample an Italian Beef sandwich. After watching a show on food network about the famous Chicago sandwiches, I did a little research and found out that Portillo's had opened a place in Buena Park, so that is where we headed.

Portillo's is owned by Dick Portillo, who still owns them to this day. They have 34 units open, and this is one of two in southern California, (the other California location is Moreno Valley). Portillo's has been around for awhile, they began in 1963 in Villa Park, Illinois. Let's see if they have brought great tasting Chicagoland food to the west coast.

Before we get to the Italian beef sandwich, my friend Carol got an order of onion rings. These were pretty good rings, and they came out really hot. Decent start to the meal.

Here is Katie's Italian Beef. She got hers without peppers, but added cheese. At Portillo's you can order your sandwich dry, with extra gravy, or dipped in gravy. The gravy is the broth that the meat cooks in. Kind of like an au jus. She got hers with extra gravy. As you can see from the picture it is still a little to dry for my liking. The bread was very good and stood up to the sandwich well. The meat had a good taste and I liked the sandwich with cheese. $5.25 for this sandwich makes this very reasonable.

This was my Italian Beef with hot peppers added. I had my sandwich dipped. Next time I will ask for it to be doubled dipped. I would have liked it to be wetter. The bread was good and crusty on this one also. The peppers were hot, but did not over-power the taste of the meat.

The last of the sandwiches was this, the Combo Beef & Char Grilled Sausage. I had this one with hot peppers and onions. Both the sausage and meat together made this the best sandwich out of the bunch. Imagine a Philly cheesesteak dipped like a French dip, with a sausage in the middle. There is nothing wrong with that combination! This sandwich was also a steal at $5.69.

Next up are the Chicago hot dogs. This is one with the works. Kind of looks like a salad on a hot dog. This one includes mustard, relish, kosher pickle, tomato, onion, and peppers on a poppy seed bun. I took the tomato off and ate the pickle by itself. The bun was excellent on this. Very soft and it held together nicely. The hot dog had a good snap to it and a great meaty flavor. I wish they would have taken the stem off of the pepper though, but it gave me the opportunity to rip it off and pour the juice over the hot dog. 

Lastly, here is the Chili Cheese Dog. I am not much on chili with beans, but this one was good. They did not skimp on the chili, and the bun, even though it was soft, it handled the chili and did not break apart. The dog had the same snap on this one also. A really good dog.

I liked Portillo's. The hot dogs did remind me of Chicago. The service at this place was also really good. We had just arrived as a school bus with about fifty kids had shown up also. They knocked all of their orders out quick, including ours. Portillo's kind of had a Knowlwoods feel to it. The place was very clean, and big, so there was no problem getting a table. The only weird part about the place, is that they do not have a self serve soda fountain. Not a big deal, but I found that odd.

So out of five Navy Piers, five being best to zero being worst, Portillo's gets three solid Navy Piers.

If you would like any additional info on Portillo's, click here: http://www.portillos.com/portillos/