Breakfast, Courtesy of the Great White North

OEB Breakfast Co. 

1104 Irvine, Ave. 

Newport Beach, CA 92660

I enjoy it when breakfast restaurants break out of the same old egg dishes, pancakes, and french toast options. When they bring something new and different to the table, literally and figuratively. Breaking the mold to make themselves stand out. So when I started following OEB Breakfast Company on Instagram, I knew I would move it up on my restaurant wishlist. 

OEB, which stands for over easy breakfast, opened in The Counter's former spot in the corner pocket of the Westcliff Plaza, situated at the corner of Irvine and Westcliff Drive. Opened in May, OEB Breakfast Company comes to us from the great white north, otherwise known as Canada. There are several locations spread across Canada, and the only other one in the US is situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

This chef-driven concept is helmed by Mauro Martina, a classically trained chef who has built this restaurant from a small 1,000-square-foot space in Calgary. He grew up in Italy and moved to Canada in 1992 to pursue his dream of becoming an executive chef, which he accomplished at age 21. The natural progression for him was restaurant ownership, which he achieved in 2009, sharing his vision for a farm-to-table breakfast experience. 

That experience has created a unique and playful menu with many whimsical names for his dishes. The menu is divided into blue plate specials, breakfast bowls, benny's, scram-blettes,  sandwiches, sweet items, and more. As with most new breakfast/brunch restaurants, there's a full bar, which goes well beyond the usual bloody mary and mimosa offerings. 

We arrived at EOB at half past 11 on a recent Sunday and had a twenty-minute wait for a table. We passed the time by getting a chocolate croissant for later at Pandor and people-watching. When we were texted that our table was ready, we hurried back to the hostess stand. The dining room seats 100, which seemed like a lot for the size of it, but the flow of people was nice and orderly. The predominant color is bright white, with booths, stand-alone tables, and a communal table filling the space. We were seated on the 25-seat patio in front of the restaurant. Now that we were sitting, let's see what OEB had to offer foodwise. 

First was Katie's selection, the Gotta Chick This Out ($18.50). This giant egg concoction was filled with some pulled chicken, spinach, semi-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella. Katie liked this well enough but thinks there's a reason why chicken isn't in more omelets. It's kind of bland. That, and the fact that there wasn't a lot of cheese present in this kind of made it fall flat. She'd get something else on her next visit. The scramblettes all come with duck-fat fried potatoes, fruit, and a choice of toast. Online reviews for the potatoes are glowing, but we found them underseasoned and not as crisp as we expected. On the other hand, the fruit was fresh, and the toast was fine.  

This was the first time I had seen pierogies on a breakfast menu, so I was intrigued enough to try the Pierogies and Duck ($22). The pierogies were filled with a potato mixture and placed on the plate with thick hardwood smoked bacon, pulled duck confit, a drizzle of raspberry vinaigrette, and two sunny-side-up eggs at the top of the pile. This was a vibrant dish. The pierogies were lightly fried but not rubbery like a lot of them tend to be. The bacon was very smokey, and the duck was done perfectly. The egg yolk, when pierced, tied everything together nicely. I did not get much from the raspberry vinaigrette, as it got lost here. A very filling breakfast plate.  

Ever since the pandemic started, I have been crazy about anything with bananas. I've made countless banana chocolate chip bread loaves, had too many slices of banana cream pie to count, and even made a delicious dessert called Banana Lasanga. So I was naturally drawn to this Banana Cream Pie French Toast ($18). With brioche as its base, this is layered with banana cream, sliced bananas, whipped cream, and toasted almonds. Unfortunately, this was a miss from me. It was not anywhere close to sweet, and after a few bites, it became pretty dull. I expected some sweetness from the banana or whipped cream but was let down. I'd skip these in favor of maybe the Nutella french toast or the buttermilk griddle cakes next time. 

OEB made a good first impression, even with the french toast misstep and Katie's choice of an egg dish. The plates in front of us were unique, made with great technique, and visually stunning. My plate was as delicious as it looked. I'd describe OEB as a breakfast restaurant that we'd hit only on special occasions. It was pretty expensive, as we spent $72 plus tip for the two of us, which is a lot for the day's first meal. However, most people around this area don't seem deterred by the prices here, as they have a four-and-a-half-star Yelp rating after only two months. Part of that might be due to the friendly service we observed on this visit, but the kitchen still had a few kinks to work out with promptly getting meals to the tables. Still, OEB is a breakfast restaurant worth checking out if you are tired of the same old breakfast.  

Out of five lassos (because this restaurant chain started in Calgary, Canada, which is also home to the largest rodeo in the world, the Calgary Stampede), five being best to zero being worst, OEB Breakfast Co. gets 3 lassos. 

For more information about OEB Breakfast Co., head to their website by clicking here: https://us.eatoeb.com/

Pardon My French, It’s a Damn Good Burger

 Butcher's House Brasserie

3321 Hyland Avenue Suite D

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

With the rising prices going on everywhere you look these days, I have been searching for some deals. I had heard that Butcher's House Brasserie had a perfect one for lunch. They offer a burger, fries, and a beer, wine, or beverage of your choice for $24, Tuesday thru Friday from 11am till 3. That's only a couple of bucks more than I'd pay in my local drive-thru. With all the glowing things I've heard about this place, I had to check it out. 

Butcher's House opened at the very end of last year in the old Pueblo location at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. It's helmed by Jeoffery Offer, a native of France who had previously worked his way up from pastry assistant to executive chef at Moulin, helping that restaurant go from one location to five during his tenure. 

Not satisfied with working for someone else, Chef Jeoffery dreamed of owning his own restaurant. That dream was realized a few feet away from Moulin's SOCO location. Offer learned a lot about the art of butchery from his father, who was a butcher in his hometown of Toulouse, France. Butcher's House is an informal restaurant focusing on dry-aged beef and other French specialties. 

People and the press have taken notice. Orange Coast Magazine named Butcher's House the best new restaurant of the year. Another considerable accolade was being included on Brad Johnson's 75 best restaurants in OC list, coming in at 42 on that heralded list. Not too bad for a restaurant that has only been open for nine months. Other articles from Eater LA, the Orange County Business Journal, and Los Angeles Times have followed, showcasing what Chef Offer is doing here. 

The lunch menu is a slightly pared-down version of the dinner menu, and both menus have the same prices no matter what time you are eating here. I like that. Unless the portions for lunch are more petite than dinner, the meals should be priced the same. The menus at Butcher's House are divided into soups and salads, mains, house specialties, burgers and sandwiches, sides, sauces, and desserts. Prices for entrees range from $17 to $48 for the 14-ounce ribeye. In addition, the lunch menu features three specials, which is what I was here for. So let's get to it. 

Here's what inspired me to drive 40 miles round trip for lunch, the Burger Special ($24). As I stated before, it includes a burger or sandwich of your choice, french fries, and a beverage of your liking, including a draft beer or wine. So let's take a closer look at what we have here. 

First up is the Mountain Burger. This dry-aged beef patty was topped with roasted garlic, caramelized onions, dijon mayo, thick-cut bacon, a slice of potato?, and raclette cheese between a very well-crafted brioche bun. The standouts were the patty itself, seasoned well, juicy, and cooked nicely to a medium temperature. The bacon is made in-house, and it had a nice bite to it and was less smokey than I expected. I was not sure what to make of the sliced potato, but it did not really get in the way here, with the presence of the very gooey cheese. Plenty of onions and garlic were present, but I would have liked a little more of the dijon mayo to have been applied to this, as I think it would have tied things together a bit more. Whoever their bread supplier is should be proud of this bun because it did a superior job keeping everything together while maintaining a soft and pillowy texture. 

The French Fries at Butcher's House were sturdy, fried well, and seasoned simply with salt and pepper. These are the kind of fries that In N Out strives for but misses every time I have them, which is seldom because I'm not a fan, but I digress. These fries came with some ketchup, but I like variety, so I needed a dipping sauce to keep things interesting. I tried two of them, the Shallot and Blue Cheese ($1.00 each). Since I did not have the menu in front of me, I relied on my server's guidance in picking from their five sauce options. I was disappointed with the shallot, as this red wine-based sauce was not meant for fries. The blue cheese was a little better, but it was thinner than I expected, and the flavor was a little more subdued than I liked. Checking the menu now; I should have tried the spicy mayo or the Bernaise. 

I was a little confused about what this side of lettuce drizzled with dijon dressing was for. It was a lot of lettuce to add to my burger, and it was dressed way too lightly and left in big leaves to be a salad. Since I had a little extra sauce, I ended up cutting it up and making a salad. It was not the best, but I didn't want it to go to waste. Again, it was a lot of lettuce. 

My little lunch excursion to Butcher's House Brasserie was a nice little treat for myself on my well-earned day off from work, but it only whetted my appetite to revisit this restaurant soon to try their affordable steaks, sausages, and sides. The burger and fries definitely lived up to the hype, as they were cooked perfectly, and with just one bite, you could taste the quality and craftsmanship of both. I can only imagine that their other entrees would be the same. The service on this visit was efficient and friendly. I will search out more of these specials in the future, so keep an eye out.  

Out of five airplanes (because Chef Jeoffery is from Toulouse, and that French city is the center of the aerospace industry in all of Europe), five being best to zero being worst, Butcher's House Brasserie gets 3.5 airplanes. 

For more information about Butcher's House Brasserie, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.butchershouse.com/

A Tip Top Lunch in Carlsbad?

 Tip Top Meats

6118 Paseo Del Norte

Carlsbad, CA 92011

We were in Carlsbad, so you know what that means. It means it's time to get Katie a new purse from Coach at the Outlets of Carlsbad for her birthday. This has been our tradition for the last eight years now. First, we do a little shopping, and then I find a place for us to eat. This year we had my parents with us as well, and I decided it was time to cross another restaurant off of my restaurant wishlist. So we headed a couple blocks south of the Outlets to Tip Top Meats. 

The man behind this spot is John Haedrich, known to his guests and employees as Big John. He escaped from East Germany in 1949, leaving everything behind to come to West Germany for a better quality of life. While in West Berlin, he got his masters butchers certificate, and when he answered an ad requesting a master sausage maker, it brought him to the US. Not wanting to get stuck in the middle of the country, he ventured out to California, opening Tip Top Meats in Glendale. After a ten-year run there, he was on the move again, relocating his successful business to its present location in Carlsbad.  

Tip Top Meats has become a Carlsbad institution. They have been fixtures in this spot since 1967, which is way longer than I've even been alive. Okay, not by much, but still, it's an impressive feat to be in business for 55 years. Not just a restaurant, they are also a full-service European market, butcher shop, and deli counter. 

We arrived at half past one on a Sunday and were met with a pretty long line of people ahead of us. The line moved fairly quickly, though, giving us a little bit of extra time to decide what to have. Ordering is done at the register, and then you are given a number to display at your table. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. 

The menu is one of the bigger ones I have seen recently. They have plenty of sandwich options, pork, veal, lamb, chicken, and beef entrees, plus German favorites. They also have an option where you pick out your steak from their butcher counter, and they will prepare a full dinner for you for the price of the steak plus $5.98. Speaking of prices, nothing on their menu is over $15, with most items right about the $10 price point. We were all pretty hungry, and lucky for us our food came out way quicker than I had imagined. Let's take a look. 

I went a little out of my comfort zone but embraced my German heritage by trying something I had never had before, the Rouladen ($12.98). This is a round steak stuffed with bacon, mustard, onion, and pickles with brown gravy. Not bad, but I was expecting a little more from the inside ingredients of this dish. The meat was pretty tender, and the gravy added a nice homey feeling. This plate also came with all the fixings, mashed potatoes and gravy, red cabbage, sauerkraut, a roll, and a salad (not pictured). This was enough food for two meals, which I took home and ate later for dinner. The mashed potatoes were fine, and the sauerkraut was one of the most pungent versions I have had. The red cabbage was the best of the three sides, with a slightly sweet and sour flavor. 

My mom is not one to try German food, so she went with the Turkey Sandwich ($9.98). This rather large turkey sandwich was parceled into three parts and included a good amount of freshly sliced turkey but no lettuce or tomato. My mom got this on toasted sourdough with light mayo. The fries are your typical frozen variety, but they did the trick for my mom. 

Tossing aside his German roots, my dad went with a French Dip Sandwich ($9.98) for his midday meal. This sandwich came on a glossy french roll with swiss cheese and a good amount of sliced roast beef. The roast beef was okay on its own but was much better when dunked in the provided au jus. Next, my dad went with the German potato salad instead of fries. He liked this vinegar-based potato salad better than the American mayo-based version. So maybe his German roots did peek out a bit this afternoon. 

Katie was pretty hungry after her birthday shopping excursion, as she got the Reuben ($9.98) and a Side of Spaetzle ($4.49). This traditional Reuben consisted of corned beef, sauerkraut, and swiss cheese on rye. You can see from the picture that they used rye for two sections of the sandwich and swirl bread for the third portion. I'm sure it was a mistake, but Katie did not complain. She might not have even noticed it. I'm not sure if Russian dressing was included here, but it was not mentioned on the menu board, and from the picture, it does not appear like it. None of us were big fans of the spaetzle. It was very bland, and after two bites, I did not really see the point of eating this German pasta. We'd skip it the next time we visited. 

Tip Top Meats is much better than any subpar food options at the Carlsbad Outlets. The meals here are moderately priced, and the portion sizes are very generous. Something that is very rarely seen these days. The plates we encountered this afternoon did not blow us away but were still pretty solid. Our experience here does warrant a return visit, maybe to try their sausages, stuffed pork chops, or breakfast plates. Ordering was a pretty slow process, but we might have hit them during a rush. Once we ordered and sat down, our food came out relatively quickly, and the food runners were continuously circulating to ensure our needs were met. Another successful birthday outing to get Katie a new purse and try a new restaurant. 

Out of five Big Macs (because, like this restaurant, 1967 was also the year that the famous McDonald's burger debuted), five being best to zero being worst, Tip Top Meats gets 3 Big Macs. 

For more information about Tip Top Meats, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.tiptopmeats.com/index.html

Pizza. That's all Folks!

 Folks Pizzeria

2937 Bristol Street A102

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

My friend Ed was back in town for the evening, and he's always eager to get together. Who can blame him? Katie and I are pretty awesome. I have known Ed since kindergarten, which was long ago. He's my longest-lasting friend, was a groomsman at my wedding, and I'm incredibly proud of his life's success. I'd, of course, never tell him that, so I thought I'd write it here since he's way too important to be bothered with my humble restaurant blog. Whenever he's back in OC, I try to find a fantastic place to eat. This time we met up at Folks Pizzeria in Costa Mesa. 

Folks is located in The Camp, across the street from the Lab Anti-Mall, and just down the road from South Coast Plaza. They took over the space that Old Vine Kitchen and Bar vacated when they moved next door for bigger digs. Folks Pizzeria has been open for over three years and has grown a loyal following. Unfortunately, they often have an hour or longer wait times on most nights and sometimes more on weekends. You can make reservations in advance through their website, the phone, or on their Yelp page. Make note that they are not open for lunch, only from 4 to 9pm daily.  

Run by Chloe Tran and Chef Joey Booterbaugh, they describe Folks as an artisanal restaurant that celebrates California's natural bounty of local ingredients. The menu they have curated is seasonal and built to share with the others at your dining party. Chef Joey left the fine dining scene in LA, with a brief detour to San Fransisco, to open this spot and has won praise from OC Register restaurant critic Brad Johnson, who named this spot as one of the best 75 restaurants in OC this year. My anticipation was building. 

The Folks menu is straight and to the point. They offer four red-based pizzas and four white pizzas. The pizzas are 14 inches across and easily feed two to three people. Pizzas are priced from $21 to $26, and there are eight toppings that you can pick from to customize your perfect pizza. Rounding out the menu are two salad options and a quintet of shareable starters. So let's see if all the hype is real for Folks Pizzeria. 

I'm a sucker for Meatballs ($18 plus a $3 upcharge for the jersey ricotta) and like to try them almost everywhere we go. These golf ball-sized meatballs came three to an order, which was perfect since there were three of us. They were incredibly tender, and if I was guessing, I'd say they were made up of ground pork and a little ground beef. They were served in a delectable pork cheek gravy with some basil, parsley, and chives for seasoning. The ricotta added a nice creaminess to this starter and was worth the extra three bucks. The grilled sourdough that came with this was an excellent vehicle for dipping into the excess red sauce. 

We had plenty of bread from the meatball appetizer and the pizza that was coming up next, but Katie added to our carb count by ordering this Bread and Butter ($11). This was the same crusty sourdough bread that came with our meatballs. However, it was paired with labneh brown butter, which I believe was made with yogurt. I was not really a fan. It lacked the creaminess I expected, and the flavor seemed off to me. However, Katie and Ed liked it, with Katie even going one step further, calling it addicting, so maybe it's just not my thing. 

Behold the Matterhorn of cheese, or at least that's what came to mind when this Chopped Salad ($18) was sat on our table. Under all that, finely grated pecorino was some soppressata, sheep's milk feta, olives, pickled chilies, almonds, basil, greens, and a wonderful oregano vinaigrette tying everything together. I liked the different textures and flavor boosts that this salad brought. It's not going to replace my usual Caesar salad, but it was nice for a change of pace. 

Pizza time! We went with the Pepperoni and Fennel Sausage ($25 plus $4.50 for the sausage). You can assume that this is a high-quality pizza made with great ingredients from the lack of grease. The crust held firm under all the toppings, and the slight char on the outer crust was not too obtrusive. They don't use an overabundance of cheese on their pizzas, instead allowing the toppings to be featured front and center. With all of our starters and the salad, we had just enough pizza for the three of us. 

Folks Pizzeria has two desserts on their menu, a burnt cheesecake and this Chocolate Budino ($11). This was actually two desserts in one. You get the budino, served in a jar and salted caramel flavored with creme fraiche whipped cream perched on top, and then you have a brown butter chocolate chip cookie served on the side. They are a perfect duo. The cookie was incredible, and I should have gotten one or two to take home. The budino was also good, although it was lacking in the salt area. Nice and creamy, with a muted sweetness to it. 

Folks Pizzeria was as advertised. It definitely belongs on Brad Johnson's top 75 OC restaurant list. The pizza here is good and not pigeonholed into a type like most people tend to do with pizza. It's a pizza all its own. Not New York style, definitely not Chicago or Detroit either. Let's just say it's a high-quality pizza that doesn't try to do too much except showcase excellent ingredients and the craftsmanship of the kitchen here. Even the sides were all delicious. We look forward to returning visits to try more of their sides and pizzas. Our server was pretty shy but efficient. As busy as they were, the food came out much more quickly than I had anticipated. It gave us a little less time to catch up with Ed, but with pizza this good, we weren't going to be doing a lot of talking anyways. 

Out of five scarecrows (because the city of Costa Mesa was home to a scarecrow and pumpkin festival every autumn for a while), five being best to zero being worst, Folks Pizzeria gets 3.5 scarecrows. 

For more information about Folks Pizzeria, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.folkshospitality.com/ 

Stake Out at Ruth’s Chris

 Ruth's Chris Steak House

2961 Michelson Dr. 

Irvine, CA 92612

Anniversary time has rolled around again for Kaite and me. After seven years of marriage and 13 years together, we are not really into getting each other gifts. We prefer to splurge on dinners. As I write a restaurant blog and everything, I know you must be shocked. In my biased opinion, an anniversary calls for getting a little dressed up and going to a nice steakhouse. We decided to celebrate our big day at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Irvine this year. 

OC is home to the big five national chain steakhouses: Mastro's, Capital Grille, Fleming's, Morton's, and Ruth's Chris. The only one I have not reviewed up until now is Ruth's Chris. For me, the clubhouse leader is Mastro's, with Capital Grille and Fleming's following right behind. I have been to Ruth's Chris before, but it was long before I had met Katie. So it was time to find out where this steak house ranks among the big five. 

Ruth's Chris started in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1965. Ruth Fertel, a single mom, bought the existing, 60-seat Chris Steakhouse and was in business until a fire destroyed the restaurant in 1976. She needed a new location for her restaurant, but due to her contract, she could not keep the original restaurant name. So she just added her first name to it, and that's why they have the funky-sounding Ruth's Chris Steak House moniker. 

They are now in 21 countries and have over 80 restaurants open and operating, two of which are in OC, this Irvine spot, and another in Anaheim. This Irvine location is situated at the corner of Michelson and Jamboree, in the busy shopping plaza that also features North Italia, Lemonade, Houston's, and Mother's Market. Parking can be a little pain here, especially at meal times, so we always veer towards the parking structure behind the LA Fitness. 

This Irvine Ruth's Chris is open for lunch only on Fridays and for dinner from 4 to 10 most nights. The decor is much brighter than other high-end steakhouses, and the dining room is a little more lively. Appetizers hover around the $20 mark, while steaks start at $50 and climb from there. As in all high-end steak restaurants, sides are an additional charge. When we were visiting in April, they had a three course special promotion, my ribeye was $88, and Katie's filet and lobster were $74. I do not see it on their current menu, but keep an eye out for it in the future. Here's how this night shook out for us. 

Most high-end steak houses will start you off with a Bread Basket. Ruth's Chris was no exception. They feature a well-made sourdough with an ample supply of softened butter. As a result, the bread came out warm, allowing easy spreading. They also were not shy when it came to refilling the basket. 

Katie decided that we needed to start things off with an appetizer, so she selected the Mushrooms Stuffed with Crabmeat ($19). These came four to an order and were topped with some romano cheese. They went out of the broiler smoking hot, and I almost burnt my hand moving the plate. I was not in love with these. If I had been blindfolded, I probably never would have guessed that there was crab in these. This was definitely misnamed, as it was more like mushrooms stuffed with crab cakes. The crab was not prominent as it was all filler. The romano cheese also detracted from what should have been the main focus, the crab. I'd skip these next time for sure. 

As much as I did not enjoy the mushrooms, this Caesar Salad ($14) got me back on track relatively quickly. Romaine hearts with plenty of shaved parmesan, garlic croutons, grated romano cheese, a couple of grape tomatoes, and a creamy Caesar dressing made up this straightforward version of a Caesar salad. This salad had just the right dressing, and the cheeses added great flavor. Not anything earth-shattering, but an excellent and enjoyable salad.  

Entrees are next, and Katie's selection, the Steak, and Lobster ($74), will start us off. This came with a six-ounce filet and a five-ounce cold water lobster tail. Katie has this habit of ordering her steaks medium well, which is not ideal. Big kudos to our server, who did not roll his eyes when she told him how she wanted her steak this evening. I did try it, and it was not too bad for being medium well. The lobster was fine on its own, maybe a tad overcooked. Nothing that couldn't be disguised by dipping it into the provided melted butter. 

I also upgraded my entree to the 16 Ounce Prime Ribeye and Shrimp. ($88). As is the custom at Ruth's Chris, this came to the table on one of their 500-degree plates and was still sizzling. They finish their steaks with plenty of butter and parsley. This steak was okay but lacked the wow factor for me. I expect a ribeye will be fatty, but this cut seemed to have a little extra. I eat the fat, so I had no issue, but if you are averse to it, you might want to get a filet or maybe the New York strip. The shrimp was a tad rubbery when I got around to trying it, perhaps because it was still cooking on top of the hot steak.  

With our meal, we also got Creamed Spinach and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. My favorite out of the two was the spinach. Nice and creamy, but a little on the rich side. If you eat spinach, the cream is the way to go. The mashed potatoes were bland, especially when billed as garlic. I did not detect any garlic used here, but their consistency was nicely done. Not too soupy and not too dry.  

Our last hurrah at Ruth's Chris would be dessert. Our meal included one dessert, and our server gave us the other one, a lovely gesture. The Creme Brulee was topped with various berries, which I allowed Katie to have. The creme brulee was okay but was rather lackluster once I broke through the sugary crust. I did not note the Mini Bread Pudding we were gifted with, but it also failed to impress. It was okay but could not match the butter cake over at Mastro's. 

Ruth's Chris kind of fell flat for us this evening. Except for the salad, everything else was just average, and in a high-end steak house, you expect more than that. When we left, we were pretty underwhelmed with the quality of the food here and the selection. They don't seem to have a signature item that would hook us. We did enjoy that they offered a prix fixe special, which helped keep the bill down a bit, especially compared to their competitors. One shining spot was the service we experienced. From the table decorations for our anniversary, the warm greeting at the front door, our servers' competency and friendliness, and the roving managers going table to table making sure all was well, the hospitality of the employees here was definitely first-rate. Unfortunately, the meal could not match it. 

Out of five pelicans (because this restaurant chain started in Louisiana, and that state is known as the Pelican State), five being best to zero being worst, Ruth's Chris Steak House gets 2.5 pelicans. 

For more information about Ruth's Chris Steak House, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.ruthschris.com/

Super-Dooper Birria at La Super Birria

 La Super Birria

1041 West First St, 

Santa Ana, CA 92703

If there's any food having a bigger moment right now other than birria, I can't think of it. A mere few years ago you'd be hard-pressed to find a restaurant that served birria. Now, a simple Yelp search of birria restaurants in OC returns plenty of results of places serving it. Birria has become so mainstream that Norm's had offered it for a while, and you can now get it even at El Pollo Loco. 

For those of you that are not yet up to date on the birria craze, and are not sure what it is, here's a quick crash course. Originally made with goat meat, most of the versions sold in the US are now prepared with beef. This dish comes to us from the state of Jalisco. It's slowly cooked as a soup or stew with chili and other spices thrown in the pot. It can be served as a stew or a taco filling, but as it has grown in popularity, there are many other ways to get your birria fix, as you will soon see.  

I had my first brush with birria back in 2017 at the delicious Burritos La Palma in Santa Ana. I have had it sporadically since, but it was a fateful night at poker that brought us back to Santa Ana to try another birria spot that popped up, La Super Birria. My good friend Angel was that guy at poker that suggested that we give this place a try. He loves it, and so far he has not steered me wrong when he suggests a restaurant. Let's see if his streak can continue.  

La Super Birria opened at the very tail end of 2018, just when the birria craze was in its infancy. Edgar, the so-called Birriamaster is the owner and head chef. He and his family are from Sahuayo, Michoacan Mexico, and he's bringing a taste of his hometown to the people of OC with their birria, handmade tortillas, and salsas. They must be doing something right because they now have four locations, one in Santa Ana, and others in Orange, Stanton, and Long Beach. 

Obviously, birria dominates the menu here. They offer it in tacos, quesadillas, mulitas, tortas, mixed with ramen, and even on a pizza. You can get items ala carte, or in a combo that gets you a drink and consomme for dipping your birria. This restaurant is a lot bigger than it appears from the outside, and we had no problem finding a table out in front of the restaurant on their makeshift patio in their parking lot. Let's see if this is some of the best birria in OC. 

Starting things off for us were a Red Taco ($2.99) and a Suavacito Taco ($2.79). To tell you the truth, I found both of these tasted the same. I know that the red taco came with a red tortilla, and was supposed to be a bit spicier. It wasn't, but I still enjoyed it. The tortillas tasted fresh and were pliable. The meat was not as soupy as I thought it was going to be. Good subtle flavor and is made even better with their salsa. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of their salsa. 

When I first saw this Birriamen ($11.99) on Instagram, I thought it was kind of just some fusion item to pander for likes. After Katie got this and let me try it, I am now a convert. It was really delicious. Even though I know the upcharge for this item is a little outrageous, I would not hesitate to get this on my next visit to Super Birria. It was very comforting, with a tinge of spiciness at the end of each forkful. It makes sense that this would work because birria is made like a stew, so this is more how birria was intended to be eaten. Definitely worth trying when you visit. 

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you have probably noticed my love for combo plates and meals. They help give you a better lay of the land when it comes to a restaurant, especially since I don't have the budget for multiple trips to the same restaurants, like professional restaurant reviewers. So, when I saw that Super Birria had a Birria Tour ($11.99) I knew I had to give it a try. It comes with a birria taco, red taco, quesabirria, and consomme for dipping. I already wrote my feelings about the red taco, and the birria taco was pretty much the same. Good flavor and both went well with the consomme. The consomme was a nice touch, as it gave the taco a flavor boost and a bit more moisture to the tacos. The clear winner of this plate was the quesabirria. The combination of the melty and crispy cheese and the birria was amazing. I loved the crispy parts of the cheese that hit the flattop, which added a very nice textural component. This was even better when dipped into the consomme. It took a lot of my willpower to go back in and order another one of these. 

I was pretty happy when we left La Super Birria, but I liked it even better as I was reliving our visit while I was writing this review. It's kind of rare when this happens, and it's usually a sign that we will make a return visit in the future. La Super Birria is one of the better spots that we have tried for birria and is a great spot to get your first taste of this trendy food or continue your journey to find the best birria OC has to offer. Right now I'd say this place and Navarro's Taqueria, also in Santa Ana, are the best we have had to date. I don't know what the future holds for the birria fanaticism that's going on right now, but I hope birria is here to stay.   

Out of five goats, (because birria was and still is made with goat meat in some places), five being best to zero being worst, La Super Birria gets 3.5 goats. 

La Super Birria does not have a website, but you can find out plenty about them from their Yelp page by clicking here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-s%C3%BAper-birria-santa-ana-2

Sealing Our Trip With a Devoted Kiss

 Devoted Kiss Cafe

8809 North Harborview Drive

Gig Harbor, WA 98332

It might be weird to most of you that our last meal in Washington was with my dental hygenist. Yes, I may not make regular trips to see my doctor, but I'm meticulous about going to the dentist every six months. It's easy for me because my dentist and my dental hygenist, Karilyn, are the best. It's more like seeing my friends, who just happen to clean my teeth and check for cavities. Totally normal, right? 

I was a little sad when I went in for my cleaning and checkup this past February and was told that Karilyn would be moving to Gig Harbor, Washington, and this was going to be the last time that she was going to be cleaning my teeth. We have always had a great time laughing and catching up while she worked, and I just sat there. Katie and I had planned this Seattle trip early in the year, and I promised Karilyn that we'd meet up with her and her husband while we were up in the Evergreen State. 

I had everything worked out perfectly. We checked out of our hotel in Seattle at 10am and could make it to Gig Harbor an hour later. That would give us plenty of time for a late leisurely breakfast and then drive back up to SeaTac for our 4pm flight home. Karilyn picked Devoted Kiss Cafe for our breakfast, a restaurant where she quickly became a regular customer. She boasted that she knew all the servers in her short time living here, but we saw no evidence of this. Like when she lived in Southern California, many people ignored her. Just ribbing you, Karilyn. 

Devoted Kiss has been in business for 11 years now. They are a breakfast/lunch spot with a spectacular view of Gig Harbor, which was quite breathtaking with its many anchored boats, tall trees lining the shoreline, and the sun playing hide and seek with some puffy white clouds. We were seated on the back patio, which was not as cold as I thought it would be on this 60-degree late morning. 

The menu at Devoted Kiss Cafe is focused on breakfast, but there are also plenty of choices for lunchtime. Soups, salads, a bunch of paninis, and other sandwiches are offered for those who are not big fans of breakfast. However, we all wanted to partake in the day's first meal, so we all got breakfast. Let's see if Devoted Kiss Cafe will send us back home happy and with our bellies full. 

Not the most giant or gooey Cinnamon Roll ($4.25), but this housemade roll got the job done. With enough cinnamon and icing, it was not too sweet, allowing the pastry portion to shine a bit more. Definitely worth trying if you are like me and like to have both a sweet and savory part to your breakfast. 

I knew I'd like Karilyn's husband when he ordered the Scratch Biscuits and Gravy ($13.95). Two Beecher's biscuits are bathed in a very well-made and rich peppered bacon and sausage gravy, with two eggs perched on top of the pile. In the 13 years of writing this review site, I can not recall such lumpy gravy, and that's not a complaint. This is real stick-to-your-ribs food. Unfortunately, he didn't finish this, but I don't blame him for wanting to savor it later in the comfort of their new home.  

Katie did not want to be left out of the biscuit bonanza, so she selected the Devoted Kiss Cafe Biscuit-wich ($14.95). When this was sat in front of her, I knew there was no chance that this would be a biscuit sandwich you'd be able to pick up with your hands. So instead, this is a knife and fork sandwich. This one utilized a split Beecher's biscuit with oven-roasted chicken, ladled gravy, provolone cheese, and an over-easy egg. The provolone and chicken are not your typical breakfast staples, but Katie found this one of the better breakfast biscuits she's had. 

In all the twenty-five years that Karilyn has been cleaning my teeth, I never imagined that she would have picked the Corned Beef Hash ($14.95) out of everything on the Devoted Kiss menu. She always seemed like a sliced grapefruit and two egg whites gal. This was another big plate. The house braised corned beef was cubed and mixed with potatoes, topped with two eggs, and finished with a drizzle of whole-grain mustard sour cream. Just like her husband, she only finished half of this meal. Katie and I were starting to get a complex, as we both had no problem completing our meals. Karilyn loved this, claiming she had partaken of this hash many times.  

I usually do not get breakfast sandwiches. Instead, opting for scrambles and benedicts. However, this late morning, I needed to try Devo's Favorite ($13.95). This sandwich is stacked with plenty of slices of Boar's Head ham, peppered bacon, sliced avocado, gouda, pesto, chipotle mayo, and an over medium egg, all sandwiched between two slices of wheat toast. This was so good that I didn't even mind that it was on wheat toast. The show's stars were ham and bacon, and the runny egg bonded nicely. I would have liked a little more chipotle mayo, but a very well-done sandwich. Their potatoes were pretty good, well seasoned, and tender. I like mine a little crisper, but still good. 

Devoted Kiss Cafe is a must-try if you ever find yourself in Gig Harbor. It's the kind of breakfast spot you wish you lived next to. Lucky for Karilyn, she now does live just a few blocks away. I enjoyed the little tweaks they used to make their breakfast items stand out, whether it was the whole grain mustard sour cream on the hash, the gouda and pesto being applied on my breakfast sandwich, or the use of chicken with the biscuit-wich. These nice touches help distinguish themselves from the other breakfast joints in town. Service was on point and friendly, and even though they were pretty busy, our food did not take too long to come out. I will miss my two visits with Karilyn every year, but I'm thrilled that she and her husband have found where they want to live. 

Out of five long-distance dedications (because Gig Harbor was where radio personality Casey Kasem lived until he died in 2014), five being best to zero being worst, Devoted Kiss Cafe gets 3.5 long-distance dedications.  

For more information about Devoted Kiss Cafe, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.devotedkisscafe.com/