A Pizza Spot to Good to Be True?

 Truly Pizza

24402 Del Prado Ave. 

Dana Point, CA 92629

I will give you a little behind-the-scenes peek at the food blogging/Instagram world. The more followers a person has, the greater the chance they are being paid to visit or promote the restaurant they are showcasing. This leads many top food influencers to over-inflate what they may think of a restaurant. The tell-tell sign of this is when they say something is the "best of my life" or "this is perfect."  I hear these phrases constantly while scrolling through Instagram, and these phrases lose their value after so many instances. 

My policy for my blog and social media posts is to always honestly convey what I think of a restaurant. Even though I have a very modest following on social media, I get invited to some restaurants for a free meal, but I only give them a rating once I return and pay for a meal. I want my brand to be more of a reference point for all of you instead of a commercial for whatever restaurant invites us in for dinner. That's why 946 of my 1088 posts on this blog do have a rating attached to them. 

I bring this up because, yes, we got invited to Truly Pizza in Dana Point for their media event before they opened. What follows will feel like I'm gushing about this restaurant, and I am. Since our initial visit, I have been pleading with anyone I encounter that they must try this place, and I've gotten three Truly Pizza gift cards for people. So, yes, I will shower affection on Truly Pizza, but it's not because we got a free meal. It's because it's excellent. 

Truly Pizza opened in June and was an instant hit. They had wait times of over 2 hours for walk-ins on weekends and peak meal times. Their reservations were booked solid, and they had to suspend online reservations briefly. They are back now, and as I'm writing this four months after their opening date, online reservations have become more accessible, which is great for pizza lovers in Dana Point and the surrounding area. 

It's not really surprising that people have flocked to this restaurant. The team behind this spot has an excellent pedigree. John Arena collaborated with longtime friend and hospitality industry veteran Donna Baldwin and her developer partner Steve Muller to co-found Truly Pizza. John is a third-generation pizza maker who brought New York-style pizza to the people of Las Vegas with great acclaim. Rounding out the team and helming the kitchen at Truly Pizza is Chris Decker, a renowned pizza champion and a new resident of Dana Point. 

They have created a menu that will not overwhelm you with too many choices, but most people will find something to satisfy their cravings. There are four starters and a quintet of salads to start your meal. Two sandwiches are available for the two people out there who are not fans of pizza. Speaking of pizza, there are two types to choose from at Truly. They have their round 12-inch American artesian, which they describe as crispy and airy. There's also a square pizza reminiscent of Detroit-style pizza but with a much lighter touch. Prices for pizzas range between $17 to $30 and can easily feed three people with no leftovers to be taken home. Let's look at the food that got me hot and bothered since I had it a few months ago. 

I know I promised food, but I wanted to give you a glimpse into the atmosphere that Truly Pizza has created. We were seated upstairs with a beautiful view of the surrounding Lantern District of Dana Point. The faux lemon lattice above us provided a garden feel to the setting. Downstairs, the dominant feature is the glass-enclosed kitchen, which gives an excellent view of the hardworking kitchen staff creating pizzas and other menu items. Now, I promise, here's a look at the food.  

We started things off at Truly with two salads and a starter. Katie selected the Salumi Chopped Salad ($22) to begin with. This salad uses little gem lettuce and Calabrian chili vinaigrette as a dressing. The dressing had a tinge of spice to it, which played well with the rest of the ingredients of this salad. The high-quality soppressata and sliced salami were plentiful and joined in the bowl with red onion, fresh mozzarella cubes, shaved fennel, beans, and olives. Katie called this a meal in itself and would not hesitate to get this salad again. I had the popular Dana Point Wedge ($18). This version of a wedge starts with iceberg lettuce portioned into six stacks of easy-to-manage lettuce and then is complemented with candied pecans, dates, shaved egg, chives, red onion, smoked bacon, cracked black pepper, Point Reyes blue cheese, and finished off with their unbelievably good herby ranch. Yes, the produce was fresh, and the inclusion of the pecans and dates made this their own, but their incredible ranch dressing really set this apart. It stole the show here and ruined me for the bottled stuff I use because I'm too lazy to make my own. This wedge is a must-get. 

We added the Garlic Pull Apart Bread ($12) as a last-minute addition to our order. It's baked in a cast iron skillet and is topped with garlic, butter, and a sprinkling of Romano cheese. I could have used more garlic on this, but I always favor plenty of extra garlic. The rolls were nicely done, with a crunchy outer shell and pillowy soft bread underneath. These were made even better when we asked for some ranch to dip them in. 

Pizza Time! I've never really been into supreme pizzas, preferring to go for pizzas with the most meats and leave the vegetables for someone else. Our server and Katie talked me into getting this beautifully presented Suprema Pizza ($30). This square pizza came with roasted mushrooms and peppers, cup and char pepperoni, sausage, garlic confit, and a spicy giardiniera resting on a whole milk mozzarella and a red sauce underneath it all. I'm not a crust guy at all. I almost always leave the crust alone, but the crust here at Truly Pizza is light and airy, and I found myself eating all of it. The toppings are of the highest quality and yield no grease whatsoever. I love the cup pepperoni, as it has a great crunch to it. I thought the giardiniera would overpower here, but it went well with the other toppings. Katie and I could have finished this pizza, but I wanted a few pieces for the next day to see how it would hold up. The next day, it was just as good, even heated up in the microwave. I have my eye on their Crispy Pepperoni or their La Foresta pizza, featuring sausage, mushroom, and ricotta, for my follow-up visits. 

A sweet treat to end your meal at Truly is a great idea, as I watched table after table trying their house-made Soft Serve Ice Cream ($8). They rotate their flavors, but they had the classic chocolate and vanilla when we were here. You can choose one topping, picking between olive oil and sea salt, sprinkles, grape nuts, chocolate sauce, Oreo crumbles, or pistachios. I had the vanilla chocolate swirl with olive oil and sea salt. The contrast between the sweet and salty was a nice balance. Katie got straight chocolate with grape nuts because it reminded her of her childhood. I liked the added texture that the grape nuts brought.  

Hopefully, this blog post will entice you to try Truly Pizza. People are really partial to the kinds of pizza they like, whether it's New York, Detroit, Chicago, or any other type of pizza that is popular at any given moment. I would characterize this pizza as Californian, with its fresh and high-quality toppings, light crust, and unique topping combinations. I definitely got the sense that they pay attention to every detail here and want to showcase their pizzas and other items' greatness. It shows in the pride that they emit when complimented about their restaurant. I will be back soon to do a proper review when we pay for our meal, but honestly, I can't imagine not being impressed with Truly Pizza on my next visit. 

For more information about Truly Pizza, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.trulypizza.com/

Dinner With Eddie Spaghetti

Da Bianca Trattoria

7448 East Chapman Ave. 

Orange, CA 92869

I've had some powerful male role models in my life. As we are all getting older, I've made it my goal to get together with the people who have shaped me into who I am today. It's hard because most days after work, I just want to be home reading one of the latest best sellers or binge-watching the TV show everyone else at work has been discussing. This particular Friday, Katie and I decided we'd take my lifelong friend Ed out for a long-overdue dinner. 

Ed and his family moved across the street from us when I was 6 years old. He had one son and four daughters; our families became fast friends. Much like my own dad, Ed is very much a family man. He'd take us in his VW van to run errands. We'd go furniture shopping, Mervyn's, and sometimes we'd get him to take us miniature golfing if we begged enough. These were some fantastic times, and even when they moved away six years later, we still stayed in touch, and our families remained close even as the decades passed. I felt that I'd repay him for all the times he drove us around as kids, so we picked him up for dinner and took him to a spot close to where he's living now, Da Bianca Trattoria. 

This place came across my radar a few years ago when legendary OC chef Pascal Olhats named this his favorite Italian restaurant in OC in the Orange Coast magazine. Respecting his opinion, I quickly jotted it down on my restaurant wishlist. Da Bianca has been around since 1981, with their first nine years operating from Irvine. They moved to their current location near Newport Boulevard and Chapman Avenue in 1990. It's a little hard to find, and that might account for them only having 350 reviews on Yelp but possessing an over four-star rating. 

I made reservations on a Friday evening at 7:30, and even though we arrived a half hour early, they still sat us near the back of the restaurant. They must have known that Ed could get quite rambunctious. The dining area is comfortable, but the tables are too close to each other. Starters and salads lead off the menu, and plenty of pasta combinations with meat, chicken, vegetables, and seafood. There are ten entrees, but their customers rave about their nightly specials, which have become quite popular. Most pasta options are around $23, while the seafood options are about $8 more on average. With as much catching up as we had to do, it took a lot of work to concentrate on picking things from the menu, but we eventually made our selections. Let's see how everything turned out for us.  

Everyone who sits down at Da Bianca has some complimentary Garlic Bread to start. This was like a better version of when my mom would apply some Lawry's Garlic Spread over some French bread and place it under the broiler. I believe this was also placed under the broiler, but they use butter and fresh garlic instead of the stuff you can get at your local supermarket. Very good; I only wish they had made another pass through the dining room so I could have had more. 

We've been hooked since we had Arancini ($16.95) at another Italian restaurant. For those who need clarification on arancini, it's a rice ball stuffed, coated in bread crumbs, and deep-fried. Here at Da Bianca, they fill theirs with some meat, cheese, and peas. These were nicely fried with a crunch, while the inside rice was soft and pillowy. The meat was seasoned well inside, but more would have been welcomed. A good representation of Arancini.  

Salads are not included with meals here, but we all got one. Ed and Katie opted for the Insalata Misto ($5.50), which had mixed greens with mushrooms, carrots, tomato, and a house-made Italian dressing. This salad was simple yet satisfying. They mentioned how fresh the produce was and that they liked the dressing. I've got a Caesar Salad ($5.50) fetish, and this one was one of the best I've had in a long while. Again, this was a pretty basic version of my favorite salad, but this was elevated because each piece of romaine included a very liberal amount of their delicious Caesar dressing. It was dressed just as I liked, and I was almost tempted to order another.  

Katie was torn between a few things on the menu but eventually went with the Spaghetti Bolognese ($23.95). This classic Italian dish included pork, beef, and a mushroom sauce. Katie felt this was one of the best versions of this dish she's ever had. The noodles were cooked perfectly, and the meat-to-sauce ratio was on point. She claims she'd get this one hundred times out of a hundred when dining at Da Bianca. 

Ed got sidetracked when ordering, as he wanted to catch up before we ate. He finally went with the Cannelloni alla Romana ($24.95). Good choice. These Italian crepes were filled with chicken, mushroom, and spinach and then topped with cheese, marinara, and bechamel sauces. Ed was gracious enough to let me have some of this, and it was perfect. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of chicken, it did not detract from this. The combination of the bechamel and marinara was fantastic and tied everything together wonderfully. This has inspired me to order cannelloni more frequently. I can only hope it will be just as good as this one. 

I deviated from my usual order in an Italian restaurant, which is lasagna, and picked the Rigatoni al Gorgonzola ($23.95) at Da Bianca. The tube pasta was joined with thinly sliced zucchini, sausage, and a creamy gorgonzola sauce. I loved this unusual mixture of ingredients. The gorgonzola sauce tied everything together well, and the ground sausage was plentiful and flavorful. It's not something I'd typically order, but passing this up on future visits would be hard. 

I've never really been a big fan of Italian desserts. Cannoli's and tiramisu are okay, but I never really crave them. I let Katie pick the dessert this evening, and she went with the Tartufo ($9). The menu describes this as a rich gelato with a cream center and rolled-in caramelized hazelnuts. I never did get to the cream center, as my spoon only hit the gelato, which was okay. It also seemed they had forgotten about the crushed hazelnuts because all I could taste was the overabundance of cocoa powder coating this orb of gelato. 

Even with the less-than-stellar dessert, I left Da Bianca feeling good about our visit. With entrees and everything else we had here as good as it was, it's easy to see why they have been in business for so long. It also makes me wish they were in a more high-traffic area to get the recognition they deserve. It could be for the best that they are hidden a bit, so it's easier for the people in the know to get a table at this little eatery. We experienced warm and friendly service during our visit to this family-run restaurant. Da Bianca was a great place to catch up with my dear friend Ed and show him some appreciation for helping me become the man I am today. 

Out of five hawks (because nearby Santiago Canyon College has the hawk as their mascot), five being best to zero being worst, Da Bianca Trattoria gets 3.5 hawks. 

For more information about Da Bianca Trattoria, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.dabianca.com/

Birthday Dinner at 1886 Brewing Company

 1886 Brewing Company

114 North Glassell St. 

Orange, CA 92866

I got ripped off with my birthday dinners this year. Usually, Katie and I celebrate dinner by ourselves, then my parents take me out, and I finish it with another dinner from Katie's parents. Since it has been far too long since my and Katie's parents have seen each other this year, we combined our meals with them. This shorted me out of a birthday dinner, but it was worth it to get them together for a long-overdue meetup. The hard part was finding a spot they would all like. After much research, I decided on the 1886 Brewing Company.  

Opened for business for three years now, 1886 Brewing Company is located right next door to Citrus City Grille and on the same side of the street as Smoqued BBQ, O'Hara's Pub, and Pandor Bakery and Cafe. Speaking of Smoqued BBQ, this restaurant is run by the same owners of that restaurant. They named this restaurant after the year this building was constructed. In those 137 years, this spot has been many businesses, but most recently, it was an antique store about five years ago. There are not too many restaurants in OC that can claim to be housed in a 137-year-old building. 

Beer is brewed on the premises, and as recently as this year, they have won awards for it. You can see the large, shining tanks proudly standing behind the bar when you enter the restaurant. The six of us were ushered to the back patio, which was covered to prevent the sun from baking us. It was quieter out there, which I'm sure our parents were thankful for. 

Like most bars/restaurants, the menu here is varied and offers plenty of choices that even the most picky of eaters can find something they will like. There are 11 appetizers to pick from, along with salads, sandwiches and burgers, and most substantial entrees. The price point for most items hovers around $17, with only a couple of things exceeding $20. Happy hour is offered on weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m., Taco Tuesday is celebrated all day with $3 tacos, and brunch is highlighted by either a $29 prix fixe option or they get a lot of love for their brunch charcuterie board, which features lots of breakfast staples. We were here at 5 p.m., so dinner was what we were after. Let's see if this was a good pick for the six of us. 

If I had left it up to Katie, she would have gotten the hummus or the Bavarian pretzel as an appetizer, but it was my birthday, so I would not submit to her (at least not today). I was intrigued by the nachos and chori-queso, but I went the safe route here and picked the Crispy Brussels Sprouts ($10) and the Chile Verde Poutine ($16). The better of the two was the poutine. The fries were topped with chile verde shredded pork, pickled red onion, and cheese curds. The fries were done nicely and stayed crisp the whole time we were chowing down on this. I liked the contrast between the pickled onions and the rich pork. This could have been made even better if more pork had been added and it was layered better. Near the end, we just had fries left. The sprouts were crispy but not conducive to sharing between six people. They were topped with bacon and a sweet and sour sherry gastrique that was a nice deviation from the usual balsamic that most places use. 

My mom will start the entree portion of our meal with these Boneless Wings ($12). These five pieces of chicken were crispy and plump. They usually come with buffalo sauce, but my mom wanted them naked with a side of ranch. She ate three tenders, making me think my light-eating mother was a big fan of them. The chicken strip I tried was tender and juicy and went perfectly with the provided ranch dressing. 

Katie seemed to need help picking what she wanted at 1886, and she finally settled on the T-Bird Sandwich ($16 plus a $2 upcharge for fries). The toasted sourdough housed a good amount of sliced roasted turkey, two slices of provolone, tomato, red onion, pepperoncini, and shredded lettuce tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. This sandwich exceeded her expectations. She liked the sliced turkey and the crunch of the toasted bread and found the tanginess of the pepperoncini and the lettuce with the vinaigrette to keep her interested while she was eating this. The fries were nice and crispy and were an excellent accompaniment to the sandwich. 

I've wanted a good patty melt for some time now and hoped that this Meatloaf Patty Melt ($17 plus a $2 upcharge for a side Caesar) would satisfy my craving. It actually did. Again, toasted sourdough was the bread of choice for this sandwich and included a slice of bacon meatloaf, grilled onion, provolone, and American cheeses. The sandwich was delicious, even though the bacon could have been slightly more pronounced. A very well-built patty melt. My only tweak for next time will be to jettison the lackluster tomato jam that came with this and get their much better house sauce that was way better for dipping the sandwich in. The Caesar was okay, but I could have used more dressing and parmesan cheese. 

My dad selected the Fish and Chips ($18) this evening. The three pieces of cod are beer battered and came with hand-cut fries and a ravigote sauce, which is something I've never heard of and had to look up what it was. It's a mustard-based French sauce freshened with shallots, capers, or herbs. This one looked like a creamy Thousand Island, as it did not have any noticeable mustard hints. My dad thought it was a tarter sauce, as he didn't bat an eye while dipping his fish into it. He ate these three pieces rather quickly.  

Katie's dad Dennis never met a shepard's pie that he could resist. This one at 1886 is called the "Loated" Shepard's Pie ($18) because it utilizes their popular Loated stout as a braising agent with the beef under the mashed potato topping. Joining the meat is plenty of carrots, onions, and peas. The top of the mashed potatoes had a nice crunch as they were crisped underneath the broiler. The inside filling had an excellent depth of flavor, which was rich and hearty. Nicely done. 

Last but not least was this Rosemary Chicken that Katie's mom ordered. It was served with a bordelaise sauce, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables. Lynn was on the other side of the table from me, so I did not get the chance to try any of this, but she seemed to have liked it, even though she took a good amount home. 

1886 Brewing Company was an excellent choice for my birthday dinner with our parents. Their menu is varied enough that everyone can find something to order from it. No, the food will not be up for a James Beard award anytime soon, but if you are looking for better-than-average bar food at reasonable prices, give 1886 a try. We experienced reliable service during this visit, with no complaints about our server or any of the other employees we encountered. Even though I got swindled out of an extra birthday dinner, it was worth it to have our parents get to see each other, and even better, we all seemed to enjoy our time at 1886 Brewing Company. 

Out of five railroad cars (because 1886 is the year that the first trainload of oranges left Los Angeles via the transcontinental railroad), five being best to zero being worst, 1886 Brewing Company gets 3 railroad cars. 

For more information about 1886 Brewing Company, head to their website by clicking here: https://1886brewingco.com/

Does Super Antojitos Live Up to Its Name?

 Super Antojitos

642 West Chapman Ave. 

Orange, CA 92886

I've become quite obsessed with restaurant review videos on Instagram. I love watching them and find that they are an excellent resource for a restaurant that has not caught my attention. These videos have inspired me to consider doing two-minute restaurant reviews on my social media channels. I'm seriously thinking about it, but I am taking my time to ensure I know what I'm doing before jumping in. 

Super Antojitos came across my radar when I watched Grub With Greg visit a few months ago. He enjoyed his time here and called this one of his top ten restaurants in Southern California. He was also very enthusiastic about the burrito he consumed here, calling it the best he had in his life. Very high praise for someone who has eaten at tons of places. The food looked great, and I wondered if this was just hyperbole on his part. I decided to find out for myself. 

I met my friend Jeff at Super Antojitos on Thursday just before noon. This popular spot is located near the intersection of Chapman and Parker, just a couple blocks west of the historic Orange Plaza. Parking might be challenging around peak meal times, as I counted only 11 parking stalls. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood, but be prepared to walk a bit. 

Like many Mexican restaurants, this one is family-run. The Rodriguez family came to the US in 1968, and after hard work and determination, they transitioned into the restaurant business by first waiting tables at the Arches in Newport Beach. 1985, their dream was realized when they opened their first Super Antojitos restaurant in Santa Ana. It's not there anymore, but three other restaurants appear on Yelp with the Super Antojitos name. This Orange location has the most positive reviews and has only been open for close to two years. 

Their dining area is small but bright and colorful, thanks to the tablecloths and art hanging on the walls. The menu features all-day breakfast options, combo meals, appetizers, fajitas, molcajetes, burritos, enchiladas, and specialty plates. Only some seafood selections exceed the $20 mark, with most other items hanging out in the $15 neighborhood. Let's see if we were as excited as Greg was about Super Antijitos food. 

When we sat down, even before we ordered, we were presented with chips, salsa, and a bowl of refried beans. Getting bean dip always feels like a bonus, which usually adds to an upcoming great experience. The chips here were fresh and went well with the refried beans. The salsa was spicy, even for me, but I would have liked a little more chunk to it. It would definitely be a welcome addition to any taco or burrito. 

For some time now, I've been searching for my favorite Choriqueso ($13.99) in OC. So far, my favorite is from El Maguey, located in San Juan Capistrano. This one at Super Antijitos was good, but it could not topple the one from down at El Maguey. I really enjoyed that they put this under the broiler to get the cheese a bit crispy and bubbly. It was scorching when it came to our table, and it was torture waiting for it to cool down so I could try it. We were given three tortillas to eat with this, but we could have used more. The cheese was on point, very stringy, and delicious. This could have had more chorizo, as it got pushed to the side by all the cheese and did not really stand out. This was still a good start to our meal. 

You can never say I'm not a gracious person. I came into Super Antojitos thinking I would get the Chapman Burrito ($17.99), but my good friend Jeff wanted to try it instead. This was the burrito that Greg had said was the best burrito of his life. This burrito comprises carne asada and chorizo mixed with refried beans, rice, and pico de Gallo, all simmered in a spicy roasted tomatillo salsa. It's then wrapped in a large flour tortilla with melted cheese and avocado on top of a hot, sizzling plate. Jeff was not as enthusiastic about this burrito as Greg was. However, he liked it much more when he took the other half home and had it the next day. He claimed it came out so hot that he could not enjoy it while he was here, and it burned his mouth. I tried it once it cooled down and felt it was a solid burrito. I liked the inclusion of both the chorizo and carne asada, which you rarely see on many menus around OC. The avocado helped balance out the richness, and I feel that if Jeff had gotten the sour cream that usually comes with this, it also would have helped elevate this burrito. It's not the best burrito of my life, but it is worth trying. 

Since I did not get the chance to have the Chapman burrito, I went with my second choice here, the Chapman Chilaquiles with Carne Asada ($18.99). I'm a chilaquiles fiend and liked this version. This also was served on a sizzling skillet and came out red hot. This seemed to be a trend for us here. These chilaquiles came not in a red or green sauce but a spicy cream salsa, which was a nice little twist. It was mildly spicy but did not overpower the rest of the meal. The beef was cut into strips and was a little overcooked. I liked that the cheese got crispy on the edges because it was served on a hot skillet. The chips were a little limp, which is understandable because there was the meat, queso fresco, a fried egg, and sour cream layered on top of them. This also came with a side of refried beans. 

Was this the best burrito of my life? Is Super Antojitos in my top ten restaurants in all of Southern California? Unfortunately, the answer to both questions is no. It is, however, worth a visit if you are in the area, and I can see us eating here before Ducks games this upcoming season. The menu is varied and large enough to warrant return visits. I'm curious about their carnitas, combo plates, and the deluxe burrito, which measures a whole foot. Challenge accepted. We experienced excellent service while we were here. Our food was out promptly, and everyone was amicable and made us feel welcome. Even though Greg and I don't see eye to eye on this place, I still see myself turning to his excellent videos for restaurant tips. Someday, I will follow in his footsteps. 

Out of five law books (because this restaurant has a lot of items named after the street it's located on, and Chapman Avenue is named after Alfred Chapman, one of the founders of the city of Orange, who was also a lawyer), five being best to zero being worst, Super Antojitos gets 3 law books. 

For more information about Super Antojitos, head to their website by clicking here: https://superantojitosmexicanfood.com/

Easy Breezy Breakfast in San Juan Capistrano

 Breezy

31761 Camino Capistrano Suite 4

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Football season is rapidly approaching, and if it's anything like the last few years, Katie and I will be sitting in front of the TV every Sunday until January from 10am til 8pm. For the first time in years, we have legitimate hope that our football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, will be relevant this year. In the last 20 years, they have only had a winning season five times, and last year, they showed signs that they were ready to have another winning season this year. Time will tell, but as our Sundays will soon be filled with nothing but football, we needed to get out and try a brunch spot that has gotten quite a lot of buzz in the last year. That's what has brought us to Breezy in San Juan Capistrano. 

Breezy has been open for 11 months, and their Yelp rating is a respectable four and a half stars with close to 300 reviews. They have had write-ups in the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times. They were also mentioned as having one of the best breakfast burritos in OC by Eater LA, and the throngs of people waiting for a table on weekends are a testament to their apparent popularity. 

Taking over the former Ramen Shack space in the Capistrano Plaza, which is mere steps away from the famous San Juan Capistrano Mission and the always bustling train station, Breezy was brought to life by commercial real estate developer Jasmin Gonzales and a collaboration between the guys from Shootz Hawaiian and butcher shop Primal Cuts, both tenants at Rodeo 39 Public Market in Stanton. Jasmin wanted to bring a brunch concept that featured Filipino-inspired breakfast items to the people of South OC. 

The one-page food menu is broken up into pancakes and French toasts, benedicts, avocado toasts, acai bowls, and specialties of the house. Most items hover around the $16 price point, with only the Ribeye Steak and Eggs and the Crab Cake Benedict over the $25 threshold. We were met with about a half-hour wait on a recent Sunday morning at half past 10. During less busy times, you wait to be seated, and during peak times, like when we visited, you sign in through the Yelp stand at the front of the restaurant and wait for your party to be called. 

The restaurant is very comforting, with its pink-hued walls, flower-shaped lighting fixtures, and ivy-covered wall proclaiming to everyone to " keep it breezy."  The decor here appeals to the Instagram set, but not in an annoying way. We waited about fifteen minutes for our food, which was good considering how packed they were. Let's see if all the love this trendy brunch spot gets is warranted. 

Up first for us was the S'Mores French Toast ($16.99). For their French toast, they utilize milk bread and top this version with a Nutella drizzle, toasted marshmallows, mixed berries, graham cracker crumbs, and an ube whipped cream. This had a muted sweetness on its own, but I added some of the maple syrup available on each table to make this a tad sweeter for my tastes. I would have also liked this better if it featured more of a s'mores taste. There was just a dusting of graham crackers, and this needed a bit more Nutella to represent the s'mores feel they were going for. It was still good, but I decided to try the more popular Ube French Toast on my next visit.   

Katie's a creature of habit when it comes to eating breakfast out. About ninety percent of the time, she'll opt to get a breakfast burrito, and at Breezy, that meant she'd be having this Adobo Breakfast Burrito ($14.99). Shredded adobo pork is not included in most breakfast burritos that we've come across, but it was here. Joining the pork here were some scrambled eggs, garlic rice, avocado, sour cream, cotija cheese, salsa verde, and pickled red onions. Katie has been daydreaming about this burrito since she had it. She loved the tender pork and the fluffy scrambled eggs in this, but most of all, she loved the garlic rice that added even more flavor to each bite. 

I shouldn't harp on Katie about always getting the same thing at breakfast restaurants because I'm pretty predictable when I spy chilaquiles on a menu. I had initially entered Breezy thinking I would be having the Loco Moco, but I reverted to my tried and true love, the Adobo Chilaquiles ($15.99). Two sunny-side-up eggs topping a mound of fried tortilla chips, shredded adobo pork, sour cream, radishes, pickled red onion, a sprinkling of cotija cheese, and just enough salsa verde made up this very filling plate. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of these chilaquiles. The adobo pork was tender and had just enough tang to it without being too much. The tortilla chips stood up well to the toppings and stayed relatively crispy throughout the meal. The eggs added a lovely richness that helped balance this a bit. I will try the loco moco next time, but I will find it hard to skip this.  

I've always said that it's hard for breakfast restaurants to set themselves apart from each other. Most menus are basically the same, with a few minor tweaks. Breezy is one brunch spot that has carved out its niche with its nod to Filipino flavors and ingredients. Filipino food has been primed for its breakout in OC for years, and Breezy is just another step in that direction. The love this restaurant has garnered from the people of SJC in its first year might prove my point. Even if you're unfamiliar with Filopino flavors, I think you should visit Breezy. The waitstaff worked as a team, which worked perfectly on this particular morning. We never waited for refills, and plates were cleared promptly. Breezy will find its way into our breakfast rotation with some regularity, even during football season.  

Out of five silver salmon (because Cold Bay, Alaska is the breeziest/windiest city in the US, and they hold the Silver Salmon Fishing Derby every year), five being best to zero being worst, Breezy gets 3.5 silver salmon. 

For more information about Breezy, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.experiencebreezy.com/

Hoping for a Red Letter Day at Scarlet Kitchen

 Scarlet Kitchen and Loung

30865 Gateway Place

Rancho Mission Viejo, CA 92694

This would be Katie's third and final birthday dinner for those keeping track at home. We went out alone for one, then my parents took her out, and now it was her parent's turn to celebrate the well-deserved birthday girl. As is par for the course, restaurant selection duties were handed off to me. I gave seven suggestions in a group text, and the consensus was that we would celebrate Katie's birthday at Scarlet Kitchen and Lounge in Rancho Mission Viejo. 

Scarlet Kitchen, much like this area of Orange County, has been around for a while. They opened for business just before the pandemic hit and are still going strong. This might be due to the numerous articles and features I have seen about this restaurant. They were written up in the OC Register, Orange Coast Magazine, Voice of OC, Los Angeles Times, and Forbes named one of their cocktails one of the best brunch beverages. Very high praise. 

This is truly a family restaurant. The Executive Chef here is Paige Riordan, a former dancer, and choreographer who gave up dancing to graduate from culinary school in New York. Her father went to culinary school at the same time as her in California and handles the day-to-day operations at Scarlet Kitchen. His wife runs the business side of the restaurant, while Paige's husband is the General Manager. I always envy people who can work with family because I'm not sure I'd be able to do that with mine. 

The menu at Scarlet Kitchen opens with a trio of raw bar options and then goes on with bites, salads, tacos, sandwiches, main dish offerings, and sides. Appetizers and salads hover around the $15 to $20 range, while main dishes are priced from $25 and up. With only four restaurants that I could find in this newish city, I would imagine that Scarlet Kitchen is valued by residents of Rancho Mission Viejo for its diversity and varied offerings on its menu. I was curious if I would also become a new devotee of Scarlet Kitchen. Let's check out the food and see if this was a good pick for Katie's birthday dinner. 

Katie's dad is an aficionado of chowder. He orders it almost every time he sees it on a restaurant menu. The one here at Scarlet Kitchen is Marty's Clam Chowder ($10), and it's Chef Marty's concoction. It's a creamy chowder, rich and substantial, topped with real bacon and chives for an added flavor boost. Dennis enjoyed this immensely, calling it one of the better chowders he's had in recent memory. 

The rest of us tried the Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($10), which is not actually a starter but is listed as a side. We felt like rebels. This was a muted version of what we usually get when ordering Brussels sprouts at other places. These were not drenched in sauce. I would have liked a little more maple, but these allowed the sprouts to be the focal point, which is nice if you are a big sprouts fan. They also added currants and pine nuts for a burst of sweetness and texture. 

Katie's mom will start us off with the entree portion of our meal, as she selected the Chicken and Corn Rissoto ($33). The pan-fried chicken breast came out tender and juicy and lacked any dry bites that I usually associate with chicken when I order it in restaurants. It came with a corn puree streaked across the plate and topped with some chimichurri sauce topping it. The two sauces kept things interesting when used in alternating forkfuls. The risotto was creamy and studded with roasted corn, while some sauteed spinach, not visible in this picture, was plated directly underneath the rather large chicken breast. An interesting plating of the spinach.  

The birthday girl opted for the Blackened Fish Tacos ($23) for her birthday meal. I did not catch what kind of fish was used in these, but it was grilled and was joined in the tortilla by some sliced avocado, tomatoes, slaw, and a cilantro sauce. Katie felt these were very clean-tasting tacos. They did not rely on anything other than the blackened fish to do the heavy lifting flavorwise. The fish was plentiful, but she'd try something else on her next visit to Scarlet Kitchen. 

It must have been seafood night because Dennis continued the trend when he got the Fish and Chips ($25). This came with three beer-battered pieces of cod and tarter sauce and scarlet sauce, which resembled the sauce from Raising Cane's but less peppery. The batter on the fish was crispy, and the fish underneath was flaky and tender. Again, I liked that they offered two dipping options, which helped keep this interesting. The french fries were nicely done as well. Hand-cut, fried to perfection, and seasoned simply with salt. It is a nicely done fish and chips. 

I walked into Scarlet Kitchen, knowing precisely what I'd be having this evening. It's not uncommon since I study menus online before eating anywhere, but every once in a while, I do waver. I stuck to my guns and ordered the Scarlet Burger ($23 plus $2 for adding avocado). This burger utilizes grass-fed beef and is joined between the brioche bun with Irish white cheddar cheese, maple bacon onion jam, and garlic aioli. The burger was good, but did not blow me away. The beef was very clean tasting, but the inside condiments fell flat. Bacon onion jam never really meets my expectations, and the garlic aioli could have been applied with a heavier hand to make this pop. I did like the inclusion of the white cheddar, which melted wonderfully over the patty. This came with rustic fries, which were thicker and not as good as the fries with the fish and chips. I did enjoy my fries better with the scarlet sauce, but I still found myself sneaking most of the fries from the fish and chip plate. 

Dessert is a must when celebrating a birthday, so we went big with a trio of sweet treats. The Classic Creme Brule ($15) was exactly as it sounds: very straightforward. A crystallized crust topped it, revealing a creamy custard base when broken. This was not as sweet as others, but we all enjoyed it. The Strawberry Cheesecake ($14) was the same. It was a traditional cheesecake that did not overwhelm you with sugar. I'm not the biggest fan of cheesecake, but everyone else enjoyed this. Much more to my thing was the free birthday sundae they gave Katie. Vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry. I ate most of this while they were eating the other two desserts. 

Scarlet Lounge made an excellent first impression on us. I enjoyed that they had a wide array of choices to pick from. Even with this wide variety, Scarlet Kitchen is a restaurant you'd visit only occasionally. This is the place I'd envision more for date nights, girl's night out, and, like us, birthdays and other special occasions. The food was on point, and as this area grows, Scarlet Kitchen will become a favorite of all the people who are moving into this area. 

Out of five dice (because in the board game Clue, Miss Scarlet is the first person to roll the dice to get the game started), five being best to zero being best, Scarlet Kitchen and Lounge gets 3 solid dice. 

For more information about Scarlet Kitchen, head to their website by clicking here: https://scarletkl.com/