Popping Into Poche Burger - CLOSED

Poche Burger and Kitchen

2727 Via Cascaddita 

San Clemente, CA 92672

The weather has been beautiful lately, and Katie has wanted to get out and walk on our Sundays off together. One of my favorite spots to walk is the San Clemente Beach Trail. Not only is it one of the most picturesque walking trails around, and it is also relatively flat, so it's not so strenuous that we will want to skip breakfast and take a nap instead. On this particular Sunday, we had the pleasure of having my good friend Ozker tag along with us. After our three-mile jaunt, the three of us headed to Poche Burger, which is about a five-minute car ride from the trail.

Located in the same strip plaza as the San Clemente DMV, which is hands down the most convenient one around, Poche Burger has been in business for almost two years now. It's owned and operated by a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, Hooman Mofidi. He needed a change, sold off his successful West Village restaurant, and returned to OC, where he grew up and attended University High in Irvine.

Taking over the old Corky's Cafe spot, Poche Burger and Kitchen is basically a burger restaurant, but they also have quite a following for their brunch items. That's what we were here for, as we arrived on a recent Sunday morning near noon. Inside the modestly decorated restaurant is about 15 or so tables, and a bar, which has a full range of liquor, beer, and wine behind it. The sports bar vibe is unmistakable with three TVs above the bar, and the subtle jab to my Ducks fan gut, with the inclusion of an LA Kings plaque on the wall, with two replica Stanley Cups above it. Even though it's apparent that I'm in enemy territory, I'm still willing to give their food a legitimate shot, so let's see how everything came out for us as we tried to refuel after our walk along the shore.

I have to admit I was a little surprised by Ozker's selection, the PB and J Burger ($11). Ozker does not seem like the type to enjoy outrageous food, but he was pretty happy with this burger. The burgers here are half-pounders, and this one came with peanut butter, a house-made grape jam, grilled onions, and jalapenos, but Ozker did not want these peppers on his burger, as he's pretty sensitive to the heat of any sort. He really enjoyed the toasted brioche bun, which really held everything together well here, and provided a nice crunch element. I'd probably get this burger next time I came here, as the jalapenos, combined with the sweet and salty parts really piqued my interest, especially since Ozker did not share any bites with me.

Kate leaned towards a more breakfast vibe with her meal at Poche Burger, when she selected the Breakfast Burrito ($10.75). This was a massive breakfast burrito which featured bacon, chorizo, or steak, scrambled eggs, rice, beans, salsa verde, and cheese added for a dollar more. Katie had the bacon here and was a little intimidated by the size of this burrito. It was good, but she barely made a dent in this and had it later for dinner. She was not a big fan of the truffle hash browns though. The truffle really overpowered here and became too rich for her tastes. If you want a breakfast burrito that you can have for both breakfast and dinner, this is the place to come.

I went for the Chorizo Burger ($9.75) here, which is the perfect hybrid of both breakfast and lunch. Instead of the beef they use in all of their other burgers, this one was made up of a very tasty house-made chorizo patty and was topped with a fried egg, salsa verde, and garlic aioli. This was a delicious burger, and perfect for people that are torn between having lunch and breakfast. The chorizo was not greasy like some tend to be, it held together nicely, and was prominent since they were a little light-handed with the aioli and the salsa on this. The bun was also a standout and a nice change from normal hamburger buns. The fries were a good side item but were not elevated to anything over that.

I saw Cap'n Crunch French Toast ($11) on the menu here, and could not let an opportunity to order it slip through our fingers. This was also topped with fresh berries and came with two slices of bacon. This was fine, but I was expecting it to be more like the one at Stacks Pancake House in nearby Dana Point. This version was fair, but it needed more Cap"n Crunch covering the bread. Most bites lacked the sweetened cereal and were just like regular french toast, which is not bad, but not next-level great. Eating the thick-cut bacon here got me excited to have a burger with bacon on my next visit.

Poche Burger and Kitchen was a very solid burger spot, and I look forward to coming back again soon to try one of their other burgers like their much talked about Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger or their Bacon Mushroom Burger. No these are not going to crack my top five burgers in OC, but if you are in the area, you definitely need to try them out. Breakfast items were solid and good-sized, so you will most likely skip lunch, and maybe opt for a light dinner. Service veered towards beach casual on this morning, as it was warm and friendly, but not really in any rush to move things along, which is fine on a Sunday morning. Poche is a great option for people wanting to grab a bite after enjoying one of the better walking trails in OC.

Out of five pockets, (because poche is French for pocket, and Poche Beach is right near here), five being best to zero being worst, Poche Burger and Kitchen gets 3 pockets.

For more information about Poche Burger and Kitchen, head to their website here: http://www.pbk78.com/

What A Dish, and What Brunch

What a Dish Cafe

24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive

Dana Point, CA 92629

We've all seen it before. You have two restaurants in the same shopping center, one has a 30 to 40-minute wait, and the other has open seating and you can walk right in. What do you assume about the spot that you can just waltz into? You probably think that the food or service is lousy. I have to admit that was the feeling I had before we first got to What A Dish Cafe in Dana Point.

We had been to this shopping complex at the corner of Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive a couple of times and had never noticed this restaurant. We had been here to eat at one of our favorites, Jimmy's Famous Tavern. We had also been here for breakfast one time, at the much-ballyhooed RJ's Cafe. This is the restaurant that had a forty-minute wait on this particular Sunday morning or almost every weekend morning. We were surprised to be sat right away on the patio at What A Dish, which offered a great birds-eye view of everyone waiting for their table at RJ's.

Putting my mind at ease a bit was the research I had done before coming here. What A Dish had a great write-up in the OC Weekly for their Benedict's and Bloody Mary's. They also have a 4-and-a-half-star rating on Yelp, with over 250 reviews. RJ's, with the 40-minute wait, has a four-star rating with over 300 reviews. The plot thickens.

What A Dish is owned by the Richey family, and they wanted to create a gathering spot that serves local, organic, and sustainable food. Kind of the buzz words of the moment when it comes to restaurants these days. This local family has a thriving catering business, and they also do a lot for the community by participating in projects and fundraisers. They serve dinner part of the week, and that menu looks really promising.

For now, we are focused on brunch and getting the nourishment we need for a good brisk walk around Dana Point Harbor. The brunch menu here has enough variety to satisfy most people, with some omelets, Benedict's, and other breakfast-centric dishes on it. They even have a section of their menu devoted to canines, so yes, this is a dog-friendly restaurant. No dog biscuits for me this morning, I was way more focused on the food that we saw heading out to other tables, so we quickly ordered, and waited for our food to arrive. This is how it all came out for us.

Since they make all their pastries on the premises, we needed to try them to make sure they were good. See, I'm willing to go the extra mile for all of you. Katie ordered the Blueberry Almond Muffin ($4). We have definitely seen bigger muffins, but Katie really enjoyed this unusual combo of both almond and blueberry. With a good texture, soft insides, and a slight crunch along the outer shell, this muffin had a subtle sweetness to it that we both enjoyed.

I've been craving a good Cinnamon Roll ($3.50) lately, and this one filled the bill nicely. I'd describe this cinnamon roll as very sturdy. It had lots of cinnamon running through the insides, and plenty of icing covering this. I was afraid it was going to be over-the-top sweet, but the sweetness was understated. I would have liked this to have been a little lighter, but still, a good way to start out your meal here.

The entrees at What A Dish came out quicker than expected, and was led by Katie's selection, the D.P. Sunrise Sandwich ($13). I know the D.P. stands for Dana Point, but it could also stand for a, "damn pleasurable," sandwich. Katie really enjoyed this croissant sandwich which also included eggs, bell pepper, cheese, and your choice of breakfast meat, Katie went with bacon. This also came with one of the best chipotle aioli's we have had recently. I even stole some for my meal, and it brought it up to the next level. This was served with some colorful Weiser Family Farms pee wee potatoes, which were good, but plain, and only made better when dipped in the chipotle aioli. Still a great meal to start the day for Katie.

Before showing up, I already knew I'd be having this East Coast Benedict ($15), and I was not disappointed. These start with a base of Thomas's English muffins and then are topped with a Maine lump crab cake, asparagus, sun-dried tomato, hollandaise sauce, and a perfectly poached egg.  The crab cakes were delicious here, and stayed in the forefront, even with all the other big-time flavors going on here. The hollandaise sauce was legit, but they could have used a heavier hand when pouring it on the plate, and the sun-dried tomato was an unexpectedly nice touch. My lone complaint about this dish was that it was hard to get everything involved here in the same bite, but still a great version of this classic dish.

As we left What A Dish, I was still perplexed as to why there was still a wait to get a table at RJ's, and you could just walk in here. It finally dawned on me that even though these are two breakfast joints, their food and price point are much different. RJ's caters mainly to families, and people that want a more traditional breakfast, while What A Dish is for people that want a breakfast that's a step up above the norm. I will be veering towards What A Dish the next time we want to have the first meal of the day in Dana Point. Their food was great, the service was first-rate, and they kept things moving at more than a leisurely pace. Everything that we look for in breakfast spot, and the bonus is you don't have to wait for forty minutes to be seated.

Out of five blackberries, (because that's the official fruit of the state of Alabama, and the headliners for the upcoming Dana Point's very own Doheny Blues Festival is Lynard Skynrd, and their biggest hit is Sweet Home Alabama), five being best to zero being worst, What A Dish Cafe gets 3.5 blackberries.

For more information about What A Dish Cafe, head over to their website here: http://www.whatadishoc.com/

Their Grade is In Their Name at A Restaurant

A Restaurant

3334 West Coast Highway

Newport Beach, CA 92663

Spring is a season of rebirth. Much like the leaves returning to the trees, or the birth of animals, spring is a season which represents new things. This is true in restaurants, as lots of them feature spring menus, which they hope will entice customers through their doors by refreshing their menus, and taking advantage of what this new season brings food wise. We were recently invited to experience A Restaurant's new spring menu, and what an experience it was.

For the few of you that are unaware of A Restaurant, they are located on PCH, right where it intersects with Newport Boulevard. This was the same spot where the famous Arches Restaurant operated for a ton of years, 80 of them in fact. In those 80 years, they went from roadside diner in the 40's to a menu that featured steaks, seafood, and French cuisine. The restaurant went through a name, ownership change and renovation in 2006, and struck the delicate balance of updating their menu, while not angering long time patrons, something that many older spots have tried to do, but ultimately fail at achieving. Not the case at A Restaurant.

Of course it helps to have people running this place that know the history here, and want to help preserve it. Founding Partner, McG and Operating Partner, Jordan Otterbein are longtime Newport Beach residents, who wanted to create a restaurant that felt like it always had, with its fantastic old school charm, wonderful staff, and excellent cuisine. They also struck gold by getting the very talented Jonathan Blackford as Executive Chef.

Chef Jonathan is Pittsburgh born and raised, getting his degree from the Culinary Institute of America, and then moving to OC after stints at restaurants in New York and San Diego. His Orange County resume includes the Hilton Waterfront and the now departed Kimera in Irvine. He credits the management team at A Restaurant for supporting his vision, and providing a place that challenges him to create food that he hopes his customers will react favorably to. We were very excited to see what his new spring menu had in store for us.

To be honest, I have no idea what I was drinking from the time I got here, until I left. I basically just told our bartender to bring me something at random. This was the first thing he brought me. I checked out the cocktail menu, and nothing really matched the description of this drink. I know this was rum based, and it was definitely refreshing. You could totally taste the alcohol, but it was not overwhelming. This beverage got my night off to a great start.

The first item to come out for us was this Tomato + Burrata Bruschetta ($14). For those of you that know me, you know that I'm not really into tomatoes. Yes, I'll eat salsa and red sauce, but I have a problem with the texture of whole or sliced tomatoes. I decided since we were at such a nice place, that I would be a big boy, and eat this as the chef intended. I ended up really enjoying this slice of ciabatta that was topped with heirloom tomatoes, pesto, shallots, basil, and one of the better burratas that we have had. This had a very balanced and complex feel to it. The burrata was very creamy, you get the crunch from the toasted ciabatta, the acidity from the tomatoes, and the kick from the pesto. Yes, I would have liked the tomatoes chopped a little more, but this starter has helped teach me that I can overcome my fear of the ominous red fruit, and actually enjoy it. Thanks Chef.

Definitely much more in my wheelhouse, this Crispy Suckling Pig ($15) made its way out next. A very carnitas feel to this, with its spicy guajillo pepper puree, queso fresco, cilantro, and avocado salad topping this delicious swine. I really liked the crisp edges of this, and appreciated the spicy sauce here. Kind of surprising that you can get this great Mexican inspired dish at A Restaurant, but that's just a testament to the creativity of Chef Johnathan and the support he gets from his management team.

In a night full of winning dishes, this one really stood out, and is one that I have thought about non-stop since having it. The Kentucky Fried Quail ($16), yes you read that right, quail, was the best version I have had of quail ever. The breading was a slight nod to the colonel, with a great crispness to it, and a wonderful casing for the tender meat inside. As if this well made quail was not enough, this was plated with a decadent foie gras gravy and a beautifully done truffle potato puree. Big time flavors here, that did not overpower each other. A great option for people not wanting to partake in red meat at A Restaurant.

My drink was near empty, so it was time to try another cocktail, and this time our bartender surprised me with this off the menu beverage, the Bradley. Inspired by a longtime customer, this cocktail is essentially an old fashioned, but instead of whiskey, it is rum based. A lot smoother than other old fashioned cocktails I have had, I liked this updated version much better.

Now that I was refueled with my new drink, I was ready for the next plate, which was this Spring Garlic Sausage ($14). Here Chef Jonathan threw me for a loop, because when this was presented, it kind of screamed fall to me, instead of spring, but it totally worked. The house made garlic sausage was lighter than I imagined it would be, without sacrificing flavor. It was plated with a Bavarian red cabbage, Yukon potato, mustard seeds, and one of the best onion rings you will ever have.

Like all good husbands, Chef Jonathan listened to his wife's request for something on his menu to be named after her. The result was this Kristi Salad V 3.0 ($14). This third version of this salad used baby organic spinach as a base, then included watermelon radish, avocado, shaved fennel, toasted pecan, Asian pear, and a green goddess dressing. This very fresh salad really had it going on, and Katie was caught hoarding most of this. She really enjoyed the way that all the items combined together to create this delicious salad. I enjoyed the different textures here, and how the green goddess dressing really tied everything together. Chef's wife has to be pretty excited with her namesake salad, and I'm sure it has scored him a few bonus points, which can always come in handy.

Next up was the lone seafood offering we got to try, the Wild Opah ($28). This Hawaiian fish was prepared with a splendid hollandaise sauce, tapenade, and a very good version of a dill fingerling salad, which puts your traditional potato salad to shame. The fish was mild, and cooked to a great texture, where it was not dried out, but still moist and delicious. A great dish that got me excited for other seafood items on their menu on my future visits to A Restaurant.

My biggest regret of this evening was not getting a better shot of one of the better beef dishes I have ever experienced. I was pretty much in a food coma at this point, but I make no excuses for not being able to move closer to get a better shot of this Japanese A5 Miyazaki Beef ($15 per ounce). Chef Jonathan called this, "meat butter," and his description could not be more apt. When this was consumed, it melted in your mouth, leaving one of the cleanest tasting beef flavors I have ever encountered. Everyone should experience this beef nirvana at least once in their life, and maybe a little more often than that. Not that this beef needed it, but it came with some very well flavored mushrooms, which were seasoned with a Ibushi Shoyu, a top grade soy sauce which provided a great smokey flavor.

Even though I did not need it, I was very excited with these Corn + Brown Butter Madeleine's for dessert. They were dusted with just enough powdered sugar, and served with an assortment of berries and a light Chantilly cream. The madeleines were freshly made, and provided a subtle sweetness, which was heightened with the lighter than air whipped cream. A great end to our heavier than usual meal.

On the way home from A Restaurant, I was left looking fondly back on the meal we just experienced. We have been to quite a few tastings of new menus, and this one is right near the top. I have not been able to put some of the plates out of my mind, and that's a testament to the team at A Restaurant. When we sat down at dinner, we were sitting with my friend Rich. He stated that we were in for a treat tonight, with Chef Jonathan at the helm, and he was one hundred percent correct. We were floored with what we were served on this night, and encourage you to give his latest spring menu a try. There are great things going on at A Restaurant, and we look forward o seeing what the next 90 years brings to this historic location.

We would like to thank the restaurant staff and management at A restaurant for making us feel so comfortable and at home in your restaurant. You have all achieved your goal of creating an atmosphere that is cozy, romantic, and reminiscent of your history, while not ignoring the present. We would also like to give a big shout out to Ashley Eckenweiler of the fabulous ACE Agency for including us in this wonderful event.

If you would like to experience A Restaurant for yourself, and you totally should, head over to their website here: http://arestaurantnb.com/

Hoping This Restaurant Is Worth Their Salt (and Ash) - CLOSED

Salt and Ash

1390 North Kraemer Blvd. 

Placentia, CA 92870

I have become quite obsessed with lists of restaurants. For a while, I was fixated on wings. Then I went crazy trying to hit all the burger spots on another top 10 list. I'm trying to hit up as many OC Register's Restaurant Critics as possible and Brad Johnson's top 75 restaurants on the OC list. I've already been to almost half of them, but that is not good enough for someone trying to eat their way through OC. So, I've made it my mission to tackle this list until another list strikes my fancy, and I attack that one.

The food community has embraced Salt and Ash for a restaurant that has only been open for six months. Not only has it been listed as one of the top 75 restaurants in OC, but it also got a glowing review in Orange Coast Magazine. Pretty good for a restaurant that is well hidden and in the suburban spread of landlocked Placentia. When we walked in, we also spied two of our good friends and prominent members of the OC food scene, Anita from Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman and Bobby of 100 Eats. Really good catching up with them, and proof that Salt and Ash has some great buzz surrounding it. Let's see if we thought this was the case after eating here.

Salt and Ash, as stated earlier, is in an odd shopping center next to the Placentia Post Office. Lots of wood all over the place, and a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere is provided. It is not too hipster, but it still has a youthfulness about it, even though they still serve beverages in mason jars, which was so yesterday, as any hipster could tell you. They have a small bar that straddles the back portion of the restaurant and the outdoor patio. About twenty tables in this rectangular floor plan are nicely spaced, allowing conversation in this rather loud environment.

The menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, and side items. There are about five options per section, with some extra appetizer options. According to our waitress, the menu changes with the seasons, which is a bummer because the much-hyped duck empanadas were missing when we dined here. Be aware that your favorite items might take a little hiatus on your next visit to Salt and Ash. Let's look at what was on the menu during our visit.

Since my duck empanadas were unavailable, we spontaneously went with these Dry Ribs ($11). These ribs were sans sauce but seasoned with sea salt, coriander, and black pepper. There was plenty of meat on them, but the salt overpowered them and detracted from the flavor of the meat. It's not one of my favorites.

Entrees came out rather quickly, and the first one to hit the table was my dad's selection, the Coastal Catch ($20). This plate changes with what's available on any particular day, and on this day, it was Grilled Ono, served with lotus red rice, baby corn, sweet peas, and an herb crema. My dad was pretty quiet about his meal, but usually, that just means he's very intent on not raising awareness about liking his plate and having to offer bites to anyone who would want some. Very selfish big guy.

Is a Cuban sandwich on the menu? Yep, that likely means my mom will order it, and she held true to form by ordering Our Cuban ($15). If you are an avid blog reader, you know how I feel about Cuban sandwiches. They are the most balanced sandwiches ever, and a good one can be life-changing. This one was good but not life-changing. Roasted pork, pickles, mustard, and cheese are sandwiched between grilled bread. A Cuban usually includes ham, but this version did not. Still good, but the bread seemed off to me. It was a little stiff and had too much of a panini feel. We liked the house french fries that she chose as her side item. They came out with a tomato jam and a much better aioli. My mom enjoyed this sandwich and took half of it home for lunch the next day.

I was torn between the burger and the steak, and as you can see from the pictures above, the Hanger Steak ($24) won out. Hanger steak is quickly becoming one of my favorite steaks, and this one was right up there. The steak was tender and cooked to a perfect medium rare. I would have liked a more substantial sauce, as this one was too watery. The borsin mash was good, but the turnips got lost here. A solid plate, but not one that I'd have to revisit.

Katie zeroed in on the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($13) at Salt and Ash. She reported that this sandwich was inconsistent. Katie liked the crunchy breading coating the chicken, but some bites were bland, even with a chimichurri sauce and peppers between the focaccia. She absolutely loved the calabacitas that she picked as her side item. I had no idea what calabacitas was before this evening. I learned it's a Mexican-flavored vegetable side dish containing squash, queso fresco, corn, and herbs. It was unique, and Katie was pretty stoked about this.

Reviews of this place advised me to save room for dessert, so we saved just enough room to try two of their four offerings. This Layered Chocolate Cake ($9) had some of the best frostings around. Very smooth and not overly sweet, it was a great vehicle for the cake portion, which could have been a little moister. Still, it was tasty and definitely worth having again.

Salt and Ash rotates a pretty impressive selection of pies, which they feature on their Facebook page to alert guests about what they will feature on any particular day. On the night we were here, they had this Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie ($8) as their seasonal pie. This fell flat for us. The texture was there, but the filling could have been more exciting. Only a little chocolate was included here, and the peanut butter needed to be more subtle. It has a good crust, though.

I had mixed feelings about Salt and Ash. I might have had it hyped up too much in my own head, with it being named one of the top 75 restaurants in OC. Based on this one visit, it was good, but I don't think it is the top 75 good. I would not consider any of the items we had on this evening to be crave-worthy. In other words, I would not go out of my way to come here again, but if my parents suggested it, I'd return and give them another try. Our server, Kaitlin, was right on top of things and extended excellent service during our stay. Now, we're off to tackle more of our restaurant wish list.

Out of five tennis rackets (because the city of Placentia was once home to Hall of Fame tennis player Michael Chang, whom I once scooped ice cream for when I worked at Baskin Robbins), five being best and zero being worst, Salt and Ash get three tennis rackets.

For more information about Salt and Ash, head over to their website here: https://saltandash.net/