If you have lived in Orange County any number of years, you might be familiar with Benjies Deli which has been established in the Tustin/Santa Ana area since 1967 and is still family-run/owned to this day. The New York style deli now operated by Lloyd and Noriko Weinstein is known for traditional deli dishes such as their matzo ball soup, pastrami, latkes, triple-decker sandwiches and more. It also has been home to an bar/lounge called The Bamboo Lounge for a number of years but while the charm of an old-school New York style deli and restaurant can sustain itself through nostalgic romanticism alone, the needs and wants of weekly bar visitors will change over time. Enter Avenue K, the newly revamped bar at Benjies which pays homage to the restaurant's origins while keeping a fresh look.


Benjies' founder Stan Weinstein was born and raised in Brooklyn where he lived in an apartment on Avenue K, the same street where current owner Lloyd Weinstein grew up. As a nod to that origin and to modernize the New York feel, the bar has adopted this theme and proudly shows off old photos on the walls of the Brooklyn neighborhood.


We visited Avenue K during a friends and family pre-grand opening evening to see the renovations. The family had really pulled together (Lloyd's sister, Alisa, is now the general manager at Benjies and Avenue K) to give the previous Bamboo Lounge a facelift through their own manual work. Save for a few pieces of furniture, the remodel was done by hand by the Weinsteins themselves including the wood paneling on the walls and the arrangement of key pieces of furniture. They mounted monitors, installed lights, and much more in the weeks it took to redo the bar but that dedication really shone through in the fresh look of everything juxtaposed to the era-driven deli section. We could see it being a great change to the legacy of the restaurant and one that will welcome more people to understand what Benjies is all about.


If alcohol is on your mind after all of this backstory, fret not. Avenue K certainly carries some great drinks and satisfying bar food. We were especially fond of the Reuben Fritters ($7), delicious fried balls of pastrami and cheese. In fact, their bar menu has an emphasis on pastrami and seeing as that is one of their shining stars at the restaurant, we'd recommend you get in on those menu items (pastrami sliders, anyone?). For drinks, you can find yourself looking down the glass at a specialty cocktail or cheers-ing pints of local craft beers. Avenue K also has its own proprietary beer called "Avenue K" with a custom tap handle. Give it a try; it's a red ale brewed by Backstreet Brewery in Orange County that makes for easy drinking.

Find Avenue K in Benjies Deli located at 1828 N. Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705 and let us know what you think. A big congratulations goes out to the Weinsteins for their renovations and their soon-to-come 50th anniversary!

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

People swinging over to Orange County from the east coast might have missed seeing delis commonly around but they could just look over to Tustin and Anaheim for a taste of that at Bronx Sandwich Company which attempts the style with a little bit of California influence. The menu emphasizes their hot pastrami and other typical New York deli fare, and they piled the Dietz & Watson deli ingredients on high between deliciously crusty-yet-fluffy bread by OC Baking Company. It seems like their communities have really taken to them as well, providing quality hefty sandwiches for lunch and dinner with some new breakfast selections offered too. We were invited in for lunch one day to check out all of the tastiness they had to offer.

L-R: Michael O'Hare Wallace, Sarah Wallace Rasmussen, Vasilis Tzoytzoyrakos

"What I love about this place is the warmth. We're sincere and don't fake that. It comes from my mother."

The moment you walk in through the doors of Christakis Greek Cuisine in Tustin, you notice the endearing photographs of a family's many generations from their travels, all emoting love for each other. Italy, Greece, and other places have their spotlight in the shots but constant is the everlasting happiness the family members show for one another, and it is that bond that has helped fuel the restaurant since it opened its doors April 1, 1996. With the recent closure of Nieuport 17 in the same plaza, we were interested in seeing what else around had withstood the test of restaurant time. Christakis reached out about their recent 19th anniversary so we went in to meet the owners, siblings Michael O'Hare Wallace and Sarah Wallace Rasmussen, and taste their authentic dishes.

Today marks the end of a 45 year legacy in Orange County - Nieuport 17 serves its final meal tonight. Founded in 1969 in Santa Ana by former Navy pilot Bill Bettis, the restaurant got its legs as a themed restaurant focusing on aviation. The walls were and are decorated with what the unaware might consider as mere paraphernalia; rather, the pieces are valued artifacts. Nieuport 17 has a history of hosting the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds as well, many of whom are also celebrated on the walls. It was not unheard of for guests to visit the restaurant three to four times a week, and the long-serving staff played a big role in this frequency. So when the news hit that Nieuport 17 would be closing, it was as if a dear old friend had announced his imminent passing. "I've got two months to live, loves," it seemed to say, and this close of March marks its last breath. While plenty of outlets have reported on the community and business owner's points of view, we were most curious about what it meant for the staff; what is it like to be part of a restaurant's closing? Chef Jeff Moore inspired us to learn more and enlightened us on this momentous situation.

The camera seems to affect people in multiple ways but a camera at a restaurant tends to elicit more negative reactions than not. We don't talk too often about what the life is like running a food blog but it does make a huge difference on our experience. That's why I have a section for "Eatery" posts which are our incognito adventures out (and thus, actual reviews) and why media visits are pointed out; you know which are anticipated and not by the restaurant. Well, we visited Bonefish Grill one evening based on an invitation but things went wrong, and there were very notable parts of our dining. To be fair, they did have some pretty good seafood but the rest of the dinner needs a little more explanation.

Don't lie to yourself. Thanksgiving is coming up (and the rest of the holidays through the end of the year) and you are going to be a glutton. Eat this, eat that. Family gatherings, friends' gatherings, social gatherings - they'll all be unintentionally hell-bent on increasing your waistline if you aren't careful. That being said, having something savory doesn't necessarily mean you have to forgo health. Here's a reminder that there are some fantastic vegetarian and vegan options out there to cut back on your meat intake and potentially the richness that follows. (This is not to say that all vegetarian/vegan food is "healthy" but we can err on the side of it being "healthiER.") Some may get a picture in their minds that vegetarian = boring, bland salads but you should really take a look at this list of restaurants we've been to and love for their creative, savory, and just dang good food that just so happens to be vegetarian! I mean, take a look at the pictures yourself - there aren't any boring salads in this bunch.


Thuyen Vien, Anaheim, CA
Love, love, LOVE this place, and we feel that for the most part, it doesn't quite get all the attention it deserves. I'd blame it on its small location tucked away unassumingly in a shared building with a variety of other mainstream entities. It's a mom-and-pop restaurant featuring amazing Vietnamese food, all vegetarian (and I might dare to say all vegan too?). The owners are so kind and gracious as well and extremely humble about their talents. They really do make well-seasoned, creative, and feel-good foods that cause us to crave it any time we are in the vicinity. Take, for example, their spin on the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup of pho. Instead of a beef-based broth, they infuse umami in their stock through mushrooms and concoct a bowl worthy of any other pho out there. In fact, I believe they won a "Best Pho" award a few years back and yes, the other competition were restaurants that make pho with beef. Also take a stab at their garlic chicken because that is too amazing. I happened to have a birthday meal there once, and their tofu "cheesecake" was positively divine.


Veggie Grill, Irvine, CA
Veggie Grill is definitely not a restaurant that is exclusive to Irvine nor is it a small mom-and-pop but it does do vegetarian well. Much larger as a company with several locations than our previous restaurant choice above, Veggie Grill has established itself as a fast casual spot that offers good design, a diverse menu, and great food. Instead of sitting down for a long meal, expect that you can grab to go and even do some catering with them. That doesn't take away from the quality of their food though and because they are that much bigger of restaurant, you have a large variety of choices between sandwiches, salads, sides, plates, burgers, etc. Their salads are giants, and I'm a big fan of the teas (free refills too, yes!). So far, I've generally liked about every menu item I've had there but really like the cauli-mashed potatoes and Thai Chickin' salad.


Healthy Junk, Anaheim, CA
I have a friend who enjoys finding vegetarian and vegan places so she suggested that we go to Healthy Junk one day for lunch. Intrigued and appreciative of their edgy branding, I went and discovered a dang good meal. They have a juice bar for those wanting to partake in fresh-squeezed juices too! Their menu items were well-priced and featured restaurant classics that just happen to be vegetarian. For example, my burger was a chopped mushroom patty instead of just a huge slippery Portobello between buns. We also found that they made kale chips very well and had tasty sides. It's located in the food court-ish area of downtown Anaheim where a lot of small businesses are popping up, adding more to the vibe of this budding food destination city!


Native Foods Cafe, Tustin & Costa Mesa, CA
Again, this is not a small establishment but a chain (with several locations in Los Angeles as well). However, it's one of my go-tos when I need to pop in somewhere for a quick snack. Unlike Veggie Grill which has a strong focus on burgers, sandwiches, sandwiches, and so forth, Native Foods Cafe is all about the savory entrees. Sure there are burgers too but the bowls are what get me. Native Foods Cafe adopts various international cuisines too so you'll easily see Moroccan, Mediterranean, etc all in one menu. They additionally have a focus on supporting their communities so if you get on their mailing list, you'll see when they have charity days (proceeds go to a designated non-profit) and special menu items. I'm a fan of their bowls and as Duc says, the bacon is pretty much bacon, not "vegetarian" bacon.


118 Degrees, Anaheim & Costa Mesa, CA
There is more than one location of the 118 Degrees restaurant but it is still a (talented) one-woman-chef show. This is definitely a restaurant for those a little more adventurous in their dining as the menu is both full of items that are vegetarian and raw. The name of the eatery is also the temperature over which none of the foods are prepared. I've tried them out during tastings and for lunch during OC Restaurant Week earlier this year. The passion behind Chef Jenny's food is apparent in each bite so give them a consideration when thinking about delving into raw foods.

Photography by Minerva Thai.

Tucked away in the El Camino Plaza in Old Town Tustin is a gem of a place striving to keep the passion of live music and theatre alive. Who would have suspected that Encore Dinner Theatre, home of multiple star-class shows, would be outfitted with such a humble exterior? A mark of the times, perhaps. The near floor-to-ceiling windowed front with grand announcements of upcoming shows looked typical of those theaters you'd spot in film and walking in, you experience that atmosphere as well. We were alerted of the unique venue and its offerings and came out on invitation. Built in 1959, Encore is undoubtedly a historic landmark of the area but let's not let it fall to the wayside as just a historic memory. We decided to indulge in the Henry Prego Sings Frank Sinatra show for our love of the music, and we came away feeling like we'd been flown to the moon.


The theatre had actually gone through a renovation in 2011 to more aptly and appropriately bring the grandeur and caliber of its shows to the seated experience. It felt more like those dinner-and-a-show evening clubs you've only heard about as a relic of the "old days," a popular 1940s watering hole for the classy and well-monied. Perhaps we've seen such interpretations on film as well but we did not fathom finding such a wonderful and rare place in Orange County. This was just our impression upon walking inside though; the best was yet to come.


Despite this post's intermixed pictures of Henry Prego being an amazing Sinatra for our evening entertainment, know that dinner in the "dinner and a show" concept comes first and we were seated in our section with service as if in any other restaurant. There just happened to also be an impressive stage at the front of the dining room, waiting to be used. We admired the tiered dining levels that would allow for all patrons to view the entertainment and still dine in privacy at their tables beneath ornate chandeliers. To start from their menu of libations, we opted for glasses from their cocktail offerings of Maker's Old Fashion (8.50 - Maker's Mark bourbon, fresh muddled fruit, and a splash of bitters) and Straight Up Martini (10.50 - choice of Ketel One vodka or Tanqueray Gin and a choice of lemon twist or olives). These cocktails are no joke when it comes to alcohol content though, and we experienced reasons to sip gently after a bite or two as each was strong.

Every table received a basket of French baguette with their signature butter, and though the menu consisted of dinner menu items already covered in the cost of a ticket, there were additional a la carte add-ons that tempted guests. The descriptions on the menus were highly detailed, even going as far as to note the preparation method nearly step-by-step. From what we understood, Executive Chef Cristophe Jardillier has a steady menu but also tries to match the feel of each show. The tempting appetizers were Lobster Bisque (8.95 - made with creme fraiche and Sherry, served with a baguette), La Bruschetta alla Siciliana (7.95 - fresh diced tomatoes marinated in extra virgin olive oil, lemon, and pesto all atop bread and baked with cheese), Encore's Stuffed Portobello Mushroom (10.95 - giant Portobello stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese, bacon bits, sundried tomatoes, and herbs topped with a Parmesan crust and baked in a tangy marinara sauce), and Asian Black Pepper Shrimp (10.95 - sauteed white shrimp glazed with Asian black pepper sauce). We tried out the first three. Duc was a vocal fan of the bisque which was thick and bounteous though I found the sherry a tad on the strong side; it matched the experience had with the cocktails for me. The bruschetta had a pleasant twist with the baked cheese which was almost necessary considering the acidic nature of the tomatoes used. It was difficult to finish the entire enormous stuffed Portobello but we managed to get our bites in of the thick and juicy fungus.


The dining room is open 90 minutes before each show to allow others time to enjoy their dinner before the show starts. We were cognizant of this but did not start our choosing until possibly too close to our cut-off time so did not manage to get pictures of everything. Every ticket holder gets a choice of salads: House Spring Mix Salad (with white balsamic basil vinaigrette) or Classic Caesar Salad (with creamy Caesar dressing and homemade croutons). Then they also each choose an entree from the list of Butcher's Reserve Beef Brisket Sauerbraten, Roasted Free Range Lemon Pepper Chicken, Blackened White Roughy Filet, and Gourmet Ravioli Aurora - Piedmont Region (combination of two fillings - one with wild mushroom and shallot blend, other with Ricotta, Parmesan, Cheddar, and basil; both served with aurora sauce and seasonal vegetables). An upgrade of entree by $5.95 gave the Encore Surf & Turf Fettuccine or by $10.95 for USDA Choice Filet Mignon (6 oz. filet topped with roasted garlic and tomato Gorgonzola crust with a Portobello mushroom sauce, served with pommes pont neuf confts and seasonal vegetables). We had the filet and the ravioli. The filet I had looked actually nearly nothing like the one we had seen other guests receive so I am not quite sure what happened there; the one received was overdone based on my request, very flat, and disappointing. However, I did enjoy the pommes it came with and the style. For the ravioli, Duc enjoyed the mushroom better than the cheese-stuffed one for the obvious reason of loving mushrooms more. I found the sauce pleasant and the mushroom the better of the two as well.

Because of our self-inflicted lateness, we didn't start on dessert until the show was nearly half over. Keep in mind that dessert is not part of the normal ticket holder's dinner but if you feel so inclined to indulge, they are just $7.95 each. Your options are the 1000 Chocolate Chip Cake, New York Cheesecake, and World's Best Carrot Cake on the normal menu with a "Chef's Special of the Day" choice as well. We had the cheesecake and found it quite divine actually, finishing out the evening with a savory sweet that was creamy on top and crumbly below in the crust.


As much as I talked about the food, I would be remiss not to talk about the highlight of our evening which was the show itself. Vegas star and well-known entertainer Henry Prego not only possessed a praiseworthy voice but also commanded a stage presence that transported the entire audience back to Rat Pack days. His demeanor and body language adopted all the iconic idiosyncrasies of the tributed blue-eyed crooner, and this true-to-life personality easily stole the hearts of the nostalgic older guests in the room (and our young ones too!). Several came up just for a chance to touch his hand and even get a twirl during the act - women of course who were mere strangers in the night. It was a magical evening indeed befitting of the glamour and ritz, I'm sure, of old New York, New York. We were fortunate to catch his show which only goes for two-day runs at a time at Encore. However, you're in luck yourself because his upcoming Sinatra Christmas show is happening soon from 11/29 to 12/29 alongside film star Elijah Rock and comedian Frances Dilorinzo. Maybe you'll bring a loved one there. All shows and their information are available by clicking here.

If the $60-$80 tickets seem daunting at first, keep in mind that this theatre is truly one of a kind. Where else can you get a big band to play like that or Broadway shows at an affordable price? There aren't establishments like these around anymore so make sure to support the local business. If you are still thinking about it, you can get a taste for all the future excitement Encore Theatre has to offer by entering my giveaway. Encore has graciously donated Two VIP Diamond Tickets to one lucky winner to any show of his/her choosing. Check the widget below for more details. Our BIG thanks go out to Peter, Patty, and Chef Cristophe. Readers, put in your entries today and hope that the random picker only has eyes for you!

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The giveaway will run until 11/13/13 at 11:59pm PST. Winner will be contacted upon winning and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is drawn.

A highly indulgent evening was had last night as 30+ people gathered at The District in Tustin for a media preview of JT Schmid's Bigger, Badder Asser Burger. We knew that we were in for a crazy meal when we were invited - the flyer itself boasted a 12-inch bun sandwiching a 4 lb. patty, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, Cheddar cheese, pickles, and roasted corn mayo. BUT GUESS WHAT? The flyer was wrong because the patty was actually six whopping pounds. Yeah, six. That landed us a burger between 9 and 10 pounds of stomach-packing goodness. Wow.


So the description is actually just the base style for the Badder Asser Burger. You can get it served to you in the multitude of ways they have their regular-sized burgers. Out first for the evening were the Cowboy Style and the Turkey. Later on, they had brought out the Jalapeno Turkey and the regular. My favorite was the Cowboy Style for its well-fried jumbo onion rings, twelve slices of bacon, Bleu cheese, and overall awesomeness. The Turkey was definitely for those a little bit more health-conscious as the leaner meat was accompanied by so many fresh veggies! A great surprise was how they managed to get such a huge slab of meat to taste like a burger and not a meatloaf - I think I saw that the patty was sliced in some areas to cook thoroughly. I could be wrong though, just an observation!


Appetizers lined a table in the back even though the burgers were plenty of food in themselves. They had their Hawaiian coconut shrimp (jumbo! shrimp covered in freshly shaved coconut and deep-fried in vegetable oil alongside orange marmalade) which were notably large and juicy. The assortment of flatbread was impressive - the five varieties were the margherita (pizza sauce, shredded Mozzarella, roma tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella, and basil), wild mushroom (mushroom cream sauce, shredded Mozzarella, Shiitake mushroom, Portobello mushroom, white button mushroom, and basil), prosciutto ham (pesto, prosciutto ham, shredded Mozzarella, goat cheese, grilled onion, basil), roasted pear and Bleu cheese (balsamic glaze, shredded Mozzarella, sliced red pear, Bleu cheese crumble, grilled onion, sage, and pecans), and sausage (pizza sauce, Italian sausage, shredded Mozzarella, basil, and Parmesan cheese). My personal favorite was the roasted pear one for the sweetness mixed with crunchy from the pecans while Duc's was the sausage for its salty, savoriness.


BUT WAIT! There's more. The jalapeno mac & cheese was one of my favorites for the night for its "diced grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, bacon, and raditori pasta in a creamy ale sauce made from housemade beer and Jack, Cheddar, and Pepper Jack cheeses." I loved the non-traditional pasta combined with the spicy flavors of the jalapeno. The tomatoes brought some burst of relief from any heat so they all worked well together. Also out was their meatball sandwich (five Angus beef meatballs, garlic, tomatoes, housemade marinara sauce, and grated Parmesan on a brioche bun), a packed Italian meal. Their sides consisted of Brewery Fries (beer battered, steak fry style), Chips & Dips (potato chips to order), and Lots of Taters. We actually liked all of the sides but especially enjoyed the tater tots for their perfect crunchiness. There was also a full tray of their Italian meatballs, the same thick morsels as the ones in the sandwich.


Let's not forget about the other main feature for the evening though! Though wine was available, they were releasing their new stout - the JT Imperial Stout! As Duc said, "Well played, good sir." It was pleasant to see even the non-stout drinkers around us give an appreciative nod to the well-crafted brew. A very black and robust stout, this 8% ABV brew is aged in French Oak (our cheers to the brewmaster Gil Chacon for this attention to detail!) and features a very rich profile. Though it was still a fairly dark stout, the bitterness didn't seem to deter others from draining their cups - let's credit that to a sweet malt. As stout fans, we had several. I agree with Duc; well done.


Without much delay, the desserts were dished out on the same appetizer table which had been cleared without our awareness. That's what we get for being preoccupied with staring at our full spread of food. Considering that they had a wide array of desserts to choose from to serve, I think they definitely had the two of us in mind because the three choices hit upon just about our favorite things. The Pineapple Sorbet was served in an actual half shell of the pineapple itself; smooth and sweet, the sorbetto cleansed our palate without shocking us awake with citrus. I had maybe two bites before Duc devoured the whole thing. Then there was their extremely popular Dream Bomba, peanut butter gelato concealing a heart of caramel and coated in milk chocolate with a peanut butter drizzle. Does that sound decadent enough? I can't even describe exactly how amazing this mound of rich, peanut butter overloading goodness was but Duc's rapid consumption of one and a half of these before my half portion is tribute enough to its power. I took immediately to the Black Forrest cake (chocolate sponge cake surrounding a layer of chocolate and Chantilly cream with Amarena cherries studded inside and separated by a white sponge cake, all topped with cocoa powder and a chocolate ribbon) because of its lightness and inclusion of cherry. The cocoa powder helped too in the impression of airiness.


A delicious and pants-tightening evening, the night was spent amidst much food and good company. My thanks go out to Pam from the OC Restaurant Association for making this happen, Jason Schmid for speaking with us and being the man behind the food, and the staff for being so swift and courteous. I heard rumors that a burger challenge event would be happening for the Badder Asser Burger so stay tuned for the news! (Random fun fact: they actually started off with an eight-pound burger but it just seemed too thick to keep on.) For more pictures, please "like" and check out the Facebook fan page.

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook.

The District at Tustin Legacy, 2453 Park Ave, Tustin, CA 92782
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Vegan/Vegetarian
www.nativefoods.com

[You can read my first review here.] My friend and I decided we wanted to be healthy last Friday so we opted to meet up at Native Foods (there's one right down the street from my work). I'm glad we did. I always love their food, and it's always amazing to see what ways they can reinvent some of the more common food items. 


My first choice was for an appetizer as it was Happy Hour still and those were half off. I chose their newest addition, the Maryland Tempeh Cakes (in lieu of crab cakes). Those were labeled (cleverly) as "freshly caught Native Tempeh blended with red onion, peppers, herbs and spices, and seared hot and crisp. Served with a chipotle remoulade." I love them actually. There weren't too salty. If they were trying to imitate crab cakes however, they didn't accomplish it completely. Regardless, delicious appetizer with a great amount of spices and fair texture (not as broken apart as crab cakes but a good alternative).


My entree choice was for their Soul Bowl, a delectable ensemble of their Native Chicken "Southern fried" and accompanied by red beans, brown rice, kale, steamed veggies, BBQ sauce, and a thick slab of cornbread. I love love love the way they recreate chicken as it peels away as perfectly as regular chicken would. As always, there was a lot of flavor in my order. The chicken could have been a little crispier but other than that, bravo on the burst of tastes in the kale and veggies from the BBQ sauce! The cornbread was more like corn cake than bread but man was it still tasty.


My friend got the BBQ Love Burger consisting of thinly sliced Native Original Seitan with an Asian sesame slaw on top and more than plenty of BBQ sauce. I really liked the slices themselves as they were akin to thin pork slices. Since they were so fine, a general person probably would not have guessed they were non-pork. As for BBQ loving, you definitely need to love BBQ to stand all the smothering of sauce. What an indulgence!