2803 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 (Neighborhood: South Lamar)
Pricing - $ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Mexican
www.yumpapalote.com

Oh boy. Our short two-day trip to Austin was without a mission. Duc needed tacos, and he needed to see how Austin did it. We learned quickly that the area was big on breakfast tacos so had to seek a spot that could make them well without all of the hooplah that comes with over-romanticizing the comfort food. It was authenticity we sought, and it was lines that we did not want to tackle. After some preliminary research, I settled on hitting up Papalote Taco House for its accolades and good reviews both for the breakfast and non-breakfast tacos. Our choice was confirmed once my cousins living in Austin told us they go there on weekends to sate their breakfast tacos needs. The moment we took our first bites as well, we were convinced we made the right, delicious choice.

Could there not be a more beautiful day for the Great Wine Festival this year? On May 21st, the sun shone brightly for the benefit hosted by Legal Aid Society of Orange County (LASOC) which provides legal services free of charge for underprivileged and disadvantaged communities in Orange County that need legal representation. The event was the sixth for LASOC and took place at the OC Great Park in Irvine this year. As hundreds of wine enthusiasts gathered for live music, food, and free-flowing libations, vendors shared winery knowledge and encouraged the guests to learn more about each pour. We were invited to join in the fun and were glad to see so many supporters out for the event and cause; this year's festival was able to raise $86,000 for LASOC who will be using those funds to continue serving the 114,000+ individuals they help annually.

Hold your horses; rather, you don't even need to get on horses out in wine country somewhere to experience excellent wine education. It's available right in your backyard down in Newport Beach. Moulin Bistro is hosting monthly, interactive wine education courses showcasing 6-8 boutique French wines of limited production. For only $29 per person, guests can learn about the featured region in France to better understand the identifiers for the area and the unique flavors that accompany each varietal as well as taste the wines to better understand the terroir profiles. We were invited to join for the Rhône Valley session in April and definitely came away with some notable notes to remember.

It was by chance that I came across information for the Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn. I visited New York at the end of January this year due to an awesome flight deal, and because I had been there several times, I decided I ought to look up events going on the week I'd be there. An exhibition popped up in part of my search and upon seeing that it was about the science of flavor imitation in foods, my geeky self cried out with a resounding "YES!" The museum itself is still fairly new and definitely one of a kind so I was glad to be in the vicinity (my brother lives in Brooklyn) at the time. If you are in the area and interested in the history and science of food, I highly recommend taking a quick jaunt through whatever exhibition they have going on at the time (it rotates in topics).

77 N 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Neighborhood: Williamsburg)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Japanese, Brunch
http://www.houseofsmallwonder.com/

One of the reasons why I enjoy going to New York is that my older brother lives in Brooklyn so 1) I have a place to stay and also 2) I get to see him! However, because we are both busy busy, it isn't too often that we get to do much together when I'm in town. This trip around, we got to check out a brunch spot that he likes visiting called House of Small Wonder which is a bit of Japanese fusion. Think of a menu that offers the likes of Okinawan Taco Rice, Fig Brie Apple Sandwich, and Croque Madame all at one mealtime. The outdoor area is unassuming with its big wooden slats that hides the restaurant away from the street view aside from its chalkboard menu signs. The inside is certainly in the style of a tiny wondrous house.

"To be the premier farm to table dining experience in southern California..."

"Farm-to-table," "local," "sustainable" - so many buzzwords have been floating around these past few years to attract people to restaurants but how many places can stand behind these marketing terms so proudly as Oceans & Earth in Yorba Linda who grows their own produce? That's right. The restaurant with the weekly changing menu helmed by Chef/Owner Adam Navidi of Future Foods Farms boasts not only an organic, from-scratch, and completely gluten-free menu but also the fact that they source a majority of their ingredients from themselves. I joined a few other people on a tour of Chef Navidi's impressive, expansive 65-acre farm in Brea before sitting down to enjoy a wine-paired multicourse dinner curated by General Manager/Owner Barbara (Barbie) Wheatley. In addition to their dedicated farming practice being impressive, the food was simply brilliant and ostensibly inspired.

15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003 (Neighborhood: Union Square)
Pricing - $$$ | Dining - Dressy Casual | Cuisine - Japanese
http://15eastrestaurant.com/

One of my missions during my most recent trip to New York was to get Michelin-starred restaurants under my belt but also not overspend. I spotted 15 East on a list of places to try for lunch at a somewhat affordable but quality rate, and when have I turned down the opportunity to have sushi? I made reservations for my friend and me and visited with the intent of just doing a small lunch. Instead, we were tempted in by other options which were definitely had without regret. It is a demure place instead with a subtle beauty to it all, and the quiet, calm environment makes you almost want to whisper to your fellow diner(s) while appreciating the craft of your meal.

179 East Houston Street New York, NY 10002 (Neighborhood: Lower East Side)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Specialty
http://www.russanddaughters.com/

If you go to New York, you have to get a bagel. You also have to get yourself some smoked salmon and even though Russ & Daughters may not have the best bagels in town, you can get cross the two requirements off your list by going there for a mindblowing smoked salmon bagel sandwich. Just bear in mind that it may be a little up there in price but well worth it. When my friend and I traveled to New York recently, this was the first bite in the city that we knew we had to get and no regrets were had. Love smoked salmon? Take your pick at Russ & Daughters.

(Special discount code below) Wine wine wine. You can't whine when you've got wine so May 21st ought to be on your calendar this year as the day you get to imbibe and enjoy. In just a little under three weeks, you could be sipping on some delicious wines at the OC Great Park at the 2016 Great Wine Festival hosted by Legal Aid Society of Orange County (LASOC), a non-profit dedicated to providing civil legal services to veterans, the homeless, low-income families, and the elderly. Spend the afternoon with many other wine enthusiasts for a great cause and partake in all-inclusive tastings from 30+  wineries, breweries, spirits providers, and restaurants. We've even got a special code for our readers to use to get discounted tickets so read on!

"I try to hit every sense in each bite."

If there is one thing we can count on Chef Cody Storts to do, it's to make good food. He possesses a particular acumen for the right mixture of ingredients onto a plate, no matter the style, and everything is presented in a bold, satisfying way. You've certainly seen the likes of the chef in several restaurants in Orange County over the years but Grits is his first full-fledged restaurant that was introduced to the Fullerton community initially as a brunch destination. However, that fare has changed a little bit and recently, the hot spot has thrown dinner on the menu. We were invited in to give this a gander, and we left with our bellies quite a bit fuller and our faces grinning wide.

As the Orange County community grows more cognizant and particular about its dietary intake, it also has shifted to some more plant-focused initiatives which is not a bad thing at all. In fact, Duc and I have been moving towards more vegetable-heavy meals ourselves so when word that LA-based Cafe Gratitude, the well-known vegan restaurant with several locations, was coming to our area, we were quite interested. They focus on 100% organic, plant-based foods but the menu has always veered in the direction of typically savory, meat-forward dishes which made us even more curious as to how they could turn those into vegan versions. While this OC location would bring the same philosophy to the area as its LA and SD counterparts, it would also take on an OC flair and introduce a craft beverage program (led by Jason Eisner). Upon invitation, I went out to taste a few of their dishes and see just how this outpost could become a county favorite.

If there is one thing we've noticed that people go crazy for, it's restaurant week deals. Starting tomorrow and running through May 1st, you'll be able to dive right into some killer steals of meals in Long Beach when Dine LBC (formerly known as Eat LBC) kicks off! April 23-May 1 will see the tens of restaurants in the Long Beach area showcasing some of their top picks on their menus at discounted paired prices. Choose from $20 dinners up to $50 dinners and get a little taste of what Long Beach has to offer. We've picked out five joints that might be great for your bellies based on our previous visits - check them out below:

If you're on the hunt for somewhere to eat in Long Beach that focuses on sourcing their ingredients from as local, sustainable, and organic farms as possible, you might want to stop into Restauration. At first glance, it looks like someone's humble abode had been outfitted with tables and chairs for entertaining guests. The name itself is a combination of the words "restoration" and "restaurant" and we could see that the layout had hints of both concepts. Helmed by Chef Phil Pretty, the restaurant focuses on a menu that highlights seasonality and "from scratch" as possible. We were invited to give them a look-see as they geared up for Dine LBC running April 23-May 1.

If there is one cuisine that we do not hesitate to try more of, it's Japanese. Sushi, ramen, udon, izakaya - the styles always lure us in with their simplistic-yet-nuanaced ingredients and deliberate attention to detail. With the annual Dine LBC week coming up this year from April 23rd to May 1st, we were invited to explore the participating restaurants and Kihon caught our eye. We had remembered when they first showcased their fare at the 2015 launch party with an impressively tasty smoked octopus carpaccio. What else could they have up their sleeves? Apparently, a lot of deliciousness.