food...

do you like food? i happen to LOVE food and LOVE new places. people actually ask me often for referals on everything! breakfast, coffee, lunch or dinners...even dessert! so...if you ever need a place/recommendation, write me and i'll give you one!! i'll figure out someday when i have time to add a link on restaurants. here is a taste of my top picks...

breakfast:
brownstone cafe-downtown fullerton
anything there is amazing and the quaint atmosphere is almost other worldly. you feel like a mini vacation when you sit outside near the fountain, sipping coffee, eating the yummy anything (skillets are great, the french toast is dessert, it's just all yummy!)
go there!

Haute Cakes-costa mesa
if you want to people watch and see the OC that is portraited on tv, this is the place to be on saturdays!! it's amazing!! everyone is beautiful!! BUT...the food is AMAZING! by far, my favorite place to eat breakfast and lunch. HANDS DOWN!!! mid week its mellow and not so crowded by silicone and juicy sweat outfits... : ) what to order...oh my...brioche french toast bejewled with berries and hot real maple syrup...my favorite scramble there-pierre's scramble. it's scrambled eggs with feta cheese, carmelized onions and leaks. i have no words for how much i love this scramble. i may go this morning in fact because as i type this i am drooling!! fresh orange juice, strong coffee, top choice. beware of pricing...it's a bit pricey (it is newport beach unfortunately!) but its' so worth it. courtyard seating...you could even get a homemade cupcake or pastry and coffee and sit and enjoy the sun. there is also a great gardner/florist adjacent to the restaurant that is inspiring and totally overpriced, but buying a couple flowers is always a treat. my favorite morning-haute cakes, walking down the way to butera and wandering through the furniture store for inspiration (insanely pricey, but amazing ideas to duplicate!) and buying a coffee to go and walking around balboa island. sigh...

Lunch:
haute cakes as well as brownstone. both have great food!! brownstone-order the famous tomato basil soup. amazing!! haute cakes order the brie and pear sandwich. it's sweet with balsamic vinegar and just unique and awesome!
let's see...market city cafe on birch street...i LOVE their salads. caprese salad...mixed green salad with the soft fresh mozz. cheese and balsamic tomatoes with an arnold palmer YUM!!! then you can walk up and down birch street and shop!!

Dinner:
oh man..how do i narrow it down...
japanese:
midori-this little place in la mirada has such great deals on sushi and teriaki chicken...and quick service. i think they are believers or at least like "the fish" 95.9 because its what they play in the background. awesome prices and i spilt teriaki chicken between me and the kiddos and it's only 7 bucks!!! ry and i split the washington roll and you get free miso soup. the ambiance is nothing to write about...but it's yummy and quick!

italian:
by far my favorite food. i am a food network giada junkie!! but...where to go...MAGGIANOS!!
i am not one for chain places, i like to find little places...but their food is soooo splitable and soooo amazing i would be remise to leave it out. order the $10 appetizer of mushroom al forno for your entree, it's the perfectly creamy baked ravioli i've ever had and the perfect portion. the maggiano's salad (iceberg lettuce, pancetta, red onion, bleu cheese and some amazingly light sweet dressing that binds it all together!!) is the best thing to start out with. dessert...tiramisu. splitable...creamy, the best around in my opinion (and i try this dessert everywhere i go!) if you don't like ravioli, joey d's rigatoni is another favorite and even ordered 1/2 portion is splitable. make a reservation and you won't have to wait hours to enjoy this place!! costa mesa in the parking lot of south coast plaza next to sears.

roman cucina...amazing! a little loud...but unique and dark (great date night place!). do NOT order anything else but the lemon pasta. if you are not a fan of shrimp, then ask for chicken. this is SOOO worth the lactose intolerant tummy ache!! this lemony creamy goodness is the best and i have no other words to describe...just try it!! splitable too.
dessert-order the cannoli. ry's favorite cannoli around is this one. the tirimisu is not bad either, but maggiano's is still best. i order the italian wedding soup instead of the salad b/c it's very heavy on parmesan cheese. but, if you like parmesan cheese, this salad will be your favorite!! two locals-costa mesa and DT fullerton. GO!

mexican:
el farolito-placentia
this place i've gone to since i was 7 and now all the kids i knew who bussed the tables now run the family biz!! the best and most crowded hole in the wall mexican food around. if you have the guts...shrimp diavolo. order sour cream and milk on the side to calm your mouth down. the nachos supreme appetizer are a meal themselves...order with sour cream and guac on the side and seriously, everytime you order this the nachos will look different. piled mile high with carne asada, cheese, beans, etc...it's the best.

okay...so...that's my fav places so far. i know i have more. but...so far that's it!