Yard House - Newport Beach, CA : Gardein Veggie Wings and Veggie Orange Peel "Chicken"

Even though the Yard House is named after their yard glass drinks (served during Colonial times), there is plenty of good food to eat here. I remember it being pretty tasty...so imagine my surprise when I sit down (it's been a while) and find a sub vegetarian section on their menu.  Yay...more options for vegetarians!

Gardein Section of Menu

All their items are substituted with gardein. Gardein is a complete protein (quoted from their website) made from soy, wheat and pea proteins, vegetables and ancient grains (quinoa, amaranth, millet and kamut).

Veggie Boneless Wings with Jerk Sauce

For starters we got the Veggie Boneless Wings with Jerk Sauce (this was the mildest sauce). The Meat-eater liked this dish! I like the chewy texture. It went well with the sauce...but I found that by itself it was flavorful too. I did not like that it was fried...but that's probably what made it taste good and why The Meat-eater liked it.

Veggie Orange Peel Chicken

My entree was the Veggie Orange Peel Chicken. I've had good orange peel tofu before so I was eager to taste this. The meal itself was good...but I didn't really taste the orange flavor. Again, I didn't like that the gardein balls were fried, but I was able to choose brown rice (as many places still don't have it)...and the bok choy isn't bad either. I think the orange stuff on top is fried shredded carrots. Again...don't like all that fried stuff. It's just so bad for you...but I guess that's why people love fried food...it tastes good. Once in a while it's ok and this was good...just don't expect an orange-like flavor in your orange peel "chicken." Next time I would try another dish from the sub veggie section of their menu.

Yard House
http://www.yardhouse.com
Fashion Island
849 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949)640-9273

85 Degrees Celsius Bakery Cafe - Irvine, CA : Slice Cakes

Every time I've stopped by this area during mealtime on weekends and weekdays, there is always a long line for the bread. When the lines aren't long, I've heard that not all the breads are in stock. So there is a down side either way...long lines or lack of items. There is a separate line for the cakes and drinks...and sometimes it is long but other times it's pretty short. Lucky for me I'm not really interested in bread or cake...but if the cake is good...I will gobble it up. So one day we did get a few slices of cakes to try.

Four Cakes

We each picked a cake. From the top is black forest, mango cheesecake, strawberry tiramisu, and cream cheesecake. The picture above is what it looks like when you undo the box from the top. The box just opens all the way and becomes flat...so no troubles getting the cakes out.

Cream Cheesecake

Cream cheesecake was good in my opinion. Not as sweet as say...Cheesecake Factory, but it is just a regular cheesecake. I like that it's not too sweet. Notice there is no graham cracker crust...that might be why it's not too sweet.

Black Forest

If you like chocolate cake then maybe you can try this one. I have no opinion because I don't like chocolate and didn't try this.

Mango Cheesecake

If you don't like things too sweet and kind of like sour, then this cheesecake is for you. It's slightly tangy/sour...I think due to the mango. The crust sweetens it up a bit so there is a balance of tangy and then sweet at the same time.

Strawberry Tiramisu

I like strawberries so chose this instead of the classic tiramisu. The cake is basically like tiramisu but they use strawberry mousse instead. I did like my cake the best. =) It's not too sweet, but it is still sweet. The cake didn't seem too heavy and the strawberry mousse had really good strawberry flavor without it being too creamy.

So if you're not a bread person like myself, maybe try a cake...or a beverage. They're pretty good too. From what I read here, I guess they're going to open a second shop in Hacienda Heights.

Update: Grand opening in Hacienda Heights August 13, 2011
17170 Colima Road #A,
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
(626) 839-7889

85 Degrees Celsius Bakery Cafe
http://www.85cafe.us/
Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center
2700 Alton Parkway, Suite 123
Irvine, CA 92606
(949)553-8585

Basil and Lettuce A Month Later

So I haven't updated the progress of the basil and lettuce in about a month. The spinach isn't looking so great so I didn't take a pic. Well maybe I should...later. Here's a couple of pics.

Basil 3 Months Later

So it's been about 2.5 months since sprouting...so about 3 months since planting the seed. I can actually eat the basil leaves if I want now....except the purple one. There was a snail on one of the green leaves and pretty much ate the whole leaf so I had to break it off and put the little snail back in the dirt. There are tiny tiny bugs eating some of the basil though....grrr....oh well...at least I know it's truly organic.

Lettuce Approximately 2 Months Later

The green lettuce has gotten really big. Some of the earlier ones on the bottom have burned off....guess I could have eaten those earlier...oh well. As with previous analysis...purple lettuce is slower growing...same with the basil. That big black circular thing in the back is my new compost bin...yeah! More on that later. Next time I think the lettuce will be looking smaller as it will have been eaten. =)

Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill - Tustin, CA : Naked Tofu Tostada Salad

Sharky's is a good place to eat if you want to be a little healthier. They have whole wheat tortillas, organic Poblano brown rice, organic veggies, and for vegetarians you can substitute (when possible) with organic tofu. Their website says they use "the freshest, most natural and organic ingredients available in the marketplace."

Naked Tofu Tostada Salad

The dish I selected is actually the Naked Chicken Tostada Salad. I just substituted the chicken with tofu. It comes with organic baby greens, steamed vegetables, organic Poblano brown rice, Organic black beans (made without lard), non-fat cheese, guacamole, non-fat sour cream, and Pico de Gallo on a stone fired low-fat whole wheat tortilla. (I got that info from their web.) Their tofu is rubbed with seasoning and grilled...so there's a mild flavor to it. You get everything in this salad. There is a lot of food, is very filling and quite tasty. You don't have to get the wheat tortilla or the brown rice...they have regular flour tortillas and white rice too. But if you want the option of a healthier version of Mexican food...I would recommend Sharky's. It's very vegetarian friendly.

Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill
http://www.sharkys.com/index.html
Location this was eaten at:
"The District" Shopping Center
2463 Park Ave.
Tustin, CA 92606
(714)258-2255

Jazz Cat Fusion Shabu - City of Industry, CA

This weekend we went to try another shabu shabu hot pot place near Rowland Heights. This place just opened in May. The original restaurant is in San Gabriel. We went a bit early…around 6PM on Saturday so that we didn’t have to wait in line.

Wall Art

A jazzy cat greets you upon entry.

Jazz Cat Interior

There are tall booths so you get a sense of privacy. The cooking ranges are not gas but electric. Notice the black ornamental decorations over stainless steel above your head?  Those are range hoods that suck up moisture, smell, and everything emitted from cooking after you’ve completed your meal.

Veggie Plate

So of course I got the veggie plate. It includes tofu, broccoli, three types of mushrooms, baby corn, carrots, squash, enoki (also a mushroom), baby bok choy, celery, napa cabbage, and there are a ton of cellophane noodles on the bottom. You pick your broth and it also comes with a bowl of rice and your choice of sauce which are not pictured. There was a lot of food…more so than at Ayame Shabu Shabu in Irvine and it’s less expensive too. But I thought the quality of veggies of Ayame was better. You can notice some browning on the squash and some of the mushrooms. Sorry, the lighting affected the colors of the veggies in this picture…it was a bit on the dim side.

Simmering Veggies

The pots used here are a wider shallower type. They can add broth/water for you if you’re getting low. Notice I still have a tons of veggies…I just eat really really slow. =)  You have more choices of broths and sauces here if you’re a meat eater. Yes the meat-eater liked this place too…so you can all go together and not worry about mixing your veggies with the meat. There was so much food though…I could not finish every single thing…and I didn’t even touch my rice. 

Jazz Cat Exterior

When we left at around 7:15PM or so…there were people waiting to be seated. So if you don’t wanna wait…get there earlier! All in all it’s a pretty good place. Can’t really go wrong when you cook your own food and add your own flavors and the boiling of food is also healthier. Eating hot pot/shabu shabu is fun (to me)!

Jazz Cat Fusion Shabu

18588 Gale Ave.

City of Industry, CA 91748

(626)581-8588

Couldn’t find a website for them, but they’re on facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/jazzcatshabu?sk=info

Corner Bakery Cafe - Irvine, CA : Egg Salad Sandwich & Salad

Corner Bakery is a good place to eat when you want something pretty quick and can be pretty healthy. Well...quicker than a restaurant...slower than fast food. You can pretty much customize your order however you want it...as long as it's not pre-made....like I have done below.

Mom's Egg Salad Sandwich with  Mixed Green Salad

Mom's Egg Salad Sandwich is usually on white bread and comes with chips...but you can make it healthier by changing those items. The sandwich above is on toasted wheat bread and the side was changed to the Mixed Green side salad. The salad is a tad spicy as they use a sweet and spicy house vinaigrette and spicy croutons. That's the only thing I don't like since I don't like anything spicy...but I can handle it most of the time.

Outdoor Seating

You can also bring your dog and sit on the patio...as we did on this day. The weather was nice and cool. This particular Corner Baker is also right next to the movie theater...so there's a lot of foot traffic and gets busy during mealtime.

Corner Bakery Cafe
http://www.cornerbakerycafe.com/home.aspx
Location this was eaten at:
Irvine Marketplace
13786 D Jamboree Rd.
Irvine, CA 92602
(714) 734-8270

Sweet Republic Artisan Ice Cream - Scottsdale, AZ

One of my favorite foods to eat is ice cream. Whether it be in the hot summer months or freezing cold 30 degree winters, I would still have some ice cream. So when I saw this article about the Top 10 Ice Cream Shops around the US, I had to try one of these places. Sweet Republic was the most easily accessible to me located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Salted Butter Caramel

The article said the must try flavor was Salted Butter Caramel. That sounds weird right? But it's soo good. It's the perfect blend of salty and sweet. It's overall still sweet with a bit of saltiness...and the caramel is just so caramel-y. The ice cream is soft and is the perfect consistency (to me). It definitely is a must try...especially if you like caramel! This is one of their regular flavors so it will always be there.

Purple Yam and Real Mint Chip

The purple scoop is Purple Yam ice-cream and the green scoop beneath is Real Mint Chip. The purple yam is sweet...but doesn't taste like a regular yam or potato or taro or any other type of root vegetable. It has it's own flavor and they made it very delicious. You can sample the flavor before you buy it...but this flavor is not normally there. The Real Mint Chip is naturally green from the mint leaves they use. No artificial coloring here! They also shave the chocolate so all the flavors melt in your mouth. This is also one of their regular flavors and it's delicious too. Everything I've had here is delicious.

Sweet Republic makes their ice-creams in small batches and every single thing is handmade. They use local and the freshest ingredients possible. The waffle bowls were delicious too. Yes that's made from scratch too. They have regular flavors and other ones that are available when the ingredients are in season...so you can always try something a little different. I think the ingredients they use and the small batches made every day make a big difference in the quality of their ice cream. They do sell some of their most popular flavors at the local Whole Foods. I've bought some at Whole Foods instead of going to the store and the flavors are still delicious. The only thing is that the ice cream is a bit harder in your freezer...not sure what temperature they keep their ice cream at but that temperature makes everything perfect. So if you're in Scottsdale and love a good ice cream I highly recommend Sweet Republic.

Sweet Republic Ice Cream

http://www.sweetrepublic.com/home.html

9160 East Shea Boulevard

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

480-248-6979

Capital Seafood Restaurant 金都 (jin1 du1) - Irvine, CA : Dim Sum

There's usually a lot to eat at dim sum if you're a meat eater, but for a vegetarian there's the usual fried desserts and steamed vegetables...or you can order off the menu. Here are a few things you can eat at Capital Seafood that are in the carts that they push around.

Bean Curd Roll

The skin is made out of beancurd sheet 腐皮 (fu3 pi2) or tofu skin. These sheets are obtained when you boil soy milk. There is a thin film that develops on the top...kind of like when you boil milk and let it cool. These films are removed and dried and turn into yellow sheets. They also can be sold fresh but I usually see them dry (and you have to soak it in water to make it soft again) or frozen here in the USA. Anyway it's a great alternative to wonton wrappers as the soy provides more nutrition than flour and water.

Vegetarian Dumplings

The steamed bean curd rolls and steamed vegetarian dumplings were very filling. I did share the bean curd rolls, but ate all the veggie dumplings myself. I thought the bean curd rolls were a bit salty...and the dumplings were just right.

Inside of vegetable dumpling and bean curd roll

Inside both items were mostly black wood ear 木耳 (mu4 er3) or cloud ear fungus in Wikipedia. It is a type of fungus known for its slightly crunchy texture no matter how long you cook it and is pretty much tasteless. This is often used in Asian cuisine. I like the slightly crunchy texture of wood ear.

Sweet Dessert Bun

I forgot what the inside of the sweet dessert bun was made of, but it's a sweet paste. Not red bean or taro...might have been lotus seed paste. I could only eat one...I was kind of getting full. They were just like any other dessert bun.

Baked Egg Tart

I saved room for an egg tart. Haven't had one of these in a while. This is also a dessert dish and it's basically egg custard in a tart. I took the remaining two buns and egg tarts home. Just these few dishes were quite filling. So if you wanna try decent dim sum in the Irvine area try this place out. They're also opening one up at the Irvine Spectrum in Summer 2011.

Capital Seafood Restaurant
http://www.capital-seafood.com/index2.php
Location this was eaten at:
Diamond Jamboree
2700 Alton Parkway #127
Irvine, CA 92606
(949)252-8188
Hours:
M-F 10:30AM - 10:00PM
Sat-Sun 9:00AM - 10:00PM

Yes there CAN be Worms in your Potted Plants

So I am new to gardening and today I learned that worms can crawl into your potted plants outdoors. I was re-potting some succulent plants and found a worm in each pot. One 3.5 gallon pot and one small 3 pint pot. I didn't think there'd be one in the 3 pint pot (I found the first one in the 3.5 gallon). They are on the ground, but above a 2 square feet cement paver that's about 2 inches thick...so there is no direct contact with the soil beneath. They must've crawled on the paver and then into the pots somehow. I didn't remove them...I just let them live there. Just need to remember not to bring the pots back indoors. =) I heard that the holes they make in the soil may let water go straight through the pot instead of soaking the soil for the plants...but these succulents don't need a ton of water so I think it's ok to keep them in there...right? Anyway, I had no idea they would do that with the paver...but then again there's only a paver and then it's all dirt underneath.

Cookies Just Like Girl Scout Thin Mints

I stumbled upon these cookies that taste very similar to Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies...if not better! They are Back to Nature Fudge Mint Cookies.

Front of box

Ingredients as listed on the box: FUDGE COATING (SUGAR, PALM KERNEL OIL, COCOA, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI {DUTCHED}, PALM OIL, WHEY {FROM MILK}, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR), UNBLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, EVAPORATED CANE JUICE, PALM OIL, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI (DUTCHED), ORGANIC EVAPORATED CAN JUICE INVERT SYRUP, BAKING SODA, SEA SALT, SOY LECITHIN, PEPPERMINT OIL.

• Nutrition Facts as listed on the box:
• Serving Size 4 cookies. Serving per Container about 6.
• Total Fat 7g
• Saturated Fat 4.5g
• Trans Fat 0g
• Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
• Monounsaturated Fat 1.5g
• Cholesterol 0mg
• Sodium 160mg
• Potassium 80mg
• Total Carbohydrate 21g
• Dietary Fiber 1g
• Sugars 12g
• Protein 1g

Back to Nature Fudge Mint Cookies

I definitely like these better than the Girl Scout Thin Mints now. I tried them out because they were on sale at Henry's Farmers Market for $3 a box. The ingredients they use look pretty good....maybe that's why it tastes better to me. Normally I'm not sure how much they cost though. Give these delicious Fudge Mint Cookies a try if you like Girl Scout Thin Mints!

Back to Nature
http://www.backtonaturefoods.com/