Javier’s Mexican Cantina in Irvine, CA

 

Bandera

 

I’ll have Good Food with a Side Order of Incompetence

Last Saturday evening we were at a friends house having a few cocktails when we decided we should go out for some dinner.  It was late so we figured we might have good luck at Bandera’s.  Since we were in CDM, Frank walked over to put our name in around 8:15pm.  They told him 45 minutes.  He walked back over and we figured they would be a bit late, so we wandered over an hour later at 9:15pm.  The hostess told us it was going to be an additional 15-20 minutes, and that we were free to go in a get a drink.  Read more

Vodka Sauce or Pink Sauce

I love vodka sauce and I was always told it is a very hard sauce to make.  It is so far from the truth, as this is one of the simplest sauces to make.  The vodka is optional.  Sometimes I add it and others no.  I don’t think it has a big impact on the flavor of the dish.  I tweaked the recipe to my liking, and you can do the same by changing the amount of garlic and spices you add or omit. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil
• 3 cloves of garlic sliced or diced
• 1 large shallot or 1/2 a medium onion diced
• 1/2 pound of thinly sliced prosciutto or pancetta, chopped
• 1/3 cup vodka
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups of tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

In a large pan melt butter or oil, add garlic and shallot, sautee for 4 minutes, do not burn garlic.  Add prosciutto, and saute until lightly browned. Add vodka and reduce by half, about 5 minutes.  Stir in tomato sauce and cream simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir every few minutes. 

Cook pasta according to instructions.  Add sauce, and garnish with parmesan cheese.

The Crow Bar

Last night we went to The Crow Bar located on PCH and MacArthur in Newport Beach.  Maybe I will eat Crow for saying this, but as our second time back, I was throughly unimpressed.  When we arrived at 9pm it had already made the transformation from restaurant to bar.   Read more

San Shi Go – 345

Not all tourist traps are for tourists.  Located on Main Street near the Balboa Ferry on the Peninsula is San Shi Go.  In the middle of chotchi stores and crappy restaurants is this gem of a place. Read more

Flemings: A Second Chance

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. You do, however, get to improve upon that impression. And that is exactly what Flemings did when we dined there the other evening.

When we first moved to the OC 18 months ago, everyone raved about how great Flemings was, even more so anytime I professed my love of Mastro’s. Read more