Rincon Brewery - Carpinteria, CA

 

 How cool does this place look? I received a special invite from my sweet friends, Lindsay to check out a new brewery located in cool Carpinteria. Carpinteria tends to be a little busy on the weekends due to the safe beaches and downtown shopping so if you see a open parking spot, you better grab it!

All the beers sounded good for different reasons. The Bates Blonde is of course light and drinkable and there is also a nutty Mac Brown that would be fabulous on a cool evening. But the one that made it into my glass was a Mexican inspired Vienna Lager names "La Reina".

The menu read like a perfect combination of comfort food and fresh vegetables. I love the idea of the Fried Chicken Salad filled with with crisp green but then made naughty with the fried chicken and cornbread! We opted for a large bowl of Onion Strings to share and I ended up eating most of them. They were greasy, salty and just perfect.

Thank Lindsay for the invite!

Giorgio's - Ojai, CA

We are really into sports right now as the Giants are playing in the WORLD SERIES as a wildcard team! Yee haw! But, this particular evening we decided to try out the new Giorgio's to watch the San Francisco 49er game. We sat at a table in the middle of the dining area to give us room to clap, cheer and invite our friends in town to join us.

We started with some Mozzarella Toast with a tomato dipping sauce. This bread was perfect for snacking but if you are afraid of a little garlic breathe you had better stay away from this one. It would freak out the most evil of vampires!

Next, I had Mary's Organic Chicken Strips. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the all white meat totally tender! I loved the breading, golden brown and crunchy! Dipped in ranch dressing, it was just awesome. I even had enough to take home with me and mix it up with salad the next day. 

Scott ordered the Caprese Sandwich complete with huge slices of Mozzarella, tomato, cucumber and lettuce. A balsamic drizzle loosened things up and made the sandwich complete. If Scott could critique the sandwich he thought the bread to sandwich ratio was high. A thinner bun might be a better option.

Last but not least was the Fried Chicken Sandwich Special that Dana and Brandon both enjoyed. The Buffalo sauce made brandon think it was spicy but Dana thought it was just right. I am sure the chicken was the same chicken used for my chicken strips order because they both loved the chicken. The fries were a little under done but it was probably because they were such a thick cut. Thinner cut potatoes would clear that right up.

Giorgio's is the East End's best option for football and World Series action. Give them a shot!

Torchy's Tacos - Fort Worth, TX

 We walked into Torchy's Tacos to be greeted by an order and pay line. They gave us my favorite #33 to wait at the bar until our food came. We made good use of our time by ordering two Fireman #4's, an American Blonde Ale, brewed in Blanco, Texas. It is a favorite order of ours when we are in Texas.

Who doesn't love fresh, hot, salty chips? What makes them better? A creamy guacamole. We indulged in that until our tacos came. 

Scott dreaded having to order the "Democrat" but that as the name it was given and it did sound delicious. Shredded beef Barbacoa, queso fresco, fresh avocado, cilantro, onions a slice of lemon all served on a corn tortilla. It was fantastic. In the words of Torchy's, "A damn good taco." 

Melissa Good Taste didn't order politically in fact it was a crack up... I got the Trailer Park. It made me laugh but it was filled with all things I like: fried chicken, green chile, lettuce, pico de gallo, cheese and on a flour tortilla. It was a mouth full and a lot fell out of the tortilla on my first bite so I forked it up until I finished. I thought it was that trailer park, it could have been a bit trashier... where was the Cheez-Whiz?!

Torchy's has a large list of different tacos all based on their beef, pork, chicken and seafood proteins. I am sure we visit again and give another taco a whirl. Their mascot is a little devil so I look forward to getting a few souvenirs to update my wardrobe! 

Discovery Ventura - Ventura, CA

Scott and I had errands to run in Ventura a few weeks ago and we found ourselves in search of a place to watch one of the NBA Playoff games. I have always wanted to go to Discovery Ventura because it was advertised as a fun place to drink, dine and play. So I suggested it and away we went. With Happy Hour in full swing, we both got Island Brewery Honey Blonde's to sip while perusing to food menu. 

The bowling area is not large but it certainly is well decorated. It is on a first come, first serve basis so get there early if you want to sneak a game in. They are open late, 12:30 A.M. Monday through Thursday and 1:30 A.M. Friday - Sunday if you are a night owl. Party time!

Off the Happy Hour Food Menu we decided to split an order of the Hawaiian Sliders, Joe Style. A well seasoned ground beef patty and creamy coleslaw make for the most perfect bites. A sweet appetizer for $5 made us want to explore the menu even forever.

Our server recommended we try the Chicken Tacos and told us with Highway 33's Charman's Revenge hot sauce we could not go wrong. The mesquite chicken was served on two grilled corn tortillas, guacamole, sweet tomato salsa and sliced radish was tasty but as recommended with the hot sauce it was out of bounds!

Now that I was on a roll I wanted to venture of the Happy Hour menu because the Ahi Poke Stack caught my eye. The visual was certainly pleasing and I could not wait to dive head first into it. The marinated ahi was totally fresh and marinated with a wasabi soy. The avocado was dressed in the same bath and mixed with toasted black sesame seeds and green onion. The crisp wonton was served as the tool to transport the goodness into my mouth and it too was heaven. Creamy coleslaw rested on the plate and made for a good clean up via fork or spoon. 

I could have sat in my seat for many more plates of appetizers but we had an early start the next day and want to get home to hit the hay. I had my eye on many more appetizers to try which included the Crab Fries, Goat Cheese Nom Noms and you know I was also interested in trying their Crab Cakes. I will be back very soon, hopefully something from their full menu which included Sea Bass, Short Ribs and a Lobster Pasta.

Oh my! I am am hungry just thinking about it...

Bodean's Seafood Restaurant - Tulsa, OK

Cowboy Ron gives me the honor of choosing where we eat dinner on our cutting excursions. Since I am in charge of the culinary adventures I tend to chose places that appeal to me. When I read stellar reviews of Bodean's Seafood online I knew it was a place we would have to try. As I guided them to the restaurant via backseat directions we pulled into a low budget shopping center and I could tell from the guy's expressions that I might have messed up. We parked and walked inside to a beautiful restaurant.

 Cowboy Ron started with a Caesar Salad as he was craving the fantastic anchovies. Salty, briny and totally addicting. Would it have been weird if I asked for a side order of them? Scott declined on his usual salad and indulged in a Dead Armadillo. A Dead Armadillo?! Yes, a fantastic smooth drinking beer.

I used to order Lobster Bisque all the time but have stopped doing so as of late because I am repeatedly disappointed on the quality. This bisque was nice consistency and had pieces of shrimp throughout. It was not overly "lobster" flavored but totally peppery. My husband would have loved it, he loves pepper!

This beauty was my order. It was a great piece of Halibut over a risotto with goat cheese and basil pesto. It was perfection! The tomato was an addition to the plate that I didn't indulge in, It was more for decoration in my eyes. The fish was cooked perfectly and the risotto was wiped clean from my plate. Excellent, excellent meal.

The boys both ordered the San Francisco Cioppino and it came out bright and full of wonders from the sea. Large pieces of crab, shrimp, salmon, halibut, muscles and cockles filled the bowl. The seafood alone was filling but the wonderful broth dunked with pieces of house baked bread really filled them up. It was a beautiful bowl!

 We finished off our meal with our usual, Creme Brulee. The waitress gave us a warning that it was thick and heavy, it seemed like an odd thing to say since we said we were aficionados. To my surprise it was exactly the opposite of the description. it was light, almost souffle like texture. It was still delicious and we devoured it quickly.

We were treated to a gift from the restaurant as we parted ways. It was a cute little box filled with a Coffee Cake. They thanked us for our business and sent us on our way with breakfast. Now that is class...

 

La Mexicana - Paso Robles, CA

 Whenever Scott and I go to Paso Robles we always crave at least one night of fine Mexican food. We visited other places that did not do the trick but after my foodie research, I convinced Scott that I may have found a place. Upon sitting down we were greeted with freshly fried, salty chips. Sold. The salsa was ok, but didn't match the quality of the chips. 

We happily ate our chips while I looked around the restaurant. It housed a cool mural and had a homey vibe. Not the most chic decorations but I had a feeling that they could really bust out some good food.

Scott read my mind and asked the waitress if they had a different salsa in the kitchen to bring out. She replied, "Spicy." And we both said, "Bring it." She was not lying, it cleared your sinuses but it had a smoky, rich taste that left your nose running and coming back for more. 

I ordered the pozole because it rarely on menus anymore. If you catch it on a rare weekend somewhere, you score. This pozole was outstanding because it was filled with quality portions of clean, meat. I do not like sifting through fat and skin, that is what menudo is for. I loved that it is served with tostadas with refried beans. 

Scott Good taste ordered the grilled fish to make his version of fish tacos. With tortillas on the side he happily assembled each one. I have to give it up to the perfectly grilled and seasoned vegetables. You do not get that in your average Mexican joint.

So we have found it, our very own favorite Mexican food in Paso Robles. We love the place and happy to call it our own. We returned a total of three times throughout the course of the week and got the same great service, food and value every time. Sold.

Social Tap - Ventura, CA

Scott and I have been quite social within our community these past few days. Running errands together and enjoying where we live has kept us busy. On one particular evening we stopped into Social Tap and it was packed. Definitely popular and particularly hard to find a parking spot.

We cooled our jets with an 805. I wonder if anyone makes an 831?

We ordered the four taco pack to sample one of each. These being chicken and pork, my favorites. The salsa was not spicy, very tomatoey. So if you looking for that punch of spice, this will not be your thing.

The other two tacos were my least favorites, vegetarian and steak. I did not care for the veggie one because it was crammed with under cooked bell peppers and bland quinoa. The steak one had nothing wrong with it, I just preferred the others. It is too bad the salsa isn't very good because their chips are terrific!

We since returned to Social Tap this past weekend to catch the tail end of the 49er game. We sampled an order of their Truffle Fries and they were amazing! Knowing what to order where is the key to happy dining! Cheers!

Garman's Irish Pub - Santa Paula, CA

Last week Scott called me starving on his way home from an appointment in Westlake Village. We live n the top of a hill, one side drives down into Ojai, the other goes into Santa Paula. He was coming from the Santa Paula side, so I suggested we try the Irish pub I had meaning to try... We sat down to a Guiness Black and Tan, I have always wanted to try one. It was great! A little filling, but something worth ordering at least once in your life.

When we saw Irish Nachos on the menu we had to give it a try. The "chips" were replaced with thick cut deep fried potatoes. The cheese sauce was not very cheese like, in fact a bit floury for my taste. And the bacon was not real, it was Bacon Bits! Ah man, that was a bummer! 

Boo!

I ordered the Fried Goat Cheese Salad with Salmon and Strawberries! Now this was fantastic! It was topped with loads of pecans and was just heavenly. I would return to the restaurant solely for this salad. 

The fried goat cheese ball! Tasty! Melissa good Taste loves her fried food!

Scott ordered the Gillespie Burger and was not very impressed. He claims he was just too full from the nachos but all he did was pick at it. The onion rings that it came with were tasty. I did try on of them dipped in ranch dressing. 

Garman's was not a bad place to meet for a beer, maybe some fried food and that Salad... I would go back for the salad alone. It is a bit pricey so maybe try to pop in around Happy Hour! 

Happy Monday!

China Palace - Rancho Murieta, CA

In the little community of Rancho Murieta there are very few restaurants: Chinese, Pizza, Mexican and a Bistro. This particular evening we chose Chinese since we were going to be there awhile we would mark it off the list. Scott joked with the waiter and ordered a Tsingtao, the waiter did not have much of a sense of humor.

I was fighting off catching the cold that Scott had so I figured Hot and Sour Soup was just the ticket. It wasn't very spicy, in fact mild in flavor - and taste.

For my main, I ordered the Spicy Scallops with Cashews... I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the dish! I am not going to lie, I picked around the undercooked peppers and onions but the sauce, scallops and cashews made a trio of lovely!

Scott ordered a combination plate and ate to his content. It was entirely too much food and he didn't seem excited about any of it. It really did look just like chinese food made in bulk.

This was the only night we dined at  the Chinese Restaurant, next restaurant coming up!

Wingers - Nampa, ID

While in Nampa we had the opportunity to visit a lot of chain restaurants. It is not always my favorite but there is there is something to be said about their overall consistency. They do put out a really nice beer, Tale Pale Ale was a nice refreshing beverage on an extremely warm evening.

And why look at that, they had a painter paint a nice picture of me while I was there... How nice.

We started off with a plate of "Wingers" because it was the namesake of course. They were crispy strips of chicken, bathed in their original "Winger" sauce. I thought it tasted amazing until my nose starting running, and throat started swelling, and eyes watering. Was I allergic? It sure felt that way. What is in that sauce in anyway...

We went ahead with our meal, a little allergy is not going to stop me, Scott ordered the Fish Tacos and thought they were very good. They did serve as difficult little numbers to eat so he used a fork for must of the eating.

Karley had the "Best Chicken Sandwich of her Life" while we were here. How is one chicken sandwich better than the other? I have no idea. She ate everything, including the pickle stuck into the bun.

Melissa Good Taste actually ordered a salad. Oh my god, the world might just stop spinning right now. I was in the mood for something light, maybe a little green and I got all of that in the Asian Chicken Salad. The crispy wontons and grilled chicken were my favorite part and I hunted their little morsels through out the plate.

I did enjoy Wingers besides the little throat swelling in that sauce. I liked the atmosphere, cheap prices, tasty beer and refreshing salad. We returned once more on our trip there and like a sucker fool, I tried the sauce again. it did the same thing to me so I guess I won't be ordering their bbq sauce online...

Anacapa Brewing Co. - Ventura, CA

The heat this summer has inspired us to get to work early, so the horses are done by early afternoon. We try to run our errands after that so we can meet up in Ventura to enjoy some normal, date time. This trip I had an appointment in Agoura Hills so I went on my way and met Scott downtown Ventura after he surfed. We used to always go to Anacapa Brewery when we first got to together, so we rekindled early relationship memories and met up there.

We shared an order or Onion Rings, so greasy. They were good, but on the soggy side. These were just oozing with too many calories, kind of kills the forbidden food buzz.

The BBQ Chicken Pizza is probably their most popular and our order. Grilled chicken, cilantro, red onion, bbq sauce with gouda and mozzarella are supposed to be divine. The lack luster crust and sparse sauce left us hungry for more. It was not bad, but it wasn't the outstanding food we once remembered.

There has been quite a few restaurant openings around them in Downtown Ventura. One would think now would be the best time to up your food game. The beer is still good, but the food could be raised back to their original standards.