Wood Ranch - Santa Clarita, CA

Yesterday I cruised on over to Burbank to pick up Scott from the Bob Hope Airport and after many changes in flight arrival times I was getting pretty hungry. Around that airport there are not very many good food options other than fast food. So I decided to rough it, fight Interstate 5 traffic and pull into my favorite Wood Ranch for a mid day meal.

Scott was craving a salad just as much as I was and went for the Tri-Tip Chopped Salad. He has been judging the NCHA Futurity so it was nice to catch with him over a meal. The salad is the perfect amount of food for someone craving something substantial for lunch but not heavy enough to make you feel exhausted after eating it. 

If there is an Asian Chicken Salad on any menu you know I am going to order it. This Salad is very good. I am pretty picky on my Asian style salads because I have had the best one in the world at Tao' Tao's in Sunnyvale, CA. This one is completely different by using romaine, and incorporating mandarin oranges but I do love all the crunch from the nuts and puffed rice noodle.

While I was mowing down my salad I saw a plate of one of my favorite things go by... Onion Strings are so good! They are one of my favorite starters to a meal at Wood Ranch and I almost kicked myself for not ordering them! 

If you have not been to one of the Wood Ranch restaurants yet, you are missing out on a Southern California staple. Go and pig out on BBQ or order a petite lunch salad, it is all up to you! Just be sure to go... Hurry!

Fish Dish - Burbank, CA

On many trips to the Burbank Airport I have noticed a fast food restaurant called - Fish Dish. Curious and hungry after dropping off someone at the airport last week, I ventured in. The menu is full of all kinds of different grilled and fried fish. Very cool.

I had to start with the Chowder when I saw it on the menu. It was actually pretty but the darn potatoes were not cooked fully. I hate it when that happens!

I was going for a Fish and Chips kind of mood but they brought be out Shrimp and Scallops instead. Random... It was tasty but the breading fell off the scallop after the first bite. The fries were very good - they tasted double fried. Delish.

All in all it was a quick bite that is different from our normal fast food routine. I am happy I tried and may be back to try some of the grilled options.

Pichanha Churrascarria - Burbank, CA

So what comes to mind when you think of a Brazilian Steakhouse? Think meat lots of it! On spickets, delivered to your table until you can't stop! Pichanha Churrascarria, located in downtown Burbank, was my first all you could eat meat extravaganza!

We enter the place and the hostess, and owner, seats us. He explains the concept of the restaurant. You start off at the "buffet" of non meat items... and off I go to the buffet to fill up on salads and side dishes. The salad bar was pretty basic. They have the typical romaine mix, iceberg mix and side salads like pasta salad, tuna salad, cucumber and tomato salad and shockingly tabouleh which I actually ate. They also a hot food side with some Brazilian and American side dishes like black beans, mashed potatoes, rice, sauteed zucchini and other stuff including curry chicken soup.

I ordered the traditional Brazilian capirinha drink, it's made with cachaca which is basically sugarcane rum. It's good and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite "spirits"...heehee! A bit on the strong side so be careful!

The gauchos start coming around with the meat. You have to put up this wooden block to green if you want meat or not, red to stop the meat flow. The first meat to the table was the Pichannha Special Beef (I assume it was a filet mignon, they gave very small pieces) it was very tender, melted in my mouth - my favorite of the night! I also had lamb, spicy chicken, Parmesan chicken and sausage. They serve 15 types of meat but I was too full to try anything else...

Holy meat lover special! This is a low carb lovers dream! The cost for the dinner is $29.95, not including my drinks or tip. If your a big eater I think it is quite a deal! Would I return? Maybe... I felt like I had to eat and eat to make it seem worth it. I am more into small plates, and lots of them!