Rubio's - Oxnard, CA

                                         

 Hey have you ever been to Rubio's? I had not ever been and while my Mom and I were running errands in Oxnard, we decided it was worth a try. It is that in between restaurant that is a step up from typical fast food and just under your common dine in restaurant. Think Baja Fresh type menu, order at the counter and take a number.

   
                                               

I knew right off the bat I wanted to try the Crispy Fish Tacos. The best version I have ever had are the Snapper Jack's version. These unfortunately did not surpass the quality of Snapper Jack's due to the quality of the fish. It was fried nicely but the actual white meat was not as big and flaky.                                         

                                        

Kathy ordered the Shrimp Taco and she said it was totally tasty. She also tried the chicken version and it failed to impress after consuming the shrimp. 

I liked that the restaurant was totally clean, had a salsa bar and prices were totally reasonable. For two people to get a lunch for under $20 these days is pretty amazing. I would return.

           After our errand running, we went back to my house to work on our Beef Jerky production. We went to the butcher inside our local grocery to slice a London Broil steak into 3/8 in slabs. It made less work for us as we sliced the meat into strips.

 After a quick soak in soy sauce we laid out the strips on oven racks. We then seasoned up the batches, experimenting half way to see which would come out the best. My version which included garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and a generic Barbeque seasoning seemed to really do the trick. What I learned from this experience is over season the meat, to the point you really thought you over did it.

 With your oven set a 170 degrees, place the jerky racks in and set your timer of 6 hours (all depending on the size and width of the jerky). I placed a spoon in the oven door, to keep the air flow going during the cooking process.

My brother taught me this recipe and I think he just may be the master. Although my version was good, it was not great like his. He should package, label and put his jerky in stores!

H.C. Seafood - Oxnard, CA

On Saturday I woke up early for a benefit 5k for the Ojai Valley Community Hospital. I am not in the best shape but I figured I could power it out with my friend Nichole. With her motivation not only did I finish but I recorded my best time ever! 34 minutes! Wahoo!!

After we completed the race we went our separate ways but I really wanted to reward myself for the job well done so I headed to Oxnard to escape the Ojai heat and to try a restaurant I had been scoping out. H.C. Seafood is an order at the counter seafood joint that is also a fish market.

They even have a pick your own crab tank. As cool as this is, it is a little sad too.  

My lunch! They had a lobster special of $22 for the Grilled Lobster plate complete with fries, cole slaw and toasted bread. It was delicious! The lobster was a perfect treat for me entering, finishing and blasting my run time. I could see this being a regular thing!

After lunch I took a little walk down the harbor to check out the boats. It was such a stunning day I wanted to spend as much time as possible outdoors. The heat spell in Ojai is hopefully coming to a close, otherwise you just might find me here parked at H.C. seafood more often. two thumbs up! 

Lazy Dog Restaurant - Oxnard, CA

I was invited to review the newly opened Lazy Dog Restaurant in the Oxnard Collection last week. I walked in earlier than I was expected and was wowed by the lobby decoration, I love a great horse art piece. This was absolutely stunning and I was certain that this place must be on the right track...

Apparently I was the only person in America that did not know Lazy Dog was a part of a chain mainly based in Southern California. It was compared to Cheesecake Factory by friends and I really could not wait to try it and see what all the "Lazy Dog" hype was all about. The menus, both drink and food, are jam packed with interesting choices. Take your time and make your choices wisely!

The suggestion of my server was the "Day At The Spa" Martini - Acai Veev Liquor , pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, raspberries and organic sweet and sour mix. The drink was absolutely delicious and totally dangerous at the same time. It tasted as if there was no alcohol in it at all!

 The starter that caught my eye was the Ahi Tuna Poke - Sushi grade tuna in a sesame peanut dressing with green onions on a crispy wonton topped with avocado, wasabi dressing and sesame seeds. It was phenomenal, in fact I would be tempted to possibly order an additional orders if I was lounging in the future. The seaweed salad served with the poke was ok, I treated it mostly as a garnish though really.

I was told that the Chicken Poblano was the one thing not to miss on the menu so I went ahead and ordered it. Boneless chicken breast, poblano cream sauce, sweet corn and bell peppers meld together to create a warm plate of spicy food. Tamale cakes served on top create a safe haven from the spice and cool down the bites. I loved that they incorporated Tapitio crema and micro cilantro greens. If I had to make a suggestion I would encourage Lazy Dog to only use the best cuts of the breast meat, I got a few "funny" pieces - You know what I mean, like when you get one of those weird tasting McNuggets... Other than that the dish was great and such a large portion that I took half home.

 When the dessert request was asked how could I possibly tell the waitress "No" to the Salted Caramel Creme Brulee?! I devoured that bad boy as soon as it hit the table. the real vanilla bean and salted carmel made in house was totally present in the taste. I loved it.

My very first visit to Lazy Dog Restaurant was a successful one. I learned that the owners of Lazy Dog are relatives to the creator of Mimi's Cafe, now that is a successful restauranting family! Also the inspiration of the decor of the restaurant was inspired by childhood trips to Jackson Hole, hence the horse art work in the lobby! I encourage you to go down to your Lazy Dog and give it a try, in fact bring your dog too and enjoy the patio! 

Settebello - Oxnard, CA

 Settebello is located in the Collection at RiverPark Oxnard. It is flanked by many restaurants which also popped up around including Yard House, Kabuki and Famous Dave's. The reason why we were there was to grab a quick bite before heading in to watch a movie at the fabulous Century RiverPark 16.

I picked a few items off the menu to nibble on in between bites of conversation. The Prosciutto Crudo wrapped around goat cheese and arugula. The cheese was melty hot and oozed out in every bite. The toasted bread was crunchy crisp and was a nice break from the extra soft meat and cheese. The olives served with the dish were briny and mouth puckering.

On their bar menu was an Arancini Di Riso or basically a deep fried ball of risotto. The crisp texture of the ball was thin and light, the perfect crunch. Once inside the shell, creamy risotto oozed out nice and warm. The marinara served in the bowl was fruity and full of body. I liked that they served shaves of Parmesan on top of the ball because it melded perfectly with the gravy and rice.

I like Settebello well enough as my belly was full of rice, meat and cheese but I am not sure if it is a place to go if you are craving full on Italian. The pizzas all sound amazing as well as the salads. I would go for lunch or drinks with the girls if I was to return again.

Tierra Sur & Deer Lodge - 32 Birthday

 My birthday came and went just like birthdays usually do. It was a beautiful few days, as my birthday extended out in order to celebrate with everyone. I just have to express how blessed I am to have met such great people in Ojai. I never would have expected to have met such kind, genuine people in such a short amount of time.

On the evening of my birthday, Scott surprised me with a secret restaurant - Tierra Sur located in the Herzog Winery. I have heard of the restaurant, but for years it just slipped my mind. It has excellent ratings and he scored for picking it out.  

We decided on the Chef's Tasting Menu that included Herzog Wine Pairing. The first course was the Rio Gozo Salad with Frissee and butter lettuce. It was large and lovely, but mostly a big plate of lettuce with slight inclusions of purple potato chips, snap peas and pickled onions. The bacon vinaigrette was swell, it would have made anything taste better. I enjoyed the Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc - Clarksburg that they poured with it so much that I think a trip back to the winery is definitely in order.

For my entree I chose the fish option and had the Salmon with a cauliflower, potato and tortilla Espanola. it was like a gratin of sorts, a very dense layering of ingredients to make a hearty accompaniment. The champagne leeks and saffron cream sauce didn't seem to quite fit what was going on with my fork but I worked around it. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the Herzon Russian River Special Reserve Chardonnay was perfectly lovely.

Scott went with he second option for his entree of the Grilled Chicken with Black Truffle Risotto. I was tempted to make the leap into "Yard Bird Land" just because I heard the word "risotto" but I stayed with the things that swim in cool water and I must say I was actually jealous. Bites of the creamy risotto mixed in with the luxurious pan gravy made me wish I had ordered it. His entree was served with the Prince Vineyard Sirah.

I was brought out a surprise, limited - off the menu - Birthday surprise. It was really sweet that Scott planned this and it was amazingly delicious. The Mexican Chocolate Lava cake was molten goodness and the spice ice cream was just delightful. I closed my eyes, made a wish and then blew it out for the universe to take hold!

I was brought out an additional dessert to complete the tasting and this a Flourless Chocolate Cake which was like a rich bit of heaven in every bite. I didn't let one drop go back to the kitchen. This was served with a Late Harvest Lodi Zinfandel that tasted like raspberries.

What an amazing night! I was stuffed to the brim with lots of fine food and wine but I was lucky enough to be escorted by the man of my dreams looking sharp in a chic, new outfit. It just really was one amazing day.

More celebrations, different day...

My Ojai girlfriends are top notch. They didn't want my birthday to come and go with out any shenanigans so we arranged a meet up at the Deer Lodge for a few cocktails and eats.

These are my peeps: Janelle, Lisa, Lindsay, ME!, Nichole, Darla and Dana.

They are my rocks of support, cause for uncontrollable laughter and little blessings brought to me by God. There are countless great things I could brag on each and every one of them - each different and totally unique. I love them all.

I set up a little shrine with the gifts and cards I was given over the last few days. It is beautiful to see how many people remembered my day. I am so thankful for everyone who wished me a great day. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Yard House - Oxnard, CA

While I was in Paso Robles I stumbled across a local food blog that caught my attention. Clever Girl Eats was funny but it hit on a topic that I felt completely the opposite about. She ate at the Yard House and ordered something I did, two foodies with complete different opinons. Read hers, read mine...

 A month or so ago I was running errands in Oxnard and about lunch time I wandered into The Collection - a restaurant and shopping destination new to the area. I had not tried Yard House yet and its upscale menu, yet casual atmosphere enticed me. I took a seat at the bar for meal since I was riding solo. 

This is where Clever Girl and I butted heads. I ordered the Chicken Tortilla soup and was very impressed. If you know Melissa Good Taste, you know she orders soup - Chicken Tortilla in particular - a lot. Was it the most authentic? Absolutely not, we are dining at an American dining institution. Was it tasty? Absolutely. Creamy white cheddar, pasilla peppers, tortilla strips, cilantro, pico de gallo and almost too large pieces of chicken made up the soup. It was creamy and slightly spicy. For a franchise soup, it was high end. 

I do not normally order dessert at lunch but when I saw the Salted Butterscotch Pudding on the menu I had to give it a try. It too was a delicious dessert for being straight out of a franchise kitchen. I was impressed with the quality of the food, you do pay for it. The prices are slightly higher than what you would pay at Chili's. 

That is the exact example of two foodies who have different opinions about food. It makes us unique to our own blogs. I adore her writing style and courage to be so candid. Blogging is fun!

Fresco II - Oxnard, CA

Please excuse the lack of posts, Scott took the computer for a work trip and I was left without means for blogging. So lets get caught up! Last week before Scott hit the road he took me out for a lovely lunch at the Channel Islands Harbor. How about that for a view?

Fresco II serves up Mediterranean cuisine, sometimes when I hear that I wonder what exactly does that mean? When I sum it up in my head I figure it is a mish mash of a lot of cultures so an eclectic menu is what I hope for.

Scott went for healthy an ordered a beautiful Chicken Salad with tons of sliced vegetables. I was pondering on ordering it but it sounded entirely too boring so I ventured down deeper into the menu.

I saw the spicy Shrimp and Scallop Pasta and decided right then that is what I wanted. They don't joke when they say it is spicy, slices of jalapenos don the dish and it kept me addicted bite after bite. The seafood was cooked lovely and the broth was worthy of bread dipping.

I heard that the restaurant becomes quite the night club and happy hour specials are visit worthy. I was more than impressed with my dish, and even just thinking about it now makes me hungry for more.

Sabor - Oxnard, CA

I was cruising around running last minute errands before we had to pack up our rigs for Paso Robles and I finally made it to the famous "Sabor". I have read many reviews of their authentic Mexican food, especially their tacos.

I went for the pastor, carne asada and carnitas. They all were delicious! I would have liked to order 3 more tacos but I was on the run! The most famous thing on the menu according to the cashier was the fish tacos, award winning even! I cannot wait to take Scott their to try them, as he loves a good fish taco!

I will be back for all the traditional, spicy food!

Oh Sushi - Oxnard, CA

Last week I had a few errands to run so I hopped in my sporty car and wondered down off the ranch and into the city. It is the little things that excite me!

I just had to get these boots too. They were so me! I couldn't let them get into the wrong hands, they live with me now.

I stoped into Oh Sushi for a quick lunch. I always bring a book in with me if I eat lunch by myself. Does anyone else do that? I love reading and eating!

I started of my meal with an order of Yellow Tail sushi. I substituted the rice with a bed of crab. It made for a very luxurious bite! 

Next up was the Volcano Roll. I was pretty disappointed with this order. It was not spicy and the tuna on top was so dry! I would venture off and try something different if I visit the restaurant again.

Cheers to the weekend! What is everyone doing?

Channel Island Food Trucks - Oxnard, CA

Scott Good Taste did some foodie recon and discovered something that I had totally been missing out on... "Wet Wednesdays", a food truck gathering at the Channel Island Harbor in Oxnard. So after his evening session, we met up to get our tasting on! 

There were probably 10 trucks there and all seemed to be doing very good business. There were lines at every truck.

We started at an Indian food truck called, "India Jones Chow Truck". Scott ordered a Roti, which was basically like a burrito made with flat bread, housing chopped onions, tamarind chutney and grilled beef. He absolutely loved it and said he would return back next week to order just that. 

I ordered the "Aloo Tikki Chaat" which was a potato pancake topped with chickpeas, raita, chopped onions and chickpea vermicelli. It too was fantastic. Perfect portion size for the price, just four dollars. 

We took a break for a frosty beverage at Seafresh and cooled off our spicy mouth with a Mondos Cream Ale. I love that beer!

Next up Lobster Rolls! The Cousin's Maine Lobster Truck had the longest line so we decided we just had to get in on that action. We waited for about 15 minutes but chatted up nice people in line so it went really fast...

We ordered ours "Conneticut Style" which was hot with butter. $12 will get you this bad boy! It had tons of hope and anticipation riding on my first bite... drum roll please..... It was just ok. I ate the entire thing in three bites, and didn't crave more. I would most likely try something else next time, like the Lobster bisque they ran out of just before we hit the counter. 

But what fun! Thank you Scott Good Taste for the interactive eating experience. All you local readers better get out there and try it too. A lot of fun for the kids too!