It is very rare that I start out reviewing a dessert at a restaurant but this Talto Leche Bibinoka blew our socks off.  This is a coconut rice cake, candied peanuts and carmel.  The flavors and texture were addicting. After a delicious lunch,  we ended with this magnificent masterpiece at Irenias.  Read More!

Sometimes you need to revisit the great establishments that are right under your nose.  We  get so caught up in what is new and hip on the food scene. The Golden Truffle is an award winning restaurant and catering company in the OC. Its chef, and owner Alan Greely, is highly skilled in cooking foods from all over the world. This delicious dish is very Scandinavian and includes  gravlax, anchovies, smoked salmon and an amazing potato salad. Read More!

To all my loyal followers, I want to first say that I haven't forgotten about you.  The trouble is that I haven't found anything new and exciting to blog about.  To waste my time writing about so-so food is not my style.  I have sampled some of Jonathan Gold's picks and most of them have been down right inedible.  So what do I do? Keep on foraging ahead until something wets my whistle.  

Now that I have thoroughly grossed you out with my bad pics of the food scene.  Lets get back to my usual fun and delicious way of Blogging.  I think we just had a dry spell and needed to kick it up a notch.  

So Stay tuned, the OC Wino is back and ready to send you on really fun food adventures to delicious fun eateries around the country.

Boiled Fish with Rattan Pepper arrived at our table at the newly opened Sichuan Impressions, in Tustin. This delicate dish was popping with flavors spice and butter with a tiny Chinese numb pepper that gives this dish a flowery aroma. The broth is so clean and yummy tasting.  The delicate white fish melts in your mouth.
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Torrone - honey & nut nougatine semifreddo, warmed fudge sauce, amarena cherries was our delicious dessert.  The main ingredients are usually eggs, sugar and cream. It has the texture of frozen mousse. This amazing semifreddo was our choice to finish our meal at the newly opened Officine Brera. Read More.

At Cream Pan, these delicious croissants melt in your mouth. The crust is so light and flaky, it is like eating air.  The  creamy filling is perfectly balanced and the fresh strawberries truly made this one of my favorite treats that I have sampled in a long time. This was our dessert. Check out our deep dining lunch.  Read more.

Deep Diners ventured deep into the hip part of Santa Ana to sample the tastiest mini burritos.  Simple and stuffed  with lean, juicy chopped, stewed meat and that was it.  The thought of the delicious and simple flavor makes my mouth water as I write about it.  Read More.

I love delicious Eggs Benedict, but the secret is the Hollandaise!  At the Surf and Sand, you can enjoy a delicious brunch with an amazing setting.  Read More.

The Palate Punks have been very busy.  Our weekly food adventures have branched out of the OC and we have been sampling delicious food in LA.  My review today will cover THREE unique and very tasty eateries in Chinatown, Commerce, and Downtown proper.

Andy Ricker's, Pok Pok originated in Portland, Oregon.  This LA eatery brings Thailand to your table.  With an extensive menu, we decided to let our darling waiter Ian create a lunch for us where we could really sample some of the restaurants great dishes.  I think my favorite dishes would be these three. The wings were insane.  Being a wing snob, we started with them.  All I can say is WOW! They were just sweet enough to punch up the deep caramelization, a little spicy glazed, enough fish sauce to remind you that you are not at Fridays eating fried bar wings.

The whole Bass was floating in a Thai version of tomatillo green sauce that you had to slurp up with some sticky sweat rice.

The glass noodles were cooked in a clay pot with fresh prawns, bacon, and thai basil.  The flavors exploded in our mouths.

They have quite a few locations in Portland, New York, and luckily in LA.  Ian watch out, we are coming for round two.  It is just 45 minutes from the OC and well worth the trip.  Enjoy exploring and shopping in Chinatown.   After a most delicious Iced coffee, we headed to Central Market for a little adventure.

POK POK, LA . 978 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012 . 213 613 1831

• 12PM- 10:30PM Mon-Thurs
• 12PM-Midnight Fri-Sat
• 12PM-9:30PM Sundays
• 213 613 1831
• pokla@pokpoklax.com

At Bestia, Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, LA locals work alongside each other to create a true husband and wife restaurant. Bestia is a multi-regional rustic Italian restaurant focusing on a “from scratch” approach, offering house-made charcuterie, in addition to handmade pastas and pizzas.

 On the pastry side, Gergis’s desserts are clean and simple. She creates a daily changing menu that is centered on the freshest, most local ingredients possible.

Ori has worked in some very important kitchens since  2001. Nancy Silverton’s Pizzeria Mozza,  and under legendary chef Gino Angelini at Angelini Osteria.

           Crunchy Grilled Cheese                               Barbecue Lamb Tacos                                     Grilled Quail

After a really fun adventure to Abel Auction house in Commerce, we built up a huge appetite and decided to try a really special and very delicious spot that one of our Punks read about from Jonathan Gold.

Aqui es Texcoco brings pure authentic Mexican-style lamb barbecue to the US, while respecting and maintaining the authentic flavors, recipes and traditions. The lamb is prepared as it has been for hundreds of years.  The salsas blew our socks off.  The meats were so tender.  Everything we ate was better than the next. Next time I will be down for a Mitchelada for sure. 

Texcoco

5850 Eastern Blvd . Commerce . 90040 . 323 . 725-1429

13043 Broadway . Chula Vista . CA . 91911 .  619 . 427-4045

Open Mon - Friday 8am - 9pm

This was a delicious, healthy and very easy recipe.  We chose striped bass but substituting branzino or a  snapper, bream, sea bass or porgy would be just as tasty. Read More.