Friday Food 08-27-21

One of the best things about computers, to me anyway, is having tens of thousands of pictures I can scroll through and remember people, places, events, animals, flowers - just everything.  I just spent an hour looking for pictures of food for this post and enjoyed images of trips I have taken, quilts galore, Surfside Quilters Guild members and meetings  And that was only two years worth!  I did think I took more food pictures than I can find now, but settled on these three, all from ten years ago in 2011 in widely separated locations. . 

I enjoy eating fish, but don't cook it much at home because I don't BBQ and my oven hasn't worked for years.  So, I eat fish when I eat out.  This is one of my favorite meals - Salmon, broccoli, baked potato (or rice).  Makes me hungry just thinking about it!   This was in Long Beach, CA.. 

Another favorite is fish tacos  I especially like shrimp which are very good at  Chronic Tacos, but these two are from a food truck that used to serve at lunch time in Brea, CA.  I prefer corn tortillas, but they only served flour. 

And, of course, sushi is high on my list of favorites.  This yummy roll was at a tiny sushi place near Beaverton, Oregon.   

I may have to go out for sushi tomorrow night., probably to my favorite neighborhood spot "Fish in a Bottle" .  Since the pandemic is so threatening I may have to do takeout.  But it will be the best.

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Friday Food 04-24-20

The hunger for sushi has caught up with me.  I think I need to find a sushi dinner tomorrow.  Or maybe lunch.  Looking back I see images of wonderful meals like these.

These were all at Ikiru at Liberty Station in San Diego, a little too far for me to go to fulfill my craving.  But there are sushi restaurants near me here in Placentia, maybe Fish in a Bottle is serving takeout.  And takeout is fine!

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Friday Food 03-10-19

Don't know how much time I have spent trying to get pictures transferred and posted on this blog.  Success tonight on the pictures of my Friday Pokey Bowl dinner.  It was delicious.  I was driving up from Lake Forest in the late afternoon and the traffic was bumper to bumper from Sand Canyon and I had all that time to think about what I would have for dinner.  So, I naturally turned off at Jamboree and went to H2O for a pokey bowl to go.  I have narrowed it down to just what I like so I got in line.  The first server gives rice, noodles, or salad greens - I always have sushi rice. 

Proceeding down the line I have two scoops of salmon, one of scallops, sweet corn, edamame, cucumber, papaya, pickled seaweed, and the H2O sauce.  The cashier sprinkles sesame seeds on top, I always ask for more, and then he collects the about $11 and I am out the door.  

I've tried it with soy sauce, but it isn't necessary, the house "dressing" is enough. 

I've sampled ten or twelve pokey places, some very close to my house, but the H2O is worth the drive down there, the offerings are so fresh and just the right selection. But I have only driven down just for a dinner once, usually I just stop when coming up from SDiego or south Orange County.  

I do love sushi and went to my local favorite Fish in a Bottle her in Placentia this evening.  

MMM MMM GOOD.

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Friday Food 02-08-19

Oh, DEAR!   I haven't been for sushi for over a month!  What is wrong with me?  I will go again this weekend.  Meanwhile here are some past meals that make my mouth water. 

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Friday Food - Birthday 09-07-18

Birthdays require dessert, don't they?  And I, having a large sweet tooth, indulge that requirement.   Every meal out the last few weeks has ended with dessert.  Those below were at Fish in a Bottle here in Placentia, one of my most favorite places to eat.  Japanese food isn't heavy on dessert, other than green tea ice cream with chocolate drizzle, but FiaB has several special offerings.  

Since it has been my 80th birthday I have been telling most everyone I meet how old I really am!   I eat at Fish in a Bottle regularly, at least two or three times a month and know some of the waiters and waitresses, so had to share my news with them.  The result was a complimentary dessert (above) with a burning candle.  But the picture without the candle is better, so here it is.  I always want to lick the rim of the plate when they decorate it like this.   But I resist that temptation.   There is vanilla ice cream, a strawberry, and a small "cookie" of fried  tempura dough.  All sprinkled with powdered sugar.  

We ordered two desserts to share.  This one is ice cream with tempura and, again, the strawberry.   

This is tempura coated fried banana which is delicious, we have shared it before.  I had my doubts about fried banana, but it isn't completely soggy and the tempura is crisp.  This strawberry is more than sad and not ripe, but I don't eat strawberries so didn't have to suffer it.  The red under the bananas is raspberry coulis.  

I'll probably not have dessert here again until next year.  It is almost too much after a good helping of sushi rolls or sashimi.    But it is special on one's birthday.  

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Friday Food 08-17-18

A lovely lunch today at the elegant Summit Inn in Fullerton, but I didn't take any pictures!  I guess Carol and Teresa and I were just enjoying each others company so much that pictures didn't cross my mind.  Guess we will have to go back.  Not just for the pictures, but for the delicious food. 

Last week I was in San Diego delivering items for the Visions Veranda Sale and enjoying lunch at my favorite sushi place, Ikiru at Liberty Station.  I remembered to take pictures there. 

The pale green exterior of the roll is paper thin cucumber.

Protein Fresh Roll

In: tuna, tai, salmon, hamachi, crabstick, avocado, kaiware, soy paper.  Out: cucumber wrap, ponzu.

 Between each segment is a paper thin slice of lemon. 

Orange Crush Fresh Roll   In: spicy scallop, cucumber.  Out: salmon, ponzu sauce.

RE: The object in yesterday's blog.  Only one suggestion as to what it could be.  How about it Bernina users, is that suggestion a possibility? 

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Friday Food 06-29-18

If I am going to feature Friday Food you will see some sushi, because it is one of my favorite things to eat.  I'll try not to overdo it.   My two favorite sushi spots are Fish in a Bottle in Placentia, CA, and Ikiru at Liberty Station in San Diego, where I had this for lunch one day last year. 

 

I don't remember which roll this was, but it was delicious.  Looks like tuna. 

This is the Ikiru fabulous Ultimate Crab roll, which is not raw.  It is my favorite of any roll I have ever eaten anywhere.  Remember the restaurant scene in the movie "Harry met Sally" where the lady at the next table says, "I'll have what she has."  That describes this situation!  

Hard to eat with chopsticks, try asking for a fork!

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Sushi for lunch in San Diego 03-28-17

I drove to San Diego again today to show my friend Carol the exhibits at Visions Art Museum.  They are so outstanding I wish everyone could visit.  Our friend Teresa was unable to join us because she has shingles on her back.  Ouch! 

 

The current exhibits, including the small gallery devoted to the work of Susan Else, will end on Sunday, April  2nd. In the large gallery there are works by Alice Beasley, Jennifer Day, Sherry Davis Kleinman, Lori Lupe Pelish, Susan Polansky, and Joan Sowada. I enjoyed this group of exhibits so much, I wish it could stay forever!  If you have a chance before the exhibit comes down, do go and be amazed.

 

After seeing the exhibits and the wonderful offerings in the gift shop Carol and I went to Ikiru for lunch.  So delicious, I think it is my most favorite sushi place. 

 

I had the Poky, very good, but the spicy tuna rolls on the bottom were REALLY spicy.  I had three glasses of water!

Carol had this sumptuous Bento Box lunch.  The tempura pieces were veggies and shrimp and she let me have the green bean one - it was tasty and a good calm down from the spicy shrimp.

 

We drove home in the afternoon in medium traffic and through an array of wildflowers.  Lots of wild mustard everywhere, some of it six feet tall.  The result of all the rain we have had. 

 

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Sushi for dinner - yummy 12-08-16

It has been a month since I ate sushi and usually I have it about once a week.  So, I was delighted when Carol and Dick wanted to have dinner at Fish in a Bottle.  It was a delicious meal and the company was great, but it was also very tiring.  Guess I'm not completely well, yet.

 

 

 

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Satisfying Dinner 06-18-13

I am such a sushi fan that I always look for sushi restaurants when I travel, but I long for the favorites close to home.  Saturday night after the Visions Art Museum reception Beth and I went to dinner at Ikiru, which is just a bit more than block away from the Museum.  We have eaten there many times in the past.


It is interesting to sit at the bar and watch the sushi chefs at their work.  Every table was occupied and there were several groups of ten or more, so these two guys were working very hard to keep up. 
 

 
The fish is always kept cold and taken out quickly, the door closed, the sushi sliced and the remainder popped back in the refrigerated case.  It must be as fresh as they can possibly keep it. 
 

I ordered the Combo #1 which comes with a little tray of  palate fresheners - pickled seaweed, wasabi and pickled ginger.  The sea weed on the left of the bottom tray isn't served everywhere and Ikiru's offering is extra good.   From the left the larger tray has "Crunchy Shrimp", "Ahi Ahi" w/spicy tuna center, "Pink" w/salmon outside, and "Tuna Blossom".  DELICIOUS.
 

The rolls are cut into "bite sized" pieces, but they are usually a little too big for my bite.  However, I manage to eat them.
 

Beth ordered this artfully arranged combo which was equally as delicious as my combo.  We always share bites so we will know what to order next time.
 

This artful bite is wrapped in a thin layer of edible "rice paper".  Beth noticed that it looks like a charming little city with tall buildings backed by palm trees.  But she still ate it.
 

On the menu that evening was uni (sea urchin).  It is an awesome presentation with the spines still moving.  The inside is what is eaten - it is the bright yellow pile in the top left hand corner.  I used to love uni - until I had some that was not so fresh.  I never want to be that sick again.  So, as much as I have fond memories I no longer eat it. 
 

 
One of the groups of ten, mostly guys, ordered several different items, including this tray with sea urchin included - it is the bright gold pile in the front right.  I just walked over to their table and asked if I could take a picture.  They said I would have to pay, but I just laughed and took my picture.  They were having a great time with saki shooters (at least, I think that is what they were drinking). 
 

"The party's over."  I just couldn't manage that last little bite.  As it was, I didn't think I could even walk to my car.  Stuffed - happily.

Food - again. 02-12-13

At the pre-closing reception at VAM for "Brainstorms" on Saturday evening (it will actually close on Sunday, Feb 17th) the winner of the Viewer's Choice award was announced - "Homage to Federation" by Valarie Robinson of Victoria, Australia.  This is a large quilt showing four white 1890-1920 period dresses, extensively machine quilted with words and symbols. The quilt "Sentinels" by Denise Oyama Miller was a close runner up. 

After the event at the Museum, Beth and I tried a sushi restaurant that opened in mid December a few blocks from VAM.  The food was very good, but there is nothing in the room to absorb the sound, making it very noisy.   We started out with miso soup (excellent) and then shared vegetable tempura (wonderfully crisp on the outside), followed by a rainbow roll (delicious).  When we had devoured all that, we were still a little hungry so we shared one plate of nigiri which was served with hairlike threads of diakon radish (delectable).   To end the meal, since we are both dessert lovers, we each had a serving of green tea ice cream. 

 
Nigiri at Sushi Mura restaurant in Liberty Station, San Diego.
Ahi tuna, Yellowtail, Salmon w/lemon and a dab of wasabi.
 

 
Green tea ice cream with chocolate drizzle and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
 

 
The green tea ice cream is very dense and rich.  As much as I like it, half this serving would have been enough.  However, I couldn't waste it, so, of course, I ate it all. 
http://libertystation.com/blog/sushi-mura-grand-opening-sunday-december-16th

Today I joined 20 ladies from Surfside Quilters Guild for after-the-meeting-lunch at Carbonara's in San Clemente, which is just down the hill from the church where we meet.  The main dish was salmon accompanied with pasta in a tomato/vodka sauce and steamed veggies.  Very good.

But the highlight was this wonderful Tiramisu we were served for dessert.  So light and tender, like eating a piece of cloud.  Nice presentation, too.   

http://www.carbonara.com/