Food & Drink

Bull Taco
By Cathy Villafana

After much anticipation, Bull Taco has opened its doors on El Camino Real in San Clemente’s North Beach area. With three sister restaurants in Carlsbad, Cardiff by the Sea and at San Diego’s Petco Park arena, this is its first foray into Orange County. Led by founderGreg Lukasiewicz, Bull Taco is charging full-steam ahead with its unique concept of “Inauthentic Mexican.” This new location not only breaks the Mexican restaurant mold, it blows it to smithereens.

Bull Taco’s specials read like a National Geographic Magazine index—minus the endangered species, of course. During my visit, the featured specials ranged from the exotic to the more tame, including: Alligator, Elk, Wild Boar, Halibut, Ahi Poke and Ceviche. Bull Taco’s fare takes a big leap from the Mexican food you may be accustomed to. Case in point: Sriracha, a staple in Thai cooking, is a key ingredient in many of the menu items.

In addition to having traditional chicken, pork and carne asada options, try steering toward the street tacos so you can sample different items from Bull Taco’s eclectic menu. The Lobster, Bacon, Chorizo Taco currently tops the list as most popular. I highly recommend the Breakfast Burrito, which received a nod in Sunset Magazine as a reader favorite. Need some heat? Dab or douse your grub with homemade salsas that span from “Mild” to “Ghost” (no bull… it might vaporize you).

Diners—if so inclined—can pull out a TV tray and eat in the Astro Turf-lined lounge area where the little ones can run wild. One fortunate guest will score the best seat in the house—a cozy upholstered chair directly facing a flat-screen TV. More traditional table seating is also available both inside and on the patio.

Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Bull Taco offers beer and wine and serves up taco specials on Thursdays. Catering services cover everything from private events to large company parties, with convenient food pick-up/drop-off or on-site/off-site cooking. Pre-made or custom menus are available. Contact catering@bulltaco.com to learn more.

Hunter Steakhouse in Laguna Niguel
By Cathy Villafana

With 40 years’ experience under its belt, Hunter Steakhouse has earned a reputation for serving the “Best Prime Rib in Town.” With locations in Mill Valley and Oceanside, owner Mike Schneider continues the tradition here in South County with his newest restaurant on Town Center Drive in Laguna Niguel. Celebrating its one-year anniversary, Hunter Steakhouse’s notoriety will entice you to give it a try, but the food and hospitality will have you coming back for more.

If you’re seeking the true “Hunter” experience, try the award-winning Prime Rib, which is cut in-house, herb-crusted, slow-roasted and served with a unique creamed horseradish and au jus. If you’re in the mood for steak, Hunter’s got you covered—from New York Strip to Porterhouse—and everything in between.

The dinner menu has an impressive selection of entrées, including seafood, chicken, ribs and lamb. Served with soup or salad, vegetables and your choice of side, a delicious meal at a great value awaits.

For lunch, Hunter Steakhouse offers plenty of starters, from the traditional Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail and Calamari Fritti, to unique selections like Chipotle Mac & Cheese and Gouda Croquets. Guests also have a number of salads and sandwiches to choose from, as well as full entrées, including Prime Rib, Whiskey Peppercorn Top Sirloin and more.

Hunter Steakhouse is open 7 days a week. The elegant and comfortable decor, combined with private banquet rooms, is perfect for parties and meetings. Join them for Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and enjoy bottomless champagne and menu items ranging from $9 to $17. If you’re looking for someone else to prepare your holiday dinner, the restaurant is also open on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Check out Hunter Steakhouse’s daily Happy Hour from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. featuring $1 off wells, beer, and house wine and $2 off appetizers. Enjoy a 4-course meal on Mondays and Tuesdays for a mere $23. Wednesday is half-price wine night and any bottle on the list is half off with the purchase of
two entrées.

Marking the spot atop Blue Lantern Plaza on PCH in Dana Point, The Point Restaurant and Bar is destined to be a crowd-pleaser. Open for only three months at the former site of Caliente Coastal Cantina, The Point is on target to give South OC a little something for everyone.

Offering classic American cuisine at affordable prices is what co-owners Peter Andriet and Brett Cassel set their sights on when opening in July. Fresh, locally grown ingredients contribute to an unpretentious menu that spans from classic burgers, pastas, soups and salads to seafood and pizzas from the wood-fired brick oven.

I recommend starting with the Seared Ahi appetizer, served with ginger soy sauce and a cucumber and avocado salad. The BBQ Chicken Salad is another delicious option, featuring grilled chicken and crisp vegetables, tossed in a tangy BBQ ranch dressing. For heartier fare, give the Chicken Fried Chicken entrée a shot. It’s crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and smothered in country gravy. For a lighter, but just as fulfilling meal, the perfectly glazed Miso Salmon fits the bill.

The Point delivers on both tasty food and a relaxed atmosphere. Both inside and outside dining are available with plenty of vantage points for watching the big game. Want to magically transform your family dinner into date night? Then steer the youngsters toward The Point’s ingenious Kids’ Cave complete with chalk wall and community seating for 12.

Catch live entertainment at Tuesday’s “Open Mic” night or check out the Mike Dena Band performing Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Visit ThePointRestaurantandBar.com for a list of events.

The Point opens Monday afternoons starting at 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until late night, with Happy Hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Enjoy 20% off food all day long on “Local” Wednesdays and bring the kids in for a free meal with the purchase of an adult entrée every Monday thru Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Point is a great place to watch sports and is a known hotspot for Monday Night Football!

Cinnamon Productions… A Sweet Deal
by Cathy Villafana

Don’t be fooled by the name. While Cinnamon Productions Bakery & Café makes a killer cinnamon roll, they also serve a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. Having started as a small bakery in Seal Beach in 1987, Cinnamon Productions recently added a San Clemente location, near the Krikorian Theaters on Camino de los Mares, which now gives patrons five restaurants to choose from in Orange County.

Cinnamon Productions offers a whole host of delights for those with a sweet tooth. If you can manage to walk past the long counter of baked goods and resist the divine smell, you’re to be commended. With items like cinnamon rolls, brownies, croissants, scones, cupcakes, pies, and decadent desserts like tiramisu, white amaretto and “monkey madness,” you’ll have a difficult time choosing just one.

Since they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I brought my 8 and 10-year-old along to Cinnamon Productions to start the day and to get their uncensored opinions. My son chose the Kid’s Scramble and my daughter selected the Kid’s Combo with pancakes. Both devoured their meals, without the usual prompting to finish, which is a clear indication that we’ll be coming back again soon.

I had the hearty and delicious CP Breakfast Wrap with hash browns, plus a cinnamon roll that called my name from the moment I walked through the door. Once my kids started to “assist” me with the generous helping of country-style hash browns that accompanied my entrée, there was little sign they ever existed. As I expected, the giant, gooey cinnamon roll was heavenly.

Owner Randy Farah has succeeded at his vision of providing customers with good portions and a good value. With 80 items to choose from, Cinnamon Productions is an unpretentious and cozy place to take the family or to meet friends any time of the day. If you’re planning a special occasion or need help with a corporate event, they also offer full-service or drop-off catering, gift baskets and custom-made cakes. Visit
www.CinnamonProductions.com for a sampling of their offerings and for more information on their other locations in Foothill Ranch, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita and Seal Beach.

Cinnamon Productions
647 Camino de los Mares, Suite D130 • San Clemente
949.218.8232 • CinnamonProductions.com

Montego Restaurant & Bar in San Juan Capistrano
By Cathy Villafana

Located in San Juan Capistrano, on the corner of Ortega Highway and Rancho Viejo Road, Montego Restaurant & Bar offers a stylish, yet relaxed atmosphere where great food and live entertainment converge. Owner Chad Dickey hopes that customers indulge in all that Montego has to offer—top-notch food, service and ambiance.

My friend and I feasted on a number of items from their menu. First, we tried the Ahi Ceviche comprised of layers of pico de gallo, guacamole, then sushi-grade yellowfin tuna. We followed with the Rib Fingers (a must from the Happy Hour menu), offering fall-off-the-bone meat and a sweet barbeque sauce reminiscent of my days living in Texas.

From the gourmet burger selection on the Burger Madness Menu, we sunk our teeth into the “Black & Blue.” Amazingly, the smoked applewood bacon, blue cheese, caramelized onions and baby arugula were not overwhelmed by the half-pound of beef. Kudos to Chef Dennis for this achievement!

Moving to the lighter side of things, we enjoyed the Spinach Salad where cayenne-spiced walnuts provided the perfect balance to the raspberry vinaigrette. We also sampled the beautifully cooked Thai-influenced Salmon Filet marinated in a tamarind soy chili glaze, served with sticky rice and vegetables.

In addition to the delicious food, Montego serves up live music throughout the week. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you can enjoy your meal accompanied by the soothing sounds of live jazz. Of particular note is Tom Morey, creator of the Boogie board, who plays jazz regularly on Wednesday evenings. Plan for a late dinner on Friday or Saturday night, then stick around and get moving to the fun and familiar sounds of various retro cover bands until midnight.

Montego is open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss the daily Happy Hour specials from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Live jazz starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and live bands kick off at 9 p.m. on weekends.

Montego Restaurant & Bar
27211 Ortega Hwy., Ste. B
San Juan Capistrano
949. 481.2723
montegorestaurant.com

Watermarc Restaurant
By Cathy Villafana

Once you set foot inside the Watermarc Restaurant located in downtown Laguna Beach, you are immediately transported into a tranquil yet chic setting that’s perfect for all occasions: date night, meeting up with friends or a private party upstairs.

Nearing its third anniversary, chef/owner Marc A. Cohen set out to give Watermarc’s diners more options. And that he did. You can select dishes from the Grazing Plates if you are in the mood to sample from a fresh and eclectic selection for your entire meal. I was lucky to do just that.

Fragrant and succulent, the Sizzling Garlic Shrimp was prepared with sweet onions and topped with slices of peeled citrus. Be sure to spoon the extra sauce over your shrimp. Simple ingredients make up the Ahi Watermelon Skewers, but don’t be fooled. These are incredible, and I had to call dibs on the third and final skewer — strictly for “writing” purposes, of course!

The velvety texture of the Foie Gras Brûlée, served over brioche toasts drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette, melted in our mouths. If you are a cheese lover, I strongly recommend the Warm Blue Cheese Pear Tarts. Served with burgundy-poached pears and a red wine syrup, this is a delicious starter or dessert.

From the rest of the menu, we tried the Filet Three Ways. Yet again, the recurring theme of choices stood out as the platter delivered to our table showcased a trio of filet creations. The creamy Artichoke Risotto with a hint of lemon was a perfect counterpart to the meat.

Near downtown earlier in the day? Watermarc offers a Lunch Menu from 11:00 to 3:30 p.m. daily which features a more laid-back set of offerings, including sandwiches, burgers and flat-bread pizzas. Watermarc also reflects its commitment to options in its wine program with wines served by the half glass and half carafe.

Watermarc Restaurant
448 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach
949. 376.6272
WatermarcRestaurant.com

Sundried Tomato – All New Seasonal Menu
By Cathy Villafana

Nestled in the historic district of San Juan Capistrano is the Sundried Tomato Café, where guests can savor both tried-and-true favorites as well as new menu creations. “We enjoy keeping our menu fresh each season and are excited about our new fall/winter items,” says Rob Quest, Jr., managing partner for Sundried Tomato, which also has locations in San Clemente and Laguna Beach. With that in mind, I had to check it out for myself.

My husband and I started off with the new Crispy Shrimp Wonton Wrappers that disappeared all too quickly from our plates. We then sampled the fresh, plump Black Mussels served with a Saffron Cream. Be sure to keep bread handy for dipping in the delicious sauce. We also tried both types of the Mini Rustic Jars — which contain sundried tomato hummus or a layered torte with sundried tomato, pesto, and whipped goat cheese, then served on a flatbread. The verdict is still out on which is my favorite.

Not new, but certainly worth mentioning, is Dr. Rick’s Salad. This is such a wildly popular item that it actually receives applause after a hiatus from the menu. After one bite, I could see why.

Originally a catering favorite, the Pasta-less Vegetarian Lasagna also made its debut on the updated menu with its layers and layers of fresh vegetables. Last but not least, was the Braised Beef Pappardelle topped with Goat Cheese, which I nominate for a permanent spot on the menu!

Of course, you can never go wrong with the classic Signature Creamy Sundried Tomato Soup or one of the daily soup creations. This makes for a great starter or can be a meal in itself. Whatever you decide to eat, you’ll be pleased by the variety of offerings, both old and new.

Sundried Tomato features happy hour specials every day from 2 to 7 p.m. at all three locations and full-service or take-away catering is also available.

3 Great Locations:
San Clemente
821 Via Suerte
949.388.5757

San Juan Capistrano
31781 Camino Capistrano
949.661.1167

Laguna Beach
361 Forest Avenue
949.494.3312

Thai Palace…Sweet and Spicy
By Cathy Villafana

If you are a Thai food lover looking for the newest hot spot (pun intended), be sure to check out Thai Palace located on the corner of La Pata and East Avenida Pico in the Talega area of San Clemente. Nearly open for a year, Thai Palace is sister to Thai Paradise, which opened in San Clemente 10 years ago.

My friend and I found ourselves amongst the busy lunch crowd, who is clearly in the know about the great lunch deals, but more importantly, the tasty dishes we were about to try.

We started our meal with a Thai staple — vegetable spring rolls. Served with a sweet plum sauce, these light-tasting rolls were crispy on the outside and filled with fresh vegetables and glass noodles. If you prefer a decadent appetizer, opt for the Ching Chang Thong. The deep-fried wontons are filled with avocado and cream cheese and served with a plum sauce and cucumber chunks. You’ll be arguing over who gets the last one!

Next we tried a bowl of Tom Kar soup, the ingredients of which may seem eclectic to the inexperienced Thai eater, but the final result is a pleasing flavor that grows with each bite. We chose shrimp to accompany this delicious mixture of fresh vegetables simmered in coconut milk, lemon grass, lime juice and spices.

We would be remiss if we did not try a curry dish, and Panang Curry certainly filled the bill. The tangy flavor and increasing heat from this dish was a pleaser with its creamy sauce, large chunks of chicken and fresh cut green beans. Clearly, Thai Palace has found that sweet spot where refined flavors and spiciness (if you choose) come together for a great meal.

Thai Palace’s lunch specials can’t be beat – ranging from $8 to $10 for an entrée, green salad, fried wonton and rice. Whether you try one of the menu’s nearly 75, MSG-free selections for lunch, dinner, take-out or delivery, you will not be disappointed by the value and rich flavors. Gluten-free options are also available upon request.

Kaleyard – Healthy Chinese Cuisine
By Shelley T. Hudson

If you’ve missed your favorite Chinese restaurant in Dana Point, you’re in luck! After eight years in the former Hollywood Video center on Coast Highway, Helena Ha’s Kaleyard has moved to a new location on Niguel Road in the Clubhouse Plaza. Helena and chef/business partner Kelly offer generous portions of authentic Chinese cuisine at family-friendly prices. They’ve kept all the local favorites on the extensive menu, including fifty “lite and lowfat” items, delivering a healthy and tasty Chinese option to the local area.

On my recent visit, my friend and I sampled a variety of Kaleyard’s most popular dishes. Our appetizer sampler included Vegetable Egg Rolls, Chicken Dumplings, Scallion Pancakes and Aromatic Shrimp. The crispy shelled egg rolls were packed with fresh, crunchy vegetables. The dumplings were as light as air and stuffed with perfectly seasoned chicken, accompanied by a sweet, tangy sauce for dipping. The scallion pancakes were a more substantial choice and served with a very spicy hot mustard sauce. We enjoyed the Aromatic Shrimp appetizer as well, which was sautéed in a sweet and spicy reduction and lightly fried. One bite, and I understood why this is a Kaleyard signature dish.

My companion’s entrée was a hearty serving of Mongolian Beef. His squeaky-clean plate was an obvious signal that the tender strips of beef sautéed with grilled onions and scallions in a piquant brown sauce was a hit. The Mixed Vegetables with Tofu was my choice for lunch – and it did not disappoint. After indulging in such a decadent variety of starters, I relished the lighter fare. The seasonal vegetables were cross-cut into bite-sized pieces and sautéed in a feather-light sauce with soft tofu. At only 150 calories and ½ gram of fat, this well-portioned dish is a dieter’s dream!

The lunch specials at Kaleyard are an exceptional value. Most entrées come in at around $8 and include salad, choice of soup, egg roll, dumpling and rice. From 4 – 6 p.m. on weekdays, an early bird special offering 20% off the entire menu is easy on the wallet and a terrific excuse for an early dinner. If you’re interested in eating Kaleyard’s cuisine at home, take out and free delivery (on $30 minimum orders) are also available.

31341 Niguel Rd #E
Laguna Niguel
949.493.8586
www.kaleyard.com

Positively Peruvian
By Bonnie Small

If your bucket list includes exploring the cuisines of the world, you’ll want to head over to the new Inka Mama’s restaurant in San Clemente’s Talega Village Center to peruse some delicious and authentic Peruvian classics!

I definitely recommend starting off with a glass of Inka Mama’s house-made sangria. They offer both red and white versions, made either with merlot or pinot grigio, splashed with fruit juices and garnished with frozen diced green and red apples, nectarines, pears and oranges.

As your Sangria arrives, so will a basket of sliced French baguette and a small jar of jade green Aji – Inka Mama’s house-made, super-addictive sauce made from pureed Serrano chilies and lettuce! This spread has both deep flavor and a kick (butter is provided for less adventurous diners). Long after our bread was gone, we splashed the Aji on our plates with reckless abandon!

With a vast Pacific coastline, Peruvian cuisine incorporates seafood into many of their traditional dishes. The Ceviche – available with either mixed seafood or sashimi-style slices of Alaskan cod – is marinated in lime juice, yellow pepper puree and ginger and then tossed with sliced red onion, cilantro and Peruvian corn nuts called “cancha.”

Topping our list was Inka Mama’s house specialty – Estofado – where thinly sliced medallions of beef are quickly sautéed and then simmered in a sauce made from slowly braised red onions, garlic and cilantro. Another favorite, Arroz con Mariscos, (similar to Spanish Paella, minus the saffron) is rice steeped in a mild brew of water, beer and cilantro and then tossed together with shellfish and spices.

Lomo Saltado is the national dish of Peru and Inka Mama’s turns out a great version of this classic! Strips of top sirloin steak are browned and then sautéed with tomato wedges, sliced onion and French fries and then served with a delicious “au jus” made right in the pan.

For dessert, we selected Sweet Francesca – a crepe filled with fried plantains and caramel sauce and served with Lucuma ice cream (Lucuma is a mild tasting “egg fruit” grown in the Andes.) Que Rico!

INKA MAMA’S in Talega Village Center
821 Via Suerte, #4 • San Clemente • 949. 369 .6262 • InkaMamas.com