Romeo Cucina at Laguna Beach, CA

Romeo Cucina 

249 Broadway

Laguna Beach, CA  92651

949-497-6627

www.romeocucina.com

Hours:

Sunday - 11:45 am - 2:45 pm / 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Monday - Thursday - 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Friday - Saturday - 11:45 am - 2:45 pm / 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Pizza Margherita - $9.95

On August 22, 2018, my daughter Teria and I decided to stop and eat at Romeo Cucina before we went to see the Pageant of the Masters (more later).  One of the first things you notice right away upon entering are the aromas and the wood fired pizza oven as well as the hum of people talking, laughing, forks up, forks down, tipping of the glasses to wet the palate, the movements of the wait staff delivering plates of delicious smelling foods and the warm greeting of the receptionist.  There is a bar with a large screen television; pictures on the walls, white cloth cover tables along with comfortable booths, warm floor tiles, a brick wall, warm lighting and outside seating.  This is a very warm and family friendly restaurant.

I ordered the pizza margherita and my daughter ordered tagliatelle rustiche.  Almost immediately the waiter brought over warm fresh baked bread with an olive oil, but I asked for butter which was so fresh, creamy and sweet.  The bread and butter fell in love.  

The tagliatelle rustiche is a flat homemade thin pasta with meatballs served in their Romeo Bolognese sauce, yummy!  The pizza margherita, well let’s just say you can taste the fresh tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella cheese, seasoned with just the right amount of oregano.  When you take your first bite, you can tell that the pizza dough is fresh and the crust was soft yet had a bit of a crunch to it.

Upon leaving my daughter introduced me to Enzo, one of the owners, since she has been there several times.  Such a gracious, warm and kind man with a lovely sense of humor.  He makes you feel welcome and his time with you is valuable but he doesn’t rush you. 

I will return again on my future trips to California. 

#romeocucina   #laguanabeach   #california  #italianfood  #food  #pasta  #soup  #salad #seafood  #pizza  #margheritapizza   #like  #cheerfulness  #happyhour  #friendly  #popular  #fresh   #family   #goodeats   #travelandlife   #instalike #good  #foodblog   #instagood  

Pageant of the Masters – Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach, California

Festival of Arts - Pageant of the Masters (where art comes to life)

650 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach, California

800-487-3378

Website:  www.foapom.com

August 22, 2018 - One enchanted evening.

My daughter Teria and I attended an evening performance of the Pageant of 

the Masters Under the Sun performance at the Irvine Bowl.  The performance took place in an outdoor theatre and no matter where you sit, you have a perfect view.    

I was not prepared for such an enlightening, uplifting, charming and memorable experience.  Pageant of the Masters is living art pictures!  Living and breathing reproductions of some of our greatest masterpieces, Monet and Gauguin.  You think that you are just looking at paintings when all of a sudden people start to move but not in every painting, it keeps you guessing.  The Marine Corps War Memorial with the performers holding the American flag was quite impressive and incredible!  There were two acts and each one more mesmerizing than the next.

I was very highly impressed with the performances and I plan on attending the next year’s performance which is titled “The Time Machine”.  Update 5/25/2020:  due to the pandemic the show and my traveling has been postponed until next year (2021) to see Made in America.

As per their website:  In the 2021 Pageant of the Masters, audiences will meet the artists – revolutionaries, innovators, dreamers – who not only made this country their home, but let their creativity be inspired by the freedoms upon which this nation was founded. Through their lives, artworks and voices, a compelling portrait of our artists will come to life with all the theatrical magic that makes the Pageant a one-of-a-kind, must-see summer tradition.

Pageant of the Masters website:   

https://www.foapom.com/pageant-of-the-masters/

A quick view of the Pageant:    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6fg95StXm0

#foapom   #irvine   #california   #lagunabeach  #pageantofthemasters   #festivalofthearts  #performance  #loveitloveit   #amazing   #artistgallery   #giftshop    #cool    #annualfestival  #art   #theatre   #performance  #travel   #picoftheday   #instapic   ##blogger   #vibrant              

Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ - The District at Tustin Legacy

Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ 

The District at Tustin Legacy

2550 Park Avenue,
Tustin, Calif. 92782
714-259-1227

website:  lucillesbbq.com

Hours:

Monday               11:00 am - 10:00 pm    
Tuesday               11:00 am - 10:00 pm 
Wednesday         11:00 am - 10:00 pm 
Thursday             11:00 am - 10:00 pm 
Friday                  11:00 am - 11:00 pm 
Saturday             11:00 am - 11:00 pm 
Sunday                11:00 am - 10:00 pm 

Live blues on Saturdays - 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

August 21, 2018

Lucille's BBQ Tri Tip Sandwich with coleslaw - $14.99

Biscuits 

My first visit was to Lucille’s was at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamongo, been there a few times I’m glad to say. I even shipped some of their original BBQ sauce home.  Yes indeed.  So I decided to make my rounds and visit all of Lucille’s restaurants.  I’ve been to the one in Lake Forest.

At Victoria Gardens I had the smoke BBQ half chicken that is marinated for 24 hours in their BBQ sauce, with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley.  Needless to say I was licking my fingers with everything.  I do have good manners, but they slowly walked out of the door this time.  The vegetables were cooked to perfection and tasty, even the carrots.

At the District in Tustin, I decided to try Lucille’s BBQ Tri Tip Sandwich which is slow smoked Angus beef on a soft brioche bun with a side of french fries and cole slaw at Lake Forest and wanted to see if it was consistent at Tustin.  Yes it was.  Now imagine this.  You bite into this sandwich and the flavors of the tri tip do a slow dance in your mouth, hitting all of the taste buds, tender and full of flavor and you find yourself wanting to sing mmmm aahhhha in high C.  Lucille's states that the meat is thinly shaved and tossed in their own mop sauce, well hello mop sauce.  I like their cole slaw, order it every time.

My first server was Freddie who was such a gentleman, professional, menu knowledgeable and friendly.  When it was time for him to take his break he introduced us to Stephanie who exhibited the same qualities.  It was such a pleasure being waited on by them.  As always whichever Lucille’s I visited, the service is always on point from the time I step in the door until I leave.  Whoever does their training and selection of personnel is to be commended.

I have yet made it to the desert menu, but on my next visit, I have to decide between their carrot cake, berry cheesecake or their old fashioned banana pudding. 

You can go by yourself, take a few friends or family to enjoy not only the food but the great service and the ambiance.  You’re be back.    

Well, I'm back  with two of my granddaughters Skye & Cherokee on 8/17/2019.

Yep again - Lucille's BBQ Tri Tip Sandwich with coleslaw - $14.99

Lucille's BBQ Tri Tip Sandwich with french fries - $14.99

Southern Fried Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, gravy & corn on the cob - $18.99

Lucille's Fresh Strawberry Lemonade - $4.29

Still the same

Waiting area

Outside dining patio

Now I must say, the food was still very good, like lick your fingers.  I tasted some of Skye's fried chicken and it was quite tasty, juicy and tender.  Skye said "taste the mash potatoes" so, I did.  It had some of the red potato peeling and you can taste a bit of garlic, it is not over powering, just right.  I also tried Cherokee's french fries, crispy and soft on the inside.  I didn't need to add anything but I'm a pepper nut, so of course, on went the pepper.  

Lucille's is always a good experience, good service and yum.

                 

#lucillesbbq   #tustin  #california  #bbq  #barbecue  #bar-b-que  #smokehouse #greatfood  #slowlysmoked #southernandcajunstyle #amerianandbluestheme #tritip #beefribs  #bbqribtips #giftshop  #music   #livemusic  #busquits   #california   #indoorpatio  #foodblog

Levain Bakery - Cookies!!

Levain Bakery - Harlem

2167 Frederick Douglas Blvd.
New York, NY  10026
917-464-3789

website:  levinbakery.com

Hours:

Monday               8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tuesday               8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday         8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday             8:00 am - 7:00 pm 
Friday                  8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday             8:00 am - 7:00 pm 
Sunday                8:00 am - 7:00 pm

Sunday, October 14, 2018 and other days

Cookies - $4.00 apiece

Go in.  Not go in.  Go in.  Not go in.  Go in. Not go in.  Guess who won.  As you step through the doors you immediately see a kitchen in full swing, bakers, and people mixing batter, waiting on customers, cookies coming out of the oven, cookies going in the oven, and lots and lots of cookies on a mobile baker’s rack.  In the glass display by the front counter you encounter blueberry scones, chocolate chip brioche, plain brioche, bombuloncini which is Italian for small donut filled with raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar.  The staff states that the bombuloncini are low in sugar and fat but not if you say eat 3 or more in a row.  Back to my story, oatmeal raisin scones, dark chocolate chocolate chip cookies, which are chewy, with plenty of chocolate chips and extra dark French cocoa and semisweet chocolate chips, chocolate chip walnut cookies, and my favorite, oatmeal raisin.  They are golden brown, chock full of raisins and you can taste the butter.  Savor the taste with a nice cold glass of milk.  All of the cookies are moist, freshly baked and are 6 ounces to say the least and they look like scones but they have a distinct calling, c.o.o.k.i.e.s!    

Do yourself a favor and stop by and introduce yourself to any one of the delectable bakery items that presents itself to you.  The staff is ever so pleasant, friendly and can help you make a selection if you are having trouble selecting which one or ones, twos, threes, fours, fives, six or how many you decide.  Guarantee you will be back.

“Fruit…or cookie…fruit….. cookie.  Me Cookie Monster!  This no-brainer!”  Cookie Monster

 

#levinbakery  #newyork  #harlem  #bakery   #cookies   #greatcookies   #largecookies  #eat  #popular    #happy   #yummy   #chewy  #enticing   #like   #enjoyable  #foodblogger  #yum  

Lantern - Go and get your Thai food in Brooklyn Heights

Lantern

101 Montague Street
Brooklyn, NY  11201
718.237-2594

website:  lanternthai.com

Hours:

Monday              11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Tuesday              11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Wednesday        11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Thursday            11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Friday                 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Saturday            12:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Sunday               12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Lunch Set           11:30 am - 3:30 PM (except Holidays)  

Pineapple Fried Rice - $11.00 (Lunch Set) with one complimentary appetizer

 On a fine bright and sunny summer afternoon

As I found myself in Brooklyn one afternoon, my friend Altagarcia and I decided we wanted Thai food and decided to have lunch at Lanterns.  Upon entering you have a choice to either sit outside or indoors, we choose indoors.  Walking through the wooden frame glass doors you see a bar to your right with people chatting and laughing and along with a welcoming greeting from the wait staff who will guide you to your seat.  Lanterns hanging from the ceiling, aha moment, a brick wall, medium lightning, nice touch, wood tables, a brick wall, medium lightning and wood tables decorated with a votive candle. 

I ordered the crispy spring rolls and pineapple fried rice.  Ordering the spring rolls were a risk because you only get four and you will probably want more, I’m just saying.  The spring rolls consist of finely chopped mixed vegetables with plum sauce; yes you can lick your fingers.  The pineapple is flavored with cashews, raisins, onions, scallion, eggs and pineapple. The rice is firm and did not have an eggy taste.  Our food came kind of fast and was inexpensive.  All in all the food was good and you just might meet some nice people sitting at the next table.

After you finish eating, take a walk over to the Brooklyn Promenade which is only a couple blocks away and enjoy the water view and the skyline of Manhattan. It’s a nice way to end the day.

       

#lanternthai  #brooklyn   #newyork  #brooklynheights   #thaifood   #food   #goodfood  #lunch  #tasty   #hotfromthework  #soup  #noodles #curry   #tofu  #beef  #shrimp #foodblog