Burntzilla - Irvine, California

Burntzilla in Walnut Village Center
14413 Culver Drive
Irvine, California 92606

Telephone:  949.392.5995
Website:  burntzilla.com

Hours:

Sunday - Saturday - 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Street Dog, Dogzilla and Tate Tots = $10.00

My granddaughter Skye wanted me to try one of her go to restaurants so off we went to BurntZilla on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, on an early summer afternoon.  You ask what is BurntZilla?  As per the staff and their website they both agree that BurntZilla is a union between two of the top food trucks in Orange County and the cuisine is built on the Burnt Truck's modern take on classic comfort foods and Dogzilla's Asian inspired twist on the traditional American Hot Dog.

After viewing the menu, I choose under their "Golden Combo" menu - (2) Sliders or Zillas - Naked Side and a regular soda. 

The 2 street dogs had bacon wrapped around this spicy link, avocado, jalapeno crema, pico de gallo topped with crispy tortilla strips.  The street dog was a bit more spicer than the spicy chilli dog.  The avocado was very fresh and the pickled jalapeno so good.  The zillas which are mini gourmet hot dogs were very good and had a nice bite to it.  I tried to take my time eating this mini dogs.  Kind of impossible.  

My other dog was a chili dog.  You can taste the cumin, garlic and onions that were mixed with the peppers, meat and the beans which was good.     

See you on my next trip.

#burntzilla   #irvine   #california   #hotdogs   #sliders   #tatetots   #family   #classiccomfort  #inexpensive    #familyplatter    #bitesize   #goodeats   #instagood   #food   #fresh   #foodie

The Counter - Irvine, California

The Counter - Custom Burger
Woodbury Town Mall
6416 Irvine Blvd. 
Irvine, CA  92620

Telephone:  949.336.7272
Website:  thecounter.com/stores32027

Hours:

Monday              11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tuesday              11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wednesday        11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thursday            11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday                 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Saturday             11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday                11:00 am - 9:00 pm

All natural beef chili - cheddar, red onion, sour cream- bowl - $9.00

Sweet potato fries - horseradish aioli - $7.00

Old School - All natural beef, tilamook cheddar, lettuce blend tomatoes, 

red onions, pickles and relish on a brioche bun. - $11.75

It was a sunny, warm, with a cool wind just a blowing on the afternoon on Sunday, August 25, 2019 and I found out that there was a restaurant in the mall that creates custom made hamburgers.  So.  What was I to do.    

Two of my granddaughters Skye and Cherokee made our way to The Counter that sits inside of the Woodbury Town Mall which by the way is really quite nice.  

Since this was my first time here, I took my time viewing the menu.  The menu states that their burgers are made with 100% all natural, antibotic free, no added hormones, responsibly raised and handled angus beef cooked to order and true to weight, give or take.  You can also create our own burger.  

Nina G. as she likes to be called was our waitress and she was so efficient, friendly and if you can't make of your mind, she is full of suggestions.  She was willing and quite able to describe the dish you thought that you might want or the creation of the burger you might want to build and let you know what are the best sellers.  

My starting point and taking my first bite is that this burger was tender, juicy, very well seasoned and of course I had the extra red onions (doesn't everyone) made this unexpected trip not only enjoyable but  satisfying.  I never had tilamook cheddar cheese, but it blended quite well with my burger.  Liked it. 

I knew you would want to know.  Tilamook cheddar, what is it.  It is an American cheese, made from a quality blend of cow's milk.  This milk mixture has the right amount of protein and butterfat.  The whey is separated from the curds, which are then placed on a wide mat.  The curds are then salted, stirred and pressed before being transformed into blocks of cheese and placed in an airtight moisture proof bags and left to age.  This cheese can be aged from 60 days to more than two years.  The flavor varies from mild to sharp depending on how long it was aged.  I enjoyed the texture of this cheese as well as the taste.  

The sweet potato fries were fresh and crispy with a bit of sweetness.   

Skye had the chilli and it lacked flavor and was kind of watery.  From my understanding my granddaughter states that she was shocked because that has not been her past experience.  Maybe this was a one time flute.  Hopefully.

The service was absolutely great as well as the hospitality and the waitstaff was able to provide answers to our questions regarding the menu.

I did enjoy the experience and will visit again.   

#thecounter   #irvine   #california   #burgers   #shakes  #buffalocauliflower  #shoestringfries  #hotwings  #goodfood   #comfortfood   #daily  #dinner   #family   #greatandattentiveservice        

Elmer's Restaurant - Palm Springs, California

Elmer's Restaurant
1030 E Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 99264

Telephone:  760-327-8419
Website:     
Hours:

Sunday - Saturday:     6:00 am - 9:00 pm

Classic German Pancake - lemon wedges, whipped butter 

and powdered sugar.  $11.29 

Sausage - $4.00

Backyard

The infamous roadrunner from Wile E. Coyote is alive and well and runs about 15 to 20 miles per hour and possibly more in short sprints. 

On Sunday, August 25, 2019 my daughter Teria and I were looking for a restaurant to eat and she found this one sooo we Uber over to Elmer's and our new adventure began.

Elmer's is in the northwest part of Palm Springs and they use locally grown ingredients.  What makes this restaurant stand out is that it is very community minded.  Their mission statement is "hand in hand, making a difference in our community".

Their food is made from scratch in which you can taste in every bite.

We ordered the Classic German pancake, something I have never had before.  This pancake was simply amazing.  It was not anywhere in what I expected.  And before you ask yourself, did she eat the whole thing.  I'll own it, yes I did.  Let me repeat, yes I did. 

This pancake was so big, kind of looked like a crater.  Elmer's menu says that it is almost as big as Crater Lake!  This pancake was thin, lemondy (such a made up word) and whatever seasonings they used was so well blended and grouped together it made my tummy go yummy.  The sausage that I order you can tell that it was freshly made with fresh herbs.  So good.  The food came out hot and the smell of the pancake.  Point your eyes up towards your head and act like you just don't care.   

The hospitality made you want to linger longer and just enjoy the moment.  

You can "get featured" in the menu with your hashtag and a picture of yourself sitting in the restaurant.  

Let me just say this.  Jack and Jill did not go up the hill to fetch a pail of water.  They went to Elmer's for the Classic German pancake and don't let anyone try and tell you anything different.  

Get there, get there, get there.

#eatatelmers  #palmsprings   #california   #germanpancake #palmsprings  #roadtrip #fresh #satisfying  #breakfast #lunch  #dinner #frenchtoast  #waffles  #primeribs #seafood #steak

#farmfresh  #locallyowned   #homestyledishes   #friendly   #outdoorseating  #foodblogger

La Petit Belge - Vancouver, BC

La Petit Belge
340 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2B2 Canada

Telephone:  +1.778.791.3444
Website:     lepetitbelge.ca

Hours:

Monday               8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tuesday               8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wednesday         8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thursday:           8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Friday:                 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Saturday:            8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday:               8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Monday, August 19, 2019 - 11:00 am

      Salmon - smoked salmon, olives, mozzarella, tomatoes, mixed greens - $13
I had to take a picture of this young ladies choice of waffle.  Can you get any prettier!

Mixed fruit - Waffle with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries whipped cream with maple syrup - crispy on the outside soft on the inside. - $10

                             Royal - strawberries, whipped cream & chocolate - $9

Mixed fruit - Waffle with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries 

with maple syrup - crispy on the outside soft on the inside - $10

Monday, August 19, 2019 at 11:00 am my grandson Demetric and granddaughter Cherokee and I were  walking in downtown Vancouver when we met a wonderful young man who was originally from the United States working for Microsoft.  He absolutely loves Vancouver and was telling us about some places to visit.  After speaking with us for a few moments he directed us to a main street where there were shops, restaurants, banks and more.  As we were walking I noticed La Petit Belge and after reading the menu we decided to have our brunch there.  

This restaurant serves breakfast and brunch which is a fusion between true authentic Belgian Brussel style breakfast and waffles.  La Petit Belge turned out to be great find, clean, friendly and a fun small restaurant that has about 10 tables.  They serve breakfast and brunch which is a fusion between true authentic Belgian Brussel style breakfast and waffles.  You can watch them pour the batter into the waffle grill over a glass partition.   

Apparently this is a very popular place because there was always a line, yet it moved at a nice pace.  You first order then pay before you are seated and the waitstaff brings you your food.  La Petit Belge has an intimate feel to it.    

The waffles that we ate were very good, fresh, soft with a touch of crispy.  Now can we talk about the toppings, the strawberries, bananas and blueberries had a touch of sweetness and felt like someone just went into a garden, release them from their branches and vines and laid them oh so pretty across your waffle.  And!  Scooped, poured, snizzle I don't know the fresh whip cream on top.  Now.  I tried it without the maple syrup, say what, it's Canadian maple syrup.  It was good.  Then I poured the maple syrup and it changed the taste to better.  Either way, you can't lose.    

Have to go back to Vancouver & pop my feet under the dining table and try another dish at this intimate but friendly, clean restaurant.  The people are just great.  

Si bon!

Come on up!

                                

#lepetitbelge  #vancouver   #canada   #britishcolumbia   #breakfast #brunch #belgiumwaffles  #omlets  #veggiebowl   #fun  #goodfood  #cozy   #downtown   #unique   #foodphoto   #eat

The Butchart Gardens - Victoria, Canada

The Butchart Gardens
800 Benventuto Avenue
Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8 Canada

Telephone:     +1.250.652.4422
Website:        butchartgardens.com

Hours:
Sunday - Saturday:    9:00 am - 4:00 pm


Visited:  Friday, August 16, 2019.  Did I eat here, no.  But as my motto says have food will travel, well this is part of the travel without eating.  I love gardens so I decided to stop by.  Come and take a peek.

Sequoia Tree

Monkey Puzzle Tree

This is a national historic site of Canada with over 100 years in bloom.  The Butchart Gardens began with an idea of Jennie Butchart who wanted to beautify the worked-out limestone quarry which had supplied her husband Robert Pim Butchart's nearby Portland cement plant.  The garden covers more than 55 acres of a 130 acre estate.  

There are a collection of different gardens, i.e., the Sunken Garden with a lookout that reveals a stunning view.  You can take a winding path through beds of annuals, flowering trees and shrubs.  Here sits the bronze horse "Annabelle" to the Children's Pavilion and Rose Carousel, a menagerie carousel with 30 hand-carved wooden animals and two chariots.  Then there are the two totem poles that overlook the Fireworks' fields.  You can also see the Dragon Fountain that was a gift from the People's Republic of China and Victoria's sister-city, Suzhou.

Ah, the Rose Garden you actually can smell them before you see them.  There is a frog fountain and a wishing well,  Planted here are different varies of Hybrid Tea Roses that are registered with the American Rose Society.  Take a look through the open pergola that is covered with climbing and rambling roses to the bronze Sturgeon Fountain that was cast in Florence, Italy. 

Passing through another fountain and walk through the Torii gate and down the steps you will find the Japanese Garden.  Jennie Butchart  was the first to grown the Himalayan Blue Poppies in North America from the seeds that she received from the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens.  In 1906 Jennie Butchart with the expert assistance of Japanese landscaper, Isaburo Kisida began this non-tradition garden.     

Then there is a the Star Pond, colorful annuals that surround the frog fountain that is rising from the center.  

By the Italian Garden stands a bronze statue of Mercury.  

Then there is the Piazza with a Florentine bronze statue of Tacca the Board and there sits a Waterwheel Square walk right under the laburnum arches. 

The Mediterranean Garden holds many drought resistant plants as well as lush and exotic ones from various areas of the world that share similar growing conditions to ours.

Go and enjoy a few hours of visiting the private gardens, visit the restaurants (which I didn't do, gosh darn) and walk on the flagstones and shaded areas.  You can see the Butchart's former home as well as where Mr. Butchart kept ornate houses for his collection of exotic birds.  

Finally, the Butchart's christened their estate "Benvenuto" - Italian for "Welcome."  You will feel that it is still owned and operated by the family and cherished.  

There are several restaurants on site:  The Dining Room, The Blue Poppy Restaurant, and The Coffee Shop.  Seasonal Specialties:  Annabelle's Cafe, Gelateria and Gourmet Picnics.  

I most definitely will be visiting again, and this time not just stop and smell the roses but to sit and dine and enjoy the beauty, the fragrances and the peace.

#butchartgardens     #victoriacanada     #canada     #photography   #garden     #travelcanada  #relaxing    #enchanting    #picturesque  #experience    #roomyandbeautiful  #warmbotanical