Orange County Register

Been super swamped with other work stuff so many apologies for lagging on the blog posts. It’s not for lack of eating on my part, trust me. So here’s a mini-food photo diary, a bit of a recap, if you will. Scary to think that this barely touches the entirety of what I’ve consumed the last few days. Up first is a plate from Greek Town Grill in Costa Mesa: Chicken souvlakia, two charbroiled skewers of chicken slathered in a rather tasty mixture of herbs and citrus on a bed of fluffy rice and salad ($10) …

One of my favorite spots to get breakfast: The Galley Cafe in Newport Beach, a 50-year old diner nestled deep in a residential neighborhood lined with ritzy homes and right next to the bay. Here you’ll find no-frills fare and perfectly crisp bacon and hash browns. *This photo was taken with my iPhone, heh.

This dish had me gasping for air. And had me sheepishly asking for a glass of milk: Chicken Vindaloo ($12) at Bukhara in Huntington Beach. It’s hunks of tender chicken simmered in a fiery blend of tomato, cayenne and other spices. Perfect with some warm garlic naan or paratha flatbread. One thing’s for sure: My dining companion (the lovely Miss Laylan Connelly, the Register’s beach columnist) and I both vowed to never eat Indian food on a date. We reeked so bad after our meal.

Another iPhone snapshot: The ahi poke salad at Bear Flag Fish Company in Newport Beach is freakishly addictive. Large diced tuna tossed in a fragrant sesame oil and soy sauce dressing with bits of scallion and seaweed — $15 a pound. I could eat a dangerous amount. It would be such a great appetizer to serve at a get together too, just fry up some wonton skins.

If you’re familiar with Vietnamese sweets, you might recognize these golden fried orbs of goodness: Banh cam or sesame pastry balls stuffed with sweet yellow mung bean. Usually, they’re almost as big as tennis balls, but I much prefer to eat the mini-version, about the size of ping-pong balls. The ones at Thuan Phat Supermarket on Beach Boulevard in Westminster/HB (at McFadden and down the street from Bella Terra) are the best I’ve had. The outside shells there are thinner and more crisp than other places and the filling is sweet without being overly so. Head to the snack bar located inside the grocery store to your left when you enter and you’ll find the tasty little treats priced at 3 for $1. Do it.

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