November 20th, 2009, 12:21 pm by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
I’m heading south to Florida for the Thanksgiving break.
I’ll be visiting Orlando with my family to spend a whirlwind two days trying to see four Walt Disney World theme parks. I’m especially excited to visit Epcot, a treasure trove of international eats.
I'm fully expecting Magic Kingdom to be a giant version of Disneyland.
After Orlando, I’ll also be in St. Petersburg, Fl. for a few days. If you have any dining recommendations, please comment here or email me.
While I’m gone, I’ll still be posting but not as frequently after Sunday. So don’t leave me! While in Orlando I plan to get the inside scoop on Seasons 52, a “low-cal” fancy dining chain coming to South Coast Plaza next year.
Paul Hodgins (Booze on a Budget blogger) will continue to offer his beer and wine tips next week. In fact, I think he’s headed to Trader Joe’s this weekend to review the free wine tasting in Costa Mesa.
Tweets and eats: You can catch my Florida food exploits by following me on Twitter and Facebook.
Please behave while I’m gone: Lately, I’ve noticed the comments have gotten a bit out of control. Please be kind to your fellow humans, and stay on topic. As a reminder, here are the Register’s rules for posting comments.
Thanks, Nancy
Comments are encouraged, but you must follow our User Agreement.
1. Keep it civil and stay on topic.
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Posted in: Fast food news | 3 Comments »
November 20th, 2009, 11:59 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Before you eat that yummy Fresh & Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie that everyone was raving about on the blog the other day — read this first.
The British retailer said today that it is voluntarily recalling its private label “Pumpkin Cheesecake Pies” because they may contain undeclared pecans, the chain announced today.
The pies are being removed from stores because the British retailer discovered that a limited number of them were sold without declaring the presence of pecans.
There’s nothing wrong with the pecans, but individuals who have allergies to pecans run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products, the chain said.
The mislabeled pies all carry an “Enjoy by” date of NOV 21 and have been removed from all Fresh & Easy stores, the chain said. Fresh & Easy operates 11 markets in Orange County
Originally posted in OCR’s Healthy Living blog
Posted in: Fast food news • Fresh & Easy • Food safety • fre | 2 Comments »
November 20th, 2009, 11:00 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Wahoo's founders
Wahoo’s Fish Taco is celebrating its 21st birthday by giving away freebies such as gift cards and goodie bags to customers on Nov. 21.
The Santa Ana-based chain operates 15 Orange County restaurants and 38 nationwide. When each store opens at 11 a.m., staff will hand out various presents to customers to thank them for their loyal support, Wahoo’s said.
The first 21 guests will receive a goodie bag, which will include items from action sports companies such as Famous Stars and Straps, Tony Hawk Inc., 900 films, Jakks Toys, Liquid Force and Tilly’s.
“Everyone who visits their local Wahoo’s to celebrate our milestone will get a present from us,” shared Wing Lam, co-founder of Wahoo’s.
Related stories:
Posted in: Fast food news • Food freebies • Value Deals • Wahoo's Fish Taco | 2 Comments »
November 20th, 2009, 8:00 am by PAUL HODGINS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Here’s a collection of worthwhile places and bargains from the Booze on a Budget files:
- Wine pick of the week: a well-priced red that the Wine Spectator includes on its new Top 100 list
- This week’s hot Happy Hour recommendation
- A Seal Beach wine bar that also boasts a great menu
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Fast food news • Booze on a Budget • happy hour • Juan Gil Jumilla • Main Street Wine Cellar • McCormick & Schmick | Post a Comment »
November 19th, 2009, 1:45 pm by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Got a holiday pot luck coming up? Here’s a pretty good deal happening now at all Chick-fil-A restaurants in Orange County.
If you buy a Large Nugget Tray or Strip Tray (each cost $69.50 and serves roughly 25 people), you will get a second one for free. Chick-fil-A operates restaurants in Tustin, Irvine, La Habra, Santa Ana and Orange. Get addresses.
Posted in: Fast food news • Chick-fil-A • food deals • holiday meals | 2 Comments »
November 19th, 2009, 11:33 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Reality show celeb Kim Kardashian joins the lineup of buxom beauties to flaunt their sex appeal for a Carl’s Jr. ad.
The chain confirmed Thursday that Kardashian will be featured in a seductive salad ad that will premiere next month on TV.
Yes, that’s right — Carl’s Jr. is trying to make salads sultry.
Once again, the Southern California-based burger chain is using Hollywood’s latest gossip girl to help lift sales. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Burger Joints • Fast food news • Marketing Buzz • Carl's Jr. • Carl's Jr. commercials • commercial • Kim Kardashian • Padma Lakshmi • Paris Hilton | 46 Comments »
November 19th, 2009, 6:08 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
If you’re still wondering where to buy your pumpkin pie for the holidays, I might be able to help you.
I gathered my foodie friends one evening for a blind taste test of four pumpkin pies, three of which came from Orange County’s top bakery/restaurants.
My friends are brutally honest when it comes to food, especially dessert. Among the group of nine testers were: a dessert-making Goddess who spoils us rotten at every gathering with her sweet treats; a personal chef; and a year-round pumpkin pie fiend.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Desserts • Fast food news • best pumpkin pies • Coco's • holiday meals • Marie Callender's • Polly's Pies • Trader Joe's | 71 Comments »
November 18th, 2009, 2:04 pm by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Here’s a few food headlines and Fast Food Maven Tweets to chew on:
- After my co-worker Lou Ponsi reported the freebie event at the soon-to-open T.G.I. Friday’s in Brea, the restaurant’s phone lines were jammed. As of this afternoon, Friday’s said it is all booked up for the free mock meal event on Friday and Saturday. I hope you got a reservation. (Read full story here)
- A new Native Foods, a vegan restaurant founded by Chef Tanya Petrovna, opened Wednesday in Tustin. The restaurant serves mostly organic vegan food created by Petrovna, who’s working on her third cookbook. (via Tustin News - The Orange County Register)
- Another mobile food truck launches in Los Angeles. This one focuses on desserts. (via Daily Dish)
- An upscale McDonald’s with a European flair/decor opens in New York (via AP)
- Food Frenzy discovers El Toro’s pork with pork Tinga! (Food Frenzy)
- Traditions Restaurant is serving booze, gaining back the permit lost by Roderick’s restaurant last year. The Indian food restaurant at 14131 Red Hill Ave. (via Tustin News )
Posted in: Fast food news | 11 Comments »
November 18th, 2009, 6:45 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
I hope the wines are better than Trader Joe's famous Two Buck chuck.
If I only lived in Costa Mesa.
The Trader Joe’s on West 17th Street has launched a free wine tasting program. The Costa Mesa store is the only one in Orange County to offer this free booze event to customers, according to several Trader Joe’s employees reached by phone this week.
The wine tastings are offered daily at the Costa Mesa store for customers age 21 years or older. Chain spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki said two wines are sampled daily.
She said the pilot program is not unique to Costa Mesa. “We do have other stores that offer wine tastings.”
For example, Arizona stores also conduct wine tastings, she said.
The Costa Mesa tastings are offered from 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Whole Foods offers wine tasting in Tustin, but it costs $10.
The Costa Mesa Trader Joe’s is at 640 W. 17th Street. Phone: 949-642-5134
Tell us: Would you like Trader Joe’s to expand this program to all units? If you spot a Trader Joe’s offering wine tastings, let us know.
Related stories:
Posted in: Fast food news • beer and wine • Trader Joe's | 9 Comments »
November 18th, 2009, 12:01 am by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Six Dollar Cheeseburger cost $2.79.
In another smack aimed at McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr. will debut today a discounted Six Dollar burger that claims to be nearly twice as big as a Quarter Pounder.
Carl’s Jr.’s Angus burgers normally cost $3.99. But the new Six Dollar Cheeseburger will cost $2.79.
The price is the “lowest we’ve ever gone with the Six Dollar” burger, said chain spokeswoman Beth Mansfield. “It’s a big deal to offer it at this value.”
The Six Dollar Cheeseburger contains almost a half pound of charbroiled 100 percent Black Angus Beef, two slices of American cheese, onion, dill pickles, ketchup and mustard on a seeded bun.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Burger Joints • Fast food news • McDonald's • Angus burgers • Big Carl • Carl's Jr. • fast food wars • premium burgers | 115 Comments »
