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.
2. No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks.
3. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.

Post from: Fast Food Maven

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

Post from: Fast Food Maven

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:

Post from: Fast Food Maven

- 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

Wine pick of the week: 2007 Juan Gil Jumilla. It made this year’s just-announced (to members only) Wine Spectator Top 100 list (#83) yet it’s only $15.99 at the Wine Lab in Newport Beach, cheaper online. According to the Wine Lab, “This polished red shows black cherry, licorice, mineral and tobacco notes, harmonious and deep, supported by firm tannins. Medium-bodied, well-integrated and stylish. Drink now through 2012. 5,000 cases made.” This rebounding Spanish wine region (it was devastated by phylloxera in the late 1980s) offers good value right now.

- This week’s Happy Hour pick is McCormick & Schmick’s Pilsner Room in Irvine. This friendly chain has boasted a world-class Happy Hour for years. Right now the four-price-tier H.H. menu includes these faves: Spicy Irish Egg Rolls (they sound strange but are irresistibly good) at $1.95; a half-pound cheeseburger with fries ($2.95); steamed black mussels ($3.95); and Spicy Tuna Roll ($4.95). Fridays feature Sangria: $5 for either the red or white.

The Irvine location has plenty of covered parking right next to the restaurant (look for a clandestine door near the entrance of the parking garage — that’s the door to the Pilsner Room), and it’s convenient to the 405. It’s been one of our preferred after-work spots for years.

My readers like this place too. “We fed a family of four for under $20,” Justine B. told me in a recent e-mail.

Happy hours: 4-6:30 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. 2000 Main St., Irvine. 949-756-0505.

- One of my favorite O.C. wine bars is the Main Street Wine Cellar in Seal Beach. What makes it so good? In addition to the owners’ talents for sniffing out excellent wines and unusual varietals and labels for decent prices ($8 a glass for most vino), the place has a terrific food menu. Every time we go we’re impressed with what’s coming out of the kitchen.

Check out that menu on the Web site, which co-owner Chris Partlow warns is “a little out of date.” Here’s what’s new and popular: swordfish tacos ($12), a warm homemade crabcake ($15), white truffle butter popcorn ($5). “It’s a fairly large bowl, too,” Partlow told me. Something I will definitely order the next time I’m in: a warm crab po’boy sandwich ($15).

Main Street has been open since September of 2008, but Partlow says they’re making some adjustments because of the economic climate. “Our prices have come down and we have a lot more inexpensive things on the menu.” He mentioned homemade pickles ($5) and hummus ($8).

Partlow also let me in on the latest: a new Happy Hour will be launched next week from 4-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. “All of our $8-per-glass wine will come down to $5,” Partlow said.

Another thing I like about this place: If you buy a glass you can take a bottle of that wine home for $16. “It’s a unique way to drive our retail business,” Partlow said. “When you go to BevMo or Costco you’re picking something blind. But at our place, the cost of the glass of wine is deducted from the bottle price. You can get a glass and a bottle for $24.” You can also try that wine with decent food, which tells you how it will pair up.

Despite the tough times, Partlow is bullish about the wine world. “Right now is a great time to be a wine drinker or buyer. We can get great deals on lot of wines that were meant to be expensive but aren’t selling.”

I’ll drink to that.

Main Street Wine Cellar, 302 Main Street, Seal Beach. 562-430-3200. www.mainstwine.com

Other Booze on a Budget stories:

Post from: Fast Food Maven

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.

Post from: Fast Food Maven

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.

In an exclusive interview with People magazine,  Kardashian said: “I’m always down for a burger, I love them and I eat them. But this is the first commercial they’ve ever done for anything but a burger. The salads are healthy, and it totally fits what I’m about right now.”

Padma ad

Kardashian and Carl’s Jr. did not reveal details of the new ad, which was filmed earlier this week in Los Angeles.  But clearly Kardashian feels the pressure to make her commercial just as sensuous as those done by her female rivals. (Think Paris Hilton’s sudsy Bentley commercial or Padma Lakshmi’s burger make-out session. )

” I just wanted to make mine as hot and sultry as all of theirs,” she told People.

Oh my.

Tell us: Do you think Kardashian can top Padma and Paris?

(Kardashian photo courtesy of Doria Anselmo; other photos obtained via our Register archives, or Carl’s Jr.)

Related stories:

Post from: Fast Food Maven

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.

Clockwise: Trader Joe's, Coco's, Marie Callender's and Polly's Pies.

The test: I bought pies from Coco’s, Marie Callender’s and Polly’s Pies. I selected these bakeries because they are the main go-to brands for the holidays. Also, prices are roughly the same, ranging from about $11 to $12 per pie. (see Coco’s deal below)

Samples go out to testers.

To throw everyone off, I tossed in a wild card pie from Trader Joe’s.  Each pie was assigned a number, and the group tasted a sample of each pie one at a time. The group knew which pies I bought, but I did not tell them what brand was being served during the sampling. After all the testing was complete, they voted for their favorite.

The Winner: Marie Callender's. Cost: $11.49

The verdict: Marie Callender’s (pie No. 2) logged the most votes (6) for offering the most sweet and crusty pumpkin pie.  Coco’s got two votes; Polly’s, one vote; and zero for Trader Joe’s, which was universally loathed by all.

“Very good. Perfect crust, and pumpkin flavor,” one person noted of Pie No. 2, which was Marie Callender’s.

“Good,” someone wrote after tasting Pie No. 3 –  Polly’s Pies, “but No. 2 is the best.”

Interesting observations:

Ironically, the Pumpkin Pie Fiend hated the Marie Callender’s pie writing, “BAD!” in all-caps in his notes. He instead, voted for the more spice-flavored Coco’s pie.

The Pumpkin Pie Fiend loved this Coco's pie.

The Fiend’s wife is not a pumpkin pie fan, but she is a foodie who used to write restaurant reviews for the Register. She also voted for Coco’s. (They did not sit near each other during the tasting!)

The Dessert Goddess cast the sole vote for Polly’s Pies. While most everyone was put off by the texture and lack of pumpkin flavor in this pie, The Dessert Goddess gave Polly’s a gold star for being “custardy” and for having “a nice balance of spices.”

“Looked bad, and tasted bad” were the main comments levied at pie No. 4 from Trader Joe’s, which cost $4.99.  (I agreed. I did not vote, but I was really disappointed that Trader Joe’s would sell such a horrible pie. The Personal Chef, who used to work at the Trader Joe’s sample counter in Seattle, later told me that TJ’s bakery goods are notoriously awful. Now she tells me.)

Polly's Pie had a lighter look, and tasted more like a pumpkin custard pie. Cost: $10.49

Conclusion: I personally liked Marie Callender’s and Coco’s pies. If you’re going for a sweet, sugary, pumpkin-packed pie, go with Marie’s. If you want something with a bit more cinnamon and nutmeg flavor, go with Coco’s. I had high hopes for Polly’s Pies, but I couldn’t get past the custard taste.  It was too eggy for me.  But, hey, remember, the Dessert Goddess loved it!

Tell us: Did our unscientific taste test get it right? Did we choose the best pumpkin pie? Do you know of a better value pumpkin pie? Write in and let us know. For some unique pie recommendations in O.C., go to YelpOC.

Coco’s deal alert: In an unprecedented move, Coco’s is discounting its pumpkin pies for the holidays. The price: $6.99 through the end of the year. (The deal is also good at Coco’s sister chain Carrows. The Carrows pie was not sampled for this test, but Coco’s reps say the pie is the same as Coco’s.)

Post from: Fast Food Maven

• 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 )

Post from: Fast Food Maven

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:

Post from: Fast Food Maven

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.

“The Six Dollar Cheeseburger provides another option for burger lovers to get a delicious premium-quality burger at a better value than our competitors,” said Andrew F. Puzder, Chief executive of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s.

The introduction comes as Carl’s Jr. faces stiff competition from rivals who are offering deeper discounts on burgers. Puzder recently blamed the dollar menu wars for poor sales at the chain.

Even though Carl’s Jr. doesn’t have a formal $1 menu, Mansfield said the chain is trying to offer more “value” to customers. The Six Dollar Cheeseburger and the Big Carl are examples of new menu items that offer high-quality menu items at a good price, she said.

Big Carl

Mansfield said she cannot provide any sales figures for the $2.49 Big Carl burger. However, the new burger, which rivals a Big Mac, has helped boost foot-traffic in stores, she said. To keep the momentum going, the chain is launching a Big Carl Combo Rewards Card promotion starting today.

With the purchase of any size Big Carl Combo (priced starting at $4.49), customers will receive a gift card with a possible value ranging from $1 to $100. The promotion runs Nov. 18 – Jan. 5.

Tell us: Is Carl’s Jr. doing enough discounting? Will you try the Six Dollar Cheeseburger?

Related stories:

• Carl’s Jr. creates a Big Mac copycat

Post from: Fast Food Maven