Tom's Foodie Blog

“Great and Miserable” is how I sum up my experience at Great Maple restaurant in Newport Beach. I  loved their seasonal approach to their menu with exciting dishes like portobello fries, grass-fed beef and venison.  Having seen this restaurant in the past, I was very excited to give it a try. Although my entire party [...]

As I previously reported, Provisions Market will being opening soon in Old Town Orange, replacing Bruery Provisions. I recently attended a preview for Provisions Market and I was extremely impressed by what I experienced. The niche that Provisions Market fills is what I am calling “Gastro Hangout.” So what is a gastro hangout? I think [...]

For the past year there has been rumors of a unique gourmet doughnut shop opening up in Costa Mesa called “Sidecar.” During the Locale Magazine party, I was able to try their doughnuts for the first time from the back of their 1959 Bakery Delivery Van. I was impressed with the flavor of their doughnuts [...]

When I was a young college student, I was always looking for happy hours with cheap drinks and a chicken wing buffet. Since then, I have gained a few white hairs and developed an appreciation for quality food and craft cocktails. Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s is known for being one of the best white tablecloth restaurants [...]

Like many foodies I have a not so secret love affair with bacon and my addiction is now being enabled by the opening of Slater’s 50/50 down the street from me in Lake Forest. This new Slater’s 50/50 will only fuel my bacon passions. If you’ve never been to a Slater’s 50/ 50, it is [...]