The admission to this event was provided by Taste of Santa Ana but
the opinions expressed here are my own.
The
5th Annual Taste of Santa Ana was a great way to sample restaurants
in and around Santa Ana from the convenience of one place. Tasting events are
all about pacing yourself and being strategic. Sometimes when you get there,
these helpful tips can go out the window because: a) you didn’t eat all day
before the event started and/or b) your nose takes over and your taste buds
tell you to eat everything in sight.
Here
are some of my favorite bites:
The
Pizza Press presented Ice Cream Sandwiches – a scoop of their ice cream
sandwiched between two fresh baked cookies. The cookies were soft-baked, so it
didn’t crumble when I bit into the sandwich. So good!
Boudin
SF presented Turkey Havarti Sandwich – turkey breast, Havarti, tomatoes,
lettuce, and mayo on a sourdough baguette. I love Boudin’s bread! It brings
back memories for me – my first visit to San Francisco for a family reunion
back in the 1980’s and my days working for WDI when the Boudin Factory was
being built in the Pacific Wharf area of Disney’s California Adventure. At the
Taste of Santa Ana, they gave a hefty sandwich portion and it was just so good.
I love turkey and Havarti together and their sourdough bread made with mother
dough (nurtured over 166 years) really brings it all together. That’s why their
bread tastes the same no matter which location you go to.
Conchitas
and More presented their Fruity Conchita – a smaller version of a concha
(traditional Mexican sweet bread), hence conchita, filled with vanilla ice
cream mixed with Fruity Pebbles. I first tasted these delicious desserts at
Viva Los Tacos a few months ago and just fell in love with them. These also
bring back memories of my childhood. My dad worked in Santa Ana. On weekends,
he would bring home fresh Mexican breads and pastries. I always liked conchas
with their shell-like swirly design on top that came in different colors like
pink, white, and brown. Every time I see Conchitas and More, they bring a smile
to my face!
Mustache
Mike’s presented Da Bomb – cherry, lemon, blue razzberry swirled Italian ice. Mustache
Mike’s was one of the first food trucks around when I started my food writing
career almost 10 years ago. Da Bomb is my absolute favorite flavor. It is so
pretty like the American Flag in a cup – the flavors are like fireworks in your
mouth from the sweet cherry, the puckery lemon, and tart razzberry. Another vendor
that always puts a smile on my face!
Ritter’s
Steam Kettle Cooking presented Clam Chowder. It is hard to find a good New
England Clam Chowder now days, especially when you’re 3,000 miles away from the
Atlantic coast. My favorite place for it was Jimmy’s in Seal Beach, but they
closed a few years ago. What makes a good clam chowder is a roux-thickened
cream base, uniformly diced vegetables like potatoes, onions, and celery,
herbaceous seasoning, and LOTS of clams. Ritter’s has the best clam chowder
around Orange County. All I need is a sourdough bread boule from Boudin and I’m
set!
Hopefully, the YouTube video and these photos make
you hungry and plan for next year’s Taste of Santa Ana!
The menu items in this post were provided by Miguel’s Restaurants
but the opinions expressed here are my own.
Since
May 2017, I have been a loyal fan of Miguel’s Jr. Our home restaurant is in
Orange, but they have 15 locations throughout the Inland Empire and Orange
County. 2018 marks the 45th anniversary of their first restaurant,
Miguel’s, opened in Corona, CA. Two years later in 1975, their first fast food
concept, Miguel’s Jr., opened just two miles away.
Miguel's Jr. in Huntington Beach, opened in August 2017
To
kick off the celebration, Miguel’s and Miguel’s Jr. Restaurants invite the
community to Corona’s Citrus Splash Zone on Thursday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. This area was made possible by a generous donation by Miguel’s Restaurant
owners Mike and Mary Vasquez in 2008. They will also unveil recent renovations
to Citrus Splash Zone and present a re-dedication to the City of Corona. The first
300 guests to arrive at the Citrus Splash Zone will receive a complimentary
famous Miguel’s Jr. BRC (beans, rice, and cheese) burrito from the new Miguel’s
Jr. food truck.
Miguel's Jr. in Norco, opened in January 2018
Here
is a look at some of my favorite items from the Orange, Huntington Beach, and
Norco locations:
My
#1 favorite is the California Chile Burrito with added shredded beef. The
burrito has a chile relleno (Anaheim chile in grilled egg batter stuffed with
cheese), refried beans, Spanish rice, and cheddar cheese. I have loved chile
rellenos since I was in Pre-School and Kindergarten. My dad would pick me from Montessori
and we would stop at the 7-11 down the street. While I played Galaxian, my dad
would purchase and warm up chile relleno burritos for us for lunch. I know I am
dating myself, but this was a routine for me and my dad. Miguel’s Jr.’s version
brings back all of these childhood memories and tastes far better than those microwaved
burritos. It is full of flavor from the green chile, gooey cheese, hearty
refried beans, eggy batter, and tender shredded beef. The hubby always asks
what I want and 90% of the time, it’s the California Chile Burrito! Rating: 5/5
My
#2 favorite is Miguel’s Jr. Nachos. It come with your choice of shredded chicken
or beef atop tortilla chips with refried beans, Española sauce, cheddar cheese,
tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream. I love nachos in general and I love the nachos
at Miguel’s Jr.’s even more because of that shredded beef. It just has a hearty,
beefy flavor and just works well with very gooey cheese and refried beans. In
addition, the guacamole and sour cream contribute a nice creamy flavor. You can
share it as an appetizer or just have it as your meal. Rating: 5/5
If
you are looking for great tasting fast food, Miguel’s Jr. is the place to go
for quick Mexican food. Congratulations on your 45th Anniversary, Miguel’s!!!
Hours: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday
from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sunday from 8
a.m. to 10 p.m.
