Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop’s success started with turkey

With Thanksgiving only a few days away, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop’s story is perfect for the holiday occasion. In 1976, Lois Margolet and her brother, Alan, lived in Little Italy in Wilmington, DE. Even though there were sandwich shops around, Lois wanted to create something unique. A boarded-up building beneath their apartment would be the launching point of this unique sandwich shop, named after their grandfather, Philip Capriotti. Lois’ unique shop starting making fresh whole turkey overnight completely setting them apart from their competition. Word spread about their sandwiches and expansion started in 1987. Franchising continued the expansion and Capriotti’s Sandwich Shops are now found across the USA.

Try one of their signature turkey sandwiches or if you’re looking for something different, try these sandwiches:

Slaw Be Jo ($8.69) is a signature sub made with slow-cooked roast beef, provolone cheese, Russian dressing, cole slaw, and mayo. The flavor of the slow-cooked roast beef is like the best pot roast you’ve ever had with tender texture. The dressing, cole slaw, and mayo keeps the sandwich moist. Provolone cheese adds a creamy element but does not over take the flavor of the roast beef.  Rating: 5/5

Cheese Steak ($8.99) is award-winning and made with premium grilled steak, melted white American cheese, fried onions, and your choice of hot or sweet peppers. The steak is tender making this a truly amazing cheesesteak although I would prefer provolone instead of American cheese. The bread is fantastic and reminds me of Amoroso Bread found in Philadelphia, sturdy yet spongy with a good crust. Rating: 4.5/5

I love that they have Wise Potato Chips! Sometimes I can find it at Walmart, but not all the time. I always pick up a bag when I am traveling on the East Coast. They are just perfect with a great sandwich!

If you’re in the Thanksgiving mood and just can’t get enough turkey or you’ve had your fill and need a change of pace, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop has you covered.

Atmosphere: 4 out of 5 stars

Décor: 4 out of 5 stars

Service: 5 out of 5 stars

Food: 5 out of 5 stars

For more information:
Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop

216 N. Azusa Ave.

Covina, CA 91722

+1.626.966.4007

Hours: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Parking: Free shopping center lot

If you enjoyed this blog post, check these out:

- Stefano’s has a second location in Laguna Hills, California

- Boudin SF is bringing BBQ pork to the menu for a limited time!

- Inside look at the Top 10 sandwich competition at the World Food Championships

- Inside look at the sandwich and burger first round competitions at the World Food Championships

- QS Deli springs from the ashes of its Squares Deli past in Lake Forest, California 

Best Lunch Meeting Spots In OC

As a corporate event planner by trade, I am always on the lookout for great restaurants to host meetings. Since the sales force is usually from different parts of the country (and international), coming up with the perfect balance of food and conducive meeting space can sometimes be a challenge. With many companies having their headquarters in Orange County, the challenge of finding a lunch meeting spot comes down to choosing one. We have so many great choices for restaurants here with great spaces, menu selection to appease even the pickiest appetites or adhering to dietary restrictions (like gluten-free, vegetarian, low-fat, low-carb, etc.), and centralized locations where it is convenient for everyone to meet. Here are some great restaurants to try for your next lunch meeting.

Anepalco (inside ALO Hotel)
3737 W. Chapman Ave.
Orange, CA 92868
(714) 456-9642

Chef Daniel Godinez amazes guests with modern Mexican culinary imagery at Anepalco. Chef Daniel utilizes a style of Mexican cooking known as Cocina de Autor, a rare find in Orange County. It is can also be classified as BajaMed or Mexiterranean cuisine. His restaurant is located just off the 5 Freeway at Chapman Avenue in Orange, inside the ALO Hotel. The restaurant has a spacious patio and its upscale, recently remodeled interior allows guests to experience California’s sunshine indoors or out. Lunch specialties include Pork Belly Tartine, Ceviche, Chilaquiles, and Huitlacoche Burger.

BRIO Tuscan Grille
774 Spectrum Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 341-0380

Courtesy of BRIO Tuscan Grille

BRIO Tuscan Grille just recently introduced its new “Moderno” menu of food and drinks which is ideal for professionals seeking a restaurant to hold a lunch meeting with colleagues and/or clients. The new menu features: 13 new entrees, enticing small plates for two, a renewed drink selection, and a chic menu design. Some new menus items include a Crab Crusted Salmon, Sicilian Cauliflower, Balsamic Braised Short Ribs, and Roasted Tomato Basil Fettuccine. BRIO not only has comfortable indoor seating and a beautiful patio area, they also offer guests a private area that can be reserved for groups of 20 to 40 attendees.

Settebello
7864 E. Coast Hwy.
Newport Coast, CA 92657
(949) 715-2072

Courtesy of Settebello

Settebello is located in Newport Beach’s Crystal Cove Shopping Center offering delectable food, craft cocktails, and a spectacular setting, day or night. Inspired by the Naples region of Italy, Settebello centers on pizzas with hand-tossed, thin crusts topped with farm-fresh artisanal ingredients. 5,000 square feet of dining space includes a large central bar, lounge seating, and dining room studded with olive trees and open ceiling. Other than pizza, they also serve delectable entrees like Cotto E Funghi Crostini and Salmon Focaccia. This a great place to get away from the office and transport yourself to Italy, at least for an hour or two.

Boudin SF
333 Bristol St. Space 1000
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 689-2253

Boudin SF offers a unique dining experience with its Boudin SF concept, a fast-casual restaurant. It is known for its comfortable and casual ambience, quick service and diverse menu, offering a wide range of items from fresh, satisfying salads and sandwiches to heartier comfort fare such as their signature, Baguette Burger. With both indoor and outdoor seating, roomy booths and well-lit dining rooms, Boudin SF is a centrally-located restaurant offering busy professionals a convenient haven for intimate business engagements or alternatively, with its mobile ordering option, the ideal spot for lunch on-the-go dining. They also offer an extensive catering menu, ideal for in-office meetings and corporate gatherings.

Bistango
19100 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 752-5222

Courtesy of Bistango

Bistango is a renowned for its diverse menu of fine American cuisine. The setting has an airy atmosphere with large umbrellas suspended from the ceiling to create a more intimate experience. Executive Chef Timothy Doolittle holds the reins of the kitchen using his experience learned from master chefs, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse. The restaurant interior was designed by internationally renowned architect, Michael Carapetian, and is the perfect backdrop to the restaurant quarterly-rotating art exhibitions. Along with its 500-bottle wine list, Bistango offers an extensive menu of classic and specialty cocktails and 30 craft beers by the bottle.

If you enjoyed this blog post, check out these:

• Seasons 52 unveils their autumn menu in Costa Mesa, California
• Anepalco showcases “Cocina de Autor” cuisine in Orange, California
• BRIO Tuscan Grille: New “Moderno” Menu at Irvine Spectrum Center
• FIG & OLIVE celebrates the spring bounty with new menu in Newport Beach, California
• Have a D’Vine Mediterranean experience in Fullerton, California

Best Local OC Artists

I grew up with art. My mom is an artist with an amazing sense of balance. I followed in her footsteps taking the medium to the next level with graphic design. I started as a storyboard artist for the Food Concept and Product Development group for Disney’s California Adventure. As a shared cast member of the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney Imagineering, I made my Disney dream come true. I graduated from college with an Associates of Arts degree in Advertising Graphic Design and began my career outside of Disney. My knowledge has taken me in many different areas from promotional products, automotive marketing, direct mail advertising, restaurant product development, to medical device marketing.

Just like me, every artist has a unique story and journey. Their art, using a variety of mediums like oil or acrylic paints, charcoals, pastels, pencils, and even using a computer, laptop, or tablet, convey a thought with each stroke. Combining the strokes puts the story together with color and imagery. If you have ever been to an art museum or art show and wondered why people will stand or sit in front of a piece of art and just stare, they are following the flowing strokes and lines to understand what the artist is conveying, focusing on details, experiencing the colors, etc. Sometimes, your mind will transport you into the painting as if you are there – aroma of flowers, wind rustling through blades of grass, or the sound of the waves as they crash on a sandy beach. Experience it yourself with these local Orange County Artists.

Courtesy of Patricia Matranga

Patricia Matranga was born in 1956 and raised in the Midwest. She has always had an appreciation of nature. In 1991, after a long career in the computer industry, she decided to stay at home and care for her two young sons and take over the computer aspects of her husband’s business. Patricia also took this time to experiment and explore her creative side. Her love of nature, everyday life, and environment inspired and flourished in her paintings and began painting full time in 2013. Some of her works are done “Alla Prima” (all in one session) while others may take weeks to complete. She prefers oils but has worked in a variety of mediums. Her influences come from Joaquin Sorrolla, William Wendt, and John Singer Sargent as well as current prominent artists. She had her first solo gallery show this year in Laguna.

Courtesy of Nancy Egan

Nancy Egan has art running through her veins. Her father, a Yale fine arts graduate, taught and inspired her through her formative years. She pursued a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management. She applied her education designing and manufacturing computers. This scientific art evolved into contemporary fine art. Nancy has worked full time as a professional oil painter for the last fifteen years. Her influences come from Leonardo DiVinci, John Singer Sargent, and local artist like Ken Auster, Michael Obermeyer, and Elizabeth Tolley. Her works have sold both nationally and internationally.

Courtesy of Emilee Reed

Emilee Reed spent 30 years with one of the most creative companies of them all, The Walt Disney Co. And just like Disney, Emilee is drawn to the excitement, surprise, and wonder of watercolor. She does a detailed study of her subject and then plans each step of the painting to capture all of the special nuances. Her work has also been published in “The Art Lover’s Cookbook” and “International Contemporary Masters IV” and is available at the Laguna Beach Watercolor Gallery in the Art Center. Her influences come from Don Hendricks, former Fullerton resident artist and instructor at Fullerton College, and Birgit O’Connor.

Courtesy of Joshua Serafin

Joshua Serafin grew up in Huntington Beach and is a leader in the beach culture art movement. In 1999, his Sunset Resolution, a photographic diary of a year of sunsets, made him a household name. With the natural beauty of the coastline, ocean depths, and the combination of the two evoke joy and peace through each of his paintings. As he has grown as an artist, so has his art. Serafin moved from canvas to panel boards to glass where he uses the ancient art of reverse technique painting while using oil paints and various mediums to change the texture and appearance of the paint. His influences come from Mark Rothko, Vincent Van Gogh, Gustave Klimt, and Ken Auster.

Courtesy of Susan Leonhard

Susan Leonhard comes from an artistic family so creative art is in her genes. She is self-taught and began oil painting at the age of 10. She is fascinated with the beauty of water. She began her Underwater & Beyond series in 2014. This series of painting has been the most challenging and most rewarding for her. She was inspired while on a trip to Kauai – how to translate the beauty of water and peacefulness of the underwater to canvas. Susan’s paintings have been featured in publications such as, “The Art Lover’s Cookbook”, “Gladys” magazine, and “The Creative Way”. Her influences come from Richard Schmit, Leonard Wren, and Ken Auster.