Here’s how it works:

Step 1:  Choose from beef, chicken, turkey or veggie.  Then decide how hungry you are:  1/3 lb, 2/3 lb or 1 lb patty.

Step 2:   Pick a cheese, any cheese! There are 10 choices to choose from.

Step 3:  Toppings – over 25 different toppings from grilled onions to grilled pineapples!  If you can imagine it, it’s probably on there.

Step 4:  Choose a sauce.  There are 18 different flavors.  You can pick your regular old mayo or try something different like roasted garlic aioli, korean bbq or sun-dried tomato vinaigrette!  The good thing is they give it to you on the side so you control how much sauce you want on your burger.

Step 5:  Lastly, choose a bun – english muffin, regular hamburger bun or honey wheat.

Sounds simple enough, right?  It’s actually pretty tough deciding what kind of burger you want.  How do you know what toppings go together?  What if it doesn’t taste good?  Well you’re in luck.  They have signature burgers set up with the perfect toppings and sauces if you can’t decide.

The Counter is sparsely located throughout California.  There’s one in the works for Pasadena, set to open in July.  For now, check them out in Corona, Irvine and Santa Monica. 

Peep the Counter culture phenomenon:  www.thecounterburger.com

The Counter

From 4pm – 8pm, vendors line the closed Mission Street to sell fresh vegetables and fruits.  I saw a fresh fish and meat vendor also!  If you don’t feel like tapping into your inner Giada or Martha Stewart, you can buy ready-made food.  While watching kids chase bubbles, we had gourmet tamales: BBQ chicken with melted gouda cheese.  Delishhhh!  We bought seasoned corn on the cob and sinful marble angel cake!  I think I overloaded on sugar, but it’s okay since we biked back home!  The evening was perfect!

The Twisted Vine

The Twisted Vine is a cute little wine bar in Downtown Fullerton.  After a long stressful week, I just wanted to go somewhere, have a glass of wine and unwind.  TTV was the perfect spot to do just that.   The atmosphere felt more sophisticated unlike most of the college-crowd bars in Fullerton.  It’s a really nice and intimate date spot- dark and candles lit up everywhere.

The wine list at the Twisted Vine was very detailed and descriptive.  I give a thumbs up to them for just that.  It helps in chosing what flavors your pallet is craving especially if you don’t know that  much about wines.  They have a nice selection and is very reasonably priced.  Besides that, the staff was very friendly and attentive.  They would help you choose something if you were unsure.

What goes well with wine?  Food of course, specifically cheese!  Check out the baked brie bread bowl and grilled cheese and tomato bisque.  Yuuuumm-o!

baked brie bread bowl

grilled cheese and tomato bisque

I would totally go back here again (double date, triple date, girl’s night out!?) 

Geraldine

We explored this place after a recommendation from a foodie train buddy of mine.  It was rainy sometime after I broke my wrist and I was craving soup to comfort my gloomy day.  This is what we ordered:

Wonton Noodle Soup

 The food didn’t disappoint.  The meat fell right off the bone in the short rib soup.  And the soup portions were pretty fulfilling.  I think I even had leftovers. 

One gripe that usually comes with a lot of Chinese restaurants was that the service sucked.  (I hate to discriminate, but it’s true.)  Half the time the waitresses look confused and the other half they seem rushed.  I would eat here again, but would likely order out.  They have multiple locations throughout the San Gabriel Valley.  Check them out:  www.phoenixfoodboutique.com.

Geraldine

She came home with one of these:

Donut Man Strawberry Donut Special

It was de-licious!  The donut was still warm and lightly crispy.  The strawberries were a little sour, but strawberries aren’t in season now anyway.   I’ve heard that the peach special is better.  I’d have to give it a shot if I’m ever in the area.

Another yummy donut on the menu is the tiger tail.  It would be best described as a mix between a twist and chocolate bar.  It’s basically a twist donut with chocolate drizzled in it. 

Tiger Tail

Check it out if you’re ever craving a donut:  915 E Route 66, Glendora, CA 91740.

(photos courtesy of yelp.)

Geraldine

Fine Italian dining in Brea??   I think not!!!

Kris and I came across this place last night as a plan C D E F…Z due to my tardiness and the rain.  You may have passed by this place walking in downtown Brea.  It’s comfortably nestled near the old Tower Records building.  I’ll admit, when I would pass by this restaurant in the past, I would think it was bougie.  I beg to differ!

First impressions to me mean a lot.  When you walk into a restaurant and what looks to be the bus boy comes to seat you, it’s not a good sign of what’s to come.  (Looking at the website, though, I think it might have been the “chef/owner/renaissance man”.)  The menu was not impressive, but seemed to have potential.  I immediately saw the carpaccio and knew I had to order it.  Kris ordered the bruschetta to start.  When the appetizers came, instead of my carpaccio came a plate of calamari.  I thought about just eating it but was already craving the carpaccio.  So we tell the server that was not what I had ordered.  Moments later he returns with a nicely plated dish.  I couldn’t wait to dig into the raw meat and capers.  I took my first bite and started to gag.  The meat was FROZEN!!!!!!!! FROZEN!  I could hear the ice crunch as I bit into it.  I had to forget about my manners and quickly spit it out.  Needless to say, the rest of the meal was dismal.

There are eateries where I may not enjoy the meals completely but am willing to give the place another shot because maybe I just didn’t order the right thing.  Pane e Vino Trattoria is not one of those places.  I would never go back to this place and would not suggest anyone to dine there.

Geraldine

Presenting the Royal/T

It’s hard to categorize this unique cafe, since the space is a fusion of cafe/shop/art space surrounded by Japanese culture. Art and design from contemporary Japan greets everyone on the way in to the Cafe- Murakami prints to the giant kid robot toys. The waitresses are known as “maids,” for their outfits or maybe for the perky personalities that welcome each guest.

The food choice is just as funky as the surrounding art- Ponzu Salmon for appetizer and Flank Steak with mashed potatoes. The entree’s often change, but the good tea and drinks stay- soju cocktails, 15 different kinds of loose leaf tea, wine, sake or beer. 

Recommends: Royal/T Milk Tea // Budding Jasmine Rose Tea // Ponzu Salmon // Grilled Chicken over rice and vegetables

http://www.royal-t.org/cafe/
-stephen

Today I picked up Port Salut from this awesome cheese store in Silverlake, appropriately named The CheeseStore of Silverlake.

The beautiful aroma of stinky cheese hits you as you enter the door!

There is also a wine section and classy things like gourmet olives and cute necessities for any grand evening.

All I did was go up to the obvious cheese freak behind the counter and asked,

“What’s a good cheese to pair with Moscato D’Asti (my draaank right now)?”

It took her just one guess to figure out what would make me swoon.  After I sampled Port Salut, I was done for!

There were so many choices, but I was eager to get out of there and make out with my new cheese!

-Steff

Rivera Restaurant Opens in Downtown Los Angeles – Menu!

Check out what our new President is having for lunch:  http://www.chiff.com/a/inauguration-luncheon-menu.htm#menu

-G