Brunch at Tortilla Jo’s in Downtown Disney!| @TortillajosDTD #TortillaJos

Brunch at Tortilla Jo’s!

By Erin

What could be better than brunch? Having brunch at the Happiest Place on earth, or right next to it at Downtown Disney, then getting to go play at Disneyland afterwards! Tortilla Jo’s is the place to be when visiting Downtown Disney. Even if you don’t have an annual pass or ticket to go inside the parks to experience that magic, you can still have plenty of fun at the Downtown Disney District which has an abundance of incredible shops and restaurants. Thanks to Gigasavvy’s Social Club, I got to experience Downtown Disney’s Tortilla Jo’s weekend brunch, complete with bottomless mimosas and their famous margaritas. It sounded like the perfect start to the weekend to me! 🙂

Tortilla Jos Entrance

Celebrating the culinary heritage of Mexico, Tortilla Jo’s boasts south-of-the-border Mexican cuisine, known for their delicious tableside guacamole, and tequila libations which all promote the authenticity of their open kitchen restaurant. A gorgeous sweeping view of the promenade can be seen from the outdoor patio and balcony. The inside cantina is home to over 100 types of tequila that give your margarita an unforgettable flavor, be sure to try the mango margarita! The vibrant spirit and modern pueblo atmosphere make dining at Tortilla Jo’s an experience not to be missed. Don’t forget your Mickey or Minnie ears and take a look at that view! 😉

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After getting a chance to enjoy the view, have a mimosa, and look over the brunch menu, we enjoyed our choice of salsa: red mild, chipotle or green and chips. I had the red salsa, and it was amazing, just look at it! So fresh and the flavor was just right. Our table went through many bowls of this delicious salsa.

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To balance out the salty flavors from the chips and salsa, next up we had the fresh fruit plate. All entrees on the brunch menu at Tortilla Jo’s come with fresh fruit! I could eat fruit all day, even if it’s as beautifully displayed as it is here! Raspberries, blackberries, pineapple, mango, blueberries, melon, strawberries and more, I could snack on this all day.

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Now for the BIG decision we had to make at our table. What kind of Margarita to get? Peach? Mango? Strawberry? Cadillac? It all sounded so good, but it came down to two different favorites at our table. Peach and Mango. Now just to note, only one of those below is mine! I did not have all of those. My choice? The Mango. It had an interesting creamy feel to it, smooth without having any pulp. It had plenty of tequila in it, but not to the point that it was too strong that you could not enjoy it. I just love the glasses they were served in too. So pretty! Of course we were also served the bottomless mimosas if we wanted more of those, but these Mango Margaritas were what I ended up sticking with they were that good.

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The first entree item that we sampled, was the Huevos Rancheros! A delicious combination of corn tortillas, refried beans, two sunny side up eggs, salsa ranchera, cotija cheese, and papas a la Mexicana. This dish created the perfect blend of spice and seasoning to compliment the cheeses and eggs. This one was my favorite savory dish of the day.

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Kay N Daves: The Perfect Spot for Sunday Brunch in Culver City!| @Kayndaves #Kayndaves

Kay N Daves: The Perfect Spot for Sunday Brunch

By Erin

Brunch. Who doesn’t love brunch? It’s the perfect way to spend a weekend morning or afternoon. Sipping on an amazing cocktail and munching on some delicious food while enjoying the good company of friends and family aways makes for a great day in my eyes!

When I was invited to brunch with the Gigasavvy crew, a delightful group of fellow foodies, I couldn’t resist. Hosted by Kay N  Daves Cantina in Culver City, we were in for a special treat! Kay N Daves also has locations in Brentwood and Pacific Palisades.

Kay N Daves has been a favorite neighborhood gathering spot since 1991 with their location on Pacific Coast Highway. In 1992 the Pacific Palisades location was opened, followed by Brentwood in 1995 and Culver City in 2009. Owned and operated by Dave and his wife, Jintana. Neither Dave or his wife are chefs, so they brought on Alejo Grijalva to run the kitchens with his two brothers, Ruben and Roberto. They grew up in Oaxaca with a love of food that their great-grandmother taught them, cooking using only the freshest of ingredients. That love and knowledge of food can be seen today at Kay n Daves.

Kay N Daves

We started off our morning at Kay N Daves with a martini shot glass holding a refreshing watermelon shot made with fresh muddled watermelon. Plenty strong, it was the perfect way to get the party started. We were seated around a big round table that had a fire pit in the middle, which really added to the atmosphere, making it a great meeting spot to hang out at for a leisurely Sunday Brunch. Even on a chilly California-winter’s day, you will be kept plenty warm. 😉

Kay N Daves MargaritasThe next drink we tried was the Tamarindo Margarito. Made with Xicaru Mezcal and served with a chili-rimmed glass, this was my least favorite of the drinks we enjoyed. I’m more of a fruity drink girl, so this one isn’t for me like the others were, like the next drink you see below…now THAT I could drink. All. Day. Long….

Blackberry Margarita

Mmmmm don’t those look amazing? My favorite drink of the day, the Blackberry Margarita! Made with fresh muddled blackberries and mint. Topped with chunks of blackberry, lime and mint that mask the tequila well. It is very easy to drink and perfect to quench your thirst, just be careful, it’s one of those drinks you can drink a lot of without realizing just how much alcohol you’ve had until you’ve had 2 or 3 and it catches up to you! 😉 But boy is it good!Kay N Daves Guac

The starter plate was one for all of the senses to enjoy. Beautifully presented, the smells, the tastes, the textures, it was one to delight all of your senses. Starting from the bottom of the plate we had, The Mini Pibil Sope— cochinita pork pibil, oven-roasted in banana leaves with agave leaves. The Ceviche Tostada–sole marinated in fresh lime juice. The Squash Blossom Relleno— fresh blossoms, jack cheese, Mexican Herbs, crema and pico de gallo. The Mini Chicken Mole Taco–mole negro, that is made from scratch. They were all delicious, and I easily could have eaten two of each of these. My favorite of the four, just by a hair though, would be the Squash Blossom Relleno. So. Good. I’m more than ready to go back for more!Kay N Daves Brunch

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Sharky’s Where You Can Feel Good About Eating & Gifting! $25 Giftcard Giveaway!

Sharky’s Where You Can Feel Good About Eating & Gifting!

By Erin

In the spirit of giving, Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill has graciously offered two gift cards, each valued at $25 to two Horsing Around In LA readers. Want to enter? Fill out the form below by December 22nd at 11:59pm for your chance to enjoy some delicious eats at Sharky’s on us.

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Sharky’s has some other great deals going on as well, that anyone can enjoy. At Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill®, the mission is all about serving made-to-order, flavorful Mexican-inspired dishes that offer everyone the chance to “Feel Good About Eating.” Now, guests can also feel good about gifting this holiday season by sharing the experience with their family, friends, co-workers, teachers and other special people, and receive a holiday bonus for themselves. Guests can purchase $25 in gift cards through Thurs., Dec. 24,  and will receive a $5 bonus card that can be redeemed from Fri., Jan. 1, 2016 to Tues., Mar. 1, 2016.

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During this time of year, it can be a real struggle to stay on top of eating healthy & not over indulging with all of the holiday parties and get togethers.  At Sharky’s, it is completely possible to enjoy an awesome fast-casual meal, and not consume a huge amount of calories. This is why I LOVE the “Get it Naked” Menu.  Featuring items with lower calories and lower fat, the “Get it Naked” menu, has a lot of good options, with tons of flavor.

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If you are still looking for something to give for the foodie lover on your holiday list, then Sharky’s is the answer. You can feel good about gifting this holiday season and share the Sharky’s experience with your family, friends, co-workers, and other special people in your life and receive a holiday bonus for yourself. Be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of two $25 Gift Cards to enjoy the season! Ends 12/23/15 at 12AM PST. See the sweepstakes section on the blog for all rules.

Who will you give the gift of Sharky’s to this holiday season?

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS & GOOD LUCK! 🙂