Burgers and Craft Cocktails at Black Box!

Burgers and Craft Cocktails at Black Box!

By Erin

If you are looking for the perfect place to enjoy a craft cocktail and tasty burger in Orange County, I have found the place for you! The other week I was checking out the new Black Box in downtown Santa Ana (DTSA) at a media tasting and was anxious to see what the former Little Sparrow Restaurant has blossomed into. The Black Box has a very eclectic feel to it. There is a family dining area and a separate speakeasy area down a hallway that one can walk down to that is located on the right of the kitchen. I absolutely loved the atmosphere of this place!!

Black-Box-Inside

The bar area is very cozy, a few tables and seats maybe 30 people max. The mixologist are amazing and they put so much love into each drink. The drink menu is also very eclectic but there are some classics that are lovely. Just look at that bar! It’s a very large well-stocked bar.

Black-Box-Bar

We chose to sit on the cozy speakeasy side that boasts a Deborah Harryesque mural on the far wall.

Black-Box-Santa-Ana

The atmosphere is very casual, chill and friendly. You could easily spend hours just hanging out and catching up with friends or enjoy a very chill date night here. Upon arriving, our server offered our group their ‘Welcome Punch’. It was the perfect start to a very relaxing evening. After we all looked at the cocktail menu though, we found many others that looked tempting to try as well. Below is the delicious and refreshing Welcome Punch displayed on the bar.

Black-Box-Welcome-Punch

The Welcome Punch. I could have easily just had this all night, but decided to be a little adventurous and tried a couple others too. They do make the drinks very strong here, so you should be good after a couple of drinks. I couldn’t finish all of mine.

Black-Box-Welcome-Drink

Each of the drinks were just as delicious as they were pretty. These are the two drinks I had and sipped throughout the evening. The Changeling, $11 on the left: House made strawberry shrub, muddled basil, lemon, Jamaican bitters wth choice of vodka or bourbon. I chose vodka for mine. The one of the right is the Barkeeps Inspiration, $15 Let them know your mood, favorite liquor, or drink preference and they’ll mix something up to suit. I asked for something fruity and a little on sweet side with vodka.

Black-Box-Mixed-Drinks

A couple other options that friends ordered included the Penecillin #2, $12 which consisted of Mezcal, ginger, honey, lemon, and Fernet Vallet mist.

Continue reading »

Helping to Choose the New Johnny Rockets Vegetarian Menu & Giveaway!

Helping to Choose the New Johnny Rockets Vegetarian Menu & Giveaway!

By Erin

The other week I had the opportunity to participate in a unique focus group with other local foodies and bloggers for Johnny Rockets to taste test the entries in contention to become the next vegetarian burger for Johnny Rockets. Johnny Rockets  is famous for their delicious original hamburgers and fountain drinks and now they are working hard to create additional vegetarian burger options to add to their menu to redefine the burger experience. Johnny Rockets operates more than 350 franchise and corporate locations in 28 countries around the world. In one year, Johnny Rockets serves up 17 million burgers, 11.3 million soda pops, 8.3 million Shakes and Malts, 8 million pounds of Fries and 815,000 gallons of ice cream. That’s a lot of food and drinks!

Johnny Rockets Block at Orange

Johnny Rockets prides itself on bringing people together around hand-crafted burgers. Offering guests a classic, yet modern dining experience with a chef-inspired menu that showcases a passion for food with their burgers and sandwiches, fries, and hand-spun shakes made with premium ice cream. Cooking up made-to-order burgers with 4 protein options available: fresh, never frozen 100% domestic farm-raised beef, farm-fresh chicken, ground turkey, and Boca Burger. So, which one of these new vegetarian options is going to make the cut?

Each participant was given a score sheet to mark down the ratings and crackers to cleanse the palate. Each patty was so different, it wasn’t as easy at it may look!

JR Tasting Card

Continue reading »

Brunch at Saint Marc Pub-Cafe, Bakery & Cheese Affinage in Huntington Beach! | @SaintMarcUSA

Brunch at Saint Marc Pub-Cafe, Bakery & Cheese Affinage

By Erin

I’ve found a very tasty brunch spot in a beautiful location that you must try and they have a bacon bar! Saint Marc – Pub, Cafe, Bakery & Cheese Affinage at Pacific City in Huntington Beach, California, is a remarkable concept that offers exceptional, nostalgic Americana cuisine. Boasting both a very pet friendly and family friendly environment, Saint Marc does an excellent job of blurring the lines between kitchen, staff and customer, with all of its open spaces that reveal the restaurant’s heart and soul.  The staff is more than happy to give you their expert advice on Saint Marc’s unique selection of distinctive food and hydration available at your table or  you can choose to make your own selections from free-standing iPad stations at your table.

Saint-Marc-Huntington-Beach

The chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and hospitality industry mavericks, are all dressed to match in chef’s coats. Saint Marc offers a very unique, one-of-a-kind, 360° morning to midnight experience without the expense and exclusivity you might expect from culinary talents of this degree and with such high quality food and drink.

Bacon-Bar-Saint-Marc-Huntington-Beach

You are free to order what you want when you want it, free-flow bread from the bakery is available, over 100 cheese selections from boards to fondue, craft beers in a can, 32 wines on draught, with mixology served in Red Solo Cups and dishes served on faux paper plates, is just a small sampling of what makes Saint Marc so unique.

Drinks-Brunch-Saint-Marcs-Huntington-Beach

Located along the Huntington Beach coastline within the vibrant new Pacific City Marketplace, Saint Marc’s flagship establishment engages all of the senses, with worldly sights, sounds, aromas and flavors that invoke a five-star experience yet provide an environment as open and welcoming as home. As we were seated, we were welcomed with these light and refreshing Aperol Spritz.

Saint-Marc-Bacon

We had heard about the bacon bar here and were eager to try some of their delicious bacon creations. The bacon bar is open for to-go orders now too. The Bacon Bar offers 11 signature flavors of bacon ‘buy’ the slice — including the Baker’s Double Smoked Bacon, Garlic Parmesan Bacon, Paprika Slanina Bacon, Peppered Country Bacon, Tender Belly Maple Bacon, Baker’s English Style Bacon, Zoe’s Applewood Uncured Bacon, Apple Pie Bacon, Tender Belly Habanero, Logwood Double Cut and Coffee Rubbed Bacon. My favorite one of them all was the Apple Pie Bacon. At a close second were the Baker’s English Style Bacon and the Garlic Parmesan Bacon. This bacon bar is a real treat for all the bacon lovers out there! 🙂

Continue reading »