Your Next Bite

Bird, Bird, Bird, Bird's The Word

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

It's time to 'Talk Turkey' – and all things 'Fowl' – because Thanksgiving is finally here.

Whether you want a traditional old-fashioned Turkey, prefer to mix-up your pick of Poultry, or to head out for the holiday, here's what to stuff your face with from LA to OC and Palm Springs, CA.

The Grubdown:

Turkey – Recipe from Bon Appetit Magazine

- classic, lemon zest sings, Turkey with Lemon-Sage Butter

Chicken – Plan Check Kitchen + Bar in Los Angeles, CA

- gritty crunchy outside with mildly sweet gravy, Smokey Fried Jidori Chicken with Smoked Milk Gravy, Yam Preserves & Spicy Pickled Okra

Duck – Little Next Door in Los Angeles, CA

- grand marnier 'n honey, Duck Breast a L'orange with Basmati Rice & Brussels Sprouts

Quail – La Pirozzi in Corona del Mar, CA

- tender, herbal, stuffed, and marinated, Quaglia Speck wrapped Quail stuffed with Wild Boar Sausage over Wild Southern Mushrooms

Foie Gras – Mister Parker's in Palm Springs, CA

- perfect sear, tender with toast crunch, zesty 'n sweet sauce, Foie Gras with Caramelized Belgium Endive, Brioche, Red Wine Date Sauce & Cocoa Nibs

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Make sure to wear your stretchy pants on the biggest eating holiday of the year.

Giving Brussels Sprouts the Spotlight

• 
• 
• 

Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, it's time to give Brussels Sprouts the spotlight.

This member of the Cabbage family has come quite a long way from the plain old steamed 'n bitter green your mama made you eat before leaving the table.

This day 'n age, it's a celebrated bar snack or side dish, usually glorified with Bacon fat or sweet caramelized Nuts.

Here's where to gather them together.

The Grubdown:

Social, Costa Mesa

- crunchy, nutty, sweet 'n fatty, Brussels Sprouts with Honey, Sweet Potato, House Tasso Ham & Hazelnuts $8

Playground, Santa Ana (Blog post to come!)

- genius new spin, Caesar Brussels Sprouts with crunchy Tortilla Chips, Cotija Cheese & Radish

Arc, Costa Mesa

- under-cooked inside, too much char on top 'n lacked acidity, Brussels Sprouts $9

• 
• 
• 

What Brussels Sprouts dishes are you thankful for?

What to cook this Thanksgiving

• 
• 
• 

Thanksgiving is one week away. It's that time of year to ponder about what you're grateful for (like the fact that Whole Foods Market let's you put your Turkey order in up to 3 days before T-Day), and then stuff yourself silly like a pilgrim.

So, if you haven't figured out what you're going to make yet, here's a list of some of my favorite recipes, from Breakfast treats to Turkey and Pumpkin Pie.

The Grubdown:

Breakfast - Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins

- spongey, subtle Pumpkin 'n Spice, Simple Mills Almond Flour Baking Mix with Organic Coconut Nectar, Arrowroot Powder, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Allspice, Cloves, Organic Vanilla Beans, Baking Soda & Celtic Sea Salt $8.99 (yields 12 small muffins)

Thanksgiving - Main Dish

- classic, lemon zest sings, Turkey with Lemon-Sage Butter

Thanksgiving - Trimmings

- woodsy, hearty, great for a vegetarian meal, Mixed-Mushroom and Tarragon Gravy from bon appetit

Thanksgiving - Side Dish

- so sinfully rich I'd cut the cream in half, Creamed Collared Greens with Thick Cut Bacon from bon appetit

Thanksgiving - Dessert

- crunchy 'n spicy crumbled Gingersnap Crust with creamy baked Pumpkin 'n sweet Brown Sugar filling, Alton Brown's Pumpkin Pie from food network

Happy Thanksgiving!

The BEST Pumpkin Pie recipe EVER from the master Alton Brown

Happy Thanksgiving Biters!

Every year, no matter whose family meal I'm attending or cooking myself, I make it tradition to be responsible for the Pumpkin Pie.

From Pecan & Chocolate Pie Crusts to Ginger Pepita Seed Toppings, nothing beats the classic Alton Brown Pumpkin Pie recipe.

A little more work & time is involved, since you have to make both the Pie Crust and Pumpkin Puree from scratch. But, your guests will surely thank you – especially when they're digging in for seconds.

The Grubdown:

- crunchy 'n spicy crumbled Gingersnap Crust with creamy baked Pumpkin 'n sweet Brown Sugar filling, Alton Brown's Pumpkin Pie

Recipe via FoodNetwork.com

 

Crust:
6 ounces gingersnap cookies
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 ounce unsalted butter, melted

Filling:
16 ounces Pumpkin Puree, recipe follows
1 cup half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk

Pumpkin Puree:

1 (4 to 6-pound) baking pumpkin, rinsed and dried
Kosher salt

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Have a bountiful Thanksgiving and a gourd-geous meal!

A Happy Thanksgiving Meal for Two

Last year the hand model surprised me with a hefty demand I will forever be grateful for. He knew it was our last Thanksgiving living in LA, so he nixed the usual family trip and decided to cook our first Thanksgiving dinner at home by ourselves.

Our menu for two – even though we had leftovers for days – consisted of new recipes from Bon Appetit and traditional recipes passed down from my family.

The Grubdown: (clockwise from bottom right)

- i always gotta start the meal right with my own healthy recipe for a tangy n crisp, Pomegranate Seed, Fennel & Kale Salad

- simple salt 'n pepper, buttery and fluffy, mom's Mashed Potatoes

- while I love mushrooms, it was a bit much, seems more like a fit for a vegetarian or vegan style meal, Mixed-Mushroom & Tarragon Gravy

- i love anything creamed but this recipe called for so much it killed it, i'd almost cut the portion in half next time, Creamed Collared Greens with Thick-Cut Smoked Bacon

- classic, lemon zest sings, Turkey with Lemon-Sage Butter (we adjusted measurements for an 8lb Turkey)

- my mom's famous, savory 'n spicy, Italian Sausage Stuffing (if I told you what was in it she'd make me kill you)

After all was said and eaten, the meal was a great success. Not to mention, our 1 bedroom apartment smelled like Thanksgiving for about 2 weeks.

Bon Appetit & Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

A very Vegan Thanksgiving at Native Foods Cafe

Photo courtesy of NativeFoods.com

If you've indulged all year long (like me), or just plain don't like turkey, then switch things up with a Vegan Thanksgiving at Native Foods Cafe.

Founded in Palm Springs circa 1994, Native Foods is known for their Zagat-rated "chef-crafted" Vegan cuisine that's actually carnivore-friendly. (Just try the Twister Wrap – you won't be disappointed.) 

This year they're serving their 18th annual "Native Wellington" (the faux meat is Seitan and it's chock full of savory veggies and stuffing). Eat it in-cafe (yes Native Foods is open Thanksgiving Day with 3 locations across SoCal) or take it home and bake it for 2 hours in the oven.

The Grubdown:

Take Home:

- Native Wellington with Seitan, Stuffing, Orange-Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Kale & Herbed Mushrooms all wrapped in a Puff Pastry and served with 16 oz. Mushroom Shallot Gravy $39.95 (serves 6-8)

- Organic Pumpkin Pie or Pumpkin Cheesecake $19.95 (serves 6-8)

Buffet Style Thanksgiving Day Menu:

- Native Wellington & Mushroom  Gravy

- Mashed Potatoes

- Native Stuffing

- Cranberry Compote

- Green Bean Casserole

- Green Bean Salad with Maple Glazed Pecans & Pomegranate Pearls

- Polenta Butternut Squash Terrine

- Wheatberry Waldorf

- Cornbread with butter

- Double Chocolate Brownies

- Organic Pumpkin Pike

- Pumpkin Cheesecake

All for $24.95 per adult/$14.95 per child under 12

Photo courtesy of NativeFoods.com

Reservations are a must, so check the times at your nearest location below and phone away!

Costa Mesa  11:30 am - 6:30 pm  714-751-2151
Tustin  11:30 am - 6 pm  714-259-0400
Westwood  11:30am - 7 pm  310-209-1055

Thanksgiving Day - Make it, Fake it, Forget it

• 
• 
• 
• 

Select photos courtesy of wholefoodsmarket.com, chicwinebar.com, thelittledoor.com

T-Day is right around the corner. For some, Thanksgiving is one big butterball of stress, for others it's a day to lay about. So whether you're making it, faking it, or forgetting it, here's a few places around town to help you out.

The Grubdown:

- MAKE IT:  Your local Whole Foods Market is taking orders now with 5 different types of Turkey to boot – Free Range, Heritage, Organic, Kosher, and Breast.

(Bite Advice: Spice things up with Bon Appetit's recipe for Tandoori Turkey. Pick up your spices at the brand new Dragunara Spice Bazaar conveniently located at The Original Farmers Market across from the Whole Foods on Fairfax & 3rd St.)

- FAKE IT:  Chic Rotisserie on Pico – known for their fowl – is offering a special $150 Thanksgiving Take Out Menu with a 12lb Citrus & Thyme Roasted Turkey, 1 quart Wild Mushroom Gravy, 1 pint Orange Cranberry Sauce, 2 quarts Cornbread Apple Sausage & Walnut Stuffing, and Choice of 2 sides like Smoked Chile Scalloped Sweet Potatoes and Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots & Mushrooms.

(You can also get just the 12lb Turkey + Gravy for $90. *Orders must be placed by Monday Nov. 21st @ Noon. Pick up is Wednesday Nov. 23rd from 11am-5pm, and Thanksgiving Thursday from 9am-12pm.)

- FORGET IT:  Do like the French do and enjoy a leisurely long Thanksgiving Special $36 Prix Fixe at The Little Next Door.  Appetizer: Roasted Butternut Squash & Pomegranate Salad with Maple Syrup Vinaigrette. Entree: Roasted Natural Turkey with Giblet Gravy, Country Mushroom Stuffing, Potato Puree, Green Beans & Cranberry Sauce. Dessert Choices: Pumpkin Pie with Praline Custard or Caramelized Pecan Pie with Earl Grey Sauce.

(Bite Advice: Swap the extra slice of pie out for their guilt-free gluten-free French Macaroons.)

Happy Stuff Your Face Day!