TopFeatured.com

A light soup-centric supper is a welcome bit of simplicity during the holidays. Canned garbanzo beans are a delicious addition to vegetable soup, making the mix seem hearty enough to be a one-bowl meal. This blueprint recipe is open to loads of variations. Switch up the vegetables to suit the season or your taste buds…

Cookbooks make great holiday gifts, especially when they are practical and help to produce foolproof dishes. Deborah Schneider, executive chef at Sol and Solita restaurants that include locations in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Playa Vista and Valencia, has written an excellent new book, “The Essential Mexican Instant Pot Cookbook” (Ten Speed Press, $19.99).  It showcases…

If Christmas cheer for you means having a little adult happy juice, then we have good news for you. The Disneyland Resort is offering some special cocktails just for the holiday season, available now through Jan. 6, mostly at the Festival marketplace booth in Disney California Adventure, but other spots around the resort have some…

Tamale fans, if you’ve got plans for this weekend, cancel them. That’s because the Indio International Tamale Festival takes place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, on the streets of downtown Indio. The festival — the world’s largest — takes between Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard, along…

How’s the pizza? Press Release Distribution Service

Glad I checked its Facebook page, looks like Flourchild’s Bakery will be open today, December 15, for the 2nd annual cookie exchange. https://www.facebook.com/events/420226001989060/ Press Release Distribution Service

Finally made it back here last May for a solo dinner. The menu has expanded considerably and the place was busy even at the very beginning of dinner hour. The Wuxi style wontons, $10.99, still comfort. New to me, Wuxi style DUCK with brown sauce, $19.99 for half, not so much. Served room temperature the…

Last weekend I made a pit stop at Q’s Halal Mediterranean in Vallejo for a quick dinner and a break from driving in the rain storm. This location has been open for 10 months. I’d been enjoyed the Richmond branch that has pizza as well as the regular menu on 9/11 a couple years ago.…

My first bite of real sushi was at Ichi Maki in Fairfield California. Ichi was a family run budget oriented affair. The standouts for me were the Chef Special 1 and 2. Chef Special 1 was a tasty deep fried potato based roll with cream cheese, but it was completely outclassed by Chef Special 2.…

On Monday William and I stopped by Su Zhe Eatery for lunch. It opened on Thanksgiving Day, taking over the former Su Hong space. The same chef is here and the new owner is a former server at Su Hong. The interior with white tablecloths and jade green upholstered chairs looks much the same as…

on the waterfront in seattle is Antony’s Pier 66, The Crab Pot, and Elliot’s all of which would be fine with kids. up near the Pike Place Market is Cutter’s Crabhouse. further into downtown is Blueacre Seafood which is s bit fancier but I bet they could take care of your little one. to the…

PDC is a sugar shack only by name and location. Menu wise, it is nothing like the traditional experience. Most other shacks only offer one menu – unless they follow the recent vegan/vegetarian trend that has popped up even there – that will be the same throughout the day. Pancakes, when offered, will be considered…

Hmmm. There’s really nothing crispy about the crab cake I had. Also, I’m nota vegetarian but go to veggie grill with friends…I love traditional crab cakes. Although this one has a look and texture that’s similar, the taste is not even remotely close. If I were blind tasting I would never have guessed any kind…

The Heritage Cafe in West Bank, just beyond 7 Mile Beach is great. It’s on the water but not the beach. It’s definitely a dive, and the food is as good as we had on the island. Our two-year old loved the place. There’s a full review on my blog, link at profile. Press Release…

Give Orozco a try. It’s in the Condado and there are tourists, but also lots of locals, and the food is very local and inexpensive. Fresh fish, very good pork, and a sauce that’s to die for. There’s detailed review on my blog — link on my profile. Press Release Distribution Service

Princesa Gastrobar is a great place just a shortish walk from the cruise ships, just blew Old San Juan. It serves classic Puerto Rican dishes in a gorgeous, verdant setting. The food is delicious and the service is great — all at a reasonable price. There’s more detail on johntannersbbqblog (link in my profile) Press…

I’ll second Yardbird, but I reallyI differ on Havana 1957. We had a really second rate lunch there. See review on my blog, there’s a link in my profile I liked Chalan on the Beach a lot. Very good ceviche, and everything else was good — and cheap. Press Release Distribution Service

Yes, China King (Doris!) is the Grande Dame of Boston’s Peking Duck scene. And yes, it’s an elaborate 3 course affair (skin/wrap, homemade noodles, soup). But…it’s getting pricey…$59.99…especially for a quick takeout meal. Would welcome recommendations on alternative places to get a good 1 course peking duck (skin, meat, wraps, scallions, hoisin sauce). Thank you…

This underrated Sichuan dish made an appearance at my table when I visited Tao’s fusion in Selden. No matter how you call this dish: Suan Tang Fei Niu 酸汤肥牛 / Beef with House Made Pickle in Duck Broth Clear Noodles Fresh Mushrooms / Beef in Sour Soup, the dish is difficult for me to find…

Tasty, indeed. I actually didn’t mind the hot dog and they get points for making it look pretty – It was quartered along about half of its length so one end spread out like petals. There are better Chinese sausages but they’re denser and less fatty than the “hot dog” and may not bloom as…

The article did Saito a disservice. I ate at the restaurant yesterday and Saito was a warm, funny, and down-to-earth guy. Press Release Distribution Service