Restaurants – Page 12 – Insider Irene

Back to the Basics

Published on January 16, 2016January 16, 2016 by Insider Irene1 Comment

2015 was a year of high highs and low lows. Change ran rampant throughout the months and boy was it exhausting. This year I’m hoping to go “back to the basics” and revive things that I’ve longed neglected including this blog – hooray!

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Cheap Eats: I’m a huge foodie and I hope to do a better job this year in sharing some of my delicious adventures. I recently moved to LA, so I’m beyond excited on what hidden gems this dynamic city has to offer.

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OOTD: Towards the end of 2015 I was better at reinventing myself and expressing my creativity through fashion as it was a therapeutic outlet. I felt greater confidence and loved the way it made me feel when I dared to explore different apparel combinations even though it doesn’t come naturally to me. Thrifting cool pieces and finding alternative ways to mix up a favorite garment is a challenge that this frugal fashionista is going to make it work! *snap snap* Tim Gunn would be so proud 🙂

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Entertaining Events: I’ll take you along some the different free events as well as exclusive private functions. Many will be local, but I’m also hoping to also travel to find some of the area’s best kept secrets, so stay tuned!

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Shopping Sales: What girl doesn’t love a good deal? I for one belong to that category and will share with you some of my awesome finds.

What type of posts are you most interested to see?

Love,

Rockstar

P.S. Some of you may wonder why shorted YuBargainRockstar to YuRockstar and it’s pretty simple – it’s short and sweet like me 🙂

P.P.S. I haven’t figured out how to update the facebook page. If you’d like to follow me here’s the link – https://www.facebook.com/YuRockstar-448554395192041/?fref=ts

Photos and List of Birth Month Freebies!

Published on June 3, 2014June 3, 2014 by Insider Irene1 Comment

Who doesn’t love free? I certainly do and when it’s your birthday you bet that you have ample opportunities to maximize special perks just for being born! Some items are date specific (meaning you have to redeem it on your birthday), but many can be redeemed anytime during your birth week or birth month. Check out my list!

Entertainment

Medieval Times: So here’s the catch, you cannot make a reservation online, you must do it in person. Also, I was told that you can redeem it anytime during your birth week/month? Though I did it on my birthday

Food

Daphnes: You get $5 to spend! I got a BBQ Flatbread. Sign up here. ttp://www.daphnesgreekcafe.com/enroll-now.html

Denny’s: You get a free original grand slam or you can build your own! No sign up necessary, just show up and tell them it’s your birthday. Valid on your birthday.

Del Taco: Just for signing up you will get two chicken soft tacos and on your birthday you will get a premium shake (choices of vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate). You will need to sign up at least 48 hours in advance since they tend to process their requests slowly. Sign up for their fan club here. http://www.deltaco.com/connect.html

Farrell’s Ice Cream: No sign up necessary! You just show up! The birthday boy or girl will get an ice cream sundae and a parade of servers tooting some variation of a birthday song for the special person.

Godiva: Sign up at get $10 to spend during your birth month! I bought three bars of chocolate! Mmm… chocolate https://www.godiva.com/register

Red Robin: You can get any free burger (excludes premium burger) plus fries anytime during your birth month! Just show them your rewards club number and sign up here. https://royalty.redrobin.com/

Wienerschnitzel: Free chili dog! Fan club sign up here http://wienerschnitzel.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W

Veggie Grill: Free Entrée for your birth week! I didn’t get the chance to use this one but their entrees are healthy and tasty. Sign up here! http://veggiegrill.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W

Shopping

DSW: Sign up to get $5 to spend. Now you’re probably thinking what can you get for $5 at a shoe store. Well…. I bought a pair of socks and they are adorable. Booya!

Sephora: Sign up to be a Beauty Insider and you will get a free makeup sample during your birth month. This year I got a sample size lipstick and mascara from Make-Up-Forever

https://www.sephora.com/profile/beautyInsider/

Ulta: Sign up for a free makeup sample during your birth month. For my birth month they were giving out Calvin Klein mascara.

I will admit I spent like 3 days redeeming all these freebies and it’s actually a lot of work, but I’d have it no other way. What birthday (week/month) freebies do you enjoy? Comment away!

XOXO,

Rockstar

Veggie Grill Lent Lunch in Irvine, CA

Published on April 10, 2014April 10, 2014 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

Meat-free healthy meals for the herbivore

I confess I didn’t give up anything for Lent this year, but if meat was your item of choice visiting Veggie Grill may help make the 40 day period more tolerable. A group of foodies met to provide insight on menu items and we were given the opportunity to sample 6 items ranging from appetizers to dessert. We began our tasting with the chill out wings.

I’ll admit I really detest fake meat. The spongy texture just cannot do the meal thing justice. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty and convincing these wings were. It was very tender and flavorful. 5 Stars! The next item we tried was the buffalo chicken. The base item was the same as the chill out wings, but the sauce is the star in this item.

Veggie Grill Lent Lunch in Irvine, CA

We then moved on to their entrees and sampled their quinoa and kale salad. This was an extremely healthy offering and very light, perfect for those days when you feel fat and bloated. The Harvest Bowl on the other-hand was dense and rich. This may be a seasonal item limited to the fall as it makes the consumer feel warm and fuzzy inside. The last entrée we sampled was the Bombay Bowl, a curry over quinoa. The flavor was solid; however, the whole almonds added a crunch that I was not use to.

We then finished up our meal with their carrot-cake. I usually never make it to dessert, but I would for theirs! Overall, it was a pleasant tasting event and among the offerings the chill out wings takes the cake. If you’re a first time visitor, try their “fish” tacos, they’re amazing!

April Fool’s Day Media Event at Rance’s Chicago Pizza in Costa Mesa, Ca

Published on April 7, 2014April 7, 2014 by Insider Irene2 Comments

On April 1^st, I had the opportunity to revisit a local favorite for an intimate blogger’s party. Rance’s Chicago Pizza (Yelp Review) in Costa Mesa, CA spoiled us with a nice spread of appetizers and pies. Although it was April Fool’s Day, their food certainly was no joke and they were very generous with their offerings. We started off with a nice spring salad with 4 different homemade dressings. I enjoyed the assortment of veggies and while the dressings were nice, they were nothing to run home about. Next we moved on to hot appetizers. If you like heat, their artichoke dip certainly will clear your sinuses and the bruschetta was a nice start, but I was obviously holding out for the main dish- a deep dish. Mmm…

040114 Appetizers — Salad and Appetizers

As soon as we finished up the last of bite size apps, we were then given the opportunity to try two thin crust pizzas and 5 stuffed pies. Among my sampling the CSP (Chicken Spinach Pesto) was and still is my favorite- with the stuffed Margarita as a close second. Be sure to get their stuffed as opposed to thin crust as it makes all the difference!

I was beyond stuffed by the time we ended our meal and the owner came by to hand us each a small cup of honey. He stated that in other pizza parlors patrons dip their crust in honey to bring out the flavor. Cool, so I grabbed my crust and dunked it in. I was pleasantly surprised by this simple of great way to end the meal.

What do you like on your pies?

XOXO

Rockstar

13 Moments in 2013

Published on January 1, 2014January 1, 2014 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

2013 was a year of extremes – the highs were high and the lows were extremely low. It was a roller coaster this year, and while a lot of changes happened I felt that I’ve grown tremendously from them. Here are thirteen moments of 2013

1. Spotted celebrities in the Golden State! I attended KLG and Hoda’s (The Today Show’s 4^th Hour) on location shoot in Hollywood, CA (blog post) – yes that’s Jaleel White otherwise known as Steve Urkel (!!!), Alton Brown during his “Edible Inevitable Tour,” Youtube make-up guru Ben Green (blog post) at the LA IMATS (blog post), and Giada De Laurentis at South Coast Plaza for her book tour (blog post). It was a star-studded year!

2. Chopped off my hair and donated it “locks-of-love,” an organization that gives wigs to children with cancer (blog post).

photo (13)

3. Growing up I went to a language school on Saturdays, so this year I relieved my childhood memories by watching tons and tons of toons (not ashamed of it!) – including (in no particular order) 6 or 7 seasons of Pokemon, All Batman the Animated Series, Batman & Beyond, My Little Pony, and Justice League episodes. I’m up to season 4 for Sailor Moon (I was Sailor Mars for Halloween) and currently… I am on Season 3 of the Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles! They don’t make cartoons like they use to.

4. A promise was broken. My heart shattered and I couldn’t comprehend the abandonment and betrayal. I felt helpless and naive for believing the best in people and while I was no saint in this marriage, the decision to have it end was already made for me. Divorce is a difficult process, but tackling it all while enduring tremendous health, financial, and family problems during the day and nightmares at night – I just couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t keep it all together and I honestly felt doomed. I’d never felt so hopeless than I did during that month.

I never like asking for help, but I extended my hand out – ashamed – but God was merciful and showered me with love and compassion. He knew that I couldn’t carry the burden myself and sent brothers and sisters to pray for me, hug me, spend time with me. I slowly regained my strength and confidence and while that extremely vulnerable moment could have easily consumed me, my God is good gave me light through the darkness.

5. Visited the “Happiest Place on Earth” twice and attended the D23 Expo (A Tradeshow for Disney Enthusiasts.) There’s something magical about this theme park and while the tickets are outrageously priced, Disney sure knows how to create a moment.

6. Drove across the United States from Boston, MA down to Pensacola, FL all the way west to Orange County, CA. My favorite spots included: Belgium Beer & Mussels from Monk’s in Philadelphia, PA, Coconut Cake from Peninsula Grill in Charleston, SC (Yelp Review), Red Royals from Joe Patti’s Seafood in Pensacola, FL (Yelp Review), Real Rootbeer from Tombstone Sarsaparilla in Tombstone, AZ, (Yelp Review) just to name a few.

7. I’d been a dance teacher for 15+ years, but completely stopped all forms of this art. This year I took it upon myself to learn and teach the iconic Michael Jackson Thriller routine to my most difficult students – teachers, ahh!! But it was a success

8. I had the best meal of my life (and most expensive – blog post) at O Ya (Yelp Review) in Boston, MA. The food is out of this world and while my teacher’s salary can’t justify the bill, it certainly is a once in a lifetime place to appreciate amazing food.

9. Received two “Review of the Day” (ROTD) features on Yelp’s Homepage for my write-up for Deli-licious (Yelp Review) & IKneadLove (Yelp Review); completed “2013 Yelp 100 Reviews Challenge” – just barely; and reached an enormous milestone – 500 reviews!

10. After sending many resumes, cover letters, and enduring “thank you for applying” letters/emails – I finally secured a job as a school counselor. Thank you God for trusting me to help these students.

11. I lost my German Shepard, Boomer. He passed away in his sleep. I miss you!

12. I spent nearly every other day with my grandma who had two major surgeries. She’s getting older and spending time with her priceless. No one every said that they regretted spending time with loved ones.

13. I made the switch over to wordpress, achieved over 90+ “likes” on facebook (facebook page), and hosted my first blogger event at Deja New (Yelp Review).

No one every said that growing up was going to be easy, but I hope that I’ll be able to take on the new adventures in 2014 with more courage, confidence and savvyness. My goals for 2014 include: laughing more, worrying less, and taking every opportunity to enjoy the moment. Here’s to 2014!

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

XOXO

Rockstar

Yelp Review of the Day: REPOST Gourmet Sandwich at Deli-Licious @Huntington Beach, CA

Published on August 14, 2013 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

Hi YuBargainRockstar Fans!

I’m excited to announce that my Yelp review on this Deli-Licious was selected as today’s ROTD (short for Review of the Day) for the Orange County spotlight. Woohoo! It’s a great honor and as my first ROTD, I thought I’d also repost my original entry for your enjoyment. This restaurant truly deserves all the credit in serving excellent food and outstanding customer service. Check it out if you haven’t done so already! – Irene

Sandwiches are the quintessential lunch food and while mom’s sandwiches are made with love, there’s something special about eating a gourmet sandwich from Deli licious (Yelp Review) in Huntington Beach. With over 300 reviews and a staggering 4.5/5 average on Yelp, I had to investigate the validity of these positive endorsements. And yes this definitely lived up to the hype.

I was looking for a cute shop, but after only seeing rows and rows of boring gray buildings I stared down at my GPS and realized that I missed the shop. Hmm… that’s peculiar. However, unlike many restaurants, this small mom n’ pop shop was located among the rows of gray buildings. This is definitely not the type of shop that you’d casually drive by and stop to check it out, because it was not visible from the street! Nevertheless the restaurant was pretty busy for a weekday afternoon. So I thought that it must be good if next-door-neighbors are frequenting this shop.

Upon looking at the chalk menu I decided to order their top seller “Sue’s Chicken-Avocado Caprese” while my girlfriend tried the same sandwich with a ½ southwest salad. Mmm… The ingredients used for the salad were fresh and crisp it was a solid choice for a mid-day meal. And the sandwich, wow… tender roasted chicken with sliced avocados, fresh mozzerlla, plump roma tomatoes, and a light lemon caper mayo all between a ciabatta roll. Mmm.. makes me hungry just thinking about it. I wonder if my mom could replicate this masterpiece. Hehe…

Additionally, I loved that it was also a nice sunny day and we had a lovely conversation out on the patio. Good food, great company, you really can’t ask for much more.

What’s inside your favorite sandwich?

XOXO

Rockstar

$6.95 AYCE Lunch Buffet @Vishnu in Irvine, CA

Published on July 9, 2013July 10, 2013 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

India is such an exotic country and their food is just as (if not more) intriguing. The bright colors and different spices make this culture’s food a fest for the eyes and stomach. So when I stumbled upon this little AYCE lunch buffet in Irvine on yelp, I could not have been more ecstatic, although the drive there was an adventure in and of itself! After driving loops around the industrial complex we finally found the restaurant- Vishnu (Yelp Review). It’s definitely a no frills joint, and we helped ourselves by loading up our sectioned styrofoam plate!

The selection was diverse with curries and other traditional Indian dishes. I’m embarrassed to say that my knowledge for Indian cuisine is rather limited, but I do know that each dish had it’s own distinct flavors and that the variety was incredible for a whopping $6.95 a person. I can’t even imagine how this is profitable considering the selection and how time-consuming it is to make all the items. I’ve been told that certain dishes take more than 5 hours to prepare, as it needs to simmer to allow the flavors to meld into one another.

I inquired with the owner about his business and was informed that it had only been opened for three months (!!!) but that he’d been in the catering business for well over 15 years. He’s done events as far as Reno, NV and the Bay Area, so I imagine that’s he’s your guy if you want an authentic Indian feast in the Golden State (and surrounding bordering states). The restaurant is only open Monday-Friday from 10:30-2:30 since evenings and weekends are reserved for catering gigs. Ah! It’s all coming together now.

Lucky for me this little shop is not too far away. Muahaha… delicious food for a fraction of the cost, although, I am curious about his catering options. So if you’re in the market for authentic Indian, Vishnu’s Restaurant and Catering’s got you covered.

What’s your favorite lunch special spot?

XOXO

Irene

Date Worthy Dessert to Share @Scraps in Huntington Beach, CA

Published on July 8, 2013July 9, 2013 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

New York has Serendipity3 and Orange County has Scraps. For all you non-chick flick movie goers, Serendipity3 is where they shot the ironic romantic comedy called Serendipi ty staring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. It’s a must see feature that is the epitome of romantic comedy and there are very few movies that even come close to this classic. The two stars shared a dessert and the rest is history- gosh I miss New York!

Panne Cotta

So for the Orange County hopeless romantic, I found the best substitute! The Panna Cotta ($7) with homemade kumquat marmalade at Scraps (Yelp Review) is amazing and way too good not to share. It’s silky smooth, but with a firmer consistency than pudding. Combined with the tart kumquat, this dessert is heavenly.

What’s the perfect dessert to share?

XOXO

Rockstar

The Great Food Truck Race Season 1 Winner- Grill Em All @Alhambra CA

Published on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013 by Insider Irene1 Comment

I’m a huge Food Network junkie and absolutely love all of the different shows on that channel. One show that I am particularly fond is a reality show called The Great Food Truck Race,” a competition where food trucks from across the country competed for $50,000. The rules were simple, make as much money as you can with a given budget in designated cities from LA to New York.

And what’s crazy was the fact that I was in New York while they filmed their last episode. I remember a girlfriend of mine texting me to come support the Nom Nom Truck (1^strunner-up) while I was studying in New York. Unfortunately I choose not to leave the library, asI was nose-deep in textbooks. *snaps fingers* What a lost opportunity!

Anyways, this past weekend I attended a networking social in Alhambra and noticed a peculiar sign in the theater plaza. It looked vaguely like Season 1 Winner Grill Em All (Yelp Review) and as I stepped closer to check out the store it indeed was! Turns out they actually bought a storefront with the money and publicity earned from the competition. So obviously I had to check it out the local celebrity!

Upon entering I could not help but notice all the rockin’ artwork plastered over all the walls. The setting is definitely home to heavy metal enthusiasts and the menu was presented on an enormous black chalkboard. After carefully examined my options I decided to try the powerslave, a ½ lb burger with brie cheese, bourbon apple compote, balsamic aioli, and field greens. And because the sign said so I ordered it medium rare—good choice!

It was definitely a gourmet burger with the juices goeying all over. I’d never imagine putting an apple as a burger condiment, but combined with the soft brie cheese and field greens it was a tasty treat. It’s a bit on the pricey side at $9 or $9.50 for a burger, but it had all the elements of a Rockstar. Solid!

What does a Rockstar meal look like to you?

XOXO

Rockstar

Gourmet Sandwich at Deli-Licious @Huntington Beach, CA

Published on June 3, 2013 by Insider Irene3 Comments

Additionally, I loved that it was also a nice sunny day and we had a lovely conversation out on the patio. Good food, great company, you really can’t ask for much more.

What’s inside your favorite sandwich?

XOXO

Rockstar