I heart Greek Street.

It is, by far, the best street at Street Fair. I rave constantly about the gyros and souvlakias. And the desserts aren't too shabby, either:


Ok. Sorry for being the worst food blogger ever in that I can't remember what the official names of these two items are. But both are delicious. On the left is a moist walnut spice cake; on the right, rich custard between layers of phyllo and then drenched in honey. I wonder what the latter would taste like right after it's constructed -- with the phyllo still crunchy... one can only wonder. Still, it was terrific.


YES -- Loukoumathes! Or loukoumades. Whatever the hell you call them, they are out of this world. These crispy donut-like balls come fresh out of the fryer and are dumped into a vat of honey, where they soak and float around for a few minutes like yummy little buoys in a swimming pool of sticky sweetness. A quick dusting of cinnamon sugar make them sparkle and glisten, enticing you to eat them right this very second. And as you bite through the perfectly crisp outside, the honey oozes out and almost burns your tongue, but you don't really care because it was all worth it...

I say again: I heart Greek Street.

(Click for other Street Fair goodies I tried this year.)

Yay for Street Fair!

The Orange International Street Fair is back in town this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm looking forward to pigging out on favorites from last year as well as stuff I didn't get a chance to sample. Check back for reports on my loukoumathes and aebleskivers adventures. (That was a mouthful.)

For some awesome Street Fair food tips, hit up the Register's Fast Food Maven, Nancy Luna, who covered Street Fair extensively last year.

Beaucoup chili.

Ack! I totally forgot to blog about this last week.

The Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cookoff is long gone (June 1), but for the sake of reminding myself what I should try next year, I am documenting it anyway.

The Tustin News did a full report of the chili cook-off winners as named by the International Chili Society, but here are the favorites as named by the Supercool Spicy Sexy Chili Society (my sister, boyfriend, and myself):

Out of the dozen or so we tried, my boyfriend's top pick was Duffy's Fantail Chili (front), which placed fourth in the aforementioned judging. It was just all-around good, flavorful chili -- one of my favorites, too.


The chili in the mini bread boule, for which I can't recall the name, was fricken' adorable but much too salty.

My sister's favorite was the Spice Girls Chili. I forgot why. I think because of the tomatoey flavor.


Mine was the Fire Ant Chili. It was unique, smoky and had a really nice kick. Y'know, it had "layers of flavor," and all that jazz.


I also really liked the Paradise Chili, which I forgot to photograph. Mostly, I think I liked it because it had corn in it. Everything is better with corn. You should know that by now.

And to cool off, Repicci's mango-flavored Italian ice was the perfect treat on this scorching summer day:


Next year I must remember to try:
Blue Ribbon Chili (sold out before we even arrived)
Roadkill Chili
Ring of Fire Chili
Oh, and we overheard people talking about steak chili... but could not find the vendor ourselves.

* * *
Tustin Street Fair & Chili Cookoff
El Camino Real & Main Street
Tustin 92780
714-573-3326

Farmers Market, part 2: Bounty of baked goods.

Whenever I spend a day exploring someplace new or rarely-visited, I like to take part of the (food) adventure home with me to savor later.

I call it my "bounty." Because it's like a reward given to myself after a long day of food hunting.

My Farmers Market bounty isn't terribly impressive, but it's worth noting:

Baclava from T&Y Bakery, stall #222.

This Russian bakery features astoundingly large pastries in its display case, including gigantic cheese-filled croissants (I was debating on getting those, too). Their baclava was rather different from the Mediterranean treat of pretty much the same name -- instead of layers of phyllo and pistaschios, this was a crispy puff pastry sandwich of whole raisins and large chunks of walnuts. And I don't know if that's how all Russian-style baclava is, but that's how mine was.

Next: Peanut butter bark from the Ultimate Nut and Candy Company, stall #522.


It looks fantastic, no? Unfortunately, it was just mediocre. I tasted 90% butter/milk/rice-crispiness, and only 10% peanut butter. Lame. I should have gotten the rainbow popcorn.

Finally, meringue cookies from Thee's Continental Bakery, stall #316. Actually, my first-ever treat at the Farmers Market was one of Thee's famous apple dumplings three years ago, when my boyfriend and I stumbled into the area while waiting for our movie to begin at the adjacent The Grove shopping center.


Anyway, these are just large meringues riddled with chocolate chips. It makes me wonder how they taste when they're still warm from the oven. The one I decided to feature front and center is mint chocolate, but I actually preferred the regular chocolate chip because of its walnutty surprise. But I really do need to revisit the apple dumpling.

I can't wait to go back to the Farmers Market. I am craving another hunt and an even tastier food bounty.

* * *
T&Y Bakery
323.930.2355

Ultimate Nut & Candy Company
323.938.1555

Thee's Continental Bakery
323.937.1965

The O.G. of farmers markets. Part 1.

My visit to L.A.'s Farmers Market on 3rd and Fairfax was during one of those sweaty, so-hot-my-face-might-melt weekends Southern Californians are all too familiar with in late spring/early summer... even though oddly, we haven't been experiencing any recently. (The lateness of this post is so apparent.)

Anyway, it was midday when my cousins and I arrived at the Farmers Market, when the scorching sun was at its peak scorchability. I walked around in a daze, overwhelmed by the heat and too many delicious food choices.

In order to avoid passing out, I decided first to find something to drink. I found it at The Salad Bar, stall #424.

"Whatever that is, I'll have it."

It was a clear barrel of pale, natural orangey liquid, with ice cubes and pieces of fresh fruit afloat. It looked so yummy. And ice cold. Perfect.

"It's fruit punch, and sure."


Oh my. With fresh strawberries, grapes, chunks of apple, orange, cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew, the juice was fruit salad in drink form -- a flavorful fruit party of all the aforementioned fruits. (YES A FRUIT PARTY.) Nope, this was definitely not the gross, artificial crap that stains your tongue red for days. And special bonus: After I slurped up all the juice, I had an actual fruit salad waiting for me at the bottom! Wonderful.

My cousins, who opted instead for watermelon lemonade and a $4+ smoothie, were envious of my $2.50 fruit punch from heaven.

For food-food, I settled on a heaping plate of Mediterranean cuisine from Moishe's, stall #336.


Here it's been half eaten, but shown are pieces of lamb kebab, tabboule, rice pilaf, and in the back is a couscous salad and hoummus. All were delicious -- especially the lamb, which was tender and packed with flavor, and the couscous, dressed with a spicy-sweet vinaigrette.

I washed it all down with a second fruit punch. Mmm.

Next.. Part 2: My bounty of baked goods.

* * *
Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles 90036
323.933.9211

The Salad Bar
323.933.3204

Moishe's Restaurant
323.936.4998

Dude, I'm cheesing my f-ing brains out right now. *

O.

M.
F.

G.

That's what I said when I stumbled across a particular article in L.A. Times' The Guide today. Actually, it was more of a Tourette-like shriek of excitement that I apparently could not contain. You'll read why in a second. Here, I'll walk you through it (my thoughts are in parentheses):

" YES, IT'S CHEESY (Hmm, what? Cheese? You've caught my attention..)

It's a slice of life organizers bill as "an orgy of cheese." (Ooh, please do go on..)

Begun in 2003 by a group of friends living together in a loft, the Grilled Cheese Invitational (Wait just ONE minute. THERE IS A FESTIVAL EVENT DEDICATED TO GRILLED CHEESE?! I'm going to piss my pants right now I'm so excited.) has grown from 16 competitors and 80 attendees to 150 sandwich makers and a crowd of as many as 800 attendees, who will serve as judges (!!!) blah blah blah blah... FREE.. blah blah. Blah. "

.. Yeah, actually right there I just kind of just skimmed through the rest and bolted to my computer to RSVP, only to find out it's fricken' maxed out its capacity! And then I got really bummed. And then after I pulled out of my momentary depression, I signed up for its e-mail list to be notified of cheesy announcements and to know in advance when the next event rolls into town.

And I can't wait. Just check out the categories for the competition.

Mmm.. my imagination's running wild with cheesy fantasies.

*

Sun, sweat, and Street Fair.

Although I've been an Old Towne Orange resident for more than five years, Labor Day Weekend 2007 marked only my second time at the annual Orange International Street Fair. Friends are always shocked and appalled when they learn this about me. As they should be.

But I have now come to accept that this is the time of year when I gain 10-15 pounds within a two and a half day period by munching on various fried, grilled, skewered and/or sauced international delicacies. (The weight gain would have probably been more if it weren't for the 20 pounds lost in the form of sweat, thanks to the sweltering heat.)

* * *
Mexican Street:

I admit: Last year, I shied away from Mexican Street because I thought, "I live in Southern California - why would I want to eat from Mexican Street when I can get really good Mexican food at any other time?"

But I was so wrong.

I've determined that Mexican Street is really one of my favorites. Many food items to choose from, tasty AND cheap.. It can't really get much better than that.

Mmm.. Mexican-style corn. After reading this review of El Rey de el Elote Azado, I've been meaning to try corn prepared in this manner for months but haven't found the chance. Although the one at street fair uses boiled corn instead of roasted (which means I will still have to make a visit to the truck of the "Roasted Corn King"), I don't think I'll ever top my corn any other way again: mayo, butter, lime, cojita cheese and cayenne pepper.


Deluxe nachos: topped with guacamole, pinto beans, steak, sour cream and cheese.

And finally, the carne asada tacos and quesadillas with homemade corn tortillas. I didn't get these for myself, but they certainly got multiple rave reviews from my friends.

Next year Mexican Street must-try:
Homemade chicken and pork tamales.


* * *
Greek Street:

Another favorite street! First, the delectable gyro:


And this is how I really ate it:


.... What..? I don't like huge pieces of onion and tomato in there. Just give me the tender lamb patties, toasted pita bread and tzatziki.

The baklava's been a hit in the past, but for some reason the ones I got this year were a little bitter. But the chocolate trigona in the background there, that was amazing.


I also got a beef souvlakia, but I had them drench it in tzatziki, so that the steak was drowning in a white mess.. Not very appetizing to the eye, but very (dare I say?) yummy for my tummy.

Next year Greek Street must-try:
Loukoumathes.

* * *
Miscellaneous Streets:

Fried lobster balls from Japanese Ginza (/Asian Street, I guess). Although I have doubts of whether these contained very much lobster at all, I love fish bakso, so it was hard to screw this one up. I found specks of masago in there, which made me happy.


Fish and chips from British Street. Tender cod in fried beer batter (a wild guess, actually), "spritzed" with vinegar and garnished with lemon and fries.


I would have also tried the "Belgian fries" in this vicinity if it weren't for the lack of variety in dipping sauces.

Finally, fresh fried mini donuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar from American Street. So crispy and warm. Because of these, I was too full for aebleskivers. But I don't regret my choice at all. And look at them, they're so cute (there's my pinky for a size comparison)!


Yum yum yum! (And phew! No wonder this post is five days too late..)