Holidays at The Five Crowns

One of my favorite holiday traditions is definitely dinner at the Five Crowns. (Although, I'm pretty sure this place would be tasty any time of the year.) Having lived in Orange County for nearly 9 years, I've heard many people rave about the Five Crowns, especially during this magical time of the year. If you've never been to the Five Crowns you'll find it's "a beautiful replica of one of England's oldest country inns... a place of candlelight & cozy fireplaces... where good cheer and warm hospitality invite you to leave your cares at the door. There is something to delight the eye at every turn in this restaurant, with its many nooks and crannies, antiques and rare paintings" as their website states. & I for one, can vouch for how true this statement is.

We had the wonderful pleasure of dining there last year. & I have to admit I was worried... you know how it is, when you've heard so many wonderful things, sometimes you worry that it won't be as fantastic as everyone has made it out to be. But the Five Crowns definitely didn't let us down. The food was delicious & the ambiance was the perfect compliment to our holiday season... every year, from December 1 - 30th, the Five Crowns celebrates the Christmas Season with twinkling lights, sparkling decorations & strolling carolers. Yep! I said strolling carolers. Decked out in their finest "Dickens" inspired attire they wander throughout the restaurant serenading you with your favorite Christmas songs. (If you get the opportunity, ask them to sing one of their "non-traditional" songs. They have a whole slew of "everyday" songs, think Beach Boys or the Beatles, that have been re-written for the holidays. They'll crack you up!)

So there you go. Put dinner at the Five Crowns on your holiday to-do list today!

Five Crowns
3801 E. Coast Highway
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
(949)760-0331

xoxo, K
image via Five Crowns

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour & Restaurant

I scream, You scream. We all scream for Ice Cream. That's right, if you haven't heard the buzz yet, the Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour & Restaurant that you remember from your childhood, is opening today! Located at the Shops at Mission Viejo, right across from PF Chang's. Farrell's offers full-service dining, a HUGE candy area filled with specialty, hard-to-find & old-fashioned candies, lots of fun & of course - lots of ice cream. Employees wearing pin-striped vests, ties & cane hats, the banging of the Farrell's drum, the siren whirling, & the whistle blowing, even the Zoo (a ginormous dessert with over 40 scoops of ice cream) has made it's return... everything that you remember from your childhood, only better. I can't wait to do a little "time warp," kids in tow.



Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour & Restaurant
799A The Shops at Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(949)364-5411

xoxo, K

The Counter

Who doesn't LOVE a good burger? Especially if you can also get a thick and creamy shake & some delicious crispy fried onion strings on the side (or if you prefer you could do french fries, chili fries, sweet potato fries, or fried dill pickles). What would make this experience even better? If you could build your burger exactly how you want it, & I do mean exactly...

Well, if this sounds like something you'd like, then you definitely need to check out The Counter where they specialize in "custom built burgers." As their website says "Step into The Counter & you're greeted with a clipboard and an extensive list of fresh mouthwatering ingredients that allow you to build your won gourmet burger. Our 312,120+ different burger combinations make every burger as unique as each customer."

But don't worry, if you have a hard time making decisions & an entire clipboard of options is just to much to handle (as it is for me), they have a whole slew of signature burgers & sandwiches you can try. Plus, every month they feature a new burger & shake of the month. Check out their entire menu HERE.

So the next time you're craving a burger, I'd definitely recommend you check out The Counter. Find the nearest location HERE.

xoxo, K
p.s. My favorite? A Counter Burger, Vanilla Milkshake & Onion Strings.

Sabatino's Sausage Company

Recently I was in the mood for Italian - it must be pregnancy cravings. As my hubby & I were bouncing around restaurant names, nothing was really sounding good. That is, until he suggested a place we haven't visited since our BC (before children) days... Sabatino's Sausage Company a.k.a the Lido Shipyard Sausage Company.

I like to think of Sabatino's as our "little secret". Mostly because it's so hard to find - you don't exactly "stumble across it". It's actually located in a private residential area behind Bluewater Grill on Lido Island. From Lafayette Road, take a right turn onto Shipyard Way, & don't forget to wave hi to the security guard, from there, it's just up ahead on the right.

Once you are there, you will definitely want to try the sausage - it's what they are famous for, you can even have them package it up & take some home. But honestly EVERYTHING is good, check out their menus HERE. The little boys & I started with the Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, while my hubby had their award-winning Caesar salad. Next I had their Homemade Sausage Ravioli, the hubby had Rigatoni with bolognese sauce & the little boys some of "Grandma's Meatballs". Just writing about it, is making me hungry! It was all so delicious. I can't wait to go back again - maybe next time we will have to hit up the Italian Style brunch on Saturdays & Sundays from 8:30am - 1pm.

Sabatino's Sausage Company
251 Shipyard Way, Cabin D
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949)723-0621

xoxo, K
image via Sabatino's

p.s. The restaurant isn't exactly huge, so you might want to call for reservations.

Orange County Restaurant Week

Starting Sunday, February 22nd and lasting until Saturday, February 28th you can dine at your favorite OC restaurants & discover new ones to love all, at a fabulous price!

Enjoying the Orange County Restaurant Week is as easy as 1, 2, 3...
1. Choose your Restaurant - you can see the ENTIRE list of participating restaurants HERE, or you can search participating restaurants by city, price point, or cuisine HERE.
2. View participating restaurant information & prix fixe menus online.
3. Make your reservations, & enjoy dining at some the OC's top restaurants.

For more information, go HERE.

xoxo, K
images via orange county restaurant week.

25 Loves: Five Favorites

image via flickr

I am going to finish up my 25 Loves with my five favorite restaurants for a Valentine date or for any romantic occasion. Most of my choices are in Laguna, but you can’t fault a girl for loving one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the world.

1) K’ya A view of Laguna Beach with tapas and exotic dishes-Could you ask for more?

2) Sapphire Its all about food for me here (I like to finish off with their creme brulee) and if you are feeling romantic take a walk on the beach after dinner.

3) La Sirena Don’t forget to order the guacamole and head over to the Montage for dessert at the Loft.

4) Lawry’s Carvery It’s Lawry’s but fast and on a budget. The best part is that you can go shopping after dinner at South Coast Plaza.

5) Tommy's Yes, you read right. I am putting Tommy’s because its one of my husbands faves and he is my sweetheart, so I am willing to make a sacrifice on special occasions.

25 Loves: Simply Fondue

Just thinking about Simply Fondue makes my mouth water and

 I'm not the only one (see reviews here).

image via flickr

xoxo, C