Over The Top Mommy

Restaurant Reviews

I’ve Got “The Inside Scoop” on Johnny Rockets’ Delicious Shakes! #ShakeMonth

The opinions in this article are my own. I do not work for, or with, any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have any official relationship with them.  I have a relationship with Gigasavvy, for whom I create original editorial content.Johnny-rockets-facadeWith September being National Shake Month, Johnny Rockets decided to “shake it up” a bit by inviting a bunch of social influencers to their location inside Knott’s Berry Farm for a shakin’ good time and to get “the inside scoop” on their shakes! I love the family-friendly atmosphere at Johnny Rockets because it always seems like the staff has so much fun while they’re working! The crew assembled together to dance to “Car Wash” and really got everyone in the place up on their feet to join in.

workin-at-the-carwashAlthough we were there to sample some shakes, we were also treated to some of their delicious 100%  fresh all-natural beef burgers and grilled chicken breast sandwiches along with some of their signature sourdough onion rings and crispy, golden french fries!

johnny-rockets-burgers

johnny-rockets-onion-ringsThere’s something about the ketchup that makes it all taste extra yummy! I’m pretty sure it’s the signature ketchup smiley face served tableside, don’t you think?

Johnny-Rockets-ketchupIt was super fun to go back into the kitchen at Johnny Rockets for a shake making lesson! All of Johnny Rockets’ shakes are hand-dipped, & hand-spun and are made with the finest USDA certified premium vanilla ice cream, whole milk, quality ingredients and real whipped cream. I appreciate  that Johnny rockets is very conscious of food allergies and uses an entirely separate spindle for mixing shakes containing peanuts, to avoid cross contamination.

reeses-chocolate-peanut-butter-shakeWe all crowded around the prep area and first learned how to make their Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake! It’s almost automatic for you to lick your lips and say “Mmm!” when you hear the name of this shake!

back-in-the-kitchenThe shake is made with scoops of real vanilla ice cream, whole milk, chocolate syrup, and Reese’s peanut butter SAUCE (yep, that’s a real thing).

Johnny-rockets-reeses-shake-pourAfter the shake is poured into a glass, it’s topped with whipped cream and garnished with mini Reese’s pieces and a half Reese’s peanut butter cup on top! It’s literally so good that it would make E.T. come back! 

Johnny-Rockets-Reeses-Chocolate-Peanut-butter-shakeJohnny Rockets is offering their Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake at select locations through November 21st!
goosebumps-shakeNext, we got a sneak peek (and taste) of Johnny Rockets’ newest shake, created in collaboration with Sony Pictures and the Goosebumps movie….the Goosebumps Shake!  The shake is made with scoops of real vanilla ice cream, whole milk, chocolate syrup, and Oreo crumbles!

mmm-gummy-wormsAfter it’s mixed and poured in a cup, it gets a generous portion of whipped cream, more Oreo crumbles, and is garnished with gummy worms! I LOVE gummy worms!

in-the-kitchen

the-goosebumps-shakeJohnny Rockets will offer the Goosebumps Shake beginning on September 21st at select locations. You’ll want to hurry into your closest location to try it because it’ll only be available for a limited time!

Thank-you-johnny-rocketsWe want to thank Johnny Rockets for inviting us to a fun afternoon out! You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

Gourmet Grilled Cheese at Boudin! Your Favorite Comfort Food Just Grew Up! #BoudinGrilledCheesePlease

boudin-bagI am a HUGE lover of Boudin, especially their San Francisco Sourdough bread! When I was invited to the Boudin SF in Huntington Beach for a media tasting of their latest line of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, I jumped at the chance to experience one of my favorite comfort foods all grown up!

After checking the littles into the “Kids Area” of the event to have their own fun, Boudin’s Corporate Chef, Alan Skversky, was on hand to chat about his latest gourmet grilled cheese creations with the “Mom Bloggers“.

welcome-mom-bloggersHe first spoke about his inspiration behind creating these delicious new grilled cheese sandwiches. He knew that he could take the already famous San Francisco Boudin Sourdough Bread and make something fabulous with it, something that people would oooh! and aaah! about. That’s exactly what we all did when we first saw them and then again when we tasted them!

grilled-cheese-trio

great-grilled-cheese

great-grilled-cheeseThe Great Grilled Cheese is currently available on the Boudin menu. It’s made with Havarti Danish & Sharp Cheddar cheese melted on a parmesan-crusted sliced sourdough. You also have the option to add Applewood thick cut bacon to it. (for an additional fee) Is your mouth watering yet?

jalapeno

The Jalapeño Cheddar Grilled Cheese is new to Boudin. It’s served on their fabulous Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread with Cheddar cheese and sliced jalapeños inside of the sandwich. The flavor is amazing and if you’re worried about it being too hot, trust me when I say it’s not! I am a wimp when it comes to spicy foods and this sandwich was so yummy, I even had seconds. (and thirds).

brieThe third sandwich we got to try was the Grilled Brie with Apples & Fig jam. This one was as delicious as it sounds, too! It was almost like a dessert, which is why I saved it for last! It’s made with Brie and Havarti cheeses melted inside a parmesan-crusted multigrain bread and stuffed with sliced apples and fig jam. My mouth is watering just typing this! I think this was my favorite of the 3!

fig-and-brieNow it’s YOUR turn to get into your local Boudin & try one of these new and delicious gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches! I actually have a coupon, because Boudin REALLY wants you to try one of these gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. You’ll receive one FREE kids’ meal with the purchase of any grilled cheese sandwich. Why not make a date with your little one? Just click here to get your coupon now!

Do YOU have a favorite menu item at Boudin? If you go and try the grilled cheese sandwiches, be sure to come back and tell me which one you liked best, OK?

 

Have YOU Tried “Create Your Taste” at McDonald’s Yet?

When I heard that not one but TWO of the McDonald’s locations near my home in South Orange County were offering “Create Your Taste”, I hurried over to try it! If you aren’t familiar with Create Your Taste, it may be because it’s one of the company’s newest options and is currently only offered at select locations. Consider yourself lucky if any of those locations are near you!

create-your-tasteThe Create Your Taste option lets foodies create the flavors and meal they want using an innovative, touch screen kiosk to order. With 29 ingredient options, it’s about using flavors to create a meal as unique as you.

mcdonalds-ordering-kioskFor obvious reasons, my daughter insisted on ordering for BOTH of us! It looks so fun! I guess I’ll get to try it next time we go! Check her out on the kiosk!

The Create Your Taste option allows a guest to first choose between a 1/4 lb 100% pure beef patty or 100% chicken breast filet for their sandwich. From there they choose a bun, decide if they’d like to add Applewood Smoke Bacon to their sandwich, then cheese, and finally toppings and sauces! There’s also the option to “make it a meal” and add french fries or even new sweet potato fries, and a drink!

make-it-a-mealThere are so many different combinations to create, that it was kind of difficult to choose just one. I know we’ll be going back soon to try different ones. Look how delicious our burgers turned out!

my-burgermy-daughters-burgerWe were dying to try McDonald’s sweet potato fries as soon as we saw the sign hanging. They were so yummy!

sweet-potato-friesThere is also a Create Your Taste Option for desserts! Again, my daughter insisted on ordering for the both of us. She worked hard to create the perfect sundaes for each of us!

create-your-taste-desserts

create-your-taste-sundaeAs you can see, McDonald’s has really nailed it with their Create Your Taste concept! If you haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet, it’s something I think you should look into doing soon. For a list of locations offering this option, click here.

create-your-taste-optionsDisclosure: I was invited by McDonald’s to a media tasting event in order to write my review. No othe compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Say Hello to Rubio’s Coastal Grill…Formerly Known as Rubio’s Mexican Grill!

rubios-coastal-grillWhen I think about Rubio’s®, I always think of fish tacos! It was the first place I tried a fish taco back in the day and I’ve been hooked ever since!  In addition to its signature dish, The Original Fish Taco, this popular chain which has locations in California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado, is known for its uniquely delicious coastal cuisine. Have you seen their new name yet? It’s now called Rubio’s Coastal Grill! I love it! Inside the restaurant, you’ll still find the same great Mexican cuisine, but with a lot more delicious options added to the menu and a new look added to many of the stores.

drinksThroughout the month of May, several of Orange County’s locations re-opened to guests as Rubio’s Coastal Grill, after undergoing a redesigned transformation! The redesign of 45 of their California-based restaurants reflect the brand’s evolution and culinary progression. Some of the first locations to undergo this transformation already include:

  • Laguna Niguel
  • San Clemente
  • Rancho Santa Margarita
  • Foothill Ranch

Would you believe me if I told you that I frequent 4 out of 5 of the locations listed above? If the 5th location was closer to me, I’d go to that one too! Rubio’s has plans to expand to other areas within the county in the near future as well.

for-startersI recently had the opportunity to dine in one of the newly re-opened locations with Mr. Ralph Rubio.  We sipped on Sangria and munched on some of their delicious chips and guacamole during introductions. Their guacamole is amazing and I’m pretty sure it’s because they insist on only using Haas avocados in their restaurants.

chips-and-guacamoleMr. Rubio talked about the concept behind the new look. He also talked about how the restaurant design draws inspiration from the sea and features elements and aesthetics reminiscent of the brand’s beach heritage. There are hues of cobalt, green, indigo and sand sparkle throughout the restaurants and patios with shimmering blue tiles that guide guests to Rubio’s signature salsa bar. The salsa bar is one of the best parts because everything on it is always so fresh!

rubios-salsa-bar

Mr. Rubio had the staff bring each of us attendees an order of Tostadas Frescas to start with. These are one of the limited time offerings on the new menu. I had one shrimp and one chicken and just looking at this picture of lime getting squeezed onto them, makes me want to go back and do it all over again. Limes just make everything taste even better.

tostadas-frescas-with-shrimpThe shells used for the Tostadas Frescas are freshly prepared and you can tell just by tasting them.  I couldn’t decide if the shrimp or the chicken were my favorite one? They were both delicious and I can’t wait to return to try a beef one, as well as one with grilled veggies.

regal-springs-tilapia-tacoDid you know that Rubio’s uses sustainable seafood in nearly all of its seafood dishes and continues to expand its menu with innovative recipes ranging from sustainable shrimp to Atlantic salmon? This Regal Springs Tilapia taco was so delicious and I could taste how fresh the fish was. I also got to try a Grilled Gourmet Taco with Shrimp! How have I never had one of those before? It’s seriously in a category of its own!

grilled-gourmet-taco-with-shrimpIn addition to seafood, Rubio’s also offers crisp fresh salads, grilled marinated chicken and steak, “no-fried” pinto beans, handmade guacamole, a variety of proprietary salsas, and craft beer and sangria to complement any meal. Now here comes another new feature at Rubio’s Coastal Grill….dessert! I know we’re all aware of the churros because we go there specifically for their Cinnamon Churros but now there are also a variety of more gourmet desserts being offered! And they’re featured a beautiful dessert case in the front of the store!

limon-coconut-barsMr. Rubio must’ve known my weakness for desserts because he had ALL of them brought to our table to sample! There were Caramel Chocolate Ganache Brownies, Limon Coconut Bars, and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. They tasted as good as they look, too!

chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookie

dessertsI’m really excited about the new look of Rubio’s Coastal Grill but I’m even MORE excited about the newest menu items. As a busy mom, who’s often on the go, I’m always grateful for take out options that are healthy both for myself and my daughter. Rubio’s is somewhere I can go and always feel good about getting quality food for us.

meeting-mr-rubio

In honor of Rubio’s recent transformation, I’m hosting a giveaway. Rubio’s has provided me with 6 cards that are each valid for a complimentary entree. I’m going to pick one lucky reader to win all 6. Just enter below in the Rafflecopter and be sure to read the directions carefully. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Stay up-to-date about Rubio’s happenings, events and more by visiting Rubio’s on Facebook  and  Twitter.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a media dinner and provided with dinner in order to write my post. No other monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

 

 

Sweet and Savory “Boutique” Waffles at Newport Beach’s The Waffle Affair!

Disclosure: I was invited to a media tasting as a guest of The Waffle Affair in order to write my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. 
The-waffle-affairThe Waffle Affair is an adorable storefront, located in a shopping center off Bayside drive in Newport Beach. Situated extremely close to the water and Balboa Island, the area is known for residents who enjoy a leisurely and active outdoor lifestyle. The Waffle Affair is the perfect place to stop at to grab a hand-crafted coffee or tea and a waffle to go! If you’re thinking that the words “waffle” and “to go” don’t pair well, you must keep reading! (I suggest everyone keep reading anyway though)

waffles-to-goIt might seem “untraditional” to imagine grabbing waffles to go but these waffles are different. They don’t require any toppings or syrups and can easily be taken out to enjoy. (Don’t worry, they do also offer classic, traditional waffles with maple syrup & whipped butter, if that’s what you’re looking for!) You can choose from regular-sized waffles or waffle bites! Waffles are offered in both sweet and savory flavors, made from scratch and baked fresh to order. This means the waffles are very light and not greasy at all. There are some deliciously unique waffles on the menu at The Waffle Affair.

Here are just a few of the savory ones:

  • Cheddar & Cherry Hardwood Smoked Bacon
  • Prosciutto Di Parma & Gruyere Cheese
  • Oven Roasted Turkey & Havarti Cheese
  • Genoa Salami & Fontina Cheese genoa-salami-and-fontina-cheese-waffle
  • Waffle Bites with Hot Dogs or Breakfast Sausage (my daughter LOVED these) hot-dog-bits-and-dips

Here are just a few of the sweet waffle options:

  • Liege (Belgium-style)
  • Madagascar Vanilla Bean
  • Chocolate Chip

sweet-waffle-bitesOther waffle offerings include daily waffles and specialty & seasonal waffles. We had the pleasure of trying coconut waffle bites and carrot cake waffle bites that had a cream cheese frosting topping. They were both considered seasonal items, which are offered from time-to-time. They were amazing!

carrot-cake-waffle-bite

coconut-waffle-biteThe Waffle Affair also has its own coffee bar and proudly serves Illy’s sustainably grown Arabica beans, as well as a selection of Dammann Teas, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

the-waffle-affair-coffee-barTo view the full menu, click here.  The Waffle Affair is a truly adorable place to go for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner. The people are friendly and you’ll fall in love with the decor…especially the chandelier! But you’ll mostly fall in love with the waffles! I know I did!

love-the-decor chandelierThe Waffle Affair is located at:

 1064 Bayside Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660

949.720.8155

Connect with The Waffle Affair on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach’s Prix Fixe Brunch Menu! Bring in the Whole Family to Enjoy Brunch!

Emily and I were recently invited to a Family Brunch Media Event to preview the Prix-Fixe Brunch menu at the beautiful Newport Beach location of FIG & OLIVE. The restaurant is located at Fashion Island. fig-and-olive-sign

Fig & Olive is currently offering a delicious French Riviera three-course Prix-Fixe brunch menu  ($28*) on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. They also have a special kids’ meal promotion right now, which is available during brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests who order from FIG & OLIVE’s prix-fixe brunch menu will receive a complimentary meal from the kids’ menu (*one main course plus a soft drink per child; children 10 and under).

looking-at-the-kids-menuEmi enjoyed an Arnold Palmer while she browsed the kids’ menu

Pint-size foodies can choose from the following offerings:

  • ¼ Roasted Chicken with Herbs de Provence, rosemary, garlic, lemon, and mashed potato
  • F&O Pizza with tomato, mozzarella, and basil
  • Chicken Fingers served with tomato basil dip and skinny fries
  • Fish Croquettes with lemon mayo
  • Penne Pasta with olive oil, cheese, or pesto

hot-teaLove the presentation of the hot tea in this simple white pot!

prix-fixe-brunch-menuTake a peek at the Prix-Fixe Brunch Menu. 

There were so many delicious items to choose from. It was very difficult for me to narrow it down, but I finally did. I decided to start with the Fig & Olive Salad which was the most delightful combination of flavors in a salad.

bread-basketI also indulged in some of the of bread & viennoiseries that were brought to the table.  The strawberry jam was amazing on the baguette and Emi opted for the chocolate croissant without hesitation. But let’s get back to my Fig & Olive salad…

fig-and-olive-saladIt was so fresh and yummy! I couldn’t get enough of the figs! 

For an entree, I ordered the South of France Poached Eggs with Salmon while Emi ordered the Chicken Fingers served with marinara basil dip and skinny fries from the kids’ menu.

salmon All of the food was just fabulous. I literally had to stop myself from eating because I wanted to save room for dessert. The FIG & OLIVE chefs don’t use butter or cream to cook with (except for the desserts) and everything is olive oil-based. I think this makes a huge difference in the way food tastes. Read about their line of olive oils hereolive-oil

olive-tree-menuOur third course was dessert! I think that’s always my favorite part. I ordered Dessert “Crostini”. They’re pistachio shortbread cookies topped with Amarena cherries, mascarpone, and micro-basil.

dessert-crostini-up-closeThey were delicious! (I spy a Hidden Mickey in my dessert! Do you see it too? )

emily-at-dessert

I loved everything about FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach. It’s a great location, very close to the beach, and the inside of the restaurant is so open and bright from all of the natural lighting shining through the windows. Every item brought out to our table was delicious and their staff was so delightful. It’s a great place to take the entire family for brunch (or lunch or dinner), especially with this complimentary kids’ meal promotion right now. I look forward my next visit to FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach.

SONY DSCIt was a perfect girls’ day out. Thank you FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach! 

FIG & OLIVE is located at Fashion Island

151 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Call (949) 877-3005 to make a reservation.

Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

Handlery Hotel San Diego: A Family-Owned Premier Hotel

I received hotel accommodations in order to write this review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. handlery-hotel-marquisWe had such a wonderful experience staying at the Handlery Hotel San Diego this past weekend.  An early call time for a Sunday cheer competition made it necessary for us to stay overnight in “America’s Finest City” the night before. We wanted to stay somewhere centrally located to be able to take advantage of some of the fun things San Diego has to offer. Handlery Hotel’s location was just that! Located in Hotel Circle, t’s literally a hop, skip & a jump away from Fashion Valley Mall, Mission Bay, and San Diego State University. Since it’s located just off of the 8 freeway, it was so easy to get places without taking too much driving time.

lobbyThe lobby of Handlery Hotel is nice and bright thanks to the natural light from above! 

We were greeted by friendly faces at the front desk, upon our arrival. They quickly checked us into our room, located right next to the pool. The room was just perfect for us and had 2 beds, a clean, updated bathroom, and a big, flat screen TV to watch while we enjoyed our cheese platter and cookie tray.

handlery-hotel-san-diego-accomodationsAs you can see, Emily immediately claimed, and personalized, “her bed”!

emis-bed

handlery-hotel-bathroomA nice, clean bathroom is one of my own personal travel necessities! 

big-screen-tvThis cheese platter was amazing! The cookies were delicious too! 

I instantly fell in love with the Holcombe & Moore Aromatherapy toiletries that were in the bathroom. They smelled so good, with a scent that wasn’t too overpowering.  I could swear the same scent was being released into the hallways of the hotel and I actually asked about it at the front desk. Whenever I’d walk in the hallway or enter the lobby there was a wonderful smell in the air.

holcombe-and-moore-aromatherapy-products

toiletries

towelsHow cute are the towels? 

The Handlery Hotel has a large pool area, with both a pool and jacuzzi. They are heated for guests’ convenience. I got some really pretty pictures of the pool area because we arrived around dusk. What a pretty backdrop the sunset was and I felt like I was in paradise just looking at all of the palm trees.

poolWe didn’t get to actually swim in the pool on this visit because we were so busy with our cheer competition but the weather was sure perfect for it! Next time we’re definitely going into the pool! Southern California Winter weather is definitely something to be thankful for!

pool-fountainA poolside fountain

The hotel has a few different fountains throughout. I know for me, the sound of water is so soothing. The fountain by the pool was really pretty, as was the one by the hotel’s entryway.

fountain-in-the-frontEmi made a wish in this fountain that’s located near the hotel’s entryway.

Postcards Restaurant is located adjacent to the hotel’s lobby and serves breakfast and dinner and has a full bar with a TV to watch sports. It also provides the food for in-room dining. We had to hurry out early to our cheer competition so they packed us up a container of goodies and I took some coffee to go.

postcards-restaurant

muffins-to-go Freshly baked blueberry and banana nut muffins and a mini croissant to go! 

coffee-and-a-complimentary-paperYou can grab a complimentary daily paper in the hotel lobby! 

Our stay at the Handlery Hotel San Diego definitely wasn’t long enough. Once cheer season is over, we fully intend on returning for a longer, more relaxing stay, when we enjoy the accommodations a little more and take advantage of that pool area, including the poolside drinks and dining at the Reef Lounge Poolside Bar & Grill.

Some of the other accommodations available at the hotel are:

  • Concierge staff
  • On-site parking
  • Complimentary wireless internet throughout the hotel
  • Business Center with computer, printer and complimentary boarding pass printing
  • Complimentary on-site fitness center
  • Same day laundry and dry cleaning service
  • Flexible meeting space
  • In-room dining
  • ATM
  • Express Checkout
  • Dog friendly

cookie-in-handThank you, Handlery Hotel! You had her at “cookie”! 

I’d like to send a HUGE thank you to the staff at the Handlery Hotel San Diego! It’s a great family-owned hotel, offering such warm service. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and hope to be back very soon!

thank-you-handlery-hotelVisit Handlery Hotel San Diego on Facebook & Twitter.

Why Did I Wait So Long To Get SMASHed at SMASHburger?

Have you gotten SMASHed yet? I hadn’t until recently and now I’m wondering why I waited so long? I noticed the sign in the food court of “my mall“, The Shops at Mission Viejo, but just hadn’t gotten a chance to try it.

smash burger sign

I decided to start with one of their shakes while I checked out seriously extensive menu. There were a ton of shake flavors to choose from, but the manager suggested I try one of their specialty flavors, so I chose something you can’t get just anywhere…the Salted Caramel Shake! A shake is an appetizer, right?

top of my shakeWhoa! Look at all of that whipped cream and that caramel drizzled on top! Their shakes are all hand-scooped and made with Haagen Dazs ice cream! I was having hard time getting very much of it since Emi seemed to have fallen in love with it first and isn’t the best at sharing!

salted caramel shakeAfter I finally got my shake back from Emi, I stood there in front of the menu, drinking it, and feeling a bit overwhelmed, but in a good way. Their menu has A LOT to offer. I knew I at least needed to try a Classic Smash. In case you’ve never had one before, they’re “smashed”, seared and seasoned to order, using fresh, premium beef.

ClassicsmashI opted for a Classic Smash with cheese. It has American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and plenty of Smash sauce, which is a blend of mayonnaise, yellow mustard, pickled relish and lemon juice, and is served on the yummiest egg bun ever! (they actually make all of their own buns, too!)

photo-9I was told that you really shouldn’t have a Smashburger without having an order of Smashfries to go with it! So, I did! Smashfries are shoestring fries tossed in rosemary, olive oil, and garlic! They are beyond addicting and although the menu also features regular fries on it, I have no idea why someone wouldn’t order Smash fries. They are just THAT good.

the perfect comboI also ended up with a Smashchicken, which is the chicken version of the Smashburger. It was the picture on the menu board that caught my eye and I KNEW I needed to try the Buffalo and Blue Cheese Smashchicken. You have a choice of a grilled or crispy chicken breast and it’s topped with Franks’s Redhot Buffalo Sauce, crumbled blue cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo, served on an egg bun.

smashchickenI swear the minute I finished it, I wanted another one! The combo of the buffalo sauce and the blue cheese is crazy good! Some of the menu items (like this one) are considered “regional” and are only offered at certain locations. You can check that availability online.

smashclub

Although I do love food and love to share about food, I think one of my other favorite parts about getting to write about places I visit, is making a connection with people. The afternoon that I visited SMASHburger, I got to chat a little bit with the store manager who figured out right away, that I was a “first-timer”.  Jen was BEYOND knowledgeable about the menu, food preparation and even special menu items (I have friends who are gluten-free and vegan). Above all though, what really made the experience even more special was how genuine and nice Jen was. It truly makes all the difference when the person running the store is personable like that and is what will keep guests coming back again and again!

I cannot wait to go back to SMASHburger and try more items from their menu! I already know I’m going to have ANOTHER Buffalo and Blue Cheese SMASHchicken! Have YOU eaten at a SMASHburger yet? What is YOUR favorite menu item?

I Took Down a Frank N’ Burger AND a Sundae of the Dead at Farrell’s!

da349219-738c-474b-826a-21a216a0a831(photo credit: Farrell’s)

I am not ashamed to say that I ventured over to Farrell’s (again) on a specific mission….to destroy the Frank ‘N’ Burger AND a Sundae of the Dead! Yep! I sought out support from my mini-me, Emi, and a had a little cheering on from some of our favorite Farrell’s peeps over at the Farrell’s in The Shops at Mission Viejo! (aka “My Mall”!)

lets do this momThe Frank N’ Burger is a limited time menu item that’s available at all participating Farrell’s locations right now through the end of October. Farrell’s describes it as “a culinary monstrosity thought up and stitched together by a demented scientist”! Well THAT’S an understatement!

Frank N' Burger*They say if you drink a Diet Coke with it, the calories get cancelled out…so I did! 

The Frank ‘N’ Burger is made with a 1/2lb fresh Angus patty, two beef franks, 2 strips of bacon, a fried egg, American cheese, onion strings, jalapeños, Farrell’s sauce, and a Jacobs Ladder pickle on top! I think I’d agree that is was”terrifyingly delicious”!

eat thisEmi may have abandoned me on this one for her yummy Mac n’ Cheese from the kids menu, but I didn’t give up! Clearly we know who the brave and gutsy one of our duo is……ME! 

After dinner, we had to stay brave for our ghoulishly good Sundae of the Dead. Made with 3 scoops of chocolate “haunted” crunch and vanilla ice cream, buried under oozing strawberry goo, hot “sludge”, with gummy worms squirming through a mound of whipped mud and Oreo® dirt and a big shiny cherry of doom on top, the Sundae of the Dead is one monster you’ll never want to run away from.

Sundae of the DeadIt’s as yummy as it looks! I don’t even know what else to say about it except that I want another one now! 

nailed itI think the picture says it all, don’t you? Nailed it! 

maxEvery visit to Farrell’s is a fun experience! (and we’ve visited A LOT!) It’s people like “Max” who make it extra fun! 

So…I think YOU should hurry over to Farrell’s and dare to try a Frank ‘N’ Burger and Sundae of the Dead for yourself. They’re only around for the month of October though so you might want to get there today! You can even make your reservations online before heading in so you can avoid the most terrifying thing of all… waiting in line!

Are YOU brave enough to try them? Or have you already? What is YOUR favorite Farrell’s location to visit?