Butternut squash here, acorn squash there, squashes everywhere! Though it does not quite feel like autumn here in sunny southern California, the season is certainly upon us and along with the chill we hope will soon follow are the fruits of farming labor - hardy, root vegetables. True Food Kitchen at Fashion Island in Newport Beach has embraced this change in produce and recently launched their fall menu that falls in line with their focus on health-conscious food. What does that mean? Roasted root vegetables galore! However, it's not just the entrees that have gotten a little switch - this seasonal change has moved in options on all parts of the menu. We were invited in to try out some of the new dishes which are available through mid-December. Some outstanding favorites: the Roasted Seasonal Vegetable Board and the Butternut Squash Pizza.

925 Isenberg St, Honolulu, HI 9682 (Neighborhood: Mo'ili'ili)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Japanese
www.aguramen.com

When it is rainy out, you get ramen. It is practically a requirement of any rainy day, and our last full day in Hawaii was no exception. With the drizzle going on outside, we sought out a ramen joint that would sate our craving but also show us a little bit of Oahu in it. We settled on visiting Agu Ramen which happened to have other locations but was not really a chain. From the outside, it was certainly small and the parking could have been an issue if we had not luckily found a spot. We had been drawn to here too because of some limited availability dish, and we weren't let down.

Whether they're swinging out a bona fide brunch or a spot-on beer pairing dinner, Del Frisco's Grille in Irvine never ceases to catch our attention and deliver great food. No wonder this Texas-based restaurant group has thrived far enough to spread across the country. Their addition to Irvine Spectrum here in Orange County has been a welcome one, particularly with the nearby businesses and the booming traffic in the shopping center itself. Just because it has impressed those around the area doesn't mean that the restaurant will be stagnant with their offerings; they recently added new items to their menu and upon invitation, we got to find out what those delicious new additions were.

Hawaii draws people in with pristine beaches, a laidback attitude, and the cool feeling of relaxation. But what about the food? There are so many Hawaiian-only dishes around that really make the destination spot shine too. When we went to Oahu, we sought these out with our friend who grew up on the island, so you can bet that we ate a lot of poke that trip. However, that wasn't all that the beautiful vacation held in store for us. We got the local's pick that week on where to go to load up on some of the best snacks around. I mean, one of these places was already on my list of spots to check out but not the other two and boy oh boy, were we glad to have gotten our hands on those! So what are the three snack stops you must make on Oahu? Leonard's Hot Malasadas, Primo Popcorn, and Hawaiiian Chip Company!

As you might have remembered, Duc has become obsessed with jerky lately and making it to satisfy the salty snack urges he gets from time to time. Easy for me if he makes his own - I don't have to worry about doing anything! He recently discovered biltong, a South African jerky, through one of the jerky subreddits he subscribes to (yep, Reddit has everything) and purchased a sampler pack right away. I have had biltong in the past and really enjoyed it but he hadn't before so this was an exciting venture. It was like opening an early Christmas gift for him when the package arrived in the mail.

Anyhow, from what I understand, there aren't many places that make biltong outside of South Africa so finding a company in the country that did was a neat find. The packages we bought were from Warren Pala at Braaitime which is based out of New Jersey; the flavors were Traditional, Peri Peri, Cajun, Garlic and Parsley, and BBQ Mesquite. If you're curious what makes this South African jerky unique, you should know that it is nothing like traditional American beef jerky. I would liken it more to bresaola or a dried prosciutto. It is tender but not juicy, flavorful but not salty, and not at all chewy. What's also interesting is that Braaitime's particular product is hand-sliced and all-natural.

348 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 (Neighborhood: Waterfront)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Dressy Casual | Cuisine - Italian
www.sportelloboston.com

I visited Boston for the first time recently (for a work trip), and through the awesomely helpful service of Blacklane, got to the airport without a hitch and in style. Though I received my ride with them complimentary in exchange for this mention, I have used them in the past before and overall, it's a nifty car service that is easy to use, provides great customer service, and alerts you every step of the way so you are on-time and relaxed. That being said, once I landed in Boston, it was time to hit up the food scene and Sportello was on my list. Boy was I glad it was because it was just about the best meal I had the whole trip!

Waffle cones, waffle fries, waffle sandwiches - people seem to have an obsession with all things waffle. How about waffles with their accompaniments mixed right into the batter instead, whether savory or sweet? Inspired by the handheld, on-the-go waffle culture in Belgium, The Waffle Affair in Newport Beach sprung up to tackle this different style of battering up their guests - make everything right in the mix itself. Incorporating the ingredients directly into the batter allows for the 21+ varieties they serve to be presented in a more traditional Belgian way. However, if you are all about the toppings, those are options as well. We were invited to give some of their creations a try so we headed on down to the Bayside Center Shopping Center where they reside.

It's here - the rumors were true, and if you had seen the signs in the business plaza in Costa Mesa a few months ago, you were not mistaken. The Halal Guys have landed in Orange County. Don't know who they are? The cult following they've amassed from their New York City outpost would be shocked. As the most popular NYC food cart, The Halal Guys have certainly made a name for themselves out on 53rd St and 6th Ave in the big city, serving up gyro sandwiches and plates for 25+ years. Today, they opened their first West Coast brick-and-mortar location to much anticipation from the fans. We were invited to a preview event to see the digs and check out of their food held up to the NYC classics. You're in luck - it did!