Captivated. Utterly, unapologetically captivated by hearty noodle soups are we. You tempt me with a savory broth that speaks volumes about the tender love and care that has gone into its birth, and I will find myself a reason to fall into its depth with aplomb. It was that temptation that drew us into waiting for an hour in line at Mensho Tokyo's San Francisco spot, the first U.S. outpost of the acclaimed Japanese ramen-ya that focuses purely on a beautiful dining experience. Opened just this year, the restaurant features ramen, tsukement, and mazesoba but really, we were there for the first on that list, and we were absolutely not disappointed.

"Ramen is always bubbling with the love of all." - Owner Tomoharu Shono

Though the wait is long outside, it is for good reason. The restaurant only seats a handful of guests (under 30, it seemed), and its menu begs diners to stay a while and enjoy the dishes. There were just a few options to choose from, and it looked like many there opted for the same things. On occasion, there are specials that are done in unusual ways but we were on a mission: to try paitan. Once we had entered, it was comforting to see the walls decorated in such a way that explained the owner's philosophy and outlook on his food as well as the science behind making the perfect bowls. The arrangement inside encouraged community tables so if you aren't one who enjoys rubbing elbows occasionally with your neighbor, you might want to ask to sit on an end.


Though that evening there were three of us enjoying the restaurant, we all ordered the same thing because of all of the accolades - the Tori Paitan Ramen (Double Chashu) ($18 - 鶏白湯チャーシューめん - rich and creamy chicken soup, pork chashu, duck chashu, menma, kale, burdock, and Katsuobushi sauce). Compared to other ramen places we regularly visit, this was certainly at a higher price point but for good reason; it became apparent quickly that the cost was worth the broth alone. Despite the variations of ingredients that may have deviated from our notion of a traditional ramen dish, the bowl here was fantastic. It wasn't the wait that made it feel worth it; the ramen was just worth it. The rich and creamy broth was not a component to belittle as it touched on every sense in all the right ways. This was easily one of the best bowls of ramen I have ever had. The pork chashu melted in your mouth, and the duck chashu had a taste not too unlike duck prosciutto. I actually wish I had toured more of the menu in that moment but we were all getting so full from the ramen itself. If you have the time, certainly make your way to 676 Geary Street, San Francisco 94102 to experience Mensho Tokyo.

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

We missed going to Mama's on our first trip to San Francisco not because we forgot about it; no, we took one look at the line wrapping around the building and up the street and decided we'd try our luck elsewhere. It constantly pops up in searches for favorite breakfast spots in the iconic city so eventually, we decided we'd need to give it a try. Also, if the lines are long, there must be a reason right? Our recent SF trip found time for us to snag spots before the opening hour and even then, there were quite the number of guests ahead of us. When we started moving and were the first people to have the door shut on us due to capacity, we wondered if it would take much longer; luckily, it was preemptive and we made it into the first round of people!


Surprisingly, for an established place with such acclaim, Mama's is a cash-only business so keep that in mind before you enter its quaint doors. The decor is darling, and the entire design makes you feel like you certainly stepped into a home and kitchen by someone you would call Mama even if she wasn't your own. Artwork and photographs lined the walls, giving you curious sights to browse as you waited to put your order in. Oh yeah, of note is that you just place your order and they bring the food to your table later...without giving you a buzzer or table number. They just know - pretty neat. Anyhow, the restaurant seemed to fill up quickly with two types of parties: the lone, contemplative native (I assume) and the cheerful group of visitors who had also heard much of the place.


The line outside was merely to get into the line inside where you could contemplate the menu while watching the open kitchen (well, barred by some glass) work on slinging multiple breakfasts in efficient time. We saw the portion sizes and opted to just have single entrees each rather than stock up on juices, mocktails, additional sides, or starters. Duc chose from the M'Omelette's menu which is served with Mama's grilled potatoes and choice of toast - he went for the S.O.B. (South of the Border) which came with Spanish chorizo, black beans, homemade salsa, and Pepper Jack. The omelette was generously full of its gooey chorizo and black bean goodness but lacked a certain panache to make it stand apart from other breakfast staples; the eggs did come out beautifully though.

I, on the other hand, had to get my mouth onto one of Mama's Benedicts because benedicts entice me anywhere they are available. Orders from this menu section are built from two poached Petaluma Farms eggs served on a toasted English muffin with hollandaise sauce and Mama's grilled potatoes. I chose the Norwegian Smoked Salmon bit and was greeted by two healthily wobbling eggs quickly. They themselves were a treat but the hollandaise erred on the too-lemony side (ah, my mouth is salivating now thinking about the tang!) and the smoked salmon too thick instead of being delicate. I did enjoy the accompaniments though, and the muffin possessed a great texture to meet the other, softer substances.

If you personally want to give Mama's a try, find the restaurant at 1701 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 and come to your own verdict. After all, there's a reason they are frequently visited - perhaps our particular orders couldn't enlighten us just quite but yours will.

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

The noodles, the broth, the ambiance - Hakata Ikkousha in Costa Mesa boils it down to a pure love of ramen. If you just about worship the dish, you might want to wander on down to this spot in the burgeoning plaza because it is superb for tonkotsu lovers. In fact, it has turned into our favorite ramen spot in Orange County, supplanting the beloved SSG and Santouka eateries that grace the top lists of many. When we first visited Hakata Ikkousha, we were struck by how the walls told the restaurant's story (derived from other locations in the world) but also how the monitors shared the journey.


There is usually a wait but the service is quick and the staff ready to serve the moment you finally get to sit down. Options are simply displayed in a menu that features a small number of broth types (a good sign - they are focused!) and accompanying dishes. While many have spoken highly of their God Fire Ramen choices, we are wimps and opt for something less burning each time. Also, though the portions are substantial enough for our appetites, we often order at least one appetizer because despite the few choices they offer here, each is delightful. We normally choose the Hakata Specialty Hitokuchi Gyoza ($3.50 for 5/$6.00 for 10 - Ikkousha-style pan-fried dumplings) which comes with a pleasantly tangy and spicy dipping sauce but on this occasion, we needed to capitalize on the solid crunch of their Special Fried Chicken ($3 for 1/$7 for 3 - marinated with Ikkousha sauce on deep-fried chicken). It is perfectly juicy and tender inside despite its loud, crisp exterior (so satisfying!), and the pieces themselves are adequately sized to share or feed a hungry person.


The stars at Hakata Ikkousha, however, show up as delectable, downright scrumptious bowls of ramen. You could start off with the Tonkotsu Standard ($7.90 - signature tonkotsu broth, thin straight noodles, housemade chashu, wood ear mushrooms, and green onions) to get a feel for the place but if you seek a heavier, heartier meal, you might want to snag my go-to, the Tonkotsu Black ($8.90 - garlic tonkotsu broth, thin straight noodles, housemade chashu, wood ear mushrooms, and green onions). Add on some bamboo shoots ($1) and egg ($1.50) for more oomph, and you've got yourself a stellar meal. The black garlic tonkotsu broth is presented steaming hot, practically hiding all of the other components underneath the thickness. It is rich and savory, wholesome and sultry in your mouth. With every sip, it is obvious that much time was dedicated to making it. You would say the same about their Tonkotsu Mentaiko ($8.90 - tonkotsu broth with mentaiko flavor, straight noodles, housemade chashu, wood ear mushrooms, and green onions) as well which has limited quantities daily. This one was certainly less heavy but the mentaiko flavor really brought out other elements of the broth not experienced in the other; the fish accent highlighted the broth's saltiness to an appreciative amount, and be assured that we slurped this up without hesitation.

If by now, you need to get your hands on a bowl, find Hakata Ikkousha at 3033 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 and get there early. We've been several times and the shortest waits are when we arrive just after opening. Trust me - you'll enjoy it.

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

It has nearly been a decade since I first dined at what would become my favorite phở restaurant - Phở 79 in Garden Grove. Then I discovered it was Duc's favorite as well. The more people we asked who had lived in Orange County for some time and enjoyed the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup dish, the more we heard that this restaurant, established back in 1979, was their favorite spot as well for the iconic bowl. I've written a handful of times about this eatery in the nascence of Much Ado About Fooding but never followed up with photos that did the food more justice. We decided we needed to confess once again that even after all of these years of trying out other phở places, we still hold Phở 79 in the number one spot for phở in Orange County. The potholed parking lot and constant fullness inside are just a few testaments to its greatness.


We frequent Phở 79 fairly often but rarely on the weekends; when we did arrive to bring another group of friends to our favorite joint (this time on a Saturday afternoon), we saw the long, wrapping line that would easily attract others to the restaurant. I say "would" though because one of the unfortunate (and also somewhat fortunate) features of its location is that it is hidden from a view from the nearest major street. The cash-only bustling eatery is situated tucked behind a liquor store-focused strip of buildings, and the parking lot is in quite a state of disrepair. On a rare occasion will you find a parking spot immediately; most of the time, you may opt to go into nearby neighborhoods to park and just over.

Also, to note, this is what you would expect of an old school Vietnamese restaurant. You enter, they yell at you asking for how many seats you need, they wave you in the general direction of an empty area, and you receive menus unceremoniously. The wait staff will usually also give you about one minute to make a decision before whisking away the menus with a quick about-turn. This isn't about being rude; this is just how service commonly is in a family-run business like this and frankly, we like it. If the lack of service starts to rub you the wrong way, just assure yourself of getting phở here by glancing at the wall full of high Zagat ratings. You know you're in for a treat.


While we do point out that we love the phở here, we cannot dismiss how rock-solid the other dishes at Phở 79 also are. On this particular visit, we brought some friends who had never been and made sure to order more than just the phở. For starters, the table opted for Tàu Hũ Ky (bean curd with ground shrimp) and Chả Giò (Vietnamese egg rolls). These were perfectly executed with a generous amount of greens to wrap the fried pieces with. I especially loved how flavorful and stuffed the bean curd was, and everyone really enjoyed the filling and resounding crunch of each egg roll. The right balance of savory and salty was in each as well; we often find that other restaurants are overly salty but these were just right.

Also, to be a little different, Duc decided to get one of his favorite orders which is the Bún Riêu (ground shrimp and crab rice noodle soup), a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup dish that not every restaurant offers. It has always been more akin, to us, to eating a home because there are a few components of the soup that make it less appealing for restaurants to serve. The places we have found that have this on their menus seem to take shortcuts in building out this comfort food but Phở 79 takes care to do it right. Full of tomato tang and rich crab umami flavor, their version is wholesome and hearty, perfect for a rainy day or any craving for good ol' fashioned comfort.


The rest of the table went ahead and ordered varying types of phở based on what they liked. The beauty in this when it comes to choosing the meat components is that you actually have a choice. I personally like my phở with tripe and tendon but others may just enjoy the brisket and meatballs. What Phở 79 also carries on a limited first-come-first-serve basis is oxtail either as part of the phở process or on the side. This giant serving of braised, melt-in-your-mouth goodness requires another large bowl to come out in and can be enough for the whole table if ordered once. It is always tender and fatty with more flavor than just beef itself. If you ever are there when these are available, you must try it at least once. As for the phở overall, the broth is always steaming hot when served and tastes of dedication and skill. It is never too oily, and the noodles have always held the exact right amount of bite for us. Every person we've ever brought to the restaurant has deemed it now their favorite as well, and that is a hard claim to make when we live in the land of phở in Orange County.

Phở 79 can be found at 9941 Hazard Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92844 behind a liquor store most visible from Brookhurst St. Remember to bring cash for your meal and get ready to seep in the aroma of phở from the moment you walk in. Yep, you'll probably wear that smell on your clothes as well once you get home.

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

Did you miss it? From October 29-30, 2016, the largest vegan food festival in southern California took place in Costa Mesa at Orange Coast College, this being the second year in a row that the SoCal VegFest occurred. The festival was initially created to educate and introduce residents of southern California to the health benefits on adopting a vegan lifestyle as well as support and showcase those producers and restaurants who have taken this on as their own mission. The goal is "to inspire and support anyone who wants to learn more about living a more healthy, environmentally conscious and compassionate life."

We kept hearing the name - The Smoking Ribs - and how it was a prime spot to find barbecue to knock one's socks off. Followed quickly by those sentiments was also the footnote on how the restaurant was not somewhere one would expect to find a tasty joint in Orange County; The Smoking Ribs (or as they emphasize it, the smoKING ribs) is in Garden Grove. Interesting. In a land of phở and bánh mì, why would a smoked meat kingdom try to establish grounds? Having grown up in Garden Grove, I was curious where the restaurant was located and surprised to see it just down the street; after driving around the plaza, it became obvious that what once stood in these suites were being taken over by the needs of the modern. It looks like The Smoking Ribs is one of those pioneer takeovers!


To ensure a full spread, we were not the only two dining that early afternoon. Our table of four made sure that we would be able to try just about everything on the simple menu so that we could experience the full range that the restaurant had to offer. The dining area was simple with some tables made of dark lacquered wood and the bar made of red brick. The majority of the space inside was dedicated to the smoker though which is only to be expected of a barbecue joint. After sitting down, we began our meal with the raved-about Blueberry Cornbread ($4). They were hearty but perhaps their rarity in Orange County led to the mass accolades; we found them fair but not extraordinary but then again, I tend to favor coarser grit cornbread like that made in the South.


Now I wasn't kidding about getting the full spread. With four people choosing main entrees, you can easily catch the entire array of their side offerings. We ordered the:

• Pulled Pork ($13) with Onion Rings and Corn on the Cob
• Angus Beef Short Rib ($24) with Smoked Beans and Coleslaw
• Angus Beef Brisket ($21) with Mac & Cheese and Mashed Potatoes
• Beef Ribs ($35) with French Fries and Twice-Baked Potatoes

The Smoking Ribs is a fine place to explore a range of barbecue even if you wouldn't expect to find it at its place at 14211 Euclid St, # D, Garden Grove, CA 92843. Perhaps I am biased, having spent a few years in North Carolina where barbecue is part of life out there, so I wouldn't give this restaurant an enthusiastic two thumbs up. However, you can still snag a bit of the smoked meat flair here with plenty of rocking sides to go with it!

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook here.

In the late afternoon and early evening of October 23, 2016, more than 100 people gathered at the beautiful Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar for The Gray Event, a fundraising reception and dinner conducted to raise donations for the Save Elephants Foundation. This lively event was hosted by Chef Pascal Olhats and featured guests Cathy Thomas and Sangdeaun Lek Chailert for a four-course dinner, cooking demonstration, and information about the amazing work the Thailand-based foundation is doing for elephants. At $100 per ticket for the reception and $250 per ticket for the reception and dinner, the fundraiser attracted plenty of supporters around Orange County who wanted to contribute to the conservation cause and did so to the tune over over $25,000 raised from ticket sales and auction items.


Not only was there support for the organization for what it does but there was also much support that evening for Chef Olhats as this pet project fundraiser was entirely motivated by a personal trip and put together by a dedicated committee looking to help - a true effort of community action. After an ecotourism vacation in Chang Mai, Thailand, Chef Olhats and his wife were inspired by what they had seen at the Elephant Nature Park held by the Save Elephants Foundation. The elephants there being saved had been abused and mistreated in the past for entertainment and other purposes; this was a way to support the mission of the restoration park.

The Gray Event was supported by plenty of sponsors including Melissa's Produce, Newport Meat Company, Superior Seafood, Thai District Restaurant, Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, Sweet Charity Cookie Company, Signature Party Rentals, Bow & Arrow Public Relations, and more, all of whom were showing their support for a locally-driven effort to contribute to the global community.


During the reception, hors d'oeuvres were prepared by Chef Ty Theara and Andre Angles, owners of Thai District Restaurant in Long Beach; seasonal vegetable potstickers, Thai cucumber salad, vegetarian green onion spring rolls, chicken satay, and lemongrass curry were tray-passed amidst a bustling crowd of eager attendees. A signature cocktail was available at the bar, and plenty of participants took advantage of the photo wall with a backdrop of a photograph of an elephant from the Nature Park. The Save Elephants Foundation (SEF) is a Thai non-profit founded by Sangdeaun Lek Chailert with a mission to provide care and assistance to Thailand’s captive elephant population.


Guests were regaled with performances by several Thai dancing groups and musicians throughout before proceeding with dinner. The multicolored tables were decorated with elephant-themed items and descriptions of each unique animal at the nature park in Thailand. Dinner attendees enjoyed a beautiful menu composed of Thai Tom Yum Soup with Rock Shrimp, Somtam Green Papaya Salad, Red Curry with Kabocha Pumpkin & Tofu, Green Curry with Thai Eggplant & Bamboo Shoot topped with Thai Beef Skewers, and Coconut Milk Sticky Rice with Fresh Mangos along with a cooking demonstration by Chef Olhats and Cathy Thomas, using recipes from Lek Chailert's own cookbook.


Silent auction and live auction proceeds grew the funds raised that night even higher, and all for the sake of SEF. It was heartening to see the amount of support out on the 23rd, and perhaps The Gray Event will become an annual occasion to band together to save the elephants.

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available at Facebook here.