Tag: food

Happy Pi Day! Discovering Australian Meat Pies

I couldn’t resist it, I had to celebrate National Pi Day at Pie-Not, the Aussie Style Bakery in Costa Mesa. It had been a while since I sampled these savory meat pies. And today, being March 14th, Pi Day (as in the mathematical pi not the baked good), the Dog’s Eye was on sale for $3.14. But of course.

I have fond memories of visiting Australia some years ago and I do remember eating some meat pies and discovering the coffee-deliciousness of flat whites (lattes) over there. The guys behind Pie-Not are Jai Snowdon, originally from the Gold Coast of Australia, and Ryan Lopiccolo, of Newport Beach, California. The partners’ laid-back vibe is definitely reflected in their 17th Street Costa Mesa location.

Pie-Not offers meat, veggie, and gluten-free pies, as well as desserts, espresso and handcrafted coffee drinks – all inspired from bakeries across Australia.

The last time I took a Pie Not pie home, my family wasn’t too keen – but I suppose it takes some getting used to for the American palate to enjoy a not-sweet but rather, savory pie. Take the popular Dog’s Eye (regularly $5.50) which is filled with premium ground beef with finely diced onions in a shortcrust pastry shell with a puff pastry lid. It’s kind of like a burger in a pie but that would not do it justice at all. You could describe Aussie pies as less-soupy versions of pot pies but really you’d have to taste it and decide for yourself. Pie Not features a menu of creatively named pies like the Drunken Cow (red wine and roasted garlic braised premium chunky beef and pearl onions in shortcrust pastry shell with a puff pastry lid) and Rockin Chook (premium chunky chicken breast with apricots, pine nuts, sultanas, saffron and fresh herbs in a shortcrust pastry shell with a puff pastry lid).

Like the pies, the Sweet Treats are not your typical cupcake and cookie fare either. Classic Australian desserts like the Digger – an ANZAC biscuit (that’s a cookie to you and me) from World War 1 made using rolled oats, flour, desiccated coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup, baking soda and boiling water and the Lamington – a butter sponge cake cubed and rolled in chocolate icing and dusted with desicated coconut, pair well with their Bun Coffee from Byron Bay.

It doesn’t have to be Pi Day to try out Pie Not. Visit them at 270 E 17th St. #17, Costa Mesa, CA. (They’re right next to Sidecar Donuts.)

March 14, 2014
Natural Products Expo West Wraps Up

Last weekend, I attended the Natural Products Expo West, produced by New Hope Natural Media, for the first time. Held at the Anaheim Convention Center, the Expo showcased a record number of new natural and organic product launches and attracted more than 63,000 industry members and 2,428 exhibiting companies. From food items to cosmetics and other specialty goods, natural products are big business! Although I did not attend any of the conference sessions, I had a wonderful time tasting and sampling products at the Expo Floor, and meeting entrepreneurs at the Next Pavilion, which showcased new and upcoming brands.

I was warned by fellow bloggers that the expo could be a bit overwhelming, so my plan was to look for kids’ snacks, healthy office snacks, and coffee for future stories. I successfully resisted some of the really tasty samples and tried to keep my focus. Snack items were plenty, not so much coffee but plenty of tea! I ended up trying out so many probiotic treats it gave me indigestion but what was really satisfying was meeting the creators, founders, entrepreneurs and dreamers behind so many gluten-free, peanut-free, all-natural products. I will try to write about them in the upcoming weeks.

There were so many people at ExpoWest, it’s amazing that I bumped into someone I knew — the fabulous Christy Funk of Belly Sprout, a pioneer of all-natural, eco-chic in Orange County. At the end of half a day, my shoulder was sore from lugging around a bag containing numerous sample products. Outside the air was cool, the sun was out, and there was a band playing. What a way to end an expo touting natural living!

I think it was a well organized event and New Hope Natural Media did great by emailing updates daily about the conference. They also had a mobile app that attendees used to plan their days.

Check out my Storfiy about the conference.

March 13, 2013
Hyatt Hotels Introduce New Healthy Organic Kids Menu

Forget the typical fried chicken nuggets and high fat mac n’ cheese, and French fries that dominate most children’s menus. This summer, the Hyatt Hotels and Resorts introduced a new, innovative and responsible children’s menu called “For Kids By Kids” in all of its full service hotels in North America. The menu is designed to make the healthier choice, the easier choice by providing more nutritious and healthy offerings for their youngest guests. Hyatt’s food and beverage philosophy, after all, is “Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served.”

Recently, my sons and I were invited to attend a preview of the kids menu at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. Executive Chef Chris Savage did a cooking demo with the children. Together they prepared a healthy salad and waffles. The tasting buffet featured whole grain pastas with a choice of 2 sauces: tomato and cheese; a build your own taco bar, and waffle dipping sticks. All the items are part of the “For Kids by Kids” flavor journey menu tasted, tested and approved by a team of children led by 11 year old cooking enthusiast Haile Thomas.

One of the best things about the new menu is that it appeals to both kids and parents. The ingredients are fresh not frozen. But perhaps the biggest draw for kids is that they have a hand in making their food – sort of – because it all starts with making good choices. They can build their own whole wheat sub sandwich, for example, and create their own pasta by choosing the pasta (penne, spaghetti, gluten-free), sauce (tomato or cheese), protein (turkey meatballs, chicken breast), vegetable (peas, broccoli, carrots, spinach, zucchini).

Another wonderful aspect of this new menu is that world renowned food revolution pioneer and edible educator Alice Waters is a part of it. She has lent her inspiration and support to the new kids menu. According to Waters, “All children deserve to eat real food – fresh, seasonal, organic, and delicious.” She adds: “I wanted to do a small, three course meal, within the context of Hyatt’s initiative, that could be sourced exclusively from organic farms across the country. Of course it’s about taste and ripeness and seasonality-but it’s bigger than that, too: it’s about supporting the people who are taking care of the land for our future generations.”

Now that’s definitely something to chew on.

For more inspiration, watch Haile Thomas TEDx Kids talk. And here’s a video of Alice Waters talking about the new Hyatt Kids Menu. View more photos from the event via my Flickr stream.

September 17, 2012
LA’s Umami Burger opens in the OC

April 2, 2012