A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

My First Meal At Panini Cafe In Woodland Hills

I was so excited about the grand opening of Panini Cafe in Woodland Hills that I stopped in for a meal the very first chance that I could.   And, thankfully I brought an appetite.  The manager, Israel, was an extremely friendly and gracious host and my server, Isabella, was excellent and super helpful!

For starters, I wanted to check out their soup offerings.  I ordered a cup of Mom’s Chicken Vegetable with Noodles (a cup is $2.95) and Israel also had me sample the vegetarian Home Made Lentil soup.  Typically I avoid vegetarian soups for fear of blandness, but honestly I was blown away with how flavorful the lentil soup was!  The chicken noodle soup was great, too.  Very hearty and savory.  I really don’t think you could go wrong with either.  What you can’t really see in the pictures is that the soups are also accompanied by a piece of il Fornaio’s delicious bread.  Good stuff!

Israel suggested for my first visit that I try out one of the most popular and most highly recommended dishes, the Charbroiled Chicken Shish Kabob.  I chose the Mediterranean Greek Salad as the salad option, and selected the Organic Bulgur Pilaf as the rice option (as opposed to the more traditional, and also available, Basmati Rice).  Now, this is a dish that is a staple of Mediterranean/Persian cuisine and I’ve had similar many times.  Panini Cafe definitely does a great job here, as the chicken was super moist and tender, and the kabob vegetables (onion, tomato, and bell peppers) were broiled to perfection.  The rice pilaf was also great and very healthy and the side salad quite substantial and also delicious.  Panini Cafe also has very good prices, as this dish is only $12.95.

I had a great meal and a great experience and was pleased to see how busy Panini Cafe is in even these early days of being open.  I can’t wait to try one of their paninis, which really look good.  Hopefully I’ll be able to stop in for breakfast one day this weekend.  I love breakfast!

Additional Images:

Popularity: 15%

Checking Out Dan’s Super Subs’ New #15 Spicy Italian Sub

A few weeks ago I noticed on Twitter that Dan’s Super Subs had launched a brand new sandwich, the #15 Spicy Italian Sub.  The delicious goodness heaped onto this great sandwich includes “capicola, deli pepperoni, hard Italian salami and provolone cheese.”  Check out this bad boy:

Honestly, nothing warms my heart like a nice spicy Italian sub.  And Dan’s has totally nailed it.  Man, every time I write about one of these subs I really start craving it.

Also, good news for football fans that want something special for the “big game” this weekend.  Dan’s is open Super Bowl Sunday!  Yep, there is a banner proudly displayed in the store window.  If you get catering from them for your Super Bowl party, please invite me!

Oh, and if you haven’t become a fan yet, check out Dan’s Super Subs’ new Facebook page.

Popularity: 12%

Checking Out Fleming’s “5 for $6 ’til 7″ Happy Hour, Prime Burger, and More

After watching a day worth of glutinous food programming on the Travel Channel I was really hungry for something big, delicious, and if at all possible, greasy.  I remember that I had a $20 gift card for Fleming’s that I acquired during the holidays.  I also remembered that they do a seven-days-a-week happy hour special in their bar area called 5 for $6 ’til 7.  That’s 5 cocktails, 5 appetizers, and five wines by the glass for $6 each.  They also offer their Prime Burger for $6.00.  That’s an amazing deal.  Check it out:

5 COCKTAILS
WHITE COSMO, Ketel One Vodka
APPLETINI, Grey Goose Vodka
FLEMING’S CLASSIC, Ketel One Vodka
MARGATINI, Gran Centenario Anejo Tequila
TROPICAL MARTINI, Malibu Coconut Rum

5 WINES BY THE GLASS*
PINOT GRIGIO, Redbank, Australia
CHARDONNAY, Glen Carlou, South Africa
PINOT NOIR, Mark West, California
PETITE SIRAH, Vinum, California
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 14 Hands, Washington

5 APPETIZERS
TENDERLOIN CARPACCIO, Creole Mustard Sauce
SWEET CHILI CALAMARI
WICKED CAJUN BARBECUE SHRIMP
SEARED AHI TUNA, Spicy Mustard Sauce
JUMBO LUMP CRAB CAKES, Red Pepper Sauce

NEW FLEMING’S PRIME BURGER, Cheese and Bacon

Each Selection $6. Served Nightly Until 7PM.

Available 7 nights a week at all Fleming’s except where prohibited by law.
Hours and offerings subject to change in compliance with local or state liquor laws.

So, appetite in tow I headed over to Fleming’s (6373 Topanga Canyon Blvd.) at around 5pm.  Keep it mind that it’s a Sunday, however the place was surprisingly busy, but not packed.  I was however, easily able to get a seat at the bar.  It really picked up about 30 minutes after I got there and the bar got full.

I usually only drink when I plan to get fully obliterated, so I didn’t partake of any cocktail specials.  I did, however, order the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes.  They were flavorful, huge, and contained lots of crab meat.  I will be back for more of these, that you can guarantee.

Next up, they delivered my Prime Burger – 8 oz. of prime beef (cooked rare and bleeding, by my command) with bacon, bleu cheese, “Served with a Mini Wedge and Fleming’s Signature Onion Rings.” Honestly, this burger was awesome.  It was juicy, and just greasy enough to really satisfy that urge that has been boiling inside me.  There are several cheeses you can get it with, but my selection of bleu cheese allowed me to evaluate it against the Bleu Cheeseburger at Gaucho Grill.  And, to be honest, it definitely gives Gaucho’s offering a run for it’s money.  And, hello, it’s $6.00 people.  That’s AMAZING.  Those onion rings were pretty good too, but after devouring the burger I only had room for one of them.

Simply put the 5 for $6 ’til 7 deal has to be one of the best happy hours in the West Valley. I had a few bucks left on my $20 gift card, and rather than letting it go to waste I picked up a delicious slice of Walnut Turtle Pie (homemade caramel, walnuts and chocolate baked in a chocolate pie crust) to take home.  I’m still buzzing from the sugar high.

Popularity: 18%

Escaping Rainy Gloom With A Chocolate Shake At The Habit

This rainy and gloomy week has really been throwing me for a loop.  Yesterday, around 5pm after work I decided to drop in on The Habit (22651 Ventura Blvd) for a little sweet spirit boosting joy – their Chocolate Shake.  I had actually never had it before, but it was definitely very good.  Very chocolaty, made with real ice cream, and  topped with whipped cream.  It really boosted my spirits up before I had to head back out in the pouring rain!

One of the major pluses about these rainy days is that places are not as crowded!  Stay dry everyone!

Popularity: 11%

A Little More Breakfast At BJ’s In Woodland Hills

This morning I stopped into BJ’s again in Woodland Hills to watch the first half of the Georgia Tech (my alma mater) vs UNC college basketball game.  The last time I was here, a friend of mine had the Baked Italian Omelette and he said it was pretty good, so I decided I’d give it a try.

Baked Italian Omelette Three scrambled eggs, Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, red onion, mushrooms and tomatoes, baked and topped with mozzarella cheese and parsley. Served with seasoned country potatoes and your choice of whole wheat or sourdough toast. $7.95

I really like the country potatoes at BJ’s, they have a great texture and flavor.  And the baked Italian Omelette itself is also very good – it’s almost like have an omelette and a sausage pizza combined.  Which is probably a little misleading because the dish itself is actually pretty light and healthy tasting.

When I left at halftime, the Yellow Jackets were dismantling UNC.  Somehow, in the second half they ended up blowing a 20+ point lead, but thankfully still ended up winning 73-31.  Go Jackets!

Popularity: 8%

Save Money With Friday’s Give Me More Stripes Customer Loyalty Program, And A Damn Fine Pork Chop

Back in November I signed up for TGI Friday’s customer loyal program Give Me More Stripes.  It’s probably one of the best customer loyalty programs around.  Essentially you get 1 point for every dollar you spend, and once you spend $100 you get a free $8 coupon.  But wait, there’s more.  You also get a free appetizer coupon just for signing up.  You can do so online, or at the restaurant, and it  takes a week or so for you to get your card in the mail.

In addition, sometimes they send you coupons ‘just because.’  For instance, over the Christmas holiday I received a coupon for a free appetizer.  They also periodically send coupons for free desserts and other items.  The best part is everything happens by e-mail.  They send you your rewards and other coupons, you print them out and take them to the restaurant, and enjoy the savings.  Over the past 2 months I’ve already enjoyed 3 free appetizers and 2 $8.00 off coupons.  And also, it seems like January is a double points month, which really amplifies your savings.

I’ve always been a fan of pork chops, but most restaurants really don’t have them.  Usually steakhouses do, but when I’m at a steakhouse, I order a steak.  Thankfully, about a year ago I discovered the wonderful Pepper-Crusted Pork Chop at Friday’s.  It’s on their “Right Portion, Right Price” menu which makes it about $10.  It’s just a great, great tasting pork chop.  I’ve polished off quite a few of these, and if you’re a pork chop fan I suggest you check it out.  The mashed potatoes are also exceptional!

Pepper-Crusted Pork Chop

Our bone-in pork chop is seasoned with pastrami-pepper seasoning, with pastrami. Pepper seasoning grilled to perfection and topped with brown gravy. Served with crispy beer-battered onion rings and creamy mashed potatoes.

TGI Friday’s is located at 5919 Canoga Avenue in Woodland Hills, and is celebrating it’s 30th Anniversary at that location!

Popularity: 5%

Great Weekend Brunch At BJ’s In Woodland Hills and More

This past weekend one of my friends suggested that a group of us meet at 10am at BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse in Woodland Hills to watch the Miami Dolphins’ final game of the season.  I was more than game for it since I haven’t been to BJ’s in a long time, and I figured if they were open at 10AM on weekends it must mean they serve breakfast.

I was happy to learn that BJ’s opens every Saturday and Sunday at 10AM and serves a special brunch menu from 10AM to 1PM.  Their regular menu is also available.  I’m always on the hunt on the hunt for new breakfast places in the West Valley so I was more than happy to give BJ’s a try.

Interestingly, pretty much everyone at the table was drawn to the French Toast Combo (pictured above with Swiss cheese melted on the eggs at my request).  From the menu:

FRENCH TOAST COMBO – Two pieces of thick, “OLD-FASHIONED” bread grilled golden brown, lightly dusted with powdered sugar and served with three scrambled eggs and your choice of Applewood smoked bacon, grilled ham or country sausage links on grilled sourdough bread.  Served with seasoned country potatoes.  $7.95

First of all, the price is great.  Second of all, so is the French Toast.  Wow, it was so good without being outrageously over done.  It was like a the french toast your mom would make, just good.  Everyone at the table enjoyed it immensely.  A friend of ours also had the Baked Italian Omelette (not pictured, but later reviewed) and said it was very good.  I plan to go back soon and try something else from the brunch menu, and I’ll let you know when I do.

My friend Jim waited a bit to order food and decided to order from the lunch menu.  He shuns red meat and is a huge Turkey Burger fan.  At BJ’s you can make any of their burgers a turkey burger at no additional cost, and they use a 7 oz all white meat patty.  Jim elected to get the Sourdough Burger (turkey version) and got Monterrey Jack cheese instead of the default Cheddar.

SOURDOUGH BURGER*
A juicy Angus burger served on Parmesan grilled sourdough bread with tomatoes, pickles, lettuce and 1000 Island dressing. Very messy but very good! Available with Applewood smoked bacon and cheddar cheese.

It really was a monstrous Turkey Burger and Jim reported that it was delicious.  The deliciousness of which, however, did little to quell the pain of the Dolphins being eliminated from NFL Playoff contention.

Lastly instead of fries and the variety of other items that BJ’s offers as sides, Jim elected to have a side garden salad which he also reported as being very good.

So if you’re looking for a great breastfast/brunch on the weekends, don’t forget about BJs from 10AM to 1PM!

Popularity: 5%

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