The Joy of Eating

Guilty pleasures. We all have them—and, no, I’m not talking about anything else other than food.

Whether it’s ice cream, a big, juicy hamburger or a greasy taco, sometimes it’s well warranted, and just plain OK, to give in. For me, I’d have to say that french fries are my food vice. My mouth is watering just thinking about them, especially paired with a cold, sweet drink like a milkshake—yum!

Around town, I love the fries at Brussels Bistro—they’re thick, cooked to perfection (crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside) and served with a few of the eatery’s homemade sauces. I also love the thin-cut french fries at Nirvana Grille, which are made with blue cheese, thyme, paprika and served with a house-made basil aioli and Dijon mustard. And on days when I don’t want to be all that fancy with my fries, I’ll head to Adonis Mediterranean Grill on Park Avenue near PCH—they’re super greasy but oh-so-fulfilling. (Yes, I’d like to consider myself a french fry aficionado.)

But junk food doesn’t necessarily equate to guilty pleasures—in fact, we asked five chefs around town for our Eat + Drink issue what their favorite go-to foods were (other than their own, of course!) in Laguna, and some of the answers were surprising (page 30). I’ll be honest, I’ve always had a penchant for junk food, so I commend those who have the willpower to reach for something that’s healthy when given the choice.

And speaking of things that are nutritious, this issue showcases the trend of using veggies in creative, innovative ways. No longer just a side dish, local chefs are whipping up creations that make vegetables the star (page 64) of the plate.

So, basically, we’ve got everything covered in this issue, from the junk food to the good-for-you and much, much more. Whatever your poison is, there’s always a time—reason or not—to enjoy what you love eating.

Cheers,

Alli Tong

Editor, Laguna Beach Magazine

[email protected]