It's Tuesday....what's for dinner?

That depends. You could be at Rubio's having a $1.50 taco special (or three). Or, you could be at AnQi Gourmet Bistro having this....

Or this....

On Tuesdays, Mama is shuttled from Crustacean Beverly Hills down to daughter Elizabeth's branch of House of An for some magic in their Secret Kitchen. The specialty: roasted crab. 

While you'll have to pay a pretty penny for your seafood (upwards of $50+), I have to admit, it tastes better when they leave it in the shell. Maybe it's the sweet sense of accomplishment after you've gotten in the crab's business and dirtied your hands? Who knows. Just share the experience with a friend, so you're not playing with your food by yourself.


AnQi Gourmet Bistro is located next to Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza, 3333 South Bristol Street in Costa Mesa. They are open for lunch and dinner daily. 714.557.5679. www.anqibistro.com.

There's still time to wine and dine!

Whether you're more food truck groupie or oenophile (or both), the final weeks of summer still offer options to keep your ATM card busy. Don't believe me?

Saturday, August 27 (12 to 6 p.m.; early entry begins at 10 a.m.)

The OC Foodie Fest is back with a vengeance. Ok, maybe that's too strong a word. Older. Wiser. The team that brought you last year's literal hot mess has learned from all the constructive criticism in, and it shows. Some of the biggest changes include family-friendly entertainment in the form of local bands, a classic car show and street performers. Plus they've moved to the lot at Angel Stadium for more elbow room.

Events leading up to next week's finale included a Feed the Hungry event featuring Seabirds Truck and a date night themed Pub & Grub at Goat Hill Tavern. This Friday, James Foxall's team plans to host 500 Marines for an all-American night of baseball, complete with food truck tailgating and prizes.

More incentive to give them another chance (besides more food options) include on-site cash machines, CHEAPER parking, and the concept of shade. All their ducks appear to be in a row, so read my advice on surviving your next GFT and make me proud.

Through Sunday, September 4

Those who prefer to stay indoors can literally drink to their heart's content at The Capital Grille's Generous Pour event. Master Sommelier George Miliotes is our comeback kid with nine (yes, 9) unlimited pours for the thirsty. With a selection of domestic and international tastes, there's bound to be a varietal that pairs well with dinner. A generous pour, indeed.

For $25, our preference is a Napa Valley Cab from Freemark Abbey; Specifically, the 2003 Cabernet Bosche. Per Miliotes, this is, "Supple and balanced yet rich and intense, with dark plum and spicy black cherry fruit, firmed up with fine, strong tannins." Tell us how you really feel, George!


The party is still going on, if you know where to look. 

Joe Bastianich Visits Hi-Time Wine Cellars Tomorrow

Hi-Time's Facebook page

I've been waiting forEVER for Pizzeria Mozza to open in Newport Beach. Although they still haven't announced an opening date, they are ready to share a glimpse of what to expect. Batali and his Crocs are not available this weekend. However, we get the next best thing: Joe Bastianich.

Joe, son of Felice and (culinary Italian royalty) Lidia, is also Batali's business partner. He'll be paying a visit to Hi-Time tomorrow for a special event.

The event itself is from 2 - 8:30 p.m.; however, the cellars will be graced with Bastianich's presence only between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m. He'll be discussing the wines being poured and talking about their upcoming pizzeria. Oh, and did we forget to mention the pizza samples?

Cost to attend this tasting is $30. The opportunity to speak to Joe about judging MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot (or Batali, for that matter): Well, you can't put a price on dishing gossip.....or can you?

For more information on tomorrow's event, you can click here for Hi-Time's Facebook page.

To monitor the progress of Pizzeria Mozza on their newly created Facebook page, follow this link.