Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill: Feel Good About Eating @SharkysSocial

Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill: Feel Good About Eating

By Erin

Have you been to Sharky’s yet? Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill recently opened its 22nd restaurant in Northridge. At Sharky’s they are all about using innovative and creative recipes and using local, natural and organic ingredients. Their passion for the variety of flavors of Mexico and using organic and natural foods is evident in every bite. I was invited to attend a media lunch sponsored by Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill in Northridge. I made the trek up the 405 to come here from Long Beach, that’s how good it is.

Sharkys-Exterior

Sharky’s is a fresh & modern, fast casual restaurant that serves Mexican cuisine that wants to make you “feel good about eating” again. The visual appearance is also appealing and welcoming. With a sky-high, sloping roofline and outdoor patio with comfortable seating and a communal firepit that is perfect for people watching or to spend time with family and friends.

Sharkys-Feel Good About Eating

The second you step into Sharky’s, you will notice the open and welcoming space. With 20-foot ceilings, cozy booths, a dining bar with prime TV viewing, or a community table, you have many seating options depending on your needs on any particular visit. The Northridge location is at the corner of Nordhoff & Reseda Blvd and is within walking distance from Cal State Northridge. I can totally see this place being packed by students either waiting for classes to start, taking a lunch or dinner break, or after classes to relax and hang-out. I know I would be making this my go-to spot if I were a student at CSUN or worked super close by!
Sharky's Salsa Bar

A couple other things you will notice; the fresh salsa bar and the beautiful bar which serves craft beers, Sangria & kombucha. I loved the Sangria, look at all of the fruit inside!

Sharkys-Sangria

Who would of thought that kombucha would be served at a bar at a Mexican restaurant? The Kombucha has been a successful addition according to David Goldstein, who is Sharky’s COO. I chose to stick with my fruity sangria though. 😛

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Top 10 Food Picks You Won’t Want to Miss at L.A. County Fair #LACFNaturalHigh @LACountyFair

Top 10 Food Picks You Won’t Want to Miss at the L.A. County Fair

By Erin

*I was invited to attend the L.A. County Fair’s Media Food Preview to facilitate this post. This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* 

It’s every foodies favorite time of year again! It’s fair time, and you know what that means! All the tasty and delicious fair food is back, and it won’t disappoint! I grew up coming to the L.A. County Fair and I always love and adore coming back to enjoy all of the sights, sounds, and smells that the fair brings along with it. This year the Los Angeles County Fair is back here in Pomona and is here through September 27th. A few days ago, I went to check out some of the best food items that the fair has to offer at the fair food preview for media. Here’s a list of my top 10 picks!

LACF-LOGO

10) Deep-Fried Peanut-Butter Pickle at Chicken Charlie’s

LA County Fair - Fried Peanut Butter Pickle from Chicken Charlie

This one is a bit unusual, and probably something you’d never think of to combine together, (I know I wouldn’t have!) but Charlie does it again! By mixing a savory pickle with the creamy natural sweetness of peanut butter and chocolate sauce, Charlie comes up with another brilliant idea that works. It’s a BIG pickle, so it’s perfect for sharing; especially if you plan on sampling a lot of the fair food. 😉

9) Blooming Onion at the Fresh Frys Stand

LACF-Onion

You can’t go wrong with this old fair favorite! A crispy, battered and deep-fried onion with a cool ranch dip that is also great to share.

8) BBQ Beef Sundae at Chuckwagon

LACF-BBQ-Beef-Sundae

The BBQ Beef Sundae from Chuckwagon starts with mashed potatoes instead of ice cream, then layered with a generous portion of barbecued brisket slices, and is topped with a cherry — a cherry tomato, that is. This is probably one of the healthier food options this year, as at least it is not deep fried!

7) Chicken & Waffles in a Cone at Cornucopia Foods

LACF-Chicken-Waffles-Cone

A new twist on Chicken and Waffles! It’s served in a Waffle Cone, making it easy to carry around the fair. This tasty number is loaded up with chicken nuggets and mini waffles that are doused in maple syrup and is then topped with bacon bits and powdered sugar. Can you say YUM???? You will get super sticky after eating this one, so be prepared to get sticky. You might want to have some wipes on hand if you don’t want to be making an extra trip to the restroom to wash them off. Another one to share if you plan on trying everything at the fair.

6) Deep-Fried Corn at Chuckwagon

LACF-Roasted-Corn

A much healthier item at the fair by far, and one of my personal fair favorites since I was a kid. It may be simple, but adding some toppings to it makes it an extra special treat.

5) Deep-Fried Bacon Wrapped Chicken & Waffles at Chicken Charlie’s

LACF-Bacon-Chicken-&-Waffles

You can never have too many versions of chicken and waffles right? I am a total sucker for all things sweet and savory so I love this version of it from Chicken Charlie’s!

4) Deep-Fried Guacamole at Chicken-Charlie’s

Deep-Fried-Avocado

I love all things made with avocado, so it is no surprise that this one is towards the top of my list of “must haves” at the fair this year! Take the crispy goodness of the deep-fried crust with the gooey inside of the soft guacamole and you get one delicious, tangy and flavorful treat. Dip it with just enough ranch dressing to make it the perfect fair snack.

3) Mango Michelagua at Ricco’s Michelaguas

LACF-Riccos

This one is a super refreshing treat! I could seriously drink these all day at the fair and be perfectly happy and this isn’t even an alcoholic drink! You will want one (or two) of these to cool off with on a hot day at the fair. This one shown is Mango but there are other varieties like Pineapple-Spinach and Lemonade-Cucumber. Filled with fresh fruit and topped with cherimoya and chili around the rim, makes it the most refreshing treat to cool down with and quench your thirst.

2)  Teriyaki Chicken Pineapple Bowl at Pineapple Express/Chicken Charlie’s

Chicken-Charlies-Pineapple-Chicken

This has to be my most favorite healthier option at the fair. Take some tender teriyaki chicken in Charlie’s secret sauce and put it over rice and pineapple chunks in a real pineapple  bowl and you get one sweet and delicious tropical meal.

1) Deep-Fried Cinnamon Apple Rings at Chuckwagon

LACF-Apple-Rings

If you only try one thing at the fair this year, make sure it’s THIS! New to the L.A. County Fair, these Apple Rings have been deep-fried and lightly coated and sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar. Dip them into the whipped cream and you have the most sweet and delectable treat one can imagine. Now this may be one you DON’T want to share! 😉

So there you have it! My top 10 food picks for the fair. My advice: if you plan on attending this year’s fair, prepare yourself and pace yourself! Share everything with a buddy so you have more room to enjoy all of the deep-fried goodness that the fair has to offer. Wear comfortable pants that aren’t too tight. If your eyes are like mine, they are bigger than your stomach. So even if you don’t want to, SHARE. Otherwise, half-way in you will already be stuffed like a Thanksgiving Turkey! 😛 Trust.Me. On this! Also, this way, instead of gaining a gazillion pounds, it will probably be more like 2.

 

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the awesome lights at night at Luminasia! It is sadly in its final year at the fair so you won’t want to miss out on that. Don’t forget to say hello to all of the cute animals either, and to play some games and go on a ride or two once all of that food settles a bit…. and  The Steam Punkers at Grinding Gears! They are returning again this year and they are pretty awesome. 🙂

What are you looking forward to pigging out on at the fair this year? 😉

LA County Fair 2015

Dates: Sept. 4 – Sept. 27, 2015

CLOSED Mondays (except for Monday 9/7) & Tuesdays

Fairplex Exposition Complex
1101 West McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 

(909) 623-3111

Stacked Celebrates Summer with Basil Inspired August Signature Items

Stacked: Basil Inspired August Signature Items

By Erin

Have you been to Stacked lately? Earlier this year I introduced you to many of the delicious creations at Stacked: Food Well Built. Since then, I’ve gone back quite a few times and just had to go when they invited me to come back to check out their basil inspired signature items for August last week. You WON’T want to miss them, so be sure to check them out for yourself this week or this coming up weekend!

Stacked-Food-Well-Built

First on the Basil Inspired August Signature list (there are five Basil inspired items) we have the Strawberry Basil Shake! A hint of fresh basil makes this Strawberry Shake even more refreshing on these very hot and HUMID days. It totally gave off a spice flavor like that of a pumpkin spice latte, but with a strawberry twist. I would love to have this shake again. Nice, light, and refreshing, it doesn’t leave you filling stuffed.

Stacked-Strawberry-Basil-Shake

NOT on the Basil menu, but a must have when heading to Stacked is the Candied Bacon. Thick-cut, cherrywood-smoked bacon, basted with a heavenly maple syrup and brown sugar mix that is slowly baked until carmalized to perfection. It is the ultimate combo of sweet and savory. Bacon lovers, just beware, you may have to put in two orders of this stuff as it is very addicting and hard to just have one (or two) pieces of it! 😉

Stacked-Candied-Bacon

Next on the Basil Inspired menu that we ordered was the Strawberry, Basil, and Feta Salad. Perfect for those wanting a lighter and healthy choice, this fresh salad features strawberries, fresh basil, toasted almonds, and feta all on top of a Spring Lettuce mix and tossed with a Cranberry Balsamic Dressing. This is a delicious way to start your meal and perfect for sharing.

Stacked-Strawberry-Basil-Feta-Salad

The third item on our Basil Inspired adventure brings us to the Caprese Turkey Burger! Oh. My.Yum! I think this may just be my new favorite burger at Stacked to have! It consists of all of my favorite toppings to have on a burger. Talk about being STACKED with flavor! This baby comes complete with a freshly ground turkey patty with Parmesan Breadcrumbs, Carmalized Onions, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Roma Tomatoes, Avocado, Fresh Basil and Creamy Burrata all served on a Brioche Bun with Roasted Pepper Aioli. I will be going back for sure sometime this week for this one!

Stacked-Caprese-Turkey-Burger

For the Mac ‘n’ Cheese lovers out there, you will LOVE the Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Mac ‘n’ Cheese! This delightful treat combines Tomatoes and fresh Basil with Macaroni Noodles and a Three Cheese Blend topped with Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan breadcrumbs, creating a fanciful feast for your taste buds. 🙂

Stacked-Basil-Mac-N-Cheese

The last stop on our Basil adventure (before dessert anyways, but that does not have basil in it!) is with the Tomato, Grilled Corn and Basil Pizza with Burrata! This specialty is Stacked with fresh pizza dough, and topped with Mozzarella Cheese, Grilled Sweet Corn, Fresh Basil, Grape Tomatoes, Red Pepper Flakes and a rich creamy Burrata. I loved this. I’ve never had all of these toppings on a pizza before, and it seemed much healthier than the typical pepperoni, sausage, and bacon toppings I might otherwise usually get. I liked the change and would get this pizza again.

Stacked-Tomato-Basil-Pizza

That may have been the end of the Basil Inspired August Signature Items, but of course we couldn’t just end with that! We had to get a STACKED dessert to share to end things right! We went for the Peanut Butter Heaven. It was gone in a flash, it was that good.

Stacked-Dessert

I LOVE Basil, so I had to try everything. I’d have to say the shake and the turkey burger were my favorites, but I really loved the Mac ‘n’ Cheese too! What Stacked Basil Inspired August Signature Item is your favorite?