OC Wine and Lifestyle

March 29, 2010

Crystal Jade Asian Fine Dining, Irvine

Filed under: Lifestyle,Restaurants — kschager @ 1:01 PM
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A wonderful dining choice in the Quail Hill community of Irvine is Crystal Jade Asian Fine Dining.  I’ve never loved Chinese food until I found this restaurant.  They know how to cook shrimp to perfection here!  The decor is very classy, the prices are reasonable, and the food is outstanding.  I would recommend the Cashew Chicken, Kung Pao Shrimp, or any off the Moo Shu.  Their dishes and sauces have a slightly different approach than most other Chinese restaurants, and you will really be in for a treat here.  I would also recommend eating with chopsticks if you usually eat asian food with a fork.  It makes the whole experience so much better! 
If you would like to find homes in the Quail Hill area, please visit my website at http://www.kathyschager.com/ and click on the Home Search tab.  Also, feel free to visit my Facebook fan page, OC Wine and Lifestyle.  Have a great week!

March 11, 2010

Filed under: Lifestyle,wine — kschager @ 5:48 PM
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toast

Here’s what’s going on at Total Wine in Tustin this weekend: Tastings for St. Patty’s Day! Remember that if you are interested in info regarding real estate or market trends in Orange County, you can visit me at www.KathySchager.com.  Also, don’t forget to visit The OC Wine and Lifestyle Facebook Fan Page.  May the luck of the Irish be with you!

February 1, 2010

Ibiza Lounge on Saturday Nights, San Juan Capistrano

Filed under: Lifestyle,Restaurants — kschager @ 10:28 AM
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For anyone looking for a good time on Saturday nights, this could be a winner. If you’ve not been to the Ibiza Lounge, it’s a great spot to dance and mingle. It has a nice outside patio and quieter places further from the DJ to converse with friends. If you would like to see homes near Tannins/Ibiza Lounge, please visit my website at http://www.KathySchager.com. Also, if you’d like to visit us on Facebook, join the OC Wine and Lifestyle Fan Page.  Enjoy!

http://www.preferredguestlist.com/aci/SEFull.php?targetID=412675&&emailSentID=12266172&&clientID=39

January 25, 2010

Antonello Ristorante, South Coast

Filed under: $50.00-$74.99,Restaurants,Sangiovese,wine — kschager @ 2:24 PM
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Dined at Antonello’s this weekend, and the experience was wonderful, as always.  This restaurant has an impeccable combination of delicious, fresh food, wonderful service, and a fantastic ambience.  I would recommend the Gnoccetti or the Ravioli di Ricotta & Spinaci.  Both are wonderful dishes, and the minestrone soup is… very good, too.  Many of the servers here have actually come to the states from Italy, adding to the authenticity of the experience.  The restaurant has also been featuring an “Economic Stimulus” wine list, with some fantastic selections from which to choose. I would recommend the 2003 Brunello di Montalcino, from Castiglion Del Bosco in Tuscany.  It’s a very dry red, made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, but bold, robust, wonderful on the palate with a smooth finish.  This restaurant is fantastic for romantic dinners or dining with friends.  Enjoy!

http://www.antonello.com

January 20, 2010

The Cat & the Custard Cup

Filed under: Lifestyle,Restaurants — kschager @ 4:01 PM
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I recently visited the Cat & the Custard Cup after many years, and was so pleasantly surprised by what a lovely dining experience I had! The property itself is so charming and romantic, and to top it off, we were seated by a fireplace. The service was wonderful, the menu was fantastic, and the wine list….well, let’s just say it was “extensive.” If you’re looking for a beautiful restaurant with unstoppable ambience, delicious dishes and a lavish wine list, The Cat & the Custard Cup will be sure to please. I would also highly recommend the pan seared salmon with a bottle of the 2008 Rombauer Chardonnay, which of course, they have on their wine list. For their location, menu, wine list, and info about their in-house wine shop, please visit their website at http://www.catandcustardcup.com/.
If you’d like to search for homes near this restaurant, please visit my website at http://www.kathyschager.com/.  Also, for other wine and restaurant reviews, visit me at http://kathyschager.wordpress.com/, or visit “OC Wine and Lifestyle” on Facebook. Finally, if you’ve visited this restaurant, we’d love to hear your feedback!

December 3, 2009

Hell ‘n Back Pacific Edge 2006 Zinfandel

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,wine,Zinfandel — kschager @ 12:16 AM
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Hell n Back Pacific Edge 2006 Zinfandel.  GNARLY finish!

November 23, 2009

2008 Rombauer Chardonnay

Filed under: $30.00-$49.99,Chardonnay,wine — kschager @ 2:18 PM
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DEEEEELICIOUS!  My favorite chardonnay reviewed here:

For more information on OC Wine and Lifestyle, visit my website at www.KathySchager.com

 

August 13, 2009

PJ’s Abbey – A Great Brunch in Orange

Filed under: $.01-$4.99,Bubbly,Lifestyle,Restaurants,wine — kschager @ 7:45 PM
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California "Extra Dry" Sparkling Wine

California "Extra Dry" Sparkling Wine

We visited PJ’s Abbey in Orange on Sunday for their lovely Champagne Brunch and some excellent Jazz.  Two members of the wonderful and incredibly talented Ryan Rost Trio play there weekly and they are some of my favorites.  I’m still trying to figure out how to get the third member of the group there, as he adds that “something special” to the sound, but I’ll take whatever I can get from these incredible musicians.

The food at PJ’s was quite good.  The portions were more appropriate than I expected, but still too much for me to scarf down on my own.  I would recommend the California Omelette.  The manager, Joseph Curtis, was very helpful and did an excellent job taking care of us.   The “champagne” that they serve for Sunday Brunch, J. Roget, can be found at BevMo for a whopping $1.99.  SERIOUSLY??  I have to be honest when I say that I rather enjoyed this California sparkling treat.  It made for a great mimosa but was actually enjoyable on its own, too.  The ambiance of the restaurant was also unique and enjoyable, as it’s a old historic church just outside the Orange Circle.

We will be visiting PJ’s Abbey again in the near future both for the food and the music.  Don’t be afraid to come out and have a great time with us!
To find homes near PJ’s Abbey in Orange, visit my website at www.KathySchager.com.

August 11, 2009

Castillo d Clavijo Rioja Crianza 2004

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,Tempranillo,wine — kschager @ 8:52 PM
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Reasonable wine for the price
Reasonable wine for the price

The Castillo d Clavijo Rioja Crianza 2004 starts out strong with a wonderful nose of leather, spice, dark berry and hints of vanilla.  The palate is a little less fabulous but has nice smoky flavors of strawberry, cherry and cedar.  The finish is my least favorite part of this wine experience, but it’s not the worst I’ve had.  There is just a hint of a cough syrup flavor in the midst of the cherries in the finish, bit it’s not so overwhelming that it would prevent me from buying this wine again.  Let it breathe sufficiently before drinking and that will diminish.  Overall, not wonderful but not bad, either.  You can buy this wine for the very cost effective price of $5.99 at Total Wine in Tustin.

To find homes near Total Wine in Tustin and other hot spots in OC, visit me on the web at www.KathySchager.com.

August 8, 2009

Running With Scissors Cabernet 2006

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,Cabernet,wine — kschager @ 9:49 PM
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Quite nice for the price!
Quite nice for the price!

I’m on my third bottle of this cab in the last several months.  It’s hard to find a decent cabernet for under $10.00, but I have to give some kudos to Running With Scissors.  This is a pretty smooth and tasty cabernet for a whopping $7.99 at Total Wine in Tustin.  On the nose, there are hints of cedar and dark berry.  The palate is rich with cassis,  cherry, earth and just a hint of raspberry, which is followed by a full but smooth finish. This wine is quite robust and is very pleasant from start to finish.  Medium to full bodied.  Don’t be afraid to try this cab.  Let it breathe for at least 10 minutes before drinking.

For information on properties for sale or for market conditions near Total Wine in Tustin, please visit my website at www.KathySchager.com.
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