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Monthly Archives: January 2013

Featured Restaurant & Chef: Crow Bar and Kitchen, Chef Scott Brandon

By | Restaurant Reviews | 724 Comments

crowbar_logoThe Crow Bar is called a Gastropub, which is a British term for a public house which specializes in high-quality food, definitely above the basic “pub grub”. The name is a combination of pub and gastronomy and was coined in 1991 when David Eyre and Mike Belben opened a pub called ‘The Eagle’ in London. The Crow Bar has a relaxing yet fun atmosphere, serving upscale, gourmet cuisine. Located in Corona Del Mar, a beautiful and quaint part of Newport Beach, The Crow Bar is the first Gastropub in the OC. It has a wonderful assortment of international brews and a very selective wine-by-the-glass menu. Named “Best New OC restaurant” by OC Weekly Magazine, in 2008. You can’t go wrong with the classic crow burger, consisting of ciabatta, tallegio & gorgonzola, roasted tomato marmalade, and rocket arugula. And the sausage-covered deep-fried Scotch Quail Eggs served with coarse brown mustard is truly magnificent. Grilled Cheese, Pizzas and Burgers are transformed into exceptional gourmet meals.

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Executive Chef Scott Brandon, makes visiting the Crow Bar a remarkable experience. From his charming personality to his truly innovative beautifully garnished dishes. The Brandon mantra: “Simplicity and quality go a long way. Let the food speak for itself.  Don’t get twisted and you’ll be alright’.  These are the words he lives by. Brandon is a James Beard recognized chef who began in the restaurant business as a dishwasher at the age of 14. Many years of experience, learning and traveling has made Brandon one of Southern California’s young, bright stars and has helped to give the Crow Bar its much deserved success.

Edible Flowers to Embellish Your Valentine’s Day Menu!

By | Edible Flowers | 743 Comments

Valentine’s Day is for lovers – and it’s also for restaurateurs who love seeing their reservations fully booked!

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You’ll want to make your diners’ Valentine’s Day meals truly memorable. So why not try something new this year? Garnish your plates with fresh or crystallized edible flowers! Floral additions create great visual appeal, and if you’re really clever, you can help your diners convey a nuanced message of love to their loved ones.

Edible flowers can tell a love story!

Roses are, of course, the classic flower of love. We offer both fresh and crystallized roses at Fresh Origins. They look terrific on chocolate desserts of course, but don’t stop there. You can float roses on gazpacho, dress up drinks, or use rose petals to create a bed for seafood or other classic entrees.

ImageRed roses indicate passionate, romantic love, and the deep red petals are a great contrast to many foods.

Light pink roses convey youthful passion and the joy of life.
ImageOur Crystallized Roses last for 6 months without refrigeration!
Want to convey both love and excitement? Mix red and yellow roses for contrast and another layer of meaning.

Perhaps you’ve already gone the Roses route for Valentine’s Day, and you’re looking for something new and different. Did you know pansies are also a traditional love flower? Pansies appear throughout literature and art as an expression of grace, delicacy and tenderness, as indicated by some of their alternate names: “Jump Up and Kiss Me” or “Pink of my John.”

Beautify salads, fruit plates and cocktails with colorful, Edible Pansies for whimsical and unique floral touch. Available Fresh or Crystallized in blues, yellows, reds, pinks, & purples!

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 ImageCrystallized Pansy

ImageFresh Pansy

Want to be even more innovative for Valentine’s Day 2013? Try accenting your cheese platters & desserts with Snapdragons, symbols of gracious womanhood. Available Fresh or Crystallized.

ImageOr go for bright & colorful amaranth blossoms: our signature Firestix™ or Sparklers™ which symbolize immortal love. These flowers add a blaze of color and incredible height to any plate.  Incredibly long lasting & durable! ImageBright majenta Sparklers™ really dress up chocolate desserts.

ImageWe’re not sure what the meaning of our micro star flowers is, but they sure are a glamorous finishing touch to desserts, such as macaroons. Hues of pinks & reds make them to perfect addition for this holiday!

Flower Crystals™ for sweetness, texture & color

Here’s one more idea to liven up your Valentine’s Day plates: Flower Crystals™ Rose. ImageOur signature Herb & Flower Crystals are sweet and powerfully flavored. You can use them to kick up the flavor profile of your desserts and appetizers, while adding an exciting crunch, and a splash of color. Sprinkle them on oysters or other aphrodisiacs like chocolate!

These are just a few ideas for adding visual interest and complex flavor to your Valentine’s Day menu. Have any ideas you’d like to share? Tell us about them in the comments below! If you send us a photo to: Kelly@freshorigins.com, we’ll post your idea on our Facebook page!

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Asian style Herbs & Greens

By | MicroGreens, PetiteGreens | 1,183 Comments

Fresh Origins has a wide variety of Asian style herbs & greens. Great flavor additions for noodles & rice! Float some Petite Thai Basil on Pho to add an intense herb essence. Micro Red & Green Shisos are wonderful when paired with fresh sushi. Seared rare ahi loves to be topped with our Micro Wasabi. Add some Gold Edamame Shoots™ to your stir-fry to add color, crunch and a yummy legume taste. Red Kaiware Shoots™ & Micro Benitade add a stunning color and spicy flavor to Kalbi short ribs or sesame chicken.

What would you do with our Asian products??

Asian Products