A list of places for foodies like me

I am a foodie. It is what I do, I eat. People ask me to recommend them food all the time so I have compiled a list of a few favorites and local places to share.

Green Thumb Produce 2648 W Ramsey St Banning Ca 92220 951.849.4711 951.849.2048
This place is an oasis in a desert. This was an odd and pleasant find. The produce is fresh but this is not why this place it amazing. This place imports a lot of items, choice gourmet Italian items! In the freezer I found cannoli filling. Good, cannoli filling! They have San Marzano tomatoes. If you want to try a canned tomato that will curl your toes, this is it! They have a counter for sandwiches that serves Boars Head! If you do not know what this means RUN NOW to this shop. This brand is the very best lunch meat money can buy. I am a slob in the lunch meat department because Boars Head has ruined me to all others! The honey turkey is impeccable. And lastly there is soup. Minestrone soup. I did not want to leave. Soup is my favorite food and this is "the" soup. I had some to go, left, and drove back for more the same day!

Angelo & Vinci's http://www.angelosandvincis.com/ 550 N. Harbor Blvd Fullerton Ca 92832 714.879.4022 This place is WOW The decor is WOW! Once you walk through the door you no longer remember you are in Fullerton Ca. This place has been on thousands of favorite list for the almost 40 years it has been there. What most people talk about is the pizza. It is good, very good but some of there more personal dishes are event, events to be celebrated. Please try the ravioli apostole or the mezzaluna. Both are exquisite, distinctive, rich, and memorable.

The Best Chain: Houston's (Pasadena, or Irvine) http://www.hillstone.com/#/restaurants/houstons/ The Hawaiian rib eye is excellent. The double cut pork chop is an exemplary culinary experience that I have ever...ever.... eaten. The side dishes change with the seasons and are an indulgent event. This is a chain but wow do I love it.

Sushi. In Moreno Valley there is 2 places to go. Sushi Palms,
12831 Moreno Beach Dr # 104 Moreno Valley, CA 92555 (951) 486-0293
The owner is wonderful. This is a family run place and I feel good
supporting him. Tell Joe I sent you.
The next is Sushi Kinoya 26150 Iris Ave # 4 Moreno Valley, CA 92555
(951) 242-4101. This is much less friendly. The tuna steak pictured on
the cover of the menu but not listed and needs to be requested. It is incomparable and really phenomenal. This is reason alone to try this place. I don't like that the waitresses don't get the tip, they get a portion of it. Having waitresses before I don't really like this. The sushi chefs get most of the tip but I don't sit
at the sushi bar and do not judge my tip on them but rather the waitress.

* Best Deli & Best Bakery: Katella Deli, 4470 Katella Ave Los
Alamitos, CA 90720 Phone: (562) 594-8611
This is my first food memory; My father used to bring home the heals
of rye bread home from the restaurant he worked at and he would shmeer
it with butter and we would eat them as if we where eating steak! The
Jewish restaurant he worked at served bread that they bought from
Katella Deli. At that time, approx 1972, the deli was located in a
smaller building then it is currently. It was a hole in the wall. Now,
the restaurant is in a large building and the bakery is HUGE. The
bakery is magnificent. Cream puffs that will change your religion.
Bread with the likes that you have never seen. Bagels & bialy's,
challah, & pumpernickel. Cheese cake..... rum cake.... it is
overwhelmingly unparalleled. This place catered the biggest disaster
of this generation, my reception! The dinner meals come with fresh
bread and butter and pickles. I love the corn rye. I clear a spot in
my freezer before I go because I know I am going to want more bread!!!
More rye bread!!!!! The potato knish is so fantastic. The potato
pancakes with sour cream are yummy. I get the chicken piccata most
often or the corn beef sandwich. I always get cole slaw and chicken
salad to go. Both are quid-essential. The pastrami is so unparalleled
you will hear singing and the clouds will part! I was searching for a
website but could not find one but I did find a review and I quote:
"The matza soup will re-grow a dismembered limb"! I also found some
guys blog with good pic's and info at:
http://www.jeffreysward.com/tributes/katdeli.htm

* Best unique food experience is The Stinking Rose
http://www.thestinkingrose.com/ 55 n. lacienega blvd Beverly Hills Ca
310.652.7673 There catch line is "We Season Our Garlic With Food" Wow
does it smell.... and wow is it good. The art is well, unique, you
need to see it I can not do it justice. Try the bagna calda is is
to-die-for. The Neon Ravioli filled with potato & cheese garlic basil
alfredo sauce is advantageous.

*Best French:Creola's Restaurant, http://www.creolasrestaurant.com/
(951) 653-8150, 1015 E. Alessander Blvd. Moreno Valley. Tell Creola
that I sent you. The pepper crusted steak is magnificent. The creame
brule' is the very best I have ever had. Real, blue cheese dressing! The
pot roast and whipped potatoes are sublime. This is where Danielle
started her love affair with the escargot. This is a small place in a unlikely
strip mall and a must on my list of local favorite places!

Fancy Place: Local there is Mario's In Riverside,
http://www.mariosplace.com/ This place is pretentious but good.
Also there is the Mission Inn 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, CA
92501 951) 341-6767 This place is "pinkie's out". No jeans. No tooth
pic's. Beautiful, good, and COSTLY.

*Best fried chicken: Donahoo's Golden Chicken 5749 Mission Blvd Riverside, CA 92509 (951) 684-3545‎ The place is a DIVE! It is THE dive of all dives. It looks like hell
but,... the chicken is soooo good. the fries are wonderful (Get extra
seasoned salt), the rolls are wonderful. KFC has nothing on this
place. I can not cook chicken like this. Greasy, and gilt ridden and
wonderful all the same.

Best Ravioli: La Pasta Italia in Grand Terrace is amazing. This place
is only opened days. No dinners. It is a factory for restaurants that
also sells to the public. The butternut squash ravioli is stupendous.
You can buy all kinds of import meats, as well as all
kinds of Italian specialties to go. You are in for a real treat. This
a a gem of a find. http://lapastaitalia.com/
Sandwiches: Quick Stop Subs, 14420 Elsworth St Moreno Valley, CA
92553 (951) 656-7827 This place has fine pasta and soup too. The
sandwiches are fresh and made to order on great bread. Simple
ingredients done right. The garlic bread is distinctive, try it. You
will be leave happy & full.

Brunch: California Baptist University in Riverside 8432 Magnolia
Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504 1.877.CBU.3615 The brunch is affordable
and open to the public and the food is worthy. Take the family and
enjoy!

*Best BBQ: The very best is Lucille's. Victoria Gardens 12624 N. Main
street Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 909-463-RIBS (7427) The beef ribs
are so good. Make you want to slap your momma good. Make you leave
your husband AND your boyfriend good. The sides are very southern and
beyond good. Make you prey good. Like you only thought was a dream
good.... you see where I am going :) Get a sweet-tea and bring
clothes that can get dirty. This place has fried green tomatoes too!
*ask for a tooth pic on your way out*

*Best Mexican: In Moreno Valley I like Green Onion
http://green-onion.com/locations.html Canyon Springs Plaza 60 Freeway
at Day St Moreno Valley (909) 683-3363 the every day Mexican is very
delicious. For an extra treat try the Arroz Con Pollo Here in Moreno Valley there is also Mama Chuy's (951) 242-7115, 24021 Alessandro Blvd. # 101. Get the fillet of talapia w/ garlic. It is one of my favorite fish dishes anywhere. The tortilla's are the reason this place is on the map! Try both the flour and the corn. A real
treat!

*Best Pizza: Get in your car and go to Gourmet pizza in Redlands. Now.
Yes, now. Go. Amazing in too little a word. They have all the usual
suspects on pizza but they also have the not so usual!!!! Mashed
potatoes, and country gravy..... angel hair pasta salad....... cream
cheese,......new potatoes,.... scrambled eggs,..... hosin sauce,....
do I have your attention yet?! I like the Brando, it is cream cheese,
pesto sauce, pepperoni, sausage, cashew, angel hair pasta mix, green
onion, mozzarella cheese. Marlin would approve.
http://www.gourmetpizzas.com/

Best Pizza: Italian in this area try Romaon's http://www.romanosrestaurants.com/
They have 3 location; Mission groove, Canyon Crest, Jurupa Spectrum.
They are all similar but not exactly the same. The Chicago style pizza
takes 1 hour to make and weighs 5lb! But I like the "sissy" pizza even
better. The Spinaci is wonderful. There Minestrone soup is delightful.
The cheese fries are over a pound.... really. At the restaurants they
offer more Italian food; the Chicken Champagne is enchanting. I could
take a bath in this sauce. It is served with roasted potato's and
garlic heads. Oh man, this is divine. You will not be disappointed.

*Best Fish:Here in Moreno Valley Mama Chuy's (951) 242-7115, 24021
Alessandro Blvd. # 101. Get the fillet of talapia w/ garlic. This is
scrumptious.

*Best Chicken: Juan Pollo. http://www.juanpollo.com/asp/Site/MenuSpecials/Menu/view.asp This is a chain but it is unparalleled. The potato salad is gratifying and the
chicken is exquisite & flavorful. Ask for lemon for the chicken to push it over
the edge. I love this comfort food.

Indian: Punjab Palace Cuisine's of India 10359 Magnolia Ave
Riverside (951) 351 8968 If you have never had Indian food you owe it
to yourself to try it. Scared? Trust me? Ok, go here and order the
following: Pillau Rice, Garlic Nan, Chicken Korma, Aloo Gobi. Nothing
here is too far over the edge. It is good food and familiar
ingredients. Nan is addictive and you will thank me for this experience.
* You may want to ask for them to go mild if you are sensitive to
heat. The Indian like there heat!

*Best Japanese: I love Japanese food. Tappan grill is simple food done
proper. Steak, & shrimp simple and pleasing. I love sushi too but for this
entry I am focusing on the grill. I love Benihana.
http://www.benihana.com/locations?gclid=CM3N76bIgZYCFQRfagodgWLRFA
There fried rice is scrumptious. There scallops are such a simple
treat. Go at lunch because the prices are affordable but you will feel like you have had a meal
that you will remember.

*Best Cuban:Versailles 1415 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles The half
chicken is divine. It has a sauce on it that they are known for and it
is very savory.There is a little fresh onion on top for a perfect
touch. It is served w/plantains, black
beans, & rice.
And for the best view try Coco Palms http://www.cocopalmrestaurant.com/index.htm 1600 Fairplex Dr., Pomona, CA 91768-1237 Phone (909) 469-1965 This
place is so beautiful! The view is amazing! The salmon is flavorful. The halibut and sea bass are also gratifying. They have paella is a regional treat and the arroz con pollo is not something you find many places but they could feed me sawdust and I would still go for the view.

For great soup there is the Soup Shoppe 6712 Magnolia Ave Riverside, CA 92506 (951) 781-4710 This is in a small strip mall in Riverside. It has a following of regulars that reads like a who's who of Riverside. The owner (Michelle) is a delight. It does not look like anything but give it a chance. Go on Thursday's and order the following: Turkey lunch special w/vegetable beef soup. You will thank me. They have the vegetable beef everyday for a reason. It is simple food done right. The real baked turkey is like your mom wished she did on thanksgiving. They serve it on sandwiches everyday! Yes, you can get a real turkey sandwich! The service reminds me of the old TV show Mel's Diner and you could be told off at any point but between the glorious food and Michelle it is actually worth it.