27653 Bouquet Canyon Rd. Saugus, California 91350 Phone: (661) 263-7445

You will receive 5 - $10 Certificates for $25!

($20 minimum purchase, 1 certificate per purchase per visit.)

Get Some Grill Kabob

Offering mouth-watering Middle Eastern fare

By Michelle Sathe, Signal Senior Staff Writer

In a valley of franchised fast food, authentic ethnic joints like Grill Kabob often get overlooked.

That's a shame.

Not only is the food being served at this modest Saugus restaurant a great value, it's healthy, too. Most of all, it's tasty.

A combination plate of boneless chicken breast ($5.95 - served all day) is a beautiful symphony of color and flavor. Saffron-tinged, fluffy basmati rice forms a base topped with light orange chunks of tikka-like chicken chunks, while the sides include a vibrant grilled tomato, a golden pool of hummus, and a Greek salad full of olives and feta.

It's amazing the chicken is so tender and juicy, as there's virtually no fat to be found. A simple marinade of lemon juice, olive oil and spices gets soaked up and provides the savory goodness, accented by a slight char from the grill.

"It's our best-seller," said Ara Karamian, Grill Kabob owner. "We make everything to order and our food is very fresh. Nine out of 10 items are grilled and the ingredients we use - olive oil, lemon, parsley, mint, tomato, onion - are all very good for your body."

Karamian started his professional culinary career in Canada before moving to Saugus with his family five years ago, however, his love of food began much earlier. Born in Iran and of Armenian descent, Karamian would cook alongside his parents and grandparents, preparing traditional dishes that have become the basis of Grill Kabob's menu.

After three years in business, Karamian can still be found at the restaurant six days a week, prepping the marinades and side dishes.

"We developed our recipes through trial and error. The best way to know we're doing it right is when your customers say, your hummus is the best, which ours do," Karamian said proudly. "One customer told me that his pregnant wife used to dream of our ekra."

After tasting this eggplant salad, it's easy to see why.

Lush, silky, redolent with a hint of subtle smoke from rustic bits of grilled tomato, peppers, and eggplant, ekra is an exotic, addictive chutney, a party for the taste buds. Hummus runs a close second; the creamy tahini and garbanzo dip boasts just the right amount of garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. Both can be ordered as part of the vegetarian plate ($8.95), which offers a choice of five salads (artichoke, ekra, green bean, Greek, tabbouleh, hummus, shirazi, or bobagnosh).

The falafel plate ($5.95) is another delicious vegetarian choice: five large spheres of freshly ground garbanzo mingling with spices, cooked to a deep golden brown, crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. A falafel wrap, tucked in lavash with tomato, cucumber, onion and a liberal douse of excellent tzatziki sauce, is also available ($4.95).

Another excellent meat-free meal would be the dolma plate ($5.95), which offers five fantastically fresh, rice-and-herb-stuffed grape leaves alongside a refreshingly herby tabbouleh and that incredible hummus.

For carnivores, the attraction is surely the impressive lineup of sizzling grilled kabobs: beef ($10.95), luleh (seasoned ground beef with grated onion, $7.95), chicken ($5.95 - $9.95), or a combo plate ($11.95).

A family-style meal for $19.95 serves two to four with a choice of two kabobs (chicken or beef), a large Greek salad, grilled tomato, pita and for dessert, baklava from The Baklava Factory in Encino, the only thing Karamian doesn't make on the premises.

Grill Kabob's catering menu can feed parties of six or more starting at just $6 a person, while the child kid's plates (chicken nuggets, chicken kabob, mini-kabob, or hamburger with fries and small drink) run $3.99 - $5.95.

"Like everyone right now, the economy is really hurting us. That's why we brought back the chicken special and our other items at a lower cost," Karamian said. "Once people try our food, they really appreciate the quality and prices."

Amen.

Grill Kabob, 27653 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus; (661) 263-7445 or (661) 263-7449. Open 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Tuesday - Sunday. Beer and wine available.

18316 Soledad Cyn. Canyon Country, California 91351 Phone: 661-252-2225

22896 Copper Hill Drive Santa Clarita, California 91350 Phone: (661) 297-5824

Peruvian at Inca Bistro: Scrumptious food is exciting and quite different

By Michelle Sathe, Signal Staff Writer

November 27, 2009

The cuisine may be thousands of years old, but Peruvian tastes are fairly new to the Santa Clarita Valley. Inca Bistro, located in the former California Pasta Works space on Copper Hill Drive, offers a delicious way to sample the sensational spices and savory fare.

Eat in and you'll get a complimentary cup of Aguadito de Pollo to start things off. Loaded with shredded chicken, peas, carrots, potatoes and onions, with a slight green tinge from aromatic herbs, it's a zesty version of classic American chicken soup. It's also available by the bowl for $7.

Appetizers include a clean, bright ceviche ($8), exploding with citrus notes from its lime marinade and tartness from red wine vinegar and topped with a hail of red onions. The tasty, fresh whitefish is surrounded by massive imported Peruvian corn kernels and steamed sweet potato.

"In Peru, we serve our ceviche a little spicy, so the sweet potato helps to balance things out," said Inca Bistro co-owner Erick Castro.

Empanizado de Quinua are the most tender of white meat chicken strips, encrusted in a delicate golden crust of quinoa and served with a side of bright green salsa criolla ($8). The heady salsa is a perfect foil to the tasty chicken, building its spicy profile over time and lingering in the palate.

Another excellent starter is the Papa A la Huancaina ($5), a stack of thick potato slices enrobed in a lively, creamy cheese sauce and topped with piquant kalamata olives. The orange flecks are aji amarillo, a yellow Peruvian pepper that's the secret weapon of most of Inca's dishes, according to chef Kim Pullan.

"It's spicy yet subtle. It doesn't burn. It has a really unique taste," Pullan said.

The French-trained chef was specially instructed by Peruvian cooks to master the necessary elements required by Inca Bistro and it was a quest she really enjoyed.

"The spices, the colors, the way the flavors are married is just amazing. It's fresh and vibrant," Pullan said.

Main courses at the restaurant are in the $12 - $20 range at lunch, increasing just slightly to $15 to $20 at dinner, and offer a lot of value, as well as flavor.

Carnivores will delight in the Lomo Fino ($17), a thick cut of melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon, expertly grilled and just lightly seasoned to enhance its rich, mineral essence. Nutty, fluffy quinoa, like a cross between cous cous and rice, makes for a nice, light side, along with elegant spears of asparagus.

Another standout is the Emperor's Feast ($20), which features the current bestseller, Lomo Saltado, a flavorful mélange of sautéed beef with roasted, luscious, almost caramelized tomatoes and onions, and Taccu Taccu, a succulent chicken breast with a crunchy crust ala Chicken Milanese, with more of that incredible salsa criolla, plus a tasty mound of mild red beans and rice, and hand-cut steak fries.

Vegans can also get their culinary groove on at Inca, with a meatless version of the feast called the Emperors Portabello ($10), a generous cap stuffed with roasted garlic, cilantro, and parsley, served atop a bed of grilled eggplant and quinoa or the Avocado a la Reina ($6), stuffed with a refreshingly dressed vegetable medley.

Inca Bistro opened on Nov. 15 with Castro, his wife Roxanna, and co-owner Mel Nunez, all Peruvians, at the helm.

The venue is bright and cheery, with lots of light streaming in from huge picture windows, while an Inca warrior under glass stands guard over the dining room. Walls are painted gold and the linens are white and vivid burgundy.

Charming pendant lights are a gorgeous crimson, which plays nicely against the distressed, polished concrete floor with hints of bronze, copper and gold. At night the lights are dimmed, creating a romantic ambiance, which is enhanced on Saturday nights by live traditional acoustic Peruvian music.

A liquor license is in the works and should be approved within the next few weeks. Until then, customers are welcome to bring in their own wine, with no corkage fee. Inca is available for private parties and offers outside catering, as well.

"We really felt like we had something to offer Santa Clarita. Our food is exciting and quite different from what you find around town," Nunez said. "I think our prices are in line or even a little lower than other restaurants. It's hard to find filet mignon for under $22 and we have it for $17. However, we're not trying to be competitive in price. It's all about the quality."

Inca Bistro is located at 22896 Copper Hill Drive, Saugus, CA 91350. Open daily from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (661) 297-5824.

33101 Bouquet Canyon Rd Santa Clarita, California 91390 Phone: 661-296-5656

You will receive 2 - $25 Certificates for $25!



From Santa Clarita just 9 miles north of the intersection at Plum Canyon and Bouquet Canyon Roads.

From Palmdale 12 miles south of Palmdale Blvd. (Lake Elizabeth Rd.)

Join us starting at 11am Saturday and Sunday for our Char House menu and gourmet pizza.

Dining Room open Wednesday thru Sunday at 5pm,
Reservations Recommended
(661) 296-5656

The Big Oaks Lodge

It's a long, winding drive up Bouquet Canyon Road to the historic Big Oaks lodge.

"There was a feeling, since the beginning, that this place was welcoming," said Antonio Viscito, one of the partners.

The Big Oaks in itself has a tremendous history, being built before the 1920s as a stagecoach stop.

It caught on as a popular place for movie stars to relax from the 1930s through the 1950s, when stars such as Mary Pickford built cabins in the forest.

Its legendary history as a hangout for the stars includes rumors, such as the one about gangster "Pretty Boy" Floyd once coming in to use the phone as he was making a getaway.

The lodge went through different owners, with the previous owners, Diana White and John Smyth having The Big Oaks Lodge for 27 years, and using a part of the property to train boxers such as Michael Dokes.

Diana has worked for Michael and Terrie  Milligan, since 2004 at Stone International, Inc.

When Milligan, who did granite for Cavi in Newhall, approached Antonio Viscito for the second location, he was excited by the opportunity to grow.

"He saw the potential," Milligan said. However, the potential needed a little bit of work.

The bar is considered to be a popular stop for motorcycle riders on weekends, but the building - especially the dining room - needed work.

They replaced booths from the 1960s with tables and chairs, repaired the roof and removed the boxing ring, where fighters were trained, to create a patio for al fresco dining.

"It needed a fresh breath of air," Milligan said.

Tony's dad, Vincenzo, came out from Naples to teach the chefs how to make 12-inch, Naples-style pizzas.

The owners hope to expand, adding brunches for Easter, Mother's Day and live bands on Sundays during the summer months. In addition, they hope to include catering and special events, such as weddings.

"The business plan is to make it worth the drive," Milligan said, adding that the lodge, with the romantic backdrop of the forest and the open road make for an interesting location, not to mention its history.

"It's a feeling of nostalgia," Milligan said.

Film History

The Big Oaks has been featured in many movies, television shows and commercials including:

Movies
Frances - 1982 - Staring Jessica Lange and Sam Shephard
American Gun - 2002 - Staring James Coburn and Virginia Madsen
Enough - 2002 - Staring Jennifer Lopez
Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines - 2003 - Staring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Claire Danes

Television
(2) Highway to Heaven
90210
Dynasty

Commercials
AT&T
Vonage

27530 Newhall Ranch Road., Valencia, California 91355 Phone: 661-607-0107

24415 Town Center Drive #115 Valencia, California 91355 Phone: 661-222-9999

You will receive 2 - $25 Certificates for $25!

By Michele Buttelman, Signal Features Editor

Smart restaurant owners know that to keep patrons pleased a restaurant has to reinvent itself — or at least its menu — every so often to keep it interesting.

Greg Amsler has fine-tuned that approach with a rotating seasonal menu that always offers tasty and fun surprises. To craft his new offerings Amsler and Executive Chef Ignacio Munoz sit down and try to find new twists on old favorites and food that fits the season.
In the current economic climate, Amsler said he worked hard to keep prices down at his family-friendly restaurant. "We also are offering some 'comfort classics' like meatloaf," he said. "We also brought back an old favorite, Margarita chicken ($18.95)."

Among the tasty new dishes is one that harkens back to the Midwest — Salt Creek Sliders (three tasty mini burgers, $13.95). "I didn't realize that people in California didn't know what sliders were," Amsler said of his ambiguous menu description: Mesquite grilled, gorgonzola cheese, Dijon mayo and caramelized shallots on a special sweet bread with Salt Creek Grille potato chips (made fresh, on site, from purple and regular potatoes).

No mention of meat in the description has left a few diners confused. However, don't be confused about the taste, this menu item is a home run. These little burgers are keepers, for sure! The soft "bite" of the gorgonzola adds just the right touch to these little burger gems — as does the soft dusting of Cajun spices to the "homemade" potato chips.

The Salt Creek Grille Meatloaf (made with the finest ground filet and New York, red wine mushroom demi-glace and served with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh veggies) is good solid food and a hearty plate. At $18.95, this dish is dinner and next day's lunch, too. I'm a huge meatloaf fan and Salt Creek Grille has crafted an excellent version — I dare say better than my own! If you ate all your meatloaf at dinner, no fear, Salt Creek has a Meatloaf sandwich on the lunch menu ($11.95).

Another newby is oven-roasted half chicken ($18.95) served bone-in, slow roasted then finished in the oven and rubbed with citrus and mild chili spices. The succulent dish is served with coleslaw and Salt Creek's famous garlic fries.

If seafood is your passion then try the Mahi Mahi ($26.95), served with sautéed mussels and topped with a Colorado sauce, served with sautéed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes.

A nice option for lunch is the Mahi Mahi tacos ($14.95). Three corn tortillas stuffed with blackened Mahi Mahi and topped with avocado.

Salt Creek Grille serves up another crowd favorite with a BBQ Pork Sandwich ($13.95). Thinly sliced pork, sautéed onions, Jack cheese on a Bolillo roll and served with house-made coleslaw. This one immediately goes on my list of favorites.

For veggie lovers Salt Creek's new Portobello Mushroom Sandwich ($12.95) offers diners a mesquite grilled Portobello mushroom with roasted peppers, balsamic glaze and mozzarella on soft Portuguese bread.

If you love meat, then Salt Creek has what you've always wanted, a bacon-wrapped filet mignon ($29.95). This 8 oz. beauty is served medium and stuffed with gorgonzola cheese and finished with a whole grain mustard sauce and served with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh veggies.

Salt Creek Grille, 24415 Town Center Drive, Valencia. (661) 222-9999. www.saltcreekgrille.com. Open 11:30 a.m. daily.

26877 Bouquet Canyon Road Santa Clarita, California 91355 Phone: 661-513-0077

Let me introduce you to a place on earth with great ancient history. A place that brings you tales of Great Kings, tales of 7000 years civilization, unique archaeology and architecture of ancient cities. Magnificent literature, poetry and art. Azure skies, vibrant reds, greens, oranges, yellows and purples of flowers and a place of wonderfully hospitable people. The home of the finest carpets ever made and treasures of dynasties.

Let Me Introduce You To Persia

Persia and the countries bordered by the Mediterranean Sea produce some of the finest food the world has to offer. In many ways these countries are completely different from each other, but one thread links them all the love of good food.

Persia Restaurant offers you an experience of great taste and style. The Persian and Mediterranean cuisine with a contemporary touch is a true pleasure for the eye and palate. Discover delectable subtleties from the food of the sun. We hope to bring you a true taste of Persian and Mediterranean food.

26515 Golden Valley Road Santa Clarita, California 91387 Phone: (661) 259 1900

You will receive 10 - $5 Certificates for $25!

We opened our first Una Mas Mexican Grill in 1991 in San Jose, California and we've been growing ever since! We now have over 20 locations. Our goal will always be to serve unique Mexican favorites using only the freshest, healthiest ingredients in all of our authentic dishes.

Una Mas Mexican Grill is a fusion of traditional Mexican dishes with an authentic and modern flair. From our popular Foghead Burrito (char-grilled chicken, with Tequila BBQ sauce, guacamole, rice, black beans, cheese, sour cream, roasted pasilla & corn salsa all wrapped in a warm chile-tomato tortilla) to our Margarita Salad; to our Veracruz Shrimp Tacos—everything we make has a distinctive flair that makes Una Mas a great place to eat!

Not only is the food unique, but so is the atmosphere created by our restaurants. The updated decor is steeped in authentic Mexican roots, yet with a modern and bright flair.

The tone an Una Mas restaurant sets in the decor is as important as the unique food that is hand-crafted every day. With open kitchens, open floor plans, colorful touches and earthy undertones, Una Mas provides a bright, hip and energetic ambiance that welcomes our guests.