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

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.

2 locations in the Santa Clarita Valley California

You will receive 5 - $10 Certificates for $25! WHAT A DEAL!

Locations:

25343 Wayne Mills Place
Valencia, CA 91355
Phone: 661-775-2777

23874 Copper Hill Drive
Valencia, CA 91355
Phone: 661-287-3131

"Fired Up for Red Brick: Two locations in the SCV offer pizza beyond the ordinary - and available in adventurous flavors"

By Michelle Sathe, Signal Senior Staff Writer

Honestly, pizza doesn't really ring my chimes. Dough, tomato sauce, cheese...yawn. Usually, I just eat the cheesy, saucy part and leave the soppy crust behind.

I might have to start changing my tune after trying the gourmet pies at Red Brick Pizza, a chain that rightfully claims "beyond ordinary pizza."

There are two Red Brick locations in the Santa Clarita Valley - on Copper Hill Drive in Saugus and Wayne Mills Place in Valencia - owned by local businessmen and friends since kindergarten Eddie Kaladjikian, Hrair Bebekian, and Karim Merzian.

"We wanted to do something close to home," Kaladjikian said. "My friend had opened a Red Brick Pizza in Moorpark. The food was really good, the atmosphere was really cool, it just had a little bit of everything."

Walking in and seeing the flames rage in their pizza oven in the open kitchen was the first good sign.

"Our ovens make the pizza nice and crispy, like it's made on good bread. It's just a better pizza all the way around," Kaladjikian said.

The extensive menu was the second: There's bacon cheeseburger pizza, Greek pizza, Thai pizza, and more than a dozen other "Gourmet Favorites" to choose from, all laid out on a base of hand-made, olive-oil infused dough.

A smoky tang permeates the delicious BBQ Chicken Pizza ($7.45 - $17.75), loaded with tender marinated chunks and fresh mushrooms, red onions and cilantro. The crust is perfect - thin, crispy, so good I ate the pillowy ends, too. It's a best seller and rightfully so.

Garlic hits your senses before the first bite of the Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza ($7.85 - $18.50), featuring a decadent white sauce, crunchy bits of red bell pepper and red onions, mushrooms and savory notes from a sprinkling of bacon, topped with fresh tomato slices and a dusting of Parmesan. Yum...I mean, how can you go wrong with bacon, garlic and cheese?

Red Brick Pizza's vibe is modern - graphic tile mosaics on the wall, vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow throughout, large, comfy leather booths. Each table has its own small, flat-screen TV and remote control with access to more than 100 channels.

"The kids like the TVs and love pizza, the parents like that its good food and that we have beer and wine," Kaladjikian said. "Some people come here just for the salads."

All of Red Brick Pizza's salads are chopped, which is a blessing to people, like me, who fear how to elegantly consume the huge pieces of lettuce that some restaurants serve. Five salads (Caesar, Green, Chinese Chicken, Greek and Italian - $3.25 - $8.99) are menu standbys; a special daily chopped salad is also on offer.

Fresh is the keyword here. The small Chopped Italian ($4.15) was generously portioned and loaded with crisp romaine, tomato and red bell peppers, pungent salami, piquant bits of artichoke hearts, pitted kalamata olives and pepperoncinis, and crunchy, buttery croutons made on the premises, all cloaked in Red Brick Pizza's zesty house vinaigrette.

The oddly-named yet very tasty Fhazani sandwich ($6.95) is another fire-roasted winner - basically, a salad wrap encased in golden brown crust and filled with vegetables, your choice of meat from the toppings list, or available in signature flavors: Club, Ham & Cheese, BBQ Chicken, and Italian.

With molten cheese at its core and luscious ranch dressing throughout the Club, which is layered with ham, chicken, bacon, red onions and chilled greens, it's a crispy, crunchy, creamy cacophony of flavors and textures.

Right now, the Santa Clarita Valley Red Brick Pizzas are offering any Fhazani for $5, as well as four everyday lunch specials ranging from $4.50 to $6.99 and take out deals of two large one-topping pizzas for $19.99 or two large gourmet pizzas for $26.99.

"That's a good price. They're usually $17.99 each, so it's about 25 percent off," Kaladjikian said of the latter. "We know everyone's on a budget right now."

Still, you might want to leave a little room in your budget and appetite. Red Brick Pizza has a dozen gelatos or Italian-style ice creams ($2.75 - $4.75) to choose from, including a rich, delicate Nutella flavor redolent of hazelnuts.

26879 Bouquet Canyon Road Saugus, California 91350 Phone: 661-297-4755 Fax: 661-297-2570

Jasmine Thai still spicing things up

By Michelle Sathe, Signal Staff Writer

It's been five years since Jasmine Thai BBQ opened its doors in Saugus and not much has changed. That's a good thing. It still has some of the tastiest Thai food in town.

"I love the restaurant business. I love to talk to people and ask them how is their meal? If it's not what they want, or if it wasn't the same as the last time they ate here, I tell them we'll change it. We're always willing to improve. The taste of our food is the main thing," Manorompatrasal said.

"We see other restaurants going down, so we also try to keep our prices low so people can afford it."

This classy, serene little restaurant, located in a nondescript strip mall at Seco Canyon and Bouquet Canyon Road, is an oasis once you enter. A Buddha fountain provides a gentle waterfall effect, the walls are decorated in rich shades of gold and purple, and there are fresh flowers in bud vases on every table. Leather booths line the walls, while wicker chairs and glass topped tables fill in the perimeter.

Service is quiet and unobtrusive, but effective, and the dishes come out quick, though it can seem much longer when you're surrounded by the tantalizing smells wafting out from the kitchen's open window. To make the wait a little easier, there's a beer and wine menu, as well as natural sodas and, of course, that yummy Thai iced tea.

If you just can't get out of the house but crave a Thai fix, Jasmine Thai BBQ delivers for free within a three-mile radius and charges $3-$5 for addresses outside the area. It also offers outside catering for private parties and special events.

"We know we're located in a blind spot and that people may not know about us. When I tell people we've been here five years, they're surprised," Manorompatrasal said. "I hope new people will find us and try our food."

Jasmine Thai BBQ is located at 26879 Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus. It's open 11 a.m. - 10 a.m. daily. Call (661) 297-4755 or visit www.jasminethaibbq.com

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.

26111 Bouquet Canyon Road Santa Clarita, California 91350 Phone: 661-255-9832

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

Restaurant Profile: The Tea Gardens offers a divine stress break

By Michele E. Buttelman, Signal Features Editor

It's noon... do you know where the ladies of the SCV are? Most likely lunching at the Tea Gardens, the cozy tea shop tucked into the center off Bouquet Canyon Road between Valencia Boulevard and Magic Mountain Parkway - adjacent to the IHOP.

The Tea Gardens was opened in March 2007 by owner Elda Meguerditchian. After two years not much has changed at the Tea Gardens - it still serves fabulous fresh-baked scones and a dizzying array of teas. There are so many teas to choose from the shop has its own tea menu.

The Tea Gardens offers more than 70 varieties of the highest grade teas from around the globe. Every tea can be made hot or iced. If you want tea to go you can buy loose leaf tea to take with you.

The Tea Gardens is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and offers a menu that includes salads, sandwiches, wraps and "special teas."

The food at the Tea Gardens is fresh, fun and delicious.

Whenever I introduce someone new to the Tea Gardens I always watch eagerly as my guests take the first bite. Inevitably, eyebrows rise in surprise and my guests exclaim, "This is really good."

Exactly.

Among my favorites at the Tea Gardens are the egg salad ($5.99), tuna salad ($6.99) and garlic chicken ($6.99) sandwiches.

Sandwiches are served with a choice of salad or fruit.

I am also fond of the "Afternoon Tea" ($12.99) which is served on a three-tiered tea platter with choice of scone (I'm partial to butterscotch, when they are available, but you can't really make a bad choice) and desserts. I adore the curried chicken and cream cheese cucumber finger sandwiches.

New to the menu is the "American Tea" which includes wraps instead of finger sandwiches, scones and dessert.

The scones at the Tea Gardens, (available for purchase separately at $1.49 per scone) are unlike any scones I've eaten - and I've eaten many a scone.

These are scones that are light, flaky and melt in your mouth.

Other offerings include salads ($6.99 to $7.99) and wraps ($4.99 to $7.99).

I know people who visit the Tea Gardens exclusively for the Memes Salad (a house favorite, with creamy whole grain mustard dressing, lettuce, grilled chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese and pita chips, $7.29).

The Tea Gardens is decorated in tea party chic with clever tea pots and beautiful tea cups everywhere in the small shop.

Tea is a wonderful way to relax, unwind and combat stress. A visit to the Tea Gardens is a great way to enjoy the company of friends, too.

More good news for regular guests at the Tea Gardens is that the shop is planning on expanding in the near future. Some days the shop can be crowded at noon. The new space will allow for private parties, too, said Meguerditchian.