Steeped In Excellence

One of the hardest kinds of food establishments to find in America today is a tea house.  What’s even harder to find than that is a GOOD tea house.  After all, America has been a coffee culture since it became a country.  But not too long ago, I stumbled upon a small tea house and bistro in Mission Viejo called Coffee, Tea, and Tulips, and after eating and drinking here many times, I (a hard core coffee drinker and caffeine addict) have come to the conclusion that if Americans were exposed to more tea houses of this quality, that our coffee centric tendencies could start to change.

I’ll start with the tea and its usual companions.  I’ve tried the Earl Grey with Lavender, Peach Blossom, Ginger Peachy Kean, Blue Eyes, Maté, and Midnight in Paris. The Earl Grey is on the more full bodied side with subtle but noticeable lavender undertones; both of the peach teas are refreshing and light; the Blue Eyes is fruity, zesty and slightly sweet, and is one of the most popular teas they offer; the Maté is shockingly good, most Maté I’ve had resembles what I imagine the inside of a hamster cage to taste like, but this was actually nice; Midnight in Paris is a black tea with a number of flavorings, primarily coconut. A session of tea drinking isn’t complete without scones, and Chef Michael (aka the Moody Chef) makes some of the best I’ve had anywhere. They are moist and light on the inside, very slightly crisp on the outside, and the perfect amount of sweet. He serves them with preserves and homemade clotted cream. That’s right, HOMEMADE CLOTTED CREAM, I know, it makes me happy too. This in and of itself is enough reason for you to turn off your computer and drive to Mission Viejo right now, but they don’t just make great tea and scones and call it quits, there’s food too… good food.

The food at Coffee, Tea, and Tulips is a fusion of Mediterranean, French, and Middle Eastern flavors.  I dined here last week and got a little sampling of the menu.  I started with some tea and a special scone made with lemon and basil and it was perhaps the best scone I have ever eaten.  Next, I had the turkey sandwich which has turkey (duh) avocado, bacon, sundried tomato, gorgonzola, and pesto. Then, I had a tomato salad with egg, olive tapenade, and an anchovy which was delicious and roasted vegetable bruschetta.  By this time I was beyond full so I had to throw in the towel, but everything I ate was of the highest quality, beautifully presented, and most importantly delicious.

The service at Coffee, Tea, and Tulips is impeccable. Michael and Lina are friendly, fun, and make sure that every customer has the best dining experience that they possibly can. Every time I go I end up staying long after the food is gone just hanging out and talking with them, usually over a couple of Turkish coffees ( which, by the way, are great if you’ve never had one).  Coffee, Tea, and Tulips is the perfect neighborhood bistro. Whether you want afternoon tea, lunch, or coffee and conversation, you can find what you’re looking for. Tell the Moody Chef William sent you.

Swaffle? Wandwich? Bruxie!

Fried Chicken Bruxie

“Chicken and waffles” – it’s no new thing. In fact, according to those time-honored historians of Wikipedia, it’s a dish that may have roots going back to Thomas Jefferson. Mmmm … tastes forefathery. You would think that this clever concoction couldn’t be improved upon, but I was recently turned on to a little outdoor restaurant in Orange that has given this dish, as well as the humble waffle, not just a makeover, but the culinary equivalent of a nip, tuck, and boob job; sure, it might not be natural, but that doesn’t mean it’s not really, really good.

Bruxie specializes in waffle sandwiches (called “bruxies”), both sweet and savory. Items on the menu include; the s’mores bruxie, the fried chicken bruxie (with an option to buy a side of maple syrup), the bruxie burger, and even a smoked salmon bruxie with fresh dill and cream cheese. When my friend told me about this place I had the reaction that any normal human being would have when presented with such a stroke of genius, I piddled myself with excitement. After a quick change of undies, I made plans to go there with my sister and brother-in-law, and a couple days later, I drove up to Orange.

Cream Soda

We ordered three bruxies and split them so that we could get a little sampling of the menu. Obviously, we got the chicken with maple, then the prosciutto with gruyere, and for dessert, lemon cream and berries. We also got their cane sugar sodas and waffle fries. After ordering we found a table, and a couple of minutes later, they came out with our sodas and fries. The cream soda was kind of like liquid cotton candy, only not overly sweet. It’s the kind of drink you want on a really hot day at the beach. The waffle fries were also very good, sprinkled with coarse salt and very slightly crunchy. Then the bruxies were served. We started with the prosciutto and gruyere. The cheese was melted on top of the salty cured ham, and it was topped off with fresh chives and Dijon mustard. This was the favorite bruxie of the meal. Next we had the chicken bruxie. I loved it. The chicken breast is buttermilk battered and fried, then drizzled with a little honey-chili sauce. The combination of the honey and maple with the big hunk of fried chicken breast immediately sent me to my happy place; it’s the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy. The dessert was also very good. The berries were fresh and sweet, and the lemon cream was slightly tart with a texture similar to hollandaise.

Berries & Lemon Cream

Bruxie is going to become one of my usual spots. The only problem is, I don’t think it’s sufficient for a really hungry person unless you order a couple (or more) of them, which could easily be done because each bruxie is in the 5-ish dollar range. That aside, it’s a great choice for a cheap, fast, and high quality meal as well as a truly unique dining experience.