Showing posts with label Temecula. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Temecula. Show all posts

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Midnight Snack from In-N-Out Burger: A Classic California Staple

After our food coma late lunch (or early dinner) at Outback Steakhouse, we rested at home. Then, we went to Pechanga Resort Casino. My aunties love to play slot machines.

After gambling, we went through the In-N-Out Burger drive-through. If you've ever visited California, chances are you've heard of In-N-Out Burger. It is a popular fast-food chain serving fresh, made-to-order burgers and has a loyal following for its simple menu, high-quality ingredients, and friendly service.


Cheeseburgers from In-N-Out Burger
Toasted buns (freshly baked using old-fashioned, slow-rising sponge dough),
Cheese (our American Cheese is the real thing),
Beef patty (100% American beef, no additives, fillers, or preservatives),
Onions (freshly sliced or grilled),
Lettuce (fresh, crispy, & hand-leafed),
Spread (our own recipe, unchanged since 1948), and
 Tomato (a slice from only the plumpest and juiciest).

It's a classic delicious burger. The patties are made with 100% pure beef cooked to order and served on a perfectly toasted bun.

In-N-Out sets itself apart by using fresh, high-quality ingredients. The produce is delivered fresh daily, and the potatoes for their hand-cut fries are peeled and sliced in-house. No wonder it got stale as quickly as it did because we drove home before enjoying it.


French Fries
Fresh, hand-cut potatoes prepared in 100% sunflower oil.

If you ever find yourself in California, find time to stop by an In-N-Out Burger location to enjoy one of their classic burgers. It is a quintessential California experience that you won't want to miss.

Celebrating Auntie's Birthday at Outback Steakhouse

Happy birthday, Auntie Di! We wanted to celebrate Auntie's birthday with a nice meal. At around 2:00 PM, Outback Steakhouse was the only steakhouse in the Temecula area that could accommodate our party of seven.

For the sake of this blog, I ordered items marked as NEW. Let's begin!

Shortly after placing our drink orders, the fantastic server brought us bread with whipped butter to snack on. The bread was soft and warm, with a slightly crispy exterior. It came with creamy whipped butter and spread easily, with a subtle hint of salt.


Aussie-tizers

While waiting for our food, my cousin ordered the Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp and Seared Peppered Ahi for the table to share.


Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp

The coconut shrimp was hand-dipped in batter, rolled in coconut, and fried golden. The accompanying Creole marmalade provided a perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess. Unfortunately, the shrimp was overcooked, but I did like the hint of coconut. Overall, not something I'll order again.


Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp from Outback Steakhouse
Hand-dipped in batter, rolled in coconut, and fried golden. Paired with Creole marmalade.

Seared Peppered Ahi

The Seared Peppered Ahi is more my jam. I am more familiar with the flavours and seasonings, like garlic and pepper, but the real winner is the dipping sauce of creamy ginger, soy sauce, and wasabi which complemented the fish perfectly.


Seared Peppered Ahi from Outback Steakhouse
Seared rare with garlic pepper seasoning. Served with creamy ginger soy sauce and wasabi.

Steak and Combos

For our mains, hubby ordered his usual go-to mignon while I went for the new combo.


Victoria's Filet Mignon

My husband ordered the Victoria's Filet Mignon medium rare. Unfortunately, it was overcooked to medium. Unless the eye test is failing us. My cousin ordered her steak medium, but it arrived medium well. Despite being slightly overcooked for his liking, the mignon still has a deep beefy flavour.


Victoria's Filet Mignon with Homestyle Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Seasonal Veggies from Outback Steakhouse
The most tender and juicy thick cut.

For his side, hubby ordered the Homestyle Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Seasonal Veggie, which turned out to be broccoli. The mashed potatoes were creamy and buttery, but there were still chunks of potatoes which changes the texture every bite. Meanwhile, the fresh broccoli was lightly steamed and perfectly seasoned.


NEW! Sirloin & Alice Springs Chicken

I went for the new Sirloin & Alice Springs Chicken. The sirloin was cooked perfectly medium, juicy, and packed with flavour. Meanwhile, the grilled chicken breast topped with mushroom, bacon, cheese, and honey mustard was incredibly satisfying but heavy. It's the kind of meal that made me feel I gained 10 lbs.


NEW Sirloin & Alice Springs Chicken with Baked Potato and NEW Over-the-Top Brussels Sprouts from Outback Steakhouse
Our signature center-cut sirloin with 5 oz grilled chicken breast topped with sauteed mushrooms, crisp bacon, melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar and honey mustard sauce.

The Steak 'N Mate Combos are served with a choice of steakhouse potato and one side. I picked the Baked Potato with all the possible toppings of sour cream, green onion, cheese, and bacon. Despite the toppings, the potato wasn't as fluffy and soft as I had hoped, and it needed more seasoning (especially salt). For my side, I got the NEW! Over-the-top Brussels Sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were indeed over-the-top delicious, creamy, and oily. It was too much.


Tim Tam Brownie Cake

My husband loves desserts. My cousin also has a sweet tooth, and they agreed on the New Tim Tam Brownie Cake, which we shared.

The chocolate brownie, peanut butter, and chocolate mousse layers were rich and decadent. The caramel sauce and Arnott's Tim Tam cookies from Australia added a perfect touch of sweetness and crunchiness to the dessert.


Tim Tam Brownie Cake
Layers of chocolate brownie, peanut butter, and chocolate mousse topped with caramel sauce and Arnott's Tim Tam cookies from Australia.

I took a bite and couldn't stop eating. I am obsessed with chocolate and peanut butter (or just peanuts) on any dessert.




It was a wonderful birthday celebration with the family. We're grateful for Auntie, a generous, wise, and fun person. Happy Birthday, Auntie!

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