In the onslaught of trendy conscious means of cooking, service and marketing a truly innovative idea brings a breath of fresh air. The latest happening at the forefront of the foodie community is Dishcrawl.
Dish what? Most people are familiar with pub crawls; Dishcrawl successfully works on the same premise but let’s food rather than drinks be the star of the show (have no fear, where there is good food, great drinks aren’t far behind). The night’s culinary adventure starts off at a mystery location only to be exposed to participants two days prior to the crawl. After meeting at and enjoying the service at the first location, the remaining three stops are kept a secret from dishcrawlers until they make their way to each successive restaurant (dessert rounds out the night). Dishcrawlers enjoy a selection of the four participating restaurants’ most esteemed dishes for a ticket price of $45. This allows local establishments the opportunity to garner new customers and showcase the goods foodie appetites are made for. Four restaurants in one night – It’s a food lover’s dream.
Dishcrawl recently made its debut on the lively streets of Downtown Fullerton where participants were able to sample the likes of JP23 BBQ & Steakhouse, Bourbon Street, Matador Cantina and Layer Cake Bakery & Cafe.
At JP23 diners enjoyed smoked artichoke dip, rib tips and smoked wings. JP23 is a young seed on the streets of Downtown Fullerton, having just celebrated their soft opening in March.
Then followed blackened sole, mac n cheese and gumbo at Bourbon Street where the entire menu is made from love and scratch. That’s no surprise considering the soul and flare that resonates in all things New Orleans.
Matador Cantina was the third stop of the night. Dimly lit walls set the ambiance for diners who got a taste of the restaurant’s Mexican inspired cuisine by way of chorizo ravioli, chicken mole enchiladas and short rib atop a potato pancake.
Decadent chocolate cheesecake, affogato with honey vanilla ice cream and speculoos capped off the night at the Layer Cake Bakery & Cafe. The sisters who own the gem have baking running through their blood; it’s a family affair that began with their grandmother.
The weather showed mercy and the walk between establishments was suitable for both the young and wise alike – a factor that Dishcrawl ambassadors make sure to consider.
Not only does Dishcrawl organize public events such as the one held in Downtown Fullerton but they also hold private crawls that can accommodate for a group ranging from 10 to 500 people. Dishcrawl welcomes couples, singles and most notably anyone who wants to partake in enjoying good food and good company. The activity makes for a great idea for birthday celebrations, date night or a night out with family and friends.
Rain or shine the Dishcrawl ambassadors promise to lead you to four of your city’s hidden gems, oldies but goodies and establishments that have recently opened their doors. The next crawl on the roster will be held at the Circle of Orange on August 14, 2013.
By Tiffany Haslacker
