"Gourmet Finds Big Bear Lake"

Madlon’s Restaurant

Gone are the days when fine dining in Big Bear meant that the chef skinned a squirrel---sprinkled onto, what remained, some dry rub prior to finishing it well done on the grill---and then topping it off with a port wine reduction. The new chefs, the new cooks and the new owners on the top of the mountain can go toe-to-toe, oven-to-oven, grill-to-grill with the best of the really good food magicians down in LA, Newport Beach, Vegas or wherever spot and place you name!
I, and a few other foodies, enjoyed the best the mountain had to offer last month over a three day visit, and it all started with dinner at Madlon’s Restaurant----a serious fine dining place with a flair to the French side of cuisine. Chelsie Orr, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate of the Minneapolis/St. Paul campus and her husband, Robert, also a Cordon Bleu graduate of the Pasadena campus are co-owners of Madlon’s. They have transformed and dressed up a gingerbread-style cottage into an intimate and elegant dining room.
The wine list is one of the best that this “wine snob” has seen in any of the better fine dining spots around. The markup is low, prices are reasonable, and the selection should please any wine lover who has to have that certain bottle. The food is even better. Rave reviews by all and not one complaint. I will not bore you with the menu (go and try this “find” yourself)---you will not be disappointed, I guarantee. Appetizers prices range from $6 to $9; entrees $11 to $28; and dessert $6 to $8. Seating is limited so reservations are a must. Rating 10 pigs being the best--this is a 9.5! Service and value---rated a 10.
Madlon’s is located at 829 West Big Bear Road in Big Bear City and the phone number is (909) 866-2728.

Grizzly Manor Cafe

Said to be the best place for breakfast, be prepared to get a coffee and wait as the lines are long. What are they waiting for, you ask? They can’t get enough of the large pancakes----the pancakes overlap the plates. Jayne and Tracy, owners of Grizzly Manor Cafe, say the moods of the cook can have an effect on your meal----so keep him happy. Tracy also says there is no charge for the entertainment at the Grizzly Manor Cafe (a good thing as they have no entertainment). Customers say it’s just fun being there. Great breakfast food at this unique joint. No reservations necessary. Rating of pigs: Breakfast: 10 pigs; value: 9 pigs; and attitude: 10 pigs.
Grizzly Manor Cafe is located at 41268 Big Bear Blvd. in Big Bear City. The phone number is (909) 866-6226.

Kujo’s Restaurant

What is a Kujo? It’s a dog! Yep.......and Kujo is owned by Alan Davis (probably the most interesting person in Big Bear City) and Kujo. He has traveled the whole world and is now settled in at Big Bear City much to the delight of his customers and friends. Please note that this place is opened from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.---so breakfast and lunch only. Hot sandwiches ($8.95 to $9.75) includes a side dish; salads ($8.95 to $11.95); and burgers ($8.25 to $9.95). The draw and magnet of Kujo’s is the quiche---the special of the house. Kujo’s offers 30 varieties and all served with a salad for a price of $9.65. To be sure they have your favorite quiche, call 24 hours ahead and it will be waiting for you. All are $9.65 for a 9-inch pie (and can feed six as a side dish). Selections include Lorraine, ham and bacon, apple pear, smoked salmon dill, European, broccoli, Ortega chili, salmon artichoke----something for everyone. Guaranteed you will love this place. (No beer or wine served.)
Rating for lunch only: 9 pigs; service: 9 pigs; value: 9.5 pigs. Friendly and comfortable rating: 10 pigs.
Kujo’s Restaurant is located at 41799 Big Bear Blvd. in Big Bear City. The phone number is (909) 866-6659. No reservations necessary.

Casa Oaxaca

Casa Oaxaca restaurant, named after a southern state of Mexico, comes to Santa Ana and is definitely not an El Torito (or do you want red or green sauce) type of place.
As you may know, this state in Mexico has its own distinct style of cooking---like comparing Northern Italy to Southern Italian cooking. Just a few differences include agave mescal vs.tequila; sweet, fruity moles and some spicy, but not hot, moles vs. the common red and green sauces served in other Mexican restaurants. In fact, Casa Oaxaca always serves five choices of moles for sharing out of over 20 that they make.
The following are some very authentic dishes---some with the ingredients being shipped directly from Oaxaca (shipped twice a week):
Breakfast: Salsa de Chorizo (Oaxacan sausage (pork) covered with spicy tomato sauce and served with beans. $6.99. Huevos con Nopales (scrambled eggs with ham and served with beans). $6.00
Appetizers: Memelas (thick hand made tortilla smeared with special pork fat, blended beans and fresh cheese with choice of meat $6.00 Chapulin con Guacamole/Grasshopper served with chips $5.00
Dinner: Empanada de Huitlacoche (folded hand made corn tortilla stuffed with string cheese and mushrooms ($6.99)
Desserts: Ice cream of burned milk, fruit cactus and nuts $3.00 Nicuatole (traditional Oaxacan gelatin made of corn, cinnamon and milk) $3.00
As you can see from the above items, this is not your everyday Mexican restaurant. The place is very small and intimate. Every Friday and Saturday night there is live Mexican music (not mariachi). The waitresses even wear authentic native Oaxacan dresses which adds to the flavor of Casa Oaxaca.
Casa Oaxaca is located at 3317 West 1st Street in Santa Ana (between Harbor and Fairview Streets). Call if you need a reservation at (714) 554-0905.