April 18, 2021 - Ironwood - Laguna Hills, California

 

I visited with Tara, Mike and Jackson Hamby, Jeanne and Willie Stecher.  We were celebrating Mike and Tara’s 20^th Anniversary.

We started with drinks…then ordered starters:  Signature Crispy Meyer Lemon and Honey Duck Wings; Freshly Shucked Market Oysters n the Half Shell; Skillet of Roasted Forest Gourmet Mushrooms.

 Entrees:

Jackson – Baked Skillet of Mac and Cheese (off the starters menu).

Tara and Willie – Crispy Jidori Chicken Schnitzel with Maitake Mushrooms

Jeanne – Chilean Bass

Mike  - one of the specials – Short Ribs

Lynda – Ironwood American Wagyu Beef Burger served with House Cut Herb Fries

My burger was delicious…I have always wanted to try Wagyu Beef…it was moist but cooked with no pink.  (I don’t like pink in my hamburger.)  So I was elated about that.  The taste of the meat was delicious…no fatty meat after taste.  It was probably the best burger I have ever eaten.

 The Fries were thin and crispy…just I like them.  I was totally satisfied with my meal.

I don’t know much about Wagyu beef so I researched it.  I have often wondered how it is related to Kobe Beef.

According to the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association, the term "Wagyu" refers to four Japanese breeds of beef cattle: Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Poll, and Japanese Shorthorn. While Kobe is a type of Wagyu beef from the Tajima strain of the Japanese Black breed. Cattle that produce Kobe beef are raised in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, which has the city of Kobe as its capital, hence the name.

I am going to assume from the description of the burger that the beef was Wagyu Beef raised in the United States.

Since I love Schnitzel I tasted a piece of Tara’s.  It was served over noodles.  I liked these noodles.   Jidori Chicken is farm-fresh, organic and incredibly flavorful.  They are free of hormones, steroids and are delivered 24 hours from slaughter.

The original Jidori Chickens are a cross breed between Hinaidori and Rhode Island Red.                                                     

Jidori Chicken comes from only one source in the United States – Dennis Mao (Los Angeles, Calfornia), the founder of Mao Foods.  He is the creator of Jidori Chicken.

Tara’s entrée had a very distinctive nutmeg taste with a very sweet after taste.

Dessert – Lemon Meyer and Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brulee served with fresh strawberries, blackberries and blueberries.  The crème was delicious and the consistency was very smooth .

The restaurant brought their signature dessert to the table to Tara and Mike complete with a candle to celebrate their anniversary – Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Crumble served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.   I had a bite….yummy…I could taste rum in the raisins…I would have this dessert if I ever had to opportunity to visit a second time.

Ironwood

25250 La Paz Road, Suite 100 

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

(949) 446-8772  

Hours:  Sunday – Monday 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

             Tuesday – Thursday 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. 

              Friday – Saturday 5:00 – p.m. – 10:00 p.m.