{"id":5693,"date":"2014-03-16T12:45:10","date_gmt":"2014-03-16T19:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/?p=5693"},"modified":"2017-05-23T11:16:57","modified_gmt":"2017-05-23T18:16:57","slug":"luna-grill-irvine-westpark-media-tasting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/?p=5693","title":{"rendered":"Luna Grill @ Irvine Westpark &#8211; Media Tasting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Do you ever find yourself working long hours and at the end of the day too tired to cook? \u00a0This seems to be how I have been feeling a lot lately trying to meet deadlines. \u00a0And you know what&#8217;s worse when you are starving? \u00a0Gorging on junk food, aka, Burgers with Fries, Tacos with Chips, Fried Chicken with Buttery Biscuits, the list of unhealthy eats just goes on and on. \u00a0Luckily we now have better alternatives, thanks to Luna Grill!<\/p>\n<p>Co-founded by Sean Pourteymour and Maria Trakas Pourteymour, the husband and wife team sets out to provide fresh and delicious Mediterranean cuisine that is good and good for you! \u00a0A few facts to know about the food at Luna Grill (cited from the menu):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We support locally harvested produce, sustainable farming, and local businesses\u00a0whenever possible.<\/li>\n<li>Livestock is raised in a humane way and never fed animal byproducts.<\/li>\n<li>We use oils that are free of trans or hydrogenated fats.<\/li>\n<li>No added growth hormones, preservative free, all natural poultry, beef &amp; lamb.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(Photo by <a href=\"http:\/\/allentaylorphotography.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Allen Taylor Photography<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pp-insert-all size-full aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Luna-Grille-46.jpg\" width=\"850\" height=\"595\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5697\" alt=\"Collages357\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Collages357.jpg\" width=\"850\" height=\"699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Collages357.jpg 850w, https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Collages357-300x246.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The decor is the happy red. \u00a0If you didn&#8217;t know, the color red is said to stimulate appetites. \u00a0 I love the heart design on the back of the chair. \u00a0The atmosphere is very inviting and casual. \u00a0The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. \u00a0I met up with Stephanie, the manager on duty, when Allen and I arrived. After a brief introduction, she left us to browse the menu and decide what we would like to try.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pp-insert-all size-full aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Collages354.jpg\" width=\"665\" height=\"850\" \/>Of course we had to try the Hummus. \u00a0You have a choice of Regular or Spicy Cilantro with Pita Bread or Sliced Veggies. \u00a0We chose Spicy Cilantro and got both the Pita Bread and Sliced Veggies. \u00a0This was a perfect appetizer to start with. \u00a0We loved how smooth and creamy the hummus was with just a hint of heat.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pp-insert-all size-full aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/jpg133.jpg\" width=\"665\" height=\"850\" \/>Our first entree was the Gyros Wrap (prepared with fresh greens, tomato, onion and signature sauce) which came with Sweet Potato Fries (upgrade). \u00a0I also chose to have the multigrain flatbread instead of the pita bread. \u00a0This is perfect for on-the-go. \u00a0The Gyros was very tender and flavorful. \u00a0I love the flatbread which was lightly grilled. \u00a0The Sweet Potato Fries were excellent. \u00a0They were light and crispy but not at all greasy. \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pp-insert-all size-full aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Collages355.jpg\" width=\"665\" height=\"850\" \/>Second entree was Bistro Filet Beef Kabob (Marinated pieces of tender beef skewered with onion and bell pepper). \u00a0It came with a side salad, saffron rice, and pita bread. \u00a0The big chucks of beef were cooked perfect medium and were so tender. \u00a0If you are a beef lover, you won&#8217;t want to miss this. \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pp-insert-all size-full aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/jpg134.jpg\" width=\"665\" height=\"850\" \/>Manager Stephanie highly recommended the Flat Cut Chicken Kabob (Thinly cut pieces of savory chicken). \u00a0&#8220;Because the chicken was cut thinner, it takes in more of the marinate.&#8221; she explained. \u00a0She was right. \u00a0The flavor was excellent. \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pp-insert-all size-full aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Luna-Grille-36.jpg\" width=\"850\" height=\"595\" \/>Because we already had 2 full entree plates, we decided to order an Add-On of Lamb Tenderloin Kabob (Tender pieces of marinated grass-fed lamb.). \u00a0This lamb blew me away in both texture and taste. \u00a0I don&#8217;t eat lamb often and I had reservation about how it would taste in a casual dining restaurant but it was so tender and flavorful and was my favorite \u00a0meat of the night. \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pp-insert-all size-full aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Luna-Grille-13.jpg\" width=\"850\" height=\"595\" \/>I am a huge fan of salad. \u00a0In fact, I often eat it as a meal. \u00a0I could not pass on the Apple Walnut Salad (Organic spring mix, fresh seasonal apple, crumbled Gorgonzola, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, tangy pomegranate vinaigrette). \u00a0You have the option of adding a protein but I didn&#8217;t because we already had all the previous entrees with meats. \u00a0I love everything about this salad and I would eat it everyday if I could! \u00a0I absolutely loved it! \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pp-insert-all size-full aligncenter\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Luna-Grille-44.jpg\" width=\"850\" height=\"595\" \/>And we had to indulge a little with the mini indulgence. \u00a0They were perfect little bites to end our meal! \u00a0Luna Grill has locations in San Diego and Orange County, CA, and one in Dallas, TX. \u00a0It&#8217;s looking to go national. \u00a0So what did Allen and I think about Luna Grill? \u00a0Well, we have one BIG question &#8211; When are you coming to Anaheim Hills?<\/p>\n<p>Thank you so much to Christina, Stephanie, and the entire staff at Luna Grill Westpark Plaza, Irvine, for your hospitality! \u00a0We loved Luna Grill!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.urbanspoon.com\/r\/20\/1812374\/restaurant\/OC\/Luna-Grill-Irvine\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you ever find yourself working long hours and at the end of the day too tired to cook? \u00a0This seems to be how I have been feeling a lot lately trying to meet deadlines. \u00a0And you know what&#8217;s worse when you are starving? \u00a0Gorging on junk food, aka, Burgers with Fries, Tacos with Chips,...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5718,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"pp_embeds":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[246,68],"tags":[890,323,259,888,461,325,889],"class_list":["post-5693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial","category-restaurants","tag-baklava","tag-greek","tag-irvine","tag-kabob","tag-mediterranean","tag-pita","tag-saffron"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Luna-Grille-24.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3lTx3-1tP","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5693"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9544,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5693\/revisions\/9544"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}