School's out, Summer's here, and Sushi Frenzy is IN!

Grades were entered with a huge sigh of relief, and with that seemingly small feat - I had completed my first year of teaching.

And I have to confess:
I absolutely love being in the classroom.

It's been a tough year, to be sure. But one thing makes all the hard work all the more worthwhile: SUMMER VACATION. (That and knowing I'm shaping the minds and lives of my students, of course.)

With almost two months off from work, I'm giddy as can be. Last year's summer vacation was spent wine tasting in Napa Valley, adventures in San Francisco, Sausalito and Berkeley - with a visit to see Alice Waters in action. This year is just as exciting:

- Revisiting Northern California with friends
- Taking some fun and educational classes
- Eating in Spain from Madrid, Toledo, Valencia, to Barcelona
- Being a great bridesmaid for one of my dearest friends
- And devoting some time to my neglected little blog

Summer is officially here!



Actually, summer may have started a couple weeks back when I drove down to Orange County for MS' birthday. And since I'm an LA blogger, the OC is strange and foreign terrain for me. So I did what any smart girl would do - I turned to my trustworthy foodblogger friends from the OC.

Both Epicurious Wanderer and Elmomonster gave some great recommendations, but after reading their super posts from Frenzy Sushi, I knew it was the place to go.



With glowing reviews from Chubbypanda and Elmo, I knew we were in for some good eats and would not be disappointed! Equipped with my mapquest directions and blog photos to guide me, Frenzy was not difficult to find. Tucked away in a small strip mall, its neon sign couldn't be missed.

We were greeted with smiles and warm welcomes, and a surprise hello from Mr. Chubbypanda himself! (He called ahead and spoke with the owners to tell us 'hello'.) Our hosts were personable and friendly, and I already felt at home.

Selfishly, I wanted to order everything! Out came the tuna, fatty tuna, salmon, albacore, and yellowtail sushi. Each piece was fresh and delicate to the palate. We definitely enjoyed everything, and left no rice morsel or slice of ginger behind on our platters.

One of MS' favorite cut rolls is the Caterpillar Roll with cooked eel, fresh vegetables of cucumber and avocado topped with a warm teriyaki sauce and toasted sesame seeds. We ordered this delicious dish and fought over who could have the last piece. I think I let him win - since after all, it was his birthday.



We also tried the cajun tuna tataki, a Frenzy special. Interestingly, the spicy sashimi left me with a peppery after taste and in want of some rice to go with the savory and meaty dish. A strong contrast from all the mild fish we had, I think I would have preferred this one as a stand alone.

But overall, MS and I were impressed with the freshness of the fish, the excellent service provided, and the relaxed atmosphere of Frenzy Sushi. A great price for the quality and amount of food we ate, this was a great beginning to a summer filled with good eats, cool travels, and exciting adventures.

Frenzy Sushi Gone Wild in the OC
street: 369 E 17th St #17 | Costa Mesa, CA | 92627
tel: 1.949.646.1333
call ahead for reservations
web: www.frenzysushi.com

currently listening to:
"Cherish"
by Kool and the Gang