What's a foodie to do in the OC?

I love to eat! Orange County does not let me down. Every city seems to have its own trademark restaurants, notorious chefs and local cuisine. I’m on a mission to sample them all.

Tugging at my taste buds instead of my wallet, the OC Restaurant Association sponsored the second-ever Orange County Restaurant Week, September 13th - 19th. During the week, over 100 restaurants, representing every city in the county, offered prix-fixe menus priced at $10, $15 and $20 per person for lunch, and $20, $30 or $40 per person for dinner.

After careful consideration and deliberation of menus online at www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com, I chose Chimayo at the Beach (formerly Savannah) in Huntington Beach for a Thursday evening dinner with my fiancé and two local friends.

The restaurant has a fun, laid-back beach vibe. We were seated on the patio, just as the sun was setting over the water -- beautiful! As if on cue by the sun, a live band started up on the opposite side of the patio. The crowd was lively and mixed. A family sat to our right, a group of older men at the bar, some singles were grouped around the band, and to our backs, a couple of couples gathered around a fire pit.

While a reggae tune drifted in our ears, the menu was delivered. For $30, we each had our choice of three courses, the menu offering 3 - 4 choices per course. I chose a tomato/basil bisque for my appetizer (and I snuck some of the boys cornbread-battered calamari), followed by the most delicious Chilean bass and coconut-infused jasmine rice EVER, and a glass of cabernet. When I didn’t think I could eat another bite, the waitress delivered a slice of apple pie the size of both of my fists. All this for $30! I cannot wait for the next Orange County Restaurant Week.

FYI: Chimayo at the Beach is located at 315 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach at the base of the Huntington Beach Pier.