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Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
  • Writing
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Dish of the Week: Torta at Playa Mesa, Costa Mesa

  • October 29, 2018
  • Brad A. Johnson

In August for the Orange County Register I wrote about Playa Mesa, an exciting new Mexican restaurant in Costa Mesa. And I can’t stop thinking about their torta de milanesa. It’s the best sandwich I’ve had in years.

In case you missed it:

The bun is heavily buttered and toasted and slathered with a thick, messy glop of refried beans and mayonnaise (more specifically chipotle aioli), then heaped with finely shredded lettuce, pickled jalapeños and fat slices of avocado and tomato. Stuffed into the middle of all this is a thinly pounded steak, fried to a crisp. Absolutely everything about this sandwich is perfect.

And it is massive. When the waitress sets it on the table with a thud, I immediately assure myself that I’m not crazy enough to eat this entire sandwich. I’ll just eat half of it, at which point I will assert self control. Somewhere along the way my plan goes awry. The first half of the sandwich is resting heavy inside my stomach and I’m holding the second half in both hands, bringing it toward my face, unable to stop what’s been set in motion. Before I know it, there’s nothing left on the plate but crumbs and an uneaten garnish of arugula. 428 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa; 949-287-5292; playamesa.com

This excerpt is taken from my review that originally appeared in the Orange County Register. To view more of my work for the Register, check out the archives.

For more dining and travel inspiration, I invite you to follow me and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

 

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Brad A. Johnson

Brad A. Johnson is a writer and photographer specializing in food and travel. His work has been honored by the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, James Beard Awards, World Food Media Awards, Food Photographer of the Year Awards, Society of Features Journalism Awards and others. Based in Southern California, Brad currently serves as Editorial Director of the new luxury consumer travel magazine of the Global Travel Collection (launching Spring 2023).

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Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

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