Curt Seeden: I got hungry just writing this column

Most of us will agree that Fountain Valley is a nice place to eat.
We’ve got just about every fast-food place you can think of — steak houses, sushi places, family restaurants, pizza parlors … the list goes on.
Now add an Argentine-Italian option, the new Cambalache, which opened where Slice use to operate in the Warner Plaza shopping center on Warner Avenue, just west of Magnolia Street.
On Saturday night, a group of about 25 of us decided to head there (with reservations, of course) for an Easter Eve dining experience.
Our reservations were at 6, and we settled in at two long rows of tables. Before we knew it, the place was packed and there was a line waiting to eat on the patio just outside the front door.
I have to admit, I haven’t had Argentine food since, uh, well never.
But I can tell you the group I was with had fun ordering from the extensive menu – from appetizers such as calamari, empanadas, clams and mussels, to the pasta fagioli soup, to the skirt steak to lots of pasta dishes and a long list of salads and sandwiches.
And Cambalache isn’t the only new restaurant in town. Work is complete on several new restaurants adjacent 24 Hour Fitness on Brookhurst Street – The Habit Burger Grill, Blaze Pizza, Chipotle, Wingstop and Tastea.
Brodard Restaurant, serving Vietnamese cuisine, recently opened in Fountain Valley Town Center at Edinger Avenue and Brookhurst Street. And if you like sweets, there’s 85 Degrees bakery on Brookhurst Street near Stonefire Grill.
All the restaurants, small eateries, fast-food spots and coffee shops in town account for the third-highest amount of retail sales tax in Fountain Valley.
And, in case you’re wondering, the new building going up at 10830 Warner Ave. across from Mile Square Park, is a 9,998-square-foot commercial building, which the Planning Commission approved in December 2016. The building can accommodate up to five separate restaurant uses. We have not yet heard what eateries are going in there, but we’ll keep you posted.
By the way, restaurant owners in town have joined together to create the Fountain Valley Restaurant Association. Its focus is on the growth and well-being of the restaurant industry in Fountain Valley. Check out the association’s website at fvrestaurants.com for an extensive list of places to eat in town.
Finally, while we are on the subject of food, mark your calendars for April 21. The Taste of Fountain Valley, a fundraising food and wine festival benefiting the Fountain Valley Schools Foundation, will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at Los Caballeros Sports Village.
The 2018 Taste of Fountain Valley will feature more than 30 restaurants, eateries, caterers, patisseries, bakeries and specialty foods from Fountain Valley and nearby cities. The event is held outdoors, under the stars, and will also feature the region’s wineries and breweries as well as live musical entertainment.
All proceeds support the Fountain Valley Schools Foundation, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit formed to enrich students’ academic experiences.
Los Caballeros is at 17272 Newhope St. Childcare will be available, for $15 per child, provided by Los Caballeros. Register your children when you purchase your tickets.
More information is available by going to the Taste of Fountain Valley Facebook page or by calling 714-625-7198.
Let’s face it: Food is important in Fountain Valley.
Source: Oc Register