Nick PhelpsWelcome, my friends, to the third enthralling episode of The Commonwealth Lounge Monthly Chef’s Corner!!! Now, I know that you all look forward to what is going on in our world at the Commonwealth, so here we go!

In the kitchen we’ve been messing around with some fun new specials over the last few weeks. We had a wonderful Braised Short Rib dish with gorgonzola mashed and a jardinière sauce with fresh summer vegetables. The beef was slow braised for six hours and held overnight and I was getting really ticked because it wanted to fall off the bone! Bummer! No, really, I was pretty excited on how it turned out and everyone seemed to love it. Jordan also came up with his “Pineapple Express” upside down cake, which was also a huge success. Soft butter cake with sweet pineapple and caramel top. Delish!

Since we are nearing the end of the summer (which I find hilarious in SoCal), we’re going to be doing a few summer beach classics from New England. Gonna break out the Grilled Countneck Clams with garlic herb butter and crusty bread, try a baked stuffed lobster with a shrimp and scallop bread stuffing, and toss around some blackened Striper (Atlantic striped bass) if the Bluefish haven’t chased them all away!

I want to throw a HUGE shout out to Rich Manning for his wonderful review of Commonwealth Lounge & Grill on OCFOODIES.COM and taking the time to come all the way to Fullerton from Fountain Valley to check us out. It was a pleasure to meet you and your wife and I’m glad the Chowdah was to your liking. We were truly thrilled with your review. Cheers!

Lastly, some of you may have heard that I became an Uncle at 11:43pm (or thereabouts) on August 20th and couldn’t be more filled with happiness. Elizabeth Joan Phelps is now a member of the clan at 9lbs 8oz and 21 ½ inches long. Can’t wait to meet her in early September. Good Luck Chris and Margot, we’re all pulling for you! Speaking of pulling! How about the Sox pull there heads out of there ass and win a few big ones! October is right around the corner Boys!

Change your diapers (and sanitize!),

Nick Phelps
Executive Chef
Commonwealth Lounge and Grill