Chef Pablo's Restaurant Recipes

This is what started it all for Ralph Rubio in San Diego, CA.  This is also what started my quest for restaurant recipes for me.

When you say the words “fish taco” to anyone who’s never had a real Rubio’s™ Fish Taco, you’ll usually get a grimaced look on their face and a very loud “Ewwwww”.  Honestly this was my first reaction to the thought in the late 80′s when Rubio’s opened in Mission Beach.

For some reason the combination of a warm corn tortilla, a crunchy hot piece of mild fish and the crisp freshness of shredded cabbage is a mouth tantalizing sensation.  Add to this the mild zing of Rubio’s™ white sauce and some smokey flavored hot sauce and you’ll be craving these yourself.

Before you get to the recipe, let me make a couple of notes for you.  The tortilla is critical to the taste.  Most tortillas you buy in a grocery store are thin, dry and tasteless.  If you want the authentic taste of a real tortilla, I HIGHYLY recommend Porkyland brand tortillas. Last I knew, this is the same company Rubio’s™ uses to make their tortillas.  They have a special recipe but, you can still get your hands on these amazing tortillas through MexGrocer.com.

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Rubio’s™ Fish Tacos Recipe

I’m almost embarrassed to call this one of the “top secret” restaurant recipes because it’s SO simple, but it’s such an important part of the Rubio’s™ fish taco experience. When my wife and I tried making fish taco’s without it (didn’t have all the ingredients and we were too lazy to drive to the store), we were amazed at how much the tacos lacked.

Whether you’re making grilled of fried fish tacos, this is an ingredient friends will rave about. It your choice whether you tell them how it’s made or not. Oh and please don’t let anyone convince you there are capers in this sauce… they’re not.

Ok, I warned you, this is VERY simple.

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Rubio’s™ White Sauce

The Outback Steakhouse™ Bloomin Onion is one of the restaurant recipes you’ll save a TON of money making at home.  Don’t be afraid to try this one. These make a great appetizer before any meal or just make one to enjoy all by itself.

Outback Steakhouse™ claims to have invented the Bloomin Onion. Whether they did or not, they definitely made the name a household word.

If you have a bit of trouble cutting the onion exactly right, consider visiting a restaurant supply store for a special “blooming onion” cutter.  They make the job MUCH easier and you’ll end up with a perfectly beautiful onion every time.

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Outback Steakhouse™ Bloomin Onion Recipe

If you’re not careful you could end up eating WAY too many of these bread sticks on your next trip to The Olive Garden™. Famous for their “bottomless basket” of breadsticks, a meal at The Olive Garden™ isn’t complete without a few of these in your belly. This is one of the restaurant recipes your friends will be begging you to forward to them. Best part, it’s extremely easy to make.

There appears to be a bit of a controversy about the inclusion of oregano in the recipe. Many have said true Olive Garden™ bread sticks don’t have any oregano. Keep this in mind when you make these up for your family. Crumble up the oregano very fine and don’t over do it on each stick. If you want to see if you can tell the difference, just skip the oregano on a couple of the bread sticks. After all, it’s your taste buds you’re looking to satisfy.

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Olive Garden Bread Sticks Recipe

Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill™ has locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Ralph Rubio started his first restaurant in San Diego. As a surfer he would take frequent trips to Baja California and enjoy fish tacos from the street vendors.

Fish tacos have become the official food of San Diego. Having lived there most of my life, I have periodic cravings for these but they have to be exactly right or it doesn’t satisfy. One of the items I had the most trouble with was Rubio’s™ hot sauce. Finally, I discovered the secret and life is great! I use this sauce on everything now. It’s even great with a bowl of chips.

It was my love of Rubio’s™ that raised my interest in finding restaurant recipes. Make sure you take a look at the recipe for their world famous fish tacos as well.

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Rubio’s™ Hot Sauce Recipe

When it comes to restaurant recipes, one name stands above the rest, Kentucky Fried Chicken™. The competition has been trying to duplicate Colonel Harland Sanders secret blend of herbs and spices for many years.

Kentucky Fried Chicken™ was founded in 1952 and is based in Louisville, Kentucky. The first ever “Kentucky Fried Chicken™” was actually opened in Salt Lake City. Prior to that, Col. Sanders Restaurants were known as “Sanders Court & Cafe.”

Many people have searched for a way to duplicate the signature flavors of the Colonels Original Recipe, it’s actually the Cole slaw (or coleslaw) recipe most people search for on Google. Don’t worry, we have both… and more.

KFC™ Original Recipe Chicken
This is probably the most secret of the restaurant recipes. As a matter of fact, Colonel Sanders build an entire restaurant chain based on his original recipe chicken with 11 secret herbs and spices.

KFC™ Coleslaw
Nothing even comes close to the unique flavors found in KFC™ coleslaw. Chopped cabbage rather than shredded along with a slightly sweet taste make this a unique side dish your family will love.

On a cold winter night, you can make up a batch of the hearty soup for dinner. There’s nothing like the aroma of this soup when you walk in the house from a cool evening out.

Olive Garden™ Minestrone soup not only tastes amazing, it leaves you feeling quite full. One of the most searched for restaurant recipes, you’ll be proud to serve this to your family or friends. This isn’t the quickest recipe, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

I heard the real secret on this is to add a bit of red wine to the stock.  I didn’t put that into the “official” recipe, but you can feel free to experiment.

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Olive Garden™ Minestrone Soup Recipe

This it the best recipe you’ll find for these amazing Red Lobster™ Biscuits. This is one of the easiest restaurant recipes you’ll make. But just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s not going to amaze your family. Try these with any meal or make an entire Red Lobster experience.

These can save in the refrigerator and be heated again in the microwave, so don’t be afraid to double the batch.

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Red Lobster™ Biscuits Recipe

The first Olive Garden™ opened in 1982 in Orlando Florida. Today there are over 145 locations around the country.

Most of the newer Olive Garden™ locations are designed to look like a farm house in Castellina in Chianti, Tuscany on the grounds of the Rocca delle Macie winery.

Olive Garden™ is most famous for their bottomless bread baskets. But, my suggestion is GO EASY on those so you have room for what’s to come. Delicious pasta, soups and salads at a price you afford to enjoy often. Bring your kids because every kid I know loves pasta.

If you’re looking for some restaurant recipes that you’re kids are going to beg for night after night, you’re in the right place. I would even solicit a little help from them and let them receive a few of the accolades.

Alfredo Sauce
This recipe does NOT include garlic powder or cream cheese. This is the real deal as far as I can tell. Regardless, this is a recipe your family will rave about.

Minestrone Soup
This soup not only tastes amazing, it leaves you feeling quite full. One of the most searched for restaurant recipes, you’ll be proud to serve this to your family or friends.

Zuppa Toscano Soup
One of the most popular restaurant recipes from Olive Garden™. This is a spicy sausage and bacon soup with russet potatoes and greens in a creamy broth.

Caprese Flatbread
A light and crispy flat bread with a nice chunky tomato mixture, topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.  It’s reminds me of a very fresh and natural tasting pizza.

Bread Sticks
If you’re not careful you could end up eating WAY too many of these bread sticks on your next trip to The Olive Garden™. Famous for their “bottomless basket” of bread sticks, a meal at The Olive Garden™ isn’t complete without a few of these in your belly. Best part, it’s extremely easy to make.

House Salad
A cool crisp salad with a great tangy dressing makes this a great way to start your meal.  Fresh tossed at your table with Parmesan cheese grated right there on your salad.  With everything being prepared at your table, it’s one of the most anticipated salads you’ll eat.

Sangria
Looking for how to make Olive Garden sangria? Look no further.  The Olive Garden™ Sangria is a refreshing alcoholic beverage that’s perfect for any outdoor party.

When you walk into an Outback Steakhouse™, you’ll find boomarangs on the wall, stuffed crocodiles, didgeridoos and maps of Australia. You’ll also find menu items named after cities in Australia. Does it taste like Australian food? I have no idea. I’ve never been to Australia.

Outback Steakhouse™ really made a name for itself with their “Bloomin’ Onion”. It’s rare for restaurant recipes to actually have a product on late night TV, but that’s what happened with the Bloomin’ Onion. You could order a special tool to make your onions “bloom” as well.

Recipes:

Alice Springs Chicken
Grilled chicken breast topped with bacon, honey mustard sauce, sautéed mushrooms, Monterey Jack and Cheddar. Normally served with Aussie Chips.

Bloomin’ Onion
This is what put Outback Steakhouse™ on the map. You might want to buy a special tool to cut these just right.

Chopped Blue Cheese Salad
This Outback salad is an amazing mix of sweet candied pecans, creamy blue cheese, soft butter lettuce along with red leaf and iceberg. A very simple restaurant recipe you can make often.

Ranch Dressing
This is a rich and creamy dressing that starts with Hidden Valley Ranch powder dressing mix. You can change it up a bit if you like your dressing a little on the spicy side.

Potato Soup
I have scoured all of my resources and found a very close, if not exact, copy of the Outback Steakhouse potato soup recipe.  This comes straight from one of the former cooks at Outback.

Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp
Tender crispy shrimp in a beer batter with a light flaky coconut coating on the outside.  Delicious with the tangy tart flavors that come in the Creole marmalade.

Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie
Slightly seasoned and delicately grilled shrimp served with their signature remoulade sauce.  This is one of the most popular appetizers at Outback Steakhouse.

Remoulade Sauce
A rich and creamy sauce with just enough zip from the horseradish. Serve this with the Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie or their Pan Seared Lump Crab Cakes.

Bushman Bread
This is a fantastic dark bread with a delicious crunchy crust.  Server it warm from the oven and delight your guests.

Wallaby-Darned
The way the Outback™ describes it is like this: “Down under frozen wonder with peaches, DeKuyper Peachtree Schnapps, champagne, Smirnoff Vodka and secret mixers.”