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Orange County << Back to Orange County restaurant news
September 23-November 8
The ENO-Versity classes continue throughout the fall at ENO, the wine, cheese and chocolate tasting room located at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Winemakers and chocolatiers lead guests through these informative, educational classes. The fall schedule features Dallman Confections with chocolatier Isabella Valencia on October 11, Soljans Estate with owner and winemaker Tony Soljans on October 18, and David Arthur with owner and founder David Long on November 8. Classes are held in ENO from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. and are $60 per person. Registration is limited and reservations can be made calling Resort Services at 949-240-2000. ENO, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, One Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point, CA 92629, 949-240-2400.
Through October 31
Patina Restaurant Group's Pinot Provence outpost is participating in this year's Mushroom Festival. Special à la carte and prix-fixe menu items feature wild mushrooms such as yellow chanterelles, black trumpets and matsutake varieties. Pinot Provence, The Westin South Coast Plaza, 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 714-444-5900.
October 1-31
Newport's Balboa Bay Club & Resort is offering its annual Oktoberfest menu throughout the month of October. The special menu, which was created by Austrian-born chef Josef Lageder, includes such German specialties as marinated herring, celery root salad, lisen suppe (lentil soup), paprika goulash, wienerschnitzel, schlacht platte, bratwurst, braised red cabbage, sauerkraut, apple strudel and several kinds of imported beers. Balboa Bay Club & Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, CA 92663, 949-645-5000, 888-445-7153.
October 21
Five Crowns in Corona del Mar celebrates Oktoberfest with a buffet-style German dinner menu starting at 5 p.m. While listening to authentic German accordion music, guests may drink from a selection of imported beers and nosh on such items as cucumber salad, green bean salad, herring, beef rouladen, stuffed veal breast, rotisserie chicken roasted in beer, salmon with herbs and horseradish, potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut, Brussels sprouts, apple strudel and plum cake. The cost is $69 per person (inclusive of tax and gratuity). Five Crowns, 3801 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Corona Del Mar, CA 92625, 949-760-0331.
October 27
One of the best nights for foodies in OC is the annual Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner at Montage Laguna Beach. Starting at 6 p.m., seven of the West's most acclaimed chefs cook up a collaborative dinner with wine pairings. Participating chefs include James Boyce (Studio at Montage Laguna Beach), Alessandro Stratta (Alex and Stratta at Wynn Las Vegas), William Bradley (Addison at The Grand Del Mar), John Cuevas (Montage Beverly Hills), Richard Ruskell (Montage Beverly Hills), Brian Black (The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach) and Matt Leonard (Montage Laguna Beach). Tickets cost $300 per person and $250 for James Beard members. Montage Laguna Beach, 30801 South Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, CA 92651, 949-715-6000.
October 30
Five Crowns in Corona del Mar, which claims to be haunted by a second-floor ghost, is holding its annual murder mystery dinner event. Chef Dennis Brask's prix-fixe menu will be enjoyed while a dramatic whodunnit unfolds in the restaurant's Brighton Room. The holiday event starts at 7 p.m. and costs $96 per person (inclusive of tax and gratuity). Some of this year's menu items include porcini mushroom ravioli, roasted prime rib, creamed spinach, Yorkshire pudding, Maple Leaf Farms duckling, balsamic fig coulis, and strawberry English trifle. Five Crowns, 3801 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Corona Del Mar, CA 92625, 949-760-0331.
Ongoing Ongoing
Mondays
Chef and proprietor Rich Mead is giving 20 percent off each guest's bill on Monday nights at his original Sage restaurant in Newport's Eastbluff Center. Perhaps now on Mondays you can afford to enjoy some of chef Mead's signature dishes such as prosciutto and Black Mission fig pizza and seared duck with a side of grilled farmer's market peaches. Sage, 2531 Eastbluff Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660, 949-718-9650.
Tuesdays
TAPS Fish House & Brewery in Brea parties down Fat City style, with Cajun appetizers for five bucks each. There are also New Orleans-inspired signature cocktails, live music and plenty of beads for a Mardi Gras-like celebration. Live blues and jazz music is also featured every Tuesday, starting at 6:30 p.m. TAPS Fish House & Brewery, 101 E. Imperial Hwy., Brea, CA 92821, 714-257-0101.
Tuesdays
Huntington Beach strives to keep its streets local—at least one night a week, that is. Tuesday is townie night, with approximately two dozen city restaurants including Duke’s, Hurricane’s and Pete Mallory’s offering local residents 20 to 30% off their food bills. A few places offer drink specials as well.
Tuesdays
Palm Terrace Lounge at The Island Hotel Newport Beach offers Burgers & Beer specials from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesdays. Chef Bill Bracken’s sliders include beef sliders au poivre with Tillamook Cheddar and grilled onions, chicken and truffle sliders on a pretzel bun with oven-dried tomato aioli, and ginger shrimp sliders with Asian slaw on a ciabatta bun. Sliders are 2 for $5 with choice of beer. All draft beers are $5. The Island Hotel Newport Beach, 690 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660, 949-759-0808.
Wednesdays
For a gourmand’s mid-week night out, relax at The Island Hotel Newport Beach starting at 4 p.m. for “Pizza and Pinot” in the posh Palm Terrace Lounge. Mini pizzas are 2 for $5 with a glass of Pinot. (Pinots are priced at $12 to $35 per glass.) We enjoyed the classic margherita pizza along with the Taleggio cheese and crushed truffles with lobster and chives and the bleu cheese with black cherry jam and arugula. The pizza and Pinot specials end at 8 p.m. The Island Hotel Newport Beach, 690 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660, 949-759-0808.
Thursdays
Palm Terrace Lounge at The Island Hotel Newport Beach offers a Tacos & Tequilas feast from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays. While listening to the sounds of eclectic crooner Jimmy Hopper, guests can sip housemade cocktails with premium tequilas from $9-$16 and nosh on both classic and unusual taco combinations. For $4 each, try the traditional fish taco with shredded cabbage and sour cream sauce or the smoked duck, Maine lobster, beef tenderloin or ahi tuna tacos. The Island Hotel Newport Beach, 690 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660, 949-759-0808.
Thursdays
Famed French bistro Marché Moderne in South Coast Plaza offers bouillabaisse (a Provençal seafood stew) on its menu every Thursday. Chef and proprietor Florent Marneau cooks up his bouillabaisse featuring rouget, dorade rose, John Dory, congre, rascasse and pagot fish caught on Wednesdays in Toulon and Marseilles, and then shipped next day to the restaurant. This $48 bouillabase also includes baby fennel, leeks and small potatoes. The steaming seafood broth is poured tableside over the fish and served with chive aioli, saffron rouille, tomates rôti, preserved lemon, tapenade and croutons. Marché Moderne, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 714-434-7900. Thursdays Fridays Fridays Fridays Fridays-Sundays Fridays-Sundays Saturdays & Sundays Sundays |
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