Greer's OC

Dining

Southern comfort

02.16.10

Old Vine Cafe has long been known for its fabulously approachable wine-paired dinners, but savvy fans already know that the Costa Mesa eatery serves up some serious brunch and breakfast fare as well. And now, Sunday brunch has gone southern: two eggs, fresh-baked biscuit with honey butter, house made scrapple and a panko-crusted fried green tomato—makes for some must-eat morning eats, no? For those who prefer something less breakfast-y, there’s also a new salad of seasonal greens, hearts of palm, artisan-cured ham with crispy-fried artichokes tossed in a creamy tarragon dressing and aged pecorino.

You can also never go wrong with brunch favorites like the Omelette Espana, with proscuitto and Manchego cheese or the Pizza Omelette, tender meatballs tucked inside fluffy omelette and slathered with a savory pomodoro sauce. There’s also the breakfast that’s practically dessert: Chef Mark McDonald’s pumpkin pecan French toast is to die for.

Old Vine Cafe is located at 2937 Bristol St. (at The Camp) in Costa Mesa
714.545.1411
www.oldvinecafe.com

Spring for these rolls

02.06.10

Where to go if you’re in coastal OC and have a hankering for Vietnamese spring rolls? That would be easy: Bamboo Bistro in Corona del Mar. The sister restaurant to Little Saigon’s famous Brodard Restaurant, Bamboo Bistro serves a more mainstream clientele with its fusion offerings. Take Bamboo Bistro’s roasted duck spring roll, for example: tender and flavorful duck with crispy skin nestled in fluffy vermicelli noodles, lettuce, cucumber and crunchy asparagus, all wrapped in a translucent and chewy rice paper wrapper. It’s a refreshing appetizer, but be forewarned, you’ll want to eat more than one serving. There are other spring rolls, too, from the classic goi cuon (translation: salad rolls) with steamed pork and shrimp, to nem nuong cuon (roasted pork), to the Ahi spring roll, which is presented like a sushi-cut roll, with cubes of fresh tuna and avocado with a wasabi-ginger soy dipping sauce.

Of course, there’s plenty more delectable items on the menu at Bamboo Bistro—if you want a tasty alternative to pho, try the bun ca or sole noodle soup—generous chunks of moist white fish in a delicate broth with chili oil, cherry tomatoes and crunchy tendrils of water spinach. But trust us on those spring rolls!

Bamboo Bistro is located at 2600 E. Pacific Coast Highway in Corona del Mar (near the intersection of Coast Highway and MacArthur, right across from the Chevron gas station)
949.720.1289

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

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Dining

Southern comfort

02.16.10

Spring for these rolls

02.06.10

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