Dining
Casual Yet Sleek Dining at Maro Wood Grill
07.26.11
At the tiny Maro Wood Grill in Laguna Beach you’re in for a casual, yet sleek dining experience inside, or patio seating near a fire pit with a focus on sustainable, fresh ingredients, and simple, wood-fired cooking.
Maro is a family run spot (in the former A La Carte location) with owner Maro Molteni working the wood grill, his sister Fiore Molteni serving, and Chef Debra Sims cooking up fresh organic cuisine with an Argentinean twist like baked empenadas, Argentinean pizza, and mesquite grilled meats. (The Moltenis hail from Buenos Airies).
Before you go, you need to know that a prix fixe menu is offered at dinner Thursday through Saturdays with two seatings at 6 p.m. and one at 8 p.m. Thursday is chef's choice, Friday is fresh seafood and Saturday the focus is grilled meats. You can check the menu online here.
Maro’s varied menu is available at lunch and dinner Tuesday, Wednesday and Sundays, and it includes one of the best burgers in OC, the Maro burger, with grass fed ground beef, potato bun, aged white cheddar, organic lettuce, ross bruno tomatoes, Nueske’s bacon, homemade pickles and aioli; a variety of empanadas that can include grass fed beef with Spanish onions, Mozzarella cheese, Argentinean spices; apple and fennel with peaches, white cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses; housemade pizzas; grilled fish, lamb with home made chimichurri; and you must save room for the organic chocolate chip cookies or dulce del leche cake.
And you should also know that Maro offers gourmet summer bags to go that are ideal for picnics, the beach, or Sunday concerts in the park at Bluebird. The jute bag includes artisan bakery breads, and your choice of gourmet cheeses charcuterie, and fruit plate; or a gourmet chicken dinner with salad and organic grilled vegetables, and San Pelligrino water. Prices range between $50 to $60.
It’s open from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday; noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and dinner seatings 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Maro is at 1915 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach. 949.793.4044.
Indulge at the Silver Trumpet
07.22.11
If you still haven’t been lucky enough to indulge in the incredible flavors and seasonal dishes created by Executive Chef Robert Biebirch at the new Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar in Costa Mesa, this weekend would be the perfect time. It’s unveiling an all fresh, delicious weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Here’s a sneak peek of the menu: lemon ricotta pancakes with fresh berry syrup; crispy chicken and waffles; Southern California Benedict with roasted carnitas, fried eggs, blended salsa, corn tortillas, queso cotija, cilantro Hollandaise and the trumpeter’s egg white omelet with farm fresh organic egg whites, fresh basil and roasted tomatoes, Drake Family Farms goat cheese, served with a fresh seasonal salad served with all-time classic brunch items like granola, waffles and eggs, bacon, sausage and breakfast potatoes. Also, sip on a gourmet cocktail like a Bee Sting, Shandy, or Bloody Mary.
The lakeside dining spot is the perfect place to dine in Costa Mesa, with its proximity to Segerstrom Center for the Arts and within walking distance from the South Coast Plaza. All menus incorporate free-range and organic market-fresh ingredients, seasonal ingredients from California’s finest purveyors, farmers and artisans.
Open for breakfast 6 a.m. to 11a.m. Monday through Friday; 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday; open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; open for dinner 5 to 11 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
3350 Avenue of the Arts in Costa Mesa. 714.751.5100.
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