Dining
STARFISH OPENS IN SOUTH LAGUNA
05.26.11
By Sheryll Alexander
Starfish, which is a new restaurant by Tabu Grill proprietor Nancy Wilhelm, is officially opening the second week in June (call for exact opening date).
Situated directly across from The Montage Resort in the Aliso Creek Shopping Center right on PCH, Starfish features lunch and dinner daily, a takeout menu and a late night bar scene on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The menu has been created around what Wilhelm calls Amer-Asian cuisine. Using Asian ingredients and preparations from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Korea and India, dishes at Starfish are American renditions of classic dishes from these Asian cultures such as summer rolls, pho, udon and soba noodles, Bhutanese rice, wok sauté and sweet-and-sour ribs.
Ready to relax? The horseshoe-shaped Starfish bar prepares refreshing libations flavored with hibiscus, gogi blossoms, lemongrass and passion fruit in mojitos, martinis, sakes, sangrias. Artisan beers and boutique wines are also available.
Wilhelm loves lush seaside décor, so she has enlivened this space with soft turquoise-colored tufted banquettes along with contrasting sunset colors of orange, pink and purple. Asian art deco antiques and objects d’art please the eye.
For more information, visit www.starfishlaguna.com or follow Starfish on Facebook (www.facebook.com/starfishlaguna) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/starfishlaguna).
Starfish, Aliso Creek Shopping Center, 30832 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-9200.
Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California.
HEALTHY SUMMER MEALS AT STONEFIRE GRILL!
05.14.11
Review by Joanne Tucker
If you really need some healthy and quick meals on a hot summer night, then head to Stonefire Grill and order up from its new and very delicious Healthy Alternatives Menu.
Seriously, with this healthy menu, you won’t feel guilty indulging in a crispy grilled cheese-less pizza (170 calories per slice) or a side dish of cowboy-style beans (180 calories).
With two OC locations in Fountain Valley and Irvine, Stonefire Grill says it has “infused its Healthy Alternatives Menu with items that boast fewer calories without sacrificing flavor to its salads, pizza, chicken, beef and salmon entrees and sides.”
But can that be true? Yes!
We taste-tested a variety of healthy menu items and our taste buds were delighted at the petite spinach salad with grilled chicken breast, fresh mushrooms, artichoke hearts, tomato, mozzarella cheese, avocado and croutons (500 calories without dressing) with roasted red pepper vinaigrette on the side (160 calories).
The other healthy salad is the Italian chop, which has freshly-chopped greens, garbanzo beans, mozzarella cheese and your choice of grilled chicken breast or dry salami (440 calories without dressing). Try the Dijon mustard vinaigretteon the side (150 calories).
The grilled vegetable plate of red peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and feta cheese (110 calories that serves two guests) was outstanding as was the cheese-less, thin-crusted pizza with eggplant, zucchini, red onion, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and fresh oregano.
For heartier fare, we highly enjoyed the mesquite barbecue chicken breast (240 calories that serves two guests), the mesquite barbecue tri-tip (210 calories that serves four guests) and the sesame-glazed fresh salmon (350 calories that serves two guests).
For more information about Stonefire Grill or to view the complete nutritional profiles for its new Healthy Alternatives Menu, visit www.stonefiregrill.com.
More About Stonefire Grill
In addition to the new healthy alternatives menu, Stonefire Grill features more than 14 salads and lots of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and entrees. This restaurant also has kid’s meals, family-style meals, crowd pleasers, desserts, wine and beer. Also, the entire menu is available for take-out orders.
18727 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, 714-968-8300.
3966 Barranca Parkway (Crossroads Shopping Center), Irvine, 949-77-1177.
Joanne Tucker is a freelance dining and travel writer based in Costa Mesa, Calif.
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