Greer's OC

Dining

Less Attitude, More Gratitude in Newport Beach

02.22.16

Café Gratitude, the famed San Francisco based all organic and vegan restaurant, opened a new sister restaurant and concept in Newport Beach, aptly named Gratitude.

Gratitude differs from its sister locations in Los Angeles and San Diego; it specializes in seasonally-driven dishes from chef Dreux Ellis, and organic cocktails crafted by Jason Eisner, from Café Gratitude's Mexican counterpart, Gracias Madre in West Hollywood. It’s open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an adjacent Gratitude To-Go space for take-out.

Gratitude is located at Castaway Commons on Westcliff Drive, a new boutique dining, shopping, fitness and wellness destination from the same group who brought us SOCO and The OC Mix in Costa Mesa.

On it’s dinner menu you can select from Small Plates such as Brussels Sprouts Sliders with a maple-miso glaze; and Curried Garnet Yam & Cauliflower Griddle Cakes with red pepper harissa; as well as Appetizers like the Roasted Butternut Squash & Lacinato Kale Salad. Large plates include seasonal finds such as Chef Ellis' Handcrafted Truffle Ravioli Pasta with braised mushrooms, and Baked Eggplant Polpette with sun-dried tomato marinara.

Beloved Café Gratitude favorites are available on the All Day menu. Choose from whole grain bowls like the Sushi Bowl with blackened tempeh, shredded kale, avocado, and sesame wasabi dressing over sprouted grains; and the Indian Curry Bowl with curried red lentil dal and coconut mint chutney. Classic Sandwiches include the Double Cheeseburger with two housemade black bean patties, and Tempeh Reuben with spicy red sauerkraut.

Breakfast offerings include gluten-free pastries like Cinnamon Rolls and Sweet & Savory Scones, as well as larger entrees such as Buckwheat Flax Pancakes with cashew whipped cream, and a Breakfast Burrito Mojado with roasted heirloom potatoes.

The cocktails with organic spirits are crafted with housemade bitters, infusions and shrubs. You can enjoy a Gratitude Caipirinha with Brazilian rum, pressed lime juice and a housemade rock candy stick garnish, a Classic Martini can be made dirty with vegan blue cheese, stuffed-olive and house brine, and a Smoked Old Fashioned is smoked in a decanter with cherry wood, with bourbon with housemade cola and aromatic bitters. Organic wine and beers are also available.

Gratitude’s striking 4,300 space features white washed brick walls, exposed oak beams and pillars, lush plants designed to provide spa-like ambiance save for the central bar, in geometric grey and white tiles. The patio features handmade Morocco tiled tables.

The Gratitude To-Go space will offer grab-and-go items like freshly pressed organic juices, as well as health and wellness items from The Detox Market.

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Gratitude is at 1617 Westcliff Drive in Newport Beach. 949.386.8103.

In Pizza E Vino Veritas

02.22.16

Orange County is home to some incredible Neapolitan pizza eateries and we can put Pizza e Vino in Rancho Santa Margarita on the top of that list. It’s off the beaten path, unless you’re lucky to live near Lago Santa Margarita, near the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.

Pizza e Vino is hardly new; it opened in 2008 and was the first OC restaurant to pass a stringent test by the foremost authority on Neapolitan pizza: Naple’s Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. Pizza e Vino is certified as a true Neapolitan pizzeria.

What does it take to make the cut? It’s a long list (11 pages) of strict rules such as the type of flour, water, salt, yeast, tomatoes, cheese, the oven, the temperature (850 degrees) and preparation of the pizza base. Even the consistency of the pizza must be a certain way: “(Vera Pizza Napoletana) should be soft, elastic, easy to manipulate and fold. The centre should be particularly soft to the touch and taste.” So if you want to taste the real deal, without traveling to Italy, dine at Pizza e Vino.

Pizza e Vino offers a dozen pizzas with a San Marzano tomato sauce base; and nine pizzas with an olive oil base. Favorites include the Guanciale and housemade wild boar sausage pizza; the traditional Margherita, and the heavenly Pizza Burrata with fire roasted grape tomatoes, balsamic reduction and micro basil.

But pizza is just a starting point at Pizza e Vino, it also specializes in bistro dishes such as the Roasted Bone Marrow with slow roasted Gilroy garlic, Maldon sea salt, crostini; Wild Gulf Shrimp Creole, pan seared with spicy creole rub, house chili oil, lemon, micro basil; and small and entrée size salads. The wine list offers more than 25 selections all stored in a Cruvinet, a state of the art wine preserving and dispensing system.

Save room for what could be the best Tiramisu in Orange County-- made with Valrhona chocolate and even topped with crunchy chocolate pearls.

Open 4:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

31441 Santa Margarita Parkway, Suite M Rancho Santa Margarita. 949.713.1500.