Blog
Newport Beach Restaurants Giving Back
04.23.20
Despite this crisis, Newport Beach restaurants are finding ways to give back, even as they struggle to stay in business. Here is a roundup of restaurants that are doing good in our community with their incredible philanthropic endeavors, from starting grassroots campaigns to donating and delivering meals to essential and frontline medical workers.
AVILA’S EL RANCHITO
Avila’s participated in the Frontline Foods OC, the orange county chapter of the COVID-19 clinician meal support program. This initiative brings meals to frontline staff and Avila’s brought a feast to UCI Health’s medical team who are essentially working in wartime-like conditions.
ATOMIC CREAMERY
Atomic Creamery teamed up with University High School Irvine’s #GirlUp chapter to launch their “Pay It Forward” campaign. For every three pints of ice cream purchased, Atomic Creamery will donate a pint of ice cream to support local woman-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19.
BEAR FLAG FISH CO.
Bear Flag Fish Co teamed up with Frontline Foods OC to bring a lunch of fish burritos and clam chowder to the front-line staff at UCI Health.
BUDDHA’S FAVORITE SUSHI
Buddha’s Favorite has joined forces with a wonderful idea from Jennifer Scheumann and her #drivetothrive campaign. Simply purchase a gift card at any price (10% discount on gift cards still applies) and the gift card will be donated to the Environmental Services (EVS) at Hoag Hospital. They encourage you to also provide a handwritten note to our unsung heroes of Hoag Hospital.
JUICEMI
Juice Mi launched “JuiceMi Grams” for the public to purchase bundles of coffee, juices, wellness shots and acai bowls to send to frontline hospital staff. Or you can make a donation and JuiceMi will drop off free organic juices, ginger shots and acai bowls to health care professionals.
JUICEMI, HOOK AND ANCHOR, Z PIZZA, NEWPORT RIB COMPANY AND MORE:
Partnering with OC Feed the Frontline, a collection of local dining establishments raised over $3,500 in just four days to feed approximately 500 healthcare workers at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach.
MALARKY’S IRISH PUB
In March as owner Mario Marovic closed the doors to the locally-loved Malarky’s Irish Pub, he set up a one-day-only drive-thru toilet paper shop selling 4,000 rolls of toilet paper at cost to the public. He also teamed up with Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill to deliver 1,100 rolls to the Oasis Senior Center for distribution to low-income senior facilities.
NEWPORT BEACH DINING ESTABLISHMENTS PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL KITCHEN + CRAFT BAR’S SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE”
Sgt. Pepperoni’s, Olea Newport Beach, Chronic Tacos, Miss Mini Donuts and many more local restaurants participated in Social Kitchen + Craft Bar’s program “Serving Those Who Serve” whose mission is to feed unemployed or furloughed hospitality workers for free.
OLEA NEWPORT BEACH
OLEA Newport Beach partnered with Front Line Food OC to help feed the nurses and doctors at UCI Health.
PANINI KABOB GRILL
Panini Kabob Grill is giving back with #PKGCares and donating and delivering fresh, healthy Mediterranean food to local hospitals and first responders.
Blog
“Death, Discovery and Carne Asada”
04.23.20
My friend Thomas Curran walked across America last year all by himself (well his dog Wink accompanied him for a good part of the trip) to raise funds for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.
And that’s not all, he also wrote a book, but it’s not what you are thinking. It’s called “Death, Discovery and Carne Asada” and the opening line is “I didn’t plan on killing people when I walked across America.” Thomas says there are plenty of great books already written about walking across the country, so he wrote something much different, “I wrote a fiction novel using my life prior to my journey and everything about my walk as the backdrop for a snarky, irreverent, kinda low-brow murder mystery.”
After being a chef for 25 years, a father for 23, walking 3,235 miles across America, and acclimating back to real life for nearly 6 months his book is finally done! And, it’s coming out on Tuesday, April 28 on Amazon - mark your calendar and check it out at thomascurran.com
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from the blog
- 01.16.26 – A Valentine’s Weekend to Remember in Huntington Beach
- 01.14.26 – Ignite Dance: 35 Years of Movement in Orange County
- 01.13.26 – An Exciting Career Update
- 01.12.26 – Lunch & Learn at Zov’s Bistro Focuses on Brain Health
- 01.11.26 – Dry January, Done Right at Khan Saab
- 01.08.26 – Strickland’s Ice Cream Celebrates 90 Years and Two Sweet Years in Costa Mesa
- 01.08.26 – THE NOTEBOOK Musical Set for Segerstrom Hall in 2026
- 01.04.26 – THE DAILY HEALING Presents Healing House Lido
- 01.04.26 – Your Business. Our Audience.
- 12.30.25 – Mastro’s Ocean Club Irvine Toasts the New Year With Zero-Proof Style
- 12.26.25 – Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel Bring Immersive Play to Irvine Spectrum Center
- 12.22.25 – A Thoughtful Holiday Gift for OC Locals
- 12.21.25 – A Coastal Take on Christmas at Huntington Holiday House
- 12.18.25 – Katsuya Century City Debuts Festive Holiday Menu for December Dining
- 12.15.25 – Cozy Earth Is a Holiday Gifting Favorite in Corona del Mar
- 12.12.25 – il Girasole Turns Thanksgiving Into a Day of Giving Back
- 12.09.25 – Holiday Lights Boat Cruise Aboard Pendry Newport Beach’s Private Yacht
- 12.09.25 – Celebrate the Holidays at CasaDami on the Waterfront
- 12.06.25 – Pete’s Christmas Vacation Returns to Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach
- 12.03.25 – Wrap Yourself in Luxury at Oats Cashmere’s Annual Event
More Daily Doses
- 01.13.26 – Newport Beach Restaurant Week Returns Jan. 15–25
- 01.12.26 – Earlybird Flies Into The LAB With One-Pound Burritos
- 01.08.26 – FACE FOUNDRIÉ Makes Its Southern California Debut in Newport Beach
- 01.04.26 – Parlor Doughnuts Opens 100th Location in Huntington Beach
- 12.21.25 – Phantom: A Perfect Gift Idea
- 12.18.25 – Celebrate the Season at Pendry Newport Beach
- 12.18.25 – Inside Poppy’s, Anaheim’s New Go-To for California Cuisine
- 12.14.25 – Fire & Lights Festival Returns to Newport Dunes
- 12.11.25 – Butcher’s House Marks Four Years With New Fromage Menu
- 12.09.25 – Manolo Blahnik Opens First West Coast Boutique at South Coast Plaza
- 12.09.25 – ClubSport Debuts New High-End Recovery Amenities in Time for the Holiday Season
- 12.04.25 – Festive Holiday Dining at Paseo, Céntrico and Naples in the Downtown Disney District
- 12.03.25 – Celebrate the Holidays at Discovery Cube Orange County
- 12.02.25 – Chef Charbel Hayek to Open ILYA in San Clemente
- 12.01.25 – Family Holiday Celebration This Saturday at The District
- 11.27.25 – QUA Brings Contemporary Chinese Cuisine to Fountain Valley
- 11.25.25 – Holiday Packages to Help You Look and Feel Your Best
- 11.23.25 – Winter Fest OC Returns November 28 With Expanded Experiences
- 11.21.25 – Wellness That Works: Vida by VTL Boutique Spas + Wellness
- 11.17.25 – Santa Maria Novella Brings Centuries of Craft to South Coast Plaza
