Blog
Eugene Cooke Returns!
10.25.11
Urban farmer Eugene Cooke will be returning to the Center for Living Peace Saturday at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a new lecture and virtual journey through Kenya. Cooke spent the first three months of 2011 traveling and learning about local food systems in Kenya. He’ll be sharing incredible images of the lush landscape and the people and their farming traditions and skills. Cost is $22 per person, you can register here. You can also enjoy tasty eats from Avanti Café in Costa Mesa.
The lecture is ideal for students, educators, activists and conscious community members. Center for Living Peace is at 4139 Campus Drive in Irvine. 949.854.5500.
Dining
ROYAL HAWAIIAN BRUNCH!
10.25.11
By Sheryll Alexander
North Laguna is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely Saturday or Sunday morning and the historic Royal Hawaiian restaurant makes the weekend journey even better.
On a recent visit one foggy Saturday morning, we passed right by the way-too-crowded The Cottage and the way-too-swanky Las Brisas. Just across from the Laguna Art Museum on the beach side of PCH, Royal Hawaiian beckoned with its quiet interior and totally unpretentious dining room.
Once no more than a beach bungalow in the 1940s, The Royal Hawaiian has been completely remodeled (and without too much tiki kitsch) as a way cool hang out for singles, couples, families, groups and for those who love to sit at a friendly and cozy bar. Sports plays on the TV during the day in the iconic Royal Hawaiian bar, but live music is on the menu almost every night of the week.
We were here, however, to try out Royal Hawaiian’s new weekend breakfast menu.
Grown ups who drink before noon must order a spicy Bloody Marty, a famed Lapu Lapu or an umbrella-laden Pina Colada. We were steered towards the “sparkling” drinks and we were not disappointed. The “Big Island Bellini” was especially refreshing with its prosecco, peach schnapps and splash of cranberry juice.
As for the grub, Chef James Harris did an excellent job mixing Royal Hawaiian classic appetizers and entrees into this spot’s new breakfast menu as well as adding some soon-to-be brunch favorites such as the spicy Portuguese sausage and scrambled eggs or the fluffy French toast with coconut syrup and smoky bacon.
We were surprisingly wowed by the spam, egg and cheese sandwich entrée with light-as-air and slightly sweet brioche bun. The hot spam was sliced not too thin, not too thick and grilled to perfection. The egg was fried with a crisp exterior and a creamy interior. Yum!
If you are thinking about the ribs, please remember these Asian-style sticky and sweet ribs are not what you may expect if you love Southwestern barbecue.
An don’t miss the bread pudding dessert. This Hawaiian-inspired bread pudding comes with sliced bananas and a delectable caramel sauce. The brownie, which came topped with vanilla ice cream, tasted almost homemade and was deemed “worth the price and extra calories.”
After we were full and happy, we stepped out of Royal Hawaiian for some of Laguna’s most spectacular views (Heisler Park), places to play (Main Beach), shop (downtown Laguna), walk (South Laguna) and revel (Laguna Art Museum).
Royal Hawaiian, 331 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949-494-8001, www.royalhawaiianlagunabeach.com
Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based In Costa Mesa, California. Follow her! @sheryllalexander or visit her journalist Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheryll-Alexander/252517508109644
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 06.12.25 – Jan’s Health Bar Expands to San Diego, Introduces New Smoothies and Summer Menu Favorites
- 06.11.25 – Taste of Japan Brings Food, Culture and Entertainment to Anaheim GardenWalk
- 06.09.25 – Topside Roof Deck Launches Sunday Brunch Club
- 06.09.25 – Ninth Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival to Celebrate Stories of the Sea
- 06.09.25 – Anaheim Hills Festival to Host Bubble Poppin’ Fun Event June 14
- 06.08.25 – RJB Restaurant Group Expands Parlor and Olea Footprints
- 06.08.25 – Father’s Day Weekend at The Ranch: Steak, Lobster, Bourbon
- 06.03.25 – VEA Newport Beach Partners with Orlebar Brown for Stylish June Pop-Up
- 06.02.25 – Coming Soon: Miami City Ballet’s Swan Lake June 20–22 at Segerstrom Hall
- 06.02.25 – Open Studios at Cannery Artist Collective This Weekend
- 06.01.25 – Celebrate Juneteenth at Musco Center
- 05.30.25 – Newport Beach TV Fest Awards ‘Landman’ Outstanding Drama
- 05.25.25 – Beckman Arts and Science Family Festival Returns to Segerstrom Center
- 05.25.25 – Woody’s Wharf Marks 60 Years with Music and Giving
- 05.24.25 – Chef-Driven Farmhouse Opens at Descanso Gardens
- 05.24.25 – Georgia’s Introduces New Weekday Lunch Specials
- 05.21.25 – CasaDamí Introduces Weekend Brunch and Golden Hour in Newport Beach
- 05.20.25 – HomeAid OCLA Hosts Annual Diaper Drive May 30 at The District at Tustin Legacy
- 05.20.25 – Sammy Hagar Day Hits Cabo Wabo Beach Club in Huntington Beach
- 05.14.25 – Summer Starts May 17 at Wild Rivers With New Mermaid Cove
More Daily Doses
- 06.13.25 – RELISH Food, Wine and Spirits Experience Debuts in Newport Beach June 27-29
- 06.10.25 – Step inside California Kinship at Langson IMCA
- 06.09.25 – E-Commerce Favorite Dressin Launches First OC Store
- 06.03.25 – Hilbert Museum and Pageant of the Masters Partner for 2025 Celebration of California Art
- 06.02.25 – Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO in Laguna Hills – Free Kids Tickets This Week
- 05.26.25 – Chef Jason Yamaguchi to Debut Konpa Nikkei in Corona del Mar This Summer
- 05.25.25 – Lido House Launches ‘La Dolce Vita’ – A Taste of Europe in Newport Beach
- 05.21.25 – A Catalina Day Trip: Ocean Views, Island History, and Memorable Stops
- 05.20.25 – Pendry Newport Beach Kicks Off Summer with New Experiences
- 05.15.25 – Cinq à Sept Opens First California Boutique at Fashion Island
- 05.14.25 – Meet Atome Bakery: Sourdough Without the Stress
- 05.14.25 – Newport Beach TV Fest Launches June 5-8, 2025
- 05.11.25 – Cozy Earth Opens Flagship Store in Corona del Mar
- 05.09.25 – Celebrate Mother’s Day at Wild Strawberry Café in Newport Beach
- 05.08.25 – Mom-Worthy Dining in Orange County
- 05.05.25 – Celebrate Mother’s Day in Style Across Orange County
- 04.29.25 – Mother’s Day Dining and Experiences in Orange County
- 04.24.25 – Monaco Italian Kitchen Brings Neapolitan Pizzas and Housemade Pastas to Irvine
- 04.23.25 – South Coast Plaza Celebrates 35 Years of Southern California’s Premier Garden Show
- 04.20.25 – The District at Tustin Legacy Hosts Earth Day Celebration
