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
- 03.05.26 – Paul Taylor Dance Company at Musco Center
- 03.04.26 – New Brunch Additions at CasaDami
- 03.01.26 – LA Opera Young Artists in Concert at Musco Center
- 02.27.26 – Brodard Restaurant Plans Long Beach Opening at 2ND & PCH
- 02.25.26 – Cheyenne Jackson Brings Mid Life Torso Tour to Musco Center
- 02.22.26 – Spring SplashFest Brings a Taste of Spring to Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove
- 02.20.26 – ABBA Comes to The Lido Theater for a Two-Night Celebration
- 02.19.26 – Los Angeles Is Having a Moment in 2026
- 02.18.26 – Caitlyn Minimalist Opens at The Shops at Mission Viejo
- 02.18.26 – Napa in Newport Expands to Three-Day Wine Weekend for CureDuchenne
- 02.16.26 – Trail Runners Welcome Spring at Whiting Ranch
- 02.12.26 – A Valentine’s Night Inside the Films of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman
- 02.10.26 – The Groundlings Bring Legendary Improv to Musco Center
- 02.09.26 – A Valentine’s Gift Guide for Every Kind of Love
- 02.08.26 – Valentine’s Sweets Worth Sharing at South Coast Plaza
- 02.02.26 – A Century of Modern Dance at the Musco Center Celebrating Martha Graham
- 02.02.26 – CHAGEE Opens at The Shops at Mission Viejo Feb. 6–8
- 02.01.26 – Bardega Sets Grand Opening Celebration in Laguna Hills
- 01.30.26 – More Nights, More Boots on the Floor at Westwood Coast
- 01.30.26 – Marelle Santa Monica Sets the Tone for Coastal Dining on Ocean Avenue
More Daily Doses
- 03.05.26 – Orange County Restaurant Week Returns March 8–14
- 03.02.26 – Beyond A Dream Gala Supports Breakthrough T1D Research in Orange County
- 02.28.26 – Spring Returns to The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
- 02.26.26 – California Cool Art Auction Returns to Laguna Art Museum
- 02.25.26 – Top of the V Unveils a Spanish-Inspired Steakhouse Experience
- 02.25.26 – An Elevated Pastry Experience Debuts at Montage Laguna Beach
- 02.24.26 – Tomatomania Returns to Roger’s Gardens for Its 15th Year
- 02.22.26 – A Coastal Stop for Artful Finds at Crystal Cove
- 02.19.26 – World Ballet Company Brings ‘Swan Lake’ to Irvine Barclay Theatre
- 02.17.26 – Festival Ballet Theatre Brings Don Quixote Back to the Irvine Barclay Theatre
- 02.11.26 – Cozy Earth Presidents Day Sale Brings Big Savings and New Toile Pajamas
- 02.11.26 – OCVIBE Unveils Six New Bar and Lounge Concepts Coming to Katella Commons
- 02.05.26 – A Valentine’s Day Dining Guide at South Coast Plaza
- 02.05.26 – Hands-On Science Takes Center Stage in 2026
- 02.01.26 – Ralph Lauren Brings Shopping and Ralph’s Coffee Together in Newport Beach
- 01.31.26 – What’s Next at The CAMP
- 01.31.26 – Napa Rose to Reopen Feb. 6 at Disney’s Grand Californian
- 01.19.26 – Georgia’s Marks The Wiz at Segerstrom Center With a Special Family Meal
- 01.19.26 – Ignite Dance: 35 Years of Movement in Orange County
- 01.13.26 – Newport Beach Restaurant Week Returns Jan. 15–25
