Dining
Little Sparrow Flies High With New Chef
09.28.15
No one wants to see a great chef leave a restaurant, especially one who made a huge mark in such a short time, but a few months ago, Little Sparrow’s chef Eric Samaniego was let go. Thanks to Samaniego culinary talents, Little Sparrow won multiple awards and was featured on Bravo’s “Best New Restaurants.”
The good news is that Little Sparrow, a chic bistro in Santa Ana boasts a new ultra talented chef in charge, Melissa Ortiz, formerly Little Sparrow’s sous chef. Ortiz, an Orange County native, served 7 ½ years in the Army and while cooking for fellow soldiers she realized cooking was her passion.
Upon returning home, she enrolled in culinary school at the Art Institute of Orange County and has worked at Melisse, the Michelin two star award-winning restaurant in Santa Monica, the Imperator Hotel in Nimes, France and The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.
“Serving in the military was a great way to transition into the culinary industry. It taught me to have a lot of discipline, structure and take criticism.” Ortiz says. “I’m grateful for all the experiences and real life training the military gave me.”
You can expect to find influences from Ortiz’s culinary education, travel in the military and her ethnic background comprised of Mexican, Portuguese and Spanish in her cooking style.
Ortiz’s menu features eclectic and delicious dishes such as Galbi Hangar Steak with kimchi emulsion, radish, and eggplant puree; Yellowtail Carpaccio with a coconut aguachile, serrano and cucumber; Bahn Mi with pork belly, pickled daikon, carrots, jalapeno, and cilantro; and Loco Moco with ground beef, brown gravy, fried egg and garlic rice.
The fried chicken and biscuits are out of this world: Ortiz adds a spiced bourbon glaze and the most buttery and delicious biscuits you will ever taste.
Little Sparrow is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.
Open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
300 N. Main Street in Santa Ana. 714.265.7640.
Blog
Casual Weekend Wear at V. Holland
09.28.15
Who is your favorite band? You can stop by V. Holland in Costa Mesa to check out their newly arrived band t-shirts! V. Holland is a great find for one of a kind designs by owner Vicki Holland and an array of casual weekend wear: dresses, shirts, tee’s, knits, maxis, skirts, blouses, wrap tops, bohemian jewelry, leather bags, belts and great Chan Luu pieces
New fall items are arriving daily from Eden's 6th Day, Biya, La Fee Verte, 35 mm Clothing, Trunk, Cotton Citizen and many more!
V. Holland is also having an end of summer sale.
V. Holland is at 432 East 17th St. in Costa Mesa, right next to Ruby's diner and Peet's Coffee. 949.646.7506
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 12.15.25 – 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
- 12.10.25 – A Coastal Take on Christmas at Huntington Holiday House
- 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
- 12.02.25 – French Florist Opens New Boutique in Mission Viejo
- 12.01.25 – Holiday Cheer at North Italia
- 12.01.25 – Coastal Holiday Magic at Paséa
- 11.30.25 – Pouring Joy: Blue Hummingbird Welcomes Its Newest Café
- 11.28.25 – Puesto Goes Seed-Oil Free and Launches New Winter Menu
- 11.27.25 – American Ballet Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’ Returns to Segerstrom Hall
- 11.26.25 – A New Chapter for Lido House in Newport Beach
- 11.25.25 – The Nutcracker Returns to Irvine Barclay Theatre
- 11.24.25 – HAVEN Honors Taco Asylum with New Taco Tuesday Menu
- 11.23.25 – Musco Center Welcomes Soweto Gospel Choir: Peace
- 11.22.25 – A Luxurious Thanksgiving at The Mayor’s Table
- 11.20.25 – Thanksgiving Getaways: Where to Celebrate, Relax, and Feast in Southern California
More Daily Doses
- 12.14.25 – Fire & Lights Festival Returns to Newport Dunes
- 12.12.25 – Celebrate the Season at Pendry Newport Beach
- 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
- 11.16.25 – HOTWORX Costa Mesa Courtyards Offers 24-Hour Infrared Sauna Workouts
- 11.13.25 – Prairie Opens in Mariners Square: A New Home for Refined, Relaxed Interiors
- 11.11.25 – Mother-Daughter Duo Launch Eugénie Boutique in Newport Beach
- 11.09.25 – You’re Invited to South Coast Plaza’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
- 11.03.25 – Culinary Dropout Opens in Old Towne Orange
- 11.02.25 – Super Irvine International Market Opens in Irvine
