Greer's OC

Dining

SPRING IS DELISH AT Z’TEJAS

03.27.11

Review by Sheryll Alexander

Z’Tejas, which is a Southwestern-themed and reasonably-priced restaurant at South Coast Plaza, recently launched its new spring entrée and cocktail menu and we are hooked.

Chef Danny Stevens has done it again with his seasonal spring menu that features four fresh entrees, four splashy new cocktails and one truly delicious dessert. We were also surprised and pleased at the featured spring ingredient: ripe and savory Mission figs.

But first, start by ordering up a spring drink. For those needing to count calories, try the delightful “skinny” raspberry lemonade or the “skinny in pink” martini. There’s also a refreshing raspberry lemon drop ‘tini and a quite unique Chambord ginger cosmopolitan.

Our fave spring entrée is the pork tenderloin scallopine, where pork medallions are flattened, tenderized, dusted and flat-iron seared. Slightly spicy in a good way, these tasty pork tenders are served with an absolutely delicious cornbread fig dressing and finished with a perfectly-paired caramelized sage-guajillo demi glace.

We were also impressed with the smoked chicken pasta roll. Chef Stevens takes a mixture of smoked chicken, roctta and Jack cheeses, garlic and poblano chiles and rolls them in a lasagna-sized pasta. Next, he cuts them into rolls and then breads them in panko, fries them up and serves four huge slices with picante cream and green chile sauces.

The other spring entrée items include a refreshing citrus-glazed mahi mahi with mango salsa and a tender aged filet topped with succulent lobster and a chipotle-infused béarnaise sauce.

Perhaps the best dish on Z’Tejas’ spring menu is the Mission fig beignets. Super ripe and delicious Mission figs are chopped and whipped into the beignet dough itself. The result is a crunchy-on-the-outside, fluffy-and-savory-on-the-inside treat. This indulgent dessert serves enough for the entire table and also features a large scoop of cinnamon ice cream, a little raspberry sauce, some crème anglaise and fresh berries.

Z’Tejas, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714-979-7469, [url=http://www.ztejas.com]http://www.ztejas.com[/url].

Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, Calif., where she is a professional freelance lifestyles editor and writer.

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Dining

THE CELLAR HONORS ELIZABETH TAYLOR

03.25.11

By Sheryll Alexander

We love The Cellar in Fullerton and we also love how it was legendary screen star Elizabeth Taylor’s favorite OC dining destination. Yes, Richard Burton really did propose (for the second time!) to the stunning Liz Taylor at this truly distinctive dining destination.

In fact, you can reserve the “Elizabeth Taylor Table,” which is actually a small booth tucked off the main dining room in a quiet grotto with romantic pull-for-privacy drapes.

So, in honor of her memory, The Cellar is offering a four-course prix fixe dinner inspired by Liz’s favorite foods. Held from Apr. 1-3, this intoxicating dinner costs just $50 per person and benefits Ms. Taylor’s favorite charity: American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR).

The Cellar’s proprietor Ryan Dudley called on a former longtime maitre d’ to develop the menu according to Madame Taylor’s fave foods. Here’s the menu:

First Course: Escargot with shallots, white wine, mushrooms, butter and pastis

Second Course: Caesar salad with gourmet anchovies and herbed croutons

Third Course: Filet steak Oscar with hollandaise resting on potato purée and fresh asparagus

Fourth Course: Chocolate mousse with fresh berries

Space is limited and reservations are highly recommended.

The Cellar, 305 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, 714-525-5682, www.cellardining.com.

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