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Dine and Drink at Social Costa Mesa

10.07.14

The new SOCIAL Costa Mesa on West 19th Street is a chef and ingredient-focused restaurant with locally-sourced produce and meats set in an open rustic atmosphere with reclaimed wooden tables and leather booths. SOCIAL’s team, restaurateur Andrew Dorsey, former Playground Chef Jeffrey Boullt, Chronic Tacos co-founder Dan Biello, and entrepreneur Mac Carlson are on a mission to provide Costa Mesa with a go-to place that has something for everyone: shared plates, weekend brunch, late-night bites, seasonal menus, indulgent entrees, as well as handcrafted cocktails.

Chef Boullt has worked for award-winning chefs such as Eric Greenspan, Tory McPhail, Suzanne Goin, as well as spent time in New Orleans where some of the menu items are influenced from, such as the chicken and waffles with Jidori chicken oysters and a cornmeal waffle, topped with Louisiana Sugar Cane and housemade hot sauce butter.

SOCIAL’s fall dinner menu features dishes like a fall panzanella salad with black mission figs, heirloom tomato, marinated olives, chicories, Point Reyes bleu cheese, and Banyuls vinaigrette; brussels sprouts with farmer’s honey, sweet potato hay, housemade tasso ham, and hazelnuts; pan seared muscovy duck breast with Frog Hollow pears, cauliflower puree, chicories, and roasted shallot duck jus; and charbroiled oysters with smoked tomato butter and crispy shallots.

The brunch menu offers dishes including the SOCIAL Benedict with seared, smoked and confit of pork, pimento cheese biscuit, slow eggs, and creole mustard Hollandaise; banana fosters pancakes with ol’ fashioned buttermilk pancakes, Caribbean rum, Louisiana sugar cane syrup, and farmers’ market bananas; and duck confit hash with fall root vegetables, holy trinity, duck jus, and aged cheddar mornay.

James Wood, a popular Orange County bar expert, has been consulting with Jason Hunter, a Level 1 Sommelier and the former bar manager at the Andaz Hotel in San Diego. Together, they have created a cocktail and wine list to complement Chef Boullt’s menu.

SOCIAL’s opening mixologist team, trained by Dushan Zaric, recently named “Best Bar Mentor of 2014” by Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Award, includes Mike West, Alejandro Pareja, and Nick Stolte. Signature cocktails include ‘Sadie the Goat’ with housemade orgeat, Jamaican Rum, fresh guava juice, lime, fennel bitters, Peychauds bitters, and a red wine floater; and ‘Border Patrol’ with mezcal, tequila, charteuse, housemade lemon cordial, a tomatillo and chili salt rim, and meyer lemon leaf garnish.

Open Tuesday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. (closed on Mondays). Dinner will be served nightly from 5 to 10:30 p.m., with weekend brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Happy Hour will be Tuesday to Friday 4 to 6 p.m., and late night bites will be available Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday nights from 4 p.m. to close will be ‘Industry Night,’ and SOCIAL will offer 50% off select menu items and cocktails for hospitality professionals.

512 W. 19th St. in Costa Mesa. 949.642.2425.

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OC Pumpkin Offerings

10.07.14

Tis the season again… it’s autumn, and if you love pumpkin as much as we do, here’s a roundup of pumpkin offerings in Orange County.

Gourmet Waffle Sandwich: Bruxie: Every fall, they feature a Pumpkin Cheesecake Bruxie with Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling, Candied Pecans & Ginger Snap Cookie Crumble. They also feature a delicious Pumpkin Spice Shake made with real Wisconsin frozen custard

The Cheesecake Factory The restaurant that brings more than 250 menu items also offers a classic, creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake baked in a graham cracker crust and sprinkled with chopped pecans. Or try their Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake, finished with caramel and chopped pecans all in a pastry crust. Thecheesecakefactory.com

Gastropub: Haven Gastropub: Executive Chef/Partner, Greg Daniels, has created a Pumpkin Gratin that is a very comforting and simple dish featuring sugar pumpkin, grana padano, and crema. They will also have a pumpkin beer on tap (after all, Haven is known as the authority for craft beer in OC).

Marie Callender’s offers a freshly baked, homemade pumpkin pie with just the right amount of spice.  Using the same famous recipe for more than 65 years, Marie Callender’s beloved pies are made daily from scratch. Mariecallendersmeals.com.

Mimi’s Café The neighborhood bistro, Mimi’s Café, has everyone’s favorite Pumpkin Muffins and Pumpkin Pancakes to celebrate the new fall season. Enjoy as a snack or a hearty breakfast. Mimiscafe.com.

Raw, Vegan: 118 Degrees: Chef/Owner Jenny Ross makes a Pumpkin Seed Cheese that is raw and vegan! This cheese has 22g of protein per serving and can be used as a spread, topping or filling!

Mexican Cuisine: SOL Cocina: Every fall, SOL features a Pumpkin Spice Margarita as its seasonal cocktail! Created by SOL Cocina Mixologist, Colin Pflugradt, this fall cocktail is refreshing, not too sweet, and a little spicy, featuring Don Julio Blanco, agave nectar, fresh lime juice, roasted pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon - you can get a virgin version that's equally delicious! Chef Deb is also considering Pumpkin Tacos this year!

Fine dining: The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar: Chef Yvon Goetz' Venison is perfect for cooler temperatures. This dish (pictured above) features a pumpkin stuffed with Braised Alsatian Cabbage, Applewood Smoked Bacon, and Julienned Apples in a Alsatian Gewürztraminer.  

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