The Dose

Tastes of Tuscany in Irvine

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By Greer Wylder
July 16, 2014

Orange County’s first BRIO Tuscan Grille, an upscale, yet affordable restaurant specializing in northern Italian cuisine, will open at Irvine Spectrum Center on Thursday at 11 a.m. In celebration, we are offering gift cards to two lucky readers, valued at $25. Just like our Facebook page and make a comment to enter to win. We’ll announce the winner on Friday. The chef-driven, neighborhood eatery features a wide variety of award-winning dishes prepared by Executive Chef Andre Lane, and his culinary team, including grilled and oven-roasted steaks, fresh seafood, made-to-order pastas, bruschettas and flatbreads. The menu features classically-prepared traditional recipes such as …

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And They’re Off! Where the Turf Meets the Surf

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By Greer Wylder
July 15, 2014

Horse racing fans can celebrate the Del Mar Race Track summer season kicking off Thursday, July 17 through Wednesday, September 3. More than 45,000 attendees are expected to show up for Thursday’s fashionable Opening Day festivities that includes the 20th anniversary of the most stylish and creative Hat Contest, and an Opening Day Cabana party at the west end of the Grandstand with style, sun, music and action. Purchase a ticket and enjoy the races, DJs,  beer gardens and food trucks. Tickets cost $30 per person. Gates open Thursday at 11:30 a.m., first post 2 p.m. Ten races on Opening Day. Other…

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Fresh, Modern Chinese Cuisine

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By Greer Wylder
July 14, 2014

Orange County will soon land the new Twenty Eight Restaurant & Lounge in Irvine (in the former Kimera space), a fresh, modern twist to traditional Chinese cuisine helmed by Executive Chef and Partner Shirley Chung, best known from Season 11 of "Top Chef" New Orleans. The new restaurant promises to deliver a dining experience unlike any Chinese restaurant in the area with its contemporary Chinese fare focused on local ingredients and bold flavors. Twenty Eight’s Chef Shirley Chung was formerly the Executive Chef at China Poblano by Jose Andres nominated for the Best New Restaurant Award by the James Beard Foundation in 2011. A…

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OC Fair, Summer Starts Here!

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By Greer Wylder
July 10, 2014

The OC Fair, themed “Summer Starts Here” opens Friday, July 11 at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa until Sunday, Aug. 10 (open Wednesday-Sunday). The OC Fair brings 23 days of fun for the entire family: food, rides, animals, free music, as well as the Toyota Summer Concert Series at the Pacific Amphitheatre and events in The Hangar and Action Sports Arena. As expected there will be no shortage of deep-fried treats and opportunities to test what your stomach can handle at the OC Fair. You can graze on deep-fried Oreos, deep-fried cookie dough, deep-fried Doritos, fried pickle chips, deep-fried…

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Tender is the Slow Food Done Fast

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By Greer Wylder
July 09, 2014

It’s getting easier and easier to eat fresh, healthy, sustainable and chef-inspired, dishes in Orange County, especially today with the opening of Tender Greens at University Center In Irvine, in the former Britta’s Café spot. (There's also one that opened at Irvine Spectrum several years ago.) Tender Greens, the go to eatery for affordable farm-to-fork cuisine serves signature menu items such as salads, sandwiches, hot plates, soups and house made pastries, as well as daily specials posted online inspired by the farmer’s market and seasonal ingredients. Fresh picked produce comes from Scarborough Farms in Oxnard and Orange County’s first hydroponic…

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