The Dose

French Delights in OC

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By Greer Wylder
June 01, 2012

We promise that one taste of a ’lette Macaron will bring melt in your mouth goodness! And now the Beverly Hills based French macaron bakery opened its first Orange County boutique at Fashion Island. The delicate almond meringue cookies are filled with white chocolate ganache exactly the way founder, Paulette Koumetz, remembers tasting growing up in France. After searching for her favorite authentic French macaron in SoCal she set out to make her own. Koumetz worked with world-renowned French pastry chef, Christophe Michalak to develop the ’lette recipe (a shortened abbreviation of Paulette). Each day, a beautiful array of colorful…

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Taste the Nation

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By Greer Wylder
May 31, 2012

One of our favorite events of the year, Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation: Laguna Beach returns on Sunday, at the Montage Laguna Beach. Attend this incredible gourmet food and wine event featuring eight celebrity chefs at the stunning Studio at Montage overlooking the beautiful ocean and you will be directly helping to feed hungry children in Orange County. All proceeds from the Taste of Nation go directly to Share Our Strength’s efforts to fight against childhood hunger in Orange County by benefiting Second Harvest Orange County Food Bank and Father Serra’s Food Pantry at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano. The line-up of renowned chefs who will…

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Healthy Grinds

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By Greer Wylder
May 30, 2012

Craving a fresh delicious sandwich that’s made surfers and locals happy for 40 years? Make your way over to Jan’s Health Bar in Huntington Beach. Founded by Jan Gaffney, one of the original surfer girls from the 1960s, and health food enthusiast before it was in vogue, Jan’s Health Bar serve delicious sandwiches, salads, soups and smoothies using only the freshest ingredients. Try Jan’s Original with tuna and avocado ($8.50), or the soy turkey with avocado ($8.50), with your choice of mayonnaise, mustard, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, soy bacon bits and sprouts. Also, served with your choice of chips, pasta or…

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Treat Yourself

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By Greer Wylder
May 29, 2012

What better way to celebrate our favorite season than a summer-infused pampering treatment a la Ritz-Carlton Spa, Laguna Niguel? The luxurious spa will be focusing a selection of pampering treatments from ingredients found in a favorite summertime cocktail, a refreshing mojito, such as prickly pear cactus, aloe, lemon grass and cucumbers.  The Mojito Medley treatments will be available starting Friday, June 1 through August 31. Choose from a Prickly Pear Mojito Facial that combines aloe vera and prickly pear cactus for moisture with refreshing cucumber slices to soothe your eyes during a 60-min. facial for $195; or enjoy a Lemongrass…

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Dreamy Half Moon Bay

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By Greer Wylder
May 27, 2012

The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay doesn’t seem real at first.  It seems like a place you would only read about in a novel.  A beautiful chateau-like hotel elegantly situated on the edge of a gorgeous coastal cliff, surrounded by sweeping fields of Irish green grass. However, as the curtain of ocean fog slowly ascends and the sun shines through, the smell of bacon and eggs might bring you back to reality because this place is real. It is by far one of the most romantic hotels I’ve ever visited. I was lucky enough to enjoy a wonderful weekend with…

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