tiffanyblue

Tiffany & Co. Opens Blue Box Café at South Coast Plaza

October 21, 2026

Breakfast at Tiffany’s has officially arrived in Orange County. Tiffany & Co. and chef Daniel Boulud just opened Blue Box Café by Daniel Boulud at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, the brand’s first West Coast location and its second worldwide.

The café sits beside the new Tiffany & Co. boutique, which draws its inspiration from the Fifth Avenue Landmark in New York. The dining room carries the iconic Tiffany Blue throughout, setting the tone for an elevated experience built around seasonal menus.

Like its New York original at The Landmark, the South Coast Plaza café blends charm, sophistication and a sense of celebration, with a distinctly California touch. Guests can linger over breakfast, afternoon tea or lunch in a setting that feels refined but welcoming.

The menu features Blue Box Café favorites, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Tea at Tiffany’s, along with all-day seasonal dishes from Boulud and his culinary team. Inspired by California’s produce, the dishes pair timeless elegance with a lighter, modern approach.

Seasonal standouts include the Tomate et Pastèque with burrata, heirloom tomato and basil pistou, the Tartine d’Avocat with grilled focaccia, whipped ricotta, avocado, radish, fennel and lemon, and the Spaghettini au Caviar, a lemon-glazed pasta topped with ossetra caviar.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s highlights include the Parfait Framboise, layered with Hampton’s Grocer granola, raspberry coulis and organic yogurt, the Oranais, an apricot danish, the Carpaccio de Melon with cantaloupe, watermelon, lime and micro mint, the Madeleine, a French butter cake, and the Oeuf et Caviar, a scrambled egg served in a shell with ossetra caviar.

Tea at Tiffany’s offers a classic afternoon spread of tea sandwiches such as egg and watercress, cucumber with dill and cream cheese, and chicken curry with mango chutney, alongside traditional scones served with jam and double cream. Sweet bites include a chocolate caramel tart, a hazelnut financier, a blackberry cheesecake and a vanilla passion fruit choux, along with shortbread and a coconut rocher.

Les Desserts is equally indulgent, with the Soufflé Glacé aux Framboises, a raspberry frozen soufflé with red fruit compote, the Tarte aux Fruits Exotiques with mango cream, frangipane, passionfruit and lime, and the Tarte au Chocolat, layered with vanilla mousse, flourless biscuit, ginger and dark chocolate cremeux. Cheese lovers can also choose the Fromages, a selection of comté, afterglow goat, moses sleeper and tête de moine.

Whether you’re marking a milestone, gathering with friends or simply treating yourself, the café offers gracious hospitality and thoughtful details meant to make every visit feel special. Together, the store and restaurant bring Tiffany’s heritage of artistry and inventiveness to Southern California.

Reservations are available now on Resy. 

3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa.
 

greerinsurance_1

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: How to Think About the Choice

October 21, 2026

One of the biggest decisions people face with Medicare is choosing between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. There is no one size fits all answer, and the right choice depends on individual health needs, budget and lifestyle.

Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B. Many people who choose Original Medicare also add a Medicare Supplement to help cover out-of-pocket costs, along with a separate Part D prescription drug plan. This option can offer more flexibility when it comes to seeing doctors nationwide who accept Medicare, which can be appealing for people who travel frequently or split time between different locations.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies and bundle Part A and Part B into one plan, often including prescription drug coverage and extra benefits such as dental, vision and hearing. These plans may have lower monthly premiums but typically use provider networks and may involve copays for services.

Both options can provide solid coverage, but they work differently. The key is understanding how each type of plan fits into your personal health needs and financial comfort level.

If you are helping a family member sort through these choices, or beginning to explore your own options, having clear information can make a big difference. Questions are always welcome.

Greer Wylder
Wylder Insurance
Office 949.300.8713 TTY 711
greerwylder@gmail.com
Licensed Insurance Agent, CA License #4354817

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent nine organizations  which offer 53 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

aleslabb

Ambitious Ales Brings Its Award-Winning Craft Beer to Costa Mesa

October 20, 2026

Beer lovers in Orange County, mark your calendars. Ambitious Ales, the Long Beach craft brewery known for its handcrafted lineup and small-batch and seasonal releases, is opening its first OC location at The LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa on Oct. 24 and 25.

Opening weekend runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Expect a full tap list, limited-edition merchandise and DJs spinning vinyl. Smoked & Salted Barbecue will be on hand with food Saturday, and Hamburgers Nice takes over Sunday.

The brewery and tasting room will have indoor and outdoor seating, and families and pets are welcome. It’s shaping up to be an easygoing spot to catch the game, join in community events and enjoy a world-class pint.

For co-founder Danny Karpinski, The LAB was an easy choice.

“As an independent craft brewery, we couldn’t be happier to open at The LAB Anti-Mall, which is based on fostering small businesses and creative brands,” Karpinski said. “We know Orange County, and Costa Mesa specifically, is full of craft beer lovers who will appreciate our approach to beer, creativity and our strong sense of community.”

The feeling is mutual. LAB owner Linda Sadeghi said the brewery is a great fit for the center’s small business collective.

“We’re excited that the Ambitious Ales guys are also becoming LABsters. They are ‘ambitious’ for sure,” Sadeghi said. “They will add great craft beer, energy and an awesome patio experience to the LAB.”

The brewery’s roots are in OC. Five high school friends founded Ambitious Ales in 2012 after a trip to the Oregon Brewers Festival sparked a passion for craft beer and inspired them to try brewing their own. They spent years tinkering with their process before opening the first Ambitious Ales in Long Beach’s Bixby Knolls neighborhood in 2019.

The hard work has paid off. The brewery took home a gold medal at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival for its hazy IPA, Professional Human Being, and a bronze medal at the 2019 festival for its coffee beer, Central Perk. It has also earned multiple awards at the California Brewers Cup, cementing its place among the best breweries in the state.

Ambitious Ales is in The LAB Anti-Mall at 696 Randolph Ave. in Costa Mesa. For more information, visit ambitiousales.com, email info@ambitiousales.com.

Ambitious Ales co-founders from left to right: Jon Cuthbert, Juan Carrillo, Jerome De Leon, Garrett Carroll, and Danny Karpinski. 

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Greer's OC
Blogger | Journalist

Since 1993, Greer has been writing about fashion, dining and trends in Orange County, as a popular columnist for the Los Angeles Time Community Newspapers (Daily Pilot, Coastline Pilot and HB Independent) and now as founder of Greer’s OC.

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