QUA Debuts Afternoon Tea With a Chinese Twist

QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine is putting its own spin on one of the world's most beloved dining rituals with the debut of Afternoon Tea at QUA, a new seasonal experience inspired by the flavors of Chợ Lớn and the tradition of slowing down over tea and food with the people who matter most. The experience pairs a tiered presentation of Chinese-inspired sweets and savory bites with a pot of tea to share, available exclusively on QUA's open-air patio.

The idea comes from Kei Concepts co-CEO Ivy Ha, whose own love of afternoon tea inspired the new offering.

"Afternoon tea has always felt like permission to slow down," said Ha. "You're not rushing through a meal or moving on to the next thing. You're sitting, talking, and enjoying the people you're with. I've hosted tea at home with my friends and our kids, and those are some of my favorite memories. When we created QUA, I wanted to bring that same feeling here and express it through our food and culture."

Rather than replicate a traditional English afternoon tea, QUA's culinary team spent months developing an experience rooted in the restaurant's Chinese identity while keeping the sense of occasion tied to tea service. With no established format to follow, the team built the menu from scratch, including pastries made in house specifically for the experience, while sourcing teas and tableware and weighing each element of the presentation together. The result puts as much emphasis on the quality and craftsmanship of the food as it does on the setting.

Served on a traditional tiered stand, the menu opens with sweets including mango sago pudding, egg tarts, black sesame cookies and fresh fruit. Savory selections include vegetable crudité with whipped tofu and chili crunch, honey walnut shrimp youtiao, barbecue pork puff pastries and tea egg sandwiches, along with siu mai. Each tea service includes one pot to share, with herbal, green, black and oolong options available. Mimosas are $12 per glass.

Afternoon Tea at QUA is available Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The experience is $45 per person with a two person minimum. A children's option is available for an additional $10 and includes red bean panda bao, taro snow bunny bao and apple juice, making it something parents can enjoy alongside their kids.

The September menu marks the first version of Afternoon Tea at QUA, with the food, tea and presentation set to evolve seasonally throughout the year to reflect different celebrations, ingredients and occasions.

Each iteration offers guests a new way to gather at QUA, creating a daytime tradition that invites them to discover a new experience each season. Reservations can be made online.

16121 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley.

ENC Wine Walk Returns to Support Environmental Education

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is teaming up with Hi-Time Wine Cellars for an afternoon of wine tasting on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m., with proceeds benefiting local environmental education programs.

Guests will wander the ENC's scenic trails, stopping at tasting stations along the way to sample pours from more than two dozen wineries, including 1853 Old Vine Estate, Ameri, Bigi, Castello di Querceto, Domaine Bousquet, Marcelo Pelleriti, Tenuta Rocca, Wente, Gaia, Rotari, Stemmari and Val d'Oca. Small bites will be served throughout the walk, and Balboa Island guitarist Matt Hurray will provide live instrumental surf music, bringing a taste of Southern California's classic surf sound to the afternoon.

Cap off the walk at the firepit with dessert and a cup of Kean Coffee. Before the event, don't miss the online silent auction, running Sept. 22-27, featuring one of a kind experiences, local goods and more. Proceeds from both the Wine Walk and the auction go directly toward the ENC's environmental education programs for children and families.

Tickets are $115 per person and include tastings, bites and entertainment. Wines poured at the event will be available for purchase through Hi-Time Wine Cellars, with pickup at their Costa Mesa store after the event.

Tickets are limited, and this event is expected to sell out. Reserve your spot at encenter.org.

To contribute to the online auction, visit encenter.org/wine-walk-auction-donation.

Questions can be directed to Lori Whalen at lori@encenter.org.

SAVOR 2026: A Night for Literacy

Mark your calendars, because one of the most beautiful nights of the fall season is coming back to Newport Beach. "SAVOR 2026," the signature fundraiser benefiting The Literacy Project, returns to Newport Beach Country Club on Friday, Oct. 2, for an evening that blends the elegance of a Napa wine country escape with a cause close to our hearts here in OC.

Set against the club's picturesque outdoor garden, the evening opens with a cocktail reception like no other. Think a curated collection of luxury automobiles from distinguished private collections parked alongside a fine art exhibition, all while you sip and mingle in the golden hour light. As the sun sets and the bistro lights flicker on, the celebration shifts into an elegant farm-to-table dinner in the garden, the kind of evening where good food, good company and a beautiful setting come together for something that feels genuinely meaningful.

This year's honorees include Erin Anderson, president, CEO and founder of the A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation; Kathy Simon-Abels of the Ronald M. Simon Family Foundation board of directors; and Julie Ann and Jim Ulcickas, the proprietors behind Blue Water Grill Restaurants. All three have made a lasting impact on our community, and this night is as much about celebrating them as it is about the kids the evening ultimately supports.

At its core, SAVOR is a fundraiser with real stakes. The Literacy Project works to break the cycle of functional illiteracy among students who are struggling with reading, giving underserved children a shot at thriving academically, emotionally and in life. These kids walk away with essential phonetic skills, a new sense of self-confidence and, hopefully, a lifelong love of reading. It is hard to think of a more worthy cause.

The evening runs Friday, Oct. 2, starting at 5 p.m. at Newport Beach Country Club.

From 5 to 6:30 p.m., guests can:

• Browse an exceptional collection of luxury automobiles from private collections
• Stroll the art gallery garden, featuring a live artist demonstration presented by Ethos Art
• Enter a premier opportunity drawing
• Take in a performance by virtuoso violinist Ron Kao

From 6:30 to 10 p.m., the evening continues with:

• A farm-to-table dinner in the elegant outdoor garden
• Stories from the four honorees' personal and professional journeys
• A world-class live auction with exclusive packages up for bid

Tickets are $300 per person, with sponsor tables of eight available for $2,400. Sponsorships range from $100 to $20,000, with something available at every level.

Get your tickets here: theliteracyproject-savor2026

Learn more about The Literacy Project at literacyproj.org