Congrats to Tabu Grill! Best Poke Winner

June 10, 2013

At the 2nd annual I Love Poke Festival, a food festival and restaurant competition at Don the Beachcomber, 400 poke enthusiasts came out to celebrate the Hawaiian delicacy, lifestyle and culture with foods, live music and chefs completion for  “Best Poke.” And the winners were…   Ist - Tabu Grill in Laguna Beach, Chef Rayne Frey “Best Poke” title. He made two different versions, classic ahi poke with pickled red onions; and wakame, ahi poke with sesame seeds, in their house poke dressing.        2nd - Stadium Brewing Co. in Aliso Viejo, Chef Renato Sampaga Three different versions were served: A…

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Grown Up Style HopScotch

May 21, 2013

HopScotch, a watering hole specializing in craft beer, small batch whiskey and chef driven food in Fullerton’s original Pacific Electric Railway Station just launched a new “Social Hour” menu. Now you can stop by the tavern housed in a California landmark from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and enjoy $2 off all draft craft beers from a rotating collection of 23 taps, $4 well cocktails, and $2 off their choice of seasonal crafted cocktails. Also, select appetizers are available at special prices, including sweet potato fritters, hop salads, brisket tacos, and spicy cheese and chips for $4, and…

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Mini But Mighty Bar

May 21, 2013

Orange County’s newest martini and small plates eatery Microbar, just opened at Mercantile West shopping center in Ladera Ranch. Microbar, from the same owner of the popular Pizza e Vino in Rancho Santa Margarita, offers seasonal small plates with influences from Spain and Italy and all seafood is wild, and beef is grass fed and hormone free. Microbar's Chef Brad Robison’s specialties include proscuitto wrapped dates, burrata with roasted tomatoes with balsamic reduction, olive oil and basil; shrimp wontons; bone marrow with crostini, maldon salt and roasted garlic; and pan-fried oysters with Asian greens and Cajun remoulade. Heartier plates includes…

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Dinner with Picasso at the Ritz-Carlton

May 13, 2013

Art enthusiasts can enjoy an exclusive opportunity to experience Dinner with Picasso at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel on Friday, May 17. This evening is open to members of The Ritz-Carlton Rewards program that only takes about two seconds to join here and it’s free.  Members will accrue either points or airline miles – along with luxury promotions and advantages. Fifteen Picassos will be displayed together as a collection for the first time during the exclusive dinner event available only to Ritz-Carlton Rewards members. The evening includes an overnight ocean view accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel; cocktail reception for two;…

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Late Night with the Yard House

March 18, 2013

Where to eat late in Orange County? The Yard House just came to the rescue with its new Eat Late menu, served only after 10 p.m. featuring tasty dishes created by Executive Chef Carlito Jocson. Yard House’s Eat Late menu, inspired by affordable, urban street food, takes care of late night cravings including a Black Truffle Cheeseburger, a natural beef patty grilled and topped with house-made truffle cheese, tomato bacon jam and placed on a potato bun ($7.95); a Pastrami Dog (pictured above), an all-beef hot dog topped with thin slices of pastrami, yellow horseradish mustard and fried green cabbage…

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