Greer's OC | The latest in Orange County fashion, dining, and trends.

GREEN SPRING CLEANING!

By Greer Wylder

March 28, 2012

By Sheryll Alexander We love using green products in the kitchen and all around the house, especially for spring cleaning. This year, why not take a hands-on class in a private Laguna home with a mother of five who specializes in all things natural? Chelle Goodfriend, whom we have known for years as a caring health educator and top notch herbalist, is also a clinical aromatherapist and owner of Gaia's Garden Bath & Botanica, which offers organic, handmade, pampering and nourishing soaps and body care goodies. Now she is bringing her vast knowledge of all things natural to these private…

SEES FOR SPRING!

By Greer Wylder

March 18, 2012

Review by Sheryll Alexander Today is the first day of spring, so it’s time to think about a trip to See’s Candies for some delectable seasonal chocolates. We recently tested some of See’s newest creations and we were quite pleased with these tasty treats. First, we tried the new Orange Cream Lollypops ($5.35 for an eight-count box). How good are these creamy orange pops? “They taste like a rainbow hit your taste buds,” so says my young daughter. We also fell in love with the limited edition Easter assortment in a brightly-colored wooden box ($12.65 for 11 oz.), which includes…

ZCAFE ROCKS SOUTH COAST PLAZA!

By Greer Wylder

March 11, 2012

Review by Sheryll Alexander ZCafé has quickly become our favorite (and oh-so reasonable!) fast casual eatery in The OC. Located in the former CPK ASAP space in the Macy’s Home Store wing of South Coast Plaza, ZCafé is the first concept of its kind by beloved ZPizza founder Sid Fanarof (who is particular about using fresh, local and mostly organic ingredients!). We sat down in ZCafé’s breezy open-air lounge on low, wide sofas for a tasting of ZCafé’s menu. I started with a cold Flat Tire while my food and travel writer mother Joanne Tucker ordered up the bold house…

Mi Casa Comes to RSM!

By Greer Wylder

March 08, 2012

By Sheryll Alexander One of our favorite neighborhood Mexican joints, Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant & Bar, is set to open its second location this spring in Rancho Santa Margarita at the Plaza El Paseo shopping center. The family-owned restaurant has been a fixture on Costa Mesa’s bustling 17th Street since 1972 and this is the Moore family’s first try at expanding their “rustic-chic” Mexican concept. The 5,500 sq. ft. interior features brick accent walls, reclaimed wood and repurposed materials, flat screen TVs, a (soon to become local fave?) bar, semi-private dining rooms, an open kitchen, an original custom painting by…

A ROYAL 30 YEARS!

By Greer Wylder

March 01, 2012

By Sheryll Alexander We’ve always loved Royal Khyber Fine Indian Cuisine, so we are excited about celebrating this South Coast Plaza Village’s 30th anniversary with a $30 prix fixe dinner (which includes a glass of wine!). Proprietors Urmil and Arun Puri’s dinner special includes a choice of spicy tandoori kebabs for two, daal (lentil) soup, gourmet greens with tamarind-ginger-honey dressing or a vegetarian assortment of samosa, aloo tikki and onion bhajia. Entrée selections (served with basmati rice pilaf, vegetables and tandoori or garlic nan) feature the restaurant 's signature dish: Khyber’s Nectar (a fall-apart lamb shank braised for hours in…