Greer's OC

Executive Chef Pascal Lorange at Fig & Olive in Newport Beach is all about the best olive oils and cuisine from the Mediterranean region. With each season he rolls out new menu items to reflect the freshest tastes available and is also introducing a cooking class on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. to share his tips and tricks for autumn inspired dishes.

The latest fall menu items include a delicious trio of crostinis: grilled vegetable, ricotta olive tapenade; heirloom carrot, charmoula, carrot tapenade; and pata negra, tomato, and peach ricotta spread.
And new fall inspired dishes include a provencal carrot and thyme soup; crab cake; beet carpaccio and burrata; lobster sandwich; grilled vegetable spaghetti; pumpkin sage ravioli; branzino; côte de boeuf; and caramelized brussels sprouts and cipollini onion.

The Fig & Olive cooking class menu will be comprised of:

Pumpkin Sage Ravioli – Free range chicken, ricotta and charmoula, pumpkin olive oil emulsion, toasted pumpkin seeds, parmesan, and aged balsamic; Frantoio Olive, Crab & Heirloom Tomato Salad – Jumbo lump crab, heirloom cherry tomato, garlic, cilantro, shallot, harissa, and avocado basil tapenade – Picholine Olive Oil; and finsish with a Creme Brulée Cheesecake – Olive oil crisp with caramelized peaches

Attendees will work under the supervision of Lorange as they follow along step-by-step preparing each dish. Lorange will share his philosophy on cooking with olive oil as well as culinary techniques for the home cook. Afterwards, you can toast to the afternoon with a Piscine Cocktail, composed of sparkling wine and organic strawberries, while enjoying the dishes.

Limited availability and the cost is $85 per person. You can RSVP at cookingclass@figandolive.com

Fig & Olive is at 151 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach. 949.877.3005.

Project Hope Alliance “Anti-Gala”

You can join Project Hope Alliance’s mission to end homelessness in Orange County at “The Anti-Gala” hosted at A Restaurant on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 6-10 pm. Guests will enjoy fabulous drinks and appetizers from A Restaurant’s talented culinary team while celebrating the launch of PHA’s latest #DareToCare campaign.

The year-long #DareToCare campaign not only encourages the local community to share why we care about homelessness, but allows everyone to challenge each other to be a part of the solution!

Tickets to the Anti-Gala are available for $150 per person at projecthopealliance.org/DareToCare, with all proceeds directly benefitting Project Hope Alliance.

A Restaurant is at 3334 Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. 949.650.6505