Greer's OC

If redefining Super Bowl Sunday without football speaks to you, then head over to Rustica at Fashion Island, where Executive Chef Renieri Caceres is creating a three-course tasting menu Sunday with complimentary mimosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice or housemade bloody mary for $23 per guest (prices exclude tax and gratuity).

The Fashion Island bistro will offer the special from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (giving you the option to come early and still enjoy the game). In addition, the restaurant is presenting Champagne and wine specials by the glass priced at $6 to $10.

As with all items at Rustica California Wine Bistro, the menu focuses on contemporary regional cuisine such as wild mushroom truffle flatbread and honey-lavender homemade frozen yogurt created with a commitment to quality, handcrafted ingredients and products. Chef Ren showcases fresh, seasonal produce and farm-raised meats.

The Super Bowl Sunday tasting menu starts with a mimosa, fresh-squeezed orange juice, or Bloody Mary. Then enjoy a tasting of ahi tuna tartare with cucumbers, toasted hazelnuts, lemon oil; or wild mushroom truffle flatbread; wild mushrooms, urbani truffle butter, spinach ricotta spread, pecorino; or vegetarian squash soup with acorn, butternut and kabocha squash, and candied pecans.

Next it’s your choice of golden beets salad, with goat cheese, wild arugula, polenta nuggets, aged balsamic reduction; or grilled free range chicken breast sandwich with olive tapenade spread, roasted piquillo peppers, wild arugula, fontina cheese; or chopped hanger steak cobb, buttermilk bleu cheese, bacon, and farm fresh egg.

For dessert choose from homemade honey lavendar frozen yogurt, or orange cheesecake lollipops coated with milk chocolate. (Sorry, no substitutions, or split plates.)

Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with last seating at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations can be made by calling 949.706.8282. Rustica is in Fashion Island in Newport Beach (1133 Newport Center Drive, on the second level next to Nordstrom). For more information, visit www.rusticafashionisland.com.