Greer's OC

You are in for an Italian culinary treat. One of OC’s most accomplished chefs, Franco Barone, former executive chef of Antonello for nearly 20 years, and his wife Donatella are hosting their first wine dinner, July 27 at 6 p.m. at their namesake Barone Ristorante in Newport Beach. You can taste his Old World meets modern Italian culinary creations paired with Mission Wine Company wines from Ciro Cirillo. Space is limited,  and the wine dinner is priced at just $65 per person, all inclusive.

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The dinner starts with assaggini, a selection of antipasto, thin slices of cured swordfish, drizzled with orange, citrus mustard vinaigrette topped with baby greens, and paired with a glass of Falanchina. Next dish,  homemade thin pasta twills in a old fashion lamb ragú paired with Sangiovese Puglia. The second course, thin pounded medallions of beef tenderloin rolled with Parma prosciutto, provolone cheese, pine nuts bread crumbs and fresh herbs in a garlic white wine tomato sauce, paired with La Cattura. For dessert, fresh peaches and vanilla custard tarts served with caramel sauce and vanilla gelato, paired with Moscato d’Asti.

If you can’t make the wine dinner, you must stop in for lunch or dinner. Il Barone, a hidden gem, is one of our favorite Italian restaurants. From the kitchen you can taste Donatella’s mother’s recipes, like her breadsticks, and cannelloni di Mamma Giovanna, homemade crepes, braised beef and veal, tomato, mozzarella, and parmigiano ($15) and Chef Franco’s homemade pastas and family tradition classics. You must try the grilled octopus salad with celery, red onions, arugula and lemon ($10); the homemade pasta twills in delicate rabbit ragu ($14); and the tasty vitello al vapore, veal scaloppini, steamed in a clay pot wit lemon juice and herbs.  And save room for Barone’s desserts: layered chocolate mousse sponge cake with raspberry sauce, and ricotta and mascarapone cheesecake, raisins cooked in mosto sauce.

Open from lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday; dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. open for dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. 251 Martingale Way in Newport Beach. 949.955.2755.

Win A Free Night Stay!

What better way to enjoy summer than a wine tasting right here in OC? This Thursday the St. Regis Monarch Beach is hosting The STARS of Paso Robles and BBQ featuring over $4000 worth of wine and 5-star BBQ.  Thanks to our friends at DealPerk.com, you can purchase tickets for only $50 each (that’s a $100 value!) and those that purchase two tickets are entered to win a Free Night Stay at the St. Regis!  Only 50 tickets are available for the event from 7-9:30 p.m. on July 15.

The top Paso Robles wine producers hope to share their amazing wines with Orange County residents in Dana Point at the event hosted by LearnAboutWine.  While enjoying finger-licking BBQ, be sure to look at the silent auction items as all proceeds benefit the TJ Martell Foundation for Cancer and Aids Research.

St. Regis Monarch Beach, One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point.