Greer's OC

Wild Strawberry Cafe in Newport Beach just celebrated its first year anniversary and we can’t believe we didn’t discover it sooner. Owner Natasha Kazic, originally from Montenegro, created a charming eatery with truly good food in the Design Plaza at Newport Center. The European-style café specializes in health-conscious crepes, homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and homemade pastries and baked goods. After a 100 lb. weight loss and a 40 day fast, Natasha says she found her purpose in life: to open a café to offer nutritious dishes made with less sugar, mostly gluten-free and other healthy options like almond milk and quinoa, without sacrificing flavors.  She didn’t just dream up Wild Strawberry Café’s health and nutrition concept on a whim, she’s worked as a nutrition counselor and personal training at St. Regis and the Montage, and is also a fitness instructor at Ultra Fit Club. At Wild Strawberry Cafe we recommend the Black Forest ham sandwich with honey Dijon, Muenster cheese, spinach and roasted bell peppers; the turkey sandwich with Swiss cheese, avocado, pesto aioli on French baguette; or the vegetarian sandwich with tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and sprouts served on a French baguette.

The café is off the beaten path and you’re not going to discover it easily, unless a friend tells you, you work nearby, or you read about it here.  Whether you stop by for a shot of espresso, a blueberry crepe (made with gluten-free buckwheat flour) or smoked salmon sandwich, you’ll be happy Natasha made her dream come true.

Open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. 240 Newport Center Drive #100 in Newport Beach. 949.706.0462.

Burger Bash Results

We were fortunate to judge the recent Burger Bash Tasting at the “Slide into Spring” fundraiser along with Gustavo Arellano, editor of OC Weekly and Chef Jamie Gwen in support of the Boys & Girls Club of the Harbor Area in Costa Mesa. It wasn’t as easy as it sounds, the participating chefs were some of the best in the business. But, after many slider tastings we narrowed it down and picked our winners: Best Presentation went to Blackmarket Bakery for the Sweet Slider, a chocolate whoopee pie with salt and pepper marshmallow patty torched bananas, coffee caramel and butterscotch; the B.E.L.C.H. (best enjoyed late at cocktail hour) winner went to Memphis Café’s American Bison slider with gorgonzola cheese and cranberry mayo; and the Death Row burger (last meal) went to the Golden Truffle’s confit of Berkshire pork belly slider with spicy mustard—yum! The People’s Choice winner was the Playground Burger Mini with house-aged beef, maple bourbon onions, double yolk mayo, classic lettuce and Gruyere/Fontina cheeses. The Boys & Girls Club of the Harbor Area  provides guidance and recreational program for more than 2,500 youths in Costa Mesa, Irvine and Newport Beach.

JDRF Dream Gala

It’s a premier black tie gala with a wonderful dinner and evening at the ocean front Ritz-Carlton. But for those of us connected to diabetes it’s a night where the community comes together with one mission: to raise much needed funds for those living daily with a complicated disease that’s very demanding, to improve lives of others, and to prevent future diagnosis and ultimately find a cure.

There will be a spectacular silent auction with new budding technology where you can bid on incredible designer items, trips and more; wine connoisseurs can find premier labels at its wine auction; bid on once on a lifetime experiences at the live auction, and participate JDRF's signature Fund A Cure.

Guests can stay after the gala, at “Club Imagine” and enjoy a chic lounge atmosphere with hosted cocktails, where you can relax, mingle, or dance the night away.

And imagine, after the evening when you’re driving home, or better yet staying at the Ritz-Carlton, you will have contributed to reaching a cure faster.

Tickets cost $500.

For more information, or to purchase tickets go to, https://jdrfoc.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/DreamGala2012/tabid/313244/Default.aspx