Greer's OC

It’s already been a banner year for Portola Coffee Lab, which opened its flagship location at the OC Mix in Costa Mesa four years ago—it’s opening four new Orange County locations and it was just named 2015 Micro Roaster of the Year from Roast Magazine.

Today marks the first of four new Portola Coffee Lab openings, as Union Market at The District at Tustin Legacy celebrates its new location.

Founders and owners, Jeff and Christa Duggan continue to focus on creating a 100% single-cup craft brew coffeehouse designed and constructed as a nod to craft, quality, and freshness.

The next three Portola Coffee Labs projects are at 4th Street Market in Downtown Santa Ana Artists Village (opening Monday, February 16); Provisions Market in Old Towne Orange (opening late February); and at Union Market at Kaleidoscope Center in Mission Viejo (opening summer).

“When we opened, achieving quality meant slowing down and focusing on ingredients. Today, we are fortunate that, thanks to technology and technique, the line between speed and quality is starting to blur, making it possible for us to extend our reach in the region,” said Jeff Duggan.

Portola Coffee Lab also is focused on offering some of the highest quality coffee beans in the world. Duggan has achieved an amazing direct trade coffee program in just a few short years.

“While we have gained access to some of the best coffees in the world, the fact of the matter is our work will never be done.  However, with greater buying power, we will be able to source and support the producers in ways we were unable to prior based on the small quantities we were purchasing,” added Duggan. “With more stores, we will not only see more unique coffees, but coffees from regions we have not directly purchased from before.”

Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Portola Coffee Lab at Union Market, 2493 Park Avenue in Tustin.

Valentine's Day at Balboa Bay Resort

You can celebrate this Valentine's Day with your loved one at The Balboa Bay Club & Resort with special dining, spa and resort accommodations. The options are endless, from a romantic Duffy boat ride with a wine and cheese picnic, a romantic waterfront dining experience at Waterline, a mimosa Champagne sugar scrub at the spa, to even watching a sunset view from the balcony of your room to end the evening. 

Waterline’s Chef Vincent Lesage is offering a special five-course Valentine’s Day dinner on Friday, February 13 or Saturday, February 14 from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

It starts with a bread service of assorted grissini, trio of dip, hot cold and spicy; and then a beef tartar roll (to share) with Caesar aioli, soy paper, cucumber, radishes, egg cremeux. 

The next course is a Scallop Soup oyster tartar, ginger, bay scallops; and then a turbot caviar, sea bean salad, baby fennel, and shellfish foam. The fourth course is a  rack of lamb with goat cheese gnocchi, piquillo pepper pure, zucchini blossom.

For dessert, Pastry chef, Brooke Martin is making a delicious Chocolate Amaretto Cremeux toasted almond, morello cherry gel and Mignardise. 

Reservations required. $82 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

For details on spa packages, visit here, and for events, visit here.

Balboa Bay Resort is at 1221 West Coast Highway in Newport Beach.