Greer's OC

Orange County will soon land the new Twenty Eight Restaurant & Lounge in Irvine (in the former Kimera space), a fresh, modern twist to traditional Chinese cuisine helmed by Executive Chef and Partner Shirley Chung, best known from Season 11 of "Top Chef" New Orleans. The new restaurant promises to deliver a dining experience unlike any Chinese restaurant in the area with its contemporary Chinese fare focused on local ingredients and bold flavors.

Twenty Eight’s Chef Shirley Chung was formerly the Executive Chef at China Poblano by Jose Andres nominated for the Best New Restaurant Award by the James Beard Foundation in 2011. A native of Beijing, Chef Shirley Chung is trained in classic French and Italian cuisine, and has experience in famed kitchens working for Thomas Keller, Guy Savoy and Mario Batali.

Twenty Eight's menu will incorporate daily specials, as well as flavorful, modern Chinese dishes including Lobster Dumpling with Consommé, House-Cured Head Cheese & Beef Tongue, Singapore-Style Chili Lobster with Hand-Cut Noodles, Steamed Local Black Cod in Banana Leaf, Slow-Braised Ox Tail, Squid Ink Hand-Cut Noodles with Uni, 8 Treasure Rice, and Tofu Panna Cotta with Red Bean Ice Cream.

In addition to the menu of modern Chinese specialties, diners can look forward to an enticing dim sum and small plates menu, a full bar with a focus on craft cocktails, and private dining options for both large and small gatherings in the new Irvine space

Twenty Eight Restaurant & Lounge will open in August. At 19530 Jamboree Road in Irvine – adjacent to the Google offices). More information is available at twentyeightoc.

Cooking with Sur La Table

Hone your cooking skills while having fun at Sur La Table’s incredible cooking classes. Whether you’re an experienced home cook, or just want to learn something new, we guarantee you will love Sur La Table’s classes. Locally, you can take classes at one of their professional cooking kitchens at Corona del Mar Plaza, and at their South Coast Plaza store. Most classes are limited to 16 students, and last two to two and a half hours.

An example of their hands-on cooking classes available include Grilled Pizza at Corona del Mar Plaza on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Cost is $69 per person) You'll learn how to hot gourmet pizza on your own grill. The instructor will teach you how to make dough from scratch and show you secrets for forming and grilling it. With your classmates you’ll prepare a variety of toppings, from classic favorites to gourmet flavor combinations. You’ll assemble your pizza, cook them, and then, the  best part—taste testing.  

There are also kids classes, baking around the world for teens, desserts every cook should know; homemade ravioli and tortellini workshop; date night summer in Tuscany classes and much more.

Sur La Table at Corona del Mar Plaza 832 Avocado Ave. in Newport Beach; and at South Coast Plaza at 3333 Bear St., in Costa Mesa.

Reserve a spot at 800-243-0852, or go online to see the calendar and schedule here.