Greer's OC

After six years of serving some of the best vegetarian and organic foods in Orange County, Avanti Café in Costa Mesa celebrates by maturing from a restaurant/deli/bakery to a new full-fledged contemporary restaurant with new lunch, dinner and brunch menus; beers on tap; more room for dining, and arriving soon, live music and DJ events.

From the get go, chefs and co-owners Mark Cleveland and Tanya Fuqua created a haven for foodies (no need to be a vegetarian or vegan to love this place), where they lovingly prepare everything from scratch and serve as much organic ingredients as possible. Their produce comes exclusively from South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano.

We can’t think of a better place to find homemade organic feta, ricotta, and mascarpone; and organic whey sherbet and buttermilk béchamel. And who else smokes organic mozzarella in house? They also make hemp crackers, chutney, hot sauces, condiments (ketchup, 1000 island, mustards), as well as organic breads and bakery items. And the plates you’ll be eating off are also handmade by Mark and Tanya.

The creative pair just finished a remodel that’s as eco-friendly as possible, with sustainable black walnut and Brazilian cherry table tops hand made by Tanya’s dad; LED lighting, low VOC paint, and sleek concrete flooring.

It’s all new offerings include dinner appetizers (we love the organic polenta bites with fresh organic feta cheese), entrees as well as complex plated desserts. At dinner, they’ll start you off with a complimentary plate of hemp seed crackers with garlic spread, and tomato oil.

And we’re not trying to persuade you with your order, but you’d be crazy not to order the shiitake artichoke pizza with garnet yam, garlic shallot, baby arugula and spinach with olives and mixed nuts; or the pizza Bianca with organic ricotta and mixed cheeses, garlic shallots, baby arugula, spinach, olives, almonds and rosemary sea salt. Served at lunch ($10) and dinner ($11).

To your pizza, add incredible toppings ($1.95) that include oven roasted cherry tomatoes; miso dengaku roasted tofu, bbq tempeh, or smoked organic mozzarella, or avocado.

And definitely try the pesto pizza with spinach arugula pesto, falafel crusted onion rings, oven dried tomatoes and BBQ tempeh for dinner ($11). (Even better with organic house made ricotta cheese or smoked organic mozzarella.)

Skipping to brunch, go for the French organic omelette with fresh herbs rolled in a cheese blend served with 10-plus grain toast. Or try its eggs scrambled with arugula, spinach, served open faced on 10-plus grain toast and cumin tomato jam, organic smoked mozzarella, avocado, and organic citrus miso dressed baby greens. Equally good is our favorite cranberry walnut French toast grilled in a light coconut batter with real maple syrup and fresh fruit.

Not that you need more reasons to go to Avanti, but it's beer o'clock from 5 to 7 p.m. (select weekdays) with special prices on beers.

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Avanti Café is at 259 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa. 949.548.2224.

(Photo credit: Tristan Copeland)

Raining Cats and Kittens!

Kittens and cats are patiently waiting for a home through Huntington Beach-based Second Chance Pet Adoptions. Its darling kittens are kept at Petco and PetsMart in Huntington Beach. Currently, there’s a summer adoption fee special of $99 that includes neuter/spay, vaccinations, FVRCP/FIV testing, micro-chipping, vet check, ID tag/collar and a bag of food. It’s a great deal since their expenses exceed the adoption fee.

Petco is at 5961 Warner Ave. in Huntington Beach. 714.846.7331.

PetsMart is at 7600 Edinger Ave. in Huntington Beach. 714.842.5253.

For more information about Second Chance Pet Adoptions, call 714.715.3027.