Greer's OC

For a change you can indulge in chocolate without any of guilt! Come celebrate the health benefits of dark chocolate at a chocolate indulgence dinner that features organic and local seasonal ingredients at Avanti Café in Costa Mesa on Wednesday at 7:30 to 10 p.m. Host Chef Raya Belna (a local celeb raw and vegan chef), along with chef/owners Mark Cleveland and Tanya Fuqua will prepare a five-course dinner infused with chocolate for $39 per person. The courses are also vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free.

The first course begins with a raw white gazpacho shooter with bitter choco cracker, and suggested wine pair Julian hard apple cider at $4 per glass; a second course of mesquite cacao roasted corn and apricot salad with creamy pepita drizzle, suggested wine pair Marqués de Caceres Dry Rosé Spain $4 per glass. For the third course choose from a roasted organic poblano stuffed with herbed organic brown rice risotto and served with Berbere spiced sauce and toasted cacao nibs, (suggested wine pair Ercavio Tempranillo 2009 Spain $6 per glass); or summertime roasted vegetable polenta Napoleon with whole roasted garlic cloves, shallots, cherries and almonds with an organic cream sauce, lightly scented with mace and Julian hard cider chocolate garnish, (suggested wine pair Plungerhead Old Vine Zin 2010 California $6 per glass).

The fourth course features raw and vegan house made ‘cheez’ plate with sprouted almond blackberry cheez with barrel aged balsamic, oven dried organic savory and sweet strawberries, citrus roasted and chipotle chocolate dipped cippolini onion, (suggested wine pair Delas Cotes du Rhone white 2010 France $5 per glass). The fifth course is a cocoa  and quinoa waffle with chocolate mousse and red grapes served with  lightly roasted red plums stuffed with double chocolate sorbet. All wines by the bottle will be reduced 15% off; all draft beers $4 per glass.

RSVP by  calling 949.548.2224, or purchase tickets at [url=http://avantisolstice.eventbrite.com/]http://avantisolstice.eventbrite.com/[/url]

Avanti Café is at 259 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa [url=http://www.avantinatural.com]http://www.avantinatural.com[/url]

Expert Skin Care

We just discovered an esthetician worth knowing about. Robin Marie Lawrence, based in both Costa Mesa and Palm Springs, offers expert skin care therapy to clients who seek out her expertise. She has more than a dozen years experience working with plastic surgeons, however she can work magic on skin without Botox, fillers and surgical treatments.

Her specialties include skin resurfacing like DiamondTome and Dermaplaning treatments, as well as holistic chemical peels using natural products such as Vitamin A peptides, red wine vinegar distillate and acids derived from exotic lotus roots. The treatments can give your skin a healthier glow, stimulate elastic tissues beneath the surface of your skin, and lessen appearance of wrinkles.

She’s offering a special to new clients including $50 off DiamondTome and Dermaplaning treatments, 20% off all chemical peels, and 30% off all packages of four treatments.

For more information call, 949.331.3779, or visit [url=http://robinmarie.skincaretherapy.net/]http://robinmarie.skincaretherapy.net/[/url]