Greer's OC | The latest in Orange County fashion, dining, and trends.

FIG & OLIVE NEWPORT BEACH CELEBRATES FALL

By Greer Wylder

October 27, 2015

The best of fall’s seasonal offerings take center stage in Fig & Olive’s new lunch and dinner menus featuring three new signature Crostinis (Gorgonzola, Apple, Red Marmalade Crostini), as well as appetizers, salads and entrées including Fall Vegetables Linguini – traditional linguine flavored with artichokes, sautéed cremini mushrooms, radicchio, red onions, pine nuts, parmesan, lemon zest, and artichoke cremini mushroom purée and delicious Poached Pears in Spiced Orange Juice for dessert. All dishes are complemented by founder, Laurent Halasz’s hand-picked selection of Spanish, French, and Tuscan olive oils (available in the restaurant and online). You can also choose entrées such…

Prime Time for the New Ritz Prime Seafood

By Greer Wylder

October 13, 2015

Newport’s beloved The Ritz, just opened as the reinvented The Ritz Prime Seafood in a new sleek and modern waterfront setting, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the harbor in Newport Beach. Longtime locals will remember The Ritz Restaurant that opened in the late 1970s in the 21 Oceanfront spot, and then moved to Newport Center before closing in 2014. It was THE place to go for special celebrations. With its new look, new menu, and new team helmed by LA based Grill Concepts’ Bob Spivak of The Grill on the Alley, Daily Grill, and Public School fame, The Ritz Prime Seafood…

Morning Craft Eats and Award-Winning Coffee

By Greer Wylder

October 05, 2015

Looking for a great breakfast spot with craft eats and award winning coffee? Executive Chef Greg Daniels and Executive Sous Chef Zach Scherer at Provisions Market in Old Towne Orange just launched a delicious new breakfast menu from 7 to 11 a.m. daily. Signature items include a Mediterranean Benedict with feta hollandaise, and a breakfast burrito served with freshly baked breads and muffins. You can also choose from a Monte Cristo french toast sandwich, breakfast sandwich, housemade granola, biscuits & gravy, lox & bagels, bruléed grapefruit. For a morning sweet tooth, they offer cookies, coffee cake and pound cake. Also, the restaurant has introduced two…

NEW York’s Famed Halal Guys Arrive in Costa Mesa

By Greer Wylder

September 30, 2015

The Halal Guys, New York’s food cart with a cult following, are expanding from New York to its first West Coast brick-and-mortar fast casual location opening Friday, Oct. 2 in Costa Mesa. The famed food cart is known for its gyro sandwiches, chicken-and-rice platters and delicious mystery white sauce. You can also order delicous French french fries, hummus, tahini and pita, olives and baklava. The NYC-based concept signed a deal with Fransmart known for building other popular concepts such as Five Guys, to bring 50 franchised units to Southern California. The Halal Guys grew from a modest food cart on…

Little Sparrow Flies High With New Chef

By Greer Wylder

September 28, 2015

No one wants to see a great chef leave a restaurant, especially one who made a huge mark in such a short time, but a few months ago, Little Sparrow’s chef Eric Samaniego was let go. Thanks to Samaniego culinary talents, Little Sparrow won multiple awards and was featured on Bravo’s “Best New Restaurants.” The good news is that Little Sparrow, a chic bistro in Santa Ana boasts a new ultra talented chef in charge, Melissa Ortiz, formerly Little Sparrow’s sous chef. Ortiz, an Orange County native, served 7 ½ years in the Army and while cooking for fellow soldiers…