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

Crawfish Boil at Memphis at the Santora

By Greer Wylder

November 02, 2011

We were fortunate enough to taste test Executive Chef Diego Velasco’s new Louisiana style feast, the Memphis Crawfish Boil recently at Memphis at the Santora in Downtown Santa Ana. It’s a new southern dinner that’s ideal for groups of 8 to 20. Just book a reservation one week in advance, arrive hungry and enjoy $1.5 lbs of fresh crawfish, smoked sausage, corn, potatoes, cornbread muffins, salad and one Dixie Lager per person all served on traditional butcher paper. To add to the ambience, New Orleans jazz and zydeco tunes will be playing during the southern feast. The meal costs $30…

SAVE SCIENCE AT FALL FLINGO!

By Greer Wylder

November 01, 2011

By Sheryll Alexander Did you know Newport Mesa’s award-winning Kaiser & Woodland schools no longer have funding for science programs? You can do something about it by attending Kaiser & Woodland Schools Foundation’s “Save Our Science” Fall Flingo. Held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Newport Harbor Drivers Club (729 Farad St. Costa Mesa), Fall Flingo costs $45 per person and includes a no-host cocktail reception, music provided by DJ Craig, a four-course, French-themed dinner catered by Irvine Ranch Market, bingo games orchestrated by an entertaining host and a Texas Hold ‘Em-style poker tournament. In addition, the silent…

ROYAL HAWAIIAN BRUNCH!

By Greer Wylder

October 25, 2011

By Sheryll Alexander North Laguna is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely Saturday or Sunday morning and the historic Royal Hawaiian restaurant makes the weekend journey even better. On a recent visit one foggy Saturday morning, we passed right by the way-too-crowded The Cottage and the way-too-swanky Las Brisas. Just across from the Laguna Art Museum on the beach side of PCH, Royal Hawaiian beckoned with its quiet interior and totally unpretentious dining room. Once no more than a beach bungalow in the 1940s, The Royal Hawaiian has been completely remodeled (and without too much tiki kitsch) as a…

DRINK PINK AT FLEMINGS!

By Greer Wylder

October 06, 2011

By Sheryll Alexander October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month is here and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is once again helping to raise funds with a 99-calorie cocktail, The Stiletto (recipe below), for just $6 with all proceeds benefiting The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. As part of this month’s signature cocktail during the daily 5 for $6 til 7 (with five appetizers, five cocktails and five wines for $6 until 7 PM), the rose-hued Stiletto highlights how Fleming’s and its guests can easily and deliciously support The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Fleming’s has also added Cline Cashmere, a Napa Valley Rhône-style red, to the “5 for $6 ‘til 7”…

Gluten-free at Pelican Hill!

By Greer Wylder

September 23, 2011

Considering how it seems like food allergies are so prevalent, we’re always on the lookout for menus that cater to special diets. So we just found out that Chef Luca Cesarini at Andrea at Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach has introduced a new gluten-free menu. The dishes include pastas made from flour alternatives, such as corn, chick peas, rice, soy and flax-seed bases. The items available at lunch Wednesday through Sunday and at dinner daily. Gluten-free options include potato gnocchi, with butternut squash and wild mushrooms; rigatoni with roasted eggplant, tomato, basil and pine nuts; saffron spaghetti with seafood…