Casual Yet Sleek Dining at Maro Wood Grill

July 26, 2011

At the tiny Maro Wood Grill in Laguna Beach you’re in for a casual, yet sleek dining experience inside, or patio seating near a fire pit with a focus on sustainable, fresh ingredients, and simple, wood-fired cooking. Maro is a family run spot (in the former A La Carte location) with owner Maro Molteni working the wood grill, his sister Fiore Molteni serving, and Chef Debra Sims cooking up fresh organic cuisine with an Argentinean twist like baked empenadas, Argentinean pizza, and mesquite grilled meats. (The Moltenis hail from Buenos Airies). Before you go, you need to know that a…

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Indulge at the Silver Trumpet

July 22, 2011

If you still haven’t been lucky enough to indulge in the incredible flavors and seasonal dishes created by Executive Chef Robert Biebirch at the new Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar in Costa Mesa, this weekend would be the perfect time. It’s unveiling an all fresh, delicious weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Here’s a sneak peek of the menu: lemon ricotta pancakes with fresh berry syrup; crispy chicken and waffles; Southern California Benedict with roasted carnitas, fried eggs, blended salsa,  corn tortillas, queso cotija, cilantro Hollandaise and the trumpeter’s egg white omelet with farm…

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SAVOR SOUTHERN FRANCE AT PINOT PROVENCE

July 21, 2011

By Sheryll Alexander Starting this week (through Aug. 18), Pinot Provence’s newly-appointed executive chef Jason Petrie invites OC foodies to experience the rustic charm of Southern France. Yes, it’s time for Patina Group’s annual Summer in Provence series of dinners. Every Tuesday through Thursday from 5-9 p.m., Pinot Provence guests can sit on  the charming outdoor patio while Chef Petrie mans the grill and oversees the kitchen with tasting menus ranging from three to seven courses (priced between $40-$100 per person). Many of the dishes are prepared tableside while the lively patio rocks live music, French cocktails and excellent wine…

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WILD SALMON SEASON COMES TO KINGS FISH HOUSE!

July 19, 2011

By Sheryll Alexander King's Fish House, which has two OC locations at Huntington Beach’s Bella Terra Mall and near Anaheim Stadium, is now offering super fresh in-season wild Alaskan salmon. We recently taste tested some of these salmon dishes (along with excellent white wines by the glass) and we decided King’s Fish House is one of OC’s best seafood restaurants. With a menu that changes twice daily for lunch and dinner, King’s Fish House is a serious purveyor of the freshest seafood. In fact, King’s works directly with fishermen to cull seasonal seafood such as soft shell crabs (now in…

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Katsuya by Starck Opens Soon in Laguna!

June 30, 2011

By Joanne Tucker Get your chopsticks ready for a Japanese-inspired feast as Katsuya by Starck opened its doors last night for its premiere party. Located along PCH in the former hush space, Katsuya is named after Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi. This sleek, sophisticated, yet warm and comfortable restaurant was created by a world-renowned designer Philippe Starck. The restaurant opens to the public on July 8. Starck’s all-wood bento-box inspired design was simplistic, but the backlit images of Geishas gave a striking backdrop to his Japanese décor. The dramatic use of black curtains around the robata bar highlighted what Starck…

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