AMAZING ANDREI’S

March 03, 2011

Review by Joanne Tucker If you haven’t yet discovered Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails, maybe now is the time to taste French-born chef Yves Fourneir’s delectable menu, which is prepared from the freshest local and organically grown produce as well as naturally raised meats and sustainable seafood. Located in the heart of Irvine’s business district on the corner of Main Street and Jamboree Boulevard, Andrei’s is not at all like the green business you may imagine. First off, the two-story space is decked out in almost unbelievable marble with an awe-inspiring waterfall in the first-floor foyer. Upstairs in the bar…

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SAPORI RISTORANTE FOR AUTHENTIC ITALIAN

February 09, 2011

Review by Sheryll Alexander Seeking a new favorite spot to enjoy authentic Italian? Sapori Ristorante in Newport Beach may have modern Euro décor, but the food is pure old world Italy. And that’s a very good thing. Located on Bayside Drive near Balboa Island, Sapori has been a bright spot in OC’s dining scene for 22 years. Chef and proprietor Salvatori “Sal” Maniaci, along with his top notch service staff, is an affable host and aims to please the palate as well as the spirit. Sal soothes the soul within this casual, yet sophisticated space with white tablecloths, French café…

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ANDREI’S FOR A GREEN VALENTINE’S DAY

February 08, 2011

By Sheryll Alexander Want to go green this Valentine’s Day? Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine in Irvine serves up organic and sustainable seafood and meats along with hand-crafted cocktails, award-winning wines and live music. Available from Friday, Feb. 11 through Monday, Feb. 14 (excluding Sunday), Andrei’s gives each female guest a long-stemmed red rose upon arrival. Chef Yves Fournier’s regular menu is available as well as special dishes such as crispy jumbo shrimp, Carlsbad clams, a lamb tasting, a signature surf-and-turf combo and a chocolat à deux dessert for two. Andrei’s also has a special “A List” of wines by the bottle…

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BEACH PIT BBQ, CHEF JOE AND THE BACON SANDWICH

February 04, 2011

Review By Sheryll Alexander What happens when you take an already good barbecue restaurant and let a fine dining chef tweak the menu? Pure country goodness, my friend. Yep, Beach Pit BBQ owner Tim DeCinces and former Savannah Chop House and Chat Noir Chef Joe Youkhan (who now has a mobile gourmet food truck in The Wooden Spoon OC) have teamed up to overhaul the menu from top to bottom and to create some new menu items for the Beach Pit’s six OC locations. First up on the new menu is the bacon sandwich. No, we are not talking BLT…

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CLANCY’S CLUBHOUSE FOR TRUE COMFORT FOOD

February 03, 2011

Review by Sheryll Alexander Sitting amongst a sea of corporate restaurants in Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort district, Clancy’s Clubhouse is a rare and beautiful thing. Owned by longtime OC resident Cheryl Clancy, this sports bar and restaurant offers a casual place to watch the game, to drink some brews, to play billiards and to eat real American comfort food at reasonable prices. Just opened this summer, Clancy’s Clubhouse was built to take advantage of the nearby Disney tourist and convention traffic, but is really out to please the locals. My beefy husband, who is a fan to most any sports bar,…

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