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

Native Flavors!

By Greer Wylder

February 03, 2012

Native Foods Café is on a mission to expand across the country while making a light environmental footprint, but a big impact on flavor. The famed vegan café, which first opened in Palm Springs in 1994, just opened at Fashion Island in the Island Terrace, next to Island Cinema. With 30 more locations in the works, it’s well on its way to becoming the first fast-casual vegan chain to go national. The chain serves vegan chef Tanya Petrovna’s original recipes all made-to-order in less than ten minutes for under $10. The Native Foods Cafe menu satisfies even non-vegans. It serves…

Welcome to the Jungle!

By Greer Wylder

February 03, 2012

Pita Jungle, the newest restaurant in Newport Beach dedicated to the art of eating healthy specializes in made from scratch Mediterranean dishes with a twist. The Arizona based award-winning eatery is already a local favorite for those looking for a sit-down health conscious restaurant with fair prices, and a full bar. We’re loving the artistic hip interior, from the glazed concrete flooring, exposed white ceiling, repurposed table stands, to the second-hand chairs and stunning resin art panel. (It’s hard to believe this once housed a Blockbuster Video store.) The extensive menu covers special diets like vegan and vegetarian options, and…

Flyaway to the Kitchen

By Greer Wylder

January 04, 2012

Local travelers flying in and out of John Wayne Airport can now dine at Javier's new concept restaurant, Javi's, and the first Anaheim Ducks Breakaway Bar & Grill in the new Terminal C Marketplace. Javi's will offer fresh seafood and regional dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including fresh salsa and tortillas. Popular favorites like nachos, quesadillas and taquitos are also offered. Javi's has a Baja-resort ambience with a tequila tree featuring 25 premium tequilas. The Anaheim Ducks Breakaway Bar & Grill is ideal for sports fans with its memorabilia and flat screen TV’s showing game highlights. The menu…

The Taste of Winter at Seasons 52

By Greer Wylder

December 23, 2011

Seasons 52, the fresh grill and wine bar restaurant at South Coast Plaza just debuted a new winter menu inspired by abundant ingredients of the season. At the eatery, you can enjoy wood-fire grilled, brick oven cooked, and roasted specialties like like venison chops and a farmer’s market veggie plate (none over 475 calories), sip a glass of one of the 60 wines available by the glass, and enjoy piano music in the evenings. Chef Tim Kast is preparing an organic tomato stack salad with arugula, blue cheese, chopped bacon and a balsamic glaze; and grilled venison chop on venison…

Peri-Peri Delicious!

By Greer Wylder

December 14, 2011

Fans of Mozambique in Laguna Beach can now dine at its newly opened sister restaurant at The Bluffs in Newport Beach. Mozambique Peri-Peri is a new concept serving many of the same dishes as its original restaurant, but in smaller portions and in a casual dining atmosphere. (It’s named after Peri-Peri, a red pepper used in many African and Portugese dishes.) The menu includes starters such as vegetarian or beef samosas served with cilantro aioli, grilled prawns and chicken pops (marinated chicken served with Asian slaw and Peri-Peri sauce.) Or choose from delicious curry bowls, wraps, or grilled items including a steak sandwich with grilled onions, lettuce, tomato…