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

Tommy Bahama Opens in Laguna

By Greer Wylder

November 01, 2010

By Joanne Tucker The laid back charm and whimsical artistic vibe of Laguna Beach is captured at Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach Bar & Grill, which invites beach goers and locals to hang out in its Hawaiian Island-inspired décor of natural wood shutters, rich oil-rubbed bronzed hardware and railings and multiple windows to let in Laguna’s gentle ocean breezes. Located in the newly-renovated 1931 landmark Heisler Building on the corner of PCH and Laguna Avenue, Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach Bar & Grill features an open air dining area and an adjacent retail store for diners to indulge in a shopping spree…

Dining Bistro le Crillon Fall Wild Game Menu

By Greer Wylder

September 28, 2010

For the first time, the acclaimed restaurant Bistro le Crillon is offering its in-season non-farmed wild game menu nightly throughout the fall. Up until now, you had to wait once a year for a Hunter’s Dinner & Cigars evening, a feast on American wild game and a selection of fine cigars. The extravagant five-course menu begins with an assorted hunter’s plate of wild boar proscuitto from San Geminiano, Italy; chef/owner Chantal Betron’s homemade terrine of wild duck with pistachio; breast of venison; and venison and wild boar salami. Guests will enjoy a second course of Chantal’s casserole of wild boar…

Serious Slurping in Anaheim

By Greer Wylder

September 12, 2010

Kappa Ramen just opened in Anaheim sporting a funky ambience in the same strip mall spot as former ramen-ya Lai Lai Ken. Kappa Ramen is a restaurant for serious slurping. Only those up on Japanese folklore will know Kappa as the mysterious water creatures with a fondness for food, mischief, sumo wrestling and of all things, good manners. It’s chef/partner Eiji Kanazawa hails from Kyoto, Japan and is a familiar face from some of Orange County’s best-known Japanese restaurants, including Genkai in Irvine and Corona Del Mar, and Japon in Lake Forest. Whether you’re a traditionalist ramen devotee or are…

Savoy for Small Plates!

By Greer Wylder

July 03, 2010

Looking for a new place to dine? The Savoy Restaurant and Lounge just opened at The Hotel Hanford, a new boutique-style hotel near South Coast Plaza. The Savoy specializes in a small plates tour of Europe created by Executive Chef Michael Carpenter, and to compliment the cuisine a private wine salon and tasting room is due to open late summer with an award-winning selection from Sodaro Estate Winery, as well as select wines from Napa Valley’s Coombsville region. A sample of the Savoy Restaurant menu includes a trio of tempura shrimp, seared ahi tuna and baked sea scallop; spicy tuna,…

Taste Test

By Greer Wylder

May 24, 2010

OK, so it didn’t happen overnight, but good things are worth waiting for. It took Fleming’s one-year of tasting, testing and perfecting more than 50 additions (where can we get a job like that?) before narrowing it down to eight new menu offerings. And now, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse has added smaller portion sizes, healthier options, at accessible prices. Fleming’s enlisted two culinary experts, LA-based Chef Jamie Gwen and Tampa-based Chef Jeannie Pierola to create two new innovative steak dishes, deemed New Classics. Chef Jamie Gwen created a porcini-rubbed filet mignon, reinventing the classic pairing of blue cheese and filet mignon.…