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

Time Is Now for Good Wine

By Greer Wylder

November 20, 2009

By Ian Blackburn In France, wine is made with an anticipation that it will improve in the bottle over time. This works out well in France, as it has a much cooler climate than we do. In France, there is a built-in “patience” in the consumer that has been cultivated over generations and many old citizens own a home that has a wine storage cave or family wine cellar. Here in California, “the immediate gratification culture” has it made. The warmer climate and growing conditions mature our fruit differently. Making wines in the French model didn’t always produce the…

Breakfast with a twist

By Greer Wylder

November 20, 2009

Because it’s nice to be able to have more than just regular ol’ bacon and eggs for breakfast, there’s Break of Dawn. At the Laguna Hills eatery, Chef Dee Nguyen has developed a cult following for elegant offerings like the creme brulee French toast—fat slices of egg-dipped bread in a pool of Mexican chocolate and coconut custard. Then there’s eggs tempura, perfectly poached eggs that are then dipped in tempura batter and then fried. Eggs Benedict are given an updated twist with a pesto hollandaise and of course, there’s a cinnamon sticky bun that’s baked in a cast-iron skillet. Sounds…

Tri-cultural delight

By Greer Wylder

November 19, 2009

What happens when you have a melding of Japanese, French and Italian cuisine? For starters, there’s sea urchin spaghetti. Osso Bucco with Wagyu beef. Tuna tataki with buffalo mozzarella. At Cafe Hiro in Cypress, chef Hiro Ohiwa has been charming diners for years with his quirkily wonderful (and reasonably-priced!) fare. The small restaurant is adorned with cheerful decor, perfect for a casual date or fun gathering with friends. Don’t forget to save room for the fantastic desserts: the panna cotta, a silky custard that’s not too sweet and studded with fresh berries and the walnut creme brulee is a standout,…

Hidden treasures of the sea

By Greer Wylder

November 12, 2009

Local foodies—from Chowhound to OC Weekly’s Edwin Goei—have quietly been hailing Mariscos Puerto Esperanza in Orange as one of the best Mexican seafood restaurants around. The family-owned eatery is hidden in a strip plaza and may be a bit hard to find (it’s behind the Chevron gas station), but once you find it, you’ll be rewarded with a bounty of deliciousness from the sea: Grilled rock lobsters in a smoky chipotle sauce, marinated whole striped bass that’s slowly grilled to perfection, calamari tacos, and another must-try: the camarones azados, grilled shrimp slathered in a delectable citrus mustard sauce. Mariscos Puerto…

The dish on Asian Tapas

By Greer Wylder

November 10, 2009

The name of the restaurant pretty much says it all: Asian Tapas. The new eatery in Irvine offers pan-Asian takes on the Spanish name for small plates. Choose from nearly 40 different small dishes, ranging from popcorn chicken and dumplings to salt and pepper pork ribs and scallion pancakes, all ranging from $2 to $9 each. The house special is Beijing’s most famous dish, Peking Duck ($35), which takes 24 hours to prepare. The finished product is a beautifully roasted duck with crispy and flavorfully marinaded skin. Look for weekday $2 to $3.50 Happy Hour specials from 5 p.m. to…