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

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…

Sandwiches and more at Mil Jugos

By Greer Wylder

November 03, 2009

Stuck in your usual lunchtime rut? Liven up your taste buds with some arepas and fresh fruit juices at Mil Jugos. As Orange County’s only Venezuelan restaurant, the small shop in downtown Santa Ana has been delighting locals with its humble but delicious arepas—a cornmeal pancake that’s stuffed with any number of savory meat fillings or cheese. The palm-sized pancakes are cooked on a griddle—sweet, fluffy and slightly crisp, and then split to create a little pocket sandwich. Try the pollo or chicken arepa: it’s stuffed with moist and flavorful shredded chicken, or the house special, the Pabellon, which is…

Hot Dogging It: Carm’s Coneys

By Greer Wylder

November 01, 2009

A Costco dog, this ain’t folks: Carm’s Coneys had a small cult following when it briefly opened shop in Costa Mesa, but now its new home is at the Irvine Spectrum Center. The NY-style hot dogs can now be found inside the food court, but don’t let the inconspicuous location dissuade you. Sure you can get a regular ol’ all beef dog anywhere, but Carm’s Coneys has its dogs shipped in from upstate New York, from factories that make hot dogs the old world way: with high-quality meat, no additives and no artificial colors. Try the Dirty Water Dog, aka…