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Another year has come and gone, and with it 52 weeks of memorable dining excursions. Of course, some are more memorable than others, which brings me to my annual list of my favorite Newport Beach culinary experiences of 2018. I dine out multiple times a week at all sorts of...

Some people get into the holiday spirit by shopping for presents or decorating a tree. For me, it’s seeing a holiday-themed show. Last weekend, I got a double dose of seasonal cheer when I took my friend Della to see ABT’s “The Nutcracker” at Segerstrom Center on Friday night,...

Newport Beach’s annual holiday “postcard to the world,” the Christmas Boat Parade, kicked off its five-day voyage on Wednesday, Dec. 19 with a fireworks display from the Newport Pier followed by a parade of elaborately decorated yachts, sailboats and small electric boats that...

South Coast Rep has its “Christmas Carol” and Segerstrom Center has its “Nutcracker,” but Laguna Playhouse has established a holiday tradition of its own with its annual presentation of an elaborate “panto” courtesy of Lythgoe Family Panto. Panto, short for Pantomime, is a...

It’s not easy to picture Wahoo’s Fish Taco co-founder Wing Lam of Newport Beach trading surf and sand for the sidewalks of New York, but that’s exactly what he and his brother Mingo Lee did in October when they were invited to host a dinner at the revered James Beard House in New...

  Balboa Bay Resort transformed itself several years ago when First Cabin restaurant converted into Waterline with new décor and a new menu. The former Duke’s Place lounge morphed into A&O (Anchors and Oceans) with an all new look, including custom firepits on the patio....

“What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary.” “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” “Hot dog!”...

The phrase “farm-to-fork” has become somewhat of a cliché in the restaurant industry, but for Rich Mead, owner and executive chef of Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, farm-to-fork has been his trademark at all of his restaurants for the past 20 years. “In 1998 I decided to begin...

Some 15 years ago, I attended events at the old Pelican Hill Country Club, which as I recall had a small but charming patio with a water fountain, and a nondescript ballroom that held maybe 250 guests for dinner. Imagine my surprise the first time I visited the new Resort at...

Everything old is new again at the Balboa Island Museum, because the museum and its historical artifacts and displays have left their cozy cottage on Marine Avenue and moved down the street to a new home. The Balboa Island Museum and Historical Society has tripled in size thanks...

  It’s always rewarding to see local chefs cooking for charity, which is why the inaugural Chef Masters benefiting Alzheimer’s Family Center – held at the Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach on October 28 and attended by 375 guests – was such a success. More than 30...

Hard to believe it’s been 10 years since The Resort at Pelican Hill opened its doors to the public, unveiling an Italian Renaissance-inspired seaside village that has welcomed guests from around the world and within our local community. Pelican Hill Resort is consistently ranked...

After more than 50 years in Newport Beach, the Orange County Museum of Art closed its doors and moved a few miles down the road to South Coast Plaza Village, where its current – make that temporary – exhibit space opened this month. I said temporary, because while the new space...

Whether you’re enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving feast with friends or a special holiday dinner at a fancy restaurant, you can make your meal even better by pairing food with the perfect wine. Wine is also a wonderful gift to give your host, your boss, or your spouse. But what...

This has been a busy and exciting year for the Orange County Museum of Art. The nonprofit organization sold its Fashion Island property and moved out of its longtime home, unveiled dazzling designs for its new facility to be build at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and moved...

Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens has been open just over two years, and the restaurant appears to be as popular as ever. Of course, when you have a lovely setting at Roger’s Gardens and a culinary expert in Farmhouse owner/chef Rich Mead (formerly of Sage and Sage on the Coast...

I have been a Lady Gaga fan since her first album and initial appearance on Saturday Night Live back in 2009. I have all her albums and have seen her live twice, most recently at The Forum last December when I was about 20 feet from the stage. I’m also gaga about Olea restaurant,...

Cannery Restaurant Hits Grand Slam The World Series is almost over, but The Cannery Restaurant plans to continue baseball season into the New Year. In fact, the restaurant has hit a grand slam with its 15th annual Hot Stove League Dinner Series hosted by Cannery Seafood of the...

In December 1998, restaurateurs Paul Fleming and Bill Allen opened the first Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. Two decades later, Fleming’s now has 70 locations nationwide.  Also in December of 1998, Gregg Schwenk and Todd Quartararo...

Chefs love fall. It’s the time of year when they transition out of summer menus and create a bevy of new dishes with produce that’s come into season. Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla certainly loves fall. She just unveiled her new seasonal menu, and it’s loaded with a culinary...