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The restaurant industry can be a fickle business. Trends come and go, and longevity is always in doubt. So when a restaurant not only survives for a decade but continues to thrive, that’s cause for celebration, which is exactly what A Restaurant is doing in October. A Restaurant...

“And the Golden Foodie goes to…” That was the oft-repeated phrase last Sunday night at the 7th annual Golden Foodie Awards, held at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa. The Golden Foodie Awards celebrate the achievements of local, chef-driven restaurants, as voted on by...

Only two weeks until the fifth annual Pacific Sales Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival hits town, which means it’s time to get your tickets for the weekend Grand Tastings and special culinary events. Presented by Jaguar Land Rover Oct. 4-7, the Newport Beach Wine & Food...

It’s not often that a chef roams a dining room to greet guests and talk about the cuisine, but then again it’s not often you have a chef like Brittany Valles in the kitchen. Valles was named executive chef at Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge in the Fashion Island Hotel barely a month...

Who doesn’t love cheese? That’s the concept behind SideDoor’s monthly Cheese Takeovers that the Corona del Mar gastropub adjacent to Five Crowns established several years ago. SideDoor just announced the creameries that will be featured in the Cheese Takeovers planned for...

Newport Beach residents and restaurateurs Marín and Noah von Blöm, the award-winning husband and wife team behind DirtySexyHappiness Hospitality Group (ARC and ARC Pizza in Costa Mesa), have long planned to open a restaurant in Newport Beach. The time has come: ARC Butcher &...

Voting for the seventh annual Golden Foodie Awards, which takes place Sept. 30 at the Newport Beach Marriott, has ended, and the finalists have been announced. As usual, Newport Beach restaurants are well represented. For example, in the category Restaurateur of the Year, the...

  Prepare your palate for the Fifth Annual Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival, returning to the Newport Beach Civic Center and other noted locations around town Oct. 4-7. We’re still six weeks away from the Festival, but five of the special VIP experiences are already sold...

Five Crowns celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015—an impressive feat for a restaurant. Not many others in So Cal can make that claim. Now comes an equally impressive Five Crowns milestone: Tommy Martin, the Five Crowns ambassador, king of culinary goodwill and prince of smiles,...

Mario Marovic owns Dory Deli, The Stag Bar and Malarky’s in Newport Beach, and he recently purchased the Newport Beach Brewing Company with plans to renovate the building and continue brewing quality beer. Marovic and business partner Andrew Gabriel expanded their culinary empire...

True Food Kitchen in Fashion Island has added several summer dishes to its already popular menu, so naturally I felt it compelled to go try them. I brought along fellow NB Indy writer and calendar editor Laura Wise with me so we could try several dishes and compare notes. The new...

One of my favorite places to be on a Thursday night is Bayside Restaurant. Ron Kobayashi and his trio featuring Jerry Mandel on sax can be heard laying down some classic jazz licks in the lounge, where it’s happy hour every day from 4:30 p.m. to close. During the summer, I love...

Newport Beach is known for its beaches, and its culinary offerings, so why not combine them into one grand event: The Pacific Wine and Food Classic, which returns to Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort Aug. 18 and 19. Some 60 chefs and dozens of wineries are participating in the...

Chef-driven restaurants are steered by the seasons, although in California our growing seasons are skewed. “The seasons are different here, but as long as it’s at the farmer’s market, it’s okay,” said Rich Mead, owner and executive chef of Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens. Chef Mead...

Two things you can always count on for summer: Pageant of the Masters and a Laguna Playhouse musical. Fellow NB Indy scribe Shelly Zavala and I had the opportunity to attend both productions, and managed to squeeze in dinner before the shows. French Cuisine and American Art Held...

I seem to be on an unofficial search for the area’s best hamburger. I’ve ordered the burger at four restaurants over the past two weeks: Olea in Newport Beach, The Bungalow in Corona del Mar, and Las Brisas and Selanne Steak Tavern in Laguna Beach. No two taste buds or palates...

Lido Marina Village has been attracting attention ever since its remodel nearly two years ago. Since then, three popular restaurants have opened: Zinquè, Lido Bottle Works and the world famous Nobu. Make that four restaurants. Circle Hook opened its doors this week in a small...

Bluewater Grill is known for hosting a monthly themed menu. One of their most popular is in July: the Bluewater Grill New England Lobster & Clambake, which kicks-off on July 10 with a Chef’s tasting featuring a cup of Bluewater’s signature New England clam chowder (the same...

This Sunday morning from 7 to 9 a.m., several hundred car enthusiasts will gather at Moulin on Bristol Street to show off their classic autos and enjoy free coffee as they mingle and admire the vehicles, which can range from vintage Porsches to sleek Ferraris. This informal car...

Calling all fellow lobster fans—get ready for the 10th Annual Lobsterfest at Newport Beach to be held at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort on Sunday, August 5, from 3 to 8 p.m. This annual celebration of summer features a Whole Maine Lobster dinner plus dancing to live music, a...