Category

The phrase “highly anticipated” is often overused, but in the case of the Sixth Annual Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival returning to town October 3-6, highly anticipated is highly true. This classy epicurean ode to boutique wines and creative cuisine is my favorite culinary...

We’re still two months away from the Pacific Wine & Food Classic (this third annual event returns to Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18), but the lineup of chefs, restaurants and wineries has just been announced and...

Newport Beach Brewing Company was a longtime local Balboa Peninsula hangout known for being on the cutting edge of the craft beer trend when it opened more than two decades ago. After nearly 25 years, Newport Beach Brewing Company called it quits earlier this year, but the...

Summer is almost here, and a handful of local restaurants are introducing fun and tasty culinary experiences. Oak Grill Brings Back Slow Smoked Sundaze Oak Grill at Fashion Island Hotel is bringing back its popular Slow Smoked Sundaze event every Sunday in June, July and August...

It’s always exciting when a noted restaurateur opens a new restaurant in Newport Beach (CdM, Louie’s by the Bay and Arc Kitchen & Bakery are the most recent). However, I am particularly excited about a new concept from the man who created Rouge, Chat Noir, French 75, Chimayo,...

May is National Hamburger Month, so each week I’ll share some of my favorite gourmet burgers available at local restaurants. These are burgers I love for their creativity, flavor combinations and toppings, and of course the fries that come with the burger. When I sit at the bar...

More than 50 local restaurants are set to serve food during the 2019 Newport Beach Film Festival, and a presenting sponsor is Pacific Sales (a leader in kitchen and home products), so the foodie factor at the festival is high. That’s why the Film Festival has brought back its...

Ron Salisbury owns The Cannery Restaurant in Newport Beach as well as the Corona del Mar location of El Cholo, among others. Piero Selvaggio owned the famed Valentino restaurant in Santa Monica for 46 years before closing it last December. These culinary legends have launched a...

  Easter is a few days away, which means this is the perfect time to make a reservation for Easter brunch—or dinner. A basketful of Newport Beach restaurants are serving Easter brunch. Some are buffet-style, with more goodies than a dozen Easter bunnies could consume. Others...

Having traveled to New Orleans several times to soak up the local culture and indulge in the town’s decadent culinary delights, I’m thrilled that Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach is hosting a month-long celebration featuring a Louisiana Crawfish Boil accompanied by a hearty bowl...

I’ve been a fan of Marin and Noah von Blöm since the duo opened ARC followed by Marin in The OC Mix/SOCO in Costa Mesa.  ARC features food cooked either over a wood-burning stove or a wood-fired oven. Wood is stacked outside the restaurant, while inside the glow of embers and...

Pelican Hill Resort is renowned for its first-class restaurants and cuisine. Last week, that reputation was cemented when Pelican Hill Executive Chef Jean-Pierre Dubray was inducted into the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France (Master Chefs of France) Association. Master Chefs of France...

After months of planning, remodeling and menu creation, Hollywood producer McG and restaurateur Jordan Otterbein (aka River Jetty Restaurant Group partners), known for their acclaimed A Restaurant, have announced the grand opening of their new dining concept, CdM, in – where else...

Chef Pascal Olhats, who currently runs Café Jardin in Corona del Mar as well as Pascal Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano (and once had several other restaurants in Newport Beach) has won many chef battles over the years, but his latest battle is against a tough opponent. This...

Newport Beach Restaurant Week ended a month ago, but another Restaurant Week is already upon us. Orange County Restaurant Week returns March 3 through 9, with nearly 150 restaurants participating this year with prix fixe menus, cocktail specials and even Breakfast for Dinner...

Coast Highway is getting a makeover—well, not the road, the restaurants. Several new eateries are opening on our scenic coastal highway, which is already packed with popular restaurants. However, two of those restaurants come from seasoned culinary pros with a successful track...

Laguna Beach resident Craig Strong launched his culinary career when he was 15, but got serious about it when he enrolled in culinary school at age 18 and learned the basics of classic French cooking. He spent time in Spain soaking up the culture, and the cuisine, then worked for...

  Still trying to decide what to do for Valentine’s day, or rather where to dine? Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants. Diners’ expectations are high, and restaurants do their best to live up to expectations by creating special menus to...

From Europe With Love at Bluewater Grill Every month, Bluewater Grill hosts a special themed food tasting with wine pairings. For February, the restaurant is bringing back a popular event that highlights two classic dishes: French Bouillabaisse and Italian Cioppino, plus a split...

It’s no secret that one of my favorite restaurants in Orange County is Andrea at Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast. Dining at Andrea is like taking a trip to Italy for an afternoon or evening. The setting is exquisite, starting with the entrance to the resort and continuing to...