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  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....

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...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy  It’s time for a Holiday. Holiday, Westside Costa Mesa’s new social lounge/speakeasy, has officially opened to the public after several months of soft openings with VIP and charity events. Holiday’s press material offers...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy Skyloft in Laguna Beach made a splash when it opened last November on Coast Highway in downtown Laguna Beach. Christopher went several times and loved the rooftop dining. The menu was recently retooled thanks to new chef...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy Thinking of dining at Oak Grill on Sunday? If so, you’ll be in a daze, but that’s a good thing. Oak Grill at the Island Hotel has kicked off the barbecue season with the launch of Slow Smoked Sundaze that takes place every...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale “And the winner is…” The Golden Foodie Awards were held last Sunday evening at the Fairmont Newport Beach hotel. More than 400 people packed a ballroom to applaud the county’s best restaurants, chefs, bartenders, cuisine and...

By Christopher Trela and Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy  First we had Newport Beach Restaurant Week, then OC Restaurant Week, which ends March 1. Now comes OC Cocktail Week, running March 2 – 8. Nearly 50 restaurants throughout OC are participating, including seven in Newport...

The waitress sets down a tall skinny glass on the table in front of me. As the adults talk about boring things, I take small sips of my fancy pink drink though both skinny black straws. The sweet, tingly and unmistakable cherry flavor fills my mouth. This is a good one, as it’s a...

By Christopher Trela and Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy Everyone’s getting creative with cocktails, but Sidedoor (adjacent to Five Crowns in Corona del Mar) has developed a new cocktail menu for the holidays that’s guaranteed to please anyone’s taste buds. Selections inclu...

While muddled cocktails have been enjoying plenty of popularity over the last few years (and many are steeped in history), I’ll admit I hadn’t embraced the trend. What with all the mess of the muddle, I’m just too lazy to go to all the fuss. That was until I was asked to be a...

By Christopher Trela and Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy Someone recently asked us how we select the restaurants we write about, and if our meals are comped. Both good questions! We receive information on various local restaurants from a variety of PR companies that handle those...