We’ve watched the construction at the Bloomingdale’s store at South Coast Plaza for many months. Of course, I was really anticipating super chef Charlie Palmer opening an eponymous restaurant as part of the deal.
Charlie has restaurants strung across the East and West coasts, including in Las Vegas and Healdsburg in Sonoma County, where he lives. It all began 20 years ago with the opening of Aureole in New York.
Restaurant Charlie Palm-er now is open, with its own entrance at the end of Bloomingdale’s. It’s New York glamorous and the food, judging from just the one dinner we’ve had there so far, is absolutely terrific. Better yet are the sensible prices for a restaurant of this caliber; dinner entrees are $27 to $38 (lobster poached with lemon grass). We are anxious to work our way through much more of the menus and I’ll then give you all my thoughts.
Dress up and dine out in style. Lunch and dinner are served daily. Call (714) 352-2525.
I must have lamented one time too many about needing to find out what’s new at some restaurants in Laguna Beach. Karyn Philippsen, a hotel consultant and president of the Laguna Beach Visitors and Convention Bureau, heard my comments and took up the mantle to get me up to speed. On two Thursday evenings, Patrick and I were in Laguna doing the scene with her.
One evening, we began a progressive dinner at Sundried Tomato, one of two very successful sibling restaurants (the other’s in San Juan Capistrano) that also boasts a big catering division.
Samuel Goldstein stopped by and filled us in on the plans for his old Jolly Roger building, which sits smack-dab in the center of Laguna. Sam would like to put a restaurant with a known chef downstairs and perhaps some lofts upstairs. He’s completely gutted and renovated the whole building, so the restaurant space is open for interpretation by the right chef and restaurateur.
The owners of Sundried Tomato, Mark Jacobi (executive chef) and Rob Quest also were on hand. I’ll have more for you on that conversation in another column.
We then walked down the street with Karyn to the recently opened Nirvana Grille, the second for husband and wife team Lindsay (she’s the chef) and Luis Rosales. Their first restaurant in Mission Viejo has consistently garnered good publicity for its food and atmosphere.
This one is much larger with sophisticated and inviting decor. Creative California cuisine is the food direction. We shared a couple of entrees that were delicious, but couldn’t manage dessert,we were just too full.
On the following Thursday evening, Karyn, plus Margo and Dennis Brask, joined us in Laguna at Sappire. Margo is the special events coordinator for Five Crowns and Dennis is the chef there. It seemed a shame not to order some of the special charcuterie from the Sapphire Pantry next door so we began our extravaganza of food with some intense Spanish Iberica ham and half a dozen other cured meats and cheeses from Sapphire’s wonderful takeaway shop. Then, we settled in for a grand round of entrees, with everyone sighing over the steamed loup de mer (Mediterranean sea bass) with baby bok choy sitting in a smear of mushroom and ginger flavored sauce. That’s one of the new items on the menu.
Some other friendly people stopped by our table. First, Marguarite Clark came by. Then, Susan Ballou. Lee Healy completed the trio of PR mavens we laughed and chatted with for a bit. The effervescent Barbara Eidson, community affairs liaison for the Island Hotel then swung by. Her ever cheerful personality was like a dollop of ice cream on the impromptu gathering.
The former Partners Bistro in downtown Laguna Beach will soon house a new restaurant by the forward-thinking team made up of owner/operators Terri and Richard Rothbard, chef Marc Cohen and architect Mark Singer. They are already the principals of 230 Forest in Laguna, Opah restaurants in Aliso Viejo, Irvine and Rancho Santa Margarita, as well as Agave Mexican Grill, also in Rancho Santa Margarita. Partners Bistro left behind some big shoes to fill as it was one of Laguna’s important restaurants for more than a quarter century.
Beer, Food Dinners
Taps Fish House & Brewery in Brea, the beautiful restaurant reminiscent of New Orleans that also boasts a renowned European-style brewery, will host An Evening at Monticello on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Thomas Jefferson Ale, which brew master Victor Novak has made seasonally for the past 13 years, will be included in the four-course dinner. Cost is $60 per person (plus tax and gratuity).
The restaurant’s culinary director Thomas Hope has created a menu that is historically significant. Each course will be will be paired with Novak’s award-winning beers.
As early as 1794, Jefferson planted hops at Monticello, and his love for wines and beers as well as gourmet food is legendary. In researching the menu to showcase Thomas Jefferson Ale,deep-reddish brown, full bodied and rich,Hope discovered the offerings at Monticello were a melding of traditional Virginia fare with Jefferson’s fondness for French cuisine.
It will be an interesting evening. Taps Fish House & Brewery: 101 E. Imperial Highway in downtown Brea. Reservations are necessary. Call (714) 257-0101.
St. Regis Barbecue
On Friday at 4 p.m., it’s time to gather for Savoring BBQ at the Pool Bar & Grill at St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach in Dana Point. Guests will enjoy a delicious array of exotic barbecue dishes prepared by executive chef Frederic Castan. The chef will showcase his mouthwatering recipes, as he shares his artful grilling techniques that best capture flavors and nutrients. It’s $65 per person.
St. Regis Resort: One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point. Reservations for the barbecue, call (949) 234-3765.
