RITZ RESTAURANT AND GARDEN
Address:
880 Newport Center Drive
Phone:
(949) 720-1800
TAPS FISH HOUSE & BREWERY
Address:
101 E. Imperial Highway, Brea (in the Birch Street Promenade)
Phone:
(714) 257-0101
SAVOURY’S
Address:
1287 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach (in La Casa del Camino Hotel)
Phone:
(949) 376-9718
Vintners Putting on the Ritz in October Tastings TAPS Celebrates Oktoberfest; Savoury’s Opens in Laguna
The Ritz Restaurant and Garden in Newport Beach is now featuring a series of tasting events in its outdoor garden from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Tomorrow evening, it’s South of the Border Wines and Spirits featuring Pisco Sours, Mojitas and wines from Chile and Argentina. Next week, it’s wines from Jordan and “J” wineries. The ever-popular Grgich Hills wines will be poured on Oct. 16. And, celebrating Oktoberfest, wines from Germany will highlight the Oct. 23 event. Classic cocktails of the ’30s and ’40s,I’m not that old, but I love these oldies,will wrap up the series Oct. 30. Various appetizers, which complement the beverages, also are offered. Prices for beverages and appetizers will vary.
Singer and keyboardist Kirk Covington will entertain during the tastings. He performs at the Ritz Tuesday through Thursday evenings for dinner guests. And, though it has nothing to do with these tastings, on Friday and Saturday evenings, pianist Michael LeVan entertains with music from the ’50s through the ’70s. Such a nice touch, since it’s not easy to find live music and fine dining at the same time anymore.
Oktoberfest at TAPS
This is the year I may not meet anyone going to Oktoberfest in Germany. But, you can celebrate the week here via TAPS Fish House & Brewery in Brea’s downtown Birch Street Promenade. Beginning Oct. 8, the restaurant will host food and beer specials, culminating in a festive afternoon on TAPS’ patio on Saturday, Oct. 13.
Brewmaster Victor Novak will offer three distinctive German-style lagers: Alt, Hefeweizen, and Oktoberfest (also known as Marzen). Novak’s Pumpkin Ale, brewed with fresh pumpkin and spices and which proved very popular last year, will be available on Oct. 20. TAPS has enjoyed great success with its lagers and ales, which are crafted using only the finest imported European malts and hops. During the week of Oct. 8, TAPS’ beer “growlers,” a 64-ounce jug filled with the brew of your choice, will be offered at the special price of $5.95 (a $6 savings).
Executive chef Craig Rouse will create three German-inspired specials for the week, all of which may be paired with a TAPS lager for a promotional price of $2. Lunch will feature one of my favorite meals whenever I can get it, bratwurst and beer (two plump brats braised in TAPS’ Oktoberfest lager and served with sauerkraut, caramelized onions, mustard and German potato salad) for $10.95. The entr & #233;e will be paired with TAPS’ Oktoberfest lager. The dinner special will be wienerschnitzel comprised of layers of tender veal medallions saut & #233;ed golden brown in seasoned breadcrumbs, with caramelized lemons, German potato cakes, and roasted apple compote, priced at $18.95 and complemented by Altbier. Nothing could be more appropriate for the week’s dessert than apple strudel. This classic German-Bavarian sweet finds saut & #233;ed apples and spices wrapped in delicate, but shatteringly crisp pastry, dusted with powdered sugar. It’s served with sauce caramel and cinnamon ice cream for $6.95 and paired with Oatmeal Stout,yes, they do drink beer with dessert in Europe.
On Saturday, Oct. 13, TAPS will end the week with an Oktoberfest grill on the patio from 4 to 7p.m. featuring grilled bratwurst or grilled chicken, with all the traditional trimmings, for $9.95 or a combo platter for $12.95. You might want to be on hand for the tour of TAPS’ microbrewery at 6 p.m. that will include complimentary tastings of TAPS’ beers in the making. The whole process of making beer is quite fascinating.
L’Opera Coming to Spectrum
L’Opera, an upscale dining house in downtown Long Beach, will be opening a second location this month in the Irvine Spectrum, the hotbed of restaurants in South Orange County. The 190-seat restaurant, with seating for an additional 80 on an outdoor patio, is being constructed in the main section of the center close to the Edward’s movie theater complex. News thusfar is that it will feature marble columns, travertine floors, and a granite-topped bar as anchors of the decorating scheme.
New in Town
The space inside Laguna’s La Casa del Camino Hotel that had been Sweet Thursday’s restaurant since late 1998 is now called Savoury’s. Former proprietor Bill Bridgeford was such a charming guy, and he had some terrific dishes on the menu, but for some reason he couldn’t make the restaurant a success. Savoury’s owner and chef is Brad Toles, who recently won a gold medal at the International Culinary Olympics. Redecorated in the style of a Napa Valley bistro, the menu offers a fusion of French, Mediterranean and Asian foods. I have not yet eaten there and so cannot comment on tastes, but the likes of tortilla-crusted crab cakes, chicken satay, smoked duck quesadillas, sesame marinated prawns and roasted scallops wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon sound very promising.
The hotel itself is a nostalgic affair built in 1927. In the heyday of Hollywood glamour, stars and artists used it as a retreat, adding pizzazz to small-town Laguna Beach. It recently underwent a renovation that spruced it up but respected the character enough to leave the general ambiance alone. The antique furnishings and artwork always have been worthy of attention.
Anyone who beats me to the dinner table here, please let me know your opinions,I love getting e-mail from my readers on such things.
