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Behind on Mother’s Day Plans? Fifi Has Some Options

Everyone knows how important it is to make Mother’s Day reservations early.

For those laggards, I’ve compiled special Mother’s Day events at a few local places. All of the restaurants serve brunch. Ask for specifics when you make your reservation.

Golden Truffle offers a three-course meal for $38 for adults and $18 for children 10 and under.

Owner and chef Alan Greeley has a menu for the occasion that’s packed with creative preparations as only he can do them. The restaurant promises dishes such as English snap pea soup with pancetta toast, avocado and tiger shrimp hand roll, pit-barbecued lamb shank, short ribs and King salmon on the savory side of dining.

For dessert, lavender chocolate torte with blackberry bath, warm mixed berry cobbler and Meyer lemon/lime tart sound pretty divine. The restaurant is at 1767 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, phone (949) 645-9858.






Laguna Cliffs Marriott: Vue restaurant set to open during next month

Back Bay Cafe at Newport Dunes has a champagne buffet brunch priced at $39.95 for adults, $15.95 for children ages 5 to 12 and $5.95 for youngsters ages 2 to 4 (there is no charge for toddlers under 2).

The whole gamut of breakfast fare will join fresh pastries, a number of vegetables and salads, pastas, rib eye steak, honey-glazed ham, fresh fish and chicken.

A chocolate fountain makes dessert time fun,dip everything from bits of fruit to Oreo cookies to marshmallows and pieces of pound cake into the rich, melted chocolate. Champagne, mimosas, gourmet coffees, fresh juice and sodas will round out the beverage items.

Back Bay Cafe is at 1131 Back Bay Drive, in Newport Beach, phone (949) 729-1144.

Lucca Cafe is cute and relatively new. They offer a champagne brunch for $45 for adults and children under 12 pay their age. I absolutely love this idea of not overcharging for the little ones.

Among the enticements will be an omelet station, a seafood bar and a carving station with Deistel free-range turkey and tri-tip roast. Kids will find their own food station stocked with the foods they love. Desserts to suit every taste also will have their own display.

Lucca also is serving a five-course tasting menu with champagne on the evenings of Saturday, May 13, and Sunday, May 14.

Lucca is in Quail Hill Village Center at the 405 Freeway and Sand Canyon/Shady Canyon exit in Irvine. Phone (949) 725-1773.

Bristol Palms Restaurant and Bar in the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa hotel has been called a “hidden gem” and I agree with that. They have dubbed their brunch celebration for May 14 as “Queen Mother for a Day” and have embellished on the regal theme for mom.

Mom will be greeted by imperial trumpet revelers, presented with a long-stemmed red rose and escorted down the red carpet to her table. A throne in the lobby will provide a fine place for photo ops of the day with mom (and, yes, she will be wearing a crown and holding a scepter to make the photo theme authentic).

The buffet will include a breakfast bar and waffle station, a salad and vegetable station and carved meats and a seafood station that includes sushi, crab, oysters and fresh fish. Spectacular ice carvings are set as part of the buffet presentations.

There will be raffles for prizes, including a weekend stay at Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, spa and massage certificates and South Coast Plaza shopping gift cards.

The price is $42.50 for adults and $23 for children 5 to 12. Bristol Palms: 3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, phone (714) 438-4927.

Anaheim White House tells me that its four-course “First Lady” brunch,$35 for adults, $17.50 for children under 12,includes choices such as eggs Benedict, crepes filled with fish and shellfish among many other choices.

Whitefish filets with lemon beurre blanc, pan-roasted lamb, salmon atop their now trendy creation of whipped white chocolate potatoes and even a dish with my name on it are some of the possibilities. When I was guest chef here for an evening last summer, I left behind my recipe for crabmeat lasagna (wide noodles layered with crab and tomato-b & #233;chamel sauce) and it is sometimes served as a special of the day, as it will be on Mother’s Day.

Desserts are sure to keep pace with the other upscale presentations. Anaheim White House is at 887 South Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, phone (714) 772-1381.


Firehouse Wines

Have you heard of Firehouse Wines? Here’s a heartwarming story about the wines and a good reason for you to try them.

Following the 2001 terrorist attacks, two firefighters, Paul Walker, who has vineyards in Southern California, and best friend Scott Weimer launched Firehouse Wines.

Walker already was making a family reserve wine and selling grapes to other vintners. Together, the friends decided that with the new label they could give back to the Orange County Fire Services Association’s Fallen Firefighters Benevolence Fund, which helps fallen firefighters, their widows and orphans.

The winemakers donate $1 to the fund from each bottle of wine sold. They kicked off the permanent campaign by giving $1,000 to the fund themselves.

Firehouse Wines, based in Fallbrook in northeastern San Diego County, produces two varietals: Fire Engine Red, a cabernet sauvignon blend, and Firehouse White, a chardonnay blend.

A 2004 vintage pinot noir is soon to be released. The wine is produced from California vineyard grapes, bottled in Temecula and is available in various stores and restaurants in Southern California.

Three local places to buy Firehouse Wines are Roy’s restaurant in Newport Beach, Zlaket’s Market in Garden Grove and Vessia Ristorante in Irvine.

Roy’s, the superb Hawaiian fusion restaurant in Fashion Island, and Vessia, that wonderful people-oriented bastion of fine Italian food, have both the red and white wines on their lists.

Zlaket’s Market is one of the oldest family-owned businesses in Orange County, operating since 1927 and now run by husband and wife team, Leo and Virginia Zlaket, and their son David.

The market specializes in hand-cut premium meats and poultry and specialty preparations of your meats (putting various stuffings in steaks and chops, boning and rolling and stuffing, if desired, of your roasts, making the meats completely ready for cooking). They also do a brisk dine-in (just a few seats) and take-out business, especially for lunch, and have a successful catering business.

Here’s a big pat on the back to Paul Walker and Scott Weimer for their ongoing dedication to serving the public through firefighting, giving back through their per bottle donation program and for making communities better places by their extended involvement.

The cabernet costs about $20 while the chardonnay goes for about $15.

For more information, call (714) 638-9463 or visit them at 12866 Main St., #104, Garden Grove. You can buy the wines online by visiting firehousewines.com.

Zlaket’s Market is at 12921 Main St., Garden Grove, phone (714) 534-2188. Roy’s is at 453 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, phone (949) 640-7697. Vessia Ristorante is in the Crossroads Center, 3966 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, (949) 654-1155.


Vue of the Ocean

Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point has restaurant construction well under way for the opening of Vue, which is taking the place of the former Regatta Grill.

Vue is expected to open June 1.

It’s hard to tell several weeks out just what the finishing touches will be, but all semblances of what the former restaurant looked like (nautical and yacht-like) are giving way to $1.5 million in renovations.

First glimpses reveal a full bar for libations, and dining if desired, custom food serving equipment in the updated cooking space, black granite tables, maple and leather chairs and bamboo flooring.

The exceptional ocean views from the clifftop location will be kept via a wall of French doors that also allow access to the gardens just outside the restaurant. This spot has earned a reputation as one of South County’s best romantic spots.

An interior wall features a massive fireplace that will add quite a coziness factor.

The chef is working on a menu of forward-thinking California cuisine that takes full advantage of seafood and specially raised beef lamb, pork and poultry.

I’ve always liked the food from the former Regatta Grill, so I am confident that the new menu also will offer an interesting spectrum of dishes.

Knowing that proposed openings can run a little long on the construction end, call to make sure that Vue is open.

Laguna Cliffs Marriott is at 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, phone (949) 661-5000.


Halibut Heaven

I like press releases that have a cute headline. A note from McCormick & Schmick’s fit the bill, with the restaurant touting that it is “Just for the Halibut” time.

That means that this is high season for fresh halibut and, since I enjoy McCormick & Schmick’s in Irvine, I’ll be heading there for its specials.

The meaty and tender texture and rich flavor of halibut earns it the moniker “steak of seafood.”

The largest of all flatfish, halibut can measure up to eight feet long, four feet wide and weigh more than 600 pounds.

Halibut can migrate great distances of about 2,500 miles and it is harvested along the Pacific coast from Northern California to Alaska and westward to Russia and northern Japan.

Halibut is a healthy option: low in calories, fat and sodium and high in important nutrients such as vitamin B and the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and other illnesses.

Halibut also is an excellent source of protein.

Don’t worry if you’re not in the mood for fish. McCormick & Schmick’s also serves steaks, chops and chicken.

McCormick & Schmick’s: 2000 Main St., Irvine. Phone: (949) 756-0505.

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