Roy’s restaurant opened at Anaheim GardenWalk to an enthusiastic crowd.
Patrick and I were there the night before the official opening for the preview party that supported Tiger Woods Learning Center in west Anaheim.
Tiger’s mother, Kultida Woods, was there, as were some of our old friends including Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle and wife Alexis, and Sheri and Ted Hoover, licensees of all those Panera Bread Bakery Cafes stretching from Anaheim through South County.
Founder and eponymous chef Roy Yamaguchi also was there and I had fun talking with him about his first Southland restaurant on La Cienega from way back in the 1980s. I’d first met him there when dining a couple of times, one being a wine dinner with Christina Crawford (Joan Crawford’s daughter and “Mommy Dearest” author) who at the time co-owned a winery.
Roy’s of Anaheim should be considered a destination restaurant. While we all know the island charms of each Roy’s restaurants, this one has an elegantly updated personality distinctively its own. One page of the menu at each Roy’s is made up of chef Yamaguchi’s signature dishes and another page is dedicated to the chef/partner’s creations, many of which we tried and enjoyed during the evening. Put Roy’s of Anaheim on your “to do” list. Call (714) 776-7697.
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Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Souffl & #233;: Anaheim location now open |
A bunch of us turned into gullible gourmets at the Share our Strength event, Taste of the Nation, where about 250 of us mingled and munched our way through a lot of delicious food. The event was held in a big, separate ballroom at The Island Hotel Newport Beach that had been home to Cindy Costner’s Twin Palms restaurant a few years ago.
When that deal went under, the hotel acquired a dandy space to use for venues. This event,benefiting Second Harvest OC Food Bank,made use of every nook, curve and byway in the blithely faux tented space.
A fashionable parade of Orange County chefs served signature dishes at individual stations and it was one long evening of greeting and gabbing with “names” galore. Ahmed Labbate,general manager of the soon to open Charlie Palmer restaurant in South Coast Plaza’s Bloomingdale’s,was there shaking hands with everyone and handing out tasty tidbits that represented Charlie’s style of cuisine. Radio and TV personality/chef Mario Martinoli was searching out the best of the best during the evening.
I loved finding out the latest in the food world of one of my favorite chefs Rich Mead, chef/owner of Sage on the Coast and Sage. I found out that the parking lot for the Eastbluff center, where Sage is located, is being redone. You have to do a bit of negotiating for parking, but the restaurant is still open during the renovation and this is the perfect weather for dinner on that & #252;ber pleasant patio.
Fashion Island’s Blue Coral was serving shellfish, including the biggest crab claws I’ve ever seen. Tim Lowenberg, the charming managing partner of Roy’s of Newport Beach and Chris Garnier, the restaurant’s chef/partner, were dispensing their Hawaiian fusion tidbits and sharing plenty of aloha goodwill.
Since it was just down the street and opening night for A restaurant, the remake of the old Arches, we stopped by for a five-minute gaze at the renovated building. Yes, they call it simply “A,” so make a mental note of that.
It was busy, of course, and it looks nothing like the old Arches. They’ve opened up the space and the bar takes on a central importance to the main dining room, all of which looks good to me. More later as I try the food and ambiance further.
As if I’d not had enough of the good life, along came that first anniversary celebration of Marche Moderne, at what’s now called the penthouse floor in the Nordstrom wing of South Coast Plaza. It was a sellout for two seatings and lucky indeed for those of us who got reservations in quickly.
This evening was the pure essence of food life in France. The perimeter of the patio was turned into an outdoor street market scene where purveyors of fresh fish, flowers, heirloom produce and professional kitchen equipment were not only displaying their goodies but selling them to those of us smart enough to take advantage of all that freshness and quality.
The bustle of Marche Moderne was such that we had a drink at the bar while waiting for the first turn of customers to leave and the second seating to being. It was certainly fun conversing about all things in the restaurant world, here and abroad, as we sipped champagne with Albert Ho, a dedicated wine and food aficionado who likes Marche Moderne so much he eats there every week when he’s not in another country trying out restaurants.
Patrick and I sat along one of the banquettes surrounded by Debra Gunn Downing from South Coast Plaza management, celebrity chef/author/TV personality Jamie Gwen and her mother/manager Lana Sills, publisher of Riviera magazine Chris Gialanella, editor for OC of Zagat Survey Gretchen Kurz and restaurant media pro Lee Healy.
I always have lots to talk about with Dan Ketelaars, who supplies the best products from all around the world to our best restaurants through his Danko Foods Corp. We swapped stories and discussed rumors at the street market scenario and while eating dinner,a fabulous five-course meal with immaculately paired wines.
Marche Moderne is the most French of our French restaurants, a vision of a gorgeous Parisian bistro where chef/owner Florent Marneau, along with his wife and pastry chef, Amelia, delivers beautifully executed and sublimely tasty French fare. For one of the great bargains in OC dining, they have a three-course lunch for only $20. Call (714) 434-7900.
And on to yet more meals. There’s nothing like having dinner and occasional get-togethers with someone who was once your boss, although OCBJ Executive Editor Rick Reiff says that I’ve never had a boss. He knows all you OC business types who sometimes peripherally fascinate me with your careers and personalities and I try consistently to lead him to good food, so it’s mutually beneficial for both of us and we never seem to lack good conversation topics.
Patrick and I recently joined Rick and his lovely new bride, Mary Ann Brown, senior vice president of corporate development for Pacific Life Insurance Co., for dinner at Citrus City Grille in Old Towne Orange. Proving that when in Orange, some of us think in similar terms about where to dine, there in the same restaurant on the same night were Riviera magazine Editor-in-Chief Kedric Francis and attorney Michael Cho, the county’s well-known liquor license lawyer and a big supporter of community causes.
There’s no denying that this restaurant is doing some interesting food and the service is really good. It was also vibrantly busy on a weeknight. I’m doing some follow-up dining and will soon report more, but in the meantime, you have my encouragement to try it. Citrus City Grille’s phone number is (714) 639-9600.
Balboa Bay Club & Resort invited the media and a few other special guests to a preview afternoon of their upcoming Annual Food & Wine Festival on May 23 to 25. Andy Harris, a foodie/radio producer from L.A. who is really in touch with what’s happening in the restaurant world, was someone I kept comparing notes with all afternoon.
Their food and wine plan for the three-hour event had me wishing that other hotel and restaurant principals could have been there to see why Balboa Bay Club has become so hot as a location for charity and celebrity events. They go beyond the norm in making culinary things compelling. This little gathering had us munching on cooked-to-order escargot, a dozen international cheeses (several of them quite unique) with intriguing complements for each one, colorful arrays of sushi and a gigantic pan of Valencia style paella. Suffice to say the dessert assortment was adequately decadent.
A member of the Antinori family was there to tell us about the wines we were drinking from this famed Italian wine estate that goes back six centuries and now counts 27 generations of family members in the business. It makes some of the most eminent wines in Italy. Antinori is a cosponsor of the upcoming Food and Wine Festival. Phone number for Balboa Bay Club is (949) 645-5000.
Affordable Dining
La Vie en Rose in Brea has had much success in the past year with its bargain-priced prix fixe meals. With the downturn in the economy, La Vie’s new springtime Affordable Fine Dining dinner menu of three courses for $37.75 is even more attractive.
Choose a starter of baked mushroom or French onion soup, Caesar salad or their acclaimed Rebecca salad,fresh mixed greens dappled with dried apricots, walnuts and orange vinaigrette. Entree choices: beef stroganoff, fresh fish with pecan crust, chicken Cordon Bleu, flatiron steak and braised lamb shank.
For dessert, there’s an apricot clafouti (fresh fruit baked with a crusty batter on top) or the unique cannel & #233;s, which I love and are a dessert specialty born in Bordeaux that comprise a crunchy caramelized crust encompassing a custardy cake center. La Vie en Rose: 240 S. State College Blvd., Brea (714) 529-8333.
Best Buffet
You will forgive me if I wax poetic about arguably the best lunch buffet in the county. It’s just the kind of midday dining most of us like but seldom find in such delicious splendor. Piling on more reasons why you must try it is the price,only $15 per person,and it’s in a fashionable hotel with the tranquility of the ocean as the best backdrop.
Merely stop in the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa to access Sam & Harry’s, the sibling of the decidedly important Washington, D.C., restaurant.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, you will discover protein selections,beef, seafood and chicken among them,along with some mixed salads such as the tuna m & #233;lange, a handsome variety of farm fresh greens and other fresh garden accompaniments, plus platters of olives and tapenades and a fine selection of fruits as part of the array.
Dressings are from their signature recipes and it’s an all-you-can-eat affair. The camera worthy spread definitely gives way to first class tastes.
Of course, there are also some edgy sandwiches, superb burgers and upscale a la carte entrees on the full lunch menu. I am more than happy to be having lunch here and recently have had three dinners here because the evening menu is studded with prime meat and seafood choices. Sam & Harry’s is inside the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa; 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach (949) 729-6900.
Springtime Value
Zov’s Cafe Bakery & Bar is now offering springtime values via its classic Monday suppers and signature sampling menus for lunch and dinner featured at all three Zov’s Cafes in OC (Tustin, Newport Coast and Irvine).
The classic Monday suppers are meant to bring warmth and comfort to guests. One featured entree is chef/owner Zov Karamardian’s signature meatloaf. The three-course signature sampling menus feature a roundup of the most popular dishes served in the restaurants.
The lunch menu can be ordered Monday through Friday and begins with a choice of hummus and pita or Zov’s mixed green salad. For the main entree, guests can choose from chicken paillard salad, a pasta dish or half sandwiches. Dessert brings a duo of delicacies: lemon cream tart and chocolate mousse cake.
The sampling menu at dinner is available Monday through Thursday and starts with an appetizer choice of hummus and pita, Zov’s mixed green salad or golden lentil soup. Entrees are composed of braised beef short ribs, parmesan/herb-crusted chicken breast or macaroni and cheese. The meal is finished with a trio of dessert tastes consisting of chocolate mousse cake, berry trifle and lemon cream tart.
The special meatloaf entree on classic Monday suppers is $15 per person. Signature Sampling Menus are priced at $15 for lunch and $22 for dinner. Taxes, tip and beverages are not included. Zov’s Cafes: 17440 E. 17th St. in Tustin (714) 838-8855; in Newport Coast at 21123 Newport Coast Drive (949) 760-9687; and in Irvine at 3915 Portola Parkway (714) 734-9687.
Food and Wine Dinners
Here’s a quartet. To save space, I have not included the menus and wines but I do have all of these menus and their wine matches here in the office and will gladly e-mail them to you. Send me an e-mail at chaothyme@ aol.com or ask the restaurants to e-mail them to you when you make reservations.
– Bistango in Irvine is hosting Far Niente Vineyards and Nickel & Nickel Winery for a dinner of finely tuned food to match some of the best wines from the two wineries. The dinner will be held on May 20 with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.
These two wineries are exceedingly popular with wine connoisseurs. Far Niente has long held a worldwide reputation and Nickel & Nickel (founded in 1997 by the partners of Far Niente) has followed in fame and fortune.
The food that Bistango’s chef, Javier Montoya, keeps delivering is also elegant and scrumptious, assuring that this dinner will quickly sell out (seating is limited anyway), so call right away.
Cost is $125 per person plus tax and tip. Call (949) 752-5222. Bistango: 19100 Von Karman Ave., Irvine.
– There are two dates which should be noted for unique one-time-only six-course food and wine matching (optional) dinners, both taking place at the Anaheim White House. On May 23, chef Edmond Sarfati, a Montmartre native, will prepare a meal of graceful French food, a meal which I will attend. Edmond spent a career known as a chef’s chef due to many of America’s famed French chefs having him cook special private dinners for them,just for the sake of enjoying his singular brand of authentic French specialties.
This is our chance to experience half a dozen dishes he’s cooked for other chefs and that held a place of love and contentment in the hearts of diners who were customers of his when he owned Lafayette restaurant here in OC for several decades. The dinner begins at 7:30 p.m. The price is $75 per person for food, $105 with wine parings.
– On June 20 at 7:30 p.m., master chef Maurice Brazier takes a turn in the kitchen at Anaheim White House, serving us half a dozen international courses that were on his menus as he cooked in the most amazing places and for world-renowned names. Chef Brazier was the personal chef to the shah of Iran and his wife as well as for the king of Morocco.
He has been the chef at major hotels. The president of France awarded Brazier the title of Chevalier du Merit National to honor his exemplary lifelong dedication to the art of French cuisine.
This dinner, for which I also have my reservations, is $95 per person, $125 with wines for each course. I must caution that both of these dinners will sell out, so get your reservations in now. The restaurant is at 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim (714) 772-1381.
– An Australian Wine Dinner will be presented on May 23, at Motif restaurant in the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa. The exclusive dinner will showcase a fantastic assortment of wines from various regions of Australia.
Australia’s first vineyards were planted in 1788 in a small area near the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Today, there are vineyards throughout 62 designated wine regions. Current export figures place Australia as the fourth largest exporter of wine and sixth largest producer, selling to more than 100 countries around the world. For this event, the Australian-influenced dinner will be prepared by the resort’s executive chef Frederic Castan to highlight the flavors of the carefully selected wines.
The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per person. For reservations, call (949) 234-3765 or e-mail Christina.mytinger@ stregis.com. The resort is at One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point.
