There are many interesting restaurant happenings coming up. So here I am, doing my job and giving you the details.
The era of Queen Elizabeth dinner that the Five Crowns in Corona del Mar is offering nightly through Oct. 31 promises a delightful dose of late 16th century English history, customs and culinaria. And, it’s bargain priced at $39 per person, plus tax and tip.
The experience is slated to coincide with the current showing of the film “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” starring Cate Blanchett. Five Crowns, with its English inn demeanor, is the perfect venue for a dinner like this.
The prix fixe menu offers a choice of entrees: English cut of roasted prime ribs of beef in Port wine jus with Yorkshire pudding (the latter originated during the Elizabethan era) or wild salmon filet simmered in ale with parsley, rosemary and thyme and served with a sauce of dry proins (sherried prunes).
According to Five Crowns executive chef Dennis Brask, raw fruits and vegetables were considered to be a health hazard during the Elizabethan era, so the menu will be breaking from tradition with its compound sallet, a combination of spinach and red cabbage dotted with almonds, raisins, figs, capers, olives, currants, pickles and oranges in vinegar and oil dressing.
A side dish of spinach and artichoke pye and dessert of creamy rice pudding dotted with dates and currents is also included.
Although forks weren’t typically used at the table during Elizabethan times, the restaurant will make them available.
Five Crowns has been among our top tier of restaurants since it opened in 1965.
It is a member of the Lawry’s family of restaurants.
The menu,which is also available in addition to the Elizabethan prix fixe offering,is centered around prime beef, poultry, fresh fish and a lot of organic produce from local growers practicing sustainable agriculture.
Five Crowns, of course, has also always had a sterling reputation for its wine cellar.
The building has been noted in guidebooks and historical papers as a landmark and the most authentic replica of an English country inn in North America. The restaurant has earned every significant culinary and wine award.
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Five Crowns in Corona del Mar: authentic replica of an English country inn |
Five Crowns: 3801 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar (949) 760-0331. Dinner is served nightly as well as Sunday brunch. Reservations are recommended.
St. Regis Wine Dinner
The next St. Regis Aficionado Experience takes place on Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach.
It will be an evening when appetizers and then seven savory and sweet specialties will be matched with the wonderful wines of Caymus Vineyards.
We can call this a California dream come true: Gourmet dinner at sunset overlooking the Pacific Ocean while sampling the famed wines of Napa Valley’s Caymus Vineyards.
Hosted by Caymus’ vintners, you will taste a flight of their greatest productions as Frederic Castan, executive chef of the St. Regis, and special guest Claude Le Tohic, executive chef from restaurant Jo & #235;l Robuchon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, impress with their expertly designed dishes complementing the renowned wines.
Here’s the menu from the two chefs and the Caymus wines:
– The reception will feature a selection of hors d’ oeuvres with 2005 Pinot Noir Blanc, Belle Glos Casa Torres Vineyard.
– A Maine lobster presentation will be accompanied by the 2006 Conundrum.
– Sea Urchin with fingerling potato puree is the match for the 2006 Mer Soleil Vineyard Silver Chardonnay.
– Wild striped bass finds its wine marriage to be the 2005 Pinot Noir, Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Road Vineyard.
– Veal cheeks with crispy sweetbreads and butternut squash gnocchi will be accompanied by the 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
– Still in the cabernet mode, 1991 Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will be featured with the venison course.
– Switching to semisweet flavors, a ruby grapefruit course will be accented by a Beaumes de Venise Sabayon.
– We finally get to dessert, consisting of chocolate and lemon flavors on one plate, both matching the 2002 Mer Soleil Late Harvest Viognier.
The vintners will share their philosophy and grape growing techniques that make Caymus one of the foremost vineyards of our time, while discussing the intricate flavors of the wines being poured.
After the seven-course wine dinner, you might want to retreat to a luxurious suite and awaken to a wonderful breakfast for two in bed.
Dinner seats are offered without room accommodations and are subject to limited availability.
The Caymus Wine Dinner is $285 per person. Rooms are not included and are based on availability.
To reserve for the dinner and/or a room, contact Christina Mytinger at (949) 234-3766 or christina.mytinger@stregis.com.
Snow at White House
Ten tons of snow will blanket the lawn of the Anaheim White House on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. when the acclaimed restaurant hosts its 21st annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Long regarded as one of the county’s most elaborate holiday events, the celebration features mounds of snow surrounding a spectacularly decorated 20-foot Christmas tree.
Champagne, carolers, festively attired holiday characters and an extravagant five-course, prix fixe dinner prepared especially for the occasion by executive chef Eddie Meza round out the evening.
Perhaps the best part is that proceeds from the evening benefit Caterina’s Club, a nonprofit that each year feeds 30,000 motel kids (so named because their working parents are unable to adequately provide for their children).
The evening officially begins with champagne and hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m.
Carolers will be singing holiday songs. A roving band of festively attired characters including Santa, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and more will entertain guests.
At 7 p.m. the lighting ceremony takes place with dinner, featuring a number of the restaurant’s elaborately prepared signature dishes, following immediately.
Under the charismatic leadership of Bruno Serato, the Anaheim White House has earned a stellar reputation as one of Orange County’s finest restaurants.
Dramatic and artfully crafted Italian and French cuisine, the best service, an extensive wine list and the elegant setting the restaurant provides account for the legions of loyal customers.
Madonna, Sidney Poitier, Andrea Bocelli, Gwen Stefani, Wolfgang Puck, Derek Jeter, Oscar de la Hoya, President Carter, President George W. Bush and the crown prince of Belgium are a few of the luminaries who have visited Anaheim White House.
The restaurant has received top awards from the most highly regarded restaurant and wine organizations and one can hardly keep up with the positive press it generates.
Anaheim White House: 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim (714) 772-1381. Reservations must be made for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony and dinner.
Tickets are $135 per person. For further information, visit the Web site ww.anaheimwhitehouse.com.
