Caf & #233; Pascal
Location:
at the foot of the Bridge of Gardens, South Coast Plaza
Phone:
(714) 751-4911
Event:
free live music, noon June 8-10, 4 p.m. June 8 and 9
Food and Music Fest on Tap at Caf & #233; Pascal
We’ve all seen a lot of glitzy and dramatic productions in our travels, our visits to the theater and at places that specialize in over-the-top entertainment. However, I never expected to be so impressed by a production for a corporate affair as I was by the recent Marriott Masters, held at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel. No, this is not a golf tournament, but rather a three-day event in which Marriott hosts some of its best clients and meeting planners.
Corporate headquarters may have selected the location of the Masters, but putting on the show fell, nevertheless, on the shoulders of Anaheim Marriott’s general manager Doug Watson and his crew.
At the Grand Gala Finale Party on Friday evening, my food-oriented personality was in the proverbial seventh heaven. Pacific Event Productions (the in-house decorator for the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, the Desert Springs Marriott and the Anaheim Marriott) dazzled one and all with a 25,000-square-foot beach scene, complete with a “dance floor” covered with tons of sand.
To get rid of the calories consumed during the evening, with all the good food that was around, Bill Hopkin’s Rock ‘N Orchestra was flown in from San Francisco to provide not only rock ‘n roll music for dancing, but an ongoing stage show akin to Rio’s Carnival productions.
The food was amazing as well. Lobster medallions served in spoons. Duck foie gras on morsels of flatbread. Poached scallops in Asian spices. Those were passed appetizers.
Then we had the hand-rolled sushi taken with “saketinis,” steamed lobsters and clams. One station had glorious little soba noodle cakes with ponzu sauce. I filled a plate with fresh albacore seared in peanut oil, ravioli stuffed with lobster, medallions of veal and pheasant seared with coriander.
I piled a plate embarrassingly high with very exotic desserts. Did you ever see banquet food like this at a hotel?
Yet another cool part of each evening was the hospitality room overlooking the pool, which had been turned into a true Leopard Lounge, replete with plush leopard-upholstered furniture.
Since most of us in OC missed the era of the hip clubs in the big city, especially those like Studio 54 in NYC, having our last-of-the-evening drinks in this den scattered with chaise lounges, chic club chairs and live jazz was more fun than I can describe.
The Anaheim Marriott is at 700 W. Convention Way, phone (714) 750-8000. To contact Pacific Event Productions, call (714) 776-9908.
Music by the Bridge
There are two great reasons to visit Caf & #233; Pascal on the Garden Terrace at the foot of the South Coast Plaza Bridge of Gardens between Friday, June 8 and Sunday, June 10: the food and the music. On those days, owner and chef Pascal Olhats will present a live Fete d’ Music of French and American standards on accordion and keyboard, with live vocal arrangements.
The music, for which there is no charge, is scheduled from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Those with an appetite can choose from the Caf & #233; Pascal menu that features food the typical casual diner in France would consume: various sandwiches, an assortment of traditional cheeses, composed salads, cold meat tureens, a special meal of the day and some terrific pastries. Along with a glass of wine or a good cup of coffee,and the nostalgic music,it’s my idea of a swell way to spend a little time. For more information, call (714) 751-4911.
