SEXY, SURFER, CHIC – is a spot-on description of Huntington Beach’s Shorebreak Hotel and its restaurant & bar Zimzala. Only steps away from the famous strand in Huntington Beach which annually hosts the US Open of Surfing, Zimzala is fast becoming our favorite sit-down and relax-at-the-beach restaurant. We enjoy Zimzala’s youthful vibe, the menu’s emphasis on […]
OC Dining
Destination Dining: Stonehill Tavern
Stonehill Tavern at The St. Regis Monarch Beach lives up to, indeed, surpasses, what General Manager Pallava Goenka states as their concept: “At Stonehill Tavern, the food, the staff, the service, and the ambiance combine to create an award-winning restaurant that is a consistently amazing experience for our guests – and Chef Polignano’s new menu […]
Beach Eats: Eat Chow 2
Another beautiful day at the beach! After a few hours of sun, sand, and surf you can really work up an appetite – fortunately, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach have an abundance of great places offering mouthwatering, creative eats that are conveniently located within walking or biking distance from the beach. No need to battle […]
SOL’s Sweet Potato and Black Bean Taco
In February, I attended a party at SOL COCINA to celebrate Chef Deborah Schneider and her Baja-style tacos being featured in Oprah’s O Magazine! (February issue). Writer Julie Powell declares a Taco Fiesta: the Easiest Dinner Party You’ll Ever Throw; there’s no argument from me that a taco bar with an array of fillings and toppings is a […]
Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen Sizzles
Sunday brunch at Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen in Brea is nothing short of sizzling hot! Take two margaritas, add the energetic Latin rhythms of Sombra Quieta, shake it up, and you just might find your inner Latina/o! What we found on a gray and rainy Sunday in March was flavorful, familiar Latin food, killer cocktails, […]
Z Cafe at South Coast Plaza
Whether you’re fueling your body for a strenuous day of shopping or taking a break to relax and recharge, Z Café in South Coast Plaza has what you need, from the pizza that made Z famous (available with gluten free crust, too) to a hefty sandwich or a fresh salad of organic greens, to “Sharables” […]
Wine Lab at The Camp
As if THE CAMP couldn’t get any cooler, the recent opening of the Wine Lab seems to say “you complete me” 🙂 The casual, hipster, eco-chic vibe of THE CAMP is a favorite of mine – and many others who seek respite from SoCal’s ubiquitous strip malls and gargantuan shopping districts – and the perfect place […]
Spike’s Tilapia Lettuce Wraps Rock!
Have you tried Spike’s Fish House yet? Normally, I don’t write about fast/casual concepts because they don’t fit in with my heart healthy focus. But when I finally tried Spike’s Fish House – unfortunately, there’s not one near Huntington Beach, so it took me awhile, I was really impressed with the freshness of the fish, […]
Raya – The Ritz Carlton
Named “Restaurant of the Year” by Riviera Orange County in July 2011, Raya lives up to the acclaim with its unique Pan-Latin Coastal Cuisine prepared with sustainable seafood, local produce, natural and organic meat and Chef Richard Sandoval’s signature Latin flavors. A stunning restaurant with unparalleled views of the sweeping Laguna coastline, Raya is destination dining […]
Lucca Cafe: small plates, big taste
Oh yeah! This week, and any week’s obsession, Lucca Cafe’s Own Cured and Braised Crispy Pork Belly, on a bed of corn kernel and mascarpone polenta, topped with a slather of dried apricot chutney: the sticky sweet apricot is the perfect foil for the crisped porcine richness and creamy polenta wraps each bite with a […]