Another restaurant I visited during Orange County Restaurant Week was AnQi, at Bloomingdales in South Coast Plaza, where I met Tanya of Design Action Studios for lunch.  Considering it was only 11:30 a.m., we refrained from ordering the Pink Lotus martini  but savored every bit of the three course lunch.

The first course was a Roasted Corn Soup with chicken and avocado. For our second course I chose the Vegetable Delight with organic tofu and Tanya selected the Roasted Wild King Salmon in a citrus reduction sauce. Molecular Cheesecake ended the meal –  a light, airy puff of cheesecake with berry sauce. We also enjoyed a Hibiscus Lavendar Nojito sent to our table as an apology for the slow service we encountered when first seated.  I doubt if that’s a common occurrence and will definitely return for the Pink Lotus martini and more AnQi specialities like the Garlic Noodles, which I’ve read Warren Beatty finds addicting.

AnQi opened in December, 2009 and we have Elizabeth An, eldest daughter of Helene An of Crustacean, Beverly Hills fame,  for bringing the House of An to South Coast Plaza.  Described as Euro-Asian bistro and gourmet Vietnamese  fusion in reviews that I’ve read,  AnQi transforms traditional Asian cuisine with complex flavors and exotic flourishes. This, combined with celebrity-style presentation, handmade cocktails such as the  Pink Lotus martini served with a puff of cotton candy, and a dramatic, sexy and sophisticated space declares AnQi an extraordinary dining experience. Put it at the top of your short list!

Last week  was Orange County Restaurant Week so there wasn’t much cooking go on in the She’s Cookin’ Kitchen.  OC Restaurant Week gives local foodies a chance to enjoy specially priced pre fix menus for lunch and dinner at over 100 participating restaurants. The specialty menus usually consisted of three courses at lunch for $10, $15 or $20 depending on the restaurant and four courses at dinner for $20 or $30.

I live in Huntington Beach and restaurant week gave me the chance to check out  two local restaurants.  The first was Zimzala at the Shorebreak Hotel in the exciting new downtown development called The Strand. The Shorebreak is a Joie de Vivre hotel and is described on their website as:  ”The ultimate Southern California beach experience with a contemporary twist. Shorebreak Hotel, in Huntington Beach, combines the relaxed, sun-drenched spirit of an Orange County coastline hotel with edgy modern accents”.  I loved the mid-century modern, meets contemporary beach aesthetic.

It was a Monday so the hotel wasn’t busy and I was able to chat with the ladies at the front desk and Megan, the sales manager.  I loved the vibe and immediately thought that it would be a cool place to have a graduation dinner celebration for my daughter in June.  My lunch date, Marcie aka Suburban Mama and her son Milo arrived and we were seated.  All the staff was extremely friendly in that low-key beachy way

The lunch was three courses beginning with an ultra rich cream of celery soup and ending with a decadent dessert of chocolate ganache served with thin slices of grilled sourdough bread brushed with olive oil and sea salt – the contrast of the sweet and salty did a dance on your taste buds.  There were three choices for the entree and we both selected the grilled cheese on toasted brioche with monterey jack cheese, applewood -smoked bacon, avocado and tomato served with thin french fries.  Everything was delicious, presented elegantly and with attention to detail.  In fact, I was blown away by the tea “service” that accompanied my ice tea – served with lemon, raw sugar, regular sugar, artificial sweeteners served in a petite silver pot, and a flacon of simple syrup! I felt remiss in not using any of it!

I’ll definitely be returning to Zimzala with my husband and highly recommend it for the coastal Meditteranean food, ambience, and proximity to the beach where you can enjoy a walk aprés dining and revel in the beauty of beach life. Check out their menus here.