Autumn Menu and Thanksgiving Dinner at Seasons 52

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Seasons 52 Autumn Pairing menu is always a delicious way to swing into the flavors of Fall: think mushrooms galore, sweet butternut squash, Manchester Farms quail and prized tree-ripened Asian pears from Subarashii Kudamono. The seasonal menu offerings, as with all dishes offered at the restaurant, feature techniques such as wood-fire grilling and brick-oven cooking that bring out the natural flavor of carefully sourced, timely ingredients, allowing guests freedom to indulge and eat healthy. The autumn dishes, which include appetizers, entrees, sides and a signature pumpkin pie Mini Indulgence, are available through mid-December.

Showing my brother some of the fine dining we have in Orange County included lunch at Seasons 52 in South Coast Plaza on a perfect balmy afternoon in Costa Mesa. Sitting on the patio with palm trees swaying in the breeze against a backdrop of glimmering office high rises, we started with the Trio of Roasted Mushrooms Flatbread ($11.50) and enjoyed it immensely: thin, crispy crust topped with earthy, aromatic Black Trumpet, buttery Oyster and grilled smoked Portobello mushrooms accented with a buttery garlic confit and whisper of truffle oil.

We also ordered the Cider Glazed Grilled Chicken Skewers ($9.95) appetizer because I remembered how good they were last year. Unfortunately, it was the least impressive of the dishes that day. A unique presentation was hindered by a floppy apple – a perky dried apple would have looked prettier, and the chicken was a bit dry and under seasoned. The Fuji apple slaw with cranberries and crunchy toasted pumpkin seeds saw more of the apple cider vinegar and was the best part.

I make a point of dining at Seasons 52 in the fall for one dish in particular – the Manchester Farms Quail. I was happy to see that the preparation as basically the same as last year: the Manchester Farms Quail ($29.95) is roasted and served with a mushroom stuffing, leaf spinach, bacon and balsamic sauce. I’m a spinach freak, just ask my family, and the wonderful favor of the quail was not masked by a too-heavy sauce. The platter of three savory quail was a generous serving considering my brother also ordered the Maple Glazed All-Natural Roasted Half Chicken ($18.50) as his entree. The chicken, bathed in a zesty chicken au jus, was moist with a pleasing blend of salty from the au jus and sweet from the maple glaze. Served with al dente roasted autumn vegetables and comforting red bliss mashed potatoes, the dish is reminiscent of Sunday suppers.

Seasons 52 has an award-winning international wine list with a list of wines hand-picked by Master Sommelier George Miliotes. The manager recommended the Jolie Saison, a premium Gamay wine and it was the perfect accompaniment to the robust flavors of the autumn-inspired dishes. Jolie Saison appears on the “Drink Them Before They’re Famous” wine list, which features insider wines that are on the verge of becoming highly rated and widely recognized. Miliotes traveled to France to create this exclusive, unparalleled blend with famed winemaker Georges Duboeuf. Challenging convention, Miliotes and Duboeuf selected Gamay grapes from three separate growing areas —Ardèche (25%), Comté Tolosan (25%) and two Beaujolais Crus (50%)— to create Jolie Saison.

“The Gamay from Ardèche brings color and mid-palate and really helps make this wine very distinct,” says Miliotes. “Flesh and more color, fruitiness and mouthfeel comes from the Comté Tolosan site, and the complexity and bones comes from the Beaujolais Crus.”

Highlights of the autumn menu also include:

– Lemongrass Steamed Black Mussels featuring Prince Edward Island mussels in a Thai green chile sauce, served with grilled sesame toast
– Butternut Squash Soup topped with crisp shiitake mushrooms and chives
– Brussels Sprouts roasted with garlic and topped with a parmesan-bacon crust
– Pumpkin Pie Mini Indulgence with a ginger snap crust

About that Pumpkin Pie Mini Indulgence… Yes, the best was yet to come! A lot of folks can’t wait for the Mini Indulgences and I have a few friends who dine at Seasons 52 just for these diminutive delectable desserts that give you permission to try more than one!

We devoured three and the Pumpkin Pie with a ginger snap crust was amazing – ginger and pumpkin flavors mingle in a luscious, not-to-sweet autumn love affair topped with whipped cream.

The Mini Indulgences are a steal at $2.75 each!

Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Crust Mini Indulgence

Since their opening in Orange County in 2010, Seasons 52 has proven to be a perfect match for health conscious diners in Orange County with a desire to keep the calories in check without sacrificing taste. Seasons 52′s seasonally inspired menu strives to provide the freshest ingredients prepared using rustic cooking techniques: think wood-fired grill, brick-oven cooking, slow roasting, and caramelizing to enhance natural flavors.

The evolving menu changes four times a year, celebrating the harvest of each season and, menus for special dietary needs: low sodium, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free, are available, but the real kicker is every dish on the menu is 475 calories or less!

Seasons 52 will open for Thanksgiving for the first time. An a la carte menu will be offered along with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, including Plainville Farms roasted turkey, traditional herb stuffing, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, maple-glazed butternut squash, French green beans and house-made cranberry relish for $26.95 per adult. A children’s portion ($12.95), as well as the full autumn dinner menu, will also be available. Service will be from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please call 714-437-5252 for reservations.