C4 Deli in downtown Santa Ana is the second venture of Chapter One owners Jeff Hall and Jeff Jensen. C4 opened to much fanfare with local and county officials, friends, family and loyal customers sandwiched into the New York deli style space for the ribbon cutting on October 29th. Chapter One across the street is a place that’s known for its craft beer, but the beer selection at C4 is great, too – more than 50 choices by the bottle, plus more than a dozen on tap. But what’s even better is the wine and the gregarious presence of “Uncle James” to answer all your wine questions and assist you in any way he can to make an informed decision about what wine to buy for dinner that night, as a host gift for a holiday party, or a fitting present for your vinophile friends.
Including a boutique wine and beer store inside a time honored, counter style delicatessen is, in the words of Brad Johnson, food critic for the Orange County Register, “an unexpected move for a small deli with only about two dozen seats. It sells about 50 wines from around the world, most of which you will have never heard of. But what’s best about the wine is that everything is also available for retail. And when you buy a bottle to go, the price is about half of what it would cost if you were to drink it onsite. So you can take home a great 2009 Chianti from Castello della Paneretta for merely $26.99, or a nice sauvignon blanc from Ancient Peaks in Paso Robles for only $12.99. This has become one of my favorite go-to places to pick up a bottle of wine for everyday occasions”. He goes on to rave that C4’s housemade porchetta (an amazing Italian culinary invention of pork, fat, and herbs) is the best he’s had in Orange County and a reason to stick around and eat. {Source: Orange County Register}
C4 Deli: cure for the common, 200 N. Broadway, Santa Ana
Chapter One – the modern local is exactly that: a unique culinary-centric Public House that celebrates it’s “local.” Whether it’s the seasonal, local, farm-to-table sourcing of ingredients, the history of the local area, or the local residents that feel their sense of ownership; Chapter One: the modern local is a product of its ideals and creative style as well as its community and local history. The interior is a blend of a library, pub and a speakeasy with an urban backdrop. Dark cozy woods and streamlined art deco and craftsman design lend a stylish vintage vibe to a comfortable neighborhood gathering spot. A welcoming place to meet and dine – oh, alright, a gastropub as they are meant to be.
Chapter One: the modern local – Chef Jason Montelibano, Fried Baked Potato, Tuna “2 Step”
Since taking over the role of Executive Chef at Chapter One in October, Chef Jason Montelibano has quickly gained several impressive accolades including winning the To Live & Dine Event hosted by Riviera Magazine. His homemade lamb ragout and homemade potato gnocchi with heirloom carrots, gremolata, feta cheese, curried granola and fried kale impressed the crowd who ultimately chose his dish as their favorite.
That Montelibano started with Chapter One in March of 2011 and has risen to the top of the kitchen, becoming the new head chef and captain of the Chapter One, speaks to his endless dedication, creative zeal and consistent execution as well as his deep understanding of the Chapter One/C4 brand and culture and what makes them an integral part of the food revolution that has been happening in the arts historic district of downtown Santa Ana for the past two years.
Important to Chapter One is contributing to the local community with frequent charity fund raisers such as the recent event to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and nightly specials that fans have grown to know and love such as:
Late Night Dining Menu – Sunday – Wednesday 10:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Thursday – Friday 10:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
After Office (Happy Hour) from Mon-Sat. 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.,
Tapas Tuesday – half off ALL “Snacks” from 3 p.m. until midnight,
Wednesday: Live Jazz & Wine Night – /2 off wine bottles and no corkage fee,
Thursday – Burger + Beer – order any burger and get a select Craft Draft Beer for 25¢, $4 Schnozberry Jameson shots | $2 Old Chubs | $6 Moscow Mules
Sunday – Sinatra Sunday Brunch with live music
Sunday & Monday night after 5:00 p.m. – Service Industry Night drink specials for people in the restaurant and salon industry (bring proof!)
Highlights on the fall/winter menu include a ‘Bird’s Nest’ that consists of three mini Scotch eggs, frisee salad, bacon jam, mustard sauce; Tuna 2-Step featuring sesame-panko crusted ahi filet on a bed of stir-fried organic vegetables, spicy ginger-citrus oyster soy sauce, peanut butter powder accompanied by a tuna tartar with roasted corn, scallions, cilantro, ginger vinaigrette; and Cassoulet Scallop appetizer consisting of one perfectly seared U-10 scallop nestled in comforting lentil cassoulet with creamy chive vinaigrette. I love Scotch eggs as long as they’re not greasy and I especially liked having a fresh component served alongside to balance the savory richness of the fried eggs. The dusting of peanut butter powder on the ahi gave it a unique flavor profile distinguishing it somewhat from seared ahi everywhere else and the warm scallop on a bed of lentils is a deliciously rustic and satisfying winter weather dish.
“Bird’s Nest” Scotch eggs
Scallop Cassoulet
An Asian flair that speaks to Chef Montelibano’s heritage is evident in several of Chapter One’s signature dishes like Sticky Icky Pork Belly Buns, Crispy Skin Fried Chicken served with ponzu sauce, and the Tuna 2 Step with ginger-citrus oyster soy sauce. Affectionately known as Chef “Chicken Wing” (I’ll let him tell you the story), his namesake wings are slathered in a sticky Filipino Adobo-style sauce and sprinkled with slivers of green onions and dusted with peanut butter powder.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony for C4, several of us decided to grab a bite at Chapter One. We ordered from the Tapas Tuesday menu and, sadly, the wings were underwhelming – small and lonely looking with a barely discernible adobo flavor and a pickle. The three of us polished off the “Bird’s Nest” of Scotch Eggs on a bed of frisée salad in an instant – we had first tried them at a media tasting and loved them – a tiny hard-cooked quail egg surrounded by an herby sausage mixture and a golden crispy shell with a hint of maple syrup. Like breakfast in a bite :)We gazed longingly at the table next to us and the remnants of a mound of fries and meat which we guessed to be the Sisig Fries – described as pulled pork, pig ears, pig tail, pig jowl, and salsa criolla with a fried egg – and definitely looked much more satisfying. Next time…
227 N. Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 352-2225
C4 Deli: the cure for the common
200 N. Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 263-1555
Food photos courtesy of Ajenda PR
I would be there EVERY Thursday night! That’s one seriously good lookin’ burger and fries!! Ooooohhhh, I do love my burgers!!
Hmmm sounds amazing! Love the Tapas Tuesday. Sounds like a great deal and food looks great. Nice ambient too!
Priscilla… I just love your photos!! That one of the beer flight should be in a magazine somewhere! Sure wishing I lived just a little closer so I could pop down for lunch, but I’m tucking this away for when Liv’s competition season starts and we are always looking for restaurants. We travel all over the LA area, so your reviews are helping!!
Awww, thanks, Kim. Glad to be of help 🙂 We should figure out a place halfway where we could meet up for lunch sometime – San Clemente maybe?
I just ran across this restaurant a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been meaning to get back there to try the food. Thanks for the nice wrap-up, you’ve sold me!
Hi Sarah – You must try the Porchetta at C4 when you’re in the mood for an authentic Italian deli sandwich and a beer! I’ve got a great idea – let’s go together 🙂