After our darling waiter picked out a lovely Chardonnay, which by the way was a really nice pour, we started grazing the menu.  I had read about their delicious “Toasts” and just look.  We had the avocado, heirloom tomato, and finally the candy stripe fig.  Each one  wowed us.  We moved onto ordering their signature dish, rotisserie chicken, which was so moist and the skin a little crispy, to die for.  The butcher steak was served with tomato, romesco, and served on a trencher (Google it.)  Look at the frisee aux lardon. You ask yourself, what is that?  Bacon confit, slow cooked egg, with a mustard vinaigrette.   We finished with two fabulous desserts.  Truly a favorite pick and will go back.  They are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the ever popular brunch.

Superba Food + Bread
1900 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291
(310) 907-5075

A lot of Buzz has gone around about Fig & Olive.  To be honest, I have had no desire to even step foot in there.  My mysterious friends and I decided to dive in to the scene one Saturday afternoon.   It was a little later lunch and I was pleasantly greeted by a smiling hostess who said I may pick a couch any couch.  I loved the lounge aspect of the entry.  The color scenes were very calming. The dining room was a little massive for my taste,  so I stuck to the cozy front lounge which serves the full menu. To avoid the hectic Newport scene, try to hit it during off times.  Starve a little and have a later lunch. The food is really worth it. We ordered a lovely bottle of delicious chardonnay and settled in for a Besties lunch/brunch.  

After much deliberation because the menu is quite extensive, we chose 3 types of Crostini.  My favorite being the prosciutto-ricotta-fig-olive-walnut.  
We also sampled burrata-tomato-herbs-balsamic and finally the delicious goat cheese-caramelized onion-chive. We moved onto sharing Zucchini Carpaccio, and a really great Beef Carpaccio with truffle oil. We finish our meal with a truffle-mushroom-fontina scrambled eggs.

So followers, lay down your armor on the OC transplants.  Bottom line; it is pretty, comfortable, good food, and wine. The service has also picked up tremendously.  Go and let -Me -know!!!


Fig & Olive
151 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 877-3005

Our server was adorable and was patient while we browsed the extensive menu. There was plenty on the menu that I could have ordered which says a lot.  You can see what we ordered.  Everything was really tasty especially The Grilled Cheese Bacon Sandwich. Since it was truly a carb overload lunch, we took the tasty truffle fries home and finished with a delicious homemade Blackberry and Mint Sorbet, compliments of our server and Cate Hughes, the director of wine & beverage marketing.  She could not have been more accommodating. The decor in the restaurant is really  cool eclectic and has tables to seat large parties.  They are big into serving family style which I think is a fun way to go because you can sample so many of their dishes.  Cucina Enoteca is definitely worth a visit. 

Cucina Enoteca
Fashion Island
Newport: 949-706-1416
Also locations in Irvine and Del Mar

This is Kevin, my Anthony Bourdain.  He and I share similar palettes. Kevin always guides me to the most amazing culinary treats.  Here he is with our darling waiter Michael master minding our delicious lunch.  This was a Tuesday afternoon and I guess weekends are crazy busy with Dim Sum carts, food, and people everywhere. They decided on an all fish lunch which was beyond great.  The flavors of all the sauces are perfect. Not too hot or salty.   Really appropriate for the dishes.  Look at the exciting things that we ate.

"SAM WOO is the Chinese pronunciation

of SAM, meaning three; and WOO, meaning harmony, respectively. The ancient Chinese Wordbook (circa AD 100) refers the three strokes of this Chinese character three as the culmination of the heavens, earth and man.

Hong Kong Style Chinese dishes are delicate, aromatic and exotic delicacies by the balancing principle of Cantonese style; you can't help but notice a unique clarity and distintness of flavor to do so many style foods offering in the Hong Kong food industry."

The lunch was perfection. Kevin and I even sampled a  chewy fish eye which was our iron for the day. He is a master at ordering food.  Julie and I went along for the ride.  Sam Woo Restaurant is a definite go to for an amazing delicious and authentic experience. I can't wait to go again and have Michael pick out some more delicacies.

Sam Woo Restaurant
949-262-0888
15333 Culver Drive, Ste 720 Irvine, CA 92604