Category: Laguna Beach

Review: Driftwood Kitchen

8/15/2014

The OCWino is finally making it big in the press junket! Our team was invited to join an opening press party for Driftwood Kitchen, the new restaurant in The Beach House's former location. The party was super fun and we were able to check out the space and meet the chef. Try out some appetizers and drinks in The Stateroom, their dark homey bar.

Jumbo grilled asperagus with a quail egg

Oyster baked with potato coulis and uni

A couple of the Stateroom's specialty drinks (with OC Wino coasters of course)

A drink how-to on the menu

The OCWino Team with Chef Rainer Schwarz

A few weeks later, the team came back for dinner to try out the proper fare.
We started with the Squash Blossoms appetizer. They are stuffed with ricotta, mint, and topped with an heirloom tomato sauce. It was a light and delicious dish to split.

Shelby won in the entrée selection contest with the Sonoma Duck Breast with a grilled nectarine and quinoa salad and huckleberry sauce. Everyone kept trying to steal bites from her all night.

The Driftwood Kitchen is a great alternative to The Deck next door if you want something a bit more classy, but still want to catch the sunset and eat some delicious appetizers. The Stateroom could be a great late night spot (it serves cougar crack!) and even has a back patio with a fire pit.

Driftwood Kitchen 619 Sleepy Hollow Lane next door to The Deck in Laguna Beach

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Meet Chef Molly

8/7/2014

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Wow, look at Chef Molly go! She created an art piece that you can eat!

First, she smeared Lebne (a mixture of strained Lebanese Yogurt) with fresh herbs over a stainless table, then on top she added food stations of Beetroot cured salmon, assorted pickled and dressed thinly sliced vegetables with squares of Tahini Bread. The result was a self-serve bar of healthy treats. It was so creative and the mix of flavors was delicious.

Artful savory tartlettes

Roasted duck, purple mashers, relish

Hottie Lili serving up delicious cocktails

David with mint ice cream sandwiches

The scene was moody and very cool

www.chefmolly.com

Trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Chef Molly has recently relocated from San Francisco to the OC. I always love meeting people who share my love and passion for food. The party was terrific. It had great pours, cocktails, and friendly wait staff in addition to the fantastic and really masterful nibbles. It was great meeting Molly and I can't wait to work on something together with her soon. I told her how picky I am and she absolutely wowed me. Thanks for including the OC Wino.!

Chef Molly, 23552 Commerce Center Drive, Suite S, Laguna Hills, California 92653
714-863-2457

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Pours are flowing at The Wine Gallery in Laguna

7/19/2014

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The first location of The Wine Gallery is in Corona Del Mar. However when they opened in Laguna, it became a true locals hangout for wine and a little nibble of food.
Ryan was the friendly face behind our pours this evening. Everyone that works there makes you feel so right at home. They know your pour by the time you sit down.
It's so much fun to go in and belly up to the bar. They even let us use our own coasters!
It's rare that you walk in and not know someone you know. So if you are looking for an intimate quiet evening, this might not be the best choice. If you want a good time with friends, The Wine Gallery is your spot.
I love the owner Chris. It's the best when you walk into a restaurant and they already know who you are. It makes you feel important and you appreciate their service. This is huge for the OC Wino. It's all about those personal touches.

Excellent pours of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Merlot

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Review: Maro Wood Grill, Laguna Beach

7/14/2014

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This is quite a crew that runs a terrific restaurant in Laguna Beach. It is my go-to spot. There is owner Maro, executive chef Deb, and Stefan, who makes sure we are well served at every meal.

The Maro Team: Stefan, Maro, and Deb

Maro, who is originally from Argentina, has a real feel for the grill. Chickens are on a spit and he supplies the most delicious cuts of meat.

My favorite is the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. The only way to order it is rare or medium rare. It comes with a green salad to balance out the meal.

I am sort of a creature of habit there. My favorite starters are the mushroom empanadas and roasted edamame and shishito peppers. They are absolutely delicious.

Grilled Shishito Peppers and Edamame with Ginger and Sea Salt

Mushroom Empanadas

As you can see, the pour is over the top and they have a really different but delicious wine list

For some reason, I never get tired of this great simple restaurant. I can walk in for lunch or dinner, get a great seat at the bar, and leave with a satisfied palette. They are open for lunch and dinner, and have been known to cater a party or two for me.

Lamb Chop with Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze and Goat Cheese

The crew is enjoying a celebration for Katie's birthday... note how great the water pour is too!

Deb has won awards for their to-die-for Banana Bread Pudding

Maro also offers great food to be picked up if you want food to bring to a concert in the park or on a beach picnic!

Maro Wood Grill 1915 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA
Open every day except for Mondays

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Restaurant Review: Cafe Zoolu

7/6/2014

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Really, Zoolu's owner Michael Leech needs to stop talking about retiring. He just revamped the restaurant and really has the best food in town.
Some Lagunatics go to Lumberyard, others go to Mandarin King, and some even venture to get wild and go to Watermarc. However these spots are boring and not full of the flavors, energy and small town charm like hot spot Zoolu.

It has been a favorite of mine since I reunited with owner Michael after 30 years. It is now truly our go to spot. We love sitting at the counter and watching him and Francisco work your magic. They work on such a small grill and yet what they turn out is truly fascinating and genius.

My favorite dishes include the artichoke, calamari, soft shell crabs, and of course, the ginormous half of a swordfish.

Filet with Roasted Vegetables and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

My Favorite Soft Shell Crab

Mccall is obsessed with the chocolate cake. I prefer being waited on by the wonderful Peter and Renee.

Best part? The oversized wine pours.

Michael really does run an amazing local hot joint. If he eases up on the Diet cokes, Zoolu will be around forever.
FMI: Cafe Zoolu, 860 Glenneyre Rd, Laguna Beach

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Happy Hour in Laguna Beach with the OCWino Team

6/19/2014

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This past Tuesday, I took my tech girl Shelby out on the town to check out some of the best spots for happy hour in Laguna Beach. We went to some great new places, judged some pours, and even bought a bottle of wine!

We started our late afternoon jaunt at Laguna Wine, Coffee, and Specialty Foods. We first got distracted with their amazing selection of wine glasses, olive oils, and gifts. This OCWino got excited over their collection of Riedel Wine Glasses, and overjoyed when I found a beer stein with a wine glass inside.

After checking out the shop, we moved over to their wine tasting section. The store has something that could only be described as a wine tasting vending machine. First you can purchase a $10, $20, or $50 card. You enter the card into either the white or red side of the machine, and make a selection of which wine within the case you would like to sample. Place a glass underneath a spout, press your chosen button, and have a perfect amount of wine to taste dispensed. Each wine varied in price slightly, but we were able to sample about 6 wines for $20. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, quick to offer suggestions based on our palette preferences and show us their estate wines.

Our favorites included Butter, a nice chardonnay, Meomi, a pinot noir, and Neyers, an aromatic merlot. I decided to purchase a bottle of the Neyers since the bouquet and taste were both incredible.

Next stop was the newly opened Tortilla Republic and Margarita Bar, located on South Coast Hwy. The restaurant has two other locations in West Hollywood and Hawaii. We first came to the bar with the expectation for Happy Hour pricing. However we learned their happy hour menu was still getting developed and would be released in the coming month. However we were content ordering their wonderful margaritas and appetizers despite the extra dinero.

The friendly bartenders made a whole range of margarita specialties for us ranging from our favorite Sweet Chile Margarita, a spicy Jalapeño, the "Perfect", Cucumber Lavender, Spicy Pomegranate, and Hydration, which blended in coconut water. We got all our margs made skinny to cut back on sugar and calories. These drinks were not strong, so we were able to try a lot and save room for the great food.

The Sweet Chile Margarita

Jalapeño Margarita

Cucumber Lavender Margarita

Hydration Margarita

Spicy Pomegranate Margarita

To counter the tequila, we ordered many reinforcements. First, we started with a salsa tasting, which included a salsa mesa, salsa de tomatillo fresca, and salsa de payaya habenero. Armed with a basket of freshly baked chips, we finished the colorful and flavor packed dips easily.

Next came the Flautas de Pollo. Our bartender recommended them and we were not disappointed. Initially, I remarked how they were too beautiful to eat. However after our first bite, we dove in and demolished the delicious and savory treat.

We ended our mexican feast with a Queso Fundito. We weren't exactly sure what the dish would be, but since it had the words cheese and fun in it, we assumed it would be awesome. The ramekin filled with hot spiced cheese and fresh tortillas did not disappoint.

It was hard for us to leave to catch the sunset since our bartenders were so fun, especially Mark who gave us free drinks!

My tech guru and our Tortilla Republic Bartenders

Disaster struck as we hit The Deck for sunset. Just as we sat down at the bar, an overhead seagull left a present on my freshly blown out do! People say it is a sign of good luck, but that unexpected surprise could have come a day earlier!

The Deck wasn't too crowded as it can be on the weekends, but it was a great place to watch the sunset, drink a final cocktail, and make new friends at the bar with Laguna locals. An OC musician, Kevin Miso, serenaded the patrons with the sounds of Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and some other beach-y classics. Overall, a great bar for a beach town.

A Custom Raspberry Lemon Cocktail

A Skinny Silver Surfer

As we finished our night, we headed back to Shelby's home in North Laguna, and enjoyed a slice of pizza, a final pour, and great conversation with her family.

FMI on Laguna Wine Coffee and Specialty Foods, click here
FMI on Tortilla Republic, click here
FMI on The Deck, click here

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Restaurant Review: 370 Common

6/16/2014

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Do we all miss Sorento Grill in Laguna Beach? Well I can honestly say that its usurper 370 Common is one of my favorite restaurants in Laguna. They have an extensive menu of small starter dishes that are really all full of flavor and provide many different selections that are fun to share with a group of people.

Their burger is outstanding and of course you have to get the egg on top. The pasta is excellent, and the brussel sprouts and cauliflower will blow your socks off.

It is so much fun to sit at the counter and watch the chefs do their thing while you sip on a healthy pour. My favorite thing on the menu, which is not offered all the time, is called Sending the Chef To Cooking School. When it's on the menu, trust me. You have to try it out.

The owner, Ryan Adams, did me a huge favor two years ago. As we all know, fois gras is illegal in California. I decided the day before it became a law, I was going to give a send off fois gras party. So I contacted Ryan, and he ordered three fois gras lobes. He was so amazing, had me back in the kitchen when I picked them up, and put me through a mini-cooking class on how to braise and sear the fois gras. It turned out delicious, my guests were amazed, and I have remained a fan of Adams and his staff ever since.

An added bonus... They are open on Mondays! Try to sit downstairs. As I said, the counter is my favorite. It's loud, the acoustics are a little noisy, but it is fun and delicious.

FMI: http://www.370common.com/
370 Common is located at 370 Glenneyre Street in Laguna Beach, CA

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Brunch with the gals

6/2/2014

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After having some girlfriends over for a sleepover, I decided to treat them to a nice cozy brunch at my house.
We of course started with mimosas and had backup in a beautiful pitcher they gave me which I set on the table.

The mimosas kicked in and I decided to make poached eggs on toast. I used fresh eggs from my good friend's farm. There is nothing better than the taste of fresh yolks. The eggs are smooth, blue or brown shelled, and have the brightest orange yolks you have ever seen.

Placing actual china, placemats, cloth napkins, and a bouquet of flowers in the center of your table is all you really need to set an inviting table. Great pours help, as well as tasty food and kick ass conversation.

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Check out Matt Williams's pours at The Deck in Laguna Beach

6/1/2014

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Recently with my travel buddies, we took a walk on the beach and ended up at The Deck on Sleepy Hollow Lane for a refreshing pour. Matt, one of the hottest bartenders at this Laguna oceanfront restaurant, suggested the Silver Surfer.

We of course asked for a slight (guilt-reducing) modification, and he produced a round of tequila cocktails infused with cucumber, chile, and mint with just a splash of soda water.

The drinks were just as fresh as the bartender and we downed them fast!

Once he found out I was the OCWino, he produced an array of delicious samples of his other favorite sugary cocktails the restaurant frequently serves. The Deck provides both a beautiful view and a generous pour.
FMI: http://deckonlaguna.com

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Review: Driftwood Kitchen

Meet Chef Molly

Pours are flowing at The Wine Gallery in Laguna

Review: Maro Wood Grill, Laguna Beach

Restaurant Review: Cafe Zoolu

Happy Hour in Laguna Beach with the OCWino Team

Restaurant Review: 370 Common

Brunch with the gals

Check out Matt Williams's pours at The Deck in Laguna Beach

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