This week’s belated roundup is like a potluck of tastes. A cocktail here; a butter cake there. We keep things cool and casual for the most part, since the temperatures show no signs of dropping anymore. Have a tasty weekend!
Spend Your Sunset On A Boat! – Dana Point
While OC Wine Cruise launches in the early evening every Friday and Sunday year-round, at the end of November, they’ll have a new set of organic wines to choose from. Sporting the distinctive Wyland label, there will be a Grigio, Nero d’Avola and Cava in addition to their current selections. Ideal for dates, girls night out and intimate groups, this 90-minute cruise around Dana Point Harbor is super relaxing and perfect for quality time and those sunset photos. Enjoy a little wine education as you sip your glass of red. 34675 Golden Lantern, (949) 496-5794; www.danawharf.com.
Burnt Truck and Dogzilla Celebrate Eight Years! – Irvine/Huntington Beach
If you thought it was difficult being a brick-and-mortar restaurant, try lasting as a luxe lonchera for eight years! That’s what a duo of trucks have been able to pull off. Not only did Dogzilla and The Burnt Truck join forces in 2016, they used their combined awesomeness to launch both Burntzilla and Burnt Crumbs. As a thank you to their fans, there is a special promotion going on through November 15. For every combo purchased at either lonchera or Burntzilla, you’ll be included in a drawing for a catered lunch for 25 (you select the truck). Those who are social media savvy will have an opportunity to win one of eight, $25 gift cards via Instagram accounts @burntzilla, @theburnttruck and @dogzillahotdogs. We’re talking sliders and tots for days! www.theburnttruck.com, www.dogzillahotdogs.com, 14413 Culver Dr., Irvine, (949) 392-5995; www.burntzilla.com.
Mastro’s Wants To (Pumpkin) Butter You Up – Costa Mesa/Newport Beach
There’s butter cake, and then there’s Mastro’s seasonal pumpkin butter cake. Finished with housemade whipped cream, caramel sauce, caramelized sugar, and vanilla ice cream, this is one that even PSL fans are getting frantic about. Oh, we almost forgot about the pumpkin pie spiced cream cheese. Go find a reason to celebrate, and . . .screw finding a reason. Mastro’s Steakhouse, 633 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, (714) 546-7405; Mastro’s Ocean Club, 8112 E. Coast Hwy., (949) 376-6990; www.mastrosrestaurants.com.
Michael’s On Naples Knows Wine Dinners – Long Beach
Shout out to Chef Eric in the LBC and his most recent wine pairing dinner with Gambero Rosso. We very much enjoyed our Carpaccio de Pesce Spada (Swordfish with cherry tomatoes and pine nuts). Their event calendar for the rest of the month includes Meatball Monday (3rd Monday of the month), Sunday brunch, live music every Thursday and Friday, and a very Yelloween with Veuve Clicquot on the 31st. The next wine tasting night happens to also fall on Election Day, November 6. And if you haven’t checked out their upstairs bar/lounge/dining lately, you’re missing out. 5620 E. 2nd St., (562) 439-7080; www.michaelsonnaples.com.
Pacific Hideaway Feels The Need– The Need For Speed – Huntington Beach
We’re pretty sure Casey at Kimpton Shorebreak Resort’s Pacific Hideaway is the most logical person to sport a bomber jacket and request a flyby from the control tower that is his Top Gun-themed pop-up bar today and tomorrow. You bet your Codename Charlie we’ll be on deck to see exactly what’s in the cocktail trio shown above under the alias Admiral’s Daughter, Danger Zone and That Loving Feeling. 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., (714) 965-4448; www.pacifichideawayhb.com.
Thug Kitchen Collaborates With Casa Barilla – Costa Mesa
There’s a lotta pasta to choose from when we dine out. We’ve had our share of gluten-free and squid ink, but one we’re pretty excited about is Casa Barilla’s red lentil penne. They’ve got a limited-time special to go along with the newest member to their pasta family. Purchase a dish of Red Lentil Penne (with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto), and Casa Barilla will donate one serving of dry pasta to a local charity. Their cooking collaboration with Thug Kitchen also means you’ll find the playful cookbook for sale there– perhaps as a holiday gift-giving idea? For each cookbook purchase, all profits will also go towards charity. We dig the combination of pasta, pesto, garlic, Calabrian chili and toasted almonds for crunch. 3333 Bristol St., (657) 205-1025; www.barillarestaurants.com.
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.