OC Grub Guide 7/11-7/17: Wine, Dine and Old Vine

There is so much goodness yet so little time this week. We can’t possibly do everything, but maybe you can? Wine makes anything possible— except perhaps driving.

 

 

Old Vine Gives Diners A Quality Night Out – Costa Mesa

Authentic Italian cuisine paired with all the wine and cocktails you can imbibe. You can count on this and more if you book reservations to attend this unique evening with guests Chef John Nocita (founder of the Italian Culinary Institute in Calabria) and Evangelos Triantafyllopoulos of White Monkey in Athens. Tickets are for Saturday the 20th and are going for $150. This is most definitely a special evening. 2937 Bristol St., (714) 545-1411; www.oldvinekitchenbar.com.

 

Kudos to Selanne and Harley – Laguna Beach

Sending congratulatory shout outs to both establishments as they celebrate their Wine Spectator Awards. Harley’s wine list (per the standards set by Wine Spectator), “feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and and style. Whether compact or extensive, focused or diverse, these lists deliver sufficient choice to satisfy discerning wine lovers.” They received an Award of Excellence. In the case of Selanne Steak Tavern, “….these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team.” They received a Best of Award of Excellence. We’ll be sure to celebrate with a glass at the bar soon. 1464 S. Coast Hwy., (949) 715-9881; www.selannesteaktavern.com. 370 Glenneyre St., (949) 715-1530; www.harleylagunabeach.com.

 

Paderia Bakehouse Presents – Fountain Valley

Last week, we broke the news that Paderia was expanding to both Santa Monica and Irvine in the next year. Well, the other delicious news is that their new focus is no longer on malasadas. Behold their take on a Portuguese Egg Tart, Pastel de Nata. Ringing in at $2.50, these are delightfully rich and flaky. Pro tip: Shake a dash or two of cinnamon on top to further enhance their flavor. Pro tip #2: Refrigerating them overnight results in a creamy, flan-like texture, morphing them into a sort of secondary dessert. Head over there this Saturday for their debut. 18279 Brookhurst St., Ste. 1; www.paderiabakehouse.com.

 

 

Social’s Original Chef is Back! – Costa Mesa

“I’m back to finish what I started. It’s my baby, and I’m surrounding myself with nothing but positivity in the kitchen. After three years, I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I can do better as a chef. The feeling is mutual on both sides.”

Welcome back, Chef Jeffrey Boullt. Looking forward to seeing all your new dishes at the future Huntington Beach location as well. And a shout out to Grayson Diercksmeier’s creative mind behind the bar (Read: our PB&J cocktail came with a tiny Uncrustable made in-house). 512 W. 19th St., (949) 642-2425; www.socialcostamesa.com.

 

Fish Camp Clam Bake – Huntington Beach

Outdoor games, prizes and live entertainment await during the annual clam bake at Fish Camp. While admission is always free, for $26 you’ll take part in a spread of fresh lobster, clams and mussels. Go ahead, take part in the shell-abration. Fish Camp’s regular menu will also be available on July 20th. 6600 Pacific Coast Hwy., (562) 592-2267; www.samsfishcamp.com.

 

Women, Wine & Fashion at Balboa Bay Resort – Newport Beach

Zaca Mesa Winery’s Kristin Bryden will be on site to conduct wine pairings with your multi-course lunch next Friday, July 19. Specials on summer fashion from onsite Bayfront Boutique are also on the agenda. We don’t need an excuse to dine at the resort, since a view of the water and Chef Casanova’s cuisine is reason enough. Check out additional details at this link. Bonus: Tax and gratuity are already factored into the price. 1221 W. Coast Hwy., (949) 645-5000; www.balboabayresort.com.