LEFT AND MIDDLE : COURTESY OF GG ’ S BISTRO |
in a private dining room at Michael Mina ’ s BOURBON STEAK ORANGE COUNTY this spring . Located at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club , the series continues May 9 with a meal celebrating the wines of Joseph Phelps Vineyards in Napa Valley . An artfully crafted , four-course dinner by Executive Chef Peter Lai will showcase scallop crudo , paired with Sonoma Coast chardonnay ; seared duck breast with pinot noir ; wagyu steak accompanied by two different cabernet sauvignons ; and , for dessert , an artisanal cheese duo served with mixed berry preserves and two of Joseph Phelps ’ Insignia red wine blends . The series continues the following month with a June 13 dinner featuring vino made by Opus One Winery , another Napaarea favorite . ( 949-234-3900 ; waldorf astoriamonarchbeach . com ) — A . R .
NEW BISTRO BITES Mediterranean restaurant GG ’ s BISTRO has rolled out several new dishes in recent months , which will be available through summer . Among the recent additions is a baked hummus , which is served hot and topped with pastrami , garbanzo beans , sun-dried tomatoes and
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pita bread with spicy butter . Also on the new lineup is a blackened salmon sandwich , which comes with onions , arugula , tomatoes and a homemade garlic aioli spread . For an even heartier option , try the crushed pepper steak , served on a bed of mashed potatoes with sauteed carrots and a crushed peppermushroom cream sauce . The menu ’ s drink section has also seen some changes , as several mocktails were added . These libations are crafted with zero-proof spirits and have the same tempting flavors as liquorbased cocktails . ( 949-494-9306 ; ggscafebistro . com ) — Sharon Stello
A QUEST FOR QUALITY A new coffee shop has carved out a spot to serve its specialty , small-batch roasts at Boat Canyon Shopping Center in north Laguna . ENDLESS QUEST ROASTERS opened in early March with a focus on pure ingredients and ethical sourcing of its coffee . At the cafe , choose from a latte , mocha , espresso , cortado , macchiato , cold brew and more , including tea options like chai and matcha . Or pick up a bag of coffee beans to brew a cup at home . Co-founder Ryan Okko , who also serves as roaster and barista ,
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visits farms to participate in harvests and collaborates with coffee producers . Top sellers include decaf coffee from Veracruz , Mexico , with notes of dark cacao , orange , plum and honey ; a variety from Costa Rica ’ s Tarrazú hot springs that uses natural thermal mineral water to ferment pulped coffee , leading to a more complex flavor ; and another from Yirgacheffe , Ethiopia , known for its shade-grown coffee . As Okko explains , the journey is endless due to the changing climate and varied geography , not to mention the seasonal nature of coffee cherries . ( 949-281-6406 ; endlessquestroasters . com ) — S . S . /
RESTAURANT LISTINGS Scan the QR code below to visit our dining resource online .
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LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 81 |