Subject: Restaurant Reviews

• Weekly Writer Wins Pulitzer Prize

  Food critic Jonathan Gold of our sister paper LA Weekly has won a 2007 Pulitzer Prize for criticism, it was announced today. The Pulitzer Board noted Gold's "zestful, wide ranging restaurant reviews, expressing the delight of an erudite eater." The two other excellent nominees were both from the Los Angeles Times. Congratulations to Jonathan for earning this news organization's FOURTH Pulitzer Prize. (The Orange County Register has won three.) In 2000, Mark Schoofs of the Village Voice--an

  April 16, 2007

• A Guide to Our Advertisers

  July 1, 1999

• A guide to our Advertisers

  June 29, 2000

• Plum Pickings

  August 25, 2005

• Sea Salt Perfection at Old Vine Cafe

  A recent entry in the insanely popular blog Stuff White People Like pegs sea salt as something that, well, stuff white people like. Not really. This Mexican enjoys the flavorful seasoning, as does anyone who ever might taste it. And, after, you try the pecan tarts offered at Old Vine Cafe in Costa Mesa, you'll live your life covered in it so you can spend your days licking it off like a cow and their rock.It's not yet listed on their dessert menu, and the brothers McDonald that run the place wer

  January 14, 2009

• Valentine's Menus for Just About EVERY Restaurant at South Coast Plaza

  Just in time for Valentine's Day, I got an unsolicited e-mail from a PR person working for South Coast Plaza's restaurants. This time, there's finally some information I'd want to share with you: the special Valentine's menus for just about every eatery at SCP. So if you were thinking of one of SCP's many establishments for treating your honey, there's no need to go and do your own research. JUST READ IT ALL HERE, after the jump.But before you do, be aware that these specials aren't exactly o

  February 5, 2009

• The C Word

  No, not that one. I'm talking about Champagne. Or, rather, the lack of it. Picture it: Cedar Creek Inn, Brea, Valentine's Day dinner. I was already mentally black-marking the restaurant for informing me just the day before, when confirming the reservation, that there was a "strict two-hour table time limit." My irritation was heightened further when we arrived, bang on time, only to be told there was a 20-minute waiting time. Gee, maybe that strict time limit wasn't so strict after all. (As it t

  February 16, 2009

• Marché Moderne Madness--And Redemption

  A couple of weeks ago I ranted about the fact that my husband and I had to wait 20 minutes for a table at Marché Moderne on a Saturday night, despite having a reservation.When he saw my post, chef Florent Marneau had the decency to email me and apologize...It's a testament to Marneau that Marché Moderne remains so popular during this economy. After all, it's not even that new (it celebrates two years at the end of April)--and it's in a deeply uncool, hard-to-find location on the top floor of a

  March 23, 2009

• Capital Seafood's Glitzy New Irvine Location Fits Right Into Diamond Jamboree Plaza

  April 2, 2009

• Red Orchid Restaurant Grand Opening

  October 30, 2008

• OC's Rock-Star Chef Takashi Abe Does San Clemente at Sea Smoke

  September 11, 2008

• Seeing Red

  September 4, 2008

• Culinary Giant Charlie Palmer Fires Up the Burner at His First California Restaurant

  July 3, 2008

• The Hearty South African Pub Fare at Springbok Is All Veldt, No Svelte

  May 29, 2008

• Vieilles Vignes

  December 6, 2007

• My Hero, Zero

  Takashi Abe’s new izakaya does Japanese pub fare right

  September 6, 2007

• Too Good for Its Own Good

  July 19, 2007

• Snobs

  September 5, 2002

• Claes Is Class

  Great view, service, food, cocktailsand a stiff bill to match

  October 26, 2006

• Moderne Love

  June 21, 2007

• Beach Bum Gourmand

  December 1, 2005

• The Gabacho Blues

  October 13, 2005

• Fleeting Scallops

  July 21, 2005

• Less Whining By More Wining

  April 7, 2005

• Great Wall BBQ

  December 23, 2004

• These are the Riches of the Rich

  Hush your poor gut at Laguna Beachs buzz spot

  July 29, 2004

• Wild Game

  January 15, 2004

• The Bemusement Stops Here

  December 18, 2003

• Some Ziing New

  November 20, 2003

• Bad Kitty!

  November 13, 2003

• Eating Republican

  November 6, 2003

• Good Sho

  September 19, 2002

• Sweet, Sweet Tang

  April 11, 2002

• The Sage of Newport

  October 18, 2001

• Feel Not Sorry for the People of Anaheim Hills

  September 13, 2001

• A Guide to our Advertisers

  August 9, 2001

• A Guide to our Advertisers

  February 1, 2001

• A Very Little Tokyo

  November 30, 2000

• Yes, Mother

  October 12, 2000

• The Doctor is in Pescadou

  October 5, 2000

• Guide to Our Advertisers

  March 23, 2000

• Marché Moderne's Market Is A Feast For the Senses

  As I mentioned recently, Marché Moderne is celebrating two years at South Coast Plaza with a two-night special tasting menu and market for diners. Last night was the first night; I attended--and also Twittered about the experience. The food was superb, the dishes showcasing top-tier produce from the restaurant's suppliers, who also came to sell their wares at the market. A corner of the restaurant's rooftop patio was taken over by seven vendors, selling everything from flowers--including real l

  April 30, 2009

• Seasonal Recipe From Sage

  While fast food chains, on the whole, seem to be weathering the recessionary storm, some upscale eateries are having to bite the bullet and cut back their hours. Sage on the Coast is one recent casualty, shelving its lunchtime service on Mondays and Tuesdays.  It's a shame, but thankfully its tasting menu is still available, albeit for fewer services (details below) than at sister restaurant Sage, where we recently sampled it. The meal was memorable for its unintentionally hilarious waiter.

  May 22, 2009

• The Shorebreak Hotel's Chilled-Out Zimzala Hits The Spot

  Seeing as I'd dissed Zimzala's management before even setting foot in the place, I thought it fair to actually check it out (anonymously, of course). I'm glad I did.The setting--within HB's groovy new Shorebreak Hotel--is unlike many other hotel restaurants. This is a destination restaurant, with a highly regarded chef, not an afterthought.The Executive Chef is Vincent Muraco, formerly of Vix in Miami Beach. He has created the Mediterranean menu in collaboration with award-winning chef Joyce Gol

  June 22, 2009

• "Reservations Recommended" For Old Vine Café's New Monday Happy Hour

  I can't remember the last time I had to book for happy hour anywhere, but I guess something involving a tapas buffet would warrant it. That's what you get at the Old Vine Café's new Monday-night event, launching on July 20. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 8:00 p.m.The buffet costs $15 each, while glasses of sangría go for $5 and select glasses of wine are $6 (a discount of 15 per cent applies to any bottle on the regular wine list). Note that there's a one-drink minimum per person. In oth

  July 7, 2009

• Reminder: OC Restaurant Week Starts Sunday, Plus Demos at Bloomie's On Now!

  ​Oh, yes, it's time to take advantage of the county's best restaurants. In a good way, of course. From September 13 to 19 inclusive, more than 100 of them, from Ambrosia to Zov's, are participating in OC Restaurant Week by offering bargain lunch and/or dinner prix fixes, from as little as $10.Some deal are more generous than others, natch, but full details are on the official website, so you can plan ahead (advance bookings are recommended).

  September 10, 2009

• Fora is a Hidden Gem on Naples' Restaurant Row

  October 15, 2009

• All Aboard for Murder

  November 5, 2009