A new microbrewery called Chapman Crafted Beer has opened in Old Towne Orange. It was founded by partners Randy Nelson and Haven Gastropub's Wil Dee. Brian Thorson, formerly of Trumer, Drakes, and Haven Brewing, is the Head Brewer.
123 N. Cypress Street, Old Towne Orange, CA 92866
Rich Mead, formerly of Sage, Sage on the Coast, and Canyon, has opened Farmhouse Cafe at Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. The menu has familiar Mead dishes such as Grilled Asian Beef Short Ribs and Herb Roast Jidori Chicken as well Fried Gailan and Curried Cauliflower “Cous Cous”.
2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd., Corona del Mar, CA 92625
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.