A resident’s sincerely
objective, non-paid
recommendations
for all the best places
to dine, drink and play in
LAGUNA BEACH
Best Food & Drink
Taste of Laguna for Thurs, Oct 3rd, 2019 – Tix Now on Sale
The Taste of Laguna Food & Music Festival combines two of our community's favorite events, The Chamber of Commerce's Taste of Laguna and KX 93.5's concert, into one mega evening for foodies and live music fans. This limited event will sell out, so get your...
Royal Hawaiian Rolls out New Entrées & Summer Cocktail Wonders
Last night, I drove through a gray and cold Laguna Beach and wondered when the gods above were going to cut our retailers and restaurants a break. Although there were people roving the streets … in parkas … the town was relatively quiet for a Friday night. It was a...
“Changes in Latitude” Happy Hour Begins at Royal Hawaiian on May 7th (Tues)
It's been one month since the newest rendition of The Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill opened with Chef Owner/Operators Maro Molteni and Martin Molteni. "My brother and I have opened many restaurants around the world, but we've never experienced an opening like this one,"...
Best Mother’s Day Buffets and Dining in Laguna Beach
My Mom LOVES Laguna Beach. (And I so love my Mom. The photo is us when I was about 8.) There's no place she would rather be on Mother's Day than here in Laguna Beach. So, by default, I'm sure your mothers all feel the same. Fortunately, there are a number of Laguna...
Royal Hawaiian re-opens on April 3rd with renovated look and menus
Laguna’s grand dame, the Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill restaurant, is re-opening this Wednesday, April 3rd, under new owner/operators (and brothers) Maro Molteni and Martin Molteni, and the buzz is significant. The restaurant will be open six days a week, beginning at...
Laguna Chefs Share the Love on Valentine’s Day
Yesterday, I was talking to one of our Laguna chefs about Valentine’s Day. Oddly, reservations for Valentine’s Day tend to occur well in advance, while Mother’s Day reservations tend to happen at the last minute. Imagine that. If you’re one of the few who’s still...
Upcoming Events & News
Festival of Arts: What I’m Looking Forward To
The Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters is exactly that - two enormous productions that symbiotically co-exist next to each other on the same grounds. While this year's 81st Pageant of the Masters plays nightly in the Irvine Bowl at 8:30 (see my article...
Tall Ships Festival 2019 Always a Treat
Each September after Labor Day weekend, The Ocean Institute in Dana Point hosts an annual fleet of historic tall ships. This year’s 35th Annual Tall Ships Festival begins on the evening on Friday, Sept. 6th and runs two full days on Saturday and Sunday. A treat for...
Wine & Painting Nights – Festival of Arts
Three longtime and popular artists – Mark Jacobucci, Mike Tauber and Anthony Salvo – are offering specific painting subjects on Saturday evenings. This is super cool (and non-intimidating fun), whether you choose to paint sunsets, donuts or the Monterey coastline....
Taste of Laguna for Thurs, Oct 3rd, 2019 – Tix Now on Sale
The Taste of Laguna Food & Music Festival combines two of our community's favorite events, The Chamber of Commerce's Taste of Laguna and KX 93.5's concert, into one mega evening for foodies and live music fans. This limited event will sell out, so get your...
Chef Peter Lai – The Blind Rabbit Speakeasy – Anaheim
Meet Chef Peter Lai, new Chef of the award-winning Blind Rabbit speakeasy in Anaheim. Chef Peter Lai wasn't even looking for a new job when he was invited to take a look at The Blind Rabbit … and then he couldn't even find the door when he showed up for his...
Pageant of the Masters 2019 – Time Machine
If you know anything about Laguna Beach, you know that the Pageant of the Masters is a "Must Attend" event each summer. It's truly one of the most innovative 90-minute shows on the planet, and brings art alive in exactly THAT way - real humans posing at artistic...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
Chef Peter Lai – The Blind Rabbit Speakeasy – Anaheim
Meet Chef Peter Lai, new Chef of the award-winning Blind Rabbit speakeasy in Anaheim. Chef Peter Lai wasn't even looking for a new job when he was invited to take a look at The Blind Rabbit … and then he couldn't even find the door when he showed up for his...
Chef Linda Johnsen – Filomena’s – Costa Mesa
Meet Chef Linda Johnsen, Owner and Chef of the ever-popular Filomena's in Costa Mesa. Chef Linda purchased the restaurant in 2009 when the real estate market tanked (her primary career at the time), and she's never looked back. Click to learn more about Chef Johnsen...
Chef Rich Mead – Farmhouse – Newport Beach
Meet Chef Rich Mead the unassuming chef of Farmhouse in Newport Beach at Roger's Gardens. Chef Mead has been cooking for GIANT tables of guests for years, so he's looking forward to his return to OC Chef's Table where he simply tends to 10 guests during the...
Chef Jet Tila – Food Network’s Iron Chef
Meet the Food Network’s Celebrity Chef Jet Tila, the likable and uber-talented chef on a number of shows, including Iron Chef America. Chef Jet Tila is returning for his second year to OC Chef’s Table as the spotlight celebrity chef. Click to learn more about Chef...
Chef Jason Neroni – Rose Cafe – Santa Monica
Meet Chef Jason Neroni, the renowned L.A. based chef of Rose Cafe in Santa Monica. Chef Neroni has heard about the OC Chef's Table, and was so affected by the homelessness in his own neighborhood, that he contacted Illumination Foundation, the non-profit entity...
Chef Randy Gruspe – Duke’s – Huntington Beach
Meet Chef Randy Gruspe, new Chef of the renowned Duke's in Huntington Beach. Chef Randy Gruspe was born and raised a Hawaiian, which might make him the best possibly suited chef for the popular Duke's chain. Click to learn more about Chef Randy Gruspe and … The events...
