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LAGUNA BEACH
Best Food & Drink
“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...
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...
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...
Popular Chef Maro Molteni Will Operate Royal Hawaiian
Chef Mariano (“Maro”) Molteni still remembers the November day when Mo Honarkar suggested that Maro take over the Royal Hawaiian space as the new restaurant owner/operator. “All the hair stood up on my head,” he says with his wide grin. “The Royal Hawaiian … now,...
Upcoming Events & News
Taste for Charity event aims to surpass last year’s $80,000 win for local non-profits
On Wednesday, April 24th, the 24th annual “A Taste for Charity” is hosting a rousing number of local restaurants, live music and sizable silent and live auctions to raise funds for 10 local non-profit organizations. Some tables are still available for sponsorship...
Janice Freeman always rose above it all
When you own a marketing agency for 25 years, you figure you’re going to have to deal with some bad PR from time to time. Fortunately, my clients have been so stellar that we’ve rarely seen something fall apart that we’ve had to jump on … until Sunday morning, just...
Laguna Beach Garden Club Gate & Garden Tour 2019
On Friday, May 3, 2019, the Garden Club will host its annual Laguna Beach Gate & Garden Tour, a major fundraiser for educational school gardens, local scholarships and community projects. This year’s docent-led walking tour from 9;00 am – 2:00 pm will visit...
Casting Call for Pageant of the Masters 2019 Show
Can you stand still for 90 seconds? The Pageant of the Masters is looking for volunteer cast members fr next summer's show, The Time Machine. Individuals of all sizes and ages are needed to be cast members in the world's most famous presentation of tableaux vivants....
Tibetan Monks Returning to Laguna for New Mandala Creation
The Sawdust Art Festival will be the new host for the Drepung Gomang Monks Sacred Tibetan Arts Tour, Jan. 28 - Feb. 5. This is a big switch-up from the Tibetan Monks' usual temporary residence at the Neighborhood Congregational Church. I began covering the Tibetan...
Starfish Annual Toy Drive on Dec. 10th
Get into the holiday spirit at Starfish by participating in The Starfish Annual Toy Drive. This year the toys will be donated to the victims of the California Wildfires. Starfish is offering a great discount to customers that bring in an unwrapped toy on Monday, Dec...
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...
