Diane Armitage
21-year Laguna Beach resident &
absolute devotee of this amazing town.
Here our thousands of insider tips and
recommendations
for all the best places
to dine, drink and play in
LAGUNA BEACH
Best Food & Drink
New Sapphire, Cellar. Craft. Cook Lives Up to its Name
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing a talented restaurateur choose Laguna Beach. In Sapphire, Cellar. Craft. Cook's case, Restaurateur Russ Bendel has stacked the deck with additional talent that plays at a very big culinary level. For daily operations, Russ...
Popular Kya/Rooftop Chef Craig Moves to Ristorante Rumari
After 15 years of creating renowned success as the Corporate Chef of Casa Del Camino's K'ya Bistro and The Rooftop, Chef Craig Connole has moved four blocks south to Ristorante Rumari. "I was planning to leave Casa at the end of March and take off the month of April...
Upcoming Events & News
Laguna’s Annual Holiday Hospitality Night – 12/7
Our Laguna Beach annual Holiday Hospitality Night happens Friday, Dec. 7th, 5-10 p.m. Normally, it’s one of the coolest parties we have going on each year, and we have thousands of visitors join us to celebrate. While Santa’s arrival at 6:00 p.m. is definitely a plus,...
Winter Fantasy Festival Offers Hundreds of Unique Gift Ideas
I love the Winter Fantasy Festival at Sawdust more than our summer affair, the Sawdust Art Festival (which I happen to like a lot). Aside from 170 artists’ booths in this cool outdoor setting, you have a “Towne Square (sorry grownups, this is kid-size only), live...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
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Best Food & Drink
Chef David Fune Offers Tsunami of Taste Textures at Splashes
Some great chefs look like great chefs. And some great chefs look like regular, friendly dudes … on motorcycles. David Fune is, understandably a great chef. The Executive Chef at Surf and Sand Resort for two years now, he oversees the majority of the culinary...
Maro Wood Grill Brunch Another Superb Menu
Several months ago, I reviewed the lovely establishment, Maro Wood Grill, which resides between the H.I.P. District and South Laguna. Opened by Mariano (Maro) Molteni and Chef Debra Sims in 2011, the restaurant hasn’t missed a beat. And, even more interesting …...
Brussels Bistro: Surprising Haute Cuisine
You may not know this, but in my “other job,” my agency does marketing for high-end restaurants and resorts. In Las Vegas, we represent two Michelin-starred French cuisine restaurants that were the first to introduce high-level dining to Las Vegas back in 1980. Both...
At Sapphire Brunch, Even Oatmeal is Extraordinary
At Sapphire last weekend, I asked a manager and a hostess what they would recommend above all else on their brunch menu. They both said “oatmeal.” Oatmeal. Really? Oatmeal is just … oatmeal. Milk, raisins, maybe some fruit if you’re lucky. But the #1 item recommended...
Restaurant Week Features Even Tastier “Trouble”
This week, at three of our Laguna Beach restaurants – Maro Wood Grill, Slapfish and Tortilla Republic – you have (as the Grateful Dead quips) “trouble ahead … and trouble behind.” Trouble ahead? Each of these restaurants is participating in this week’s O.C....
Restaurant Week in Laguna Beach Features 19
Truly one of the most delightful culinary weeks in Laguna Beach begins this coming Sunday, March 1st through Saturday, March 7th. It’s Restaurant Week! A long tradition in all of Orange County, Restaurant Week gets the most respected chefs involved in creating...
Upcoming Events & News
Starfish Asian Helping Orphaned, Abandoned Children
I knew there was a reason why I liked the Starfish Asian crew. This year, they're a serious elf-in-action for Operation Santa Claus, and you receive generous gifts from Starfish for your participation. Starting Dec. 4th through Monday, Dec. 8th, bring a new unwrapped...
40th Annual Dana Point Boat Parade Paddles Out Dec. 5th
Far closer than the Newport Boat Parade and a heck of a lot more . . . creative, the 40th Annual "Fantasea Holiday" Dana Point Boat Parade kicks off this Friday, Dec. 5th. The popular Dana Point Boat Parade - now coupled with the ongoing debut of IlluminOcean at the...
Montage Sip and Savor Classes Prep for Holidays
If you're going to mark anything in your 2014 Holiday Calendar, be sure it's the Montage Resort’s Sip and Savor series the first two weeks of December, 2014. It is absolutely awesome. Each year, the Montage Laguna Beach Chefs and Sommeliers offer a great new series of...
Gift the Music Lover on Your List With a Winter Season of Live Jazz
Why settle for giving an average, ordinary gift this holiday season when you can gift an entire season of world-class live jazz for just $105? Laguna Beach Live! –the non-profit entity dedicated to bringing globally renowned live jazz, blues and classical music to...
Hospitality Night & Santa’s Arrival the First Friday of December
Our Laguna Beach annual Hospitality Night happens Friday, Dec. 5th, 5-9 p.m. Normally, it's one of the coolest parties we have going on each year, and we have thousands of visitors join us to celebrate. While Santa's arrival at 6:00 p.m. is definitely a plus, there's...
Dana Point IlluminOcean Starts Pre-Thanksgiving
This year, the Dana Point Harbor is electrifying the harbor with 40 nights of holiday lights called IlluminOcean. It all begins Wednesday, Nov. 26th, just in time to help you do that Thanksgiving-morph-to-Christmas. This ocean-themed lighting attraction stretches more...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
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