Butternut squash soup with bacon marshmallows. Lobster rolls piled high with fresh seafood. Endless choices of high-end wines coupled with cooking demonstrations from some of the most acclaimed chefs in the country. The Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival saw a successful year indeed. Hosted over the final week of September, the festival welcomed fall in gourmet style with a festive party in tow. Two days of grand tastings at the Newport Beach Civic Center highlighted the weekend, whereby a collection of acclaimed chefs showcased their restaurants’ creative approaches to modern dining. Live music energized a fun-loving crowd that sipped to their hearts’ content [albeit maybe beyond their livers’], with perfect weather rounding out an OC-foodie’s dreamland. Award-winning Chefs Hubert Keller, Richard Blais, Lorena Garcia, Melissa King and Brooke Williamson were among the many big names to showcase their skills live on stage. Highlighting the cooking demos, however, was the duo of Amar Santana and Katsuji Tanabe, two Top Chef alums whose humor and banter was almost as fantastic as their kitchen skill. On the wine side, four master sommeliers led tastings and wine education lessons. Given that there are less than 150 master sommeliers in the entire US, The Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival recruited one heck of a lineup. Dozens of eateries came to play, and a few certainly stole the show. Nobu was an unsurprising standout with a steamed cod that melted in your mouth. Selanne Steak Tavern’s braised short rib with white polenta and bleu cheese foam was a huge crowd favorite, as was their butternut squash soup noted above. Broadway’s Lamb Confit and Driftwood Kitchen’s prime, farro and roasted corn griddle cakes continued the momentum, as did The Winery’s pork belly over risotto and Puesto’s tacos. Wineries included Ancient Peaks Winery, Barlow Vineyards, Mondavi Family Wines, AIX, Duckhorn, Dearly Beloved, Navarro Vineyards and Roadhouse Winery among many others. Stella poured from three separate stations, ensuring everyone got their beer fix. Duke’s and Johnny Walker brought an interesting presence to the festival, as well as Blue Marble’s ‘ultra premium’ pre-mixed canned cocktails. Dessert was surprisingly missing on day one, but made a beautiful appearance day two thanks to Mozza’s butterscotch gelato and Aven Table + Bar’s honey syrup doughnuts with pork belly. It was joined with plenty of sweet drinks, such as Bass Note Sangria and Tatratea, a Slovakian tea-based herbal liquer that packs a punch like you wouldn’t believe. Numerous VIP events surrounded the grand tastings, such as a champagne and caviar tasting by Moet Hennesey and Petrossian. A panel of four master sommeliers, caviar expert Christopher Klapp and Chef Alan Greeley led guests through five pairings of labels such as Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot and Moet Chandon with some of Petrossian’s top caviars. Petrossian, for those who don’t know, is the Moet Hennesey of caviar. More VIP events, private dinners and late-night parties allowed the Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival to effectively take over Orange County’s restaurant scene for the weekend, adding a great spark to celebrate the region’s sprawling foodie presence. Guests may spend the next year visiting the restaurants they sampled over the weekend, but before you know it the 2018 festival will be fast-approaching. For more information visit NewportWineAndFood.com
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Andrei’s embodies all the elements you’d look for in traditional fine dining, with a fully modern splash at every touchpoint. Lavish, intimate atmosphere with tasteful, contemporary décor and just the right lighting. Cuisine based on the classic steak, seafood and salad, prepared with California flare and Mediterranean influence, and finished with remarkable presentation. Andrei’s seeks to serve ‘conscious cuisine’ through and through, which means sustainable seafood, naturally raised meats and organic, local produce. Health and nutrition resonate throughout the menu, though most classic comforts are readily available. The restaurant itself is a nonprofit—a rarity in the industry—whereby the entire bottom line goes to the Andrei Foundation, dedicated to the owner’s late brother, for eye research and blindness support. Highlighting the dinner menu is the filet mignon, a tender cut finished with a peppery spike. Sweet corn and cherry tomatoes alongside compliment the dish with exceptional sweetness. The salmon and Israeli couscous makes for a lovely seafood option. Add on a side of pesto risotto…you’ll be glad you did. Save room at the end for their peach cheesecake beignets, just as rich as they sound with a marvelous cinnamon whipped cream. Make note, however, that Andrei’s is far from cheap. While that filet is quite good, $42 typically fetches a better steak. Most of the appetizers are priced over the quality or quantity they offer as well. Sadly, the cocktails fall into the same boat. Andrei’s gets credit for committing great care toward their cocktail program, but need to tweak the drinks a bit more for flavors to stand out. Andrei’s is perfect for expense account dinners, largely from the business complex and Marriott nearby. For regular patrons, the happy hour, or perhaps lesser-priced menu items would suffice for better value. Andrei’s is located at 2607 Main Street, Irvine, CA 92614. Open 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Mon – Thurs, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Fri, 5 – 10 p.m. Sat. Closed Sundays. Average out-the-door price for appetizer, entrée, split side and dessert, and 1 – 2 drinks is ~$90/person. For more information and reservations call (949) 387-8887 or visit AndreisRestaurant.com. The Stand, a fast-casual American eatery with just enough upscale twist, soft opens at the Oak Creek Shopping Center in Irvine, California on November 10. This new addition joins locations in Northridge, Encino, Century City and Woodland Hills. The Stand delivers a diverse menu made with quality ingredients—from burgers and ‘gourmet’ hot dogs to salads, sandwiches and an array of draft beers. The new 90-seat indoor restaurant with outdoor common dining patio accommodating 200, has an upscale vibe that still speaks to the casual diner, much like its food. Expect many of The Stand’s longtime favorites to highlight the Irvine location as well, such as the El Capitan burger, business burger and the ‘three pigs’ hot dog. And in addition to the restaurant’s notable “Stand Dogs” and “Standwiches”, with innovative spins and unique ingredients, new to Irvine is breakfast, launching Monday, November 21. Menu items will include a Short Rib Hash Stack and French Toast. The Stand Irvine is located at 5633 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618 and will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday – Thursday, and 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday – Saturday, with breakfast served 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily. For more information call (949) 262 – 9090 or visit The Stand online. |
AuthorBenjamin Brown is a seasoned restaurant writer and hospitality consultant, serving up SoCal's hottest food news and reviews. Categories
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