RVOC February 2009 : Page 95
SAPPHIRE PANTRY Laguna’s fi rstmarket to give discerning gourmands a place to pick up hard-to-fi nd delicacies, Sapphire remains a staple with a temperature-controlled cheese room, cave d’affi nage and rare spices— you’ll fi nd everything from three varietals of paprika to black pepper from Malaysia. T e pantry is also a one-stop shop for paella and staff will even pull produce from the restaurant if you happen to need an extra tomato! 949.715.9889. Gourmet goodies at Sapphire Pantry. Market Trends DEAN & DELUCA We’re patiently awaiting epicurean powerhouse Dean & Deluca at Fashion Island to open its doors later this year. Transplanted East Coasters are nearly running amuck waiting for the debut of the eminent market’s fi rst location in SoCal—the rest of us will wait and see how the import compares to favorites like Bristol Farms andWhole Foods for more specialty foodie fi nds to add to the pantry. 949.721.2000. BEAR FLAG FISH CO. Where else in O.C. are you going to fi nd a fi sh market this fresh? OwnerT os Carson brings in the catch of the day and off ers the fresh fi lets raw, seasoned or cooked to order. Pick up some house-made ahi poke, seaweed salad and ceviche—all to die for. And pastry chef Courtney Polovina will send you home with her daily dessert. 949.673.3474. A MARKET Expanding their culinary capacity, Tim and Liza Goodell bring us A Market, the sidekick to their much- applauded A Restaurant. We were thrilled to fi nd Blue Crab Bay Co.’s Bloody Mary mix with clam juice on the shelf—it’s the best at-home brunch beginner. A’s gourmet goodie-ville also boasts only- in-O.C. exclusives including olive oil from Robbins Family Farm, the seven-month-aged Chaparral sheep and goat cheese, and Pepe and Petula’s sweet and spicy tempero charcuterie spread. 949.650.6515. Fave ’08 Finds! A few of O.C.’s best new restaurants of 2008 Run, Lola, Run! We’re all running to LolaGaspar, the newest restaurant to join Santa Ana’s downtown hipster bar scene.T e cozy corner spot behind Memphis Café serves upscale Latin cuisine (think spicy pulled duck confi t tacos), has a full bar and stays open until 2AMevery night of the week. 211 W. 2nd St., Santa Ana, 714.972.1172. Sorry, Charlie Charlie Palmermay have taken a half-star hit from anO.C.- hating L.A. critic, but since Palmer selected O.C. over any other city for this epicurean giant’s fi rst SoCal location, itmakes us wonder if a half star was really warranted if it was perhaps a bit of Orange Curtain- envy.Despite the controversy, we’re betting on our stars (we gave it four, thank you verymuch!) that this haute cuisine house will evolve into a culinary landmark. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.532.2525. Phan-cy Pho Who would have thought a Vietnamese noodle soup could go gourmet? At Phans55 Vietnamese Bistro and Bar, only the highest quality, grain-fed meat is used in the famous Pho soup—and it’s paired with a Rosé!T is new, sleek eatery just upped the ante onO.C.’s diverse culinarymap. 6000 Scholarship Dr., Irvine, 949.714.1236. That’s Italian! After years (decades?) of loving favorite Italian spots like Antonio Cagnolo’s Antonello Ristorante and Quattro Caffé, Orange County is undergoing a ravioli revolution, with new Italian hotspots opening up all over town. T ere’s the instant hit Canaletto (949.640.0900) at Fashion Island—society ladies are swearing by the swordfi sh carpaccio—and the sumptuous dinner service at Andrea Ristorante (pelicanhill.com) can’t be beat. But our fave for lunch is the Pizzeria Ortica (pizzeriaortica.com), where chef David Myers is off ering amazingly artisanal pizzas (order the Guanciale!), pasta and panini. Delicious by Design Prime Cut Café andWine Bar is fast becoming our excuse to head to Anaheimfor premium steaks and fi ne wine.T is cool new hotspot near Honda Center is perfect for pre- and post-game drinks and dinner. Beyond the obvious fi let, we suggest starting with a seasonal wine fl ight and cheese plate. If the wildmushroom soup is on the menu, it’s amust. 1547W. Katella Ave., Orange, 714.532.4300. RawPower Joining the fi ne dining scene at South Coast Plaza this past year, Hamamori brings some of the best sushi toO.C.T e luxe lounge- restaurant is the perfect place to splurge on JamesHamamori’s omakase tasting menu. But it’s his delightful sauces that make himtheman who single-handedly made soy sauce so last year. 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714.850.0880. Quattro Caffé at South Coast Plaza Feb 2009 | | 95 PHOTOS BY EDWARD DUARTE.
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