 OPENINGS
El Torito Grill has opened a new location in Rancho Santa Margarita. Offering a unique culinary experience, El Torito Grill is dedicated to bringing a sensory experience that is a fusion of the contemporary and native foods of Mexico. Flour tortillas are handmade, prepared fresh throughout the day and served with fresh salsas and signature honey butter. The wood-fired mesquite grill imparts a sweet smokey essence to the food in the traditional Mexican style. Other Orange County locations include Brea, Irvine, Newport Beach and Mission Viejo...Crystal Jade has opened in the Quail Hill Village Center in Shady Canyon. This restaurant serves Chinese, Malaysian, Japanese and Thai dishes... Sevens Steakhouse & Grille has opened in Tustin with Craig Rouse as chef (previously the chef at Taps Fish House and Brewery in Brea and Scott's Seafood in Costa Mesa)...Doug McCallister has opened yet another successful hot spot in Orange County - Chronic Cantina, in Costa Mesa's Triangle Square. The restaurant offers a variety of Mexican favorites, including tacos, burritos, and margaritas. A large portion of the restaurant is an outdoor patio where you can eat, drink and watch one of their numerous plasma TVs...Corona del Mar residents are thrilled that Sprinkles Cupcakes has finally arrived in their Orange County zip code. Owned by Charles and Candace Nelson, this sugarhouse has created quite a stir among cupcake lovers. This bakery makes 20 different types every day...Paul Fleming and OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. have opened Blue Coral Seafood and Spirits at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. This upscale location neighbors Flemings' Prime Steakhouse and Roy's at Fashion Island...After nearly 20 years as the OC's "Queen of Cuisine," with a popular Tustin restaurant and a best-selling cookbook, Zov Karamardian is taking on a new challenge. Her newest dining concept, simply called Zov's, will mark its debut in two prominent Orange County communities. The first location will open in Newport Coast in spring 2007 followed by an Irvine location in Orchard Hills Village Center later in the fall. A modified version of her restaurant, Zov's will feature a Mediterranean-inspired breafast, lunch and dinner menu in a contemporary-casual atmosphere. According to Zov's vice president, Armen Karamardian, both restaurants are 3,200 square feet in size and boast a comfortable décor designed to appeal to a wide range of guests from young couples and business professionals to seniors and families Both indoor and alfresco dining will be available...The newly-remodeled Fairmont Newport Beach opened bambú restaurant, replacing Accents. The new restaurant offers seasonal California cuisine in the same atrium-like setting, but now with palms, orchids and 20-foot bamboo trees.
HIRINGS & PROMOTIONS
Dorian Rommel has been appointed director of Food & Beverage at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, bringing with him more than 15 years experience in the hospitality industry. Rommel is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and the Hospitality School Monaco. He is fluent in German, French and English...Mark Lamb is the new general manager at DOLCE Restaurant & Steakhouse in Newport Beach. Prior to joining the Dolce team, Lamb served in the same capacity at 21 Oceanfront and prior to that at Antonello's...Walter Scott has returned to Ristorante Mamma Gina in Newport Beach as general manager... The Balboa Bay Club & Resort has named longtime OC chef Yvon Goetz as executive sous chef. Goetz previously served as chef de cuisine of The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and most recently as corporate chef for David Wilhelm's Culinary Adventures restaurant group.
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
21 Oceanfront offers a "Bubbly Hour," with champagnes and special hors d'oeuvres, Monday through Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. ...Ciao Bella Pasta & Grill in Tustin features "All you can eat pizza" for $7.95 during Monday Night Football...With fondue restaurants gaining popularity, La Fondue in San Juan Capistrano, owned by Michael and Georgia Soares of Coto de Caza, continues to offer a fun dining experience in an atmosphere as creative and delicious as the food served...Crab Cove Euro-Asian Restaurant at Monarch Bay Plaza in Dana Point has added a number of exciting new items to the menu, including sautéed soft shell crab served on cucumber sticks with Asian dressing, surf and turf, and seared scallops. Crab Cove also added a complimentary package for guests celebrating their birthday or anniversary valued at $20. The package includes a complimentary personalized moulton chocolate cake and flashing Hawaiian- style leis...The Quiet Woman in Corona del Mar recently celebrated its 40th birthday... Finbar's Italian Kitchen's Seal Beach location hosts wine dinners once a month. Seating is limited and the cost is $49.95 plus tax and tip. Call Finbar's for details at 562.430.4303... McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant is celebrating its 200th anniversary of the cocktail with a new bar menu. The menu is divided into "Early Days and Golden Years (1806-1920)," "Prohibition and Beyond (1920-present)" and "Modern Cocktail Creations (2005-)"... Reinvented yet again is the space in Fashion Island formerly known as Rouge Bistro. Now re-named French 75 by David Wilhelm's Culinary Adventures group, the "new" restaurant is now part of the French 75 brand, which includes the original restaurant in Laguna Beach as well as outposts in The Marketplace (Irvine), Burbank and Century City...Tim and Liza Goodell of Domaine Restaurants are offering 50% off wines at Red Pearl Kitchen in Huntington Beach every Sunday. t
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