FOOD TRENDS Pickled dishes take a starring role.

PICK OF THE PICKLINGS

Pickled dishes take a starring role. by Benjamin Epstein

KAI LOUNGE at Pacific City is a Tokyo-inspired restaurant and late-night destination with a lounge, sushi bar, dining area, and speakeasy from the group behind Shorebird in Newport Beach. Chef Tin Nguyen’s menu features sushi, skewers, and steak—and a colorful House Pickle Plate of rotating seasonal fruits such as pickled peach or green apple alongside beech mushrooms, daikon radish, pearl onions, and shiso leaf. O -menu and always available: delicious pickled wasabi! The pickle plate also appears among the 18 changing courses at the omakase speakeasy. 21058

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, HUNTINGTON BEACH, 657-259-0010

FERMENTATION FARM

has grown to seven nearly contiguous spaces in a strip mall, including three kitchens that o er a panoply of fermented foods and craft kombuchas promoting gut health. Weekend brunch served at its outdoor tables brings the popular Pickled Egg Toast: a pickled egg salad made with banana peppers, tomato, and turmeric. It’s served openfaced on house-fermented sourdough and topped with microgreens. The pickled egg salad is available by the jar in the grab-and-go section—as are pickles, here fermented instead of the usual store-bought brined.

1125 VICTORIA ST., COSTA MESA, 949-650-0830 The hyperseasonal omakase repasts at chef Susumu Ii’s SUSHI II are never the same twice. But an immaculately presented dish featuring elevated pickled items from Japan virtually always serves as a between-course palate cleanser, as memorable as the sushi itself. On it might be burdoch root (yamagobo), koji-pickled daikon (bettarazuke), smoked daikon (iburigakko), and gourd pickled in sake lees (narazuke). The dish cannot be ordered on its own but rather arrives as part of three elaborate experiences ranging from $150 to $275 per person.

100 W. COAST HIGHWAY, NEWPORT BEACH, 949-287-6268 Pickled cucumbers, aka pickles, are a big dill at PIZZA 900. You’ll find them on three of the woodfired pies. The Cubano— with pulled pork, pickles, mustard-cream sauce, and house-made mozzarella— tops “Jimmy’s Famous List.” The Cap, perhaps a nod to the pastrami destination The Hat, is a frequent “Jimmy of the Day,” a special featuring pastrami, pickles, and white chive horseradish cheddar. On the secret menu is the bacon cheeseburger pizza, winning fans with meatballs, bacon, pickles, cheddar, lettuce, heirloom cherry tomatoes, onion, and a secret sauce. 23020 LAKE

FOREST DRIVE, LAGUNA HILLS, 949-328-9988

New Season January 8 9pm

O.C. Scene PEOPLE | PARTIES | EVENTS | OPENINGS

Orange Coast magazine partnered with the Balboa Village Merchant Association (BVMA) to bring back the Balboa Craft Beer Festival in the heart of the Newport Beach Peninsula. Guests enjoyed an afternoon soaking in the sun and enjoy beers, seltzer and wines from participating brands along with delicious tastings from local restaurants. The Dave Stephens Band entertained the crowd while Colette’s Catering and Benchmark served up bites and bread provided by La Brea Bread. The BVMA hosted a photo both and opportunity drawing for a chance to win an e-bike, experiences, gift cards and more. Special thank you to our sponsors White Sail Realty and La Brea Bread and partners Perfect Hydration, Sun Bum, Balboa Fun Zone, NBC’s California Live and the Balboa Village Merchant Association. Visit orangecoast.com for party pictures & more events!

O.C. Scene PEOPLE | PARTIES | EVENTS | OPENINGS

DRINKS

Ashland Hard Seltzer Athletic Brewing Co. Bearded Tang Brewing Brewery X Elephant Craft Hard Seltzer Evans Brewing Company Four Sons Brewing Golden Road Helmsman Ale House Passion Tree Hard Seltzer Penca Larga Perfect Hydration Radiant Beer Co. Vaqueros Del Vino Wine Cowboys California Wine

EATS

Balboa Bar-b-que Balboa Lily’s Benchmark Chronic Tacos Colette’s Catering Cowafornia Ice Cream & Coffee Cruiser’s Pizza Bar Grill Harborside Restaurant Shootz