Orange Coast Magazine - March 2022 by The Lifestyle Magazines of SoCal

PICKLEBALL

TUSTIN DESIGNER

Sport explodes in popularity

Regina Oswald’s timeless style

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OUTPATIENT PROSTATE CANCER SURGERY. FASTER RECOVERY. MORE TIME WELL SPENT. With top experts in prostate cancer treatment, UCI Health performs innovative outpatient prostate cancer surgery, giving you more time with those who matter most. To learn more, visit ucihealth.org/prostate Schedule a consultation today.

714-456-7005

NCI Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center

UCI Health

Bringing Healthcare Home

Advances in technology have long made remote monitoring and virtual healthcare possible, even optimal for some patients and conditions.

ot until the COVID-19 pandemic, however, have patients begun to connect with their health providers from the comfort of home. As consumers rethink how they want to receive medical care, UCI Health is taking steps to deliver a better, more cost-effective patient experience from home to hospital and back, says Chad Lefteris, chief executive officer of UCI Health, Orange County’s only academic medical system. UCI Health is the first California health system to partner with DispatchHealth to offer same-day, in-home care. DispatchHealth is the nation’s premier provider of comprehensive, top-quality home medical care.

ensures continuity of medical care and helps get patients back to their primary care physician or community specialist. “This helps us meet our patients where they are and where they want to receive care — in their homes,” says Susanna Rustad, executive director of virtual care for UCI Health.

Dispatch Health teams are equipped to treat common as well as complex injuries and illnesses, including: • Bronchitis • Croup • Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting • Headache or migraine

DispatchHealth mobile teams now provide acute and advanced home care for many conditions that might otherwise require a visit to an emergency room or hospital.

• Respiratory infections

Patients at high risk of readmission also get a proactive home check within the first 72 hours of their hospital discharge. Known as bridge care, this service

• Strains, sprains and minor fractures

• Pneumonia • Shortness of breath with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

DispatchHealth — which delivers care seven days a week, including evenings and holidays — partners with most major insurers. Its out-of-pocket costs are often the same as a visit to an innetwork urgent care center. “We are investing in partners and building bold programs that make use of innovative ideas and capabilities to deliver remarkable patient experiences and convenience, simplifying and redefining healthcare in the process,” Rustad says. “We want to treat each patient at the right level of care, in the right place, in a high-quality, safe and sustainable way by offering a new spectrum of in-home care options.” UCI Health DispatchHealth services are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, including holidays. Call 949-594-0447 or visit ucihealth.org/inhomecare to learn more.

• Urinary tract infections ucihealth.org/inhomecare

The new chapter of healthcare begins here

At UCI Health, we don’t just practice medicine, we create it. Now we are writing the next chapter for healthcare in Orange County. With UCI Medical Center — Irvine, UCI Health will bring our patients unparalleled expertise, leading-edge treatments and the finest evidence-based care that only an academic medical system can offer. The 800,000-square-foot medical campus will be anchored by a state-of-the-art hospital, which will offer 24-hour emergency care and personalized cancer treatments, including hundreds of clinical trials by our NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. Our world-renowned experts will also deliver exceptional care in other specialties, such as digestive diseases, neurosciences and orthopaedics, all powered by the University of California. We stop at nothing to build a healthier tomorrow. Learn more at ucihealth.org/irvinehospital

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Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D., Lung Cancer Specialist

WORLD-RENOWNED EXPERTS IN TREATING LUNG CANCER People diagnosed with lung cancer have cause for hope, and one of the best reasons is the expertise offered by Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Tan is an internationally renowned medical oncologist who is making lung cancer more treatable. “Breakthroughs in lung cancer research and treatment offer new options that are reducing symptoms and extending and saving lives,” says Dr. Tan, who practices at City of Hope Newport Beach Fashion Island. “Immunotherapy, genetic testing, and ultraprecise radiation therapy are just a few of the advances that are vastly improving outcomes.” For Dr. Tan, her interest in medicine began when she was “that kid” who studied frogs, spiders, fish – just about every living creature. This fascination evolved into human biology studies and,

eventually, a desire to find solutions to complex medical issues. Now, she is part of a team advancing world-renowned cancer research and treatment. She is one of more than 400 City of Hope physicians and 1,000 researchers and scientists focused on only one thing: ending cancer. THE FUTURE IS HOPE Dr. Tan is renowned for her breakthrough research that has resulted in a better understanding of how tumors function and why certain ones are resistant to chemotherapy. She provides exceptional and compassionate care to her patients, whom she calls her family. What gives Dr. Tan the most satisfaction is assisting her patients. “I’m a good listener and enthusiastic patient educator,” she says. “I believe that’s

essential for being a good physician.” Additionally, Dr. Tan advocates for patient participation in clinical trials. These innovative studies provide leadingedge therapies before they become widely available and often lead to excellent outcomes. “Many of today’s most effective lung cancer treatments are the result of patients volunteering to participate in a clinical trial conducted by highly specialized clinicians and scientists,” she says. Dr. Tan says she has found her home at City of Hope, where physicians and staff provide compassionate care throughout the cancer journey. “We’re a family,” she says. “Everyone comes together with one single goal – to fight cancer and to win. I’m very proud of the work we do.”

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT ANY OF OUR FOUR ORANGE COUNTY LOCATIONS, CALL: Newport Beach Fashion Island (949) 763-2204

Newport Beach Lido (949) 999-1400

Huntington Beach (714) 252-9415

Irvine Sand Canyon (949) 333-7580

WE’RE COMING FOR YOU, CANCER

We won’t rest until we’ve defeated cancer, once and for all. City of Hope is advancing world-renowned cancer treatment and research by establishing a National Cancer Institute-designated campus in Orange County. Our more than 400 physicians and 1,000 scientists and researchers focus on only one thing – ending cancer. We offer more than 1,000 clinical trials each year and breakthrough treatment options, all delivered by a compassionate team of experts who take your hand and never let go.

CityofHope.org/OC

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Cancer doesn’t stand a chance. The future is hope, in Orange County.

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Tɦҽ Poppy Ԑsʈaʈҽ 321 POPPY, CORONA DEL MAR A picture of elegance and grace, the newly remodeled "Poppy Estate" offers the ultimate in stately, indoor-outdoor living on an approx 45-foot wide lot in the Village. A series of French doors connects interior spaces to expansive new "IPE" wood decking designed for outdoor entertainment, and a second outdoor courtyard with in-ground spa surrounded with lush privacy landscaping. The estate boasts six bedrooms, (plus an office), a large TV/game room, formal dining room, living room with marble fireplace

and soaring beamed and coffered ceilings, an adjacent formal seating parlor, a premier kitchen with dual ovens, Sub-Zero refrigerator and a cozy breakfast nook with direct access to spa courtyard. Additional highlights include lushlylandscaped front yard with spacious porch; new white oak wood flooring; an office with chilled wine closet; main floor en suite bedroom; and a viewing balcony with serene panoramas of the Pacific Ocean and Pelican Hill golf course.

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COLDWELL BANKER REALTY | Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of

6 BEDROOMS 4 BATHS APPROX 3,352 SQ FT APPROX 45 FT WIDE LOT $5,995,000

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The brand that defines luxury. As an exclusive Orange County affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, First Team is distinguished as best in class. Together, we bring the most desired luxury homes to the world’s most discerning buyers. Christie’s International Real Estate commands recognition among high-net-worth buyers and sellers worldwide and is the noted authority on the marketing of high-value properties. Our finely-tuned suite of programs provides a world-class showcase for distinguished homes, and our clients benefit from ties to the world’s leading art business and its worldwide real estate network. Discover the advantages of partnering with our worldwide network at FirstTeam.com/Luxury. © First Team® Real Estate. All rights reserved.

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MARCH 86

KICKASS WOMEN 2022

The women we’ve chosen for our second edition of this feature live up to the term: powerful, spectacular, and impressive. They’re but a sampling of the leaders in our community doing amazing work in many areas, and they show off the best of Orange County.

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“It’s important to acknowledge that what we’re doing to the environment (is) impacting us on different levels and potentially creating the next mental health crisis that we’re not prepared to handle.” —RACHAEL COCCIA, PL ASTIC POLLUTION MANAGER FOR SURFRIDER FOUNDATION, PICTURED WITH ANGEL A HOWE (LEFT), SURFRIDER’S LEGAL DIRECTOR

PASSION FOR PICKLEBALL

The pandemic increased the sport’s popularity in Orange County and across the U.S. BY MILES CORWIN

O N T HE COV ER

Cover graphic by Andrew Hart

12 ORA NGE CO A ST • March 2022

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

New Year New Kitchen

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MARCH 30

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EDITOR’S LET TER PEOPLE & PL ACES A waterfall in Black Star Canyon ’HOODS Hopping around Anaheim PERFECT G E TAWAY Temecula is the perfect wine-tasting escape. C U LT U R E P H I L E Marytza K. Rubio makes her literary debut. O.C . E VENT S Women in jazz, American Ballet Theatre, and more ST YLE & HOME A vintage Wassily replica chair from Dana Point

14 ORA NGE CO AST • March 2022

SOURCED Local vintage pieces for your home

FOOD TRENDS New bakeries are on the rise.

S T Y L E TA L K Regina Oswald discusses her timeless designs.

MY O.C . The demise of pantyhose

FINDS Dress in sunny colors this season.

ON THE MARKET A home with a woman’s retreat in San Juan Capistrano

RITUAL S A group of cyclists on clunkers and cruisers make noise and friends during the pandemic.

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FOOD & DRINK Roxy’z in Anaheim is a stunning departure from family tradition.

DINING GUIDE Many of our 200plus reviews, plus a spotlight on FernetBranca cocktails at Glasspar in Dana Point

5 QUESTIONS WITH ... Carla Arce of O Sea in Orange

124

PERSON OF INTEREST Lori Irby and her foster kitt ens bring comfort to seniors.

WEB EXT RA S

Cathy Thomas shows how to take the guesswork, and most of the real work, out of making a scrumptious apple pie. orangecoast.com /cathythomas A local family opens an axe-throwing experience in Huntington Beach. orangecoast.com/stumpys St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in O.C. orangecoast.com /stpatricksday2022

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MARCH

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS IN THIS ISSUE

Summer Fun Guide

46 47 48 49 50

Festival of Arts Ocean Institute Casa Romantica PBS SoCal Segerstrom Center for the Arts

OC Restaurant Week

60-65 Restaurant Listings 66 San Simeon Wines Wine & Dine Map 67

Power Women

Michelle Harrington, COO & Hila Pooli, General Counsel First Team Real Estate

AJ Whitfield, Villa Real Estate

Dr. Wendy Marshall, Ocean Institute

Kathleen Monroe, Luxury Coastal Realty

Jane Kakkis, MD / Julia Kakkis

Andrea Parada, URBANA Mexican Gastronomy + Mixology

Mary Vachon, Union Bank

Elizabeth Nigro, CFLS, Certified Family Law Specialist

Candace Howe, MD, OBGYN, FACOG / Marina Maslovaric, MD, OB/GYN, FACOG

Candice-Lee Silver, Pacific Platinum Properties, Inc.

Annie Del Rio, Yogurt Glamour

Geraldine Ly, ESQ

Bronwyn Gorman, Decorating Den Interiors

107 Health & Wellness 109 Rocket Science Fitness 110-111Belmont Village 112 A Perfect Fit 112 AJ Dickens / Bikini Fit Club 113 Resource Guide Directory

OC Scene 54

16 Ora nge C o ast • March 2022

Women of Chapman Luncheon

Orange County’s Premier Litigation Firm Orange County’s Premier Litigation Firm Orange County’s Premier Litigation Firm

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• All 30 C&B Attorneys Have at Least 10 10 Years Litigation Experience •Senior All 30 C&B Attorneys Have at Least Years Litigation Experience Experience Matters 30 Litigation Attorneys Experience Experience Matters Matters - 30 - 30 Senior Senior Litigation Litigation Attorneys Attorneys • Daniel Callahan Named of Nation’s Top Ten Litigation Trial Attorneys • Matters Daniel Callahan Named One ofOne Nation’s Top Ten Trial Attorneys Experience - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys California’s Premier Firm

• • •

• Callahan • Daniel Daniel Callahan Callahan Named Named One One of Nation’s ofTop Nation’s Top Top Ten Ten Trial Trial Attorneys Attorneys California’s Premier Litigation Firm &Nation’s Blaine • Named Callahan Named of Nation’s Top Ten Trial Attorneys • Daniel Callahan Callahan Named One One of of Nation’s Top Ten Ten Trial Trial Attorneys Callahan & Blaine • • Daniel Daniel Callahan Named One ofOne Nation’s Top Ten Trial Attorneys • Daniel Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2010 toAttorneys 2017 Top •100 California Super Lawyers -- -2010 to 2017 • Top Top 100 100 Southern Southern California California Super Super Lawyers Lawyers - 2010 - 2010 to 2017 to 2017 •Southern Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2010 to 2017 SM

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• • Top California Lawyers - Litigation 2010 to 2017 • Experience • Southern All 30All C&B 30 30 C&B Attorneys Attorneys atSuper Least at Least Years 10 Years Litigation Litigation Experience Experience • All C&B Attorneys at10Least Years Litigation Experience Matters -Have 30Have Senior Litigation Attorneys All 100 30 C&B Attorneys Have atHave Least 10 10 Years Experience • All All 30 C&B 30 C&B Attorneys Attorneys Have Have at Least at Least 10 Years 10 Years Litigation Litigation Experience Experience California’s Premier Litigation Firm • All 30 C&B Attorneys Have at Least 10 Years Litigation Experience Callahan & Blaine Experience Matters - & 30&Blaine Senior Litigation Attorneys California’s California’s Premier Premier Litigation Litigation Firm Firm Firm California’s Premier Litigation Callahan Callahan Blaine

Callahan & Blaine

Callahan & Blaine California’s California’s Premier Premier Litigation Litigation Firm Firm Firm California’s Premier Litigation Callahan Callahan && Blaine Blaine Experience -●30 Attorneys Callahan & Blaine 3 Hutton CentreExperience Drive ● Ninth Floor ●Matters Santa Ana CASenior 92707 ● Litigation (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com Experience Matters Matters - 30 - 30 Senior Senior Litigation Litigation Attorneys Attorneys 3 Hutton Centre Drive ● Ninth Floor ● Santa Ana ● CA 92707 ● (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com 3 Hutton 3 Hutton Centre Centre DriveDrive ● Ninth ● Ninth FloorFloor ● Santa ● Santa Ana ● Ana CA●92707 CA 92707 ● (888) ●California’s (888) 892-6554 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com ●Premier www.Callahan-law.com Litigation Firm SM

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Experience Matters - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys 3 Hutton Hutton Centre Centre DriveDrive ● Ninth ●• Ninth FloorFloor ● Santa ●• Santa Ana ● Ana CA●•92707 CA 92707 ● (888) ●•(888) 892-6554 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com ●•www.Callahan-law.com 33Hutton Centre Drive Ninth Floor Santa Ana CA 92707 (714) 241-4444 www.Callahan-law.com

3 Hutton Centre Drive ● Ninth Floor ● Santa Ana ● CA 92707 ● (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com

Experience Matters - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys Experience Experience Matters Matters 30 30 Senior Senior Litigation Litigation Attorneys Attorneys Experience Matters - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys

EDITOR’S LETTER

elcome to our second edition of Kickass Women, just in time for International Women’s Day (March 8) and Women’s History Month. What better occasion to highlight more amazing women in our midst? Yes, we do some of that in every issue, but the impact of seeing so many together always moves me (Page 86).

So how did we choose? We sought advice from women we admire and trust, we asked the original honorees for their recommendations, and we combed the community for suggestions. The result is a gathering of advocates, artists, and athletes; educators and entrepreneurs; leaders of all ages in various fields doing creative and exhilarating work right here in Orange County. This story requires more coordination and reporting than most of our other cover topics, but it’s also one of my favorites because of the connections that get made. It’s fun to meet successful women and learn what drives them. (It’s much less fun trying to condense all of their accolades and accomplishments into a few hundred words!) We share common interests or discover we know the same people. And our county of 3 million-plus gets a little smaller and more intimate. Of course, there are thousands of local women who could be on this list, and we’ll do more of these stories in the years to come. For now, take a moment to read about some people you might know and others you would like to get to know. We hope they will inspire you with their passion, their dedication, their expertise, and, most of all, their commitment to making Orange County better.

MS. AL AN GIBBONS

E D I T O R-I N- C H I E F

A G I B B O N S @ O R A N G E C O A S T.C O M

M Y F AV O R I T E T H I N G S I N T H I S I S S U E Alexis J Roston, Brit Bennett, Stacey Kent, plus an all-female tribute to the pioneering women in jazz: a kickass lineup of events this month. PA G E 32

18 ORA NGE C O AST • March 2022

I’m all about these sunny colors to brighten up a spring wardrobe. PA G E 42

Cheers to the hundreds of folks gathering to ride clunkers every week as an escape. PA G E 72

It seems like everyone I know is obsessed with pickleball now—neighbors, friends, even some of our writers! PA G E 100

illustration by M A R T H A N A P I E R

EXPLORE

Bar Louie NOW Casa Del Sol OPEN Cocina Mexicana J Zhou Lucille’s BBQ Luna Rossa Prego Restaurant RA Sushi Red Robin Thai Bamboo The Winery Restaurant The Yellow Chilli Union Market Utopia Caffe

COMING SOON Baked Dessert Bar Fast Hot Pot Rakkan Ramen Sal’s Pizzeria Yomies Yogurt

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EASY ACCESS OFF TUSTIN RANCH ROAD, NEAR BARRANCA IN TUSTIN Photo: Roasted Chicken served with Gnocchi at The Winery Restaurant

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BECAUSE SIGHT

RX3447V

COMING SOON

The MARKET

PLACE by

endless possibilities

• GOOD TIMES • morongocasinoresort.com

PEOPLE

PLACES

IN PL AIN SIGHT  T H E S C E N E This hidden waterfall is a prize awaiting those who trek the rugged Black Star Canyon Falls trail in Silverado.  G E T T I N G T H E R E Hike the 6.7-mile path (rated difficult by alltrails.com) this season for the best chance at waterfall views.  E X P L O R E R C R E D I T Takoune Norasingh @theasianstoner1  G E T T H E S H O T “ Seeing Black Star Canyon Falls this full is a rarity, so be sure to put on some hiking boots the next time we get rain!”

33°42'52.2"N 117°39'18.73"W

March 2022 • OR A NGE C OAST 25

PEOPLE

PLACES ’ H O O D S

U P-A N D - C O M E R

Everywhere you look in downtown ANAHEIM, there’s a new spot to eat, drink, or shop. by Robin Jones

Ú G O O D TO KN OW

Eco Now offers everything from reusable straws to bulk refills. You can shop online with free shipping on orders of $50 or more. E CO N OW

PROME N A D E PIZ Z A

Glass and aluminum refillable containers, plus a variety of plant-based, locally sourced soaps, detergents, and cleaning products to fill them with, dominate the shelves at this zero-waste shop. Like the original location in Costa Mesa, it also stocks all kinds of other eco-friendly products—from basic mesh produce bags to wool sponges, hemp cat toys, and unbleached diaper cloths—in a well-organized, warmly lit space. 207 W. CENTER

Ultra-fresh toppings and house-made dough take the pizzas at this takeout spot on the Center Street Promenade to the next level: The vegetarian pie ($11 to $16), for instance, is smothered in fresh bell peppers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, red onion, and whole basil leaves. Unexpected options include the tikka pizza, with chicken or paneer and creamy garlic sauce, mozzarella, roasted red bell peppers, scallions, and cilantro ($12 to $19). 179 W. CENTER ST.

The spacious patio and bright, cheerful dining room draw plenty of diners to the Texasstyle barbecue restaurant, which opened in October. But the smoked meats—brisket, short rib, rack of lamb, pastrami, and turkey—grab the spotlight. Order them in tacos and burritos ($13 to $20), in sandwiches ($11 to $31), or on their own with sides such as street corn and waffle fries ($5 to $7). Pair with the creative (and cleverly named) cocktails. 195 W. CENTER

PROMENADE, 714-603-7365

ST. PROMENADE, 714-603-7194

26 O RA NGE CO A ST • March 2022

ST. PROMENADE, 714-603-7980

CR A F T BY SMO KE A N D FIR E

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ECO NOW

MO N KI S H B R E WIN G The popular Torrance brewery known for its IPAs opened its second location in the former Anaheim Brewery space in December. The rotating taps—set up in front of huge windows that offer a glimpse of the brewery’s gleaming metal tanks—always include a few juicy, fruity hazy IPAs with colorful names such as Never Sleep and Glitter Yellow Hop, along with other Belgian-style brews like the Feminist, a tripel made with hibiscus. 336 S. ANAHEIM BLVD.

International Award-Winning Author

Connie Spenuzza, MS Ed.

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2022

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AVAILABLE AT ALL BOOK SELLERS

www.ConnieSpenuzza.com

PLACES

P E R F E C T

G E T A W A Y

TE M E CU L A’ S WI N E CO U NTRY A wine-tasting getaway is closer than you think. by Alan Gibbons

28 ORA NGE C O AST • March 2022

PAT I O P E R F E C T

Launched in 2015, Carter Estate Winery and Resort is the perfect option for a serene stay. With 60 bungalows—including 18 two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites—the award-winning resort ensures you have everything you need to relax: soaking tubs, spacious showers, in-room fireplaces, and a private patio overlooking the vineyards ($233 and up). There’s a free shuttle to sister property South Coast Winery Resort & Spa. Head there for an elaborate dinner at Vineyard Rose or a treatment at GrapeSeed Spa.

TRANQUILITY ABOUNDS

Spread out on 300 acres of rolling hills, manicured greens, and lovely oak trees, Temecula Creek Inn provides plenty of space and a quaint and quiet home base for wine tasting. The secluded property includes 130 guest rooms ($175 and up), which have patios or balconies overlooking lush landscape and a 27-hole golf course. The resort is pet friendly and offers free transportation to its ABOVE Sitting on the patio at Carter Estate Winery and Resort is a lovely way to start and finish the day.

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F C A R T E R E S TAT E W I N E R Y A N D R E S O R T

inemakers in Temecula have gotten more sophisticated and abundant in recent years, and people are noticing. Wine Enthusiast magazine named the city one of the 10 best wine travel destinations in 2019. Warm-weather grapes such as sangiovese and tempranillo do very well, and there are plenty of wineries making sparkling varieties, too. Head out for an easy getaway this spring to indulge in winepairing dinners, golf, spa treatments, and downtime to soothe your spirits after too much time at home.

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F T E M E C U L A C R E E K I N N ; M E R I TA G E R E S TA U R A N T P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F C A L L AWAY V I N E YA R D A N D W I N E R Y

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F R O M

L O C A L

“ Hike the Dripping Springs trail. If you get there on a nice day after a rainstorm or in the spring, water is flowing through the creek and provides a fun place for kids to splash and investigate nature.”

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F T E M E C U L A C R E E K I N N ; M E R I TA G E R E S TA U R A N T P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F C A L L AWAY V I N E YA R D A N D W I N E R Y

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F C A R T E R E S TAT E W I N E R Y A N D R E S O R T

—CIARA GREEN, TEMECUL A RESIDENT

LEFT Temecula Creek Inn offers plenty of space to spread out in tranquil surroundings. RIGHT Berkshire pork tenderloin at Meritage Restaurant makes a great lunch at Callaway Winery.

partner property, Pechanga Resort Casino, where the enormous spa awaits with healing treatments. GARDEN GOURMET

The food at Cork Fire Kitchen is inspired by fresh local ingredients, some of them sourced from the property’s own garden. Try the vegan corn and coconut bisque with cilantro and pearled cucumber ($14) or a hearty pistachiocrusted lamb sirloin with mint salsa verde and brown butter carrots ($43). The restaurant partners with local wineries to host wine-pairing dinners. A fivecourse event last year included malbec-braised beef cheek and roasted pig belly. Check with the restaurant for the next event. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL

After gaining fame and awards in 2013 and 2014 as a food truck, Devilicious opened a restaurant and taproom to serve its signature comfort food with a twist and 34 draft beers. Thirsty Thursdays

MAR K YOUR C A LE NDAR Created by Icon Fair from the Noun Project

mean half-price bottles of wine to go with your asparagus grilled cheese with Brie and caramelized onion ($15). Or try the pork belly tacos with chile-roasted pineapple ($10). There’s also a speakeasy— Apparition Room—that opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. GET YOUR WINE ON

One of the classics, family-owned Hart Winery has been a staple in Temecula since opening in 1980. Visit the tasting room any day for four 2-ounce tastes ($20) of this boutique wine and bring your own picnic. Opened in 2014, Avensole Winery combines the Italian words for adventure and one of a kind. The winemakers focus on zinfandel and offer glasses and bottles in a modern tasting room on the hilltop property. For a more intimate experience, try Bottaia Winery’s barrel room tasting, which includes six estate wines and one from the barrel (reservations recommended, $30).

SLOW FOOD

For a leisurely lunch overlooking the Callaway vineyard, head to Meritage Restaurant. Start with the beet carpaccio salad with watercress, honey-braised fennel, and lemon vinaigrette ($20) then move on to prosciuttowrapped Chilean sea bass with pan-fried potato and dark beer sauce ($36). Sunday brunch offers freshly squeezed orange juice for the mimosas, an entrée, and dessert ($40). Dinner is available Friday and Saturday nights. F R E N C H I N S P I R AT I O N

The Carter Winery is one of the only places in the Temecula Valley that uses the méthode champenoise process for its sparkling wines. Visit the tasting room any afternoon and try the estate brut and penrose that won silver awards at the 2019 Orange County Fair Wine Competition. Sit outside, take in the view, and order a glass, bottle, or flight (five tastings for $25).

March 26: Tower of Power, the band blending R&B, jazz, funk, and rock since 1968, performs at Pechanga Resort Casino. pechanga.com

March 2022 • OR A NGE C OAST 29

PEOPLE

PLACES

C U L T U R E P H I L E

SPELLBOUND

Santa Ana writer and arts activist Marytza K. Rubio makes her literary debut with a wickedly funny, lushly evocative short-story collection, “Maria, Maria.” by Valerie Takahama

hether the setting is as exotic as the jungles of Brazil or as familiar as a Santa Ana apartment or community college classroom, Rubio catapults readers into oddly skewed worlds where magic spells, witches, and transformations are commonplace. Founder of the Makara Center for the Arts, a now-virtual nonprofit library and arts center, she honed her fiction as a PEN America Emerging Voices fellow and as an MFA student with residences in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro; and Santiago, Chile.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Ú When I was in high school, I started going to open mic readings in downtown Santa Ana at a cafe called Neutral Grounds. That’s when the Artists Village was pretty vibrant. The energy was super bonkers. This was probably 1998 to 2000. I spent time there and really expanded what I was reading and (found) that writing was another way to express myself. Did your time studying in Latin America influence your writing? Ú That just really nourished me, especially because that’s where my imagination gravitates toward, with the animals, the wildlife, the vegetation. I like being out of my comfort zone. I speak Spanish, so I was able to navigate pretty easily. It was all the unexpected things. I remember that we went to this cemetery in Buenos Aires called La Recoleta. I was with friends, and we were walking home 30 ORA NGE CO AST • March 2022

after a very late night. This bat, this giant brown bat, swooped over and you could see its face, this little piggy face. I just love those unexpected things. That experience fed my imagination. Your stories are filled with flora and fauna. What research did you do? Ú I worked for the Friends of Santa Ana Zoo around 2010. I’ve always loved animals, and jaguars, in particular, are a fascination. I don’t think the big cat was there when I was working there, but the woman I worked for, the executive director, she volunteered for cat organizations. It was what people talked about. People were so into animals, whether it was a gerbil or a pet cat—just that energy of appreciating wildlife. I loved working there. Your writing style is wildly imaginative, not naturalistic. Are others using this style? Ú Yes. In terms of speculative fiction, I think a lot about Kelly Link, Carmen Maria

Machado. One of the writers I really admire, Fernando Flores—he wrote “Tears of the Trufflepig”—he kind of slips in and out of reality and has these speculative elements. I think that allows us to tell the story in a way that is limitless and unbound by rules that aren’t necessary. When I go to L.A., I love to take the train. I love

looking out and there’s the L.A. River, which is always dry, but I think how cool it would be to see alligators out there or wild cats. I’m able to entertain myself thinking about that. It is possible. Like the bat in Rio de Janeiro or a toucan trying to break into someone’s house. I think when I’m writing, that’s the world I want to live in. photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

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PEOPLE

PLACES

MARCH 25 “BESSIE, BILLIE & NINA: PIONEERING WOMEN IN JAZZ”

Accompanied by a seven-piece allfemale band, vocalists Charenée Wade, Vanisha Gould, and Tahira Clayton (pictured) perform the songs of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone. The program will include classics like Smith’s “Downhearted Blues,” Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” and Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam.” Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org

her husband, saxophonist Jim Tomlinson, and his writing partner, novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, on her albums. Her most recent release, “I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions,” has been streamed more than 40 million times. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org MARCH 10 THROUGH 12 SAINT-SAËNS’ ORGAN SYMPHONY

Jazz concerts, classical performances, and more by Robin Jones MARCH 2 THROUGH 20

“FIRST L ADY OF SONG: ALEXIS J ROSTON SINGS ELL A FITZGERALD”

Roston made her name playing Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill.” Here she’ll do classics from the singer such as “Summertime,” “The Lady Is a Tramp,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing.” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-4972787, lagunaplayhouse.com OPENS MARCH 3 “SHIPWRECKS: DUT Y OF MEMORY”

A retired ambassador of Italy, Stefano Benazzo has photographed more than 500 shipwrecks around the world, in places such as Iceland, Greece, and the U.S. The exhibit will spotlight his best photos. Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, 714-738-6595, themuck.org 32 ORA NGE CO A ST • March 2022

MARCH 6 MILOŠ

A classical guitarist from Montenegro, Miloš has appeared as a featured soloist with the L.A. Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and at music festivals worldwide. His five studio albums have received critical acclaim, and BBC Music Magazine called him one of the top six classical guitarists of the past 100 years. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-5532422, philharmonicsociety.org MARCH 10 STACEY KENT

With a Grammy nomination and BBC Jazz Awards to her name, singer Kent has recorded everything from French chansons to jazz standards. She frequently includes compositions by

MARCH 11 WALKER HAYES

The country music singer-songwriter known for his hit “Fancy Like” headlines the kickoff concert for the 62nd annual Swallows Day Parade Weekend. The event includes special guest artists as well as food, games, and line dancing. San Juan Outpost, 30753 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano, sanjuanoutpost.com MARCH 11 JOSHUA BELL AND ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS

One of the best-known classical musicians in the world, violinist Bell has performed as a soloist and chamber musician for more than 30 years. He’ll lead his chamber orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, in a program that includes works from Bach, Barber, and Beethoven. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org MARCH 12 THE PERONDI’S STUNT DOG EXPERIENCE

Dog trainer Chris Perondi rescues pups and teaches them to do eye-popping tricks and

PHOTOGRAPH BY EMMA TRIM

DON’T MISS IN MARCH

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F I R V I N E B A R C L AY T H E AT R E

E V E N T S

Guest conductor Edo de Waart leads the Pacific Symphony and violinist James Ehnes in Ippolito’s “Nocturne for orchestra” and Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2. In the second half, the William J. Gillespie Concert Organ takes center stage in Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, “Organ Symphony.” Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

PEOPLE stunts, from juggling flying disks to barrel racing. His cast of creatures has been featured on “The Late Show With David Letterman” and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

MARCH 3 BRIT BENNETT

The author of bestselling, critically acclaimed novels “The Vanishing Half ” and “The Mothers” will discuss the themes of race, family, and relationships in her books in this Library Live lecture. Bennett is also an established social commentator with work in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Paris Review. Newport Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, 949-717-3818, nbplf.foundation

MARCH 16 THROUGH 19 AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE

“Bernstein in a Bubble,” choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky to Leonard Bernstein’s “Divertimento,” addresses the challenges of creating art in the current era; and “ZigZag,” created by Jessica Lang, celebrates the songs of Tony Bennett. A third yet-to-be-named work, a world premiere choreographed by Alonzo King to a score by jazz pianist Jason Moran, will close the program. Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

OPENS MARCH 22 “THE BAND’S VISIT”

MARCH 18 AND 19 SUZANNE SIMARD

In this Witte Lecture, Simard will discuss her groundbreaking research on trees, which showed how trees communicate through an underground fungal network, contributing to forest resiliency and adaptation. A professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, she wrote “Finding the Mother Tree” and has reached more than 10 million people worldwide with her TED Talks. Newport Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, 949-717-3818, nbplf.foundation MARCH 19 ST. JOSEPH’S DAY AND RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS CELEBRATION

The tradition that began in the 1920s continues at the mission. Visitors will enjoy live mariachi music, the ringing of the mission bells, Native American storytelling, flamenco dance performances, crafts for kids, and more. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949-234-1300, missionsjc.com MARCH 19

MARCH 19 ANDRÉ RIEU AND THE JOHANN STRAUSS ORCHESTRA PHOTOGRAPH BY EMMA TRIM

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F I R V I N E B A R C L AY T H E AT R E

SONGS OF THE SOUL

This concert from the Pacific Chorale meditates on the spiritual, opening with “Calling,” a wordless piece by Paul Fowler; continuing with Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw’s rendering of Psalm 84; and ending with Frank Martin’s interpretation of the Latin Mass. Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach, 714-662-2345, pacificchorale.org

Violinist and conductor Rieu created the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987 with 12 members. Today the group tours with more than 50 musicians and sells out arenas around the world, playing Strauss’ waltzes, other classical music, folk music, movie themes, and songs from musicals. Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-704-2500, hondacenter.com

PLACES

OPENS MARCH 19 “YOUR PL ACE IN THE MULTIVERSE: JEAN LOWE”

Artist Lowe creates rooms out of papier-mâché and paint, from the rugs to the chairs, tables, and even pianos. This exhibition will show new work and some of her past installations. Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949-494-8971, lagunaartmuseum.org MARCH 19 AND 20 FESTIVAL BALLET THEATRE’S “DON QUIXOTE”

The classic ballet based on the novel by Miguel Cervantes takes the audience on an adventure across 17th-century Spain to a score composed by Ludwig Minkus. Joffrey Ballet dancers Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez will perform the lead roles. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 714-309-1280, festivalballet.org OPENS MARCH 20 “CLEAN”

A guest and an employee at a luxury Cancún resort are brought together by a storm in this new bilingual play by Christine Quintana. Adriana, a floor manager dealing with her father’s death, and Sarah, a guest at her sister’s wedding, are forced to face some uncomfortable truths as they wait out the rain and wind. The show is performed in both Spanish and English. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-5555, scr.org MARCH 22 LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH SIR SIMON RATTLE

Conductor Rattle leads the world-renowned orchestra in this concert, part of his last tour as music director. The program will include works by Berlioz, Sibelius, Bartók, Ravel, and Hannah Kendall. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

The winner of 10 Tony Awards follows musicians who get lost and end up in a tiny desert town, where their performances and interactions make life-changing impressions. The cast includes Israeli actor Sasson Gabay, who starred on Broadway. Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org MARCH 27 UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN

For more than 30 years, this all-ukulele orchestra has reinterpreted all kinds of popular music, from grunge hits to classical favorites, using just ukuleles and voices. The musicians have performed around the world and even played a private concert at Windsor Castle for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org MARCH 27 MATTHEW WHITAKER

The jazz pianist, blind since birth, started performing as a child; he opened Stevie Wonder’s induction to the Apollo Theater’s Hall of Fame at age 10. Now 20, he has toured the world, played at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, and released two albums. Samueli Theater, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org MARCH 28 THROUGH APRIL 3 L AGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Mandolinist, singer, and songwriter Chris Thile will serve as artistic director for the 20th annual festival. The four-time Grammy Award winner will perform along with other musicians in a series of concerts and events. Laguna Beach, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org MO RE O NL INE !

Find more events at orangecoast.com.

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SPON SORED C ON TEN T

CLASSIC CALIFORNIA

PISMO BEACH WORLD FAMOUS PISMO BEACH PIER

EDNA VALLEY WINE REGION

Pismo Beach is the true Classic California beach town, known for its world-famous pier, miles of beautiful white sand beaches, outstanding accommodations, and a rich wine region only minutes away.

Many visitors who come to Pismo Beach are now calling it their Wine & Waves™ destination. With the wine region of Edna Valley only minutes away from downtown Pismo Beach, it’s easy to enjoy the beach and wine tasting all in one fun-filled day. OCEANFRONT RESORTS You’ll find a wide variety of lodging to meet everyone’s needs and budget. Oceanfront hotels with stunning vistas, affordable motels, family-friendly vacation rentals, and award-winning RV parks are all available. There are restaurants with original new cuisines or time-honored menus for everyone to enjoy. Pismo Beach offers an outstanding selection of outdoor activities too. Enjoy kayaking, fishing, surfing, hiking, and biking all surrounded by breathtaking scenery. It’s all here waiting for you—a gentle climate where sand, sun, sea, and sky converge to create the ideal getaway. California’s golden past is alive and well in Pismo Beach.

For more information and to book your stay go to experiencepismobeach.com. Also, join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. 34 OR ANGE COA ST • M A R C H 20 22

r o f n o s i e v i r ! D h e c a e Th B o m s Pi

Check out our Lodging Specials Online for our Best Prices!

Enjoy miles of beautiful white sand beaches, wonderful places to stay, outstanding dining, outdoor activities that are free from crowds and a rich wine region only minutes away. When you visit Pismo Beach, there is no need to fly, just hit the road and save with our great Lodging Specials.

ExperiencePismoBeach.com

Estate by : Gonterman Construction.

g ae tanoi nc . c om 714.536.6942 CUSTOM INSTALLATION & REFINISHING FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1955

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S E CO N D H A N D S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y THE FIND A vintage Wassily replica chair ($595) from Dana Point's Hyde Goods GOOD TO KNOW Owner Alexandra Madsen has a passion for sustainability. “In a world with mass production ... I think it’s important to be intentional when curating your home,” Madsen says. WHERE hyde-goods.com TURN THE PAGE for more local vintage and secondhand home decor items.

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

March 2022 • O R A NGE COAST 37

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VINTAGE DECOR Add these local unique pieces to your home. by Chelsea Raineri

Round wheel mirror, $930, House of Morrison, Costa Mesa, 949-612-8070

Chinese vintage stool, $190, Mindy Gayer Design Co., Costa Mesa, 949-791-8022

38 ORA NGE CO AST • March 2022

Vintage clock, $280, Shop Skout, Newport Beach, 714-606-2363

Antique Turkish four-handle pot, $495, Layered by Paige Elise, Costa Mesa, 714-628-6071

Sheepskin chair, $12,598, Pure Salt Interiors, Newport Beach, 949-791-8021

Bobine pillow, $365, Shoppe Amber Interiors, Newport Beach, 949-662-0155

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R E G I N A O S WA L D

The Tustin-based fashion designer creates timeless clothing for women. by Chelsea Raineri

egina Oswald began designing when she was 9 years old. In 2001, she immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan. This month, she celebrates her brand’s second anniversary. “Every time you put on a garment of mine, you feel loved,” Oswald says. “You feel the thought, love, and care that went into the production.” Oswald avoids creating trendy pieces—instead, her designs feature minimal detailing.

How did you start designing?  My grandma was a seamstress, and she taught me how to sew. I would make clothes for my dolls out of the remnants of her fabric. I started making clothes for myself, and I used my school as a runway. I was dreaming of becoming a fashion designer really before I understood what a fashion designer is. It brings me so much joy to create. How would you describe your pieces?  They’re versatile and timeless. My first collection was inspired by my own closet. I felt that I always needed pieces to connect all other pieces in my closet, so I decided to create them. The essentials collection is made up of wool, silk, and cotton from Italy, Japan, and South Korea. My biggest goal for women is to have something they can wear year after year, and they can invest in something that brings value to their closet; they’re staple pieces. In January, we introduced linen tweed sets. Every piece that I bring to my collection can be mixed and matched with my previous collections. It’s kind of like a beautiful, continuous story. How are your designs sustainable?  I decided to use natural fabrics— we try to stay away from synthetic as much as possible. The textile industry is one of the biggest pollutants of the environment, so it’s important to me to create something that will stay in your closet for a long time. I’m not producing just for the sake of producing. I produce something when I’m inspired. Where are your pieces made?  I use a factory in Garden Grove, and I go there personally and see the

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photographs by E M I LY J . D AV I S

The Emma dress by Regina Oswald

energy of the people who create my clothes. The (pattern and sample) developers are in Costa Mesa. I try to keep everyone close to me so I can have my personal touch into everything that’s created. Tell us about the charities you work with.  We collaborated with Susan G. Komen and created pink silk scarves and with United Way Orange County and created orange silk scarves. The scarves can be used as masks, and a portion of the proceeds went back to the charities. The third organization we work with is a cause that is very dear to me—the Children of Armenia Fund. I’m Armenian. They have done a phenomenal job creating an environment where Armenian children can get all they need to thrive. We created bracelets, and all the profits were donated to them. We are partnering with CASA and CHOC this year in addition to the organizations we work with already. We’re planning to host trunk shows and donate a percentage of the proceeds.

Our assisted living is accredited for two reasons. You. And your family. Because having the confidence and peace of mind of accreditation is important. That’s why SRG senior living communities are accredited by CARF International—an independent organization that sets exceedingly high standards for care and service. We think you’ll find that our accreditation is just one of the many reasons to take a good look at our communities.

Please call to schedule your personalized tour. INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE

La Vida at Mission Viejo 27783 Center Drive, Mission Viejo

949.625.1533

Las Palmas

24962 Calle Aragon, Laguna Woods

949.382.1144

INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING

The Regency

24441 Calle Sonora, Laguna Woods

949.441.4177

The Wellington

24903 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Woods

949.377.0292

SRGseniorliving.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

RCFE# 306005351 RCFE# 306005349

RCFE# 306005350 RCFE# 306005672

reginaoswald.com March 2022 • OR A NGE C OAST 41

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Local Find! 3

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F I N D S

SHADES OF SUN

Get dressed in these bright, bold colors. by Chelsea Raineri

Banner saddle bag, $395, Ganni, South Coast Plaza, 949-612-9300

Dress, $5,550, Chloé, South Coast Plaza, 714-481-0308

42 ORA NGE C O AST • March 2022

Gold-filled hoop earrings, $35, Moonchylde Collective, Huntington Beach

Cult Gaia Hedda tie-waist knit midiskirt, $258, Intermix, South Coast Plaza, 714-754-7895

T monogram jacquard belt, $198, Tory Burch, South Coast Plaza, 714-689-0450

Tom Ford metallic lizard-print high-heel sandals, $1,190, Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island, 949-759-1900

FOR THE LONG RIDE... I WORKED MOWING LAWNS WHEN I WAS 17 AND ALWAYS WENT TO THE DUMP TO GET RID OF THE LAWN WASTE. I COULDN’T BELIEVE HOW MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS I FOUND I KNEW I COULD FIX. AFTER MANY TRIPS TO THE DUMP, I DECIDED TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT WOULDN’T BREAK AND SAVE THE WORLD. BEING A SURFER IN THE 60’S, I CAME ACROSS MANY BROKEN SANDALS ACROSS THE BEACH. IT FINALLY CAME TO ME THAT I COULD MAKE A BETTER SANDAL THAT FELT GOOD, LASTED LONG, AND WOULDN’T END UP AT THE DUMP IN A LANDFILL. THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR, I DEVELOPED A “LAYERED CONSTRUCTION” BY COMBINING IMPROVED DENSITIES OF SPONGE RUBBER, WHICH ALLOWED ME TO REPAIR THE SANDALS IF THE STRAPS EVER PULLED OUT. I USED BETTER LEATHER SOURCES AND FORMULATED MY GLUE TO HOLD THE STRAPS AND LAYERS TOGETHER. THE STRAPS WERE SEWN USING BONDED NYLON THREAD AND CAME TOGETHER WITH A 2000 LB. PARACHUTE BOX-X STITCH TOE CONSTRUCTION. FORTY-SEVEN YEARS LATER, MY TEAM ENDEAVORS TO KEEP THE QUALITY HIGH, REPAIR SANDALS IF NEEDED, AND DONATE OLD SANDALS WITH LIFE STILL LEFT IN THEM TO FEET IN NEED. I HOPE YOU ENJOY MY SANDALS. - JAY “SPARKY” LONGLEY, FOUNDER & CEO 4% OF RAINBOW® SANDALS TOTAL REVENUE IN 2021 WENT DIRECTLY TO NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. BELOW ARE SOME OF THE LATEST ONE’S WE HAVE HELPED: CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION (CAF) PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, SO THEY CAN PURSUE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES THROUGH PHYSICAL FITNESS AND COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS. THE CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION BELIEVES THAT INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS AT ANY LEVEL INCREASES SELF-ESTEEM, ENCOURAGES INDEPENDENCE AND ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE. challengedathletes.org LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND FOUNDED IN 1902, LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PROMOTES THE INDEPENDENCE, EQUALITY AND SELF-RELIANCE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION. lighthouse-sf.org LONG LIVE THE KINGS RESTORES WILD SALMON & STEELHEAD AND SUPPORTS SUSTAINABLE FISHING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. lltk.org AMERICAN RED CROSS PREVENTS AND ALLEVIATES HUMAN SUFFERING IN THE FACE OF EMERGENCIES BY MOBILIZING THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS. redcross.org

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WOMAN’S RETREAT $5.39 million San Juan Capistrano

Shawn Andrews teaches a course on women and leadership at UC Irvine. WISDOM FROM

an instructor

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY …

It’s been around for more than 100 years and is March 8. March itself is Women’s History Month. The purpose of it is to celebrate women’s achievements and to continue the fight for equality. It started from a women’s rights march in New York in 1908 and became an official international holiday in 1911.

44 ORA NGE CO AST • March 2022

THE GENDER GAP …

As far as CEOs in S&P 500s, women make up only 6 percent. When you look at entry-level positions, men and women are equal in a lot of industries. But when people get to their first promotion, we start to see the curves diverge, and it gets wider and wider after that. If you’re a woman and you look up top and you don’t see someone who looks like you, it’s discouraging because you don’t see a path to success.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT …

Women historically have had less power politically, economically, legally, and socially. The World Economic Forum’s 2021 report states that it’ll (take) 136 years for the world to close the gender gap completely. It’s important to still raise awareness to the inequities and discrimination that women experience and encourage people to take action.

P R O P E R T Y P H O T O G R A P H S B Y C A L I F O R N I A R E A L E S TAT E P H O T O G R A P H Y; H E A D S H O T B Y T O N Y F L O R E Z

 5,700 square feet  5 bedrooms  5 bathrooms  Enjoy a glass of wine in the temperature-controlled wine room.  Of note: Work from home in an office with a view and unwind in the soaking tub, sauna, garden, and more.  30792 Hunt Club Drive  Paul Armstrong, 714-793-3143

S P O N S O R E D CONT E NT

Summer 2022

FUN GUIDE

Still making up for lost time this summer? Whether you are looking for activities for the whole family, a chance to make unforgettable memories, or even a quick out-of-state jaunt, our Summer Fun guide offers ideas that will inspire and delight!

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PAGEANT of the MASTERS JULY 7 to SEPT 2 Watch Art Come to Life in Laguna Beach. A kaleidoscope of international art becomes your passport to distant lands, cultural celebrations and fascinating history in the 2022 production of WONDERFUL WORLD. Transported through the theatrical art of living pictures, the Pageant sets sail in pursuit of seasonal festivities, ancient and modern, promising new surprises at every turn. Prepare to be amazed by the Pageant’s intoxicating blend of original music, storytelling and stage illusions!

TICKETS START AT $30. PageantTickets.com, 800.487.3378

CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF ART FESTIVAL of ARTS FI N E ART S H OW I N L AG U N A BEACH

JULY 5 to SEPT 2 Original Art. Original Experience. Since 1932.

Celebrating its 90th Anniversary, this highly-acclaimed juried fine art show features 120 of Orange County’s finest artists – offering avid art collectors and festivalgoers an outstanding variety of mediums to browse and purchase in a beautiful outdoor open-air gallery setting. Plus enjoy art demonstrations, live music performances, opportunities to meet the artists, special events, art workshops and more.

CHECK WEBSITE FOR DETAILS. FestivalofArts.org, 949.494.1145

BEST SUMMER EVER! Help us celebrate 45 years of Ocean Institute. (Register early before camps SELL OUT!) Ages 5-17 Weekly camps are offered June 13 - August 12 Membership Registration: March 14 General Public Registration: March 28

Camps: Sea Squirts (Ages 5-6) Neptune’s Mysteries (Ages 6-7) Buccaneer Adventures (Ages 7-8) Ocean Discovery (Ages 8-9) Shipwreck Hunters (Ages 9-11) Coastal Explorers (Ages 10-13) Internship Academy (Ages 14-17)

Be a buccaneer

Explore Dates:

Spend your summer here!

Session 1: June 13 - June 17 Session 2: June 20 - June 24 Session 3: June 27 - July 1 Holiday Camp: July 5 - July 8 Session 4: July 11 - July 15 Session 5: July 18 - July 22 Session 6: July 25 - July 29 Session 7: August 1 - August 5 Session 8: August 8 - August 12

Discounts: Sea Star, Mariner, Sea Life Sponsor, and Ocean Advocate members recieve discounted camp and early registration.

To register scan here! OR visit: https://oceaninstitute.org/summer-camp/

Explore the Jewel of San Clemente this Summer

Sunset Adjusted Hours

Tuesday-Thursday, July 12-August 4 @ 4-7 PM Enjoy our 2.5 acres of seaside gardens after hours with an incredible view of the sunset, self guided tour of the historic estate, and art exhibition.

CASA COASTAL

Chiaozza: Shape and Structure Opening Reception June 10 @ 6 PM | FREE

Larger than life plant sculptures by art duo Chiaozza, whose work has been shown internationally including at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2017. On view June 10-September 4 during public hours.

PLAN YOUR VISIT: CasaRomantica.org/Plan-Your-Visit

@casaromanticasc

415 Avenida Granada San Clemente, CA 92672 (949) 498-2139

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

New Season

March 20 9pm

Mixed Repertory ABT arrives with 3 dazzling short ballets highlighting their incredible artistry and athleticism, performed to the music of Leonard Bernstein and Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga!

MARCH 16–19

THE COMPANY OF THE BAND’S VISIT NORTH AMERICAN TOUR. PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY

THE WORLD’S BEST ENTERTAINMENT, ONLY AT SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS!

“The Best musical of the year!" — LOS ANGELES TIMES

“It's Ravishing!” — VOGUE

MARCH 22–APRIL 3

(714) 556-2787 SCFTA.org

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CHILE- G L A ZED BABY BACK RIB STACK THE DISH Try this spicy take on a classic barbecue dish from the same dining family that started Zov’s Restaurants. THE DETAILS Roxy’z dry spice rub, gochujang barbecue sauce, pickled Fresno chiles, green onion, ginger, and a cilantro garnish THE PRICE $15.95 THE PL ACE Roxy’z TURN THE PAGE for our review.

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

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52 ORA NGE CO A ST • March 2022

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ROXY’Z

Anaheim newcomer is a stunning departure from family tradition. by Gretchen Kurz

dare anyone to cite a more delicious American dream saga than that of Zov Karamardian and family. What started with her three-table cafe in 1987 is today a hospitality juggernaut with outposts throughout Orange County. Her now-familiar name is synonymous with delectable. Yet her newest venture isn’t a Zov’s—it’s a Roxy’z. The original Anaheim venue shuttered for months to resurface as a breezy watering hole inspired by Roxy, mother of Zov and reputed family renegade and hospitality dynamo. One peek at the hip list of scratch cocktails says this is something different. The slate of local brews scribbled on the bar’s blackboard confirms these offerings are quite outside the Zov’s canon. Windows flood the island bar with sunlight, supplying a view of the patio and busy intersection just beyond. Multistory townhomes are sprouting like mushrooms after a rainstorm in this neighborhood, and the vibe is increasingly urban. Large prints of historic Anaheim places and moments surround the interior. There’s even one of a smiling Roxy in 1958—it begs for explanatory details. Big windows open to fresh air and traffic noise, but here’s hoping for the day windows can close and not compete with the likable playlist. A most excellent Paper Plane cocktail pairs well with eavesdropping on the post-work crowd dribbling in. My friend arrives, and we migrate to a banquette deep inside the no-frills dining space. Most signature dishes aren’t on

this menu. Clearly, we are being nudged into new territory, with the owners trusting that diners will trust in Zov. Crispy eggplant fries are hissing-hot spears with sesame-seed breading that outclasses any mainstream fried zucchini. Chipotle mayo flatters the crunchy dippers. Six baby back ribs with sweet-spicy red chile glaze easily release their sticky meat. Onion strings are a welcome ride-along, though hardly necessary to make this starter a winner. Petite tostadas recall zesty shrimp-avocado ceviche, fancified with pickled onion, napa cabbage, and chipotle spread. All starters are ideal for sharing—most are large enough to make you forget there is no fabled Zov’s golden lentil soup to be had here. I’ve yet to visit and not order the Duroc pork belly over velvety hummus dotted with scarlet harissa. The meaty braised slabs are expertly rendered for utmost texture, and gutsy harissa

1801 E. Katella Ave. Anaheim 714-280-9687 5 BEST DISHES Panzanella Chile-glazed rib stack Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich Lamb sausage pizza The Roxy Burger PRICE RANGE Starters and salads, $8.95 to $12.95; Pizzas and sandwiches, $13.95 to $17.95; Entrees, $19.95 to $26.95 FYI Free groundfloor garage parking

LEFT (Clockwise from top) Panzanella salad, shrimp and avocado tostadas, and crispy eggplant fries with sesameseed breading RIGHT Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with a delicate slaw photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

March 2022 • OR A NGE COAST 53

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DRINK is there for the taking or avoiding when scooping the hummus with triangles of pliant pita bread. Salads are few but discerning. There’s a Caesar with house croutons and snippets of kale and proper ParmigianoReggiano. The tomato-cucumber salad is a perfect ratio of Persian cucumbers, tiny tomatoes, red onion, and mild feta slicked with minty lemon vinaigrette. Crunchy, warm ciabatta chunks anchor panzanella, a mix of lettuces, leafy basil leaves, smidgeons of soft feta, and heirloom tomatoes all gilded with herby dressing. This is the one to upgrade with grilled salmon or a kebab. Pizzas just might be the menu’s superpower. It’s a new category for this team, and clearly the challenge was tackled with gusto. There’s not a weak choice among the five variations built on a 14-inch, medium-weight crust with all the best attributes—crispy or chewy where it counts and flavor deep enough

to enjoy on the unadorned bones. I couldn’t wait to attack leftovers of the spicy lamb sausage with caramelized onions. Meatza Pizza has a witty name, but it earns meat credit with pork belly, lamb sausage, pancetta, and pepperoni topping mozzarella and organic tomato sauce. Ditch tomatoes for a white pizza of wild mushrooms amid fontina, goat cheese, and fresh thyme. A mean burger is a nonnegotiable for a place such as Roxy’z, especially given the rotating, well-chosen taps. The Roxy Burger delivers with its half pound of superb ground chuck, charbroiled and simply adorned with superior cheddar on toasted brioche. Fried chicken tastes unusually clean and rich as the focus of a sandwich with delicate slaw. Sandwiches include tasty slender fries that somehow hold up once they cool down. A trio of popular Zov’s entrees hides in the favorites corner. This is where to satisfy that stubborn craving

O.C. Scene

for ale-battered Icelandic cod and fries or the epic six-hour short rib and mushroom cream over tender pappardelle. It was all I could do to skip the platter of mixed charbroiled kebabs over alwaysimpeccable, buttery jasmine rice. Both shareable desserts are a far cry from Zov’s renowned pastries. Apple pizza is unremarkable. The showy chocolate cake sundae-in-a-jar was a treacly letdown of inaccessible cake smothered in marshmallow fluff (the server kindly struck it from the bill). Bucking the trend in new restaurants, Roxy’z offers a worthy happy hour, weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. It’s slated to expand once baseball season begins. Also, look for beer flights starting soon. Looking back over 35 years of growth and success, Zov and family have built a brand fueled by high standards and fearless adaptation. Roxy’z takes us back to the future of Anaheim, with high spirits and compelling fare.

PROMOTION

PEOPLE

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EVENTS

OPENINGS

Women of Chapman’s Holiday Luncheon Women of Chapman, Chapman University’s 50-year-old support group, celebrated the 35th anniversary of its famed “Christmas at The Ritz” uncheon at Balboa Bay Resort. The 320-member crowd enjoyed greetings from Santa, a quartet of spirited Dickens Carolers, a cocktail reception, real-life toy soliders and snow sprites, and a hot-hot St. Nick’s Picks opportunity drawing before entering the decorated ballroom. The signature four-course menu with the famous Ritz Egg pleased all, as did the live auction, which saw President Emeritus Jim Doti’s carved wooden bowl sell for $12,000 to WOC supporter Kay Burra. Net proceeds of nearly $320,000 was garnered. Photo Credit: Tony Lattimore and Peggy O’Donnell

54 O RA NGE CO AST • March 2022

Paella. Tapas. Gypsy Music.

The Best Entertainment Line-Up in OC! Enjoy Live Music 7 Nights a Week, Salsa Dance Classes & Flamenco Dinner Shows! Orange Coast Subscribers Always Receive Priority Seating, Just Mention You’re an OC Subscriber When Making Your Reservation!

Costa Mesa | (949) 688-1555 | 1870 Harbor Blvd. Long Beach | San Diego | CafeSevilla.com

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W I T H …

CARLA ARCE

The new executive chef at O Sea, which has shifted from counter service to full service in Old Towne Orange, weighs in on the change. by Jordan Poblete HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE EXECUTIVE CHEF? It’s an absolute honor! I look forward to building on (owner Mike Flynn’s) concept with new dishes and flavors. I am also honored that I can be another example of women Latina chefs successfully running a kitchen. WHAT WILL YOUR TAKE BE? I am half Mexican and half Chilean and am influenced by that type of cuisine. I hope to honor my ethnic traditions by infusing the seafood dishes with elements from those influences. YOUR FAVORITE DISH? The branzino is my favorite dish on the menu. I call it “my baby,” and I’m very proud if it because it’s something I’ve always wanted to make and it explores more of my heritage. FAVORITE INGREDIENT TO USE? Cilantro. You can see and smell it in some form across many of our dishes. ... I love it, as it makes things crisp and fresh. DOES MOVING TO FULL SERVICE CHANGE THE KITCHEN? It hasn’t changed our operation at all. ... If anything, my culinary training and my amazingly talented team of cooks are thriving because of it.

MADE IN ORANGE COUNTY

Huntington Beach

Featured on Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things list last year, the social media-fueled company Truff has a bestselling pack called THE WORKS. The kit features four varieties of truffle-infused hot sauce, two pasta sauces, black truffle-infused olive oil, and even mayonnaise to add an element of umami to any dish. $150 at truff.com or at Whole Foods Market

56 O RA NGE CO AST • March 2022

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TRUFF

FOOD

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

SO CAL’S

LARGEST CABINET WAREHOUSE

FEATURING

MADE IN THE USA

MILAN SERIES EUROPEAN KITCHEN CABINETS

OVER 40,000 CABINETS

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KITCHEN STYLES Assembled & In STOCK

Assembled and In Stock

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See our entire selection online www.BuildersSurplus.Net 49 YEARS IN BUSINESS

BUILDERS SURPLUS KITCHEN & BATH CABINETS

1-888-299-1261 www.BuildersSurplus.Net

1800 East Dyer Rd • Santa Ana, CA 92705 Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 AM – 6PM Closed Sunday & Monday

WHY PAY MORE? SEE IT, BUY IT, TAKE IT HOME TODAY!

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T R E N D S

FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN New bakeries are on the rise. by Benjamin Epstein

FKN BREAD is named for the young sons of owners Dave and Bree VandenBerg: Finn, Kane, and Nash. Dave was born in San Juan Capistrano and raised in the house where FKN Bread was created. Consider the jalapeno-cheddar sourdough loaf and sourdough cinnamon bun. The baklava croissant and sea-salt peanut-butter dark-chocolate cookies are worthwhile ventures, too. Merchandise featuring the bakery’s acronym is a top-seller. 31760 CAMINO CAPISTRANO, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, FKNBREAD.COM

The county’s first koshercertified and nondairy bakery, THE BLESSED BRAID presents Jewish baked goods including five kinds of the braided egg bread challah, such as poppy seed and marble chip. Other offerings include Ukrainian kamishbroyt with cherries and raisins; airy, sugary kichel; and onion- and poppy-topped bialies. Owner Cheryl Honig also makes pecan drops, Belgian street waffles, and butterscotch haystacks. All are displayed under cloches amid colors of the Israeli flag. 16277 LAGUNA CANYON ROAD, IRVINE, 714-587-2850

With SCRATCH BAKERY CAFÉ steps from Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island is now bookended with bakeries. Choices at Scratch include sweet and savory croissants, fancily topped éclairs, and English muffins that aren’t flat like store-bought. Marble is practically a theme: There’s a hazelnut ganache marble cake, a marble rye loaf, and three kinds of hot pastrami sandwiches on grilled marble rye. A neon “love at first bite” sign on a wall of black crepe roses sets the vibe. 561 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH, 949-524-8200

Founded in Japan but based in Taiwan since 1986, SUNMERRY BAKERY applies Japanese technique to Taiwanese pastries and desserts. In California, the chain has absorbed locations of Happy Lemon, serving its salted-cheese teas alongside Sunmerry’s prepackaged green tea croissants, egg sandwiches, barbecued pork bolos, and gigantic puffy walnut cookies. Sunmerry’s no-frills second O.C. location replaces a grass jelly dessert shop but offers those teas, too. 13908 BROOKHURST ST., GARDEN GROVE, 714-462-6888

58 ORA NGE CO AST • March 2022

PHOTOGRAPH BY BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

FOOD

S P O N S O R E D CONT E NT

March 6 - 12, 2022

MARCH 6 - 12, 2022 | ONLY 7 DAYS!

Celebrate Your Way! This restaurant adventure is designed for food lovers to celebrate however they like - date nights, luxury menus, explore new restaurants and more!

March 2022 • Or a nge Coast 59

SPON SORED C ON TEN T

March 6 - 12, 2022

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS ANAHEIM Anaheim White House 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., 714-772-1381 anaheimwhitehouse.com Puesto Anaheim 1040 W Katella Ave., 714-294-0362 eatpuesto.com/location/anaheim

COSTA MESA Cafe Sevilla Restaurant & Tapas Bar 1870 Harbor Blvd. 949-688-1555 cafesevilla.com

Playa Mesa 428 E. 17th St., 949-287-5292 playamesa.com Seasons 52 3333 Bristol St., #2802, 714-437-5252 seasons52.com

The RANCH Restaurant & Saloon 1025 E. Ball Rd., #101A, 714-817-4200 theranch.com/restaurant

Casablanca The Restaurant 1976 Newport Blvd., 949-423-7990 restaurant-casablanca.com

Terrace by Mix Mix 3333 Bear St., #316 657-231-6447 terracebymixmix.com

BREA

Descanos Restaurant 1555 Adams Ave., #103 714-486-3798 descansorestaurant.com

The Country Club 330 E. 17th St., 949-281-2582 countryclubcm.com

Brunos Italian Kitchen 210 W. Birch St., 714-257-1000 brunosbrea.com Cedar Creek Inn 20 Pointe Dr., 714-255-5600 cedarcreekbrea.com

Fermentation Farm 1125 Victoria St., #R, 949-650-0830 fermfarm.com

ChaCha’s Kitchen 110 W. Birch St., #7, 714-255-1040 chachaslatinkitchen.com

Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails at 17th Street 234 E. 17th St., #100, 949-200-3950 greenleafchopshop.com

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ 120 S. Brea Blvd., Unit 1, 714-671-9378 gyu-kaku.com Mendocino Farms 3317 E. Imperial Hwy., 714-924-7100 mendocinofarms.com TAPS Fish House and Brewery 101 E. Imperial Hwy., 714-257-0101 tapsfishhouse.com

CORONA DEL MAR Farmhouse at Roger's Garden 2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd., 949-640-1415 farmhouse.rogersgardens.com Five Crowns 3801 E. Coast Hwy., 949-760-0331 lawrysonline.com/five-crown The Bungalow Restaurant 2441 E. Coast Hwy., 949-673-6585 thebungalowrestaurant.com The Jetty 3029 Ocean Ave., 949-723-0174 thejettycdm.com 60 Ora nge C o ast • March 2021 2022

Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails at SOCO 3321 Hyland Ave., #C, 714-862-2480 greenleafchopshop.com Habana 2930 Bristol St., 714-556-0176 restauranthabana.com Mendocino Farms 450 E. 17th St., 949-548-2500 mendocinofarms.com MESA 725 Baker St., 714-557-6700 mesacostamesa.com

The Crack Shack 196 E 17th St., 949-383-5040 crackshack.com Water Grill South Coast Plaza 3300 Bristol St., 949-208-7060 watergrill.com/southcoast Wild Goose Tavern 436 E. 17th St., 949-722-9453 goosebar.com

DANA POINT Waterman’s Harbor 34661 Golden Lantern, 949-764-3474 watermansdp.com

FOOTHILL RANCH Halves Boiling Pot & Grill 45 Auto Center Dr., #116, 949-287-1569 halvesusa.com

Celebrate Your Way

MARCH 6-12, 2022 Restaurant Week Masters Preview Party

MARCH 5

OCRestaurantWeek.com

SPON SORED C ON TEN T

March 6 - 12, 2022

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS MAMÓN Hillside Eatery 26676 Portola Pkwy D, 949-305-8552 mamonrestaurants.com

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

IRVINE Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails 2607 Main St., 949-387-8887 andreisrestaurant.com

Cambalache Argentine 8780 Warner Ave., 714-375-3305 cambalachegrill.com

Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana 8573 Irvine Center Dr., 949-536-5200 angelinaspizzeria.com

FULLERTON

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen 13126 Jamboree Rd., 714-408-7819 chachaslatinkitchen.com

Summit House 2000 E Bastanchury Rd., 714-671-4111 summithouse.com

GARDEN GROVE NOVA Kitchen & Bar 12361 Chapman Ave., 714-696-0888 novaoc.com

HUNTINGTON BEACH Boardwalk Restaurant 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., 714-845-8444 waterfrontresort.com/dining/the-boardwalkrestaurant Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ 7862 Warner Ave., #109, 714-842-8333 gyu-kaku.com Heirloom a Modern Farmhouse 18344 Beach Blvd., 714-375-6543 heirloomhb.com Henry's Coastal Cuisine 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., 714-845-8000 waterfrontresort.com/dining/henrysuncorked-patio-wine-bar Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., 714-845-8000 https://www.waterfrontresort.com/dining/ offshore-9-rooftop-lounge

CUCINA enoteca Irvine 532 Spectrum Center Dr., 949-861-2222 urbankitchengroup.com/cucina-enoteca-irvine Curry Up Now 922 Spectrum, 949-932-0153 curryupnow.com Falasophy 920 Spectrum Center Dr., #920, 949-536-5008 falasophy.com Famous Dave’s BBQ 13122 Jamboree Rd., 714-462-9179 famousdaves.com/Irvine Floe Lounge 18000 Von Karman Ave., 949-553-0100 marriott.com/en-us/hotels/laxir-irvinemarriott/dining Habana 708 Spectrum Center Dr., 949-419-0100 restauranthabana.com Heirloom Farmhouse Kitchen 7905 Irvine Center Dr., 949-880-2420 heirloomfarmhousekitchen.com Il Fornaio 18051 Von Karman Ave., 949-261-1444 ilfornaio.com/location/il-fornaio-irvine

Puesto Huntington Beach 7821 Edinger Ave., 714-316-0151 eatpuesto.com

Little Sister 896 Spectrum Center Dr., 949-800-8798 dinelittlesister.com/irvine-info

Tanner's 21080 PCH at Paséa, 714-698-6130 tannershb.com

Mendocino Farms 4175 Campus Dr., 949-783-2900 mendocinofarms.com

62 Ora nge C oast • March 2022

O Fine Japanese Cuisine 6731 Quail Hill Pkwy., 949-748-1896 ofinejapanesecuisine.com Paul Martin’s American Grill 534 Spectrum Center Dr., 949-453-1144 paulmartinsamericangrill.com Puesto Los Olivos 8577 Irvine Center Dr., 949-608-9990 eatpuesto.com Puesto Park Place 3311 Michelson Dr., 949-608-7272 eatpuesto.com Robata Wasa 926 Spectrum Center Dr., #926, 949-536-5064 robatawasa.com Romano's Macaroni Grill 13652 Jamboree Rd., 714-508-7990 macaronigrill.com Taco Rosa 13792 Jamboree Rd., 714-505-6080 tacorosa.com The Melt 665 Spectrum Center Dr., 949-954-6621 themelt.com Y.N.K. 18000 Von Karman Ave., 949-553-0100 marriott.com/en-us/hotels/laxir-irvinemarriott/dining

LAGUNA BEACH Lumberyard Restaurant 384 Forest Ave., #10, 949-715-9300 lblumberyard.com Mozambique 1740 S. Coast Hwy., 949-715-7777 mozambiqueoc.com Nirvana Grille 303 Broadway, # 101 949-497-0027 nirvanagrille.com

O Fine Japanese Cuisine 30872 Coast Hwy., 949-715-5551 ofinejapanesecuisine.com

OC Restaurant Week is better than ever! This restaurant adventure is designed for food lovers to celebrate however they like. DATE NIGHTS ALL WEEK EXPERIENCE LUXURY MENUS EXPLORE NEW RESTAURANTS

View restaurants and menus at: OCRestaurantWeek.com

SPON SORED C ON TEN T

March 6 - 12, 2022

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS Sapphire 1200 S. Coast Hwy., #101, 949-715-9888 sapphirelaguna.com

Scarlet Kitchen & Lounge 30865 Gateway Pl., 949-503-3086 scarletkl.com

Lido Bottle Works 3408 Via Oporto, #103, 949-529-2784 lidobottleworks.com

Skyloft 422 S. Coast Hwy., 949-715-1550 skyloftoc.com

Wineworks For Everyone 26342 Oso Pkwy. #103, 949-582-0026 wineworksforeveryone.com

Lighthouse Café 1600 W. Balboa Blvd., 949-933-1001 lighthousenb.com

Starfish 30832 S. Coast Hwy., 949-715-9200, starfishlaguna.com

NEWPORT BEACH

Malarky's Irish Pub 3011 Newport Blvd., 949-675-2340 malarkyspub.com

Sueños Laguna Beach 222 Ocean Ave., 949-715-8155 sueñoslagunabeach.com

LAGUNA HILLS Ironwood 25250 La Paz Rd., 949-446-8772 ironwoodlagunahills.com Scratch Bakery Cafe 24321 Avenida De La Carlota, 949-859-2253 scratchbakerycafe.com Villa Roma 25254 La Paz Rd., #B, 949-454-8585 villaromarest.com

LAGUNA NIGUEL Bottega Angelina 32441 Golden Lantern, 949-542-8220 bottegaangelina.com

LAKE FOREST Brü Grill & Market 23730 El Toro Rd., 949-305-5757 brugrill.com

Billy's at the Beach 2751 West Coast Hwy., 949-722-1100 billysatthebeach.net Canaletto 545 Newport Center Dr., 949-640-0900 ilfornaio.com/location/il-fornaio-newportbeach Cappy’s Cafe 5930 West Coast Hwy., 949-646-4202 cappyscafe.com Chihuahua Cerveza 3107 Newport Blvd., 949-771-8226 chihuahuacerveza.com CUCINA enoteca Newport Beach 951 Newport Center Dr., 949-706-1416 urbankitchengroup.com Dory Deli 2108 W. Oceanfront, 949-220-7886 dorydeli.com Fable & Spirit 3441 Via Lido, 949-409-9913 fableandspirit.com FIG & OLIVE 151 Newport Center Dr., 949-877-3005 figandolive.com

Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen 7946 East Coast Hwy., 949-497-9770 modomiorusticitaliankitchen.com Muldoon's Irish Pub 202 Newport Center Dr., 949-640-4110 muldoonspub.com Olea, Cellar. Craft. Cook. 2001 Westcliff Dr., #100 949-287-6807 oleanewportbeach.com Rockin Baja Lobster 2104 W. Oceanfront, 949-723-0606 rockinbaja.com/newport-beach Scratch Bakery Cafe 561 Newport Center Dr., 949-524-8200 scratchbakerycafe.com Stag Bar + Kitchen 121 McFadden Pl., 949-673-4470 stagbar.com Super Panga Taqueria 2110 W. Oceanfront, 949-561-1700 superpangatacos.com Taco Rosa 2632 San Miguel Dr., 949-720-0980 tacorosa.com

MISSION VIEJO

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse 455 Newport Center Dr., 949-720-9633 flemingssteakhouse.com

Dublin 4 Gastropub 26342 Oso Pkwy., 949-582-0026 dublin4gastropub.com

Fly N Fish Oyster Bar & Grill 2304 W. Oceanfront, 949-673-8400 flynfishoysterbar.com

The Beachcomber Café 15 Crystal Cove, 949-376-6900 thebeachcombercafe.com

Piccolino Ristorante 28719 Los Alisos Blvd., 949-380-7261 piccolinomv.com

Gracias Madre 1617 Westcliff Dr., 949-386-8100 graciasmadre.com

The Mayor's Table 3300 Newport Blvd., 949-662-6160 marriott.com

Pub Thirty-Two 23962 Alicia Pkwy., 949-716-0687 pubthirtytwo.com

Great Maple 1133 Newport Center Dr., 949-706-8282 thegreatmaple.com/newport

Woody’s Wharf 2318 Newport Blvd., 949-675-0474 woodyswharf.com

64 Ora nge C oast • March 2022

S P O N S O R E D CONT E NT

March 6 - 12, 2022

ORANGE

SANTA ANA

1886 Brewing 114 N. Glassell St., 714-922-8130 1886brewingco.com

Avila’s El Ranchito 2201 E. First St., 714-547-9129 avilaselranchito.com/santa-ana

O SEA 109 S. Glassell St., 714-363-3309 eatosea.com

Chapter One: The Modern Local 227 N. Broadway, 714-352-2225 chapteronetml.com

Prime Cut Café 1547 W. Katella Ave., 714-532-4300 primecutcafe.com

Morton's The Steakhouse 1641 W. Sunflower Ave., 714-444-4834 mortons.com/location/mortons-thesteakhouse-santa-ana-ca

Smoqued California BBQ 128 North Glassell St., 714-633-7427 smoquedcaliforniabbq.com

TUSTIN

The Wall 80 Plaza Square, 714-988-7700 thewall.beer

17th Street Grill 17320 17th St., 714-730-0003 17thstreetgrill.com

SAN CLEMENTE

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ 14181 Newport Ave., 714-731-1719 gyu-kaku.com

Avila's El Ranchito 204 Avenida Del Mar, #A, 949-498-5000 avilaselranchito.com SOL Agave 111 Avenida Del Mar, #1B, 949-312-2210 solagave.com Vine Restaurant & Bar 211 N. El Camino Real, 949-361-2079 vinesanclemente.com

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Rancho Capistrano Winery 26755 Verdugo St., 949-481-6682 ranchocapwinery.com

Jojo's Hideaway 17320 17th St., 714-261-9911 jojoshideawayat17.com

Prego Mediterranean 2409 Park Ave., 949-553-1333 pregooc.com Stowaway Tiki 2493, Park Ave., #27, 657-208-2088 stowawaytiki.com The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar 2647 Park Ave., 714-258-7600 thewineryrestaurant.net The Yellow Chilli 2463 Park Ave., 714-389-5280 theyellowchillitustin.com Utopia European Caffe 2489 Park Ave., 714-352-5789 utopiacaffe.com

YORBA LINDA TAPS Brewery + Kitchen 23741 La Palma Ave., 714-462-5603 lovetbk.com

TUSTIN

THE DISTRICT AT TUSTIN LEGACY Casa Del Sol Cocina Mexicana 2497 Park Ave. 949-899-6555 casadelsoloc.com

SOL Agave 31111 Rancho Viejo Rd., 949-218-1158 solagave.com

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que 2550 Park Ave. 714-259-1227 lucillesbbq.com

Sundried Tomato Café 31781 Camino Capistrano, 949-661-1167 sundriedtomatocafe.com

Luna Rossa 2449 Park Ave., 714-259-0861 lunarossatustin.com

The Tea House on Los Rios 31731 Los Rios St., 949-443-3914 theteahouseonlosrios.com

Mendocino Farms 2847 Park Ave., 714-619-5075 mendocinofarms.com/locations/tustin

Ysidora Restaurant and Lounge 31692 El Camino Real, 949-503-5700 innatthemissinsjc.com March 2022 • Or a nge Coast 65

LA HABRA

BREA

YORBA LINDA S P O N S O R E D CONT E NT

PLACENTIA

FULLERTON 91

March 6 - 12, 2022

WINE & DINE

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

Descanso Restaurant 1555 Adams Ave., #103, 714-486-3798 descansorestaurant.com



Terrace by Mix Mix 3321 Hyland Ave., #C, 714-862-2480 terracebymixmix.com

NEWPORT BEACH

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March 2022 • Or a nge Coast 67

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MY O.C.

The Demise of Pantyhose? A quest for stockings leads to some discoveries about modern times. by Barbara Neal Varma

stood center stage in the lingerie department at Nordstrom, confused. Where had all the pantyhose gone? All the other underthings for ladies were there—the comfies, the sexies, the out-of-my-price-range designer bras and matching

panties. But not a nylon in sight—which was worrisome because the next evening I

was supposed to get dressed up for a long-awaited return to Hollywood’s Magic Castle, a rare outing north of Jamboree these pandemic days. I’d met my husband there more than 20 years ago, so it remains a favorite place of ours. The castle was welcoming guests back, in a limited capacity and with its strict dress code still in place: suits and ties for the gents, cocktail dresses for the ladies—and don’t forget to BYOM (Bring Your Own Mask), please. I’d already dusted off a little black number that I was relieved to discover still fit. Though what was once a tad loose was now a bit snug; blame all the COVID-19 comfort food of late. The greater challenge was covering my winter-pale, spider-veiny legs. I turned this way and that in the full-length mirror, frowning. I would definitely need some highend hosiery to smooth things over and ease back into society. Which is why I went to my friendly neighborhood Nordstrom, intent on getting emergency hose and a cup of the cure-all tomato soup from the in-store cafe. But so far, I was stuck in lingerie land and starting to sweat.

I LOOKED AROUND AG AIN . Wait, didn’t there used to be a big hosiery display over there? And above it, a chorus line of mannequin legs, each modeling a different color and style? Now only a bare wall stared back at me, not even a dusty outline to hint at the glam pantyhose parade that had been there. Crumbs. I should have seen this coming. Even before the pandemic, the decline in hosiery as a fashion choice had begun. In the late 1990s, records illustration by R A C H E L I D Z E R D A

March 2022 • OR A NGE C OAST 69

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70 O RA NGE CO AST • March 2022

show, women began to opt out of wearing nylons altogether, choosing comfort over coverage. It was this generation’s bra-burning movement—a cry of protest against a man-made fashion trend, telling the world hell no(!), we won’t go through hours of discomfort again. When working from home became more prevalent, many women who had yet to join the resistance suddenly went all in, forsaking their hosiery and high heels for more cozy attire. Zoom call with corporate at 10 a.m.? Business attire on top, jammies on the bottom, and you’re good to go, no one the wiser. For the record, I do realize none of this compares to the larger problems facing Orange County such as virus variants, wildfires, and rising prices at Disneyland, to name a critical few. But when life gets crazy, I tend to reach for familiar. I’d been wearing nylons since I was a teen, and I like the look and feel of them. Hey, if they were good enough for my high school prom—not to mention both my weddings—they were good enough for the next night’s return to the Magic Castle. A thought occurred. Maybe the store had moved the hosiery—“so yesterday,” apparently—to a less conspicuous area. I went to the nearby purchase counter and made gentle inquiry. The saleswoman nodded and gestured for me to follow her. Hope bloomed, then was dashed when she showed me to a small metal A-frame stand so low to the ground I almost tripped over it. A scant half-dozen packages were scattered on its angled sides. I picked one up, saw the color was Midnight Blue and put it back. I chose another one; nude. OK, good start, but size A, petite. Next. The third choice was a slightly tattered Donna Karan. I couldn’t find a color label on the package, but the tiny patch of nylon peeking through the cellophane looked beige, which was doable. True, it was a size larger than I thought I needed—call me optimistic—

MY O.C. but I was running out of time. “I’ll get these,” I said, and handed the saleswoman my prize.

TURNED OUT THE DONNA Karans performed well at my return to the castle, and the extra size provided extra comfort, a hosiery hack I wish I’d known long ago. As anticipated, there was lots of magic to see that evening, lots of hand-holding with my husband. But for me, the truly jaw-dropping moment was when a young woman, also wearing a short black dress, was pulled onstage, ostensibly to help the magician. I couldn’t stop staring at her legs. Or more accurately, what she wore on them: sheer black pantyhose with cute little polka dots. They looked good! Stylish. Fun. And the polka dots—any pattern, actually—would provide extra coverage for my gracefully aging gams. Best of all, the gal couldn’t have been more than 30, which meant leg lingerie might be making a comeback. The next day, I was searching online for sheer black patterned stockings when a friend who’d heard all about my quest sent me a text. There, glowing on my phone screen, were the missing mannequin legs, each one sporting a different style, just like I remembered. Below the pic, those three little words: “Target has nylons!” And that, ladies and gentlemen, is where I finally found a variety of pantyhose for the many date nights to come in 2022. Of course, at Target there were no salespeople helping me make the right fashion choices, so I took my cue from the nearby mannequin. Her dresser had paired patterned hose with a sassy flared skirt I liked so much I bought one, feeling just like Emily in Paris, if a tad older. I drew the line, however, at copying the model’s footwear. No way was I going to walk around the Magic Castle in a pair of chunky, Doc Marten-esque boots. Those didn’t look comfortable at all.

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RITUALS

Shifting Their Focus During pandemic’s worst days, avid cyclists gather to get out of the house. by Laura Saari

ou hear them before you see them. An approaching rabble of hundreds of bicycle bells trilling, gears switching, chains clicking, boom boxes blasting, a steady downbeat. “Scary racket,” to some of my neighbors. “Magical” is what legions of onlookers call them. They climb out of their cars to take photos and cheer on this undulation of bicyclists as if they were the Tour de

72 ORA NGE CO A ST • March 2022

France, which they most assuredly are not. For starters, they’re riding clunkers and cruisers. Meet the So Cal Klunkers, a new group of cyclists who decided in the dark days of stay-at-home orders that there’s strength in numbers. They’ve met every Monday night since summer 2020 to cycle en masse for 15 miles throughout the neighborhoods of Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim, Orange, and other parts of central county. Rollout is 7:14 p.m., an area code most of the Klunkers proudly call home. Starting with a handful of friends who were feeling cooped up during quarantine, the Klunkers usually number 250 now. Everyone is welcome, and the rides attract all ages and skill levels. “At first, nobody even knew each other,” says Robert Vasquez, a Westminster CAD engineer. “But my first ride, I was hooked.” Vasquez shows off his swing bike, which is full of tricks because he can steer the front and back wheels. (A 1970s invention, the swing bike was discontinued in 1978 but recently brought back by Americas Bike Company in San Diego). Vasquez is a leader of the safety crew, pulling up the rear of the group and heavily loaded with inner tubes, tools, inflators, and tire patches, along with first-aid items. Many owners of small bike shops donate supplies, and some ride with the Klunkers. Seeing so many bikes approach might be more overwhelming than hearing them. They look like a hive full of bees migrating, one giant buzzing organism bulging in and out at the walls. And the laughter. How long has it illustration by K A R A P Y L E

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been since we’ve heard live laughter, Perhaps because of its name, the not from a can? group first attracted a lot of bona fide Of course, not everyone is laughing. A clunkers (’70s-era off-road cruisers), few neighbors have expressed outrage and there are still plenty of those. But on Nextdoor, along the lines of “What the group has evolved in the past year gives them the right” to block traffic. toward more upmarket, homemade One complained she’d been delayed for bikes and specialization. a few minutes as the Klunkers passed As more people took to their bikes through a busy intersection. during the early days of the pandemic, it Normally the Klunkers stick to was hard to find outdoor gear. neighborhood routes, away from major “You couldn’t buy a bike at Walmart thoroughfares. Several group leaders or Target, even at the bike stores,” says take turns mapping out routes away Vasquez, who made his first swing bike from major streets every week. But and then later was able to buy one. some intersections are hard to avoid. Many of the Klunkers started learn“Things have changed. There (are ing to build their own bikes, some of lots of ) people now in Orange County,” them doing their own welding. Most Orange resident Eli “Pollo” Lopez start with a Schwinn base and add says. “They’re always in a hurry. You parts from Santa Ana, which some conknow what, people? We aren’t living in sider the epicenter of the BMX world Orange County anymore. We’re living in locally, with plenty of welders, bike New York City now.” Lopez, who owns manufacturers, painters, and parts for Shoreline Furnishings, shines his 1930 dealers to access. prewar Schwinn tall frame. It has been fully tricked out in purple with gold leafing, a custom creation by Felix bike T H E R E A L T R I C K I F YO U WA N T shop in Gardena, whose owner rides to go is locating the Klunkers’ weekly routes. They are accessible only on Instawith the Klunkers. Klunkers cofounder “Big Frank” Peña gram. They meet Monday nights at parks of Santa Ana says safety is the group’s and parking lots. Some of the purists main concern, with skilled cyclists gather an hour before the ride—trading tips, talking of powder coats and spokes. assigned to manage the crowd. I would not call this two-hour ride Peña rides a gorgeous Schwinn with blue tires and brown gum walls. “We do leisurely, though leaders tell me they positive things for the community,” he try to keep speeds at less than 20 mph. Collisions are few, but they tend to hapsays. “We bring families and kids out.” The group also hosts an annual toy pen in the center of the group, where there can be a bunching-up effect. drive for low-income children. 74 O RA NGE CO A ST • March 2022

The ride isn’t for the weather-intolerant. Numbers drop significantly in the dark and cold of winter. But hundreds of these cyclists are ride-or-die types, having been soaked in pounding rains, buffeted by Santa Ana winds, and caught in lightning storms. The nights I meet them, it’s dipping into the 40s. Similar rides are scattered throughout Southern California. Santa Barbara has a Schwinn group. Las Vegas had a ride that attracted 5,000 participants. Santa Ana has a second club, known as the 29ers, for their 29-inch BMX bikes. Anaheim also has its BLVD Toros, fixie road bikes. San Diego and Riverside have clubs, too. The newly formed Klunkers might already be one of the largest groups. Varying their route every Monday night, they also change their “pit stops” at mom-and-pop eateries to support local businesses. One restaurant offers the cyclists dollar tacos. For some reason, most of the real bike geeks are men. I have to look around to find a woman. Monique Gonzalez of Buena Park, who has biked with the group for more than a year, steers toward the parking lot exit because 7:14 p.m. is upon us. “When you’re on your bike, you feel like a kid again,” she says. She disappears, laughing, into the darkness. To laugh, to feel like a kid again. To learn how to make your own bike that is a piece of art. To ride among 8-yearold and 80-year-old fans. To feel safe on city streets, riding a bike at night. I can see where the Klunkers could be a nuisance, but there’s something about them I love. I think it’s that they hearken back to a sense of small town that seems to be disappearing. I also agree with those who think they could be a safety hazard. But I’d rather have bike lovers out there ringing their bells and lighting up the dark than some of the after-dark alternatives. FIND T HEM

@socal_klunkers on Instagram

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SO CAL KLUNKERS

RITUALS

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POWER

WOMEN ORANGE COUNTY’S LEADING WOMEN PROFESSIONALS

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MICHELE HARRINGTON COO

HILA POOLI

CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL

First Team Real Estate

Since 1976, First Team Real Estate has been trusted to represent over 250,000 home buyers and sellers as the largest privately held familyowned company in Southern California. Among the many other women who are a part of First Team’s leadership, COO Michele Harrington and Chief Legal Counsel Hila Pooli are driven with the knowledge, expertise, and vision to provide value to their agents, their clients, and the communities they serve. In 2021, under Harrington’s leadership, the company achieved its best year on record, successfully closing 10,218 transactions, and thereby ranking #1 in Southern California for the 20th year in a row. Harrington serves on the board of directors for the Orange County Association of Realtors® and the California Association of Realtors®. She is also a federal political coordinator for the National Association of Realtors®. “Because I believe in this industry and because I want to make sure that others can enjoy the financial benefits that I’ve been able to, I give back my time on the various real estate boards in California and nationally — not because I want the recognition. And I believe in its ability to change lives for the better.” Pooli provides legal advice to the company’s corporate department, high-level management, and approximately 2,200 agents with respect to matters of litigation and risk management. Selected as a 2021 Southern California Super Lawyer, a distinction reserved for only 2.5% of attorneys who exhibit excellence in practice in Southern California, Pooli is the best in the business, with a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate law. Michele Harrington & Hila Pooli 108 Pacifica, Suite 300 Irvine, CA 92618 949-988-3000 www.FirstTeam.com

76 Ora nge C o ast • March 2022

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AJ OLSON WHITFIELD REALTOR

Villa Real Estate Now a leader among coastal Orange County’s luxury residential real estate professionals, Whitfield first developed a passion for real estate at a young age. Born and raised in Newport Beach, her upbringing often revolved around real estate sales and development, providing her with an affinity and instinct for the profession. Since launching her career in 2009, she has earned a reputation for incomparable client service, impressive market knowledge, a best-in-class network, and delivering exceptional results for her clients. Today, Whitfield resides with her husband and their two daughters in Eastside Costa Mesa. She and her husband have built several custom homes, giving her a unique knowledge of the ways a home can be transformed, and what must be done to prepare a home for sale. She appreciates that this has given her an even broader perspective on the many possibilities she can present to her buyers and sellers. With the support of local industry leaders and award-winning marketing at Villa Real Estate, Whitfield continues to shape the gold standard for service and success. Her clients trust and rely on her extensive knowledge of the local market within Newport, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, and Eastside Costa Mesa, where she has completed many successful transactions. Beyond the breadth and depth of her market intelligence, Whitfield is known for her innovative strategies, astute attention to detail, and competitive drive. Having represented more than $150 million in career sales, she is one of the highest producing agents of her generation in Orange County.

450 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100 Newport Beach, CA 92660 949.433.8989 awhitﬁeld@villarealestate.com ajolsonwhitﬁ eld.com

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DR. WENDY MARSHALL PRESIDENT/CEO Ocean Institute

Two decades after her first visit to the Dana Point harbor as a teacher on a field trip, Dr. Wendy Marshall returned to join the Ocean Institute team in 2017. Taking on role of President & CEO at the start of the pandemic, Marshall’s early experiences with the power of ocean education shaped her leadership of the organization. “Ocean Institute’s history of delivering lifechanging learning experiences for the last 45 years has provided a steadfast foundation that enabled us to hold strong through the toughest stretches of the pandemic. My job is to clear the way for the mission and staff to shine,” says Marshall. With a 2.5 acre of oceanfront campus, 1100 marine animals, a 118-ft wooden tall ship, and a 65-foot research vessel, “clearing the way” means maintaining a complex facility which offers programs to schools and the general public. Marshall describes the model as an “economic ecosystem”, in which public programs and fundraising subsidize operations and school field trips. “The generosity and commitment to education, children, and the environment of the residents of Orange County is humbling,” says Marshall. Twenty-percent of school visits are fully funded through the Adopt-A-Class program. “The community has been a phenomenal support system and we are showing our gratitude by offering new ocean experiences for visitors of all ages”, says Wendy. Distinguished speakers, monthly themes, and special events are among the programs the public can expect to enjoy.

24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive Dana Point, CA 92629 949.496.2274 wmarshall@oceaninstitute.org oceaninstitute.org 78 Ora nge C o ast • March 2022

Photo Credit: Jared Sislin

“We are setting the conditions for the next 45-years to be the best yet!”

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KATHLEEN MONROE BROKER

Luxury Coastal Realty The real estate market in Orange County is crowded and highly competitive. As a seasoned Realtor, Kathleen Monroe has carved a unique niche for herself that she defines as relational rather than transactional. “Selling residential real estate is rooted in emotion for sellers and buyers – I never underestimate the emotional connection a seller has to their home and the emotion a buyer feels when finding the home of their dreams.” Kathleen’s uncompromising work ethic is genetically ingrained, having learned the tenets of honesty and integrity from watching her father excel as a real estate broker. After starting her career 17 years ago she

quickly rose from “rookie of the year” to being recognized as a consistent Top Producer. Known affectionately as “Mama Bear” by her clients, Kathleen can be counted on to always look out for their best interests. “I genuinely care about my clients and treat their money as if it is my own. I find ways to save them money in each and every transaction while selling their home for top dollar.” A shrewd negotiator with a passion for results, Kathleen continually goes the extra mile, earning consistent 5-star reviews. A savvy marketer, she provides a strategic game plan for each seller, including free staging. “Staging increases the perception of value and

garners a higher price for my sellers.” Her clients rave about the “Monroe Magic” and that if you “Go with Monroe you will make more Dough!” For Kathleen, it’s all about the joy that comes from making clients’ dreams come true. “My purpose and passion in life is being a Realtor. Truly making a difference for each client is what I find most fulfilling.

2901 West Coast Highway, Suite 200 Newport Beach, CA 92663 949.702.1955 GowithMonroe@gmail.com LuxuryCoastalRealty.com March 2022 • Or a nge Coast 79

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JANE KAKKIS, MD

JULIA KAKKIS ELITE ATHLETE, HONORS STUDENT

Named a “Best Doctor in America” for over a decade, Dr. Jane Kakkis is respected for being on the forefront of innovative breast cancer surgery and treatment. Dr. Kakkis has also pioneered a survivorship program that addresses the physical and emotional changes cancer patients experience in their journey toward recovery. And, while her professional passion is rooted in helping women win their battle against cancer, her personal passion lies in raising her daughter, Julia, currently a sophomore at Mater Dei high school. An honors student and acclaimed athlete, Julia expertly navigates the inherent pressures in elite-level beach and indoor volleyball. Her ability to excel in her academic pursuits – despite the long hours and often stressful circumstances she faces as a multi-sport athlete – have shaped her strength of character and laid a solid foundation for her future aspirations. With her mom as both mentor and inspiration, her long-term goals include postgraduate training in medicine and an eventual career path in Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Kakkis notes the most important attributes she hopes to instill in her daughter include a strong work ethic, personal and professional integrity, and the mindfulness and generosity of heart that define true success. “This is the essence of raising the next generation of powerful leaders.”

9900 Talbert Avenue, Suite 103B Fountain Valley, CA 92708 714.378.5011 80 Ora nge C o ast • March 2022

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ANDREA PARADA PARTNER

URBANA Mexican Gastronomy + Mixology

A shared love of food and unique buildings led Andrea Parada and her fiancé Javier Cuadra to become first-time restaurateurs in 2014, designing Urbana Mexican Gastronomy and Mixology in the historic Anaheim Packing House building. Passionate foodies who built a space where you feel the Hispanic heritage, Andrea says when Cuadra first took her to travel throughout Mexico to taste and try regional cuisine, she knew there was a void in Orange County’s restaurant market that they could fill. “We dreamed of opening a restaurant and at the time there was no modern Mexican cuisine in the area,” we worked with the city of Anaheim to bring this. “One of the things that makes us unique besides our eclectic menu and beverage options is that we use only fresh ingredients daily. Our menu is always changing with a spotlight on the Michoacan region, dubbed the “belly of Mexico.” Urbana’s success has spawned a second location in Del Mar, CA, and Andrea, who manages all marketing and PR says the whole experience has taught her that she is stronger than she knew. “I feel like I’ve always been more shy, not someone who takes center stage. This experience has helped me break that mold.” “I really enjoy working next to my fiancé every day,” she continues. “I’m proud of our team and how we have weathered the past few years of the pandemic by sticking together. We showed up every day and proved that nothing is impossible if you work hard and believe in yourself.”

Anaheim Packing District 440 South Anaheim Boulevard Anaheim, CA 92805 714.502.0255 Urbanaanaheim.com March 2022 • Or a nge Coast 81

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MARY VACHON VICE PRESIDENT PRIVATE MORTGAGE BANKER Union Bank

With 30 years of experience in the Real Estate and Banking industry, Mary Vachon has proven to be a self-driven, meticulous, and professional Mortgage Banker. Her successes have brought trust and confidence to all her clients including those who are purchasing the home of their dreams, or investors who want to expand their business investment portfolios. It’s no surprise Mary is the proud recipient of The President’s Club award, 12 years running. With a passion for providing exceptional personalized service, Mary always takes the time to explain the complexities of the loan process to her clients. “I describe upfront and in detail the entire process the borrower will experience, so they don’t feel the anxiety that comes with financing their home,” she says. “All lenders have differences in the way they operate, so regardless of how many loan experiences a client has had, it is important to educate them on what to expect with Union Bank.” Recognizing that communication is key, Mary checks in frequently with her clients to answer questions trouble shoot any issues that arise. Because she cares deeply for her clients, Mary adds that it’s especially rewarding when successful transactions lead to satisfied clients. “Home buyers typically comment that the new home was made a reality as a result of my helping them achieve the best financing available. The most rewarding part of my job is receiving the thank you call at the end of the transaction from a happy borrower.”

82 Ora nge C o ast • March 2022

1666 San Miguel Newport Beach, CA 92660 Cell 949.244.5890 Fax 949.257.4782 unionbank.com/mvachon NMLS#322288

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ELIZABETH NIGRO, CFLS

Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California Elizabeth Nigro understands the wants and needs of clients in divorce and child custody proceedings. Whenever possible, she works to reach mutually agreeable resolutions to challenging disputes over child custody, support and property rights. Her expertise includes complex child custody cases, including domestic violence; international child custody cases; and high asset and income cases, including concealed asset and income issues. “I care deeply for my clients. I love people. That caring is what motivates me to work as hard as I do.” Passionate about her clients’ families, her family, and her community, Elizabeth is devoted to her three children and two grandsons and her firm regularly volunteers services for Laura’s House. “I define success as excellence in my courtroom performance, including preparation for every challenge and giving 100% in the pursuit of justice for my clients.” 4 Venture, Suite 320 Irvine, CA 92618 949-453-0530 | 949-453-0531 (fax) nigrofamilylaw.com

CANDACE HOWE, MD, OB/GYN, FACOG

MARINA MASLOVARIC, MD, OB/GYN, FACOG

Dr. Candace Howe and Dr. Marina Maslovaric oversee a patient-centric women’s health practice that focuses on total wellness. The practice incorporates primary and specialty care to treat pelvic pain, menstrual abnormalities, hormonal disorders, low and high-risk pregnancy management, infertility counseling and holistic care for the whole woman. Both physicians are recognized for their education, expertise, industry awards and accolades, and are passionate about making a difference in their community. “My job is my calling and my life is dedicated to helping my community. I believe we need our “village” and connectedness to stay emotionally and mentally well,” says Dr. Howe. “Dedicating my life to medicine came naturally. My family has a strong tradition of contributing to society and helping others,” adds Dr. Maslovaric.

500 Superior Avenue, Suite 330 Newport Beach, CA 92663 949.642.3780 hmmedicalobgyn.com March 2022 • Or a nge Coast 83

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CANDICE SILVER REALTOR®

Pacific Platinum Properties, Inc. Loyal, determined, strategic and committed. These are words that best describe top real estate professional Candice Silver. With a decade of experience to her credit, Candice says that for her, true success is defined not by financial gain, but by having an engaging and meaningful career that also makes a tremendous difference in her clients’ lives. Coming from a large family real estate background with deep roots in the industry for over 35 years, real estate is embedded in her bones. What immediately stands out is her distinctive solution driven mindset. That being her ability to pair her concierge-level service and intimate knowledge of neighborhoods with market analytic trends and industry leading technology. Candice began her career working in Financial Strategy, Operational Risk and Compliance for Fortune 500 Companies. She also worked with large Banks specializing in Residential Mortgage to leverage her finance background and passion for real estate. 949.910.2518 candice@silver-realestate.com silver-realestate.com CA DRE #02034243

ANNIE DEL RIO FOUNDER AND CREATOR Yogurt Glamour

Founder and creator of the first yogurt skincare eco brand, Annie Del Rio is committed to environmentally conscious, sustainable skincare. With a BSc in Biology and an MBA, Del Rio was inspired by worldly travels where she observed the locals using organic yogurt to care for and preserve their skin. Soon to be WBENC certified, Yogurt Glamour is a womanowned, family-run business bringing the community simple, handmade quality products. You can find Del Rio and her family at their brick and mortar shop in La Habra, shop online from 230 countries around the world and at various farmer’s markets across Southern California. 2208 West Whittier Boulevard La Habra, CA 90631 800.399.6740 annie.delrio@yogurtglamour.com yogurtglamour.com 84 Ora nge C o ast • March 2022

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GERALDINE LY ATTORNEY

Law Offices of Geraldine Ly As an established Orange County attorney with nearly three decades of experience, Geraldine Ly specializes in representing people who face tough legal challenges. “My expertise is in workers’ compensation, personal injury, and matters related to civil litigation.” Geraldine oversees an all-female, boutique practice that offers a hands-on approach to every case. “My philosophy is to treat my staff like family and each client as an extended part of our family. We are proactive and aggressive in moving our clients’ cases towards resolution.” Respected by clients and peers, Geraldine was selected a Super Lawyer each year from 2016 to the present and named 2020 and 2021 Top 50 Attorneys in Orange County and Top 50 Women Attorneys in Southern California. “My success is defined by being able to make a positive impact on someone’s life.” 2700 North Main Street, Suite 610 Santa Ana, CA 92705 714.442.9998 geraldinely-law.com

BRONWYN GORMAN

Decorating Den Interiors As a sought-after interior designer, Bronwyn Gorman believes that a home should reflect the people who live there — not the designer. Bronwyn fully embraces this philosophy with each project she oversees. “My greatest joy comes from helping my clients achieve the home of their dreams that feels like their own personal sanctuary.” Bronwyn has built her business around providing exceptional customer service, and her passion for making people happy motivates her to understand a client’s style so she can deliver designs that make them proud of their home. “My goal is that the design experience is enjoyable for my clients as we work together to create a home that they love.” 949.755.2032 bronwyngorman@decoratingden.com bronwyngorman.decoratingden.com March 2022 • Or a nge Coast 85

86 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

KICKASS WOMEN OF O.C.

Webster’s dictionary offers two definitions for kickass: 1. having a strong effect on someone or something; powerful 2. exceptionally good; spectacular, impressive. The women we’ve chosen for our second edition of this feature easily live up to both descriptions. They’re but a sampling of the leaders in our community doing amazing work in many areas. They show off the best of Orange County, and we think you’ll be proud to count them as neighbors and friends. WRITTEN BY ALAN GIBBONS, ANASTACIA GRENDA, CHELSEA RAINERI, VALERIE TAKAHAMA, AND THERESA WALKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY EMILY J. DAVIS

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Kickass Women

Shachi Mehra Chef-owner of Adya BONA FIDES: Mehra thought she wanted to be a doctor. In her early 20s, she was working in a medical off ice and realized she would never be as happy as the doctor she worked for. Luckily for diners, she found her home in the culinary world and never looked back. She worked with Floyd Cardoz in New York for five years, then did stints in Washington, D.C., and Northern California. Michelin-starred Tamarind of London lured her to Orange County to be its opening chef. She felt at home in O.C. and opened Adya eight years ago to make the high-quality Indian food she loves more accessible to local diners. She thrives on watching customers’ reactions as they taste something new and find they love it. In fall 2019, she won “Chopped” and had big plans for her next steps, which included using her winnings to launch a sauce company. COVID-19 put a hold on everything. While Adya was closed, Mehra participated in the artisan pop-up market at OC Baking Co and the Orange farmers market, and she started doing virtual cooking classes. Adya off ers catering for big events and small private dinners, and last year Mehra debuted Spice Girl Sauces. IN HER WORDS: “I really think that (being) forced to rethink everything opened a lot of doors in my mind about what I still have to do, and now I’m moving toward all of those things. Orange County has made such huge strides in food in the time that I’ve been here. I think it’s completely changed, and I feel like the consumers are diff erent. Chefs are doing what we really want to do, and people are appreciating what we’re doing in a way that didn’t happen before.” 88 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

Jane Fujishige Yada Chairwoman of the board of directors for Segerstrom Center for the Arts BONA FIDES: Yada went to see “A Christmas Carol” at South Coast Repertory on a school field trip in the early 1980s. She has been a fan of theater ever since and has 20 years of experience as a board member. She especially enjoys Broadway musicals and classical music performances, and her dream is for Segerstrom Center for the Arts to produce original Broadwaycaliber shows. But first she has had to deal with the challenges of operating the center during a pandemic: She moved quickly to upgrade equipment and institute protocols to make patrons feel safe. Born in Orange, raised in Anaheim, and a resident of Tustin Ranch, Yada is O.C. through and through. Her philanthropic interests also include the CHOC Hospital Foundation, City of Hope, Hoag Hospital, and Second Harvest Food Bank. IN HER WORDS: “What Henry Segerstrom did was similar to what Walt Disney did in the 1950s. Everybody in the world knows Disneyland, and I’m hard-pressed to find anywhere in the country that has as beautiful and as well-thought-out a performing arts center campus as what we have here. … The Orange County Museum of Art is going to be the final piece of the crown jewel of a campus here. It’s going to be stunning. So we’ve got a little bit of everything here—Broadway, dance, the symphony, philharmonic, the chorale, now the visual arts.”

Annette Walker President of City of Hope Orange County BONA FIDES: Her favorite quote is from Joan of Arc, commonly interpreted as “I am not afraid. I was born to do this.” Sometimes Walker “gets her Joan on” by donning a pair of socks or a necklace depicting the 15th-century French teen heroine. Walker adopted the mantra early in her health care career to serve as internal pushback against doubts raised because she was a woman and a mother raising six children. Now she is shepherding City of Hope’s $1 billion cancer care campus in Irvine. Despite pandemic-related disruptions, and the challenge of hiring several hundred specialized staff, Walker is determined to open the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center for outpatient care and clinical research this year. Several satellite locations are up and running. Next, the 2025 completion of a specialty hospital to treat and cure cancer. IN HER WORDS: “Whether we open exactly the day we want or 30 days later, we’re going to open this year. It’s going to be a big relief to me to have those resources on the ground here. So many people need them. It’s a mission with real love and passion. I just want to get it here for people as quick as I can. We’re getting close. It’s no longer conceptual. It’s so real.” March 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 89

Kickass Women

Angela Howe

Rachael Coccia

Surfrider Foundation legal director

Surfrider Foundation plastic pollution manager

BONA FIDES: Howe learned to surf and snowboard and became awed by the beauty of the environment as a student at the UC Berkeley School of Law in the early 2000s. After practicing at a private law firm and volunteering for the Surfrider Foundation, she joined the San Clemente-based organization as its legal director in 2007. Now she oversees Surfrider’s efforts to protect the coast and marine environment by pushing for good laws and making sure they’re enforced. Last year, the foundation scored more than 80 environmental victories on everything from the passage of several #SkipTheStuff local ordinances reducing single-use plastic utensil waste to the resolution of a long-running battle over water pollution on Maui, a case heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. She has taught at the UC Irvine School of Law, USD Law, and Whittier Law School, and she’s co-leader of the PTA Zero Waste Committee at her children’s school in San Clemente. She’s still an enthusiastic surfer and snowboarder.

BONA FIDES: Coccia has put her poise and communication skills to work empowering and educating young people about the environment practically since she was a kid herself. As a college student, she hosted a syndicated science show, “Aqua Kids,” and ended each episode with a positive message that resonated with viewers. She continues to inspire kids—and adults—to make a diff erence through Surfrider’s plastic-reduction programs, including beach cleanups and ocean friendly restaurants. The efforts are complementary: single-use plastics are the top items collected at the 1,000 or so cleanups conducted each year, and the restaurants program tackles plastic pollution at its source.

IN HER WORDS: “We take cues from our grassroots. We have

80 chapters nationally, 18 in California, three in Orange County. They’re very in touch with what’s going on with our coasts, whether it be water quality, plastic pollution, erosion, bad coastal development. We’re really listening to them and using our knowledge of the legal system looking at how to best address them, coming up with that legal strategy—should we litigate, should we advocate to decision-makers, should we help write new laws?” 90 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

IN HER WORDS: “What Surfrider is, at our very core, is a network, a community of people who care. We are able to keep people engaged and staying with us year after year because they do see the impact they’re making and how it’s changing things in a big way. Environmental work can be overwhelming, but when you’ve got a really great network of people all supporting each other, it makes it easier.”

Jonelle Allen Award-winning actress BONA FIDES: Actors can spend their entire careers trying to get to Broadway; Allen debuted there at age 6 opposite the legendary Helen Hayes. Later, Allen worked with another theater titan, her mentor Joseph Papp, in the original companies of “Hair” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona.” The latter earned her several accolades, including a Tony nomination. Allen’s career continued to shine in film and TV with an extensive list of credits that includes “ER,” “9-1-1,” and “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” where she was the first Black woman to appear as a regular character in a TV Western. Last fall, Arts Orange County honored Allen with its Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award. The longtime Laguna Beach resident has worked as an arts educator throughout the county, including at Saddleback College, and she is a cofounder of The Lynn House, a Costa Mesa sober living shelter for women. IN HER WORDS: “My life has taken so many diff erent turns, but I’m still continuing to work. I stay connected to the small voice inside me—call it whatever you want to call it—to guide me in the direction of my highest and greatest good. That’s when unexpected blessings can happen. I call it ‘wow’: world of wonder.”

Claudia Bonilla Keller CEO at Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County; planning commissioner in Placentia BONA FIDES: Her two years at the county’s largest food bank—first as chief mission off icer and as CEO since January— started right as COVID-19 arrived to drive unprecedented need among the county’s most vulnerable residents. Second Harvest’s pantry network continues to feed more than 490,000 people monthly. Keller is the daughter of immigrants to Los Angeles who worked hard to provide a life of what she calls modest but relatively privileged means. A selfdescribed “health, education, and social justice advocate,” she moved in 2005 from a successful career in the retail clothing industry to nonprofits. At Second Harvest, the main mission is addressing food insecurity, the daily uncertainty of a next meal. Keller also aims to ensure that what people eat is nutritious, whether she’s negotiating the bulk price of fresh eggs or helping plan the next harvest at a farm in Irvine. IN HER WORDS: “I guess I’ve refined my worldview. I always believed that food is a human right, but now I believe food is a necessity for human advancement, however one defines advancement. To me, that can change the course of an individual, that can change the course of a community.” March 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 91

Kickass Women

Yassmin Sarmadi Knife Pleat co-owner and two-time Michelin honoree BONA FIDES: Running a successful restaurant requires much more than a great chef, as Sarmadi witnessed often during her time helping finance restaurants in trouble. She learned plenty about the financial underbelly of the dining scene, paired that with her natural grace and knack for finding the best talent in the kitchen, and opened L.A.’s wildly popular Church & State, which earned Bib Gourmand recognition from Michelin. In 2016, she and husband Tony Esnault launched Spring restaurant in L.A. When the opportunity arose to do a French restaurant at South Coast Plaza, Sarmadi knew the clientele would be a good fit for the pair’s vision. Knife Pleat opened in 2019 and was honored with a Michelin star last year. Chef Esnault’s exquisite dishes are complemented perfectly by the ambience and elegant-yet-warm service Sarmadi oversees in the dining room. Her creativity and positive spirit kept the team upbeat and engaged, even during the toughest months of the pandemic and closures. IN HER WORDS: “I think through COVID, it shifted my perspective in a positive way. We had a lot of downtime we normally don’t have. Being at home and having time to reflect was actually great. … It opens other things up and allows you space to be creative. We’re so happy to be where we are. The tasting menu dinners have evolved into what the identity of the restaurant is becoming now. We feel really supported, and we’re looking forward to pushing the envelope a little more.” 92 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

Michal Mimi Lee Restaurateur, connector BONA FIDES: Trying to get Lee to talk about herself is nearly impossible. She’s focused on helping other people, no matter what she’s doing. As an integral part of the group behind Toast Kitchen and the new Tableau restaurant at South Coast Plaza, Lee charms diners, business owners, and philanthropists alike with her nonstop smile, deep empathy, and willingness to listen. The daughter of Japanese Americans who were interned as children, she graduated from UC Irvine, became an optometrist, and married Ed Lee, who had just started Wahoo’s with his brothers. Eventually she decided the restaurant business was where she wanted to be, and she devotes herself completely to behind-the-scenes tasks and the philanthropic strategy behind Tableau’s mission. She rolls up her sleeves at events around the county and remembers everyone she meets. Better still, she connects people with others in the community to deliver phenomenal partnerships, tremendous fundraising potential, and great friendships along the way. IN HER WORDS: “Human beings are amazingly resilient. We’re all survivors. We want to get together and laugh and share food and take care of each other. I think most Americans have a heart to give, too. Having this restaurant brings more people along and gets people involved. I think God put me here uniquely to help.”

Heidi Zuckerman CEO and director of Orange County Museum of Art BONA FIDES: Zuckerman believes that access to art is a basic human right, not a privilege. People will be freer to exercise that right when the Orange County Museum of Art opens in October because of a grant she obtained that will cover general admission for the first 10 years. As she pursues her vision of a 21st-century museum—housed in a sleek 53,000-square-foot building by architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis—the former head of the Aspen Art Museum has forged strong ties to the O.C. arts and philanthropic communities. “What’s most exciting and impressive is people’s open-mindedness,” she says. “The people I’ve met here are incredibly entrepreneurial, innovative, freethinking, and it’s a great match for contemporary art.” IN HER WORDS: “I’m really looking forward to seeing art in person with other people every day. It’s really diff erent to look at art in a defined environment like collection storage or a closed museum. It’s totally diff erent to have unexpected encounters with people you don’t know who are looking at art and talking with them about what they’re seeing.” March 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 93

Kickass Women

Alana M.W. LeBrón

Jun Wu

Codirector of the UC Irvine Center for Environmental Health Disparities Research

BONA FIDES: An assistant professor of Chicano/Latino studies and public health, LeBrón researches how structural racism contributes to health disparities in vulnerable communities and collaborates with local partners to address those disparities. It’s personal to her. She grew up a Latina in a small Texas town and has a vivid memory of negotiating with a pharmacist on a Friday night to get just enough medication for a diabetic family member to manage the disease until the family could pay for more. “Race and socioeconomic status have always been salient in my lived experience,” she says.

BONA FIDES: Wu’s expertise is in environmental engineering and environmental health, and she is a force of nature herself. With the center, she aims to harness UC Irvine experts from a range of disciplines—including engineering, medicine, urban planning, and anthropology—and to tap community collaborators not only in Orange County but also across Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. She works with the Orange County Environmental Justice organization to study lead soil contamination and its sources, and also with a group in Santa Ana’s Madison Park neighborhood to find ways of dealing eff ectively with air pollution issues. Her many other projects include guiding university undergraduates who work with the Anaheim Union High School District installing air-quality sensors in schools, and other students who use high-resolution satellite images to study largetruck traff ic patterns and estimate diesel exhaust exposure and health impacts on aff ected communities.

IN HER WORDS: “What keeps me hopeful is that so much is happening outside of the academy—the work that local health equity leaders are really innovating on. They’re the folks who are connected on the ground, who are visionaries. The other thing that keeps me hopeful are the students who I have the pleasure of working with on research projects. They often identify as coming from communities where there are mostly low-income residents of color, and they’re committed to strengthening their understanding of factors that shape health inequities and returning to their communities, or communities similar to theirs, to really be part of the sea of change in this area.” 94 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

IN HER WORDS: “Collaborating with local communities is very important because most previous research in academia focuses on finding problems instead of really solving problems. Communities have the lived experience, and that is essential in solving the problems. … By continuing to work on this model, I hope the center will be a regional leader in Southern California in promoting health equity and environmental justice.”

Chaitali Nangia Codirector of NK Cell Therapy Research at Hoag Family Cancer Institute BONA FIDES: Nangia is at the forefront of cancer research. She leads a clinical trial studying the treatment of advanced triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease that is more common among women under 40, Black women, and those with the BRCA1 mutation. Her research involves cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy where the body’s immune system helps destroy cancer cells. Specifically, the study uses natural killer (NK) cells in combination with other agents, potentially delaying the cancer’s progression while maintaining the patient’s quality of life. It is the first and only such trial in Orange County. IN HER WORDS: “What drives me is (patients’) bravery— their resilience and their will to fight all of this. Their tenacity, their desire to be normal, their thought that ‘I’m not a patient; I’m a human being. I want to go on a trip to Hawaii. I have a grandkid who’s just coming home today.’ They’re facing the inevitable but they’re dealing with it so bravely.”

Shauntina Sorrells Chief program officer at Orangewood Foundation; professor; board member at California Conference for Equality and Justice BONA FIDES: Sorrells left foster care after 13 years in the system when she was 18. With nothing but a laundry basket of clothes, she boarded a Greyhound bus to Santa Ana. She had no one to call and didn’t have a ride to Vanguard University, where she would complete her undergraduate work. She earned her master’s in social work at Cal State Long Beach and her doctorate in the same field at USC, one of her proudest accomplishments. From a young age, Sorrells knew she wanted to help foster youth—from starting a peer mentor program in her high school to working at the nonprofit Boys Town, where she managed programs for the organization locally and then nationally. In 2019, Sorrells started at Orangewood Foundation, where she manages all 14 programs that off er support to around 2,000 foster youth per year with education, housing, and more. Her specialty is humancentered design—creating programs that are tailored to a specific individual. She’s working toward having youth hold leadership roles in the organization. IN HER WORDS: “When you don’t have a safety net, you don’t have someone to call, you don’t have anywhere to lay your head, life is much more diff icult. Our goal is to be the one stability in their life; the people they can count on. They show up, and they know we’re going to be there, and we’ll find a way to help them.” March 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 95

Kickass Women

Stephanie CamachoVan Dyke Director of Advocacy and Education at The LGBTQ Center OC BONA FIDES: Camacho-Van Dyke started as a volunteer in 2011 and then was hired as youth program director. Working with volunteers, interns, and staff, she built The Center’s weekly youth drop-in group into a suite of programs for young people. Those services cover social support, mental health, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ youth from ages 10 to mid-20s. Camacho-Van Dyke grew up in south Orange County at a time when homophobic bullying was common at school. As director of advocacy and education, she oversees LGBTQ outreach and advocacy on school campuses, directed at district and school administrators, teachers, studentrun Genders & Sexuality Alliances, and parents. Much has changed, but there has been a rise in hate crimes and hate incidents directed at the LGBTQ community since 2016. Speak out against it, she says. IN HER WORDS: “What drives me most is this need to create environments where LGBTQ people and youth can have a space where they can be themselves and just thrive. Just come as they are. And no matter how they’re dressed or how they present, they can walk into it and just be themselves, be as creative and wonderful as they want. And be respected and valued for that.”

Jennifer Friend CEO at Project Hope Alliance BONA FIDES: Project Hope Alliance provides school-based programs to students struggling with homelessness. Friend knows that life well—her family lived in Orange County motel rooms during her adolescence. Academic success at Huntington Beach High propelled her to UC Irvine (where she now serves as a trustee), then law school. She left a law firm partnership for the full-time position of CEO at Project Hope Alliance in 2013. She has grown the nonprofit from a staff of two to nearly 20, to work with Orange County students—and their families—on campuses in three public school districts and through a charter school partnership. The organization’s bywords: For the Kids. IN HER WORDS: “I loved being a litigator, and I enjoyed being an attorney. But this isn’t just a job for me; I feel like it’s my purpose. It gives me the liberty to be able to always think about what’s best for the kids, versus what would advance my personal career or even what would advance the interests of Project Hope Alliance. It changes the ‘why’ I show up to work every day. It changes my perspective in every decision I make.” 96 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

Karen Heath Clark Founder of Women in Leadership; retired partner at law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; chairwoman of Newport Beach Public Library Foundation BONA FIDES: Clark earned her law degree from the University of Michigan but was eager to leave the climate there and return to Southern California, where she was born. She started at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in the late 1970s as the firm’s first female attorney and later became its first female partner. Her interest in sports helped ease the introduction to her colleagues, who were a little unsure about how to relate to her request to leave work every night by 6 to get home to her young children. In 1993, she helped start Women in Leadership, a bipartisan political action committee whose focus is to support pro-choice women running for off ice. Women’s issues have been a priority for Clark for decades, as is obvious in her participation on boards for Planned Parenthood, Southern California Council on Aging, New Directions for Women, and more. She’s now the board chair of the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation, which has approval to build a lecture hall that will be the home to the Witte Lecture Series and other community events. IN HER WORDS: “My focus right now is the lecture hall. We have the architectural drawings. It’s going to be gorgeous—the most iconic building in the city and the center of cultural and civic life. You know the Newport Beach Public Library is one of the best libraries in the state. People come from Irvine, Mission Viejo; some of our board members live in Laguna, one lives in Huntington Beach. It’s a countywide facility—anyone can get a library card.” March 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 97

Kickass Women

Allyson Sonenshine Founding director of the Orange County Women’s Health Project BONA FIDES: Sonenshine started her career as an attorney and has been focused on women’s issues since college. Upon moving to Orange County, she joined the board of Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties and served as chair. The match was perfect for her passion and led her to transition to the nonprofit world. She worked with the Merage Foundations to create the SOS-El Sol Wellness Center at a school in Santa Ana. She and others saw that there was no group in O.C. that was an umbrella for women’s health—though there were many such off ices around the state. So Sonenshine cofounded the Orange County Women’s Health Project in 2011, a neutral nonprofit to promote education, advocacy, and collaboration. The group connects various state agencies, dozens of nonprofits, and medical providers to focus on specifics of women’s physical and mental health. The pandemic has forced the project to scale back a bit, so it is zeroing in on collaboration and its latest initiative, Healthy Teen Collective. For a fun release, Sonenshine sings with ’80s cover band The New Originals. IN HER WORDS: “I’m usually an optimist, but the future of abortion access outside of California is quite stark right now, and the deterioration of public discourse isn’t helping. We must relearn how to agree to disagree and find solutions that allow people to coexist peacefully. What does it mean to be an American, or an Orange County resident? What does it mean to live in a civil society? To me, these questions are inextricably linked to a pregnant person’s ability to control not only their physical and mental health but also their reproductive destiny. I’m hopeful that these issues, more urgent than ever, will galvanize a renewed level of activism to protect women’s health.” 98 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

Saachi Pavani Portola High senior in Irvine; adviser to Girl Scouts of Orange County Board of Directors BONA FIDES: At 14, Pavani learned during a Laura’s House workshop for Girl Scouts that one in three women experience domestic violence. So she started a high school Domestic Violence Prevention Club as a freshman, and an Instagram page (@phsdvp) spreading awareness. A presentation by a nurse on how to prevent someone from bleeding to death led Pavani to organize Stop the Bleed trainings that have reached more than 150 youths and adults, and earned her the Girl Scouts Gold Award last year. Other volunteer work, including for Southern California Hospice Foundation, has garnered recognition. All the while, Pavani captained the girls varsity tennis team that won a Division 3 CIF title in 2019. She aims for a career in health administration, hoping to bring affordable and accessible quality care to all. IN HER WORDS: “Realizing how little I had known about these issues led me to wonder how much did my peers know? If I’m so in the dark, how oblivious might my peers be? Just wanting to bring that kind of awareness to my school and people my age is what drew me into these issues. I want to share things with other people and be part of a community.”

Brooke Weitzman Cofounder of Elder Law and Disability Rights Center in Santa Ana BONA FIDES: As a public law attorney, she champions the rights of homeless people and fights to achieve housing for all. Weitzman has helped initiate more humane treatment of homeless people by law enforcement and local governments through legal action—in particular, a landmark 2018 federal civil rights case in Orange County. The UC Irvine Law School graduate is one of two lawyers who opened Elder Law and Disability Rights Center in early 2017, providing low-cost legal services. She was 33 at the time. Most of the work Weitzman handles involves housing and homelessness. She sits on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Youth at Risk and is working to bring about ABA best practices in local Homeless Outreach Court. IN HER WORDS: “If people don’t know where they’re going to sleep and have a safe room with a door that closes and know where their next meal is coming from, the idea that we as a community can expect them to do anything other than focus on survival is just not realistic. It seems like people should have that safe place before we ask them to do more or diff erent. And jail doesn’t count. No matter what others may tell you, that is not housing.” March 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 99

100 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

PASSION for PICKLEBALL The pandemic increased the sport’s popularity across Orange County and the nation. by Miles Corwin

photographs by Emily J. Davis

t 7 o’clock on a misty Saturday morning, with the temperature dipping into the low 40s, a Tustin parking lot is quickly filling up. Sleepy folks dressed in sweatsuits and lugging gym bags emerge from their cars. A few minutes later, the early morning calm is shattered by what sounds like a volley of rifle fire. It’s actually the sharp thwack of paddles slamming plastic pickleballs.

Within half an hour, members of the Tustin Pickleball Club fill 10 courts and a dozen people are waiting on benches to play. The sport has exploded in popularity in Orange County, and the Tustin club, based at Sycamore Magnet Academy, is one of the biggest in the region. The immaculate courts—transformed from scruff y, rarely used tennis courts—are filled by members Monday through Saturday mornings from 7 to 10 a.m., then are open to the public. Courts are divided by skill level. Picklers, as pickleball players are known, from throughout Southern

California flock to Tustin. They appreciate the low membership fee—free for the first decade or so, recently raised to $50—the ability to drop in and play without a reservation, and the diverse, friendly crowd. “The mix of people here is really cool,” says Tracy Morris, one of the first players to arrive Saturday morning. “One day I was playing with a Korean guy, a Black guy, an Indian woman, an Asian woman, and a man in his 80s. I really love the idea of so many people from different walks of life blending together.” March 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 101

Many players at the Tustin Club attribute its success to its founder, Phil Dunmeyer, who some players and coaches in Southern California call “Mr. Orange County Pickleball.” Dunmeyer, who wears a shirt emblazoned with PICKLEBALL ASYLUM WARDEN, spends Saturday morning in a whirl of constant motion. He greets arriving members; congratulates players when he spots a skilled shot; welcomes couples from out of town who are looking for a game; fills in when a player is needed; and uses his bullhorn to move picklers to other courts when he spots a mismatch. During moments of repose, he sells his instructional books and hands out copies of a new pickleball magazine.

cilities. Three years ago, the Tennis Club at Newport Beach transformed two tennis courts into four pickleball courts. There are now 31 pickleball courts, and the club is planning to add another 16. The pickleball membership grew from 75 to more than 1,500 members, with a waiting list of more than 100. Member Brian Tong says pickleball has an addictive quality. He is so enthusiastic that he follows 11 pickleball podcasts and three YouTube channels. “The day I discovered pickleball was the day I stopped playing racquetball after 30 years,” he says. “That’s how much I enjoyed it. Within a half hour, I knew this was the sport that I wanted to do the rest of my life.”

“In tennis, the court is so big, you can’t rea y communicate with your opponents. But in pickleba , you can chat with them and compliment them on a good shot.” —JUDY TONG Dunmeyer, 79, a retired Tustin elementary school principal, says that while the sport has been steadily growing in popularity throughout Orange County for the past decade, the pandemic sparked a dramatic increase. The club grew from 250 members to 2,000 within a year. “It was like a tidal wave,” he says. “People who couldn’t go to the gym or play racquetball or do any other indoor activities were able to play pickleball. Also, it’s by far the easiest sport to learn. There’s instant gratification.” Pickleball is a mélange of pingpong, tennis, and badminton. The playing surface is smaller than a tennis court, the net is a few inches lower, the paddles are slightly larger than those used in ping-pong and somewhat square, and the ball is made of perforated plastic. During the past few years, both private clubs in Orange County and city recreational departments have been steadily transforming tennis courts into pickleball courts or building new pickleball fa102 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

Because most of the games are doubles, there is a conviviality to the sport that appeals to Tong’s wife, Judy. “In tennis, the court is so big, you can’t really communicate with your opponents. But in pickleball, you can chat with them and compliment them on a good shot. Some people are more competitive than others, but overall, we’ve found that the community of pickleball players are a really nice group of people. That’s something I’ve appreciated.” There are public courts in more than 20 O.C. cities, from San Clemente to Seal Beach. The Seal Beach Tennis Center, which is a public facility, changed its name two years ago to the Seal Beach Tennis and Pickleball Center and now has 17 courts. “Court time is hard to get,” says Tim Kelsey, the Seal Beach recreation manager. “About 2,000 people drop in a month. We heard from a lot of people that it’s easier on the body than most sports.” This is one of the reasons the sport is so popular among seniors, says

Joan Brown, president of the pickleball club at Laguna Woods Village, a community of people 55 and older. In the past decade, the club there has grown from 40 to 450 members. “Because of the size of the court, there’s less running around, so there’s less of a chance of falling down. The ball is lighter than a tennis ball, so you can keep it in play easier, and because men and women often play together, it’s very social.”

he game was invented in 1965 when Joel Prichard, a congressman from Washington state, and a friend returned to Prichard’s home on Bainbridge Island after a golf outing. Dismayed that their families were lounging around, bored, they decided to initiate a badminton game

PASSION for PICKLEBALL

because the home had a court. When they couldn’t find a full set of rackets, they started playing with ping-pong paddles and a Wiffle ball. They discovered that the ball bounced well, so they moved the game to asphalt and lowered the badminton net. The next weekend, another friend joined the group, they created a set of rules, and the game soon spread. There is a raging controversy about the origin of the sport’s name. Some contend it was named after the Prichard family dog, Pickles. Others argue that the derivation stems from a pickle boat in crew, which is composed of random rowers picked from the leftovers of other boats. The United States Pickleball Association, after extensive historical research, has finally settled the contretemps and reMarch 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 103

PHIL DUNMEYER

ported its finding on its website: “We looked for dog records, uncovered photos, and interviewed several people. … Based on evidence, we learned that the dog was born in 1968—three years after pickleball was first played. … Pickleball was not named after the dog, but rather in reference to the local pickle boat races.” As of 2020, more than 4 million people play the sport in the U.S., an increase of 21 percent from the previous year, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. There are numerous pickleball YouTube channels, podcasts, and books, and a new magazine recently printed its first issue. Several cruise lines have added courts to their ships to appeal to devotees. While the sport is a low-key diversion for many, pickleball is becoming increasingly competitive. There are professional tournaments across the country, including several in Orange County. Pickleball competitions are aired on CBS Sports Network, ESPN3, and the Tennis Channel. According to a spokeswoman, officials at USA Pickleball are working to include the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Before the pandemic, the Newport Beach club hosted three to four televised tournaments a year on its stadium court, says Pat Rolfes, who man104 O R A N G E C O A S T • March 2022

ages the club’s pickleball division. “I can teach you to play pickleball in five minutes, but it takes a lifetime to master. That’s why it’s a great sport for all skill levels.”

unmeyer had been playing tennis for years, but when he was introduced to pickleball in 2009, he found that the sport satisfied his need for competition and exercise, without exacerbating his back problems. He introduced the sport to his tennis partner, Pete Burns, who was director of maintenance for the Tustin School District.

At the Sycamore school, Dunmeyer converted a tennis court to a pickleball court by using tape to mark off the new boundaries and galvanized steel pipes for a stand to hold up an old badminton net. Soon, friends and colleagues began joining them. A year later, so many people wanted to play that Dunmeyer decided to paint permanent lines and pull up the tape. Dunmeyer asked Burns, “Who do you suppose we need to talk to to get these lines painted on permanently?” Burns’ reply: “That would be me.” The next year, they obtained regulation pickleball nets. As more

PASSION for PICKLEBALL

and more people joined the group, Dunmeyer and Burns began converting more tennis courts, which were rarely used, into permanent pickleball courts, until they had 10. In the past decade, Dunmeyer spent thousands of dollars of his own money converting the first few courts, and donations enabled him to complete the others. He has taught the basics to newcomers and certified countless instructors, according to standards set by an international pickleball association. The Tustin School District recently began charging the club for use of the facility and the

bathroom. Dunmeyer is concerned he will have to raise membership fees again, and it will be a hardship for some picklers. Marty Lebowitz gingerly made his way into the gym one morning after a night of playing tennis, when a friend who saw him limping suggested a new sport that would be easier on his aching knees. “I was told to show up at Tustin in the morning where Phil was giving lessons to new players,” says Lebowitz, who drives to Tustin from Trabuco Canyon (even though there are courts closer to home) because he enjoys the atmosphere at

the club. “Phil gets up at the crack of dawn to make it here, spends countless dollars out of his own pocket, and four to five days a week runs drills and programs and gives lessons. He’s a great promoter of the sport.” Dunmeyer has taught more than 2,000 picklers and has never charged anyone. “I’ve enjoyed it so much, I just want to pay it forward,” he says. “People are so enthusiastic about pickleball that they reach out and get friends, family, and neighbors involved. That’s why the sport has grown so fast. It’s like a pyramid scheme—but it’s all positive.” March 2022 • O R A N G E C O A S T 105

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March 2022 • Or a nge Coast 107

A GUIDE TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS

BE YOUR BEST “YOU” IN 2022! Simple solutions to help you prioritize health and wellness

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he elders in our families are most often who we turn to for wisdom and comfort as we navigate life’s major moments. Our parents and grandparents are a stable presence, offering guidance and support. Many of us are never truly prepared for the day when those roles reverse. For Linda Sheff and her sisters, Nancy and Leslie Friedman, that day came when their mother, Harriet, began to show signs of memory loss. Confronted with a challenge they had never faced before, Linda and her sisters sought guidance on how to best care for her. From in-home care to a range of

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each other, but their socialization needs were very different. The immediate goal for the sisters was to find the right care option for their mother, but they knew they also wanted a place where their father could thrive as well when he was ready to join her. The right community would offer opportunities for regular engagement with others, suited to each of them. DAILY ACTIVITIES

Residents should be offered a stimulating daily calendar of educational and creative activities to engage mind, body, and spirit at every stage. A comprehensive calendar offers myriad ways to learn new skills and experience new things — helping improve brain health. “Once my father decided to move in, his engagement level increased. He’s made good friends and is still very active at 95,” Linda say. “For my mother, the memory programs gave her structure, and the staff adapted activities to her ability, every step of the way. What we loved most was that my father was able to join my mother in her activities, so they were still able to spend her final years together.” AGING IN PLACE

Essential to the daughters was that their parents could continue to age under the same roof, even as needs changed. Because Belmont Village communities are licensed for a high level of care throughout their buildings, both parents

could remain in the same community through every care stage. “The most important part of the search was a continuum of care,” Linda says. “Belmont Village has assisted living for those like my father and, for my mother who had Alzheimer’s, they have multiple levels of dementia care. It’s not one-sizefits all.” FITNESS PROGRAMS

Look for an on-site fitness center with dedicated programs for cardiovascular and strength training. Activities should also work mind and body together for improved brain health. Belmont Village offers on-site physical, speech and occupational therapy, which for Linda meant that the Friedmans wouldn’t have to leave the community if they needed therapy services — an added level of care. NUTRITIONAL DINING

For seniors living at home, meal times can be stressful and hard to manage, especially when one partner is the caregiver for the other. Belmont Village provides gourmet meals that are heart- and brain-healthy. They also accommodate special diets, so meals are not only nutritious, they’re enjoyable again — a much-anticipated social time for residents. CARE

Many families realize they need help to provide the best care for their loved one when daily medical care needs

It gave me such peace of mind to know my mother was getting the care that she needed and the love that she needed. become too much for family members to handle. Make sure that the community you choose can meet your loved one’s needs around-the-clock — licensed nurses on-site 24/7, along with a trained care team, can reduce ER visits and rehospitalizations. “It gave me such peace of mind to know my mother was getting the care that she needed and the love that she needed,” Linda says. “A year and a half after my mother moved in, my father moved in himself. What was so wonderful about that is they were able to spend every day together. That really was such a gift.” For Belmont Village, health and wellness is a way of life. Recognized as an industry leader, they offer a daily Whole Brain Fitness program that engages residents and provides socialization for all activity and cognitive levels: from self-directed programs for independent residents who want to stay active and maintain mental acuity, to Circle of Friends®, a dedicated seven-day program for Assisted Living residents with mild to moderate memory impairment, to more tailored care plans for late-stage memory loss.

To learn more about Belmont Village’s senior living options, visit BelmontVillage.com/LosAngeles.

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in 1997, Belmont Village Senior Living is an integrated developer, owner, and operator of best-in-class seniors housing. Belmont Village communities are renowned for distinctive design and high standards of life safety, with a reputation for topquality clinical care and leading edge, award-winning programs. Belmont Village is a nationally recognized provider of Independent Living, Assisted Living and ground-breaking, evidence-based Memory Care. To learn more about Belmont Village in Orange County and greater LA, visit belmontvillage.com/losangeles.

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DINING GUIDE ORANGE COUNT Y’S DEFINITIVE SOURCE F O R R E S TAU R A N T N E W S & M I N I R E V I E W S P R I C I N G $$$ $50 and up $$ Less than $50 $ Mostly less than $25 Denotes Critic’s Choice restaurant

ANAHEIM BLUSKY BAR Gawk at the view from the 12-story rooftop digs, but know that BluSky Bar’s Basque cuisine is what really makes this hotel restaurant Anaheim’s most interesting newcomer. Executive chef Edgar Beas is fresh off stints at Michelin-starred kitchens, applying mastery to a tight menu of Spanish dishes. Look for Iberico pork items, indulgent salt cod, and lobster paella. Late night, the place thumps with club action. Radisson Blu, 1601 S. Anaheim Blvd., 714-4091458. Dinner only $$ NAPA ROSE Wine country thrives at the Disneyland Resort by way of this classy dinner house— no park admission required. Star chef Andrew Sutton leads his crew in an exhibition kitchen, turning out imaginative, highly seasonal New American fare. The room mixes rustic with refined, and the notably wine-savvy waitstaff, many qualified as sommeliers, deftly tailors unforgettable meals around wines from one of the region’s finest cellars. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, 1313 Disneyland Drive, 714-300-7170. $$$ POPPY & SEED Chef-owner Michael Reed applies his versatile chops to a spirited, seasonal dinner menu of share plates and thoughtful proteins. Clever variations on of-the-moment produce are high points, as are premium steaks and duck dishes. The one-of-a-kind greenhouse garden setting is a calming contrast to neighbor Anaheim Packing House. Weekend brunch. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 350 S. Anaheim Blvd., 714-603-7130 $$$ PUESTO Part of a swanky new Westin resort, the latest site of this high-flying taqueria is perhaps the most dramatic. Kinetic lighting, mobile bar shelves, and a tequila temple wall engage diners as they down showy drinks and novel taco-centric fare. Handmade blue corn tortillas and cheesy Oaxacan fri-

cos lend tacos a signature difference. Ask about the monthly taco special. 1040 W. Katella Ave., 714-2940362. $$ See Huntington Beach and Irvine locations. THE RANCH RESTAURANT & SALOON Oozing top-notch ambition, The Ranch packs some big guns—executive chef Michael Rossi and his brother David, pastry chef. The large venue also includes an upscale saloon and dance hall, sited in the six-story headquarters of Extron Electronics. The whopping (mostly) seasonal American fare is a mashup of down-home and uptown. 1025 E. Ball Road, 714-817-4200. $$$ ROXY’Z Zov’s Anaheim resurfaced as this breezy NEW watering hole inspired by Roxy, Zov Karamardian’s mother and reputed renegade. Cocktails, imaginative share plates, and premier pizzas dominate a menu designed for gathering before or after games, concerts, and Disneyland visits. Don’t-miss dishes include the chile-glazed rib stack, fried chicken sandwich, and kebab platter. There’s an elevated beer program and a midweek happy hour. 1801 E. Katella Ave., 714-280-9687. $$ TRUE SEASONS ORGANIC KITCHEN This sleek storefront by Saifon Plewtong adds wraps, bowls, smoothies, and desserts to a menu that once focused solely on hot pots. Still, the spotlight is on organic, GMO-free local produce and all-natural proteins. Do try the fresh-pressed sugar cane juice for a refresher like no other in these parts. 5675 E. La Palma Ave., 714-462-9223. Beer and wine. $$ URBANA This colorful tenant at the Anaheim Packing House brings vibrancy and a cool cantina attitude to a food hall that really needed a good taco and mezcal cocktail. Executive chef Ernie Alvarado’s short menu of savvy street food changes often, and you can’t go wrong with his daily specials. Cozy surroundings offer a choice of ambience—festive or sultry. 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., 714-502-0255. $$

EL CHOLO A spiffy suburban outpost of the combo-plate chain that started in L.A. in 1923. Many dishes are listed with their year of origin. One of the best dates from the birth of the restaurant: the Sonora-style enchilada topped with a fried egg. Green corn tamales have achieved cult status. 8200 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, 714-769-6269. See Corona del Mar and La Habra locations. $$ REUNION KITCHEN + DRINK Popular with the locals, this dapper haunt oozes bonhomie thanks to a solid team led by industry vet Scott McIntosh, whose feel-good American classics are consistently executed by a tight kitchen. Service is sharp. Look for a homey meatloaf, laudable fried chicken with yummy mashers and fresh biscuits, and house-made desserts. Modern cocktails and a roomy patio increase the pleasure factor. 5775 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, 714-283-1062. Second location (not yet reviewed) in Laguna Beach. $$

BRE A BRUNOS ITALIAN KITCHEN One of North County’s best venues boasts advantages that are rare in these parts: thoughtfully executed Italian cuisine, a cozy setting, and appealing prices. This sibling of neighbor Cha Cha’s does winning arancini, steamed mussels, house-made pappardelle, and a fine branzino. Happy hour features steep discounts on terrific appetizers and signature Italian cocktails. 210 W. Birch St., 714-257-1000. $$ CHA CHA’S L ATIN KITCHEN This cool hang with a wraparound sidewalk patio is Birch Street Promenade’s most enduring dining success. Helmed by industry vets Don Myers and Peter Serantoni, the menu of modern Mexican fare is boosted by a wood-burning oven and new dishes that blur some borders—sopes, empanadas, aguachile, and pozole. Taco Tuesday is just one of many weekly specials. Impressive tequila menu. 110 W. Birch St., 714-255-1040. See Irvine location. $$ MACALL ANS PUBLIC HOUSE Chef Andrew Wang’s modern but comforting pub cooking is just one upgrade that’s helping this young venue finally catch on in North County. Topnotch whiskey offerings and a killer Irish breakfast on weekends also entice. Don’t miss the ridiculously authentic Irish coffee, or stop in for the very robust happy hour. The upscale vibe is a welcome switch from the usual timeworn pub conditions. 330 W. Birch St., 714-529-1224. $$ OLD BREA CHOP HOUSE North County’s fine diners can skip the trek south to splurge on old-school steakhouse dinners. Longtime Morton’s veteran Tony Fasulo breaks away, polishing the classy formula to a high sheen. Expect deluxe beef, say a Tomahawk chop or a strapping Delmonico, boosted with first-class seafood, precise cocktails, and cosseting service. Marinated skirt steak is the sleeper call. Cozy yet utterly contemporary, the venue includes a 25-seat

OUR CRITERIA Restaurants are reviewed by our dining critics and staff and have no relationship to advertising in Orange Coast. Listings are updated regularly. We do not accept free meals; visits are anonymous. Price classifications are based on a typical three‑course dinner (appetizer, entree, dessert) for one person. Alan Gibbons edits this listing. You can reach her at agibbons@orangecoast.com. 114 Ora nge C o ast • March 2022

bar with charcuterie platters. 180 S. Brea Blvd., 714592-3122. Dinner only. $$$

CORONA DEL MAR THE BUNGALOW Comfy booths, a lively bar with stiff martinis, and lots of premium wines by the glass lure diners to this dinner house darling with the feel of a Craftsman home. Prime beef is king, but you also can get a huge Aussie lobster tail. Desserts are classic berries and cream, and chocolate souffle cake, so you can concentrate on your surf ’n’ turf. Lunch is hearty sandwiches and huge high-quality salads. Just save us a seat on the charming patio. 2441 E. Coast Highway, 949-673-6585. $$$ EL CHOLO It’s combo-plate heaven at this venerable local chain that started in L.A. in 1923. The Sonora-style enchiladas are topped with a fried egg. Green corn tamales have achieved cult status. 3520 E. Coast Highway, 949-777-6137. See Anaheim Hills and La Habra locations. $ FARMHOUSE AT ROGER’S GARDENS This beguiling patio is chef-owner Rich Mead’s fourth enterprise, an inspired collaboration between a farmer’s dream chef and O.C.’s iconic outdoor lifestyle retailer. The restaurant-gazebo seats 120 with rustic style, making this the fresh favorite for dates and celebrations. Mead’s seasonal menu shifts often to reflect his passion for local family farms and ranches. Craft cocktails have a farmers market tilt, and a nascent cheese program rounds out the ever-changing feast. 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, 949-640-1415. $$$ FIVE CROWNS O.C.’s beloved, vine-covered, fine-dining landmark of 1965 stays current thanks to a refreshed menu by executive chef Alejandra Padilla (formerly with Hillstone and Patina groups). Foodies thrill to foie gras brûlée and roast goose with wild grains, but sumptuous feasts of prime rib retain a hallowed spot on the carte at this Lawry’s-owned institution. As always, service is polished and accommodating. Leave room for the righteous sundae made with C.C. Brown’s hot fudge, an old Hollywood marvel. 3801 E. Coast Highway, 949-760-0331. Dinner only. $$$ SIDEDOOR Nested within the landmark Lawry’s Five Crowns, this gastropub welcomes come-asyou-are diners with a changing daily menu of imaginative small plates, seasonal soups, prime rib sandwiches, potpies, and desserts. Don’t miss the charcuterie station with choice cured meats and artisanal cheeses. Always interesting wines by the glass, craft beers, and signature cocktails boost the inviting room’s jolly British vibe. 3801 E. Coast Highway, 949-717-4322. $$

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Orange Coast Magazine - March 2022

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