Perfect Pairings

IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS, IT OFTEN TAKES A DYNAMIC DUO (OR TRIO) TO MAKE IT BIG BY MOLLY O’BRIEN

Bella Sophia Chocolates

Naming the business after their daughter, Steph and JD Shafer combined their love of chocolate and art to create beautiful confections. Inspired by flavors and techniques from around the world, they import the best cacao from small family farms in the Caribbean and South America and use their own special recipe for vanilla extract. Crafted in small batches in their Orange County kitchen, the chocolates come in a wide variety of textures and flavors that are as visually enticing as they are tasty. 21058 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach; 714-906-9011, bellasophiachocolates.com

Green Cheek Beer Company

A shared love of craft beer and community inspired two longtime friends, Brian Rauso and Evan Price, to found their brewery, proudly offering visitors a genuine, welcoming location where everyone is meant to feel at home. The business has grown from its original flagship location in Orange, moved into Costa Mesa, and now to its newest site in Sunset Beach. The brewery creates a wide range of styles throughout the year but is best known for its hoppy beers and lagers, stouts, and hard seltzers.16685 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 562-296-5435, greencheekbeer.com

Heirloom a Modern Farmhouse

Leo Clancy and decorated chef Brianne Clancy are an impressive mother-daughter team. The pair acted on a longstanding dream of opening their own restaurant, which feels like a homey, cheerful spot to dine; showcasing the talent, chemistry and care that the Clancys put into their menu. Heirloom’s quaint atmosphere feels like a family kitchen—serving hearty, fresh dishes combined with an impressive selection of libations—this is a spot that’s not to be missed. 18344 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 714-3756543, heirloomhb.com

Matter of Craft

Founders Jim Pilkington, Jim Perkins, and Tom Briggs are three self-proclaimed “soccer dads” who are passionate about craft beer and want to share their knowledge with the greater craft beer community. When they realized there wasn’t a local bottle shop where they could learn more about the industry and build on their friendships, they decided to create their own. Today, the shop is proud to assist in easing new beer enthusiasts into their world, as well as offer an impressive selection of wine and cocktails for those who aren’t into craft beer (yet!). 21022 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 714-587-9002, matter-of-craft.com

Riip Beer Company

Two Ryans, Rasmussen and Hopkins, are brothers-inlaw who had been part of Huntington Beach for years. Originally just a fun hobby inside their garage, Riip became the smallest brewery to ever win a Great American Beer Festival award in the American IPA category. They gained notoriety when they started delivering their beer via a vintage truck to thirsty locals, and fans can now visit their brick-and-mortar, dog- and family-friendly establishment in Sunset Beach. 17214 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714-248-6710, riip.beer

ZeroZero39 Pizzeria

Founded by Francesco and Carlotta Zaza nearly a decade ago, the family-owned and operated pizzeria has stood the test of time as a fan favorite for Italian cuisine in Orange County. The Zaza family is from Roma, Italy—and share their native flavors using only the freshest of ingredients. The restaurant’s “Roman” thin crust style pizzas are made with a unique kind of flour called “doppio zero flour,” which is considered the highest quality grade of flour milled in Italy. The restaurant’s name combines the flour style and Italy’s country code, 39. 221 Main St., Huntington Beach, 714-969-2929, zerozero39pizza.com