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| Sunday May 11, 2008 |
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 By Cheri Sicard Whether you're looking for a relaxing weekend getaway from Los Angeles, a convenient meeting or convention place or an elegant vacation spot, Newport Beach, California's "colorful coast", is an ideal location. Offering upscale shopping, dining and lodging, wonderful beaches, quaint seaside villages, and 154 acres of parks for outdoor recreation, Newport is just an hour south of Los Angeles. For those wishing to skip the hassles of LAX, John Wayne International airport is just minutes away. We ventured down to Newport Beach just in time for their annual Food and Wine Festival. The trip was fortuitous for us, not only because of the great food, but also because it's where we first met Clint Brownfield. Regular readers know that Clint is now a Fabulous Foods contributing editor. His "Out To Lunch" column is a favorite with our readers. But I digress. Back to Newport Beach.
Newport Beach Food & Wine Festival Fans
of food could find no better time to visit than during this weekend long
food and wine festival, held annually at the Balboa Bay Club. The club is
reminiscent of a hipper era when people sipped 'tinis by the pool (I know
it's back in fashion, but it just doesn't feel quite the same). In any event,
martinis won't be necessary during this particular weekend (usually held
thge 1st week in May) because some of California's best wineries will be
there pouring their wares. Come hungry too, because the food is outstanding,
especially the bounty of the sea reception on opening night. Hungry guests
will find mounds of freshly boiled shrimp, a variety of raw oysters, fish,
seafood pastas and too many other delicacies of the sea to list.
One of the festival's highlights, for us at least, was the cognac and cigar seminar given by Martel Cognac and Hamilton Cigars. We sipped some of the world's finest cognacs, while learning just what makes them so special. If that wasn't enough, George Hamilton himself instructed us on the art and etiquette of smoking cigars. All in all it was an extremely enjoyable and educational afternoon. For more information on the Newport Beach Food and Wine Festival, call the Balboa Bay Club at 714-642-6847.
Chimayo GrillIf you can't make it to Newport during the Food and Wine Festival, don't worry, the area has lots of fine restaurants to keep you amused. One of our personal favorites was the Chimayo Grill, located in the chic shopping oasis of Fashion Island. After you've had your fill of Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and other upscale shops, saunter over to the grill for lunch or dinner. A great way to start is with one of their legendary tequila infusions, fresh fruit marinated in fine tequila. These drinks taste light and fruity, but be careful, they're straight tequila and do they do pack a punch!Chimayo Grill is tastefully decorated in Santa Fe style, casual, yet elegant. All of the food we sampled was excellent, you simply can't go wrong. If you need some help paring down the menu, however, we particularly like the grilled ahi tortilla rolls appetizer which is served with red chile aioli and papaya salsa and the green corn tamales with spicy grilled shrimp and tomatillo sauce. Two of the fish entrees were also exceptional: the mesquite grilled salmon in corn husk with poblano pesto, roasted corn salsa and lumpy mashed potatoes and the chile roasted seabass served on a bed of lumpy mashed potatoes with salsa mustard sauce and tumbleweed onions. We asked Chimayo for a recipe to share with our readers and they were kind enough to come up with a wonderful southwestern barbecued salmon. Try it at your next cookout. And if you're ever in Newport Beach, do yourself a favor and stop by Chimayo Grill for lunch or dinner, you'll be glad you did. Moderate prices. For more information or reservations call Chimayo Grill at 714-640-2700.
Restaurant Pascal Newport
Beach is also home of Orange County's #1 restaurant for 6 years running,
according to the Zagat Guide. Restaurant Pascal serves lite
French cuisine with a provencal flair. French born, Belgian trained Pascal
Olhats has been welcoming diners to his airy, unpretentious restaurant since
1988. Ask any local what Newport's finest restaurant is and they're likely
to answer Pascal. For more information or reservations at Pascal call 714-261-9041.
To get you in the mood for a dinner at Pascal, chef Olhats was kind enough
to share two of his specialties:
Sutton Place HotelAnother really great dining option, as well as a terrific place to stay, is the Sutton Place Hotel. Conveniently located close to the airport, as well as all of Newport Beach's attractions, the Sutton Place has several dining options, wonderful chefs and great meeting facilities.Accents Restaurant and bar, headed by chef Andrea Hill is a favorite dining spot with both locals and the hotel's international guests. They are especially famous for their baked Chilean seabass and chef Hill was kind enough to share the recipe. Accents also has a fantastic selection of wines, many available by the glass. The Sutton Place was an elegant, yet friendly place to stay, with airy well appointed rooms and a staff that was exceptional. The hotel has frequent special events throughout the year, so be sure to ask what might be going on during your stay. For more information or reservations call the Sutton Place Hotel at 714-476-2001or email info@npb.suttonplace.com. Night Life At Sutton & Twin Palms If
you're looking for night life, during your stay in Newport Beach, look no
further than the Twin Palms. Now the Palms, which has a kind of tented
Casablanca look going for it, is not a shabby place to eat dinner on any
night of the week. But on weekend nights, the temperature goes up, the music
starts and the beautiful people come out to meet, mingle and dance, dance,
dance! A good time is guaranteed for all. For more information or reservations
call the Twin Palms at 714-721-8288.
In Closing & Recipe LinksThere's lots of other places to visit while in Newport. Head over to the charming village of Balboa Peninsula where you'll find numerous casual dining choices with great views (Newport Landing is a good choice). You'll also find the world's shortest ferry, which shuttles cars and passengers back and forth between the peninsula and Balboa Island, home of quaint little shops, gorgeous boats and very expensive real estate.For a change of pace, you can always dine while you cruise. Call The Cannery restaurant at 714-675-5777 and ask about their brunch or dinner harbor cruises which will take you past, among other things, John Wayne's yacht! Even if you decide not to cruise, the restaurant, built in an actual former seafood cannery, makes a fascinating stop for lunch, dinner or cocktails.
Newport Beach Recipe Links:
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The
lounge at the Sutton Place hotel is also a great place for jazz lovers.
Granted, there's not much room for dancing, but the music is hot.
If
all this wining and dining is too much for you, Newport Beach also has
lots of nature trails for hiking and biking, acres and acres of parks
and wonderful beaches. No matter what you're taste, you're sure to find
a relaxing getaway. For more information about all that this area has
to offer, call the Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau at 800-94-COAST
or 714-722-1611. They can help in planning a visit.