Category: Eat

Just Desserts: Arenas Dream Cakes

It started as a side hustle. 13-year-old Joana made a batch of cupcakes from a boxed cake mix – and sold them, unfrosted, throughout the neighborhood for 50 cents a piece. She sold out. She made more, and sold out again. The entrepreneurial seeds were sown. Today, Joana Arenas is grown, married – and still selling cupcakes. Her confections have grown up, too. (Cupcakes are now scratch-made in a variety of flavors, fully frosted, with toppings worthy of winning any Food Network bake-off.) This is the story behind Arenas Dream Cakes, a Westside bakery…

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SOCO Speakeasy: The Guild Club

There’s a small corner in northeastern Costa Mesa called The Guild Club, where immersive vintage rules the day, and stepping through the door is akin to exiting a time machine. You might think it’s some speakeasy inspired by 1920s Prohibition, but it’s actually earlier than that. Strolling into the Guild Club takes one into a theatrical glimpse of the late 19th century… fine living, as if you were Winston Churchill.

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Ed Lee + Wing Lam: Wahoo’s Westside Story

Costa Mesa isn’t just a great place to live, work and play – our city has served as an incubator for some of the country’s most recognizable brands. On today’s episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa podcast, we interview brothers Wing Lam and Ed Lee about co-founding Wahoo’s Fish Taco here in Westside Costa Mesa. We talk about what it was like growing up on the Westside… plus surfing, work ethic, tacos, and so much more!

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Chef John Park: TOAST Kitchen + Bakery

On this week’s episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa podcast, we’ve got the 2019 Golden Foodie Awards ‘Chef of the Year’ – Chef John Park of TOAST Kitchen + Bakery – in studio to share his Costa Mesa story. Chef Park’s journey of giving and growth will leave you feeling inspired, engaged… and *totally hungry* for his delicious menu…

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Anais Tangie: Cultivating Connections

On this week’s podcast episode, we’ve got Anais Tangie – owner of AT Connections – who is currently working with Triangle Square to bring more vibrancy, community, and culture to “downtown Costa Mesa.” Tangie dreams big, so come along for the ride as we imagine what the future of the city might hold in store…

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Matthew Parsons: Shaka Sauce

On this episode of The I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we spice things up with Matthew Parsons – and his tight-lipped, bottle-wielding sidekick, Leo – to learn all about their local line of hot sauces. You can find Shaka Sauce in restaurants and independent markets all over Costa Mesa. Check out the episode, then give Shaka Sauce a try!

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Up To Scratch: Ciao! Deli and Pizzeria

Ciao! Deli and Pizzeria feels like a neighborhood joint. Because it is! And as I came to find out, we’re really lucky it’s in our neighborhood. Owners Carmina and Ray Casso want you to feel right at home, and from the minute you walk in the door, you feel welcomed. Today, Ray is manning the front counter and he greets me with a cheerful hello. He introduces himself, and invites me to check out the menu. There’s some groovy blues playing, and I notice the tap behind the counter with cold IPA just waiting to be poured…

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Clean Plate Club: Nourish Ayurveda Cafe

Simple, wholesome, nourishing food is all that’s on the menu here at Nourish. The menu changes every day, depending on what produce looks good and fresh to the chef, Prakash Jagadappa. They try to choose local, organic and biodynamic ingredients whenever possible, and every dish is made with thought and intention. That’s the Ayurvedic way…

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A (Gluten Free) Walk Down Lavender Lane

It’s 2019, and the “food as medicine” movement is fast becoming mainstream. We all know someone eating – or avoiding – certain foods in pursuit of better health. For many, the rise, and rising awareness, of food allergies and sensitivities has upgraded the issue of food choice from ‘optional’ to ‘critical.’ With so much focus on what to give up, it can be hard to know where to safely turn for a treat. One that can satisfy that sweet tooth without derailing diet directives. Luckily, at the crossroads of healthy and indulgent, lies a new, local sweet spot: Lavender Lane Baking Co.

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The Top Chef Tackle

Costa Mesa is a foodie mecca. There are so many good restaurants around town. We could easily ‘dine out’ for every breakfast, lunch, dinner – plus happy hours, Taco Tuesdays, brunches, suppers and tea times – and still not make a dent in all the eateries our mouthwatering Mesa has to offer. (Although, forks up! We’re sure gonna try.) So when we heard that Season 11 Top Chef Alumnus, Brian Huskey, was serving top-shelf burgers, sandwiches, salads and seafood – in a casual, pub-like, ‘grub shack’ environment – we knew we had to tackle that, stat…

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Westside Slice: Trenta Pizza and Cucina

Giorgio Buzzanga, Marco Palazzo and Cristiano Leoni had no prior restaurant experience, but they were intrigued by the trendy quirks of Costa Mesa’s Westside. Buzzanga had been riding his Vespa — because that’s what Italians do, right? — by the eclectic Midway Market at 1661 Superior Ave. when he noticed a vacancy sign at Suite D. The corner spot had been occupied by Waffleholic but was ready to receive new life. So Buzzanga gathered his two friends and they met the people in charge. When they were done, they had the seeds of a restaurant that achieves both an industrial and homey feel. It’s called Trenta, the Italian word for the number 30…

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Day 92: Craving CAVA

I’d heard from a few friends that I should give CAVA a go. It’s a fast-casual chain with lots of locations, and there’s one on 17th Street in Eastside Costa Mesa. Described as the “Mediterranean Chipotle” – CAVA specializes in “build your own” bowls, salads, and pita wraps. Sounds promising!

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Globe Deli: Sweet and Sauerkraut

Costa Mesa is a city with rich, Orange County history woven throughout its community fabric. Even as our city becomes more modernized – new buildings, businesses and neighborhoods replacing the old at an increasing clip – there are still those Costa Mesans working to preserve important pieces of our past. One iconic business that has meant a lot to locals, for a very long time, is The Globe European Delicatessen (Globe Deli, for short) at 1928 Harbor Boulevard, just north of where it transects 19th Street…

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Second To Naan: The India Cafe

It’s no secret that we here at I Heart Costa Mesa are huge fans of small, local businesses. We just think what they do is really brave and a big boon for our city. The hours, the effort, the courage, the commitment – ‘small business’ is an act of love, no matter how you slice it. So when we discovered The India Cafe – a little restaurant with a large menu of delicious, house-made dishes, located at 528 West 19th Street – we knew we wanted to meet the hardworking people behind the paneer…

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Phillip Marsh: Fish To Fry

Phil Marsh is the President of the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club – the wonderful people behind this year’s 71st Annual Fish Fry at Fairview Park! From Friday, September 21st through Sunday, September 23rd, you can eat some famous fried fish, enjoy carnival rides, listen to live music and check out classic cars. Not many community gatherings last 71 years. Hear the history behind this local, can’t-miss tradition…

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Go For The Green

Of all the ATMs in Costa Mesa, the undisputedly best one is on Fairview Road, in a strip mall called Villa La Costa. It’s not that this ATM doesn’t levy a fee. It does. What makes it the best is if you present at the nearby cash register your withdrawal receipt, you’ll get a free drink. Because why not? Everybody’s happy. This is the spirit of Lil’ Pickle, a sub sandwich shop that, popular food aside, may have Costa Mesa’s very best sandwich-shop name. But don’t ask owner Peter Bower how Lil’ Pickle got its moniker. He doesn’t know…

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Listen: “Travel Costa Mesa”

On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we talk to Paulette Lombardi-Fries and Jenny Wedge from Travel Costa Mesa, our city’s local travel and tourism organization. Come along with us as we flip our usual POV and take a tourist’s perspective of Costa Mesa. We talk food, attractions, theater, shopping… and did you know there were 33 hotels in Costa Mesa? We didn’t! Listen, learn – and maybe get inspired to take a staycation of your own.

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Listen: “Costa Mesa Chocolatier”

Treat yo’ self! On this episode of The I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we’re indulging in an interview with local Master Chocolatier and Costa Mesa resident, Amy Jo Pedone, of Valenza Chocolatier. Pedone has harnessed her Sicilian family heritage, and knack for edible artistry, to create confections as beautiful as they are decadent.

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Listen: “Rockstar Restaurateur”

If Jeff Chon isn’t the hardest-working guy in the local restaurant scene, we don’t know who is! At age 23, he cut his teeth by buying The Alley Restaurant in Newport Beach – an established eatery with a loyal following. Soon after, he concepted and built-out Tabu Shabu over on East 17th Street in Costa Mesa. The purchase of The Wayfarer (formerly Club Mesa and The Detroit Bar) and launch of Oak & Coal soon followed, and now he’s about to open the doors to Love & Puree – all right here in town!

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Listen: “Homegrown Hustle”

On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we get schooled on edible gardening by local foodpreneur, Mike Saraylian, founder and owner of Harvest To Home. Saraylian, a self-described produce snob, talks in detail about health, organic gardening, hydration, why he prefers “funky fruit,” DIYing homegrown veg, growing fruit trees, compost tea, living walls, the importance of sunlight, why leaves don’t like to get wet, his love of haggling…

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Listen: Podcast “Farm And Culture”

This week on the I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we talk to Claudia Stubin, founder and owner of Farm and Culture (formerly of Fermentation Farm.) We talk about Claudia’s Korean roots, explore the benefits of fermented foods, sample bone-broth lattes and kombucha mocktails on air, and discuss the creative process and all the changes happening to their menu. Grab a glass and join us for one delicious, Costa Mesa episode!

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The Next Chapter For Church’s

Living in this city in 2018 sometimes feels like “A Tale of Two Costa Mesas.” There’s the first city, the original city, the city of years past. This version of the city is fueled by fond memories, cherished memorabilia, deep family roots and historical significance. It mattered, and matters, to lots of residents – it is home, after all. Yet it finds itself increasingly out-of-place in a relentlessly-modernizing Orange County. The second city, the new city, is the Costa Mesa of opportunity and renewal…

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Farm It Out: SOCO Farmers’ Market

The beauty of living in a city as diverse and eclectic as Costa Mesa is the panoply of pastimes laid before us. From social clubs to health clubs, escape rooms to spring blooms – and everything in between – this town is truly replete with recreation. Lucky us! Luckier still every Saturday morning from 9am – 2pm, when the charming, community-minded SOCO Farmers’ Market comes to South Coast Collection, in the parking lot adjacent to The OC Mix.

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Home Skillet: Side Street Cafe

Born and raised from the small-town vibe of Cleveland, Ohio, Diane Beach brought a unique approach to the Costa Mesa restaurant industry. “Who you know, how much money you make, what car you drive—all that nonsense isn’t important to me,” Beach explained.

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Local Recipe: Prime New York Steak For Two

“Our Prime New York Steak recipe is truly delicious. It’s our Spanish, tapas-style version of a classic, crowd-pleasing meal. We start with an Aleppo crème fraîche, then layer on crispy, fingerling potatoes and tender, juicy steak seared to perfection. We then add roasted, green-garlic bulbs and top it all with our feta salsa verde (which almost serves as a chimichurri sauce.) It’s a unique but satisfying, all-in-one dish that’s sure to impress even the most discerning guests. Enjoy!” – Chef Chun

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Rolling In Dough

One of the 5,378,253 things we love best about Costa Mesa has got to be the culture. Despite our city’s smallish size (somewhere between 15 and 16 square miles, depending on who you ask) we pack one heck of a cultural wallop. Costa Mesa is brimming with industry, creativity, education, action sports, mom-and-pops, big names, history, diversity, craftsmanship, generosity, performing arts and food, glorious food!

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The Mini-Mart With Heart

Hearting Costa Mesa is hungry, thirsty work. (You know the feeling, right?) You’re out shining smiles up and down 17th Street – just beaming bliss all over paradise, per usual – when suddenly, hanger strikes. The smile turns snarly as your heart-shaped glasses slowly slide off your face. You’re so depleted you can barely even cartwheel with Costa Mesa pride (let alone double-pike-triple-layout-tuck.) It’s a sad state of affairs, indeed. Well, fear not, faithful Costa Mesan. You haven’t lost your love of city; you just need to get your snack on.

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