New Spring Dishes at Fig & Olive, Newport Beach

I celebrated Cinco de Mayo this past week by dining at one of my fave Newport Beach restaurants, Fig & Olive, for a spring menu tasting. Check out the entire Newport Beach Spring Menu here, and see what I tasted below. Fig & Olive has exciting events coming up this season that you won't want to miss out on.

On Sunday, May 17, 2015 from 2:00pm � 6:00pm FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach will launch a monthly event series, �Sunday Rendez-vous� in collaboration with Veuve Clicquot for an afternoon of bubbly and bites. Stylish OC denizens will be greeted by the sounds of St. Tropez from FIG & OLIVE�s resident sound designer, Thomas Toccafondi on the terrace. Veuve Clicquot will capture the afternoon of festivities with a themed photo booth and offer party favors to lounging guests as they enjoy a midday getaway of champagne and cocktails.

Guests can enjoy dishes from FIG & OLIVE�s regular brunch and cocktail menu or explore new flavors with the Rivera Brunch Buffet ($24) on the terrace featuring endless selections of:

� Granola and fresh fruit
� Eggs (any style)
� Quiche
� Mini Fig Tartlet
� Tomato Burrata Caprese and select salads
� Carpaccio, Charcuteries, and Cheeses
� Apple Tart

Reservations for the Sunday Rendez-Vous and Riviera Brunch Buffet on the terrace must be made in advance.

151 Newport Center Drive
Fashion Island
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949 877 3005
newportbeach@figandolive.com

Lunch:
Monday to Friday
11am to 4pm

Dinner:
Sunday �Monday: 4pm � 9:30pm
Tuesday: 4pm � 10pm
Wednesday: 4pm � 11pm
Thursday: 4pm � 11pm/ Bar until 1am
Friday-Saturday: 4pm � 12am/ Bar until 1am

Brunch:
Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 4pm
Provence Margarita $14
(it's not Cinco de Mayo without a Margarita)
A classic margarita with a provincial twist Tequila, lime juice, triple sec, lavender bitters
The lavender bitters was a nice touch and gave the margarita a subtle and lovely fragrance with a refreshing taste. 
Assorted Crostinis 3 for $12 | 6 for $21
Pea, Asparagus, Ricotta Lemon Thyme
Crab, Heirloom Tomato, Zucchini Puree
Pata Negra, Crushed Tomato, Smoked Salt
I only tasted the crab, heirloom tomato, zucchini puree crostini and liked how the crab was balanced by the tomato and zucchini flavors. 
Crab & Heirloom Tomato $14
Jumbo lump crab, heirloom cherry tomato, garlic cilantro, shallot harissa, avocado basil tapenade Cobrancosa Olive Oil
I think I would have liked this dish more if I hadn't tasted the crab crostini beforehand. It ended up being too much crab for me. 
Rosemary Lamb Chops $39
Grilled, smoked � la minute with a bouquet of Herbs de Provence, grilled polenta roasted bell pepper and jalapeno with braised eggplant � Rosemary Garlic Olive Oil
The presentation of this dish is absolutely exquisite; the server brings out the lamb chops under an apothecary dome in which you can see the smoke festering. Once the dish is placed in front of you, the server removes the glass dome and the rosemary smoke dissipates and rosemary garlic olive oil is drizzled onto the lamb chops. I liked how the lamb chops were cooked and the taste which was complemented by the bell peppers, jalapeno, and brasied eggplant, but I would have preferred the polenta to be soft instead of compact.
Lavender Creme Brulee $12
Lavender ice cream, thyme shortbread, honey
The lavender ice cream was delicious, I absolutely loved it but felt a disconnect in flavors with the creme brulee. Because the creme brulee was not served in a ramekins, I feel that the consistency was not as creamy as a creme brulee tends to me. I enjoyed the dessert with a latte.