Style Week OC's Neiman Marcus Runway Show at Fashion Island

This season, Style Week OC kicked off with runway shows featuring looks from Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island. The shopping center presented two runway shows; one in the morning and one in the evening with almost all the same looks; the morning had more avante-garde styling which included the female models in oversized bob-style wigs, and in the evening the models wore slick back hair. The fashion trends that stood out for me were the luxurious fur pieces, bold colors like crimson red and hot pink, kitschy clutches and menswear inspired tailoring. Check out more at Style Week OC's site!

The Ritz Prime Seafood Restaurant Re-Opens 10/12!

The Ritz Prime Seafood Restaurant will re-open it's doors on the Newport Beach Waterfront to the public on the evening of Monday October 12, 2015 to reveal the revamped, "Ritz" with an evolved fine dining experience, while still honoring the history and the original Ritz. Guests can enjoy an artfully curated menu including fresh selections from the raw bar, including oysters, seafood, and a large scale cocktail bar.

While dining during a rehearsal dinner service at the Ritz Prime with Vincent last week, we were taken back by the impeccable plating as well as the marriage of flavors in each dish. We also were enraptured with the design elements of the restaurant and harbor view; the bossa nova-style music playing in the background created an almost romantic and mysterious ambiance. We heard that the new design and dining experience is quite the departure from the previous 'Ritz Restaurant' which offered a traditional supper-club feel. We really enjoyed taken every bit of the restaurant in, and had the best time.

My suggestions would be the Pork Belly Confit (it literally melts in your mouth), Red Miso Cod, and the Perfect Storm Cocktail. The restaurant will also offer a Champagne Bar, Bloody Mary Bar Cart manned by a master mixologist during weekend brunch service, therefore, I most definitely have to come back to experience brunch. Come into the The Ritz Prime Seafood to experience a elegant and modern place, where innovative and classic food gastronomy and drink and cocktail mixology converge.

The Ritz Prime Seafood Grand Opens October 12, 2015:
Dinner nightly Sunday-Wednesday 5pm-10pm, Thursday-Saturday 5pm-11pm
Weekend Brunch on Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm
Happy Hour will be offered Monday-Friday 5pm-7pm
The Ritz Prime Seafood 2801 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach CA 92663
Make Reservations: 949-720-1800
Valet Only (Cash, $6 as of 10/7 and is subject to change) You can try to find street (metered) parking on the street

Nekter Juice Bar Cocktails at SOL Cocina & Solita Tacos

For the rest of this week, SOL Cocina in Newport Beach and solita Tacos & Margaritas in Huntington Beach will be serving up specialty cocktails with Nekter Juice Bar's Nekter on the Rocks. Yes, you read right, specialty cocktails using juice mixes from one of my favorite juice spots! solita will be featuring the solita Bubbly Beach Berries, made with Nekter on the Rocks' Beach Berries mixer, a breezy blend of strawberries, blackberries, lemon, agave and basil. SOL Cocina will be featuring The SOL Sunset, made with Nekter on the Rocks' Arizona Sunset, a blend of grapefruit, orange, blood orange, peach and agave.
I got to taste the cocktails for myself, and I have to say the Bubbly Beach Berries was my fave. I also took home two bottles of Nekter on the Rocks along with a recipe and will be attempting, keyword, attempting to make the cocktails myself. You can pick up any or all three Nekter on the Rocks juices from any Nekter Juice Bar location!
Here are the available flavors and how to make your specialty cocktail:

Beach Berries � a breezy blend of strawberries, blackberries, lemon, agave and basil.
Just add vodka and a splash of club soda for a Beach Berry Martini - basil for garnish. Make a splash into your favorite champagne for a Beach Berry Mimosa, or add to sparkling water or club soda for a non-alcohol refresher.
SoCal Margarita � a healthy California-inspired take on the classic margarita, made with lemons, limes, orange and agave.
Just add tequila for a refreshing margarita! Add SoCal Margarita mix to sparkling water or club soda for a refreshing, citrus-filled spritzer.
Arizona Sunset � a dazzling sunset in a bottle made with grapefruit, orange, blood orange, peach and agave.
Add to your favorite rum, and pitch a mini umbrella under the desert sun! Just add vodka for a beautifully bright martini, or sprinkle a dash or two into Champagne for a Sunday morning mimosa.
Last two photos provided by Kimberly Luu

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.