Comfort Food is Anything But Common At 6’1” and brandishing tattoos beneath his shirt-sleeves, Chef Ryan Adams’ appearance suggests a ruffian, ex-prison inmate. On closer inspection, though, each artistic piece of ink signifies Adams’ passion for all matters culinary. Beneath the intimidating façade resides a gentle spirit and culinary savant. Adams and trusty sidekick [...]
Editor, This is the Kalos Kagathos Foundation commendation – maintaining professional integrity — for the Independent’s Hot Dish columnist Patty Pinto’s review “Equal Measures of Yin and Yang.” Current letter writers express concern about “middle priced” and “affordable” restaurants in Laguna Beach and the urgent need for a Patty Pinto critique on affordable, [...]
The Lowdown in Art Fest Dining Visitors to the Festival of Arts can skip the snack bar and dine at Tivoli Terrace. The setting is sublime; an al fresco dining room embellished over 40 years while owned and operated by June Neptune and family. Dine amid a 200-year-old cypress tree, blooming bougainvilleas, huge banana trees, [...]
Alessa in Laguna Beach By Patty Pinto My motis operandi requires dining at a restaurant on several occasions before critiquing. I broke my own rule regarding Alessa in Laguna Beach because it is worthy of a first time food critique. Especially since I have kvetched about having to travel outside the perimeters of Laguna Beach [...]
French 75 The rumor-mill hummed with news that an “out-of-town chef” was teaming up with a long standing Laguna Beach restaurant to re-vamp and freshen its menu. In fact, months ago Newport Beach restaurateur and French chef Pascal Olhats took command of French 75 Laguna Beach. Executive chef and managing partner, Olhats owns and supervises [...]
Surf & Sand’s Splashes A Laguna Beach landmark for 60 years, the Surf and Sand Resort continues to remain a desired destination for Lagunans and tourists alike. To the right of the hotel’s main entrance, an ocean view and pleasant al fresco seating area await you. Several steps from the outdoor lounge area, well [...]
Maro Works Wonders Over a Wood Grill With open arms and a grateful palate, I extend a gracious welcome to my new neighbors Mariano and Patricia Molteni, chef-owners of Maro Wood Grill on Coast Highway. Along with sister, Fiore, and the creativity of executive chef Debra Sims, this team of culinary artistes and experienced restaurateurs [...]
Sizing Up Newcomer Tommy Bahama Restoration of the historical Heisler Building downtown is near complete and tenant Tommy Bahama is set to open shortly. The store inventory and restaurant menu will vary significantly from other Tommy B locations in order to reflect the Laguna Beach beach lifestyle, we’ve been told. Menu items will be [...]
Ill Prepared Hiker Rescued from Hillside
A sheriff’s helicopter was used to extract a hiker who suffered an anxiety attack and was unable to move from a steep trail in Laguna Beach’s open space about 6 p.m. Sunday, June 9, police said. Lifeguards in an all-terrain vehicle coordinated the extraction from thick brush and a steep slope between Alta Laguna Park [...]
