eating out


Palate Pastiche


ORANGE COUNTY RESTAURANT WEEK


Orange County’s greatly anticipated Restaurant


Week (OCRW), now in its 9th year, takes place fromSunday, March 5 through Saturday, March 11 and promises to be bigger and better than ever be- fore. It’s the perfect time for food lovers to indulge their adventurous side and try featured restaurant’s signature dishes and dining experiences…All for incredible values. Menus showcase some of the region’s most


talented chefs, who have personalized each of their restaurant’s faire to reflect their individual culinary styles. Prix fixe menus begin at $10, $15 and $20 per person for lunch and $20, $30, $40 and $50 for dinner, along with an exclusive “LUXE Menu” available at certain restaurants. This year will kick off with an official “First


Bites” Launch Party onSaturday, March 4 at Irvine Marriott. Guests attending the 21 and older party, will have the unique opportunity to experi- ence an array of “first bites” prepared by a variety of O.C. Restaurant Week participating restaurants. As an added bonus, there will be an Instagram


Contest during which diners are invited to tag their photos with #OCRW2017 during the run of the event, to be entered to win two tickets to theO.C. Chef’s Table onSunday, March 12, benefiting the Illumination Foundation. The party will be held at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where the winner will receive a complimentary one-night stay following the event ($2,600 total prize value).


The Rage Monthly caught up with the creator


of OCRW, Pamela Waitt, who has coined the phrase “The only thing to make for dinner during Restaurant Week is…Reservations!”


Please explain to readers what the benefits are of dining during OCRW? There are more than 100 restaurants participat-


ing, so, there is something for everyone. One of the benefits of celebrating O.C. Restaurant Week, is taking advantage of the really great, prix fixe menus. You get a lot for great value during this event. O.C. Restaurant Week is the best time to try new restaurants, enjoy your friends and family with no prep and no dishes, just dining out.


How do you suggest newcomers approach the diverse dining options available for O.C. Restaurant Week? Search mouth-watering menus from top Orange


County venues on our website, ocrestaurantweek. com, then simply dine out at participating restau- rants and enjoy their special menus. Diners can search by price point, city, or use the tips page—I’d suggest trying new restaurants that you have been thinking about visiting—you never know what places you are going to love until you try them.


A handful of Orange County’s finest restaurants are showcasing an over-the-top LUXE Dinner


Menu: Hana re Sushi Bar, Pascal, Ruth’s Chris Steak House Irvine, Selanne Steak Tavern, Stonehill Tavern and The Capital Grille. What does the LUXE dining experience encompass? The LUXE experience during O.C. Restaurant


Week gives diners another level to indulge in. LUXE menus are $80 at participating restaurants, offering a wonderful variety that includes wine pairings and encompass quite a value for what you will experience. Reservations are strongly suggested, however.


As the creator of OCRW and the prestigious Golden Foodie Awards, do you have any new events in the works? Yes! Get ready for the Pacific Wine & Food


Classic, which embodies our Southern California summers, with long, sunny days, sandy toes, salty air, friends, music, wine and food. Enjoy the most accomplished winemakers, chefs and culinary talent in a breathtaking setting. This festival delivers with eclectic tastings, exquisite wines, hand crafted cocktails and culinary treats, staged on the scenic waterfront stretch of the upper Newport Bay in Orange County. For more information, go topacificwineandfood.com.


For more information on OCRW events, a complete list of participating restaurants and their website for making reservations, go toocrestaurantweek.com.


by tony reverditto


54


RAGE monthly | | MARCH 2017 MARCH 2017


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