In this short video, I'm talking about FIVE upcoming Laguna Beach events - FOUR that have to do with WINE and ONE that features one of the rarest vintages by way of amazing, fully rounded PEOPLE this great earth has ever produced.
Show Notes:
Reservation links and other accoutrements I promised in the video:
Wine Gallery Wine Tasting – Tuesday, April 9th
Featuring Hartford Court from Sonoma and food pairing specials from Chef Josh Mason.
Wine Gallery Open Table for last few reservations
1833 S. Coast Highway, Suite 110, Laguna Beach
Tango “Wine Wednesdays” begin – starting Wed., April 10th
Featuring Chef Leo Bongarra’s first of many “Wine Wednesdays.” He’s ushering it all in with eclectic wines, empanadas and paella.
No reservations required. Doors open from 5 pm to midnight.
305 Forest Ave. #103, Laguna Beach
Vaca in Costa Mesa – Bodega Roda Wine Dinner – Wed., April 10th
Featuring Chef Amar Santana’s 5-course pairing with Bodega Roda wines from Basque Country.
VacaRestaurant.com for last seats.
695 Town Center Dr, Suite 170, Costa Mesa
Oliver's Osteria – Campania Wine Dinner – Thursday, April 18th
Assuredly featuring the oldest wine lineage of them all in a one-of-a-kind Campania Wine Dinner from Chef Erik De Marchi.
Call ASAP for last seats - 949-715-0261
853 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach
Leading Hollywood Production Designer Nelson Coates – Sherman Gardens – Tues, April 16th
In a rare (always funny and mind-boggling) evening lecture, Nelson Coates will be talking about “Creating Worlds – The Impact of Plants and Gardens in Film Narratives” at Sherman Library & Gardens.
Buy tickets here
Final P.S. Here’s my interview with Nelson Coates from my Legendary Millionaire series:
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Today’s Video Transcript:
Hey there! Now that I'm fully nested back in my SoLag perch here in Laguna Beach, you're going to be hearing a lot from me on various people and events that I love so much about this town.
So, in this short video, I'm going to talk with you about FIVE upcoming events - FOUR that have to do with WINE and ONE that features one of the rarest vintages by way of amazing, fully rounded PEOPLE this great earth has ever produced.
And it all starts THIS week.
Wine Gallery
On Tuesday, April 9th - Restauratuer Chris Olsen and the super talented Chef Josh are hosting another of their famous wine tasting events at the locals-favorite, Wine Gallery. I love love these casual, fun and crowded evenings that offer up multiple tastes from a spectacular winery of the month.
Given that Chris both owns and produces wine on his own vineyard above Santa Barbara, we can always be assured that he's bringing in yet another great wine host. This time it's no exception with the magnificent, family owned Hartford Court winery out of the Russian River Valley of Sonoma county. And, their host, Master Sommulyay Nick Hetzer is back to walk us through five different Hartford vintages.
The tasting event itself is just $33 and Chef Josh always comes up with a number of great food pairings on his blackboard specials - the entire Wine Gallery menu is available, too. Definitely RESERVE your spot at Open Table - I'll give you the link in the blog notes below.
Then, on Wednesday, it's TWO wine events, both of which feature two Laguna chefs of international fame -
Tango
Let's start with our newest chef who opened on Forest Avenue . . . and he went BOOM to the top in like … a day . . .that would be Chef Leo Bongara at Tango. He opened a few weeks ago - I sent out my first article about it last week, I'll link it for you down below . . . and he's only been open on Thursdays and Fridays UNTIL this last Sunday when he opened for brunch . . and NOW he's opening his doors on Wednesdays - starting this Wednesday, April 10th – for wine tasting nights.
He told me today that it's Empanadas, paella, and wine. Period.
And who needs more than that?? I mean, have you yet discovered a true Argentinian empanada?
Jump in for either a $20 wine ticket for 3 3-ounce pours or grab the $40 ticket for 3 3-ounce pours of his highest end wines with an empanada. Purchase additional empanadas for $7.50 a piece … and, while he hadn't quite settled on a price for the a la carte, paella, he promises he's keeping it "affordable and yummy."
That's our Chef Leo, and I can assure you, this chef is just getting started. What an absolute delight that he finally has a more public face for his awesome talent. NO reservations here folks, doors open from 5 pm to midnight.
Vaca in Costa Mesa
Then I've got to give honorable mention for this next wine dinner - our beloved Chef Amar Santana. PAUSE The crazy-talented guy you've seen at the top of the Top Chef ranks, graced Laguna Beach with his first restaurant, Broadway by Amar Santana in 2012. It, too, was a blast off from the moment he opened his doors, and the place continues to be a rocking, happening culinary delight.
Chef Amar is hosting a wine tasting dinner on Wed night, April 10th, too, but it's at his second restaurant, VACA, in Costa Mesa by the Segerstrom theater. I have to mention it, though, because Chef Amar really was one of the first chefs to first introduce and consistently host incredible wine dinners in Laguna Beach at his Broadway location … and you've got to believe he pours every ounce of his extreme culinary talent into these paired menus.
Along with a 5-course pairing, he'll be featuring the premier Spain winery, Bodega Roda from the vibrant, gorgeous Basque Country.
VERY few seats left at $284, tax and gratuity not included. Go to the VacaRestaurant.com website or click on the link I've left below.
Oliver’s Osteria
Next Thursday, April 18th, it's Chef Erik at the helm of what is guaranteed to be another memorable Oliver's Osteria wine dinner. While Erik's certainly been busy with his second restaurant, Oliver's Trattoria, which opened a few months ago at the mouth of Laguna canyon in Shady canyon at the Quail Hill shopping center, this tireless guy is always inventing MORE.
This is one fun and innovative chef, who's won plenty of Michelin nods of late. Next Thursday at our own Oliver's across from the Festival grounds, he's featuring a 5-course paired menu with Southern Italy's Campania wines - one of the oldest wine regions in the world, dating back to 12th century BC. How's that for a few stellar vintages?
Last I checked, Oliver's was closing in on the last very few seats, so just pick up the phone and call them now - let me see the number here . . at 949-715-0261 - you've got to have a reservation for admittance. The dinner is $135 per person, tax and gratuity not included.
OK, did you get all that?
Wine Gallery Tuesday, the 9th …featuring Hartford Court from Sonoma. Open Table for reservations
Tango, Wednesday the 10th… featuring his own eclectic wines, empanadas and paella. No reservations required.
Vaca in Costa Mesa on the 10th as well featuring Bodega Roda wines from Basque Country … VacaRestaurant.com for that reserve.
And Oliver's Osteria in the Canyon next Thursday, the 18th, for assuredly the oldest wine lineage of them all in a one of a kind Campania Wine Dinner. CALL asap - 949-715-0261
NOW. I mentioned a fifth rare vintage, this one being a PERSON. This deserves its own video post from me, but because tickets are going so fast, I'm going to give you quick marching orders … our own Nelson Coates, one of Hollywood's most famed production designers, is doing a rare evening lecture at Sherman Library & Gardens in our neighboring Corona del mar next TUESDAY, April 16th.
He'll be talking about plants and gardens in films, which means he'll undoubtedly be telling multiple and delightful back stories on creating entire landscaped worlds - even greenery in office backdrops for his streaming and film notables such as Crazy Rich Asians, The Morning Show, In the Heights, The Proposal, Hocus Pocus 2 … you name it, he found a way to work plants in.
Nelson is just plain damned fascinating. Tickets are being snapped up quickly so get in on this fun event - go to the Events page at the Sherman Gardens site or just noodle your way down to the link below.
OH - and I've thrown in a video interview I did with Nelson a couple years ago - it's a hoot.
I look forward to seeing you out and about in our lovely Laguna town.
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