Wild Strawberry Cafe Now Open
+ Principals' Culinary Clash Returns!
Nearly a year after Koffee Klatch quietly shuttered, the Wild Strawberry Café is offering a great new breath of fresh air. And fresh food.
Located on 1440 S. Coast Highway just south of Mountain, Wild Strawberry is open daily for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (And even better - breakfast is served all day.)
The Wild Strawberry Cafe offers a significant menu that includes:
☕ A full offering of coffees, espressos and cappuccinos as well as healthy smoothies (one with banana and dates, yum!) and fresh juices.
🥚 Breakfast items that include various burritos, quiches, acai bowls, breakfast bagels, an omelette and their big seller - the Avocado Toast.
🥗 A healthy crop of vegan salad offerings (except for the Kale Power Salad with Parmesan). Add in scoops of chicken or tuna if you so desire.
🍓 Savory and sweet crepes that run the gamut from items like Ham & Cheese to Nutella with fresh strawberries.
🥐 Inhouse baked breakfast pastries, muffins and breads (like Chocolate Banana Bread) and their best-selling Blueberry Muffins. A wide variety of their baked goods are also offered gluten-free (including bread options for sandwiches)
🥪 A mass of significant sandwiches, wraps and quesadillas that run from Vegetarian pile-ons to their “World Famous Pastrami Sandwich.” (Of course, I tried this one and would have to agree with their rating. See top photo.)
🍪 Home baked cookies and Wild Strawberry’s decadent answer to the famed “Ding Dongs” of our youth (much better than those tin foil wrappers).
Another Mother/Daughter Team in Laguna Beach … But Mostly Daughter Here!
This is the fourth for the family owned operation; the first Cafe was founded by Mom, Natasha Kazic, in Newport Beach by Muldooons. Now, 13 years later, her daughter, Milena, is the official Owner/Operator of this new Laguna location.
“I had been in the health and fitness industry and whenever I wanted something quick to eat for me or the family, I didn’t feel that there was a lot of “clean” food out there,” said Natasha.
“You want food you can trust in that you’re happy to feed your children,” she said.
With a dearth of options available, Natasha set out to create her own solution with her 2011 opening of the first Wild Strawberry Cafe. Since then, she’s opened two additional Newport Beach locations.
Can anyone tell me who the other Mother/Daughter team is in Laguna Beach? First to answer by hitting “reply” receives a $25 gift card to one of our Laguna restaurants.
From Finance to Fruit Salad
Milena Dujakovich, Natasha’s daughter, says she was raised in the Wild Strawberry world from about 12 years of age. “It’s just always been in my blood,” she told me.
Although she had earned a finance degree and initially worked as a financial analyst all over the country, she found that career path rather bland.
“I like working around people and being in a space of positivity,” she said with a lovely, beamy smile. “So, I told my Mom that I thought it was time to own my own Cafe.”
It was only two months ago that the mother/daughter team happened to walk by the papered Koffee Klatch location. A week later, they were “in,” stripping out the darker coffee shop look and feel for an airy and bright place that offers its rich color accent by way of fresh, colorful food.
When I stopped in, business was hopping. Help these newcomers to Laguna keep that biz rolling perkily along by stopping in to welcome them and try any of their many creations.
Laguna Principals in Culinary Clash this Monday, Jan. 27th
Tickets still available!
Join our favorite Lumberyard Restaurant Owners Cary and Suzanne Redfearn this Monday, January 27 at 6 p.m. as they, once again, host “The Duel for the Golden Spatula,” a fabulous fun fundraiser for Laguna Beach’s SchoolPower Foundation.
Principals from our four Laguna Beach schools are pitted against each other in this Chef Challenge to come up with the best 3-course dinner of the evening in hopes of taking home the vaunted and extremely valued “Golden Spatula.” Enjoy their tasty picks and vote for your favorite dishes.
“The evening is really a hoot,” said Lumberyard’s Cary Redfearn. “It’s a mash up of good humor and principals working the room to win votes. There’s a lot of strutting going on, too. I mean … the Golden Spatula is a big prize!”
Seating at the Lumberyard Restaurant is a mix of tables that seat 2 to 16, as well as single spots at the bar. Drop in solo for a great dinner or gather up your buddies and let the organizers know who you’re sitting with when you purchase tickets.
Free childcare is also available for Chef Challenge attendees – within walking distance from Lumberyard – thanks to Laguna Presbyterian Church!
DON’T MISS! My Monday, Jan 27th Radio Show - Chris Olsen of Wine Gallery + Miki Sushi
This Monday, Jan. 27th at 2 p.m. on my radio show at KXFM Radio 104.7 … Restaurateur Chris Olsen is joining me. As most of all you locals know - Chris absolutely rocks. He’s become such a great friend to me - and all of Laguna Beach - over these many years.
We’ll be talking about the organic evolution of his first Laguna Beach restaurant, Wine Gallery, as well as Chris’ BIG move with business partner Greg Washer to bring back a BIG legend with the re-opening of Miki Sushi (formerly 242 Sushi).
Join me LIVE on Mondays, 2 pm PDT/5 pm EDT at KXFM 104.7 Radio for new restaurant news and reviews, the best Laguna events, and plenty of rockin’ interviews with Laguna Beach chefs, restaurateurs and downright interesting people.
If you’re not nearby to twirl that radio dial to 104.7 FM … in fact, if you’re one of my subscribers hailing from one of those 32 countries, download the free KXFM Radio app:
OR just go online to:
