ALL ABOUT FOOD: Lots of news for Laguna foodies

This summer presents us with a lot changes on the Laguna food scene, and here are just some of them.

There is quite a bit of activity on the restaurant front these days as old favorites bite the dust and optimistic new ventures open right and left.

On Aug. 9, the Blue Laguna Restaurant and Lounge is scheduled to open at the Holiday Inn, replacing the Bamboo Bar and Lounge. In addition to tapas style small plates and casual fine dining with indoor and outdoor seating, they will have live entertainment every night and on Mondays, a locals only menu with 50% off on selected items.

In the near future (one can never make an accurate prediction in the restaurant business), Mark DePalma (formerly of Mark’s) is opening a new restaurant in the canyon next to the Culinary Institute.

Also, Nick Nickoloff is planning to open Nick’s Laguna Beach Restaurant and Bar on Aug. 4, in the space vacated by The Cabana, 440 S. Coast Hwy., with classic American comfort food, lots of bar specialties and an extensive wine list.

Cedar Creek is no more, but Cary Redfearn’s Lumberyard is hoping to open in its place on Aug. 1, with an entirely new décor and a classic American menu with pizazz.

In the more distant future, probably at the beginning of next year, the team at 230 Forest will re-open the Partner’s location at Peppertree Lane with a new concept.

Some current news about old favorites: China Bistro has a new chef, and we’ve been hearing good things; Café Vienna in South Laguna is open again for dinner, and the bar at the back of the Beachcomber has been expanded.

If you are willing to give up an ocean view, the wait won’t be so long and you can make a meal out of the appetizers. The restaurant itself has added pork porterhouse and Kobe short ribs with gorgonzola ravioli to the menu, and several new cocktails, including the Bootlegger with coconut, rum, pineapple and grenadine.

Sorrento Grille has welcomed back its executive chef, who designed a new summer menu featuring some lighter seasonal fare including shrimp and Maine lobster ceviche, kampachi sashimi with hot sizzling sesame citrus vinaigrette and for an entrée, Pacific Rim seafood bowl in chili spiced lobster broth.

Z Pizza has introduced the pizza rustica, with a thin-crusted, rectangular, free form shape. There are four different varieties: pear/gorgonzola; chicken sausage and arugula; curried chicken and yam; and lastly, Mediterranean with feta, roasted peppers, artichoke hearts and olives. Look for organic flour in all its pizzas come Aug. 1.

Eva’s now features a happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Fridays through Sundays with $5 libations including Eva’s Trinidad-style knockout rum punch that she promises will curl your toes and make you happy. All appetizers are half off, and new on the menu are a trio of empanadas and sautéed sea scallops. She is also pleased to announce there is a new chef in the kitchen.

Laguna Food Gallery is now offering a wine club. Sign up to receive two bottles a month and get a 15% discount. Also, it has started a newsletter to update customers on new products, simple recipes using these products and store activities, such as an up and coming tapas party.

It has added to its excellent selection of oils, vinegars and hot sauces. Organic pastas and sauces are now on the shelf, and it is attempting to go “green” by purchasing as many products from California-based companies as possible.

Sapphire Pantry continues to expand its take-out offerings, and the big news is pre-packaged gourmet dinners to go. Every night, starting at 5 p.m., there is a different steak, chicken and fish entrée with accompaniments, and if you’re willing to wait 10 minutes, they will cook it to order. Prices range from $15.99 to $18.99.

Also available are 8-ounce Kobe beef patties, ready for your grill. These are the patties they use in the restaurant to make what is arguably the best burger in town. There is also an ever-expanding choice of salads, such as lobster pasta and roasted beets with honey mustard dressing.

Three more pre-set summer picnic baskets are offered. The California Coastal is vegetarian and includes: hummus and feta, lavash sandwiches, baby beet salad, pan-fried tofu with ginger glaze, three cheeses, fruit, chocolate and peach coolers. If you call 24 hours in advance, they will customize a picnic to your taste.

The other exciting news is that Starr Cornwall, the cheese monger, is teaching wine and cheese pairing classes in the restaurant from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Call ahead for information, (949) 715-9889.

Good news for those who like to sleep in on Saturdays. The Farmer’s Market will now be open until noon, year-round. Also, there is now additional summer parking adjacent to the rear entrance/exit of the market, which is accessed through the Third Street parking lot, about halfway down on the right. It’s closer to the market itself.

We would also like to update you on an error we made because we, too, foolishly trusted in advertising. In our June 27 article about the food science merry-go-round, we recommended a product called Sweetleaf, an all-natural stevia sweetener, approved by the FDA and advertised as having no bitter aftertaste.

We both succumbed to the hype and bought it. It may be healthy, but it has a shockingly bitter aftertaste. Subsequently, interested in the sugar substitute issue, we heard about another product, called ZSweet, and we have tasted it and it is really good stuff, not bitter at all; made from Erythritol, a natural sugar alcohol with 0 calories. It occurs naturally in fruit and fermented food, doesn’t affect blood sugar or cause tooth decay and is absorbed by the body without any stomach distress. It’s available at Whole Foods and Mother’s Market.

Dear readers, if you have any information or updates relating to food and Laguna, share them with us and we will spread the word.

ELLE HARROW and TERRY MARKOWITZ owned A La Carte for 20 years. They can be reached for comments or questions at [email protected]