Hot Plates: An Epicurean O.C.

BY LISA KIMSEY

Just a short drive south of the Greater Los Angeles area awaits delectable eats with which to delight you palate. Whether the occasion is a planned celebration or weekend jaunt, there truly is an epicurean’s paradise waiting just beyond the “Orange Curtain.”

Sundried Tomato Cafe: In downtown Laguna Beach, Sundried Tomato Cafe has mastered the art of creating an expansive, affordable menu exclusively developed around a special sun-dried tomato marinade. And although the tomato-based delicacies are the keynote of their menu, this upscale European-centric café bistro pulls heavily from their overseas counterparts by offering such varied items as lamb, steak, pasta and their signature dish, blackened spring rolls bathed in a honey cilantro pesto. From soup to marinade to tomato cream sauce, your taste buds will never quite look at tomatoes the same.

361 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach 949/494-3312; thesundriedtomatocafe.com $$

Eva’s Caribbean: “This is the kind of cuisine you can only get at someone's house in the islands,” says Eva’s Caribbean Kitchen owner Eva Madray about her West Indian-themed restaurant. Located in Laguna Beach just a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean, Eva’s beautifully decorated walls—literally hundreds of painted coconut shells—and their magnificent signature cocktails like the holiday pumpkin martini leaves you feeling as if you really have been transported to the Caribbean for a home-cooked meal. For those that enjoy the pleasant sting of Caribbean spices, make sure you try their signature appetizer, Cajun prawns. It will leave you wishing you’d ordered a side of artic ice for a chaser.

31732 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach 949/499-6311; evascaribbeankitchen.com $

French 75: At Laguna Beach’s French 75, enjoy a hint of mid-century Paris with decorative leather booths and live jazz music to sooth your ears and mind while your taste buds enjoy a menu highlighted by such culinary treats as Choucroutte Garni and Coq Au Vin. It’s the Paris experience without a plane ticket. Early festivities start with “Bubbly Hour” Monday-Friday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. where you can partake in half-priced appetizers and champagne cocktails and red and white wine by the glass for $6. Enjoy Paris on the Pacific!

1464 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach 949/494-8444; culinaryadventures.com $$$

Anaheim White House: The heart of Anaheim holds a buried treasure in the form of a converted private mansion that now houses the beautifully quaint restaurant. What more could you expect from a restaurant that doubles as a registered historical national landmark? Well, how about the exquisite customer-favored dish of lobster ravioli aptly named (by O.C. standards) the “Gwen Stefani Ravioli”? Deciding between this dish and the equally tasty poached salmon is sure to require some thought. To call this restaurant’s presence anything less than magical would be an understatement. Call today and visit this culinary treat in historic landmark guise.

887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim 714/772-1381; Anaheimwhitehouse.com $$

The Secret is Out

O.C.’s Gay Men’s Chorus invites you on a whimsical look behind the scenes at the North Pole.

By James F. Mills

Imagine what would happen if reality TV descended upon the North Pole. Would it be a cutthroat competition? Would long-hidden secrets come out? And what would the twist be?

No need to imagine. See for yourself at this year’s Men Alive “Secret Santa” holiday concert.

It’s a take-off on a reality show that takes place at Santa’s workshop at the North Pole,” explains Rich Cook, artist director of Orange County’s 120-man strong gay chorus. “It’s a playful way of approaching the holidays.”

Billed as “one part American Christmas Idol, one part Dancing with the Elves and one part Santa’s Got Talent,” the show is hosted by one “Ryan Wreathcrest.”

Men Alive concerts have always had a loose narrative tying the songs together, but this show features a strong narrative along with a wide mix of the holiday songs. “It’s a heavily scripted show,” says Cook who began conceptualizing the show in April. “Yes, it’s a choral concert, but there’s a story in there too.”

It opens with the elves hard at work at Santa’s workshop. “We see the mass production of the toys and we open with a big production number, ‘Christmas is the Best Time of the Year.’” Cook details. “Then the next number is from The Nightmare Before Christmas, ‘Making Christmas.’ We see the elves in some of their conflicts and their difficulties, but then Santa arrives and the elves break into dancing, Riverdance style.”

When Santa’s mother-in-law arrives from Boca Raton, Fla., secrets start coming out and the story flashes back to Santa’s origins when he ran Kris Kringle’s Toy Shop. Soon, chaos ensues as they frantically work toward Christmas Eve. And along the way, they manage to work in Aaron Tippin’s “Big Boy Toys,” Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” a Hanukkah song, a rousing gospel rendition of “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night” and many other beloved carols.

This hardly sounds like the standard holiday concert and that’s the point. “We try to really stretch ourselves on being a legitimate choral group but at the same time putting on a show,” Cook says. “I try to keep it showy. We’ve got a lot of color, a lot of dancing, a lot of very fun, upbeat things. I like to use the word ‘whimsical’ for the show because it is. And ‘playful’ too, because it is.”

Men Alive’s “Secret Santa” concert performs Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 3 and 8 p.m. at the Barclay Theatre on the University of California Irvine campus. For tickets, log onto menalivechorus.org.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

MPower Monkey Madness

Go ape as MPower OC heads to the Santa Ana Zoo to party with the animals. “It’ll be a fun gay boy party. We’ll provide lunch and have raffles and games,” says outreach coordinator Anthony Malek. “People can come and go as they like, spend time at the party, then wander around the zoo and come back to the party. And we’ll have a scavenger hunt for items we’ve hidden around the zoo.” The party and zoo admission are free. Sun., Nov. 23 starting at noon. Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave. The zoo party, like all MPower events, is aimed at gay and bisexual men ages 18-29. For more information, log onto myspace.com/mpoweroc.

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

Diana Ross is coming out! Coming out to Orange County to offer endless love for her fans. Audiences will be stopping in the name of love and wanting to touch her in the morning after the 13-time Grammy Award-winner sweeps them away with hits from both her Supremes and solo career, as well as her latest CD, I Love You. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee proves she knows where she’s going to be on Sun., Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714/556-2787 or log onto ocpac.org.

Holiday Wreath Auction In Laguna

Shanti Orange County’s 11th annual Wreath Auction featuring holiday wreaths created by local artists is Tue., Dec. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Coastal Lounge at Mozambique Steakhouse, 1740 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach. “The wreaths are incredible. They come in all sizes and shapes,” says executive director Sarah Kasman. “The artists outdo themselves every year. And it’s become quite an honor in Laguna to do wreaths for this auction.” Renowned Laguna artist Mike Tauber will serve as auctioneer. Wreaths to be auctioned off will be on display at Mozambique starting Tue., Dec. 2. For more information, call 949/452-0888.

Mammograms and Go-Go Dancers?

People don’t normally associate getting a mammogram with a party, but that’s what the Center O.C. will do at their Mammography Day for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. “We’re trying to make it a fun event, rather than just focusing on gloom and doom,” says spokesperson Esther Wang. “We’ll have food and drinks, DJs and even go-go dancers. Women can come early for the party, have their mammograms done and then rejoin the party.” Mammography Day, funded by a grant from Komen for the Cure Orange County Affiliate, is Sun., Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Grand Central Art Center, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. “We’re encouraging women of all insurance statuses to come. If you don’t have insurance, we’ll work with you,” adds Wang. Appointments for a testing time are needed. Contact Wang at 714/534-0862, ext. 105 or esther@thecenteroc.org.