Up Front: Around Town

Handcrafted Creations

Several new shops and showrooms are opening up around town that are selling handmade goods, from elegant candles and coastal-inspired artwork to high-quality apparel.

Fifteen years after the company was founded, Laguna Candles moved into a new retail store and showroom located at The Hive in Laguna Canyon this past May. The space will also serve as a manufacturing facility, in which these eco-friendly candles are hand-poured using a special blend of natural coconut and soy waxes. Customers can purchase a single candle, order wholesale or create bespoke products complete with labeling.

Another showroom, Thomas Studios, held a grand opening at its new downtown location in late August. Featuring handmade home goods, these coastal-inspired pieces include furniture with a midcentury modern aesthetic and glass-blown lighting, as well as works by local artist Casey Parlette, who is renowned for his sculptures of aquatic wildlife.

Slated to open the first week of October is a new shop-in-shop concept by Bella Dahl, which will be presenting a retail space within Sunny Days, as well as two other locations in Ohio and Alabama. These boutiques will incorporate vibrant plants and handcrafted furniture to pair with the company’s hand-dyed, ultrasoft clothing. The fashion label’s fall collection will feature the comfortable yet sophisticated pieces for which it is known, all with a refreshed logo and hang tags to match. (Laguna Candles: 949-510-2943; lagunacandles.com) (Thomas Studios: 949-274-9023; thomasstudioslaguna.com) (Bella Dahl: 949-494-2233; belladahl.com)

For the Love of Dogs

Some dogs have a bit of a rough life, but Laguna Beach residents Amy and Julian Mack are working to give those canines a second chance. In August, the couple proposed a state-of-the-art rescue and adoption facility in Laguna Canyon, which would cater solely to senior (8 years and older) and disabled dogs—the first of its kind in Southern California. The facility, which received a favorable reception by the city’s Planning Commission, would be situated on the north side of the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, where Coastal Kennels was previously located. The 7,700-square-foot shelter would include a medical area, kennels, two canine living rooms, a lawn area to interact with the adoptable dogs and a retail store. The Macks have suggested housing around 40 dogs at one time, which would allow them to give each pup the special attention it needs. “Laguna is a dog-loving town with a huge heart,” Amy says. “We can’t think of a better place to prove that these dogs make fantastic pets for many of us—and that we can treat older and handicapped family dogs with the love they deserve.”

Cpl. Cornelius Ashton | Photo courtesy of Laguna Beach Unified School District — Cpl. Cornelius Ashton | *Photo courtesy of Laguna Beach Unified School District*

In Safe Hands

The Laguna Beach Unified School District (which includes Laguna Beach High School, Thurston Middle School and El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools) approved a memorandum of understanding with the Laguna Beach Police Department over the summer to bring a school resource officer to its campuses. The first such officer was named shortly thereafter: Cpl. Cornelius Ashton will work to keep students safe and prevent crime on campus.

Ashton previously worked with the San Diego Community College School District for 15 years and also has experience as a juvenile crimes detective, known for his impactful relationships with students, school faculty and parents alike. He has now been with the Laguna Beach Police Department for three years and will continue to foster his connection with the community’s youth while educating them about bullying and drug resistance as well as providing support for both kids and adults on campus. (949-497-7700; lbusd.org)

Author Gunnar K. A. Njalsson | Photo by SPNW Newswire Baltic/H. Aanaes 2018 — Author Gunnar K. A. Njalsson | *Photo by SPNW Newswire Baltic/H. Aanaes 2018*

A Petrifying Publication

Estonian author Gunnar K. A. Njalsson published his first English novel Aug. 1, and it’s based right here in Orange County. Titled “Harper: A Collection of Horrors,” this horror story is centered around three families who live next door to one another in the fictional town of Harper, which is plagued by monsters like the Clutchbone. The vivid and disturbing narration strikes fear in readers’ hearts while also detailing life in Orange County between 1950 and 1980.

The inspiration for this setting came from growing up in both Laguna and Newport Beach, and Njalsson even mentions the Mountain Road benches that overlook the sea—a place he would often visit to contemplate new story ideas and life itself. After discovering that his family sold one of his childhood homes with no prior discussion, he began thinking about his relationship to the area and molded his devastation into a story that he used to address his own demons. The book is available for purchase with advance order at Laguna Beach Books or online from Amazon. (lagunabeachbooks.com)

Items available at The Garage Collective | Photo by Radman — Items available at The Garage Collective | *Photo by Radman*

Curated Collections

The Garage Collective, an artisanal boutique owned by Laguna Beach native Kristin Miracle-Lewis that sells globally inspired home goods and jewelry, aims to highlight outstanding female-owned businesses by bringing in seasonal pop-up shops. This fall, the store will be offering products by From, Mila as well as Grace Messenger Interiors. From, Mila is also based in town and was founded by mother-daughter duo Farida and Nargis Mithaiwala who used their mutual love for style and travel to create a line of towels, bags, scarves and other apparel—all made in Jaipur, India. Newport Beach-based Grace Messenger sources handmade pillows from Guatemala which are hand-loomed with her coastal-inspired, geometric designs.

Additionally, The Garage Collective will host a vintage flea market on the first Sunday of every month, with the first event held in October. The market, created in collaboration with local antique curator Kristen Theodossis, will be situated in the boutique’s outdoor lot. (949-371-6049; shopgaragecollectivelaguna.com)

Dr. Vidya Reddy | Photo by Pieter Baetens — Dr. Vidya Reddy | *Photo by Pieter Baetens*

The Pursuit of Happiness

Local businesswoman Dr. Vidya Reddy, who co-owns the handmade gift shop Buy Hand, is putting her naturopathic doctoral degree to good use. Naturopathy is a type of alternative medicine that focuses on noninvasive treatments like improving diet and exercise as opposed to the use of pharmaceuticals. Reddy is using her knowledge of the practice to help people reach their highest potential through her new website, Naturally Happy, which launched in late September. The website focuses on five pillars that lead to ultimate happiness, including the healthy benefits of cooking and clean eating, breathing and meditation, emotional cleansing and acts of service. All are welcome to utilize her free and paid-for content in order to become the best versions of themselves. And she plans to use the profits from the website to benefit her charity work in India, where she will build orphanages and provide education to the children placed in them. (naturally-happy.com)

Up Front: Community

Tip-A-Cop

A group of officers from the Laguna Beach Police Department were called to Ruby’s Diner on July 28, but not for the reason you may think: These police officers banded together with Special Olympics athletes and the restaurant’s servers as part of the annual Tip-A-Cop event, which benefits Special Olympics Southern California. The officers and athletes interacted with restaurant guests and helped with table service, including greeting diners as well as taking and delivering orders. Fitting with the automobile theme of this Ruby’s location, customers could also check out an exotic car display of high-end and police vehicles, as well as a drone demonstration and fun activities including face painting and balloon artistry. Customers were encouraged to leave an extra tip (in addition to the one left for their server) with 100 percent of funds raised going toward the Special Olympics program. In total, the event garnered nearly $24,000—the most of any single-day Tip-A-Cop event in the state, a distinction the Laguna Beach Police Department has now achieved two years in a row. And for every $500 raised, one athlete is supported for an entire year, meaning this fundraiser alone will benefit more than 45 individuals. (sosc.org)

Waterman’s

The Ranch at Laguna Beach played host to Waterman’s (formerly Waterman’s Weekend) on Aug. 4, in support of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Environmental Fund. Proceeds will be donated to 15 beneficiaries, some of which are organizations that work along the Southern California coastline, such as Heal the Bay, the Ocean Institute, Orange County Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation. More than 500 attendees included big names in the surf industry—like Bob Hurley, founder of the Hurley surf apparel shops, as well as professional surfers Kelly Slater and Lakey Peterson—plus local business leaders and others who simply love the ocean. Guests were treated to a three-course dinner with a surf-and-turf entree of sea bass and filet, and also enjoyed both live and silent auctions with artwork, surfboards and various getaways to locations like Costa Rica. During dessert, awards were given out to honorees such as Dirk and Natasha Ziff, owners of World Surf League, for Watermen of the Year; Kris Tompkins and her late husband, Doug, for Environmentalists of the Year; and surfer Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, who was recognized with a lifetime achievement award. The final amount raised was still being calculated as of press time, as this number will include post-event donations, but what is known is that the fundraising goal of $250,000 has been surpassed. (sima.com)

Middle: eight-year-old honoree Audrey Kim | Photo by Michelle Schumacher Photography — Middle: eight-year-old honoree Audrey Kim | *Photo by Michelle Schumacher Photography*

Gala at Sea

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center held its annual Gala at Sea at The Ranch at Laguna Beach on Sept. 9 and raised almost $300,000. The funds will benefit the organization’s pinniped patients as well as its education and conservation efforts, with plans to add three rehabilitation pools as well as a water filtration and reclamation system, an autopsy lab and a classroom. The nonprofit’s recently appointed CEO Peter Chang spoke of these plans and other new initiatives during the event, which was attended by more than 260 guests who then danced the night away during a performance by classic rock group Yachty by Nature. The event honored San Diego-based beach lifestyle and apparel company Sand Cloud as Philanthropist of the Year for its work spreading awareness of preservation, donating to nonprofits and providing environmentally friendly products. Another honoree was 8-year-old Audrey Kim of Irvine, who was named Junior Philanthropist of the Year after a written correspondence with former President Barack Obama about oil spills inspired her to start working to spread awareness on behalf of animals and the environment. (pacificmmc.org)

Wine & Dine

Truffle Time

These prized funghi are gracing plates all over town, making for the ultimate fall comfort food.

Humans have been drawn to truffles since antiquity and it is said that historical mentions of this fungal commodity can be traced as far back as ancient Mesopotamia. The two main types are white and black truffles, though there are variations that can be found in different locations and during different seasons. They grow in the roots of certain trees, like beech, oak and pine, which allows them to thrive in temperate forests and climates that offer all four seasons but lack extreme temperatures. As such, the Pacific Northwest and wooded areas in Europe (namely the Périgord region of France) are idyllic growing grounds. Typically harvested in the summer and winter months, cultivators are known for using truffle hogs or dog breeds that are specifically trained to sniff out these little delicacies. The telltale qualities of this relatively rare ingredient are its pungent aroma and flavor profiles that add musk, earthiness and a slight taste of garlic to instantly elevate almost any dish—a sentiment that rings true at plenty of local eateries.

Broadway by Amar Santana

When dining so close to the Pacific, seafood is a must, and one standout option is the branzino with truffle jus at the New York City-themed Broadway by Amar Santana. This dish—inspired by chef-partner Santana’s love for Mediterranean fare and cooking methods—incorporates herbaceous pan-roasted sea bass with clean, mild and refreshing flavors that make for a solid base. The fish is then topped with a light cauliflower puree and pickled clamshell mushrooms to create a unique juxtaposition of flavors, which are rounded out by a truffle jus to perfectly meld land and sea. To make this unique jus, Santana starts off with veal bones, which are simmered to create a stock that is then mixed with truffle oil as well as pieces of preserved black truffles, and ultimately used as the finishing touch for this stellar seafood dish. (949-715-8234; broadwaybyamarsantana.com)

Central Laguna Beach

After closing for renovations last year following an unexpected fire, Central debuted a completely reimagined menu in May. Executive Chef Michael Campbell, who joined the team in August, has helped move the restaurant away from its Peruvian roots to focus more on fusions, which include influences from Asian, American, Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines. One truly superb dish is the truffled soba noodles, which is essentially an Asian-inspired vegetarian spaghetti. The light soba noodles are topped with a hearty mushroom bolognese sauce as well as Parmesan cheese and black truffle butter. That distinct truffle flavoring can sometimes be a bit overpowering, but here, the muskiness of the butter pairs perfectly with the earthy mushrooms and slight acidity from the tomato sauce. This brilliant dish is ideal if you’re looking for a bit of comfort food without the guilt, and carnivores won’t even miss the meat. (949-715-0801; centrallagunabeach.com)

This piece was framed with an engraved plaque and displayed on the wall of this restaurant.

K’ya Bistro Bar

Another eatery with Mediterranean influence, K’ya Bistro Bar at La Casa del Camino hotel has a few different menu items that feature truffles, including the fondue, avocado toast with truffle-infused cheese, smoked salmon croquettes with truffle aioli, truffle fries and last, but certainly not least, lobster mac and cheese with bacon and a truffle crust. This gooey, velvety dish incorporates lobster that is typically imported from Maine and Southeast Asia as well as a wine reduction with cream and four cheeses: American, cheddar, Jack and Parmesan. “The truffle crust adds another layer of rich texture,” says chef Craig Connole, who uses white truffle oil, noting that while the black truffle is quite mild, the white variety is much stronger. This succulent pasta can be shared as a side or enjoyed as a meal on its own, and will certainly make for exquisite comfort food on a chilly fall evening. (949-376-9718; kyabistro.com)

Selanne Steak Tavern

The risotto with truffle oil is a seasonal offering at Selanne Steak Tavern that cannot be missed. A carnaroli rice base—the traditional, medium-grained Italian rice with a high starch content, firm texture and long grains that is used in risotto dishes, as opposed to the more common arborio variety—is cooked with mascarpone and Parmesan cheeses, as well as the truffle oil. The dish is then garnished with additional truffle oil, fresh black truffle peelings and chervil (also known as French parsley). “I wanted to create a comforting and satisfying dish with bold flavors that could stand on its own, apart from our steaks,” explains chef Joshua Severson. “The addition of truffle oil and freshly shaved truffles to the risotto elevates it to a completely new level. This is my idea of luxury in a bowl.” (949-715-9881; selannesteaktavern.com)

Studio at Montage Laguna Beach

Another vegetarian pasta dish, the Celerini Alfredo, is available at Studio at Montage Laguna Beach, but the twist is that these noodles are made from celery root and then topped with garlic cream, brown butter crumble and, of course, truffles. First, large celery roots are cut into thin sheets using a special machine to spiralize the vegetable. These sheets are then cut into fettuccini-shaped ribbons to create the atypical noodle aesthetic. The finished noodles are tossed in a fragrant garlic cream sauce and then sprinkled with the brown butter crumbles, which are made by sauteing dehydrated milk solids with clarified butter until they exhibit a rich, golden color. Chef de Cuisine Ben Martinek notes that “the crumble gives a nice texture and an added nutty quality to the dish,” which is complemented by the shaved black truffles that are sourced from Périgord, France. The final touches include edible flowers and snowflake celery to add a bit of visual appeal to this delicious and well-thought-out dish. (949-715-6420; montagehotels.com)

Taste of the Town: Dine Sides

From the Sea

Diners will have their taste buds transported to the French Riviera when enjoying a meal at Saline, the on-property restaurant at Laguna Beach’s new petite, 22-room resort, Hotel Joaquin, which debuted in October. The eatery is currently only open to hotel guests, but there are plans to welcome the public in coming months. Aiming to spark romance, this dining experience features sea-centric cuisine with fresh, local ingredients as well as inventive flavor profiles using unique spices and cooking techniques. Some standout dishes include the croque monsieur for breakfast, couscous and crab for lunch, octopus carpaccio for dinner, and the option to add caviar to any dish.The restaurant also offers a lineup of creative salts, as a playful homage to the eatery’s name and the ocean nearby. Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails also grace the menu, as well as low- to no-alcohol mixtures like the No Booze Cruise, which features the world’s first nonalcoholic distilled spirit. Also, with the aquatic theme, the hotel as a whole prides itself on the eco-friendly efforts it has implemented, so guests won’t find any single-use plastic in this dining room. (949-494-5294; hoteljoaquin.com)

Sweet Treats

Hailing from Ohio, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt opened its first Orange County location in the nearby city of Laguna Niguel in early September, helmed by Laguna Beach natives Keith Kesler and his family. Voted as best ice cream two separate times in National Geographic’s “Ten Best of Everything” book, it’s safe to say this company has a handle on the dessert business. With more than 100 ice cream flavors (some of which are only available seasonally), seven sherbets, five ices, as well as low-fat yogurt, fat-free and no-sugar-added ice cream plus vegan options available, there is certainly something for every taste. And the serving options are seemingly endless too: Choose from hand-packed quarts or pints; Handel pops, which are dark chocolate-covered ice cream scoops on a stick; banana splits; Handel’s Hurricane, incorporating vanilla soft serve with add-ins like Butterfinger, Oreo or Nerds; sundaes; milkshakes; smoothies; and, of course, the traditional waffle cones and bowls. Pop in this fall to try seasonal flavors such as cinnamon roll, pumpkin ripple, caramel apple and more. (949-215-1350; handelsicecream.com)

*Photo courtesy of The Ranch at Laguna Beach*

Barefoot on the Beach

Stick your toes in the sand and enjoy true beachside dining at The Ranch at Laguna Beach’s new off-site eatery, Lost Pier Cafe. This barefoot beach cafe opened over the summer at Aliso Beach, where the former Aliso Beach Pier once stood—hence the restaurant’s name—and offers incredible coastal views along with locally sourced California fare. Kyle St. John, executive chef of the resort’s main restaurant, Harvest, is serving up seasonal dishes at the new cafe including seafood like ahi poke, as well as fresh salads, burritos, sandwiches, desserts like the famous Balboa Bar and more, plus a small children’s menu. Guests and locals can also take advantage of beach chair and umbrella rentals for the ultimate day of fun in the sun. A private resort tram is available to take guests to and from the eatery throughout the day. (949-715-4210; lostpiercafe.com)

Greg Daniels | Photo by Anne Watson — Greg Daniels | *Photo by Anne Watson*

Common Ground

Local hot spot Three Seventy Common Kitchen & Drink has closed, but plans are in the works for a new eatery. Chef-owner Ryan Adams has sold the building to Greg Daniels, former executive chef at Haven Gastropub, where he was also a managing partner, and Provisions Market, where he was also the proprietor, both located in Old Towne Orange. Also in Old Towne is one of Adams’ new concepts, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, a fast-casual restaurant based on his acclaimed Sunday fried chicken nights at Three Seventy Common. Another restaurant that Adams recently opened is Parallel Pizzeria in Dana Point, which serves New Haven-style pizza. Adams will be shifting focus to these new places now that Three Seventy Common has closed. Daniels will be creating his own concept that focuses on hospitality and seasonal fare, including fresh meat, seafood and vegetables. The new restaurant, slated to open in mid-October, will be called Harley, named after Daniels’ grandfather. (949-715-1530; harleylagunabeach.com)

Issue also included my travel story on Palm Springs, which can be viewed in Newport Beach Magazine: October/November 2018

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Featured Publications

Dec 13 Laguna Beach Magazine: October/November 2018