On February 28, there’s going to be an amazing concert in Newport Beach. People will be gathered together in an intimate space to take in a beautifully multi-faceted musical experience. The artists will be in their prime, and you absolutely shouldn’t miss it.

Here’s the thing, though. We can’t give you the address. Or even a nearby address. Or tell you who’s performing. What we can tell you, though, is that you can apply to attend the show here, and the ticket will only cost $20 … that is … if you’re invited to attend in turn.

(Courtesy of Sofar Sounds)

Interested? We thought you’d be. These secret shows are the signature offering of Sofar Sounds, and it’s worked well enough for them that Newport Beach is only one of 447 cities they host performances in.

Where’d they come from, though? That’s an interesting story, actually! The Sofar story started in 2009, across the pond in the bustling town of London. Not wanting to bother with the loud and crowded party scene, a man named Rafe Offer invited his friends over for a quiet, intimate gig in his apartment. He and seven other people enjoyed tunes from a friend of Rafe named Dave Alexander. No chanting, no drinks getting thrown around, just a peaceful musical experience. 

Although they didn’t know it then, this was the beginning of Sofar Sounds. As time went on, Rafe and company would organize more and more of these shows in their area, eventually forming the Sofar organization and taking things to an international level. Today, it’s a global community of artists, hosts and showgoers sharing in the common bond of intimate experiences and very pleasant surprises. 

To learn more about the organization and their upcoming show, I sat down with Gabby, who runs the Orange County branch of the organization. 

Like many others working with Sofar, she started off as a volunteer, coming in three years ago and wanting nothing more than to bring people closer to their next favorite artists. In fact, it was only recently that the organization decided to open paid career positions. Since then, Gabby has handled Sofar shows all across the West Coast, although she mainly handles the Orange County events.

When asking her about the biggest highlight of working with Sofar, she almost immediately replied that it was the chance to give space and exposure to emerging artists. This led me to my next question: Where are they finding these artists? 

Simple enough, Gabby let me know they’ve actually partnered with a venue in Santa Ana that does open mic nights. They’ll watch those performances, or have someone watching on their behalf, and select the best artists to play one of the upcoming shows in the area. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to those open mics; they also accept applications online via their website!

(Courtesy @Ingramlee)

Naturally, this selection process means there’s a hefty amount of genre diversity from their selected acts. This doesn’t mean the shows are a hodgepodge of random sounds, however. In fact, Gabby told me one of her main priorities is making sure there’s a consistent theme between every single artist, even if their genres are worlds apart. 

That led me to my next question: Where are they finding places to perform? Thankfully, there are a lot of places in the area that are willing to host local music. WorkWell in Irvine has been happy to work with them, for instance, and many other small businesses have been kind enough to open their doors. They still do house shows, too, just in a more official way. Specifically, they work with an organization simply known as The Agency, which connects them with open houses that are in escrow. Given the calm nature of the performances, along with the lack of people already living in said house, this system works out perfectly.

Now was about the time I was wondering what type of musicians they’ve had play in the past. One of the first groups Gabby mentioned is called Undecided Future. They’re a funk group from Long Beach that specializes in five-part harmonies, and they’ve been doing their part to keep the good vibes going. You can check out their music here. 

An O.C. band she tells me about, The Jacks, has been doing their part to bring rock tunes back to the forefront, with a style reminiscent of The White Stripes. Songs like “Walk Away“ have been getting a very warm reception online, too, so don’t be shocked if you hear them on the radio soon. 

(Courtesy of Sofar Sounds x Nashville Guru)

She also let me know about an amazing artist out of Berlin who goes by Lizzy and the Palm. She delivers silky smooth acoustic tunes that pair perfectly with her soulful vocals, the type that hit perfectly in a little dive bar packed to the gills. She won’t be playing bars forever, though, so make sure you check out her music before she blows up.

I then wondered if there was ever a band that did better during the show than she expected. Without any sort of pause, she says the name Darby. As I ask why, she explains that, before them, they’d never done a show without vocals. Interestingly enough, they have a sax player in place of a vocalist. They discovered them at an open mic, and notes that their jazz-punk style was not something people regularly heard in the area. This, however, was exactly why she wanted to give them a shot. This was the right idea; they were received with extreme positivity at the Sofar, and it gave them the boost they needed to start regularly performing in L.A. Check out their work here!

Sofar only do one or two shows a month in each area right now, but the near future will see them throwing up to four or five a month instead. The only way they can sustain that, of course, is if people buy tickets. So come on! Who doesn’t like a pleasant surprise once in a while? Treat yourself to the gift of music and get yourself tickets to their Newport Beach show today!

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The post Sofar Sounds Is Returning to Orange County appeared first on Irvine Weekly.

This is the first in a series of articles where we discuss the many beautiful trails Irvine and the surrounding area have to offer.

As I got out of my car at Turtle Rock Community Park, one of the main access points for Shady Canyon Trail, I looked around and wondered where the actual trail was. It just seemed like suburban sidewalks at either end, and I started to get worried. I decided to take a breath and put my headphones on to shake my impatience and negativity. After all, how can a day go wrong when you have Young Thug as the soundtrack? 

With all that sorted, I went along the sidewalk that cuts into the trail, which extends to the north and south. I went for the southbound path because it seemed to cut through a more scenic section. For a time, as I sauntered along the dirt path, it seemed like I was correct. I admired the variety of trees and plants that decorate the sides, and the ducks swimming around in a large pond nearby put a big ol’ smile on my face. The sound of nearby cars, however, would often pull me from the headspace of a natural experience.

Upon checking my map, I discovered I was nearly at the end of the trail, rather than the beginning. Unperturbed, I headed back to explore the other 90 percent of the adventure waiting for me. 

(Ryan Najjar)

Like the section I had just walked, a dirt path lay in front of me for the northbound section. Trees and shrubbery decorate the left side, which are pleasant to glance at while walking along. To the right, though, cars pass along the road of their private community, which a small fence warns hikers to not trespass into. Thankfully, this image was soon replaced by tall and wide shrubbery as the trail diverges away from the road. Even though there were houses I could see along the top of a hill to the left, I still got the feeling I had been shielded from civilization. 

Now that I could stop thinking about cars, I could focus on the merits of the trail itself. Fortunately, there are many. 

As someone who isn’t the most athletically inclined, but still wants to keep himself in shape, I found this to be a prime balance of leisure and challenge. Flat sections made up a good amount of the trail at the start, and inclines begin to pop up within the second mile or so out of Turtle Rock. These inclines in turn have varying intensities, although there’s nothing that would leave an ordinary person out of breath. For those looking for an extra challenge during their daily run or bike ride, this is very much the place to be. 

The fourth wall of natural serenity breaks from time to time as the trail merges closer to the road. This, however, doesn’t bother me too much for a couple of reasons. For one, the community itself is quite calm, and there aren’t many noises emerging from it that take me out of my focus (besides the occasional car). Secondly, I figured people in this area didn’t have time to go all the way down to Turtle Rock to start their hike or bike ride. Therefore, multiple entry points could be considered more of a blessing than a curse. 

Breaking away from the suburb again, the trail took me along a wooden bridge, the sort of structure I have a soft spot for. After passing along this, I was given a view of a golf course, not my favorite view on the hike.

As the trail began to dip and rise, the golf course was graciously removed from my line of sight and replaced with more beautiful rolling hills, showing off more green than you’d expect to see in December. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to make each of the many plant varieties stand out in a special way. As far as what types of plants these were, you’ll have to consult Botany Weekly, our sister publication that doesn’t exist (but honestly should). 

(Ryan Najjar)

The surprises continued as I began to hear the calls of at least three different types of birds ring through the air. “Well it’s way too cold for these little guys to be out,” I thought, “so they must have really wanted to say hi to me!” My Snow White fantasy was dimmed, however, when I remembered that 60 degrees is only considered cold if you’re from…well…here. Regardless, knowing the variety of life that graced this trail enhanced it in my eyes. 

It wasn’t just wildlife or plant life, either! Every human and adorable dog that passed by me was an absolute pleasure, and the few words I exchanged with them were filled with warmth. Whether they were taking a peaceful stroll, doing some nature-watching, or getting their workout in, people wanted to be on the Shady Canyon Trail for all sorts of reasons. 

After this experience, you can bet I count myself amongst them. Offering plenty to novice hikers and non-athletes, while throwing in more than enough challenges for intensity-seekers, there’s something for everyone here. Also, if you’re coming in from the north end and looking for more of a workout, you can swing right back into Turtle Rock Community Park and enjoy their fields and courts before hitting the trail’s southern tip. 

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Ever since the massive success of films like Free Solo, more and more people have turned their eyes to the world of climbing. Amongst them, many have decided to give it a try for themselves, filling up gym walls in cities across the country. Since it’s a sport I hold near and dear to my heart (I’ve lost over 25 pounds this past year while doing it), I’ve felt obligated to let people know about the best places to climb in our area. With that mission in mind, I recently paid a visit to the Rockreation gym in nearby Costa Mesa to see what they have to offer.

From the second my brother, our friend and I step in, we’re met with a warm energy from the gym’s staff. They guide us to the waiver we need to fill out (standard practice for any climbing gym you’re using for the first time), and welcome us in after we pay $20 for a day pass. 

Rockcreation (Brandy Young)

Looking at the walls, the first description that came to our minds was “old school.” Their walls, outside of the brightly colored holds, mimicked natural rocks, even including the sort of features you’d see on rocks outdoors. Excited to see how these could be utilized during our climb, we headed over to the lockers to get changed and start our climb.

Heading toward these lockers, we passed through a beautifully modern exercise area, complete with hang boards, sturdy pull-up bars, weights and even treadmills and bikes. Depending on your fitness goals, this section alone could replace your standard (non-climbing) gym. They keep up the modern trend with their bathrooms and showers as well, which were pristine and well stocked.

Walking back towards the walls, we were hit with a pleasant surprise: fresh air. Until then, we hadn’t noticed the massive garage door built into the side of the gym. What was once a leftover feature of the previous business in this space was now this gym’s most unique asset, as they were able to crack it open to bring in some fresh air for us and our fellow climbers. 

We decided to start in the bouldering section of the gym. For those unfamiliar, “bouldering” refers to when you climb a shorter wall without the assistance of ropes. There, we were welcomed by a wide array of settings, featuring a strong variety of inclines and route types meant to test the full scope of a climber’s strengths. 

We also recognized a wide variety of difficulties, although the difficulty markers were unfortunately missing the day I came. The staff explained that they had a competition the night before, and had the categorized the routes based on a point system. We figured this would be sufficient, but the amount of points wasn’t always proportional to difficulty (to me, at least), and they hadn’t put up the standard markers for at least two hours after they opened. 

Rockcreation (Brandy Young)

All that being said, though, it encouraged us to try the sorts of routes we wouldn’t normally attempt, and our workout was uninhibited overall. They utilized their space to the fullest, and features like the arch made their facility stand out among many others I’ve visited before. We also appreciated that they had individual fall mats that we needed to move around. One might think this is inconvenient at first, but the fact that mat adjustment is essential in outdoor climbing made this feature stand out as an excellent way for people to practice placement.

Moving over to the rope climbing section, which takes up a majority of the space in this gym, there were very few complaints to be had. Besides the fact that they don’t lend out lead ropes, which is standard in other gyms, this section has plenty to offer. Besides the wide variety of standard routes, which bore standard difficulty labels, there were also quite a few options for crack climbers too (for the unfamiliar, this simply involves climbing by sticking your hands and feet in a crack that goes all the way up the wall). Even routes that were at and below my skill level provided interesting challenges, engaging my brain along with my muscles. 

So now you might be wondering: How much does a membership with this place cost? Well, given the offered amenities, the $75 monthly membership for adults, with a $100 start fee, is not too surprising. Considering the day pass costs $20, this is pretty sensible for those planning on making regular visits. The membership also includes free yoga classes and unlimited use of the exercise area, so the bang for your buck is certainly there.

Rockcreation (Brandy Young)

Their program offerings are something to note as well; they offer climbing classes for kids and adults alike, a homeschool program, a climbing camp, fitness classes, yoga classes, team building exercises for companies, and more. They even host birthday parties if you’re looking to spice things up on your kid’s special day.

If you’re looking to get your kids into team sports outside of school, look no further than Rockreation’s Rock Warriors program. For kids that are just starting out or focusing on the fundamentals, the club team provides a fun yet structured environment for them to hone their skills.

When they want to take things to the next level, though, they can try out for the Advanced Team, where they’ll be training to participate in local and regional USA Climbing-sanctioned competitions. Lastly, for those a few cuts above the rest, the Elite Team is reserved for aspiring champions, enduring a rigorous training program that’ll help them excel in competitions ranging from the local to national level. Inclusion on these teams isn’t covered by the membership fee, though, so make sure you take a look at the rates on their website.

Overall, if you’re craving a classic climbing gym experience that doesn’t forego modern amenities, I definitely recommend you give this place a shot. From the friendly staff, to the extensive variety of routes, to the wide assortment of programs, there’s an awful lot to love here.

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As my brother and I were pulling into the shopping center where we’d find Mitsuwa Marketplace, we noticed there was one sign pointing in the direction of the Marketplace itself, while another sign reading “Mitsuwa Food Court” pointed in the opposite direction. After circling around the parking lot the latter pointed us towards, we parked at the market to see if they could tell us where we could find the food court, only to discover upon entry that our destination was nestled right in the back. This misdirection wasn’t their fault, obviously (get it together, sign-fixing person), and we were just happy to be walking toward the rainbow of Japanese cuisines that stood ahead of us. 

The food court consists of three main restaurants: Go Squared, known for the famous street food takoyaki (which are spherical mini-pancakes stuffed with octopus), a ramen place called Santouka, and a restaurant named Misasa that serves a variety of Japanese favorites. They’re placed side by side in the food court, with a few rows of tables directly across. After sitting down and looking at all three places at once, we figured it would be unfair to pick just one spot, and we wanted to be able to enjoy our food without wasting anything, so we compromised to pick one cornerstone dish from each restaurant.

Kitsune Soba (Ryan Najjar)

I picked up six pieces of regular takoyaki from Go Squared, my brother grabbed some miso ramen from Santouka, and I figured we should top off our meal with some of Misasa’s kitsune soba noodles. We were called for each of our orders within 15 minutes, and all that was left to do was decide what we’d be trying first. 

As I was in the middle of a deep, intricate thought process about this decision, my brother had scooped a whole takoyaki onto his fork and dropped it into his mouth without a second of thought. The only sounds he could make for the next minute were “mmmmmmm” and “aaaaaaaaaa,” the second sounding slightly pained. Wondering why this was, he informed me that the balls, while absolutely delicious, were scalding hot on the inside. He let me know this was usually the case with this food, and that clued me into just how much he loved it. Knowing full well he would burn his mouth, he couldn’t even wait or start with a half. 

Inspired, but not fully willing to inflict that level of pain on myself, I cut off 80 percent of the ball into a single bite, lifted it into my mouth, and understood why my brother did what he did. Maybe two to three milliseconds after the larger piece hit my mouth, my fork had reached down to the smaller companion and brought it into my mouth in one fluid motion. This was essentially a savory and umami bomb with the perfect hint of sweetness; the pancake was soft and thick, the octopus was cooked to perfection, and the takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise emphasized the best in each of the ingredients. 

I had to turn my attention though, despite my desire to knock them out then and there, because I had a beautiful bowl of soba noodles in front of me. I gathered some noodles, along with a piece of the sweetened tofu, into my chopsticks and found that the combo brought a unique flavor profile that I don’t encounter often in my day-to-day life. The subtle yet noticeable sweetness paired nicely with the savory broth it swam in, and the satisfyingly chewy soba came together with the tofu even more nicely than I thought they would. Despite the tofu piece being pretty big, and coming with a generous amount of noodles, the bite didn’t feel overwhelming in the slightest. All the textures played well together too, and you got a lot of flavor without much of any guilt at all. My brother had positive feelings too; agreeing with my thoughts, he remarked that they were not only refreshing, but filling without seeming unhealthy. 

We couldn’t get too full, though, because we had a delicious-looking bowl of ramen waiting for us as well. I took the first bite (and all of the pork on accident), and everything that I looked for in a bowl of ramen was right there; the noodles were delightfully chewy, the miso broth was packed with nuanced and forward flavors that played with each other. Even better, the pork had soaked up all of those flavors and become perfectly tender. While my brother (who is “vegan,” by the way) was disappointed I had eaten all of the pork, he dug into the ramen bowl himself and found it was, in his words (shouted across the room as he played a game of League of Legends while I wrote this), “f***king dank, dude.” He later added, after his game had concluded, that it warmed his heart and was thick, as a good miso ramen should be.  

Crispy Cream (Ryan Najjar)

Putting away our trays and rubbing our bellies, convinced we wouldn’t need anymore food at all, we quickly changed our minds once we passed by Hamada-Ya, a bakery sitting right outside the food court. We hopped in line and looked at the many bakery classics they had on offer, such as croissants, donuts and a tempting strawberry shortcake. Needing to eat on the move, yet wanting to avoid overly typical fare, we landed on one treat called a Bavarian chocolate, and another called a crispy cream. 

Munching into both outside of the market, I noticed that the crispy cream wasn’t very crispy at all, rather fluffy and soft (not a problem), and the cream was more of a custard (also not a problem). My brother bit into the Bavarian chocolate at the same time, and he noted that it was lighter than it seemed it would be: decadent and incredibly tasty on top, sure, but not too intense of an experience by any means. I concurred with him once we swapped, and while he isn’t a fan of custard in general, he agreed that the mislabeled baked good was fluffy and wonderful.

Learn more about the market and see what they offer on their website.

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The post Endless Choices and Full Bellies at Mitsuwa Marketplace Food Court appeared first on Irvine Weekly.

In my time with Irvine Weekly, I’ve discussed many different types of food with roots all around the world. Whether it’s been Indian, Korean, Chinese, Greek or Mexican, I’ve been more than happy to run in with no hesitation and fill my gullet until I’m ready to make my own judgments. However, there’s been one type of cuisine I’ve been keen to avoid until now: Lebanese. 

Now before you get your pitchforks out, I happen to be Lebanese myself, and this is by no means a case of me being a traitor to my country. I adore my country’s food, and that adoration was born out of years of enjoying delicious home-cooked meals showcasing the greatest hits of my people. 

Falasophy storefront (Andy N./Yelp)

It’s this upbringing with my mother and grandmother’s world-class cuisine that would lead to my eternal hesitation with Lebanese restaurants: What if it wasn’t as good? This was less of an “if” and more of a matter of fact to me. After a few experiences with sub-par places around the U.S., I accepted that if my mom or grandma (or a mom/grandma of some sort) weren’t preparing it, it would be a disappointment. It’s not that the food would be bad, per se, but I would be thrown into flashbacks of when I was at home having the better version of whatever I was eating.

However, I knew it was time to face my fears sooner or later. To dip my toes into these unfamiliar waters, I ventured into the familiar Irvine Spectrum to try out a little spot called Falasophy. My first impression of the place itself was that it blended in nicely with the other storefronts in the Spectrum, while having a warmer energy than many of the others. This, I found, is thanks to the bright shades of yellow, pink and other colors that pop up throughout the restaurant, especially on the chairs, right-hand wall and decorations. 

Chicken shawarma at Falasophy (Olin C./Yelp)

A kind and helpful staff member presented me with a menu at the counter, and upon taking a glance I found a blend of certified Lebanese classics and intriguing modern twists. As far as classics, I was pleased to see things like chicken and steak shawarma (being prepared on traditional vertical rotisseries), kabobs, falafel, hummus, baba ganoush, grape leaves and even tabouli grace the menu. 

Other items, like the báhn mi falafel pita, spicy Armenian quesadilla, halloumi fries and Lebanese cheese taquitos, confused and fascinated me all at once. I wanted to test their takes on the foods I’ve known and loved, but I was willing to give one of these modern items a shot. I ended up going for the hummus, the halloumi fries, and their specialty “street-style” kabob wrap. I felt this selection would allow me to test them on the basics while giving me an idea of what they do to stand out from the rest. 

It’s known by all Lebanese folks that the merit of a restaurant serving our food can be judged by the quality of hummus they offer. If they can’t execute something as simple yet vital as that blend of chickpeas, lemon and garlic, what does that say about their dedication to providing good food? This, even early on, would be the moment of truth, and I was happy to find the truth was more than pleasant on the tongue. 

One bite in, I noted how a real balance had been achieved with the hummus itself; there wasn’t too much garlic, not too much lemon, and not too little of either. The flavors showed themselves, but didn’t try too hard. What did stand out, though, was the generous serving of cumin on top. Now, cumin is never a bad idea with hummus, depending on your recipe, but I found the amount they put onto mine a tad excessive, to the point where it became the main thing on my mind during certain bites. This doesn’t discount the dish, and I’d actually be more than happy to order it again, but I’d ask them to go lighter on the cumin next time. 

Kofta and falafel at Falasophy (Sheila H./Yelp)

Next up were the halloumi fries. These were especially exciting for me, since cheese is one of my favorite foods, and halloumi is one of my favorite cheeses … when prepared right, that is. 

The breading for these fries lead them to resemble mozzarella sticks, which only made me more eager to pound a few of these back. Dipped in the red pepper walnut muhamara, the pairing felt even more obvious than the marriage of mozzarella sticks and marinara I’ve long admired. That’s also to say it not only fulfilled but surpassed my expectations. The crispiness of the outside played perfectly with the firm yet softer texture of the halloumi, and the muhamara brought both parts even closer together, giving off a rainbow of flavors that came in intense and subtle waves alike. 

I had to put these delights away, though, because I had a kabob sandwich to bite into, and heaven forbid I keep it waiting any longer. To be more accurate, I couldn’t keep myself waiting any longer. I blacked out. Everything went dim around me. I heard shouting, either from myself or a bystander. When I awoke, the sandwich was gone, and I was left with but a few memories of what it gave me.

The meat was cooked to perfection, although it should be described as kofta, rather than beef, because the former describes the specific preparation they used, while beef (despite being an accurate descriptor) implies larger pieces of meat. The pieces of meat in the wrap are plenty big to be clear, along with being well seasoned and overall delicious, but the difference is that kofta is ground beef that’s brought together akin to a patty, although shaped differently. 

Teaming up with the kofta in the wrap, fries provided a welcome dose of potato as well as a texture shift, further aided by the crunchy slaw and pickles. The ketchup was a nice add-on, and the garlic sauce was OK, although I’d like the garlic flavor to have been more present. Overall, these ingredients (brought together by some fresh pita bread) made for a more than fitting end to a meal that was not only satisfying, but fear-crushing. I’ll still ask my mom to ship me food, sure, although it won’t be as often. I’ll always try the hummus first as a test, but now I’m more willing to try.

Learn more about the restaurant and explore the menu on their website.

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The post Old Traditions and New Takes at Falasophy appeared first on Irvine Weekly.

Bret and I always end up back at Diamond Jamboree. Who can blame us, though? It’s a stone’s throw away from Bret’s office, right off the freeway for me, and we seem to stumble upon something new to end our diets every time (we’re not actually on diets because, you know, they don’t actually work, but you get what I’m trying to say). 

We lead busy lives, but it’s funny how quick a plan can come together when dumplings are involved. We had to reschedule once or twice, but we found ourselves seated for lunch at Paper Lantern Dumpling House not too long after the thought to go was conceived. The more we looked around, the more warm and comfortable we felt, even with the sleek, modern decoration. Sitting near a window, we watched people idly pass by and go about their day, acting like they weren’t only feet away from the sweet embrace of dumplings. 

Bret’s Tea (Bret Kavanaugh)

These were to be the main event, of course, but there were a few opening acts that were determined to make their impression. The first, surprisingly enough, wasn’t a food item at all. Rather, it was a cup of fresh, warm chrysanthemum tea Bret ordered to start things off. The sight of what looked like small bulbs floating in the cup was confusing at first, but a closer inspection cleared things up. You see, over a couple dozen of the little chrysanthemum flowers were floating in the tea and blooming as time went on, which made us that much more optimistic. It tasted even more refreshing than it looked, and each sip brought a wave of calm along with it. It was light on the tongue, but it made a statement nonetheless. 

After a bit, we elected to put the rest of the tea to the side, agreeing it might pair well with our food. First to the table was an enticing bowl of egg soup, which greeted us with a pleasant and balanced visual before we even got to know how it tasted. Once Bret took the first spoonful, though, they noted that the theme of balance remained strong. Savory notes came in waves, as did umami, and while the right amounts of salt and seasoning were probably the root of the savory taste, the source of the latter was a mystery until we found pieces of shrimp in our later bites. The chives played their part beautifully as well, and the chef was careful to ensure they didn’t bring an overwhelming flavor. 

Since it’s in the name, though, it only made sense that the real star of the show was the lacy and perfectly cooked egg, offering a satisfying texture and a great deal of heartiness to the dish. Not to say it felt unhealthy by any means; in fact, I almost felt like I lost weight while eating it. It’s a filling dish on its own, yes, but it wouldn’t hurt to pair it with another appetizer, or even a main dish, if you have the stomach space. 

Beef Wrap (An. H)

How do we know it pairs well, you ask? Well, we paired it. Coming in to help us put our theory to the test, I had a good feeling the scallion pancakes would be making a case for themselves, and by God did they do exactly that. The first thing I noticed was a smattering of darker, crispy spots atop the light, flaky outside, which clued me into the texture variety I’d enjoy upon munching. I could see the scallions peeking at me from behind the pancake; with no mercy, I tore into their warm home and took a generous bite. A light crunch was the first sensation I noted, followed by a fresh, savory, soft pancake that evoked images of clouds in my mind. Alternating between bites of pancake and spoonfuls of soup, I felt like I found the perfect harmony. This was exactly when I remembered the tea, still warm and ready to be enjoyed. As I guessed, even though a cold tea might have paired better with warm food, the refreshing sensation of the tea was an ideal palate cleanser. 

Last — but perhaps most, rather than the least — an order of steamed shrimp and pork dumplings landed on the table to catch my heart in less than an instant. The song “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow” started playing in my head. I noticed the shrimp, looking straight out of an advertisement, nestled on top of what I presumed was some equally beautiful pork, and the song in my head grew steadily louder. I reached for my chopsticks, took the one closest to me, and let it fall into my mouth whole. The song in my head erupted into glorious crescendo as I bit down. Nothing else mattered. The soup rushed in like a tidal wave, bringing some of the best pork I’ve ever had along with it. All that, teamed up with the umami brought by the shrimp … it was almost too much to handle. Almost.

Pork dumplings (Christian/Yelp)

The dumplings even lasted the 90-minute journey with me to the recording studio later that day, where my friends dug in and had nearly the same reaction. We didn’t have a microwave, or any other way to heat them, by the way. Even lukewarm, their power is nothing to be ignored. Obviously we recommend eating them fresh, but if life comes at you fast, just know these descendants of the Flavor Gods will help you slow things back down, as will any of the culinary blessings we were given at that table. 

If there’s anything I should note at this point, it’s that this might not be the best spot for your vegetarian friends, since there’s only one noodle dish, one dumpling option, and three appetizers for them to choose from. It’s also unclear whether any of these options are vegan, but it never hurts to be safe and ask.

You can learn more about them, check out their menu, and get directions on their website.

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From all around the world and from all walks of life, people gather to live, work and raise their families in this beautiful city. New people bring new ideas, perspectives and stories to share with each other, and it’s that sort of blend that makes Irvine so beautiful in the first place. Sometimes, however, we need to take the time to celebrate the variety of people that have established their lives here, and all the cultures they bring to the table.

Irvine’s city government, thankfully, shares this sentiment with us. In fact, to honor the diversity that spices up life in this town, they’ve put on the Global Village Festival every year since 2002 (although the first was in 2000). As the years have gone by, each festival has been bigger than the last, and this year’s celebration on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13 will be no exception. 

There’ll be a cornucopia of booths, live performances, speakers and other activities and events to help showcase every vibrant color and pattern on the quilt of Irvine. 

(Courtesy of the city of Irvine)

Live entertainment this year will include a wide variety of dance troupes and musicians from around the world performing across dozens of genres and styles. Guests can check out showcases of everything from Chinese folk dancing and traditional Korean drumming to Cajun and Zydeco music, along with martial arts and Thai fruit-carving demonstrations.

In 1998, a small collective of residents first got the idea to bring the people a festival to promote the area’s different cultures. It was called, fittingly enough, the Multicultural Festival, and interest began to pick up after the following year’s celebration. People began to flood in after the festival was moved to a larger venue to encourage attendance.

For the year after that, they decided to take a new direction, branding themselves as the Irvine Global Village Festival. They also celebrated their previous success by heading to the Irvine Civic Center, drawing approximately 4,000 people to the event as a result.

(Courtesy of the city of Irvine)

To keep the tradition going and growing every year, the original founders got together and formed the Irvine Multicultural Association, where they dedicate themselves to the task year-round. Their cooperation has paid off in spades.

Predictably, the proceeding years have brought about recognition for their efforts. Back in 2009, O.C. Weekly handed them the crown of “Best Festival,” even though their best was yet to come. They’d top themselves again in 2011, which marked the 40th anniversary of Irvine and the festival’s 10th birthday. More than 20,000 attendees showed up, and a new tradition took root when they decided to take a stand to promote global peace with the United Nations Art Miles Mural Project, which allows younger attendees to create artwork included in a massive, beautiful display.

(Courtesy of the city of Irvine)

The time and effort they’ve dedicated to empowering the different nationalities, religions and cultures that make up the city is immense, and while local publications have taken note, it was about time for some attention on a larger scale. They ended up receiving exactly that when the National League of Cities honored the city of Irvine with a Cultural Diversity Award. Among other things, it recognized the creative efforts taken to start programs highlighting acceptance and celebration of diversity in the community.

With all this recognition and an established reputation, they still haven’t slowed down. They’ve stuck to their original mission of continuous expansion, and last year saw their greatest array of offerings yet with over 115 performances, an array of cultural and religious exhibits, kid-focused activities, an expansive international marketplace, and a variety of global cuisines.

While the environmentally conscious might be wondering about the waste potentially created by all this, there’s no need to worry. 

The organizers are dedicated to creating a zero-waste environment, where even the T-shirts, signs and banners are intended for reuse, or at least designed to be biodegradable. They also utilize composting methods and make sure all plates and utensils are either compostable or recyclable. 

In keeping with this trend, they’d like you to utilize reusable goods whenever necessary, including water bottles and other beverage containers, bags, if you decide to go shopping, and considering carpooling in your friend’s new electric car (or doing whatever else you can to decrease your carbon footprint).

Carpooling would also offer more benefits for those attending the growing festival. Parking will be scarce for those who aren’t able to arrive before it opens, or at least when it starts. If you want to do your part to make it easier for yourself and your fellow Irvine folk, we’d suggest you and your friends or family try to fill up every seat you’ve got. The festival’s about bringing people closer together, after all.

The event is going to be held in Orange County Great Park this year, although if you’re going to be taking an Uber or similar rideshare service, you’ll need to direct them to the Great Park Tennis Complex Parking Lot. 

Irvine is a beautiful place with an outstanding tapestry of lives that make it what it is. As parts of that tapestry ourselves, we owe it to those around us to celebrate each other and take pride in our unique spread of individuals. 

You can do it every day by supporting local business and cultural institutions, but make sure you’re really ready to take pride by checking in with the city of Irvine site for exact details on the festival and all sorts of other events happening in town this year.

Tickets to the festival are $5 per day, per person for those ages 3 and older. One-day family passes are available for $20 and cover admission for up to six people. Tickets can be purchased here. 

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“I get the idea of making sure I like it, but it wouldn’t even make sense for me to take a trip out there a week before I move. It’s a lot of traveling, and there’s nothing I’d learn in those few days that would make a difference. The only important stuff I’d realize would only come after a few weeks or a month, so I might as well just settle there straight away.”

My brother and I were discussing my upcoming move to Portland, Oregon, which I had only decided on as a firm plan four days before. In that time I got my budget together, interviewed with apartments and roommates, and applied to six jobs, but I understood that things still felt a tad last-minute. To get more comfortable with the idea, we decided to treat ourselves to something a little extra special. In that quest, we found ourselves headed to Sam Woo Restaurant. 

Along with most other restaurants I’ve reviewed, this was a suggestion of my friend Bret. Their friend had chosen the spot a few years back for a birthday celebration, and it made enough of an impression where Bret remembered it to this day.

Hong Kong Crabs (Kay Kay L./Yelp)

The restaurant has the stature of a market on the outside, but a few steps inside revealed a much more comfortable environment. This is still quite a fancy spot, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming in any sense. Welcoming is the word, I believe. As soon as we sit down, we’re greeted with expansive menus, offering everything from chicken, beef and noodles to bean curd, fried rice and a wide variety of seafood. Concerning the latter, if you’ve been looking for some tasty abalone or sea cucumber, you can find both here, along with comparatively common fare like lobster, crab, squid, scallops and more. It all looked fantastic ⁠— and we were told as much by Bret ⁠— so it took some time to wrap our heads around our next move.

Noodles (Trenton T./Yelp)

We decided on trying out some of the different seafood options, but even this narrowing down left us with a strong set to choose from. For the appetizer, we landed on the deep fried stuffed crab claws, which we considered an obvious choice. The main course was a slightly tougher decision, but I ended up going for the spicy salt squid, a house special, while my brother opted for the sauteed fish fillet with tender greens, although he had his greens replaced with bok choy. 

While the food was being prepared, we took sips of warm tea that came to the table a few moments before. Nuanced yet refreshing, it tasted more like something we’d have to ask for off the menu, rather than a complimentary starter. Our expectations were slowly climbing.

This slow climbing picked up the pace once the crab legs landed on the table, though. The first image that popped up in my head was a massive coconut shrimp (which isn’t the furthest thing from the truth, given that there’s shrimp in it). My brother considered it a mature chicken nugget. Whatever we were thinking, though, melted away when we dipped our legs in sweet and sour sauce and took our first massive bites. I couldn’t even remember where I was moving as I felt new waves of flavor hit with every chew. The crispy outside didn’t knock us back with grease, instead offering a strong texture with minimal guilt. 

Wonton Noodle Soup (Wing Y/Yelp)

Next up was the sauteed fish and bok choy, which we guessed would be a welcome break from the fried items we enjoyed and had yet to enjoy. Our guess was correct; the fish was divinely tender, offering a subtle and noteworthy umami flavor as well. The combination we were keen on, though, was the dynamic duo of bok choy and fish. We agreed later that this was our best decision of the night. Let me tell you, this bok choy is here to say something; every strong and savory flavor I remember from the best I’ve had is here. This was especially great because the fish turned out to be a perfect vehicle for these flavors, even complementing them. We wondered if we should suggest they put it on the menu, but we forgot what we were talking about as we were entranced by our next bites. 

All that was left, then, was the famed spicy salt squid. As they describe it on the menu, it is indeed “appetizing and mouth-watering,” even before I eat it. I’m a calamari, uhm, enthusiast, so I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed, but  it would only be seconds before I knew whether I would want to, as they say, “come back again and again.” Turns out, I did.

A lot. Even though bites of the squid by itself were a touch dry, I found myself grabbing two or three more at a time right after I swallowed the first. As we took a second to think, though, my brother noticed the bed of greens the squid pieces were resting upon. Here, as always, vegetables were our friends; this combination got rid of any dryness, and only made my eating pace more aggressive. I also enjoyed hitting them with a touch of soy sauce, but that might be a bit too much salt for the average person. The veggies, however, were a perfect fit. 

“At the end of the day,” Saseen said before falling into a food coma in the car, “you have to do what makes you happy. I believe in you no matter what.”

“Awh, thanks buddy. Can’t wait for you to visit.”

“Oh I probably won’t. You don’t even have skiing or climbing around you, so what’s the point?”

Learn more about the restaurant and menu by visiting their website.

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This is another place I’ve had my sights on for some time. Either it wasn’t open when I was free, or I wasn’t free when it was. I also didn’t want to go alone and put my bank account in too grave a danger, so finding friends with free time and the desire to go was even more of an effort. Then one day, the chance threw itself in my face. I was out with my brother and a couple of our friends getting pho, and as I was walking back from the bathroom, I had a question posed to me. 

“You wanna go out for drinks? We were thinking of Hive & Honey.” 

I don’t know if y’all have ever watched Bob’s Burgers, but my mind (and possibly mouth) made that one noise Tina makes. “But why?” I mentally recoiled at my own hesitation, “You’ve had to do this for weeks. You’re getting paid to go. How is there any answer besides yes?” 

I wasn’t completely honest earlier. You see, there was another reason I wasn’t initially psyched: I tend to dislike bars in general. The piles of strangers, loud average music that blocks my thoughts, and my strong preference toward small hangouts all make me averse to most of them. That being said, I’ve certainly found bars I like (StillWater, for example), and I wasn’t gonna be the guy to clock out early on my friends, so I got myself together and rallied on with the crew to the Marriott rooftop. After a 12-minute stroll from the Irvine Spectrum parking lot (Friday nights get busy), we walked through the hotel lobby and got in the back of a line that didn’t have more than 10 people in it. Almost as soon as we joined in, the elevator opened and we were escorted inside. Sixteen floors later, we reach the top and emerge into Hive & Honey. 

Hive & Honey (Ryan Najjar)

Even though the bar is on the rooftop and open air, a good chunk of it gives the sensation that you’re still inside, albeit with an excellent view. Air flows freely, though, and the parts that are closer to the edge of the roof are especially nice to walk around during the warmer summer nights. As I walk along, I notice red and blue lights shining on the column, forming one soft large stripe of soft purple going all the way down, giving the place a sort of sensual vibe. The crowd is relatively young, mostly in their 20s and 30s, with a few professionals and older people spread around in the mix.

It seems like the type of place where it would take far longer to get in than it took us. Half an hour later, we would receive a text from our other friend reading “Line is huge now, they said it’s an hour wait.” We then remembered that we did arrive a little after 9 p.m., and suddenly our prompt entry made a bit more sense. Having taken in the world around us, we decided it was time for drinks. My brother grabbed a Karl Strauss, I grabbed their signature house brew, one of our friends got an old fashioned, and the other got a specialty cocktail called The Bee’s Knees, consisting of gin, honey and lemon juice. 

House Brew and fries (Courtesy of Yelp/Myra G.)

Speaking on their house brew, which I definitely didn’t expect a hotel rooftop bar to have, I found it to have a sweet and crisp taste, and I was a fan of how it didn’t feel too filling. I let one of my friends try it, and he noted a taste of toasted wheat with a touch of honey, adding that it’s a little malty at the end as well. Another friend gave it a shot, and he remarked that, while good, it wouldn’t be a fit for fans of IPAs, since the beer is more of a refreshment than a full experience. 

At that point, another reporter reviewing the place came up to me and, like me, was confused as to why this place had their own beer. She took a swig, said, “It’s a Bud Light,” and walked away. 

The second up for judgement was the old fashioned, which looked enjoyable enough. A sip, though, left my friend slightly disappointed. It wasn’t bad, though, he explained, and he had a higher opinion of it once he was finished. 

Cocktails (Courtesy of Yelp/Jeff P.)

The drink I was most excited to take a sip of, though, was The Bee’s Knees. I’m not a gin fan, but I definitely like honey and lemon, so I figured it would be worth my attention. The friend who ordered it tried it first, of course. He drank, stared at his glass for a little, and concluded, “It’s the bee’s knees!” Resisting the urge to slap him for a joke I would later steal for the title of this very article (sorry Alec), I took the glass as he handed it to me, took a light but full sip, and came to the same conclusion. The flavor of alcohol was low profile, thankfully, and the more subtle notes of the gin were allowed to shine, with the honey and lemon serving as the angel wings (bee wings?) to take this cocktail through the sky. 

Topping things off, we also did some work on a plate of sliders that defied our expectations of bar food. The beef was thick, the buns were soft, and the veggies inside tasted especially fresh. This made sense, we supposed; we were at the Marriott, after all. 

As we were preparing to head out, I found my new reporter friend from earlier to exchange some thoughts about the place.

“What were you thinking of rating it?” She said, “I was thinking a 4.25/5.”

“That seems fair,” I replied, “We don’t really do ratings like that but that’s where I’d place it.” She thought for a bit. “Or should it be a 4?”

“Hmmm. Well, how about this? We know it’s a 4.25, we know they earned that, but let’s give them a 4 so they’re motivated to do a 5/5 job next time.”

“Deal.”

You can learn more about the bar and what they serve on their website.

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It might have sounded good, but even the literal months of hype Bret built up before this moment proved inadequate in describing what was about to go down. I live about a half-hour away and had things to do around the house, so I figured I should order ahead of time and drive quickly (but safely) back home. Even though this was my only option, I was hesitant to judge a restaurant off a meal that sat packaged for up to 40 minutes before being eaten. However, I figured there are likely people doing this with their meals every day, and it might even be the only way they enjoy food from certain restaurants. 

Inside Southern Spice (TripAdvisor)

Reassured by Bret that they would pass this test, I placed my order with a kind and professional staff member who told me my order would be ready in 30 minutes. I got there in 29, walked into their comfortable, well-decorated space, and saw my order being gently placed down to await my arrival. As I paid for my order, I decided to order a fresh lime soda to top things off, which I watched someone prepare by cutting and squeezing a fresh lime, which they followed by adding Sprite. While not initially what I was expecting, I wasn’t really mad, and it tasted great. After my initial taste, though, I set it aside to be enjoyed with dinner.

(Orange County Zest)

Even after the journey, thankfully, it was still warm, so I took out my chicken kempu bezule, a house specialty, and got to work. It’s a masterful fried chicken dish; each of the pieces are tossed in yogurt, curry leaves, green chili and various seasonings. The yogurt definitely helped to cool things down, along with serving well as a complement to the chicken, but that didn’t stop the spice from knocking me back a bit at first (I’m no expert with heat, though). It wasn’t painful for the sake of being painful, though. No, in fact, I could tell more than anything that this spice had purpose. Even as I ran downstairs to grab milk, I admired the many intense savory notes that broke through while I chewed bite after bite. Despite this very notable heat, it must be said that the chicken was absolutely the star of the show. The meat was of a higher quality than any I’d had at a restaurant in some time, and the texture was near-perfect. 

Taking a break from that, along with enjoying a few sips of my lime soda, I turned my attention to the main course: the Andhra chicken curry. Another house specialty, this is a classic curry recipe prepared with what the restaurant refers to simply as a regional spice mix. At the same time, I broke out my enticing tandoori roti, a whole-wheat Indian flatbread cooked in a tandoor.

(Yelp)

While the simple descriptions of the chicken curry might’ve given the impression this is a low-profile dish, that impression was quickly knocked down upon my first bite. The chicken here, like in the other dish, is nothing short of the highest grade. The bites are generous, and they’re low-maintenance on top of that. The chicken also fit well into my sizable pieces of roti, which served the double purpose of soaking up sauce and spices. 

Speaking of, let’s talk about those. I can’t speak to the simplicity or complexity of the spice combo, but it seemed like I was finding another different yet complementary flavor every few seconds. What took me even less time to find, though, was the pronounced-yet-welcome wave of heat that came rolling along. Did I have to grab another sip or two of milk? Sure, but that didn’t stop me from cleaning off my plate. 

Unfortunately, by then, I didn’t have enough space in my stomach for my remaining kempu bezule, so I brought it down to the fridge and awaited lunch the next day (a few minutes before writing this, in fact). As it came, I reheated the chicken in the microwave (an oven might be better if you have the time), and I found myself falling in love all over again. The chicken still tasted just as high quality and intense as it did at dinner, and the texture was very much there. 

(Wacowla.com)

If you want to push your taste buds to new limits, while giving them a treat in the process, I’m honestly not sure why you’re anywhere else but Southern Spice. Did it take me way too long to come to this realization myself? Absolutely, but that doesn’t make me any less right. Don’t be a fool like me, just do it.

“But Ryan, I’m not really a chicken fan, and you said both of those dishes were specialties. Is it even worth it for me to go?” Well, dear reader, it’s basically a non-issue. Their specialties come in wide varieties, including all sorts of meats, fish and vegetables; whether you’re craving foods from South or North India, street food, biryani or tandoor, they’ve got it for you and they do it a cut above the rest.

Check out their menu and learn more about them on their website.

Southern Spice
3850 Barranca Pkwy, Suite O, 
Irvine, CA – 92606
949-679-6914

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