Orange County Blog

Have you jumped on the Food Truck Frenzy yet?  No? Well, here is your chance.

Every Wednesday, from 5:30 – 9:00 at the OC Fair & Event Center enjoy sampling from a variety of food from gourmet food trucks.  The trucks change weekly so there is always the opportunity for something new.  While admission and parking are free, prices for the food vary from truck to truck. 

Or if lunch is more your thing, the Food trucks also roll into the OC Fair & Event Center every Thursday from 11:00 – 2:00.

To see each week’s offering, visit http://www.ocfair.com and click on Food Truck Fare.

Farmers Market opens January 13 with fresh produce, food and entertainment
The new Mission Viejo Farmers Market opens at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 13 in the Civic Center Courtyard boasting fresh produce, homemade food products and living products produced by Gary Matsuoka. Gary was the longtime owner of Laguna Hills Nursery in Lake Forest and is well known for his rose selection, fruit trees and other unique plants.  He also makes a distinctive blend of potting soil that is sure to enrich the local residential garden.

The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday and will feature live entertainment the first Friday of the month.  The grand opening day will include the talents of singer/songwriter Phillip Bardowell, who was influenced early on by songwriting greats – The Beatles, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, Queen, Earth Wind And Fire, and Bob Marley. In his youth he formed a band with actor John Stamos and later backed the legendary surf duo Jan and Dean as their bassist and vocalist.  Mike Love of the Beach Boys hired Phillip to serve as lead guitarist and vocalist in his Endless Summer Beach Band.  His talent and energy are sure to entertain market-goes.

For more information about the Mission Viejo Farmers Market or to find a farmers market in your community, please visit the Farmers Market Quick Link on the home page of this OC Resource Guide.

Birra Moretti Presents La Dolce Vita Italian Festival!  
http://www.ladolcevitafestival.com/

Italy is coming to Laguna Niguel on Friday, Sept 30th 5pm to 10pm and Saturday, Oct. 1st 10am to 10 pm
Free Admission and Free Parking –Fun for the whole Family.
Endorsed by the City of Laguna Niguel

“Image yourself being transported across the ocean to the land where La Dolce Vita means enjoying everything life has to offer. Italians know how to enjoy and celebrate the finest things in life. But if you can't go to Italy this fall go to Laguna Niguel and share in the joy and excitement of living La Dolce Vita.

Delight in the amazing food like pasta, pizza, and gelato. Have a "Lucy" moment in the grape stomp. Feel like "Lady and the Tramp" in our Spaghetti eating contest, or just stroll through the festival enjoying the breath taking art work of I Madonnari! Bring your kids to play in Il Giardino while you sip on Italian Wine and Beer while listening to great Italian Performers! Plus, don't forget to shop till you drop in our showcase of the finest Italian Vendors in Il Mercato. All day and night entertainment and keep your eye out for the Italian celebrities.”

This fun-filled family event is being organized and hosted by the Laguna Niguel Lions Club and the Sons of Italy, two non-profit organizations. Proceeds from this event will go to help citizens in our community.

San Clemente, known as the Spanish village by the sea, has a beautiful collection of beaches catering to water sports enthusiasts.  But this quaint community has more activities to offer to its residents and visitors --

The Village Art Fair is held on the FIRST SUNDAY of every month at 9AM and is put on by The Downtown Business Association. Stroll and shop Ave Del Mar where more than 60 vendors will have arts, crafts and other fabulous items.  The Village Art Fair represents an interesting spectrum of arts and crafts - jewelry, ceramic, wood, metals, photography, fine art, hand blown & fused glass, handmade children’s clothing, home and garden items, and more! Discover this wonderful San Clemente tradition! http://www.villagesanclemente.org/artfair.htm

August 14th - San Clemente Street Festival features fun and activities for the whole family, including: Food and game booths sponsored by local nonprofit organizations, three stages with continuous live music throughout the day, contests, a Salsa Challenge, arts & crafts show, business exposition, kiddy rides, a classic car & motorcycle show, exhibits, clowns, jugglers, face painters and much more. No admission charge. For more information, call the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce at (949) 492-1131 or visit www.scchamber.com.

Thursday, August 18th at 6:00 pm - The 12th Annual Beach Concert Series is “Bringing the Bands to the Sand!” Join the community to celebrate live music on the beach with the sunset as your backdrop and free seating in the sand http://bit.ly/AuKFN

Saturday & Sunday, August 20-21, 2011 - Arts and Crafts Fair - In partnership with the City of San Clemente, the San Clemente Art Association presents this annual event with over 100 exhibit booths of fine art paintings and hand crafts. Free to the public. For more information, call (949) 369-8343 or visit www.scartgallery.com.

To learn more about San Clemente, visit http://www.orangecountyresourceguide.com/san-clemente-useful-links.html

Event Complete's Taste of Ladera, now in its 7th year running, features a celebration of the finest local eateries, specialty vendors, musical performances and fun for the entire family to take place Saturday, April 30th, 2011 and Sunday, May 1st, 2011 North of Corporate Drive on Windmill in Ladera Ranch. The hours of the festivities will be from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Saturday, April 30th and from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, May 1st.  Live entertainment with the "Ladera's Got Talent" will be announced in April.

This annual festival will have rides, slides, and activities for the entire family with event proceeds benefitting local nonprofits, schools, and youth programs. Special pricing will be available online for Ladera Residents. General admission pre-sale tickets and a limited number of VIP tickets and suites are available starting March. VIP tickets and suites include access to party pit at main stage, private VIP pavilion with bars, seating and bathrooms.

Taste of Ladera is produced by Event Complete. Event Complete is an event marketing firm specializing in strategizing with clients to bring customers to seminars, charitable events and large-scale productions. For more information about ticket and booth sales, sponsorships and volunteering, please visit www.EventComplete.com or email info@eventcomplete.com.

It arrived quietly and still isn’t widely known.  This unassuming farmers’ market features booths selling produce, sweets, treats, goat cheese, plants, and more.  One of the perks of shopping at farmers’ markets is the samples!  We taste tested apples, oranges, warm roasted peanuts, caramels, and delicious cakes (this resulted in a purchase!)   Sadly we had just made trip to the grocery store so we didn’t need much in the way of produce, but my culinary bent daughter bought a bag of fresh snow peas.  She also couldn’t live without eating a pickle on a stick! Laguna Hills Nursery had a great booth and we left with two blueberry plants along with all the necessary info to help them grow strong and healthy.  Planning ahead for our next visit, we will bring our own bags, an appetite for the tacos, and more time!
It is located in the Big Lots shopping center on Avenida De Las Flores and is open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Fridays. We found that several of the booths shutting down prior to 6:00 as it gets dark so early.  There is talk that during the spring, it will be open both on Fridays and from 10 – 2 on Saturdays.  We certainly hope this comes to fruition!
Let’s support this local venue by planning your visit now.
For a list of other farmers markets, visit: http://www.orangecountyresourceguide.com/farmers-markets.html

California Wine Festival
The Quintessential Wine Experience
April 22 -24, 2010  Dana Point, California

Wine, food, music, sea and sun. These elements create a unique wine tasting experience at every California Wine Festival. A sunny seaside setting with hundreds of California's best red and white wines from 58 wineries along with 5 brewing companies for discriminating beer drinkers make Dana Point the place to be April 22 – 24th.  The dozens of top chefs and specialty food purveyors will be complemented perfected by the live music performed by the band Upstream.  Upstream is known for their energetic eclectic style of Reggae and Soca.   Experience one of California’s most popular wine festivals. http://www.californiawinefestival.com