Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails: Andrei’s Signature Carrot Cake 2607 Main Street, Irvine, CA 92614 (949) 387-8887 | andreisrestaurant.com
by Kristal Docter (in collaboration With eriK hale) PhotograPhy by eriK hale
Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine and Cocktails occupies the second floor of one of Irvine’s most impressive marble buildings, and the beauty reaches into every detail of its interior as well as its philanthropic derivation. This luxurious modern lounge and dining space was constructed in 2009 as a dedication to owner Natalia Olenicoff’s late brother Andrei whose foundation receives 100% of the restaurant’s profits for research in finding a cure for vision impairment and degenerative eye diseases. Complementary to its cause, Andrei’s décor with grand windows and projection screens showing moving nature scenes extends a bright and energetic feel to the space. And continuing the “conscious” commitment in its menu, Executive Chef Yves Fournier serves only the most sustainable, natural and organically grown food. After sinking my teeth into Andrei’s Signature Carrot Cake, I admit, I didn’t care where the contents of this scrumptious cake came from, but it was hard not to notice the quality and care that went into creating this confection’s components. With the addition of spices, a pomegranate glaze and a decorative walnut brittle, Andrei’s Signature Carrot Cake is the cherry on top of this honorable culinary concept. Native Knowledge: For a budget-friendly way to enjoy a bottle of wine paired with your dessert, visit Andrei’s on a Tuesday evening when they allow free corkage.
ith a box of Betty Crocker® cake mix, sugar, eggs, a little festive food coloring and some edible sprinkles, anyone can bake a satisfactory cake. Pour the sticky and sweet gooey batter into a pan, and voila – heaven on a plate! An appetizing dessert isn’t hard to accomplish at home, but delicate pastries and the finest fondants are realizing a realm beyond just any average baker’s reach. Desserts are no longer “just desserts.” Using fascinating techniques and imagination, chefs are creating works of art in today’s pastry kitchens that are almost too pretty to eat (but that didn’t stop us from eating every last morsel). On our tour to find you the best treats, we explored cakes that simulated miniature play lands, the most beautiful s’more with graceful chocolate tuiles and old favorites paired with strawberry champagne (yes, there is a dessert which requires you to first take a palate cleansing sip of champagne – pure genius). With the increasing popularity of designer desserts and sparkling specialty shops showcasing artful confections in display cases, the final course is beginning to make the statement it deserves. So stop eating your entire entrée, and start saving room so you can say yes when the server delivers the dessert menu. On our recent sampling of sweets, we found that Orange County’s offerings are worth waiting until the end of the meal.
saPPhire laguna: banana Fosters’ breaD PuDDing
Blue Frog Bakery: Coconut-Pineapple Cake 136 S Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866 (714) 538-3764 www.bluefrogdesserts.com Antique shopping aside there are many reasons (many culinary reasons) to visit the circle in Old Town Orange. There are hip gastropubs, BBQ joints and an entire restaurant devoted to finding out what can be stuffed into a waffle. The Blue Frog Cafe is not trying to be hip or innovative. They want to serve food that reminds you of small towns and picnics. They hand make all of their pastries, desserts and sandwiches, and it shows. The Blue Frog has been open for six years and drawn a very loyal local clientele. Whether it had opened next to Watson’s Drug at the beginning of the century, was a place for Chapman co-eds to meet in the ‘60s or inset into Old Town’s current “cool” climate, the Blue Frog is a perfect fit. We were lucky enough to try our piece of cake only hours after it was completed. This cake was a meal. A triple-layer yellow cake with Bavarian cream and fresh chopped pineapple stuffed between each layer, all seemingly rolled in coconut, was over seven inches tall. Sitting on the patio, even in the indirect summer sun, we were instantly refreshed when we reached the cool center of this wonderful treat. Native Knowledge: Try their new location (also on Glassel), similarly named the Blue Frog Cafe, for a Pig Frog Burger (1/3 pound Angus burger with bacon, fried egg, cheddar, avocado and crispy onions).
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