Take Note

By Allison Hata, Elisabeth Abrahamson and Miki Akil

The Fall Edit

After taking a short break to travel the world — returning home just before the start of the pandemic — Orange County stylist Leslie Christen is now back in business. “Everyone wants their closets cleaned out and they don’t want to wear sweats anymore,” Leslie says. “People are saying, ‘I have to go back to the office in September, I need help.’ They want personal shopping.” As a seasoned stylist who has extensive experience in fashion and costume design, Leslie guides them through her tried-and-true process that begins with a closet edit. A well-curated closet makes getting dressed so much easier, she explains. Once a relationship is established and she understands a client’s personal style, she plans a shopping session to find missing wardrobe staples or introduce new looks they want to try. While she’s always happy to visit South Coast Plaza or local boutiques with her clients (Shop Common

Thread and Laguna Supply are among her faves), she can also bring her stylish selections into their homes. These bespoke shopping experiences allow clients to mix and match their own shoes and accessories to create outfits that authentically express their individuality. | IG: @lesliechristen

Cacao Connoisseur

Decadence descended on SteelCraft Long Beach with the opening of Romeo Chocolates earlier this year. The artisanal chocolate company, already a fixture in the community, made itself at home among SteelCraft’s repurposed shipping containers just before Valentine’s Day. “We want to be as accessible as possible and promise to make it easy for all of our customers to fall in love with chocolate, just as I did 14 years ago,” says founder Romeo Garcia. The Long Beach resident left a thriving career in higher education to immerse himself in the artistry and complexities of cacao and chocolate-making, enrolling in the Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts and master chocolatier program in Belgium. Today, he channels his passion into truffles, bars, pastries and more that combine European traditions with ethically sourced products from around the world. romeochocolates.com | IG: @romeochocolates

Home Sweet Home

Popular pop-up Terrasage Home has a permanent address at SteelCraft Long Beach starting this month. The designer plant and decor company gained a devoted following since its launch in March 2019, bringing artful arrangements to farmers markets, collective boutiques and outdoor venues around Orange County, LA and Long Beach. After a series of successful weekend pop-ups at SteelCraft, founder Jacqueline Estrada jumped on the opportunity to open her flagship location at the bustling urban eatery. “Our team at Terrasage Home is extremely grateful for this exciting opportunity to join the SteelCraft family and further build our business in Long Beach,” she says. From whimsical cactus garden moon sets to creative terrariums, shoppers can find plants of all kinds to dress up their home or office space. No green thumb? No problem — Terrasage Home specializes in low-maintenance succulents and beautiful dried arrangements that will take any room from drab to fab. terrasagehome.com | IG: @ terrasage_home

A Brand-New Bite

Family recipes are the heart and soul of La Taqueria Brand, a staple on the Long Beach food scene that made its way down to Orange County over the summer. The neighborhood eatery opened its third location at SteelCraft Garden Grove in July, dishing up tacos, quesadillas, burritos and more to hungry crowds at the open-air communal dining space. You’ll know it’s an authentic La Taqueria dish even before the first bite: Flour tortillas are emblazoned with the brand’s signature mark, an homage to Mexico’s history of cattle ranching and the premium angus beef sourced by the restaurant. A must-try is the birria street taco, made Tijuana-style with meat packed in yellow corn tortillas and cilantro and onion to finish. But that’s not all — sample homemade selections from the complimentary salsa bar to pair with any of the other flavor-packed fillings, from tender al pastor and carne asada to vegan chorizo and picadillo. brandlataqueria.com | IG: @brand_lataqueria

What Your Pet Wants

Arriving this September, the OC Mix’s newest tenant is cooking up some mouthwatering morsels — all slow-cooked, farm-fresh and small-batch. No, we’re not describing tonight’s dinner (though it sure sounds tempting!). Pet Wants provides nutrient-rich food with no added sugar, no fillers and no animal by-products for our four-legged friends. Each bite of proprietary-blend kibble is nourishing for cats and dogs, while the lack of corn, wheat, soy and dyes makes it an easier choice for animals with allergies. At the new SOCO shop, you can also pick up treats like freeze-dried wild-caught salmon, chews, toys and accessories, and set up free personal delivery of food ordered by the pound. petwants.com | IG: @petwants

On Cloud Wine

Costa Mesa’s newest wine shop is here and it’s already a local favorite. Semi Tropic Wines offers a rotating selection of natural wines in a beautifully curated space. The shop also has a retail room where shoppers can browse more than 200 different wines. You won’t find tasting flights here, so be ready to purchase wine by the glass or half-glass. Wine is the main focus, but we’d be lying if we didn’t say the cheese board steals the spotlight. A generous portion of three cheeses, olives, almonds, honey, pickled veggies and sourdough bread from Rye Goods is more than enough for two to four people to share. Don’t forget to add meat to the board: Duck breast prosciutto, Berkshire Lomo (pork loin with Spanish paprika) and Italian Toscano (pork spiced with garlic, black pepper and white wine) are just a few of the available options. Cheers! semitropicwines.com | IG: @semitropicwines

Natural Summer Skincare

Amy Zunzunegui worked at Urban Decay for almost 20 years before deciding to venture out and create her own line of vegan, cruelty-free and sustainable skincare. Enter Wldkat, Zunzunegui’s skincare line with products that are good for you and the earth. And did we mention they actually work? Wldkat products are stripped of irritating and unnecessary additives and replaced with the earth's wild ingredients, combined with modern skincare technologies. Favorites include Mushroom and Moss gel moisturizer, Saffron and Oat Milk glow serum, and Ginger and Kombucha skin tonic. Shop Wldkat on their website and at Asos.com and Urban Outfitters. | widkat.com. IG: @widkat_skin

Adventures Through the Lens

Look through the viewfinder of SoCal photographer Jesse Rodriguez and you’ll see a world in vivid color. His snaps capture the mesmerizing gradients of West Coast skies: deep purples and blues behind the LA skyline, a golden glow illuminating silhouettes on the shore. It’s a self-taught skill, born from the restlessness of the pandemic. “I felt like I needed another creative outlet and picked up an old camera that had been sitting in the closet,” says Jesse. “I began chasing sunsets almost every evening and taught myself how to compose and edit a photo.” An adventurer at heart, Jesse used photography as a springboard to explore his hometown and capture the iconic imagery of the Golden State, from quintessential lifeguard towers and palm trees to landmarks like the Getty and Golden Gate Bridge. “I love being able to make people feel like they were right there next to me in that moment,” he says. “Nothing makes me happier than inspiring people to create similar shots or visit the places I frequent.” | IG: @jesse.shoots

Save the Date for Design

Day of Design, SoCal’s original signature design event hosted by South Coast Collection (SOCO), is returning this fall. On Saturday, Oct. 2, guests are invited to attend an afternoon of design-focused workshops, presentations and trend discussions, complete with a sit-down lunch featuring a panel discussion that will be moderated by a special guest. The event is open to the public and to design professionals alike, and offers a day of learning, fun, inspiration and experiences throughout the center’s worldrenowned showrooms. Tickets are $20 per person and space is limited; register in advance online and follow along on Instagram for updates on participating showrooms, featured guest speakers and more. SOCOdayofdesign.com | IG: @SOCOandtheOCMix