Nekter Juice Bar Cocktails at SOL Cocina & Solita Tacos

For the rest of this week, SOL Cocina in Newport Beach and solita Tacos & Margaritas in Huntington Beach will be serving up specialty cocktails with Nekter Juice Bar's Nekter on the Rocks. Yes, you read right, specialty cocktails using juice mixes from one of my favorite juice spots! solita will be featuring the solita Bubbly Beach Berries, made with Nekter on the Rocks' Beach Berries mixer, a breezy blend of strawberries, blackberries, lemon, agave and basil. SOL Cocina will be featuring The SOL Sunset, made with Nekter on the Rocks' Arizona Sunset, a blend of grapefruit, orange, blood orange, peach and agave.
I got to taste the cocktails for myself, and I have to say the Bubbly Beach Berries was my fave. I also took home two bottles of Nekter on the Rocks along with a recipe and will be attempting, keyword, attempting to make the cocktails myself. You can pick up any or all three Nekter on the Rocks juices from any Nekter Juice Bar location!
Here are the available flavors and how to make your specialty cocktail:

Beach Berries � a breezy blend of strawberries, blackberries, lemon, agave and basil.
Just add vodka and a splash of club soda for a Beach Berry Martini - basil for garnish. Make a splash into your favorite champagne for a Beach Berry Mimosa, or add to sparkling water or club soda for a non-alcohol refresher.
SoCal Margarita � a healthy California-inspired take on the classic margarita, made with lemons, limes, orange and agave.
Just add tequila for a refreshing margarita! Add SoCal Margarita mix to sparkling water or club soda for a refreshing, citrus-filled spritzer.
Arizona Sunset � a dazzling sunset in a bottle made with grapefruit, orange, blood orange, peach and agave.
Add to your favorite rum, and pitch a mini umbrella under the desert sun! Just add vodka for a beautifully bright martini, or sprinkle a dash or two into Champagne for a Sunday morning mimosa.
Last two photos provided by Kimberly Luu

New Spring Dishes at Fig & Olive, Newport Beach

I celebrated Cinco de Mayo this past week by dining at one of my fave Newport Beach restaurants, Fig & Olive, for a spring menu tasting. Check out the entire Newport Beach Spring Menu here, and see what I tasted below. Fig & Olive has exciting events coming up this season that you won't want to miss out on.

On Sunday, May 17, 2015 from 2:00pm � 6:00pm FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach will launch a monthly event series, �Sunday Rendez-vous� in collaboration with Veuve Clicquot for an afternoon of bubbly and bites. Stylish OC denizens will be greeted by the sounds of St. Tropez from FIG & OLIVE�s resident sound designer, Thomas Toccafondi on the terrace. Veuve Clicquot will capture the afternoon of festivities with a themed photo booth and offer party favors to lounging guests as they enjoy a midday getaway of champagne and cocktails.

Guests can enjoy dishes from FIG & OLIVE�s regular brunch and cocktail menu or explore new flavors with the Rivera Brunch Buffet ($24) on the terrace featuring endless selections of:

� Granola and fresh fruit
� Eggs (any style)
� Quiche
� Mini Fig Tartlet
� Tomato Burrata Caprese and select salads
� Carpaccio, Charcuteries, and Cheeses
� Apple Tart

Reservations for the Sunday Rendez-Vous and Riviera Brunch Buffet on the terrace must be made in advance.

151 Newport Center Drive
Fashion Island
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949 877 3005
newportbeach@figandolive.com

Lunch:
Monday to Friday
11am to 4pm

Dinner:
Sunday �Monday: 4pm � 9:30pm
Tuesday: 4pm � 10pm
Wednesday: 4pm � 11pm
Thursday: 4pm � 11pm/ Bar until 1am
Friday-Saturday: 4pm � 12am/ Bar until 1am

Brunch:
Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 4pm
Provence Margarita $14
(it's not Cinco de Mayo without a Margarita)
A classic margarita with a provincial twist Tequila, lime juice, triple sec, lavender bitters
The lavender bitters was a nice touch and gave the margarita a subtle and lovely fragrance with a refreshing taste. 
Assorted Crostinis 3 for $12 | 6 for $21
Pea, Asparagus, Ricotta Lemon Thyme
Crab, Heirloom Tomato, Zucchini Puree
Pata Negra, Crushed Tomato, Smoked Salt
I only tasted the crab, heirloom tomato, zucchini puree crostini and liked how the crab was balanced by the tomato and zucchini flavors. 
Crab & Heirloom Tomato $14
Jumbo lump crab, heirloom cherry tomato, garlic cilantro, shallot harissa, avocado basil tapenade Cobrancosa Olive Oil
I think I would have liked this dish more if I hadn't tasted the crab crostini beforehand. It ended up being too much crab for me. 
Rosemary Lamb Chops $39
Grilled, smoked � la minute with a bouquet of Herbs de Provence, grilled polenta roasted bell pepper and jalapeno with braised eggplant � Rosemary Garlic Olive Oil
The presentation of this dish is absolutely exquisite; the server brings out the lamb chops under an apothecary dome in which you can see the smoke festering. Once the dish is placed in front of you, the server removes the glass dome and the rosemary smoke dissipates and rosemary garlic olive oil is drizzled onto the lamb chops. I liked how the lamb chops were cooked and the taste which was complemented by the bell peppers, jalapeno, and brasied eggplant, but I would have preferred the polenta to be soft instead of compact.
Lavender Creme Brulee $12
Lavender ice cream, thyme shortbread, honey
The lavender ice cream was delicious, I absolutely loved it but felt a disconnect in flavors with the creme brulee. Because the creme brulee was not served in a ramekins, I feel that the consistency was not as creamy as a creme brulee tends to me. I enjoyed the dessert with a latte.

Bonobos Guide Shop & AYR Denim

The fifth Californian, but first Orange County Bonobos Guideshop opened it's doors at the Fashion Island Shopping Center in Newport Beach a couple weeks ago. I was given a tour of the guideshop and the scoop on how men can receive a personalized shopping experience with a Bonobos Guide (fit expert). The once solely e-ccommerce store is now operating from 16 brick-and-mortar- locations and continually growing, giving customers the option to find that perfect fit or style in the guideshop before purchasing online or making the order in the store to be mailed later.

Men out there, say good bye to ill-fitting clothing from standard sizings and the frustrations of shopping and trying clothes on without direction. Bonobos offers a comprehensive shopping experience by providing countless styles, fits, and fabrics so you can find exactly what you like.

Here's how it works:
� Make an appointment for a one-on-one fitting with a Bonobos Guide at www.bonobos.com/guideshop; walk-in appointments are also welcome

� Once you�re fit, check out at Bonobos.com either during your Guideshop appointment, with the help of a Guide, or place your order at home later

� Shipping is free and items are delivered to your doorstep in 2-5 days

� Bonobos offers easy returns (free return shipping) and guarantees 100% customer satisfaction

Bonobos also has the sister brand, AYR, which specializes in denim and wardrobe staples for women, yet offers the same customized fit and customer service as Bonobos; which currently has select styles from their denim line (see photos below) carried at Nordstrom.com and at The Grove in Los Angeles; with plans to expand to more Nordstrom locations. I just received a pair of The Skinny in Oil Slick and absolutely love they fit and style; can't wait to style them in an outfit!

Spring Style with Emily Loftiss at Trina Turk, Fashion Island

Trina Turk's Spring Style Out Event with OC 'It' Girl Emily Loftiss

TV Personality and Style & Beauty Expert Emily Loftiss hosted a Spring Style event with Trina Turk at the Fashion Island boutique in Newport Beach last Thursday. Guests enjoyed 20% off the new, vibrant Spring collection (seriously loving the resort feel with the bright and happy colors and patterns) as well as styling tips from Emily, champagne, and Batter & Cream treats. I've known Emily for a little over a year now; her personality is infectious, her style impeccable, and her hair, oh so fabulous. It was also fun getting to chat and shop with bloggers Lyndi, Emme, and Erin. Shop the Spring Collection here!
Images taken by Andrew Nguyen