GREER WYLDER
Don't miss the 19th annual Food, Wine & Micro-Brew Festival
benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and KTLA
Charities today from 6 to 9 p.m. It's at South Coast Plaza, and some
of Orange County's top-rated restaurants will participate, along with
premium wineries and breweries. The entertaining event features live
music, dancing and an opportunity drawing. Best of all, 100% of
proceeds will go toward a good cause. Tickets are $55. (714)
771-1343. http://www.foodfest.org. Partial list of participants:
Bangkok Four, BODEGA Chocolates, Ferdussi "Taste of Persia," Ho Sum
Bistro, Quattro Caffe, the Melting Pot, Vie de France and Wolfgang
Puck Cafe; BJ's Brewery, Newport Beach Brewing Company, Rock Bottom
Brewery, Stone Brewing Co., Barefoot Cellars, Callaway Coastal
Winery, Firestone Vineyard, Nichols Winery & Cellars and Quady
Winery.
FALL SALE
Ansari Fabrix is having an annual fall clearance on beautiful
European fabrics through Wednesday. All designer fabrics reduced 25%
to 75%. That includes hand-painted silk chiffons, beaded French
laces, brocades and English wools. "We have the latest evening, as
well as casual apparel fabrics used in designer runway shows," says
owner/designer Nasrin Ansari. The same fabrics that Christian
Lacroix, Emmanuel Ungaro and Valentino work with are here. 3363 Via
Lido in Newport Beach. (949) 675-8200.
SPECIALTY BAKERY
Panera Bread is a specialty bakery-cafe that just opened at the
new Bluffs Shopping Center in Newport Beach. The Missouri-based
company will open 14 more South Orange County locations. It offers a
wonderful selection of fresh artisan breads, baked daily in a
European stone oven-that bakes loaves perfectly from the bottom up.
Choose from stone-milled rye, multigrain, Kalamata olive, country,
French, focaccia and sourdough. There's also classic and signature
sandwiches, hot panini, five daily soups, fresh salads and an
extensive drink menu. Bagels and pastries are also freshly made.
Panera Bread has programs to help the community. It matches donations
made in the bakery to local hunger relief charities and other local
organizations, and at the end of the day all bread is donated to
hunger relief groups. Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday;
Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Bluff
Shopping Center is at 1348 Bison Ave. in Newport Beach. (949)
721-8800.
COOKING FOR THE CURE
Sur La Table is hosting an America's Chefs Cook for the Cure event
