Missing the days of wine pairings and tastings?
Orange Coast Winery not only offers bottles of wine to go but also a 32-ounce container of sangria ($32), which can be picked up on Saturdays with the purchase of food. Enjoy your fruity drink with a side of double-cream Brie, smoked Gouda, prosciutto, crackers, and more ($4 to $40).
Newport Beach, 949-645-0400
Every third Sunday, Westminster Mall hosts
Off the Road, an open-air market where you can find artisans and collectors peddling handmade jewelry, soaps, clothing, accessories, and more. Live music and food trucks round out the offerings. It’s the perfect place to shop for unique gifts while supporting local vendors. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., outside JCPenny.
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A takeout window seems an apt location to begin thinking through some of the Los Angeles restaurants that managed not only to open in 2020, but also to enrich the city’s culture with creative achievement and personal narrative. This carryout setup operates from the quiet interior courtyard of Chinatown’s Mandarin Plaza, its mustard-colored façade embellished with a lone ribbon of red neon. Out of its sliding-glass panes appear outlandish sandwiches devised by one of the city’s defining chefs.
Wes Avila, the creator of Guerrilla Tacos, opened
Angry Egret Dinette in late October. One of his early imaginings was the Mookie Melt, a bucking bull on a bolillo roll that charged wildly and deliciously in all directions.
Photograph by Jordan Morris; @vertsmoke on Instagram
When it comes to barbecue, it’s often said that brisket is king. So what do you call the Creekstone Farms Black Angus Prime brisket in the hands of pitmaster Daniel Castillo? Emperor? After all, the Natural Duroc pulled pork at Castillo’s new Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano rules, too. All the superior meats at the Central Texas-style spot, including beef ribs on weekends and creative, daily-changing, made-in-house sausages, are sourced from West Coast Prime. There’s heirloom turkey breast, too. The California white oak-fire menu is market-priced, seasonal, and changes often, but sides such as brisket borracho beans are here to stay. Castillo’s Texas-size reputation grew out of years of backyard events, pop-ups, and even online sales. The venue closes when it sells out daily. Take it all home or enjoy it in the courtyard shared with Capistrano Brewing Co (when current dining restrictions change).