The Ranch at Laguna Beach hosted first responder golf tournament, dinner reception

In appreciation of the unparalleled excellence of both the Laguna Beach Police and Fire Associations, The Ranch at Laguna Beach hosted their second annual golf tournament and dinner reception on Monday, March 13, to showcase gratitude for the selfless commitment and ongoing support of local first responders. 

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Photos courtesy of The Ranch at Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach first responders from the fire and police associations participated in a Best Ball competition at The Ranch at Laguna Beach. Here they are gathered on the Ben Brown course, located in the picturesque canyon.

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Team Police took home the trophy this year, after Team Fire won in 2022

The resort was honored to welcome 24 first responders (14 firefighters and 10 police officers) for a fun, Laguna-style day of canyon golf which was then followed by a barbecue in the ballroom, as a thank you from the residents of Laguna Beach with 60 people in attendance, including family and friends. Friendly rivalry and a good amount of smack talk was also in attendance, as first responders competed in the event. And although last year the fire department won, it’s the police department that came out winning this year!

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A member of Team Police watches his shot head down the fairway on the Par 4 5th hole

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Is this member of Team Fire’s lucky red ball going to find the hole on the Par 4 3rd hole?

The day’s festivities:

The event took place at Ben Brown’s – the only golf course in Laguna Beach – at 2:30 p.m. Situated in the Aliso and Wood Canyons, the nine-hole course offered the ultimate playing experience with stunning views and elevation changes on each fairway. First responders were invited to participate in a two-person scramble involving a team score. Three clubs were recommended throughout the tournament, and if played barefoot, golfers received a mulligan.

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Team Fire on the Par 4 9th green earned a mulligan for playing shoeless

Following the golf tournament, The Ranch at Laguna Beach hosted a barbecue dinner reception at 5 p.m. for first responders located in the resort’s ballroom. The menu featured a Santa Maria Tri Tip with Fresno chimichurri, peach BBQ ribs, sweet chili glazed sea bass, and of course, baked mac & cheese and butter-braised corn on the cob. The menu focused on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Musician Zach Churchill provided the entertainment. The perfect ending to a great day of golf and camaraderie.

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The golfers worked up an appetite for these tasty peach barbecue ribs

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Players stopped along the buffet line for this chopped salad with all the fixings

For more information on The Ranch at Laguna Beach, visit www.theranchlb.com.

Acai bowl takeout coming to Downtown Food Village following commission approval

By SARA HALL

Plans for a fruit-focused franchise restaurant with design elements unique to Laguna Beach was unanimously approved by a city board this week for the Food Village in Downtown.

The Planning Commission voted 5-0 Wednesday (Feb. 15) in support of a conditional use permit to convert an existing take-out restaurant at 217 Broadway St. (previously Slapfish) to an Acai Republic, a Brazilian bowl and juice bar with 10 other Orange County locations.

Plans call for several special design features that make the new location one-of-a-kind, including a showcase of then-and-now photos of Laguna Beach from a Brazilian artist and his great-grandniece taken several decades apart.

There was some discussion about what acai is (including staff jokingly guessing how to say the name of the often-mispronounced berry – the correct way is ah-sigh-ee) and whether or not the food would be considered a dessert use. Ultimately, commissioners agreed it wasn’t a dessert and included an amendment to the resolution in their motion for approval to reclassify it as takeout use.

Commissioner Steve Kellenberg was excited to see the project come to the Downtown.

“This is exactly what we need in town. It is distinctive, it is unique,” he said. “I don’t even know what it is, actually, so I’m kind of looking forward to figuring it out.” 

Commissioners also agreed that the new store will be a good addition to the Food Village, although its interior location is a challenge.

It’s a tough spot, said Commission Chair Pro Tem Ken Sadler, but Carmelita’s is a now a successful anchor and the recently approved plans for a fresh look and improved patio will help. Acai Republic can hopefully complement the area and do better than some of the other smaller restaurants that have previously tried, he added. 

“Based on what’s been in that courtyard in the past, I see it as a step up, an upgrade, in terms of character,” he added. 

They ask formula-based businesses to do something to make it a little bit different from the other locations and the applicants did that in this case, Sadler said. 

The applicants made it stand out, agreed Commissioner Steve Goldman. It can be a difficult site, but they are going into it with their eyes open, he added. 

“It is technically formula-based, but I see this as something a little bit more unique and a little bit different,” he said. “It’s nice to have young couples, starting entrepreneurs, coming in and opening things in Laguna.”

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Rendering by Acai Republic/courtesy of City of Laguna Beach

A rendering of the interior menu and counter of the Acai Republic proposed for Downtown

They are also active in the community and both volunteer their time, Goldman added. 

A few of the commissioners also commented on the fun and trendy vibe of the restaurant.

“I like all the energy around it, it feels new and energetic,” said Commissioner Susan McLintock Whitin.

The highway-fronting site is developed with a Mediterranean revival commercial building (Food Village) consisting of three restaurant tenant spaces: A full service Mexican restaurant Carmelita’s; a vacant take-out establishment space most recently occupied by a seafood restaurant Slapfish and a vacant space most recently occupied by Chinese restaurant Kaowok Asian Bistro. The Food Village restaurants flank an outdoor patio area with 60 seats shared by all three tenants. The new restaurant will provide seating for 15 people.

Associate Planner Arlen Beck explained that Acai Republic’s proposed hours of operation are 7 a.m.-9 p.m., seven days per week, which are similar to other restaurants in the vicinity. Staff included an option for the restaurant to extend the hours until 10 p.m. in the approved resolution. 

There will not be any exterior modifications to the building, except for new signage.

The menu includes bowls that feature acai blended with other fruits and granola, coconut or other fruit toppings. They range in price from about $9 to $14. The shop also offers various fruit smoothies, juices, breads and Brazilian pastries. 

Staff initially suggested the “dessert” use classification based on the high sugar content of the menu items and because of the offerings of Brazilian pastries. The Downtown Specific Plan allows for up to 15 dessert uses (there are currently seven).

“The classification of this business is up for debate,” Beck said. 

After some discussion with the applicant noting that the bowls are often full meals and clarification that the pastries are empanadas that often include meat and cheese, the commission decided to change the use to “takeout.”

There are currently no other businesses in the Downtown area that offer acai bowls.

“Staff believes that adding acai bowls to the Downtown area will help enhance and diversify the offerings available,” Beck said.

A typical Acai Republic interior includes a purple accent wall, subway tile, mural and reclaimed wood.

“Each of these elements have been altered to make the Laguna Beach location unique,” Beck said. 

The proposed indoor wall artwork is “quite different” from the murals in every other location, Beck explained. At the Downtown location, the mural will show Acai Republic’s path to Laguna Beach. All subway tile be eliminated. The typical purple wall will be a brick façade and the reclaimed wood look will be changed to a natural finished wood. The exterior sign will also be a circular logo rather than the standard spelled out name.

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Rendering by Acai Republic/courtesy of City of Laguna Beach

A rendering of the interior of the Acai Republic proposed for Downtown showcasing then-and-now photos of Laguna Beach by a Brazilian artist and his great-grandniece

There will also be a gallery of images from Cesar Papa, a Laguna Beach artist and Brazilian native who took photos of the city in the 1980s. They will be displayed alongside photos of the same locations taken by his great-grandniece, Laura Papa. Over the course of six years, she assembled a collection of nearly 800 documents (artwork, letters and more) from her great-uncle’s life. They’ve guided her on a project as she retraced his steps on her own journey.

The applicants for the new restaurant, Mo and Topher Reynoso, a local husband and wife team, wanted to make the Downtown location special and different compared to other Acai Republic stores. 

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Return of Lumberyard Chef Challenge serves up support for SchoolPower

On January 23 at the Lumberyard restaurant, LBUSD school principals dueled as guest “chefs,” serving up competing three-course meals to a cheering, full-house crowd of SchoolPower supporters. No, the Monday evening event wasn’t the kickoff of a new reality series, but the comeback of a beloved event called the SchoolPower Lumberyard Chef Challenge.

The event was conceived by Lumberyard owners Suzanne and Cary Redfearn, who generously donate their restaurant, including all of the food and staff. According to Cary, “We were so fortunate to have our kids attend school in Laguna and receive such a fabulous education – Chef Challenge is our way of giving back. We opened Lumberyard to be a community restaurant, and this event so epitomizes that goal.”

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Photos by Candice Dartez Photographer

(L-R) LBUSD Superintendent Jason Viloria, Laguna Beach High School Principal Jason Allemann, Thurston Principal Joe Vidal, Lumberyard owner Cary Redfearn, Top of the World Principal Meghan Schooler and El Morro Principal Julie Hatchel 

Supporters were especially enthusiastic about Monday’s event because of its pause due to COVID. “This year’s challenge was a welcome homecoming after a three-year hiatus,” said Harpal Sadhal, last year’s SchoolPower president. “It’s always a great way to unite the community – dueling bartender-presidents, competing principal-chefs – and all to support students of the LBUSD schools!”

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(L-R) Thurston Principal Joe Vidal, Laguna Beach High School Principal Jason Allemann, El Morro Principal Julie Hatchel and Top of the World Principal Meghan Schooler

The principals select items and serve guests, but the dishes are actually conceived and prepared by Chef Primo and the Lumberyard staff. This year, the LBHS-Thurston Middle School principal duo of Dr. Jason Allemann and Joe Vidal took home the coveted Golden Spatula award with their entrée – grilled branzino on a bed of sundried tomatoes and couscous. Admittedly, they narrowly beat the delicious short ribs with horseradish potato puree devised by the elementary school team of El Morro’s Dr. Julie Hatchel and Top of the World Elementary’s Megan Schooler.

“I am always appreciative of the profound support of parents and our greater school community at these one-of-a-kind events,” said Dr. Allemann. “The Chef Challenge exemplifies a great message to our young adults at the high school when they can see and hear about a function that brings local businesses, family, friends and educators together to support our schools.”

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SchoolPower President Amy Dechary serves up her signature cocktail “Bad Apple” while former President Harpal Sadhal mixes up his “Bees Knees” for the Bartender Competition

Guests also sampled signature cocktail concoctions handcrafted at the bar by current SchoolPower President Amy Dechary and last year’s SchoolPower President Harpal Sadhal. Sadhal’s Bee’s Knees cocktail narrowly beat Dechary’s Bad Apple. “It was my first time tending bar,” she said, “and I’m so grateful to Lumberyard’s expert mixologists Jeannie Simons and Amber Nyson for showing us the ropes. I’m eagerly awaiting another shot at a win next year.”

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(L-R) Livel Real Estate team members Tiffany Frey, Elaine Brashier, Jill Lockhart and Meital Taub

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(L-R) SchoolPower supporters Katie MacGillivray and Nicole Anderson

“The partnership of SchoolPower and Lumberyard was incredible, sponsoring an event filled with high energy, fun, and good-hearted competition and, of course, great food,” said Dr. Hatchel. “I was honored to be a part of it and have the opportunity to get to know and interact with our parents in a different environment.”

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SchoolPower supporters Barron and Kim Ressler

The event raised more than $9,000 which will support SchoolPower’s grant program and family support services offered through the Family Resource Center.

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(L-R) Thurston Principal Joe Vidal and Laguna Beach High School Principal Jason Alleman are named as the winners and presented with the “Golden Spatula” 

SchoolPower is the parent volunteer-based, non-profit education foundation that has raised money for Laguna Beach public schools since 1981. SchoolPower’s mission is to enrich the education and support the well-being of all children in the Laguna Beach Unified School District. Through SchoolPower grants, the Family Resource Center and the After School Program, SchoolPower supports academics, athletics, visual and performing arts, music, student experiences, social and emotional wellness and community connections. For more information about SchoolPower, visit www.lbschoolpower.org.

Wine Craft opens with a wine tasting and craft room, locals night

Wine Craft is an exciting new concept in Laguna Beach. It offers a unique collection of wines to taste along with fun craft experiences for friends and family to enjoy.

They host a locals night on Wednesdays for half-off tastings and 10% off bottles, have painting and art classes, and have provided free craft kits to the Boys & Girls Club during the holidays.

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Photos courtesy of Wine Craft

The Wine Craft staff sharing free craft kits

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A close-up of the Wine Craft’s kid’s craft kit

Wine Craft is located at 662 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. For more information, visit www.winecraftoc.com, or call 949.376.0007.

Slice Pizza & Beer releases fifth Laguna Beach artist-designed pizza box

Slice Pizza & Beer just announced the release of their fifth Laguna Beach artist-designed pizza box. 

“In keeping with the concept of promoting community, we decided when we opened to have local artists design our boxes,” said Suzanne Redfearn, who owns Slice Pizza & Beer with her husband, Cary. 

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Photos courtesy of Slice Pizza & Beer

Local artist Larry Stewart with the pizza box he designed

“Our fifth pizza box features the work of local artist Larry Stewart, and he chose the quote on the inside flap, which was written by Paul McCartney: ‘And, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make,’” said Suzanne.

Stewart is a Laguna Beach artist, born and raised. As he stated on www.five3gallery.com, “I have been honing my craft in contemporary styled artwork for the last decade. Initially a full-time athlete, my notebooks overflowed with artistic creations. Eventually, it came time to hang up the cleats; with my old identity gone, I committed to something new.” 

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Larry Stewart (left) with his brother Lance display the five artist-designed pizza boxes – (L-R) Fifth design by Larry, fourth design by Lauren Howell, third design by Lisa Mansour and her daughter Chloe Mansour, second design by Sharon Hardy and the inaugural box was designed by Cynthia Fletcher.

Stewart continued, “Soon the hours in the studio surpassed the hours in the ocean, and I knew that it would be this way forever. Years of athletics created an addictive passion for mastering every detail of my creation and finding new sources of inspiration. The only difference is that art is a game I cannot win, so it looks like I have a lifetime of competition ahead of me.”

Follow Larry Stewart on Instagram @larrydiditt.

Slice Pizza & Beer is located at 477 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. For more information, visit www.slicelb.com.