Soup’s on at Zinc Cafe

Thankfully, Laguna’s Zinc Cafe and Market has opened a Corona del

Mar location on the Coast Highway. The same wonderful breakfast and

lunch menu from the Laguna location, as well as a big gourmet

take-out selection that includes salads, soups, Zinc’s famous

vinaigrette, oatmeal, sandwiches and cookies. Owner John Secretan has

filled the market section with candles, cook books, Port Meirion cast

iron cookware, Palacek lamps, rattan frames, cake plates, bowls, and

table cloths. A Christmas to-go menu is available that includes

soups, salads, vegetables, entrees, desserts and appetizers. Soups

are $40 per pint or $45 per pot (one pot serves 24 cups or 12 bowls);

salads are $8 per pound. Soups available are: butternut squash,

garden pea, ginger carrot, and Tuscan white bean. Salads available

are: Baked beet with creamy horseradish dressing, farafelle pasta,

fresh asparagus, green bean, white bean, and Zinc Waldorf. Vegetables

available are: artichokes, Balsamic roasted vegetable salad, brown

rice with mushrooms, ginger garlic carrots with toasted almonds,

gratin of sweet potatoes with apples and maple syrup, potatoes au

gratin. Entrees include mushroom-asparagus quiche, mushroom nutloaf,

polenta, stuffed peppers with creamy Swiss chard topping and spinach

lasagna. Desserts include brandies almond pound cake, brown sugar

cheesecake, chocolate bundt cake, German chocolate cake, pumpkin

cheesecake tart and sponge cake with ricotta frosting. Appetizers

include cheese tortas, herbed cheese cake, marinated buffala

mozzarella, marinated goat cheese, mushroom asparagus quiche and

spinach spanakopita triangle. Deadline ordering dates for Christmas

and New Year’s are noon Sunday, Dec. 22 for Tues. Dec. 24, noon

Sunday Dec. 29 for Dec. 31. 3222 E. Coast Hwy. in Corona del Mar.

(949) 719-9462. www.zinccafe.com.

WRAPS AND MORE WRAPS

Tacone opened at Fashion Island’s Atrium Court. It offers

freshly-prepared gourmet wrapped sandwiches, tossed salads, fruit

smoothies and a variety of side dishes including its famous sweet

potato fries. Tacone takes the most popular foods from around the

world and wraps them in naturally-flavored tortillas to create

gourmet wraps, salad wraps and vegetarian and low-fat wraps. The menu

features: The Malibu Melt, with grilled or fried chicken breast,

melted Swiss cheese, avocado, tomato, lettuce and honey mustard; the

Pilgrim with fresh roasted turkey, avocado, tomato, jack cheese and

romaine lettuce with a ranch vinaigrette; and the Chinatown, with

Chinese chicken salad with a sesame ginger dressing topped with

sliced cucumbers, scallions, crispy won ton noodles and mandarin

oranges. Tacone offers corporate and personal catering, ideal for

parties, office meetings and other functions. Fax and e-mail order

accepted. (949) 760-0500.

GETTING WARM FOR LESS

Scandia Down has reduced all top-of-the line cold weather

comforters, featherbeds and travel comforters 25%. The sale lasts

through Dec. 31. Second level of South Coast Plaza, in the

Crate&Barrel;/Macy’s Home Store wing. (714) 549-9046.

REFILLABLE RUBY’S GIFT CARDS

Ruby’s Diner is selling “refillable” gift cards for the holidays.

Gift cards can be used for any food or merchandise purchase. The

cards are available in any denomination of $5 or more, and can be

recharged by the recipient at any of Ruby’s Diner’s 37 locations.

Local Ruby’s are on the Balboa Pier, on the Coast Highway in Corona

del Mar, and two locations in Costa Mesa, at South Coast Plaza and on

East 17th Street.

HOLIDAY MAKE-UP TIPS

Make-up artist Richard Stevens of Stevens & Cross Cosmetics is

offering a holiday special on makeup lessons for $60 (reg. $95)

“In 30 years, I have personally done makeup for more than 30,000

people,” Stevens says. “We do one-on-one makeup consultations where

we help alleviate the problems one has with makeup application and

help the person develop “her style” of how she wants to look with a

little pizazz.”

Stevens prefers clients to come in with makeup on before a session

so he can see the amount of makeup she likes to wear, and then

enhances it. Complimentary follow ups are available. Eyebrows are his

specialty; shaping, tweezing and tinting for the best shape for the

face. As an added bonus you’ll receive a complimentary makeup

application gift certificate.(value $60). Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday. 2650 Avon in Newport Beach. (949) 646-1394.

* BEST BUYS appears Mondays and Fridays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at greerwylder@yahoo.com; at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa,

CA 92627; or by fax at (949) 646-4170.