Tivoli Too tastes at the Art-A-Fair

DINING OUT

Our annual summer Festivals, all three, are once again off to a

rolling start, each boasting interesting on-site restaurants. At the

recent Art-A-Fair preview, gracious principal June Neptune hosted

another of her lovely thank you parties for the 100-plus

participating artists and craftspersons. The event was launched with

welcoming flutes of champagne proffered by a handsomely tuxedoed crew

headed by enterprising general manager Bobby Fader. This was followed

by a delightful sit-down dinner featuring bacon-wrapped filet mignon

with all the trimmings and luscious strawberry shortcake dessert.

A black-tie assemblage of exhibitors and their guests were also

treated with music for dancing to the spirited rhythms of Redd Street

featuring that enthusiastically talented trio, Willie, Ronnie and

Eddie. Their Motown style will continue at the restaurant every

Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at which time entry to the grounds will be

complimentary to all arrivals.

The trellis-ceilinged dining area with its trickling waterfall and

colorfully patterned table settings, provides a welcoming background

for relaxing dining all through the summer Festival season. Following

is what you may enjoy this year from the Tivoli Too lunch and dinner

menu which will be featured from now until the Aug. 31 finale of this annual event.

An octave of appetizers starts with a pair of soft chicken or fish

tacos, Santa Fe chili, taquitos and half a dozen stuffed jalapenos as

well as nachos supreme, chips with salsa, stuffed potato skins and

chilled gazpacho soup. These range in price from $4.50 to $6.95. A

quartet of salads includes tossed greens with house dressing at $5.

Heartier arrangements, all less than $10, translate to the Cobb

combination of diced bacon, chopped, egg, crumbled bleu cheese,

tomatoes, chicken, avocado. Then come a chicken walnut salad and a

tropical toss of fresh fruit heaped atop half a fresh pineapple

sprinkled with toasted almonds and coconut, each complemented with

banana nut bread.

Burgers and sandwiches embrace a hefty quintet, most less than $8.

The provocative exception at $9.95 is a vegetarian delight, a

succulently grilled portabello mushroom embellished with onion,

lettuce, tomato and a creamy house blended dressing. All of the above

including Tivoli, cheese and garden burgers, come with piping hot,

crispy French fries.

In addition to quoted specials stressing such fresh fish entrees

as red snapper Vera Cruz, the menu reflects a Mexican accent. A

tempting range of tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas chile rellenos,

carne adobada pork stew and tender, boneless southwest blackened

chicken, are each sided with Spanish rice and black beans. There are

nine in all tabbed from $8.95 to $11.25.

A “Just For The Kids” menu features miniature cheese quesadillas,

grilled cheese sandwiches with fries and, of course, the small fry’s

favorite delight, peanut butter and jelly duos. Freshly baked upside

down cake, cool sorbets and ice cream pie are among tempting desserts

at $5.50 each with such varying treats of the day as chocolate

truffles and key lime pie. For the grown folk, there’s a full range

of cocktails, beer and wine including Tivoli’s award winning

margaritas. The latter should be especially welcome on Tuesday nights

when 6 to 9 p.m. “Happy Hour” will garner all-you-can-devour tacos

for a mere $1 each.

* GLORI FICKLING is a longtime Laguna Beach resident who has

written restaurant news and views columns since 1966. She may be reached at 494-4710 or by e-mail at ghoneywest@aol.com.