Zov’s satellite bistro is a Festival first

DINING OUT

An enticing new dimension was added to our world renowned Festival of

Arts with the July launching of Zov’s Satellite Cafe. Inspired by the

award-winning Tustin Bistro / Cafe / Bakery conceived 27 years ago by

enterprising principal Zov, this current little venue was astutely

selected by Festival aficionados as an alternative to the Festival’s

commercial fast food emporiums of past years. The limited menu of

Eastern Mediterranean fare is quickly expedited in clear boxes and

packaged with napkin-wrapped plastic utensils in conveniently handled

white bags making it simple to carry to any of the many tables posed

all over the verdant grounds. Salads, sandwiches, starters and

desserts were designed by renowned Zov personally, assuring the same

quality and care which has garnered the dynamic diva national

acclaim.

Accolades from guests at the Saturday opening night reception,

usually catered by local restaurants, reflected their obvious delight

with the delicious array of delicacies proffered. Starting with four

festive buffet stations arranged among the fascinating displays of

wondrously diversified art, attentive servers further perused the

grounds passing trays of exotic taste temptations. This happily

precluded the usual annoying lineup of people waiting to be served in

years past. Zov’s selection for the occasion, she says, were taken

from her extensive repertoire of catering and special occasion menus.

Among the many and varied provocative appetizers were pirochi,

crab-crammed pot stickers, stuffed grape leaves, babaganooj, figs

wrapped in air dried aged beef, smoked salmon on sesame crackers.

Zov’s Satellite Bistro menu, however, is quite different

commencing with the Mediterranean summer sampler, a tasty combination

of roasted eggplant, spiced tahini, babaganooj, garbanzo, hummus,

lebni yogurt with pita bread, and an artisan cheese trio arranged

with fresh and dried fruits and assorted nuts. A Moroccan salad of

poached salmon on baby lettuces with tomato and feta cheese in

balsamic vinaigrette is among a quartet of salads served with a

freshly baked roll. Rosemary-scented chicken Caesar Provencal

utilizes crisp romaine lettuce scattered with parmesan-garlic

croutons. The classic California cobb alternates turkey, avocado,

smoked bacon, bleu cheese, sliced egg and tomato in herb-vinaigrette.

And herb-vinaigrette dressed baby greens teamed with tomato, cucumber

and feta cheese comprise the garden entry. The above are priced from

$7.25 to $13.50.

A quintet of sandwiches presented with a package of potato chips

is tabbed from $9 to $10.50. The latter, called Zov’s classic, is

served on rustic country bread and alternates tender slices of

grilled marinated lamb with sweet red onion, sliced tomato with green

peppercorn dressing. Panini bread beds black forest ham with creamy

brie, cornichon pickles in tangy Dijon mustard. Crisp cracker bread

rolls sliced roast beef, lettuce, tomato and dilled cream cheese. And

a soft round country roll is the foil for the savory combine of

eggplant, zucchini, roasted red peppers and basil leaves sprinkled

with feta cheese and spiced hummus. This is a totally delectable

choice, but craves a heartier heap of the tasty filling to be spread

over the entire bun.

Chocolate Obsession heads the dessert list, Belgian white and dark

chocolate mousse and shaved dark chocolate adorning moist chocolate

sponge cake. The $7.25 to $7.75 lineup includes lemon and

apple-caramel tarts, and N.Y. cheesecake. Zov’s also boasts an

in-the-round bar under a jet top on the green offering four each of

white and red vintages priced from $5.75 to $9.75, and a trio of

imported beers for $5.75 a glass.

Weekly events commence on Sundays when Zov’s culinary creativity

is showcased as she personally presents an enlightening one-hour

cooking demonstration featuring surprise recipes each time. This

promises a charming preface to the Festival’s annual Sunday In The

Park concert series running from 2 to 4 p.m. On Thursday evenings, in

conjunction with KSRB radio, sultry jazz fills the air coupled with

wine tastings on the lawn. This popular happening starts at 4:30 p.m.

continuing until 7:30 p.m. There is no charge for the spirited

rhythms; wine tastes are three for $7 and now you may enjoy Zov’s

gourmet “brown bag” suppers, a deliciously convenient and elegant

alternative to packing and toting some boring old sandwiches.

* 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.