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.
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