Butcher shop a cut above

GREER WYLDER

Celestino’s Meats is an old-fashioned butcher shop that offers

exceptional service and high-grade beef in choice and occasionally

even prime grade. It’s the place to find natural beef, veal, pork,

lamb, poultry and fish. For convenience, some meats are premarinated

and ready to grill. There are Maui-style baseball steaks, Cajun beef

kabobs and pollo or carne asada. Since it opened 35 years ago,

Celestino’s has offered savings on meat prices by breaking its own

beef and separating meat into cuts. This in-store process allows

Celestino’s to keep costs down. Compare other all-natural programs

that sell beef, and you’ll find Celestino’s prices are usually $3

less per pound. Celestino’s also prepares meals to go in the frozen

section. You’ll find lasagna; meatballs; twice-baked potatoes;

enchiladas; and sauces including hollandaise, Bearnaise, peppercorn

and veal, chicken and beef stocks. Celestino’s also offers 32

varieties of handmade sausages, including English-style Banger

sausage, turkey cranberry, chicken bratwurst and gourmet beef or

turkey jerky. They carry Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses free of

byproducts, cereals fillers, artificial flavors and colors.

Celestino’s takes special orders on fresh Diestel range-grown turkeys

as well as buffalo burgers, pheasant, duck and more. Fresh produce,

dairy and gourmet sauces and condiments are just a few of Celestino’s

market items. Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6

p.m. Sunday. 270 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa. (949) 642-7191.

BETTER THAN HOME

Nikki Twigs, a local home accessories store, is back and better

than ever. After closing for a few years it’s now reopened with a

plethora of treasures for the home and garden. Nikki Twigs carries

antique and vintage furniture; original artwork on canvas; terra

cotta and slate tiles; and rustic wood pieces. There are also

handmade gemstone and pearl jewelry; knitted scarves in silk and

colorful yarns; soy candles; and funky and fun costume jewelry. New

items arrive daily and Nikki Twigs takes special requests. Open 10

a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Its new location is at 125

1/2 Broadway in Costa Mesa. (949) 642-8944.

MORE SILK FOR HOME

South Coast Plaza just opened the first Silk Trading Co. at Home

store across the rotunda from the original Silk Trading Co. For the

past 12 years, the Silk Trading Co. has been a resource for luxury

textiles and ready-made drapes; now it introduces a Home Store,

featuring Asian decorative furniture, custom upholstered furniture

and home accessories. Their new line of furniture can be upholstered

from a selection of 3,000 signature textiles. All pieces are

hand-made. Frames are made of kiln-dried hardwood with double dowels

and corner block joints. Springs are hand-tied eight ways with steel

coils. The Silk Trading Co. at Home secures a niche in the design

market for its exceptional quality and design. White glove delivery

service is also available. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday;

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Level One,

Crate & Barrel/Macy’s Home Store Wing. (714) 689-0488.

www.silktrading.com.

NEW SPOTS AT

FASHION ISLAND

Fashion Island recently moved stores including Apropos, Shabby

Chic and Select Comfort. Apropos just relocated to a larger space in

the Atrium Court. The new store is located near the Atrium Court

entrance from the outside Atrium Lawn courtyard. (949) 644-2652.

Shabby Chic is now in a temporary store in Bloomingdale’s Courtyard

while its Atrium Court space is remodeled. (949) 219-0663. Select

Comfort has also relocated to a slightly larger space within Atrium

Court, adjacent to Caswell-Massey. (949) 759-0261.

HOLLISTER GLIDES IN

Hollister Co., a popular surf-inspired casual line, has opened a

new spacious store at Fashion Island. It’s where cutting-edge young

adults shop for coastal lifestyle apparel. The new store is located

near Carousel Court at Fashion Island. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday

to Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

(949) 219-0938. www.hollisterco.com.

BARNES AT EASE

This Saturday, At Ease at Fashion Island hosts a rare appearance

by Jhane Barnes, with an exclusive showing of her Spring 2005

menswear collection, from 1 to 5 p.m. (949) 759-7979.

AN ARTS EDUCATION

My Arts Studio, new to Eastbluff Village Center, offers year-round

art programs for children ages 3 to 11. My Arts Studio offers

classes, workshops, seasonal camps and parties. Children can learn

painting, ceramics, drawing, crafts, printmaking, sculpture and other

art techniques. Students are also taught art history by master

artists in a nurturing, positive and creative environment. My Arts

Studio offers discounted classes and arts supplies for members.

Birthdays and other private parties with art lessons are also

available. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,

Saturday; by appointment Sunday. Eastbluff Village Center, at 2545

Eastbluff Drive in Newport Beach. (949) 717-7878.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays. Send information to Greer Wylder at

greerwylder @yahoo.com; at 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626;

or by fax at (714) 966-4679.