Quick takes: Orange County

ST headed off to grandma's last weekend, and CH and I headed up for a southern OC mini-vacation.

Food:
--Still love WATERMARC in Laguna. CH not so much. We even saw some mover-and-shaker San Diegans up there; they were visiting for the first time. I've reviewed the restaurant in greater detail when we went last time, but it's not like any place I know in SD. It's kind of like Searsucker in concept (it's older) but much more intimate and less warehousey. The food and cocktails are amazing.

--Tried RAYA in Laguna Niguel for the first time (in Ritz Carlton). They gave us outstanding service, and we were so impressed with the food. TV-quality molecular type presentations, but wonderful wonderful flavors. Amazing bread basket; CH said his sweet corn soup was the best soup he ever had; my watermelon/tomato geometric pyramid of a dish was delicious. CH liked his chicken dish (though it wasn't in the same category as his soup). I decided to get a "plain ol' vegetable plate," because I guessed that the chef would do something interesting with it. It was absolutely scrumptious, flavorful, interesting, not boring - but also healthy. Dessert was less interesting. But we would definitely return next time we can sneak away to the OC (it ain't Hawaii, but it's as far as we get on our own these days!).