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180blũ – Decked Out
By Shelley Hudson

Perched above Salt Creek Beach at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is an oceanfront paradise that’s difficult to beat in South Orange County. Named for the 180° view of the Pacific, 180blũ is the summer spot for locals, jetsetters, families, and tourists alike. Although you may come across the occasional begowned bride traipsing through the hotel lobby, you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to visit. 180blu is an any-day-of-the-week destination for business meetings, leisurely lunches, relaxing happy hours or romantic dinners. As you drink in the multi-million dollar view and a beverage or two, it’s evident that life rarely gets much better.

180blu’s creative slate of craft cocktails, extensive wine list and mouth-watering menu options add to the lounge’s already near-perfect vibe and spectacular views. It’s easy to get swept away by the surf and sun while casually chatting with friends on a comfy sofa or as you gaze out at the coastline with that special someone. Before you know it, you’re clearing your calendar for the rest of the day and watching a breathtaking sunset while listening to live music.

I met a girlfriend at 180blũ to enjoy a long-overdue chatfest over cocktails and crashing waves. We sipped a fresh Peach Bellini and an Ultimate Margarita (served iced-cold and straight up) while we decided on a few small plates to sample. We took our delightful server Niki’s recommendation and went with Lobster Tacos, Spicy Tuna and Wild Mushroom Huarache.

The tacos were as adorable as they were delicious. Served in little tortilla envelopes secured with tiny clothespins and generously stuffed with fresh lobster, black bean purée, chile salsa, avocado and cilantro, the serving of four was easily shareable and hearty. The Spicy Tuna was also a hit. The ahi was drizzled with wasabi-pea aioli and eel sauce and served atop a crispy sushi rice round. The result was crunchy, spicy and salty goodness.

My hands-down favorite was the Wild Mushroom Huarache, which took the form of a decadent flatbread. The cornmeal crust was layered with a variety of nutty, earthy mushrooms, caramelized onions, black beans, creamy goat cheese and truffle oil. The combination blended seamlessly, but each flavor was distinct. This one is sized for sharing, too, if you can stand it.

180blũ is the perfect place to be on Friday and Saturday evenings, with high-quality, rolled-to-order sushi on the deck with acoustic guitar to sweeten the scene. Taco Tuesday is just plain better here, too. Chef Steve Wan elevates the classic street taco to a gourmet level—think tequila chicken, cojita cheese and pumpkin seed pesto. Add Partida tequila flights to the mix, and what could go wrong?

180blũ even caters to your canines! A monthly Yappy Hour cocktail party for dogs and their best friends on the Dana Lawn benefits theWounded Veterans Initiative of Canine Companions. Be sure to watch The Local Dish calendar for doggie-friendly holiday events at 180blũ also.

One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point
949.240.2000
RitzCarlton.com/Laguna180blu

Faith. Intellect. Character.

Founded in 2003 and coming into the 10th anniversary of its first graduating class, JSerra has established itself within South Orange County as an exceptional academic institution. Each year JSerra’s dedicated staff and faculty look for new ways to innovate the learning process, continually increasing its competitive edge in the classroom, out on the field, and after graduation.

Starting this fall, JSerra’s Artist-in-Residence program will officially join the already impressive collection of professional magnet programs, bringing the total to five: Medical, Business,Engineering, Law, and now Arts. Students can choose either the Visual or Performing Arts track and specialize in their respective area of interest, such as theater, dance, choir,instrumental, and more. The new status as a magnet will help grow the arts program even further, especially after such a successful 2014 -15 year full of awards and recognitions, including seven Gold Key Awards, two national 2015 Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards, top 10 vocalist for OC’s Artist of the Year, and 121 winning pieces in the Imagination Celebration and the Laguna Beach Art Festival (the most in the county).

This summer also saw the launch of a brand new middle school program called Lion Engage, a hands-on summer camp that allowed students entering grades 6-8 to dive into experiential learning. Participants had the option of choosing up to four different camps over the course of two weeks, such as medical and engineering, business, law, guitar, studio art, film/TV, vocal performance, theater, and more. The program was a huge success with over 120 campers from more than 30 different middle schools.

JSerra’s Athletic Department has earned its own reputation for excellence. The impressive on-campus facilities are among the best in the country and feature a 2,000-seat gym, an Olympic-class aquatics center, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, softball, and football fields, tennis courts, track, sand volleyball courts, and an expansive, multi-use fitness center. Student athletes can compete at the top of their game with access to first-rate equipment and the support of a dedicated coaching staff. Varsity football coach Jim Hartigan and girls swim coach Kevin Clements both earned titles as 2015 Coach of the Year. Varsity baseball was ranked number one in the state and number three in the country, and athletics as a whole made several CIF play off appearances, won Trinity League championships, and made school history in various sports.

The academic, athletic, and artistic achievements are something to applaud, and JSerra attributes its success to its core values. “All of our efforts are geared toward nurturing the character and cultivating the faith of our young women and men,” asserts Headmaster Rich Meyer. “Our ultimate success will be measured by the kinds of fathers, mothers, and citizens they become.” With an impressive 85% AP pass rate for 2015, rising SAT and ACT scores, and 80% of students playing a sport, it might be difficult to imagine your typical JSerra student having time for much else. However, the school offered two additional mission trips to Peru because of demand (approximately 85 students served abroad), the campus ministry office offered ten retreats which had the most participants in school history, and teachers and students came together to form discipleship groups and identity formation discussions in order to meet the growing demand for character-building in our society.

Needless to say, JSerra Catholic High School has much to celebrate this year. To top it off, the patron of the school, Junipero Serra – a Franciscan friar, supporter of education, and founder of California – will be canonized a saint by Pope Francis during his visit to the U.S. in September. As the school continues to provide the very best in Catholic high school education, it will be exciting to see where it goes next.

JSerra Catholic High School
26351 Junipero Serra Road, San Juan Capistrano
949.493.9307 • JSerra.org

Dr. Mogavero – A Breath of Fresh Air

Dr. Frank Mogavero opened his orthodontics practice 25 years ago this month, and he set out to “make a real difference” in peoples’ lives. “I wanted to offer a service to my patients that would improve confidence and quality of life…and I wanted it to be fun!” Thousands of gorgeous smiles later, Dr. Mogavero sees the results of his efforts daily.

Dr. Mogavero’s office was designed to meet the interests of both kids and adults. Real chairlifts from Mammoth Mountain, wall-to-wall sports photography and his fantastic Team set the tone for a comfortable, easy and fun experience. “The kids love checking out all the X-Games photos and athlete autographs—and they may even see a familiar face when they visit!”

Throughout his career, Dr. Mogavero has been an enthusiastic advocate of early intervention orthodontics, and he’s learned that this approach results in much more than straight teeth for his patients. The greater medical community is just catching up to methods developed from breakthroughs in orthodontics referred to as “airway centered dentistry” or “orthotropics.”

Starting treatment at age seven to nine—referred to as “Phase I”—not only expands the palate to allow for proper growth trajectory for teeth, but it also helps clear the airway for patients who experience obstruction—most often unknowingly. “It’s not normal for kids to snore,” explains Dr. Mogavero. “Snoring is caused by an obstructed airway. This often leads to oxygen desaturation in the blood, which causes spikes in heart rate and restless sleep. Many symptoms often attributed to asthma or allergies are actually caused by correctable airway issues. Creating space orthopedically can virtually eliminate chronic symptoms like fatigue, teeth grinding, latent bed wetting, morning sore throat, acid reflux, red eyes and mouth-breathing. All of these problems adversely affect facial growth and lead to serious adult conditions if left untreated, including heart disease.”

A new tool is available to help assess breathing in children and adults. “We send the patient home with a high-resolution pulse oximeter (HRPO), which measures oxygen saturation while sleeping,” says Mogavero. “The results tell us how many ‘desaturation events’ occur. We measure again after treatment is implemented, and the difference is sometimes shocking.” For example, after only two months of palate expansion treatment, 11-year-old Chase (featured on this month’s cover with Dr. Mogavero) went from 36 “events” to only 17, resulting in much-improved sleep and quality of life.

In another case, Paige, age four, was snoring heavily and was chronically tired during the day. An ENT surgeon removed her tonsils and adenoids, but Paige experienced only marginal relief. After a consultation with Dr. Mogavero, it was discovered that Paige’s snoring, fatigue, and thumb-sucking were all symptoms of airway obstruction. After Phase I palate expansion, her symptoms have abated. Paige’s mom Brandy, a Registered Nurse, is grateful. “She sleeps restfully now, and her energy level has improved,” says Brandy. “Thanks to Dr. Mogavero and his staff for taking such great care of my daughter.”

Using both braces and Invisalign, Dr. Mogavero creates beautiful smiles for adults, too. “Invisalign ‘invisible braces’ are especially convenient for adult patients,” he says, “They’re removable, so treatment is well-suited for patients who need more flexibility.”

Come in for a consultation at Dr. Mogavero’s tricked-out office in San Clemente and check out some of the heart-stopping X-Games moments he’s captured on Instagram @drfrankm. Visit SyncYourSmile.com for more information about Dr. Mogavero’s orthodontic practice or to request an appointment.

Board Certified orthodontist Dr. Mogavero, his wife Anna, and their four children reside in San Clemente.

San Clemente • 949.373.3737 • 1031 Avenida Pico • Suite 101

San Juan Capistrano • 949.493.7300 • 31726 Rancho Viejo Road • Suite 103

 

 2015 San Clemente Ocean Festival
July 18th & 19th

The San Clemente Ocean Festival is celebrating 39 years of lifeguard competitions and fun in the sun on July 18th & 19th.

“The Greatest Show on Surf” is an opportunity to compete in or cheer on your favorite athletes in the American and International Ironman competitions, One Mile Swim, 5K Beach Run, Rescue Relay, Biathlon and ever-popular Dory Boat races. Back by popular demand, the Sport of Kings SUP Race takes place on Saturday. Witness this exciting competition as stand-up paddlers race from the beach to outside buoys, then catch waves back to the finish.

As you head down the hill, stop by the Ocean Art Show in Parque Del Mar, featuring a variety of artwork created by local artisans. Stroll along the wooden planks above the rolling surf on San Clemente Pier and check out the 23rd Annual Woody Car Exhibit, displaying 15 different cars each day of the event. Fishermen of all ages are welcome to register for the Fishing Clinic and Derby at the end of the Pier on Saturday.

South of the Pier, the younger crowd can make their way to the Youth Pavilion where loads of entertainment happens on both event days. The lineup includes hula dancers, jiu-jitsu demonstrations, musical performances and more! Complimentary Kid ID’s are available, plus crafts and games for a nominal fee. Don’t forget to sign up for the Dolphin Dash Kids Beach Run (ages 4-12) on Saturday or the Groms Rule Surf Contest (boys 14 and under and girls 17 and under) on Sunday morning. Both of these events fill up quickly so you’re encouraged to pre-register at EventBrite.com.

New this year, the 1st sto p of the Special Olympics Torch Run takes place on Sunday, when runners head to the end of San Clemente Pier for a brief ceremony before moving north on their journey up the coast to Disneyland.

Saturday evening, pull up a towel or beach chair with friends and family to enjoy a free concert featuring The Cholulas. Watch the sun set over Dana Point while you listen to this local San Clemente band’s outlaw country-inspired rock.

The fun continues to pile up with sand sculpting competitions on Sunday. Categories include Creatures, Castles and Things, Family, and Open categories for those who wish to let their creativity run wild. Bodysurfing clinics, to help swimmers of all ages learn more about the ocean, how to watch for rip currents, and how to ride the waves, are also offered just south of the Youth Pavilion. The weekend’s activities come to a close with The Great Rubber Duck race. For only $5, you can “sponsor” a duck and cheer it on to be one of the lucky ducks to win a prize if yours swims ashore.

There’s no need to eat breakfast or pack a meal before heading down to The Ocean Festival. San Clemente lifeguards will be grillin’ up pancake breakfasts from 7 to 11 a.m. on both days of the event. Bring your appetite for plenty of other tasty items from corn on the cob, hamburgers, and turkey legs, to strawberry shortcake and shaved ice.

To register for athletic events and to view course maps and rules, please visit OceanFestival.org or call 949-440-6141 for more info.

Complimentary parking and shuttles from San Clemente High School run from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Metrolink train also stops right at the San Clemente Pier.

Juice It Up – San Clemente
By Shelley Hudson

When Sandy Elliott set out to explore health-minded career opportunities, she made a list of interests and passions. She wanted to start her own business and began investigating juice companies as a potential franchise opportunity. Her due diligence and impeccable timing led her to a prime Juice It Up location that had just become available in San Clemente.

In November 2013, Sandy purchased the thriving Juice It Up store that had been open for ten years near San Clemente High School. The built-in customer base, a growing awareness of the benefits of fresh fruit and vegetable juices and the ideal location were just what Sandy was looking for in her new venture. With the brand new gym next door, San Clemente High School across the street, a bustling school catering schedule and a loyal following of local surfers and other athletes, the biggest challenge for Sandy has been keeping up!

Sandy has made it her goal to educate the community about the fresh fare she offers. Her Juice It Up store serves up much more than just fruit smoothies. Raw juice combinations, ginger and wheat grass shots, fruit and veggie fusions (blended with ice to retain all the cruciferous fiber) and “super fruit” acai and pitaya-based bowls of crunchy, fruity, nutty goodness are a mere sampling of what you’ll find there. At the request of her customers, Sandy successfully lobbied corporate headquarters to add chia seeds and almond milk to the ingredient options as well. Juice It Up smoothies, fusions and bowls are hearty and 100% fresh—healthy enough for breakfast or post-workout, but yummy enough to replace dessert!

Juice It Up’s catering program makes it easy to offer refreshing smoothies at corporate functions, sporting events, summer camps and private parties of all kinds with only a phone call or email. Fundraising opportunities—even in-house events—allows guests to enjoy fresh, healthy treats while the organization or team raises money. Portable party boxes are a breeze to pick up and transport, or customers can even have a catering order delivered right to the front door (or soccer field!).

Sandy’s commitment to the local community shines through partnerships with Relay For Life, Casa Romantica, the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce and a multitude of area schools. Her on-site programs at nine elementary and middle schools bring healthy choices to students, and a 25% share of proceeds goes back to the school.

Check out Juice It Up’s daily deals and monthly specials on Facebook and Instagram @juiceitupsanclemente and its VIP treatment for military, seniors, Yelp users and students.

802 Avenida Pico, Suite J • San Clemente • 949.542.7979 • JuiceItUp.com

Dana Point Food, Wine & Music Festival
June 27th from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Bring your appetite and your friends to Sea Terrace Park in Dana Point on Saturday, June 27th from noon until 7 p.m. for the 3rd annual Dana Point Food, Wine & Music Festival. Sip and nosh your way through offerings from local restaurants, California wineries and craft breweries while savoring the sights and sounds. The ingredients for a perfect day are right at your fingertips!

Sponsored by the City of Dana Point and produced by Southern California-based EventWerks, the festival has gained a robust following in a short time to become one of the most highly anticipated happenings of the year. This annual free event attracted more than 15,000 attendees last year and owes its rapid success to the perfect mixture of good times with great taste. The event delivers on all levels: delicious food, unique musical performances, thirst-quenching craft brews, a variety of wines, mixed drink creations and more.

Last year’s success prompted organizers to “up the ante” in 2015. This year, guests will enjoy nearly double the number of participating restaurants, a major expansion to the wine festival and the addition of over 30 craft breweries. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will also benefit the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group.

Equally important to delectable food and libations, the festival serves up a bevy of musical talent. Priding itself on doing the unexpected, performers are sprinkled throughout the venue so that entertainment is felt at every turn. It’s not uncommon to see a fiddler strolling through the crowd, to find a saxophone player jamming in a corner, or a band playing right in the middle of the festival.

“People just want to be entertained and they want to see and hear things that are unique. We are not interested in name recognition or drawing power. We are only interested in providing a great musical experience,” shares Forrest Melton of EventWerks.

This year’s musical lineup will not disappoint. The event has secured the legendary L.A. Blues Band, The Delgado Brothers, Orange County Blues icon Papa J and a number of acts including Spanish guitarists, DJ’s and off-the-wall brilliant performers such as Crosby Tyler who plays drums, guitar and harmonica as a one-man band.

Admission is free. Patrons can select from a variety of food and drink options to customize their experience at the event. To learn more about the 2015 Dana Point Food, Wine and Music Festival, visit FoodWineandMusicFestival.com.

The Cuban Kitchen & Coffee – Capistrano Beach
By Krissy V.

As we embark on a new era of U.S. – Cuba relations, it seems fitting that South Orange County has an opportunity to enjoy a cuisine that may still be unfamiliar to many of us on the West Coast. You may not expect that journey to lead you to a restaurant in the heart of Capistrano Beach, but that’s precisely where you’ll find The Cuban Kitchen & Coffee.

Located on Doheny Park Road inside The Surfin Cowboy (known by locals for its d-lish burgers), the unlikely pairing may feel more like like an Oscar and Felix mismatch than a match made in heaven. To the contrary, the combination has worked well and The Cuban Kitchen has been dishing out fare to rave reviews for the past few months.

I popped in for a weekday lunch and was greeted by my welcoming and knowledgeable server Sarah. She explained that The Cuban Kitchen’s menu, created by award-winning Executive Chef Seth King, emphasizes premium-quality meats and simple, fresh ingredients.

I started with the house-made Empanadas de Cuba — delectably flaky dough pockets stuffed with a combination of beef, pork, and charred corn — accompanied by a side of chimichurri sauce for dipping. I wouldn’t have done the restaurant justice without having a few bites of the World Famous Cuban Sandwich. This grilled and pressed classic consists of thinly sliced pork tenderloin, ham, provolone, dill pickle, peppered mayo and whole grain mustard — creating a simple, yet tasty sandwich that has understandably become the most popular menu item. Sarah shared that it recently outsold The Surfin Cowboy’s renowned OG Burger, which is a testament to its fantastic reception!

To get a sense of The Cuban Kitchen’s range, Sarah brought out a selection of entrées for me to sample. My two fast favorites were the Lomo Cubano and the Ropa Vieja, both traditional Cuban dishes with deep and layered flavors. The Lomo Cubano is a citrus marinated grilled skirt steak that was deliciously tender and had me wanting more. The Ropa Vieja is braised beef or pork in a tomato, red pepper and garlic-based mojo sauce that is a fusion of both Mexican and Cuban-inspired styles. Both dishes are chock-full-of-flavor and are served with rice and beans (which can be eaten separately or mixed together in Cuban fashion) and plantains. Of course, I had to cap off lunch with a kickin’ Cuban Coffee in the comfortable lounge area (with complimentary Wi-Fi) to jumpstart the rest of my day.

Visit The Cuban Kitchen on Friday nights for dinner and stay for the free Salsa dance class at 9 p.m. so that you can work off dinner while learning some spicy moves. Also make a point to stop by for Sunday breakfast, served from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Cuban Kitchen & Coffee
34235 Doheny Park Rd., Suite A
Capistrano Beach • 949.272.5957
TheCubanKitchenAndCoffee.com

Reata Glen – Expect more from retirement

The full-service retirement community approved last fall in San Juan Capistrano has relocated to a new site across from the City’s Reata Park. The new location provides sweeping views of the area’s protected ridgelines and more direct access to Ladera Ranch and San Clemente (once La Pata Avenue opens in 2016). Located just minutes from the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, the project’s change in name from “Laguna Glen” to “Reata Glen” accompanies the move to Reata Road. The master-planned community’s layout and amenities, however, remain largely unchanged.

Similar to other award-winning Continuing Life® retirement communities (such as La Costa Glen Carlsbad), Reata Glen residents will enjoy more than simply a new home and attractive clubhouse. A broad range of recreation venues and convenient services are included—as well as access to a neighboring health center should residents’ needs change over time.

Plans for the new community incorporate a variety of housing options including spacious single story homes, townhouse-style plans referred to as “Garden Terraces,” as well as more traditional apartment-style homes. With nearly two dozen floor plans available, the community is designed to be attractive and accessible to a broad range of South Orange County’s seniors.

Regardless of which home new residents select, all come complete with housekeeping services, landscape and home maintenance and access to a wide array of amenities throughout the community. Several restaurant venues, a health spa, movie and performing arts theaters, an art studio, gardening center and more are provided within walking distance in an effort to make life’s best moments more convenient.

One of the unique aspects of the new community is the health care center being constructed next door. There, Reata Glen residents will have access to assisted living, memory support and a skilled nursing facility, if ever needed, without leaving the neighborhood, and without being exposed to the rising and otherwise unpredictable costs of long-term care.

Construction of the new community is expected to begin this year with a grand opening planned for the beginning of 2018. According to Troy Bourne, Project Manager at Reata Glen, hundreds of local seniors have already joined a pre-construction waitlist in anticipation of new homes being offered for reservation in the next few months. “After nearly ten years of planning, we’re excited to be able to bring this community to South Orange County. The initial response from local seniors has been unprecedented and we look forward to working with future residents to build a community we can all be really proud of.” To find out more about Reata Glen, visit ReataGlen.com.

2015 Doheny Blues Festival
May 16th & 17th

Celebrating 18 years of Blues On The Beach, the Doheny Blues Festival delivers another stellar lineup of talent for its upcoming weekend of music. Slated for Saturday and Sunday, May 16th and 17th, the nationally recognized festival is headlined by 10-time GRAMMY Award winner Bonnie Raitt, the voice of Bad Company, Paul Rodgers, the incomparable Boz Scaggs and many others. Tickets are on sale now for the festival’s three stages of performances at the beachfront venue of Doheny State Beach in Dana Point.

Doheny Blues Festival takes pride in its introduction of new artists, and this year is no exception as it welcomes Tennessee folk artist Valerie June, as well as 12-year-old guitar wonderkid Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, who will join Otis Taylor and his band. First time performers also include Mud Morganfield, the eldest son of Muddy Waters (performing with Kim Wilson), fiery vocalist Beth Hart, The Mavericks, The Rebirth Brass Band, Carolyn Wonderland and Lurrie Bell. Continuing the tradition of importing musicians for the festival, Nico Wayne Toussaint will travel from France to Dana Point, Brazilian guitarist Igor Prado will present a blues revue on the intimate Backporch Stage, and Trickbag from Sweden will host the Official After-Party on Saturday night, May 16, at Stillwater Spirits & Sounds in Dana Point.

Doheny State Beach, a 62-acre California State Park, has been home to the Doheny Blues Festival for eighteen consecutive years and has an expansive beach, breathtaking harbor views, overnight camping and a spacious, grass park where three stages are erected. The intimate Backporch Stage allows fans to sit up close to the artists at picnic tables while enjoying a tasty selection of microbrews. Guests can also enjoy the International Food Court, eclectic Vendor Village with 50+ unique booths, Wine Lounge, and free Bike Valet.

Tickets for the 2015 Doheny Blues Festival are selling quickly, so visit DohenyBluesFestival.com for more information or call 949.360.7800.