There’s a lot to like about the newish weekend lunch at Majordomo: an airy room, a mellower crowd, and a menu that feels fresh yet familiar all at once. Dishes like the kimchi-kissed ceviche and the grilled dduk galbi riff on local staples, like Mexican mariscos and Mediterranean kebabs respectively, in playful and delightful ways.
The drive to Orange County is never one I look forward to, but it’s not too bad when there’s afternoon tea at the finish line. June and I, along with Auntie Roz, attended a proper high tea hosted by Hello Kitty a few weekends back at the Irvine Spectrum. We were all so giddy for the experience that the hour-long drive didn’t even phase us.
Whereas the cafe is open to the public, the speakeasy hidden behind the cafe called the Bow Room requires advance reservations. Here is this pretty pink space, afternoon tea is served during the day and cocktails are available late into the night. What a stellar combination.
The three of us settled into a plush pink booth and readied ourselves for an onslaught of sweets and savories ($55 per person). To say that June was thrilled for the experience would be an understatement.
When Chef Bruce Kalman decamped from the kitchen at Union, Vetri alum Christopher Keyser stepped in without missing a beat. Following in the footsteps of a beloved chef is no easy task, but when the new person in charge has a clear culinary point of view along with the passion and skills to back it up, the results can be even better than before.
Although Chef Keyser has been in charge for the past year or so, I only recently got around to coming in for dinner with June and The Astronomer. The current menu feels familiar enough for regulars, smartly retaining crowd-pleasing favorites, but there’s new energy at every turn.
First up was the burrata served with pesto rosso, mixed herbs, and crostini ($16). While The Astronomer and I fought over the scratch-made cheese, June hogged the house-made bread.