Finding Your SeaLegs at OCRW

Alicia Whitney, CEO and founder of Huntington Beach's SeaLegs Wine Bar, SeaLegs Wine Bar LAX and the soon-to-open SeaSalt Woodfire Grill also in Huntington Beach, is no stranger to stunning food and Orange County's Restaurant Week.

This gifted entrepreneur and Golden Foodie Award-winner shares her story and her secrets for success.

Why did you originally decide to open your first restaurant in Orange County?

My husband and I lived in Huntington Beach and I was splitting my time between Orange County and Las Vegas, working in the event, entertainment, casino marketing and venue development world. When I got pregnant with our daughter. I knew it was time to settle in O.C. full time, and I wanted to bring my love for excellent food and amazing wines to Huntington Beach. From dreams, visions and journaling, SeaLegs Wine Bar was born!

Having participated in OCRW before, why do you think the experience is valuable?

It's such a fun opportunity for people to step out of their "go to" restaurant
comfort zones and try an array of different dining options throughout our county. We have tons of regulars that we love and cherish, but, it's very exciting to have new guests come in and try our food. Once they come to SeaLegs for our specialized prix fixe menu, created by our amazing Executive Chef Alex Dale and myself, they are sure to come back again!

What menu items can diners expect this year at SeaLegs for OCRW?

During OCRW, guests can choose one of the following menu items for each course:

Appetizers: Mirin Glazed Brussels Sprouts, Stinky Fries, SeaLegs Salad or Baby Kale Caesar.

Entrees: Ancho Chile Braised Short Rib with jalape�o and poblano cream corn, reduction sauce, house-made queso fresco, roasted tomatoes and cilantro; Arty's Links and Chitarra Pasta, Spicy Italian sausage with arugula pesto, blistered grape tomatoes, peppers, onions, and chitarra pasta topped with shaved asiago; or Grilled Scottish Salmon with griddled smoked paprika potato, grilled broccolini, lemon caper beurre blanc.

Desserts: House-made Irish Cream in Coffee Block, Espresso Brownie, Bananas Foster or Oreo Cheesecake.

You have a new location at LAX. Tell us why readers should check it out.

SeaLegs Wine Bar LAX has been open in Terminal 2 since June of 2015. It was the highlight of my last year and is a must-go for any LAX traveler. Not only is it gorgeous (it's dripping with jewels!), the menu features favorite bites
and sips off our flagship Huntington Beach menu. Its warmth and sophistication offers a perfect respite from the insanity of airport travel. Airplane food vs. SeaLegs Wine Bar LAX's award-winning shared plates? There is no question!

When do you expect to have SeaSalt Woodfire Grill up and running, and what is the theme of the cuisine?

March... It's going to be like nothing Orange County has seen! Our menu of Santa Maria-style, live-fire grilling hasn't been done in O.C. before. It's a concept that will feature the tastes of "farm-to-fire" grilling invented in Santa Maria Valley in California's central coast. We'll offer meats and seafood cooked over a live wood-fire grill of red oak, seasoned with homemade sea salts. This way of cooking really highlights the natural flavors of the meat and the hearty and smoky flavors are like nothing else. Chef Alex will oversee the menu, and we'll have items like the bold-and-robust bone-in ribeye steak, traditional tri-tip and locally sourced seafood. Plus, our savory and sweet sea salts will rim the glasses of cocktails for which we'll be coining "craft rims."

For the latest information on SeaSalt Woodfire Grill, go to seasaltwoodfiregrill.com

SeaLegs Wine Bar is located at 21022 Beach Boulevard,
#105 In Huntington Beach. For more information or to make reservations, call 714.536.5700 or go to sealegswine.com