Listen to Melissa Fox’s Interview on KUCI’s ‘Ask a Leader’

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Here is the interview I did on October 14 with Claudia Shambaugh on the program Ask a Leader on KUCI-FM about my campaign for Irvine City Council and the future of the City of Irvine.

We discussed development and over-development, traffic congestion, infrastructure, protecting Irvine’s villages and local businesses, the Irvine Barclay Theatre, improving our bikeways and the iShuttle,  environmental issues, losing one of farmers’ markets, my Irvine Food Tours, the OCTA’s irresponsible toll road decision, and more.

I hope you’ll listen and let me know what you think!

 

Join Our Next Irvine Food Tour: A Spectacular Dim Sum Lunch at Capital Seafood!

Capital Seafood Irvine, Melissa Fox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, melissafoxblog.com

“The shared meal elevates eating from a mechanical process of fueling the body to a ritual of family and community, from the mere animal biology to an act of culture.” ― Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (2008)

Please join us as we continue our Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox and UCI Professor Catherine Liu, showcasing and sharing our wonderful cultural diversity in Irvine as expressed in scores of amazing local restaurants and markets featuring cuisines as diverse as Irvine’s population!

Our next food tour stop is on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 1:30 pm for a spectacular Hong Kong style Dim Sum lunch at Capital Seafood at 2700 Alton Pkwy #127, Irvine, CA 92606, in the Diamond Jamboree Center.

Capital Seafood Irvine, Melissa Fox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, melissafoxblog.comOur expert hosts will be Professor Catherine Liu and Capital Seafood General Manager James Tea, who will curate a diverse, vegetarian friendly, selection of dim sum.

Dim Sum is a style of Cantonese food prepared as bite-sized or individual portions, traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. In restaurants, dim sum dishes are carted around for customers to choose their orders while seated at their tables. You are offered an assortment of dishes and pick what you like.

Scholars believe that dim sum is linked to the Chinese teahouses that sprung up to accommodate weary travelers journeying along the famous Silk Road, providing them with tea and conversation while eating an assortment of bite size dishes.

In the west, dim sum came about as a natural result of 19th century Chinese immigrants – many of whom were from the Canton region – settling on the East and West coasts.  Some experts believe that the dim sum eaten by Chinese-American immigrants inspired the idea of “brunch” – combining breakfast and lunch into one relaxing midmorning meal.

Dim Sum is the perfect way to try new and varied food.

Capital Seafood offers over 100 types of dim sum, including classics shiu mai (pork dumplings), har gow (shrimp dumplings) and steamed bbq pork buns, as well as dishes such as dried scallop in sticky rice, cheong fun (rice noodle rolls), and crispy fried squid.

For vegetarians (like me), there are a host of deliciously prepared Chinese vegetables (such as Chinese broccoli, pea sprouts, bok choy) and vegetable dumplings.

Oh – and leave room for delicious deserts like egg pudding, egg tarts, and crispy bread with almond cream filling!

As always, there’s going to be great food and great conversation!

What: Dim Sum Lunch on the Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox and Professor Catherine Liu. Hosted by Capital Seafood General Manager James Tea.
When: Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 1:30 PM
Where: Capital Seafood at 2700 Alton Pkwy #127, Irvine, CA 92606, in the Diamond Jamboree Center.
Price: Prix Fixe $25.00 (before tip).

If you have any questions, please contact me at 949-683-8855 or melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

See you there!

Upcoming Food Tour Destinations:

Diamond Jamboree Tour – TBA

Previous Irvine Food Tour Destinations:

Da Lu’au Hawaiian Grill14151 Jeffrey Rd, Irvine, CA 92620.

99 Ranch Market, 15333 Culver Dr., Irvine, CA 92604

Gourmet Grill Masters Restaurant, 14141 Jeffrey Road, Irvine, CA 92620

Mokkoki Shabu Restaurant, 14041 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA 92620

Four Sea Restaurant, 15435 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine 92618 (Jeffrey and Irvine Center Drive)

Please note: The Irvine Food Tour is the creation of Melissa Fox and Dr. Catherine Liu, based on their love of Irvine’s many cultures and cuisines and their desire to share Irvine’s many wonderful cultures and cuisines with you, and is not an official activity or event of the City of Irvine.

Join Us on Our Next Irvine Food Tour Destination: Da Lu’au Hawaiian Grill!

da luThe shared meal is no small thing. It is a foundation of family life, the place where our children learn the art of conversation and acquire the habits of civilization.” Michael Pollan, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation (2013) 

Please join us as we continue our Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox and UCI Professor Catherine Liu, showcasing and sharing our wonderful cultural diversity in Irvine as expressed in scores of amazing local restaurants and markets featuring cuisines as diverse as Irvine’s population!

Our next food tour stop is on Monday, April 21, 2014, at 6:00 pm for a casual and delicious dinner at Da Lu’au Hawaiian Grill, 14151 Jeffrey Rd, Irvine, CA 92620.

Our host and Irvine Food Tour guide will be Da Lu’au Hawaiian Grill’s owner Marc Ner will introduce us to his delicious island cuisine that has gotten rave reviews.

The menu includes Kalua Pork, Chicken and Pork Katsu, Beef Jun, Kalbi Ribs, Coconut Shrimp, Loco Moco and Poke Bowl.

There are vegetarian and kid-friendly options.

And save room for shaved ice for dessert!

Each diner will purchase their own items from the counter.

As always, there’s going to be great food and great conversation!

What: “Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox and Professor Catherine Liu.”
When: Monday, April 21, 2014, at 6:00 PM
Where: Da Lu’au Hawaiian Grill, 14151 Jeffrey Rd, Irvine, CA 92620

If you have any questions, please contact me at 949-683-8855 or melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

Upcoming Food Tour Destinations:

Dim Sum Lunch at Capital Sea Food — 1:30 pm on May 8, 2014 (Please RSVP now!)

Diamond Jamboree Tour — TBA

Previous Irvine Food Tour Destinations:

99 Ranch Market, 15333 Culver Dr., Irvine, CA 92604

Gourmet Grill Masters Restaurant, 14141 Jeffrey Road, Irvine, CA 92620

Mokkoki Shabu Restaurant, 14041 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA 92620

Four Sea Restaurant, 15435 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine 92618 (Jeffrey and Irvine Center Drive)

Please note: The Irvine Food Tour is the creation of Melissa Fox and Dr. Catherine Liu, based on their love of Irvine’s many cultures and cuisines and their desire to share Irvine’s many wonderful cultures and cuisines with you, as well to support local businesses, and is not an official activity or event of the City of Irvine.

Join Us on Our Next Irvine Food Tour Destination: 99 Ranch Market and Bread Farm Bakery!

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman (1903)

Please join me as we continue our Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox and UCI Professor Catherine Liu, showcasing and sharing our wonderful cultural diversity in Irvine as expressed in scores of amazing restaurants and markets featuring cuisines as diverse as Irvine’s population.

Our next food tour stop is on Friday, March 14, 2014, at 4:30 pm for a guided store tour (with samples) and then dinner at Irvine’s 99 Ranch Market on 15333 Culver Drive.

Founded by Taiwanese American immigrant Roger H. Chen in Orange County’s Little Saigon neighborhood in 1984, 99 Ranch Market has grown to become the largest Asian American supermarket in the United States, with over 35 store locations in California, Nevada, Texas and Washington State.

The 99 Ranch Market on Culver Drive in Irvine also features a newly opened Bread Farm Bakery and Café, which offers customers traditional Taiwanese and European bread and pastries, prepared fresh every day. Bread Farm Bakery is the first endeavor for Executive Chef Haruka Lin, who headed 99 Ranch’s pastry department for the past several years. Chef Lin was trained in Taiwan and served as a pastry chef at the Grand Hyatt in Taipei.

Irvine Food Tour co-host Catherine Liu is Professor of Film & Media Studies and Director of the UCI Humanities Collective. Professor Liu studied at Yale University and received her Ph.D. in French from the Graduate Center, CUNY.  She also speaks Mandarin Chinese, German, Italian, and Spanish.

As always, there’s going to be great food and great conversation!

What: “Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox and Professor Catherine Liu.”
When: Friday, March 14, 2014, at 4:30 PM
Where: 15333 Culver Dr., Irvine, CA 92604

If you have any questions, please contact me at 949-683-8855 or melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

Previous Irvine Food Tour Destinations:

Gourmet Grill Masters Restaurant, 14141 Jeffrey Road, Irvine, CA 92620
Mokkoki Shabu Restaurant, 14041 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA 92620
Four Sea Restaurant, 15435 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine 92618 (Jeffrey and Irvine Center Drive)

UPDATE:

Teresa Leung

Teresa Leung

Our host will be 99 Ranch Marketing Associate Teresa Leung.  Teresa is a specialist in exposing Asian cuisines and Asian culture to the larger SoCal community.

The store tour will start at 4:30 pm and last approximately 30-40 minutes.  It is suggested that we bring a jacket, since it gets cold in the store.

Teresa and 99 Ranch staff will guide us around each department of the store with food sampling along the way: Produce, Drinks, Meat, Seafood, Dairy, Freezer, Bread Farm, Asian Kitchen and Deli.

We will conclude the guided tour at the Hot Deli department with samples, around 5:10

We will then take a group photo prior to dinner and may purchase our own meals.

Again, if you have any questions, please contact me at 949-683-8855 or melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

Reservations are not necessary, but are requested so we can better estimate the size of our group.

I hope you’ll join us!

Melissa

Please note: The Irvine Food Tour is the creation of Melissa Fox and Dr. Catherine Liu, based on their love of Irvine’s many cultures and cuisines and their desire to share Irvine’s many wonderful cultures and cuisines with you, as well to support local businesses, and is not an official activity or event of the City of Irvine.

Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox and Professor Catherine Liu — Join Us!

Geoff.carrots.01“You can judge the diversity of a community by the diversity of its restaurants.”

“Great communities have great restaurants.”

If these quotations aren’t real, they should be. One of the many blessings that have come to the City of Irvine as a result of its great cultural diversity is an extraordinary number of wonderful restaurants featuring cuisine from around the globe.

Food is an expression of culture and a central focus of family life. Here in Irvine, our cultural diversity is expressed in many forms, including restaurants. It should come as no surprise that Irvine is home to scores of amazing restaurants featuring cuisine as diverse as Irvine’s population.

I would like to share my love of Irvine’s many cultures and cuisines with you. That’s why I’ve launched “Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox.”

It is also an opportunity to support our local Irvine businesses.

Our first Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox is set for this coming Friday, October 11th at 12:00 Noon, and will be co-hosted by UCI Professor Catherine Liu.

Join us at Four Sea Restaurant, 15435 Jeffrey Rd. in Irvine, serving Northern Chinese delicacies brought to us through Taiwan. Professor Liu will make suggestions and answer questions while guiding you through traditional Taiwanese Cuisine. She explains: “This will be a great opportunity to try some Chinese breakfast that isn’t dim sum.”

Catherine Liu is Professor of Film & Media Studies and Director of the UCI Humanities Collective. She studied at Yale University and received her Ph.D. in French from the Graduate Center, CUNY. She also speaks Mandarin Chinese, German, Italian, and Spanish.

There’s going to be great food and great conversation.

Hope you will join us!

What: “Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox and Professor Catherine Liu.”
When: Friday, October 11, 2013, at 12:00 Noon
Where: Four Sea Restaurant, 15435 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine 92618 (Jeffrey and Irvine Center Drive)

If you have any questions, please contact me at 949-683-8855 or melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

See you there!

Please note: The Irvine Food Tour is the creation of Melissa Fox and Dr. Catherine Liu, based on their love of Irvine’s many cultures and cuisines and their desire to share Irvine’s many wonderful cultures and cuisines with you, as well to support local businesses, and is not an official activity or event of the City of Irvine.