“The always popular Orange County Restaurant Week returns Sunday, March 8 through Saturday, March 14, 2026. This annual dining adventure invites all of Orange County to come together to enjoy specially curated prix-fixe menus, inventive cocktails, and a vibrant lineup of participating restaurants across the county. For more than 17 years, OC Restaurant Week has been a highlight of the local food scene, giving diners the perfect opportunity to explore new restaurants, revisit favorites, and support Orange County’s dynamic culinary community. With offerings for every taste and occasion, OC Restaurant Week truly delivers a week of memorable dining experiences.” OC Restaurant Week’s founder, Pam Waitt, joins us at the table.

Georgia’s Restaurant (Soul Delicious) with Orange County locations in Anaheim (Anaheim Packing House) and Irvine (Irvine Spectrum) is one of the participating restaurants in OC Restaurant Week running Sunday, March 8th thru Saturday, March 14th. Co-Founder Nika Shoemaker-Machado sets the tray of house-baked cornbread muffins aside to cool and then joins us.

John Park is a prominent (and seriously well-credentialed) Orange County-based restauranteur, chef, baker and dessert artisan. He is fondly remembered for creating the menus at Toast Kitchen + Bakery in Costa Mesa and Tableau Kitchen and Bar in South Coast Plaza. While perfecting a recipe for pizza dough Chef John became intrigued with creating an assortment of redefined fusion bagels along with premium bagel sandwiches. The result is Rise Bagels (opened with a business partner, John I. Park) in Irvine at Centerview at Irvine Concourse. John takes a brief break from proofing bagels to join us.