Inside Evan’s Gourmet: New Spring Menu, Wine Picks & Unique Group Dining

On Monday, Feb 17th, it was a fun, fast-moving interview with Chef Evan Lewis of the year-old restaurant, Evan’s Gourmet, my most favorite restaurant find this year!860 Glenneyre Street (Thalia and Glenneyre)Open Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat evenings, 5 pm - 9 pmSunday Brunch, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. with live musicReservations: Call or text: (949) 388-1568(I always recommend sitting at the Chef’s Counter/Bar)Show Notes: Chef Evan explains her “eclectic/fusion” menu, a compilation of her favorite catering items.We talk about the ONE stellar moment that got her into catering and her subsequent 30 years of catering (that she still does), including long-time clients that she cooks for 3 days a week for 24 years!Chef Evan has also been a well-loved fixture at Sawdust for 10 years (both summer and Winter Fantasy festivals). She talks about how she prepared to win the coveted spot and the unique issues of hiring help for her Sawdust location.We talk about favorite margaritas in preparation for National Margarita Day this Saturday, Feb. 22nd. Where’s Chef Evan’s favorite? We then toss back into her menu as she serves best-selling margaritas, mimosas, espresso martinis and more from her saké-based spirits menu. Then, it’s a review of how she selects her wines to specifically pair with her menus😋 Then it's Chef Evan’s NEW Spring Menu, arriving the first week of March. She’s tested it ALL on her catering clients, even a party she catered the evening previous!Chef Evan talks about her live musicians in the restaurant and that the 3rd Thursday of the month is an open mic event with “Story Time with Mijo”The learning curves Chef Evan dealt with as a first-year full-service restaurant owner. We discuss the issue of restaurant owners paying for EVERY reservation people make, even if they don’t bother to show up and cancel the reservation. People! Be kind about your restaurant reservations! And, we discuss those people who change everything about a menu item and then complain about it in Yelp.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu options at Evan’s Gourmet.When Chef Evan is doing her 48-hour fast, this is what she does to occupy her time …Chef Evan’s group dining bookings is rapidly expanding (for groups up to 35) and this is exactly why …