Slades Aims for Diners to Hang Out

Ira Slade, owner of Slades restaurant in New York City, has opened a place in Newport Center Fashion Island where American food with Mexican and French accents is available morning, noon and night (specifically, 6 to 10 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. for dinner on weekdays; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for brunch and 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. for dinner on Saturdays and Sundays). Dinner and lunch entrees average $10 to $14.

The new Slades is decorated in peach-gray tones with accents of stone and natural red oak. “I wanted a homey feeling,” Slade says, “not a high turnover spot. A nice place to hang out.”

But if you simply can’t do that, a cafe section offers takeout and delivery; 327 Newport Center Drive (between Robinson’s and Atrium Court), Newport Beach. (714) 640-5422.

Have Chef’s Toque, Will Travel: Guy Sockrider of Monique will be in Sun Valley on Sept. 12 creating nine courses for the Chaine des Rotisseurs gourmet group. (He’s describing his menu as “severely gourmet.”) On Sept. 17, he’ll be in Los Angeles, joining such luminaries as Wolfgang Puck and Michel Richard to cook at a benefit for the Dream Street Foundation, which grants wishes to terminally ill children. But before he hits the road, he’ll present a special “Foods of New England” night at Monique. Between 5:30 and 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, he’ll be serving crab and corn chowder; your choice of grilled live Maine lobster or roast pork tenderloin with bleu cheese and Port wine; wild autumn lettuces with grape-seed vinaigrette and champagne tomatoes and maple poached pears with wild hickory nuts. Cost: $28. Reservations: (714) 449-5359. 31727 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. And, by the way, if you’d like to re-create his addictive foccaccini bread at home, Sockrider says he’ll be happy to mail you the recipe for free.

Alan Greeley, chef-owner of the Golden Truffle in Costa Mesa, will teach Caribbean cooking at the Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Center on Thursday, Sept. 10, starting at 6:30 p.m. Cost: $48. Tickets may be purchased by phone: (714) 979-4510. The Mondavi Center is at 1570 Scenic Drive in Costa Mesa.