Mrs. Gooch Adds Bulk to O.C. Diet

Move over Mother’s: Mrs. Gooch’s Whole Foods Market opens today in Tustin.

The Sherman Oaks-based chain’s eighth Southern California location, its first in Orange County, offers 125 self-serve bulk bin items, all free of chemical additives, preservatives, artificial flavors and colors, hydrogenated oil and refined sugar. There is a soup and salad bar, juice bar, coffee bar, pizza counter and potato bar with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a wine and beer department and meals to go ranging from $9.95 to $21.95.

Activities during the grand opening (through August) include product demonstrations and samplings, book signings and educational children’s parties. Among them:

* Aug. 4 at 7 p.m., Linda Rector-Page talks about women’s health issues, including relief from symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

* Aug. 5 at 10 a.m., “Fruit and Veggie Children’s Party.”

* Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., Charles Attwood offers his “low-fat prescription for kids.”

* Aug. 12 at 10 a.m., “Healthy Lunchbox Lessons” for children and their parents.

* Aug. 23 at 7 p.m., Janet Weiner discusses herbal remedies.

Open daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tustin Courtyard, 14945 Holt Ave., Tustin. (714) 731-3400.

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The Native American Feast series returns Friday to the courtyard of the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art. In a tribute to the tribes of the Southwest, Topaz Cafe chef John Sharpe will prepare dishes of the Zuni, Navajo and Hopi peoples. Bowers’ curator of Native American art, Paul Apodaca, will talk about myths and legends of the tribes as well as traditions surrounding the summer celebration of corn, squashes and chilies.

Among the nine courses are crab-filled squash blossoms; “little big pies” topped with grilled squash, peppers, corn and goat cheese; and mesquite-grilled quail served on a pine nut corn bread stuffing with wild berry compote. Dinner will be served family-style at large tables. Native American music will accompany the meal. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.; cost is $38 per person, all-inclusive.

Topaz Cafe, Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. (714) 835-2002

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Johnny Mercer and mustard herring--a marriage made at Gustaf Anders.

The restaurant offers a herring buffet along with “An Evening of Cole Porter” and “The Music of Johnny Mercer” on Tuesday and Wednesday. The shows, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., feature Dewey Erney, Stephanie Haynes and the Jack Prather Ensemble. Also on board for the buffet are allspice herring, Baltic herring and Matjes herring.

Reservations are required. Cover charge for all patrons is $8, the buffet, an additional $15. The regular menu will also be available.

A classical concert scheduled to launch the series on Monday has been canceled--a red herring, if you will.

1651 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 668-1737.