A few weeks ago I was invited to a sampling of the new spring menu at the The Resort at Pelican Hill’s Pelican Grill. We started at the Sports Lounge with a few bites available at the lounge as well as some of the cocktails expertly concocted by their resident mixologist.
**A handful of the below items are already available. All items will be available April 22nd. Please note photos depict sample portions while prices reflect full menu portions**
Some of the cocktails include Pelican Cloud with Effen Black Cherry Vodka, fresh lemon juice and Tuaca-infused foam. Lido Lemonade combines Van Gogh blueberry vodka, Ketel Citron, Limoncello, fresh lemonade and gel pearls — very pretty! Last but not least, Greyhound Prosper Tanqueray Ten Gin, fresh grapefruit juice garnished with a candied grapefruit.
While sipping on cocktails, you can order some delicious items to munch on such as Pelican Grill Wood-Fire Pizzas ($13) — and they come with a variety of toppings.
Ahi Tuna Tartare ($17) is light and delicious. Beautifully fresh sushi-grade ahi tuna with chunks of avocado is seasoned perfectly and served with sesame crisps. Or try the Bourbon-Smoked Beef Brisket Sliders ($14) which have unctuously tender pieces of brisket sandwiched between a soft brioche bun.
After the lovely bites at the bar, we moved into the main dining area to enjoy items from Pelican Grill’s menu by Chef Derek Brooks.
In-House Smoked & Beet-Cured Skuna Bay Salmon ($28) includes perfect slices of salmon with deep maroon hued edges from the beet. Served with a tian of traditional garnishes such as chopped egg yolk and red onions, capers and pumpernickel bread, my mouth was longing for more than just a taste! Definitely a dish I’d return for it was THAT good!
The next item we tried was the Warm Bloomsdale Spinach Salad with Irvine Ranch Strawberries ($15). Sweet, fragrant strawberries from local Irvine Ranch means you’re getting the freshest picked fruit from farm to your plate. Pistachios add a nice crunch to the strawberry-champagne vinaigrette-dressed salad. If that wasn’t enough, soft, creamy burrata cheese is added for even more decadence to every mouthful.
My favorite item was Seared Sea Scallops ($31). The presentation itself was worth it (this presentation is only available when ordering the chef’s table menu) with the scallop sitting atop its own shell surrounded by sea kelp. Irvine Ranch green asparagus and chive oil, along with a seasonal white asparagus puree completes this item.
By the time Braised Short Rib ($32) hit the table, I was already very full. The garlic mashed potatoes, Irvine Ranch vegetables and thyme jus accompanied the ever so succulent piece of meat braised in a heavenly, rich marinade.
Even as full as I was, I managed to devour the Strawberry Souffle ($15) which Chef Brooks gave us in an espresso cup. I was very sad when I finished the souffle in about four bites. Even my non-sweet palate wanted an entire portion of this.
Every restaurant in this luxurious resort is worth a visit, whether for an evening out, birthday, or anniversary, you will always have the best experience ever. Don’t take my word for it, go give them a try! Complimentary valet parking is offered at the resort when you dine at any of its restaurants.
This week, The Resort at Pelican Hill generously offers one of my readers the opportunity to win dinner for two at Pelican Grill valued at $125. Offer expires March 31st, 2014. Leave me a comment with your FULL name and tell me who you would bring to enjoy this dinner with and why for a chance to win. Entries close Sunday, April 14. Winner announced Monday, 15th.
Restrictions: Alcohol, tax and gratuities not included. Dining credit for Pelican Grill only – not to exceed $125. Certificate has no cash value, is non-transferable and may not be combined with any other offers or promotions. Some restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Not valid during special events, holidays or holiday weekends. Certificates are strictly not eligible for extension. May not be replaced if lost or stolen.
Pelican Grill
at The Resort at Pelican Hill
22651 Pelican Hill Road
Newport Beach, CA 92657
Tel: 949-467-8551
I would bring my husband to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
I would bring my husband it has been so long since we had a nice dinner date.
The resort is beautiful and the food look scrumptious! I would love win it and take my husband out on a date!
The resort is beautiful and the food looks scrumptious! I would love to win so I can take my husband out on a date!
I would LOVE to win this gift certificate to take my husband to dinner. We are expecting our first child in June and cannot afford these types of dinners. I read your blog on a regular basis and think this would be an awesome prize to win.
I’d love to take my septuagenarian besties Jean and Bob–they treated me to this place a while ago and I’d love to surprise them by reciprocating their generosity. I don’t recognize the items you’ve covered, so it’d be like going to a whole new place! 🙂
-Stephanie Han
I would bring my husband as the place looks so romantic! It would be such a fun date night and something new to experience as we have never been.
Didn’t know this place existed. Strawberry soufflé, I can honestly say I’ve never tried that. I would love to go and of course I’d take my wife with me as we’re both confirmed dessert addicts 🙂
Looks Fantastic. I would bring my new wife of 20 days and celebrate that taxes are over ;).
Hi Anita!! I would bring my beau Ross! Your photos look so beautiful!
I’d take my wife. Since the certificate is good all years, I guess I’ll wait to use it the day after I do something dumb.
The sea scallops does look really inviting. I hope I get a seating at the special table.
Come for the view, stay for the food. Looks great and I have never been. I would bring a friend who loves food as much as I do because this experience warrants a true foodie palate.
Robin Wachne r
I’d bring my best friend and eating companion so we can try as many dishes and share. 🙂
Anita, the photographs and descriptions of those mouth watering plates…amazing! My name is Jeanette Chiarini and I would love to take my husband of 34 years, a date night! He does so much for so many, it would be so wonderful to treat him.
I would bring my partner-in-dine Talia Samuels because she’s the only other person who would flip out over the In-House Smoked & Beet-Cured Skuna Bay Salmon! I/we must have that!
Hi there! My full name: Gabriela Alexandra Duncan. Who would I take…first thought would be my husband, because we don’t have too many dinner dates together, but instead I would take my grandmother for some quality time together. Good luck to everyone!
LOL Gabriela — entering twice still only means one entry :-p
Sorry, It was not intentional. I couldn’t tell if it worked so I did it again. The second entry was more thought out vs the first one. Thanks, hope it doesn’t disqualify me! 😉
Sorry! I can’t figure this thing out! I wasn’t sure if it worked so I did it again. As you can see, the second one was better thought out. Hope I am not disqualified. Thanks! 😉
My FULL name: Gabriela Alexandra Duncan. Who would I take, at first thought I would take my husband for a romantic dinner but then I realized, this is a very special place and deserves the company of someone extra special, so I would take my grandmother. Not for her birthday, not for Mother’s Day, on a regular day to let her know…she’s special EVERY DAY of the year!!! 🙂 Good luck everyone!!!
I would bring my boyfriend because we love trying new places together!!
The food looks good. That souffle, I want. The Spinach Salad.. oh my! I would bring my boyfriend as his taste palate is quite up to par with mine. Such taste buds deserve some pampering. 😉
I would most definitely take my other half… He works 2 jobs and we never have the time to go out to a nice place… This would be so great !!
I would give it to my parents because they deserve a night out in a fabulous restaurant! I’ll hope that they’ll take me but here’s to hoping.
I would bring my husband for his upcoming birthday because he bought me a really expensive present for my birthday and I don’t even know how I could top that! <3
I would be thrilled to win the this prize. My husband recently became unemployed due to restructuring and I would take him. He needs to be cheered him up and this would be a boost to his bruised ego.
I would bring my wonderful and hard working husband 🙂 because after having our beautiful daughter (16 months), all our money and time go to her now so it’s difficult to have an excuse to go out for a nice dinner. Always putting away money in her savings leaves little to not so much “play money” without the guilty conscience.
Grace Lee
I would take my friend Holly who has driven from Ontario Canada to work with me healing and helping me with spring cleaning. We both enjoy fine dining and we have been working hard these last few weeks but unfortunately we have mostly been eating our own cooking. It would be wonderful to win this as an elegant celebration of Holly’s transformation and hard work thank you.
I would love to come with my husband and look around Pelican resort & have dinner. Beautiful ambiance, great food, attentive service. Sounds like the best date place ever…
I would bring my mom. She is about to leave for Taiwan and would not be in the States for Mother’s Day. So a special meal together would be a nice way to send her off to halfway across the world.
Farm fresh strawberries on a refreshing salad and in a decadent souffle make this the perfect place to take my fruit and berry-loving wife!
Looks amazing! I have been unemployed and financially challenged for 1.5 years and would bring my wonderful, incredible girlfriend of many years who has stuck by me during these so-called “lean years.” She deserves sea scallops like these once a week, but with me it has been more like grilled chicken.
Karen Terry would like to take her husband John Terry to dinner for their 25th wedding anniversary to Pelican! He is such a good man it would be so nice for me to surprise and treat him.
-I’d take my Uncle Roger, to thank him for everything he’s done for me in life! he would love it!
Xenia Lok
Bree Briggs
I would bring my mommy! she would love every second
I would take my lovely wife for our 1st anniversary. I do what I can to treat her well and upscale dinners are usually out of my range. A grand dinner out would be the whole cake. I could provide plenty of icing.
Jonathan Zabala
My husband and I have only driven around Pelican Hill day dreaming of one day being able to live there. I had no idea this restaurant existed! That patio looks like the perfect place to have a romantic dinner during the summer.
congratulations, you are the lucky winner!!
I would bring my dad because we’ve never been here and it would be fun to treat him to a special dinner.
Well, because it’s my lady’s birthday soon & I can’t afford to buy her an expensive dinner like this otherwise. And I’m honest & humble enough to admit that. Taking her out to a dinner such as this would not only be an extraordinarily memorable gift for her, but for me also.
I would take my father, he is old, but open-minded to new cuisine, which I am glad to teach him constantly about the world we live together. This gift would be nice for him as a thank you for all he has done for me, and sticking with me regardless of what I have done.
Oh my gosh! I would bring my mentor and re-connected BFF Lorraine Marquez to celebrate her anniversary of surviving cancer! ~Sarah Lawson
I would bring my boyfriend in celebration of our 2 year dating anniversary coming up this Tuesday on the 16th. I am drooling looking at this photos… I can’t wait to try all these tasty dishes!
My guest would be my wife. Please pick me, I would like to take my wife out for a nice dinner.
I would love to bring my parents to enjoy an epic meal at a beautiful setting. It’s very hard for them to accept anything from me, so to receive a gift certificate would be perfect for a family evening out.
Without a doubt, my husband. He works very hard so we can live where we live & I am able to be home for our children.