Italian meats and cheese at Lucca (Irvine)
Lucca just opened up in Irvine (Quail Hill) and has an interesting deli area carrying various cured meats and cheeses. Included are speck, proscuitto cotto, proscuitto di san daniele, proscuitto di parma, pates, salami (various), bresaola, goat cheeses from France, bleu d'auverge, brie, manchego, basque blue, parmesano reggiano, gorganzola dolce, pecorino romano, grana padano, edel de cleron, taleggio, and many, many more. Finding convenient, cut-to-order cheese in Orange County can be a difficult proposition.
I found the dishes we ordered acceptable, but am really excited about having a store that carries great cheeses and meats so nearby!
Emily
Sep 06, 2005 06:04PM
That's wonderful. Where exactly is this? I think I've driven down Barranca Pkwy and seen a sign for Quail Hill but I'm not sure. You can also get Italian meats, cheeses, and THE BEST ITALIAN SAUSAGE anywhere at Sabatino's Newport Sausage Company on Lido Isle in NB.
Link: http://www.sabatinosausagecompany.com...
Permalink | Reply
Was driving past, so I stopped by today to see where it was. Exit the 405 at Shady Canyon / Sand Canyon exit and go toward the ocean. You'll be forced around around a traffic circle to enter the shopping center. Hang a left as soon as you enter the parking lot. Look for a small standalone building with a Wells Fargo, and it's next to the bank.
For disclosure's sake - chef du cuisine and one of the managers are friends of mine. Guess I'll have to review this place on my blog, and not here :(
Link: http://www.professorsalt.com
Permalink | Reply
Great find. I usuaully resort to the Italian deli/grocery in Tustin (Claros or something), but this is much closer. hmmm...proscuitto di parma!
Permalink | Reply
Just a followup to say that the Brie de Coulommiers we had tonight was excellent.
Permalink | Reply
Lucca Cafe & Market
6507 Quail Hill Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92603-4231
(949) 725-1773
Permalink | Reply
Well if they have Gorgonzola Dolce, fingers crossed they might have torta basilica... do they??? (please please please)
Permalink | Reply
Emily- I also have been to Lucca and was pleased to see another great source for fresh cut cheeses in Orange County. If you haven't tried the cheese shop affiliated with Laguna Culinary Arts on Laguna Canyon, you should. Great cheese selection! Cheese & wine pairing classes on Thursday nights. The selection will look familar as James Drakeford, cheese expert at Laguna cheese shop, is affiliated with Lucca.
Link: http://www.lagunaculinaryarts.com
Permalink | Reply
Any updates on this? Is it casual enough for a casual lunch meeting? Also, no hours on the website... guess I'll have to wait til they open to call - it's still early.
Permalink | Reply
Yes. They modified the menu since they first opened, but I've had a few casual lunches there before.
Permalink | Reply
I was with a group of 8 this past Saturday night, for a festive birthday dinner party. It was fantastic ! We started with the Grande Antipasti platter, and it was grand indeed - lots of great salumi, cheeses, a tart, shrimp, asparagus, and so forth. Excellent ! The "mains" are designed to be smaller (but priced accordingly), and the idea is for each person to order several things and to share, and that's what we all did. We ordered all sorts and the dishes just kept coming, along with plenty of bottles of wine - they have an interesting wine list with some well-selected and priced choices, esp. Italian wines. Everything I tried was really good, but one of the standouts for me was their frites - really nice, with some excellent dipping sauces.
I can't wait to come back !
To try to answer your question, I'd say it's quite casual enough for a lunch meeting, but maybe not as much fun as dinner, when the wine would be flowing more freely !
Permalink | Reply
Thanks for the encouragement - we walked in yesterday at 1:55pm & were told gruffly they were closed.
Permalink | Reply