Early Bird Opens in Fullerton
Neighborhood restaurant offers residents chef-driven food that highlights fresh, local ingredients at very competitive prices.
FULLERTON, Calif., June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Early Bird, opening July 2012, was created to fill a void in the North Orange County restaurant scene, featuring high-quality, chef-driven, fresh-never-frozen, local ingredients. Chef/Owner Joseph Mahon's menu takes a unique spin on favorite breakfast and lunch dishes, stressing high-quality ingredients at very good prices. That, plus the comfortable, casual, and family-friendly environment will make Early Bird a place that North Orange County considers its own.
"I moved back to Fullerton because I was ready to bring what I learned from my experience in LA and working with some of the top chefs in the world, home," says Chef Mahon. "The one thing that sticks with me most is that delicious, fresh food should not be the exception, it should be the rule. And it does not have to be expensive. I am very familiar with the restaurant scene in North Orange County, and I know that we are all ready for inexpensive food that we feel good about eating and that we know didn't come from the freezer. I hope that our neighbors will agree!"
Chef Mahon will leverage his long-standing relationships with different local producers and artisans and his culinary expertise (garnered at Bastide, Sona, 208 Rodeo, the Fairmont Hotel and as owner of Fullerton's Burger Parlor) to execute the menu. Early Bird breakfast highlights include Brioche French Toast with spiced almonds, grilled apple compote and orange butter; Toad in a Hole with grilled asparagus, smoked salmon and chive vinaigrette; and the Morning Side "Pizza" with puff pastry, tomato compote, parmesan, and sunny-side-up eggs. There is something for everyone on the lunch menu as well, whether it is the Coconut-Curry Soup; Fried Chicken Salad with poached eggs and buttermilk dressing; Grilled Cheese with Fontina and Brie Cheeses; Open-Faced Sandwich with Burrata, pesto and shrimp on sourdough; or Penne Arrabiata with capers, basil, and goat cheese.
Owner and OC Native, lawyer, and entrepreneur Tank Menzies will bring his business acumen and experience to the table, not to mention his passion for sourcing in-season, single-origin coffee. "We started Early Bird because we couldn't find a lot of options locally where we would actually want to eat," says Menzies. "Call it snobbery, but we firmly believe that every one of us deserves to eat fresh food that tastes incredible. You shouldn't pay to eat out if you can't trust that what you are being served is fresh. The fact that frozen food is the norm in North Orange County is unacceptable to us. Early Bird is going to be the new standard."
Owner and entrepreneur Marcello Caraveo is a well-respected nutritionist who will consult on the menu and round out Early Bird's special-diet offerings, such as vegan and gluten-free options for those with special needs. "We believe that Fullerton and the surrounding neighborhoods know good food and are ready to embrace a delicious, fresh alternative to defrosted hashbrowns and overoasted, acidic coffee," says Caraveo. "We can't wait to get to know our neighbors better and to start building a clientele of 'regulars'."
Early Bird will be located in Fullerton at the corner of Bastanchury and Brea Boulevard—the former home of Lomeli's Italian restaurant.
Early Bird
1000 B East Bastanchury Road
Fullerton, CA 92832
About Chef Joseph Mahon
Chef Joe Mahon started cooking in Fullerton when he was only 16 years old, before going to the Culinary Institute of America in New York. His drive and passion landed him spots working for free at New York City's finest 3- and 4-star kitchens. He earned a position as intern at Cafe Boulud, working with rising star, Chef Andrew Carmellini. After he graduated, Joe travelled to France and London to work alongside celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey. Since then he has worked as Sous Chef of Sona with Chef David Myers in Los Angeles, Chef de Cuisine at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach, and Executive Chef of 208 Rodeo in Beverly Hills. He then moved into the Executive Chef role at the famous Bastide Restaurant in West Hollywood. Mahon's mission is to maximize flavors, use innovative techniques, and create balance on every plate.
SOURCE Early Bird
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