Greenleaf Fall Craft Cocktails and Appetizers

Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop is a Los Angeles Based restaurant that has recently expanded to Orange County with 2 new locations that opened in Costa Mesa, California.  There is a Greenleaf on 17^th Street and a new one housed in the awesome SOCO/ OC Mix shopping center where there is a variety of different shops, restaurants and fresh products to buy. See details about SOCO/OC Mix here –> SOCO/OC Mix

Greenleaf recently invited me in to check out some of their Fall Craft Cocktails made with wine based products. Greenleaf manager, Laurie Koss shared with us demonstrations for 3 different wine based cocktails and food items that were perfect pairings.  I had never heard of a variety of spirits being made from wine, but I was pleasantly surprised as I loved

the flavor! Wine based cocktails are much mellower than cocktails with 20% alcohol content, rather than a 40% from standard spirits, such as rum, vodka and tequila. Greenleaf has a wine and beer license so they really got crafty with these beverage ideas and I was quite pleased! The three main wine based liquors they used in the cocktails we sampled were Petrov Vodka which has the same flavor as triple distilled vodka, La Quinta Triple Sec, which compliments their La Quinta Agave Wine, and Ron Copa Rica Fermented Rum which is great for rum based cocktails. These were all new to me.

The first beverage that Laurie prepared for us was the Strawberry Fresca, which included Petrov Reserve, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice, Muddled Strawberry and Orange, Pomegranate Juice, cubed sugar, and sparkling soda, Prosecco float with a little bit of basil leaf on top! Paired with the Strawberry Fresca were some Kale chips (kale tossed in olive oil and lemon juice with kosher salt and baked) and amazing Parmesan crisps, which were my personal favorite made with parmesan and season blend baked. The other appetizer we were served was grilled pear, micro arugula, burrata cheese, crispy prosciutto, and balsamic reduction.  The parmesan chips were so delicious; people in our party ordered them to go. I think it would be perfect if they sold these in bags to purchase by the register…such amazing flavors!

The second beverage we tried was the Ginger Sparkler which consisted of Petrov Reserve, lemon juice, cubed sugar, muddled ginger zest, and Prosecco float.  Paired with the Ginger Sparkler we were served two amazing pizzas that were Wild Mushroom & Truffle Oil Pizza on a whole wheat tortilla, 3-cheese blend, wild mushrooms, arugula, truffle oil, and shaved pecorino romano. Pizza #2 was a Spicy Turkey Sausage & Fennel Pizza which was on a whole wheat tortilla,

mozzarella cheese, spicy romesco, turkey sausage, arugula, fennel, and shaved pecorino romano.  My personal favorite food item of the night was the mushroom pizza. The flavors blended together perfectly and the item was made on a fresh tortilla which is light and healthy. I am not a sausage or spicy person, but my party seemed to enjoy that pizza as well. 🙂

Cranberry Noir

The third and last drink Laurie demonstrated for us was the Cranberry Noir, which was made with Leese Fitch Pinot Noir, cranberry juice, vanilla extract, lemon zest, Sea Salt, and sparkling soda.  I was very impressed with the vanilla flavor in this beverage. This drink was so very refreshing!  Paired with Cranberry Noir we ate Turkey Sliders on sesame seed buns, mini turkey patty, caramelized red onions, butter lettuce, roasted tomato, and fresh pomegranate/ cranberry aioli.  We also had meatball and toast with turkey meatballs in spicy tomato sauce, topped with fresh baby mozzarella and basil with whole wheat ciabatta. 

Greenleaf is a fun and casual place to go with friends and family or even for a date night or a dinner with a friend. I love how they have expanded from the Los Angeles area to the Orange County area!  Check out Greenleaf and let me know what you think of their food and beverages below!

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Wild Mushroom and Truffle Olive Oil Pizza

Strawberry Fresca Beverage

Spicy Turkey Sausage and Fennel Pizza

Petrov vodka

Ron Copa Rica Wine Based Rum

Parmesan and Kale chips

Laurie and her amazing cocktails

Gorgeous idea for a holiday candle

Cranberry Noir

Greenleaf Breakfast Menu

Greenleaf Cocktail Menu

Greenleaf Menu

Greenleaf SOCO Manager, Laurie creating cocktails

Grilled pear, micro arugula, burrata cheese, crispy prosciutto, and balsalmic reduction

Holiday Catering Menu

Good times at Greenleaf

Cocktail ingredients 3

Cocktail ingredients 2

Ginger Sparkler

Fun at Greenleaf

Dani in front of Christmas tree in OC Mix

Dani and Laurie making Wine Based cocktails

Dani and Fabi at Greenleaf

Artsy Cocktail menu I love

Blood Orange Punch Cocktail

Cocktail ingredients 1