It has been nearly a year since my last trip to SOCIAL Costa Mesa and on this visit, I was lucky to try a few new desserts from the dessert program from pastry chef Ashley Guzman!  Of course, we had some fantastic dishes from Executive Chef Jeffrey Boullt’s beforehand, to satisfy our savory cravings as well.  🙂

Let’s get straight to the menu!

I perused the seasonal cocktail menu, and I absolutely love a drink with an egg white.  What impressed me most about this sweet concoction was how thick and frothy the egg white was!  The dusting of nutmeg and the star anise was a gorgeous touch.

At first, my guy wanted to order an Old-fashioned, but I convinced him to try the Gunslinger, since it is one of only a couple of perennial items on the cocktail menu.  It is definitely for a reason!  His second drink was bartender’s choice, which ended up being a cocktail with pear and fig, called “The Emperor.”  He loved it so much, that he deemed it the best cocktail he has ever had.  EVER.

Now, to the food!

The Brussels sprouts were right in that sweet spot of being blackened, but not so much that it was like eating charcoal.  The honey and sweet potato were fabulous sweet contrasts to the sprouts, as well as giving a lively shot of color to the dish.

I was surprised by the spice on the cauliflower, but since it is a vegetable that takes on flavors well, it was wonderful.  Truth be told, it was practically addicting!

The Wagyu was so silky smooth and the mussel aioli gave the dish that umami sensation that made it ultra-comforting.  The homemade chips were lovely double-duty serving utensils and accompaniments to the tartare.

One of the most dramatic presentations, I loved this dish!  It took me back to Spain in one bite, and the octopus was cooked perfectly, even for a tricky ingredient to conquer.

We received one more cocktail for our desserts, and this was gorgeous.  Part coffee, part whiskey, and part beer, this could have been a disaster in an amateur’s hands.  Instead, this was a lovely complement to the desserts!

Speaking of…

I am having major flashbacks to this dish… and I don’t even consider myself a chocoholic!  It struck the perfect balance so that it was neither too light nor too rich.  Perfection!  Plus, the crunch of the hazelnuts was one of my favorite touches.

Super light and floral, this reminds me of something that a lady at a high tea would eat.  I may have been less than ladylike when I tore into it.  🙂  Layer after layer of deliciousness, it seemed simple until you tasted one bite.  Gorgeous!

Deconstruct an apple pie.  Then throw each ingredient into a bowl and make sure that every. last. bit. is. amazing.  Even though I think each dessert has its own merits and I could easily name each one my favorite, depending on my mood, I’m tempted to say that this was the best.  Maybe it’s because each spoonful tasted slightly different, depending on which arrangement of ingredients you chose to put on the spoon.  Definitely one of my favorite dishes of the night!

By the way, The Episodic Eater is new on Snapchat!  Screenshot the pic above and make sure to follow me at @episodiceater for more new food adventures!

SOCIAL is always a delicious bet for food and drink, and now you can add some amazingly creative desserts to the list as well!

SOCIAL
512 W 19th St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
socialcostamesa.com
(949) 642-2425