Best Of

Best Places for Bellini's In Orange County

January 13, 2016 / 5:48 AM PST / KCAL News

The elegance behind the Bellini cocktail began in the mid-1930s in Venice, Italy. Named by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry's Bar, the Bellini is made with Prosecco sparkling wine and peach puree giving the cocktail a slight pink tint. This drink is often enjoyed at brunch time, and today's mixologists love to play up the ingredients. While peach nectar is most traditional, restaurants and bars in Orange County serve a variety of fruit purees with the sparkling wine. Here is your list of the best Bellinis in the OC.

CUCINA enoteca Newport Beach
951 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 706-1416
www.urbankitchengroup.com

CUCINA enoteca celebrates the classic Bellini during its popular weekly Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each week, the CUCINA bar staff creates house-made seasonal mixers for its tableside bellini cart. The cart is rolled around the restaurant to give patrons the opportunity to custom create the perfect Bellini. Bartenders bring together harmonizing flavor combinations such as strawberry & elderflower and refreshing cucumber & basil, which are mixed with Prosecco. Traditional peach puree is also offered, as well as watermelon or blackberry sorbets. CUCINA enoteca's brunch menu is Italian-California influenced, featuring broad offerings such as steak and fried egg, fennel sausage and rosemary biscuit, grilled shrimp and mascarpone polenta, vegetarian frittata and sweet or savory crespelle (Italian crepe).

Saint Marc Pub
21058 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(949) 629-2591
www.saintmarcusa.com

Saint Marc Pub is a wonderful choice for a meal and a Bellini. The award-winning Saint Marc's Bellini is crafted by libation expert Thomas (Mac) McFarland Gregory III, CEO of Saint Marc USA. Made with Santa Margherita Prosecco, Mac's Bellini is then mixed with fresh white peach puree infused with Tito's handmade vodka and garnished with a slice of peach glazed bacon. It's a great pairing for Saint Marc's bacon peach Danish a la mode. Paying homage to nostalgic Americana cuisine, Saint Marc is a casual dining establishment with an excellent menu of baked goods, cheese selections (boards and fondues), grilled cheese, Southern grits, ahi tuna cooked on salt rocks, charcuterie, bacon bar, robust caffeinated drinks, craft beers, wines and cocktails (all served in red SOLO cups).

Brio Tuscan Grille
774 Spectrum Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 341-0380
www.brioitalian.com

Brio Tuscan Grille gives guests a true Italian experience with its specialty Bellini cocktails. Served frozen, the Brio peach Bellini is made with peach nectar, peach Schnapps and Prosecco (Cinzano Prosecco from Veneto, Italy). Guests who enjoy the sweetness of peach might also want to try Brio's white peach sangria served on the rocks and created with peach nectar, fresh berries and citrus fruits, peach Schnapps and Chardonnay. The bar also makes a strawberry basil smash, which is mixed with Prosecco. Complementary to brunch fare, a Bellini is quite tasty with any of these Italian brunch items — Tuscan brunch bowl (sausage, quinoa, mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes, Parmesan and sunny side up eggs), ham & biscuit Benedict and the Sicilian omelette (Cherrywood smoked ham, bacon, sausage, caramelized onions, tomato compote with mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan).

Solita
7631 Edinger Ave.
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 894-2792
www.solitatacos.com

Solita shows every color of the rainbow by offering fabulous Bellini-style cocktails. Known for its upscale Mexican cuisine, Solita offers wood grill cooking and a full bar with a view of the Pacific Ocean from its all-weather patio. Made with sparkling wine, Solita's rainbow mimosas are specialty drinks on its brunch menu. Guests can choose from four fruit purees (Baja-inspired flavors) including watermelon, guava, kiwi and mango. Weekend brunch is quite the to-do at Solita. Locals enjoy a variety of Mexican dishes from the traditional huevos rancheros and breakfast burrito to its "mad scramble," potato nachos, and machaca & eggs.

Paul Martin's American Grill
534 Spectrum Center Drive
Irvine CA 92618
(949) 453-1144
www.paulmartinsamericangrill.com

Open for lunch, dinner, happy hour and brunch on the weekends, Paul Martin's American Grill is known for an American take on Bellinis, mimosas (mixed with Piper Sonoma sparkling wine) and lemosas (Ventura County Limoncello and Piper Sonoma sparkling wine). Bellinis are refreshing, made from the essence of peach with honey syrup and sparkling wine. Brunch is offered as a prix fixe menu ($18 per person) and includes one beverage, a freshly baked blueberry bread, a side of seasonal fruit and an entrée - French toast, eggs Benedict, egg white omelet or Applewood smoked bacon omelet. Craving another brunch cocktail? It's only an additional $4.

Related: Orange County Brunch Guide

Sheryl Craig is a writer with a passion for interesting finds and treasures in Los Angeles. She has a background in journalism and public relations. A mother of two daughters, Sheryl integrates her healthy lifestyle into raising her children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com