All the Details of our Brunch for Chriselle Lim

Chriselle Lim was in Orange County to visit South Coast Plaza – a perfect time for us to host an exclusive brunch for the international super influencer/major vlogger/entrepreneur and her Cinc team.

 

 

 

The newly redesigned Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge, which is part of South Coast Plaza’s fine dining collection, was the perfect Instagram-worthy venue for the social media fashion powerhouse event.  Located a short stroll across from our main building on Bristol Street and adjacent to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Leatherby’s boasts floor-to-ceiling undulating windows  with a dramatic view of Richard Serra’s “The Connector,” an iconic towering sculpture commissioned by our late co-founder Henry Segerstrom and our co-managing partner, Elizabeth Segerstrom.

 

 

 

Chriselle served as our muse when we envisioned the decor of creamy white hydrangeas and roses with accents of fringed tulips in clear glass vases, and when we designed the place setting menu card that drew its hues from the restaurant’s palette. She was also on our mind as we partnered with executive chef Greg Stillman to create a spring menu for a seated brunch.

 

 

As Chriselle, her husband Allen Chen and other guests arrived, they were greeted with a specially-designed Champagne cocktail, “The Chriselle” – Veuve Clicquot bubbly and lavender and rose petal-infused syrup garnished with dainty edible flowers.

 

 

 Brunch began with an amuse bouche – a smoked salmon and California avocado roll with tomato conserva, green apple, crème fraiche and pink peppercorn, followed by a light and airy popover with honey Dijon butter.

 

 

The main course was a spring beauty and bounty – a chilled Maine lobster salad featuring baby vegetables and freckle lettuce tossed with quince vinaigrette. This was served with a choice of Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay (Napa Valley, 2014) or Belle Glos Clark and Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County, 2014).

 

 

The finale: a Sweets Trio consisting of mini chocolate donuts flecked with chocolate pearls and gold flakes, a mini lemon bar adorned with crème Chantilly and orange peel and. . .

 

 

. . .a mini berry trifle made of berry compote, berry mousse, topped with whipped cream, fresh berries and edible flowers.  

 

 

With Chriselle as the inspiration and Leatherby’s as the venue, all the ingredients came together seamlessly for a stunning, one-of-a-kind brunch to remember. Want to see more? Go to our Instagram for more photos of Chriselle and the event.