Michelin-starred Chef Craig Strong has unveiled a new menu at his scenic Laguna Beach restaurant Ocean at Main. Inspired by his recent travels through Italy, Greece, and Croatia, Strong’s new summer dishes mark the first major menu overhaul since the restaurant opened in October 2018.
Since its debut last fall, the restaurant has attracted a loyal crowd of locals and curious travelers alike. As the restaurant heads into its first peak season of summer, Strong presents new dishes that artfully display both his pedigree and personal style.
“Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work in Barcelona. My time cooking there made a big impact on my life and career,” comments Chef Craig Strong who held a sous chef position at the prestigious Hotel Arts. “When it comes to art and cuisine, Spain holds on to tradition while simultaneously pushing its boundaries; I find myself inspired by that same duality when I’m cooking.”
Awakening the senses to a summer spent abroad, Strong’s new menu delivers the richness of European fare through Spanish chorizo and housemade pasta with a contrast of refreshing seasonal ingredients like English peas, rhubarb, and watermelon. With vibrant, geometric pops of color, Strong’s dishes visually resemble the Gaudí-adorned streets of Barcelona where you’ll find a convergence of classic technique and modern design.
While staples like Strong’s Oxtail Kale Risotto and Roasted Beet Salad remain, Ocean at Main’s new summer menu includes the following new dishes:
Crab and Melon Salad – Dungeness crab, vanilla aioli, cantaloupe, honeydew, daikon radish, honey vinaigrette
Watermelon Heirloom Tomato Salad – watermelon, cucumber, tomato, jicama, gazpacho
Summer Cavatelli – cherry tomato, English peas, pea tendrils, brodo, sugar snap peas, chorizo
Halibut – saffron couscous, rhubarb, buttermilk sauce, tarragon oil, asparagus, almond
Scallops – sunchoke, cordycep, kumquat, chicken jus
Lamb Chop and Croquette – lamb, haricot vert, fava bean, maitake mushroom, mustard frill
Charred Garden Pizza – burrata, arugula, fennel, cauliflower, onion, black garlic
Pastry Chef Keara Wilson’s new dessert menu featuring dishes like Dulcey Panna Cotta shows off summer strawberries while a vegan Coconut Pavlova gives a taste of the tropics with passion fruit, guava, and coconut.
Ocean at Main is located in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach (222 Ocean Ave) and is open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., and for weekend brunch from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information, please visit www.oceanatmain.com or connect with @oceanatmain on Instagram and Facebook.
