Greer's OC: Pair teams up for 'culinary collective'

East 17th Street in Costa Mesa is raising the bar as a farm fresh food destination. The 2005 opening of Avanti Café has inspired other like-minded organic eateries and stores to move in.

Now we have Sprouts Farmers Market, Greenleaf, and the new Anais+Raya Culinary Collective that just opened at Picnics Kitchen on East 17th Street. Organic, raw and vegan celeb chef Raya Belna teamed up with Anais Tangie, a local farmer's market advocate who runs the SoCo Farmer's Market and founded Special Eats OC, to create a haven for the farm-to-table community.

Anais+Raya Culinary Collective will offer cooking classes from local chefs, serve as a Market Grocery service and host pop-up restaurants and events.

From 5 to 7 p.m. on Sundays, Belna and Tangie will serve Farmers' Market Feasts with seasonal, local ingredients from the SoCo Farmer's Market in Costa Mesa. The family-style dinner changes weekly but will always include vegan, raw, organic, and free-range, grass-fed ingredients.

You can also stop in from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays for Belna's superfood smoothies, raw desserts, what's-for-dinner baskets and take-out foods at her WildCraft Elixir Bar at Picnics Kitchen.

Anais+Raya Culinary Collective at Picnics Kitchen is at 435 E. 17th St., Suite 7. For more information, call (949) 478-4857, or visit anaisandraya.com.

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They've got the look

At 6 p.m. July 26, join us at a gorgeous residence in Ritz Cove for OC Look.

The annual soiree hosted by Orange Coast Magazine raises funds needed to prevent, treat, and find a cure for Type 1 diabetes, through the Dream Guild of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The event celebrates 16 people recognized as the OC Look 2012 nominees for their style and accomplishments in Orange County. The advisory board is comprised of a team of fashionable trendsetters in Orange County.

During the party, everyone will be treated to MAC makeovers, handwriting analysis, informal modeling from Saks Fifth Avenue, a photo lounge, cocktails by Karlsson's Vodka and Bel Air Bellini, and more. There will also be an opportunity drawing for prizes packages, including exclusive retail items and packages.

All money raised will go directly to support JDRF's research in finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

For more information on OC Look and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.orangecoast.com/oclook2012.aspx or call the O.C. chapter of JDRF at (949) 553-0363.

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