Iva Lee's
Masterful Southern Dining
by Adriana Vitale

Lisa and Eric Wagoner, proprietors of Iva Lee's in San Clemente, have been serving their delightful Southern and Creole cuisine since June 2002. Named in honor of Lisa's grandmother, Iva Lee (1915-1997), who Lisa credits for teaching her all about food, life and love. Iva Lee began her culinary talents by preparing meals for field workers on her Kentucky farm. Dating back to 1640 when they first arrived in America, her ancestors took pride in passing down their recipes from generation to generation. After more than 20 years in the restaurant industry, Lisa sold her ownership interest in the Ramos House Café to focus on opening her own restaurant, continuing her life-long dream. She and Eric designed and built Iva Lee's with a mission… to make Iva Lee's the BEST restaurant in Orange County.

If you have not experienced Iva Lee's Wine Dinners, you should certainly add it to your wish list. Every other month, Chef Antonio Ramos, formerly with Aqua at the St. Regis Hotel, is given full ingenuity to take the opportunity to surpass his already fabulous dinner menu to create a series of five-course, candlelit meals with wine pairings. Each course is partnered with a choice of wine carefully selected to enhance the sensation of every palate.

Most recently at Iva Lee's was Lincourt Winery, represented by Marcelino Cosio, who added a personal touch with guests by presenting an introduction and brief history of the winery before the first course was served. Financier Bill Foley, just outside the quaint Danish town of Solvang, founded Lincourt in 1996. In 1997, Foley acquired a 30-acre estate and winery in the Santa Ynez Valley, nestled in an incredible climate, a serene setting and surrounded by great fruit. Together with winemaker, Alan Phillips, Foley has established Lincourt as one of Santa Barbara's most compelling wine portfolios.

If you like "Blues," you don't want to miss Iva Lee's live entertainment line-up every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10:30, featuring such notables as Nathan James and Ben Hernandez, Blue Largo and Bernie Pearl. Why not plan to ring in 2007, Iva Lee's Special New Year's Eve Extravaganza will feature the Carl "Sonny" Leyland Trio, and it should prove to be an unforgettable evening.

Iva Lee's has carved a niche in Southern California as one of the premier restaurants in the area. Dishes are created based upon imaginative concepts and skillful cooking techniques that would best represent the flavors of the South and the tastes of Grandmother Iva Lee. Schedule your next reservation to indulge in the uniquely crafted, culinary delights of Iva Lee's. For additional information on the upcoming schedule of wine diners, visit www.ivalees.com.

IVA LEE'S
555 N. El Camino Real #E
San Clemente, CA 92672
949.361.2855
www.ivalees.com

(South Coast Magazine - Winter 2006)