Here in Orange County, we're pretty known for our plastic surgery, injections of every sort and suctions of the lipo variety. And we here at the Weekly aren't immune to this practice--no, Gustavo hasn't gone and gotten Botox--as we've given Voice Places a facelift! You may be familiar with the site from such features as restaurant reviews, calendar picks and our Best Of selections.

But now we've added a bundle of more features like a pretty new design, tips from Foursquare, a national food blog, trending events and locations and improved photo galleries.

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Dave Lieberman

Terrible picture taken after I'd already tasted it...

Orea, a wine bar that's in a building off the beaten track in Placentia that's housed other Greek restaurants, calls itself a taverna, and like other tavernes, it's a place for meze, little small plates of food to accompany wine. (Greeks get a pass on my usual contempt for small plates, because meze have been around since Archimedes got up out of his bathtub and ran naked, wet and screaming through the streets of Syracuse.)

While there are a hell of a lot of tempting meze, from dips (but where is the taramasalata?) to salads to grilled brochettes, every table ought to have a plate--a cast-iron plate which will burn your tootsies if you touch it--of kalamarakia, squid steak.

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Sarah Bennett

Lola's is the perfect Mexican restaurant for Long Beach's Retro Row with craft beer and frontside parklet seating adding contemporary flair to a menu full of regional Mexican favorites. Brightly colored decor and the sounds of mariachi evoke what may have been rancho life for Lola's founder, the matriarch of the Navarro family, who first crafted her menu five years ago based on recipes from her own kitchen. When the real Lola passed away a few years ago, her son Luis took over the business, a move that solidified the restaurant's spot as a community hub.

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Photo by Amanda DeFrancis

"My main goal is to build a legacy for my mom and be a motivational speaker by inspiring others to pursue their dreams." Our final question delves into Xa's relationship with his mother, and how he eventually joined the family business.

Read our interview with Shawn Xa of XA Sweet and Savory Cafe, Part One.
And now, on to Part Two . . .

Last thing you looked up online:
I'm looking to purchase a smoker for the restaurant.

Hardest lesson you've learned:
To be patient; things will not always work out according to plan.

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,IT'SUGAR

Do we need a place that sells The World's Largest Box of Nerds, The World's Largest SweeTarts Candy, and The World's Largest Box of Pop Rocks? Probably not, but what in a candy store does anyone really really "need"? I think that's why it's called candy.

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Photo by Amanda DeFrancis

"My cooking is a reflection of my life, very clean and straightforward."

To call Shawn Xa confident is an understatement. Tell him what you are looking for in a meal (or not, if you're vegan or gluten-free), and he'll come up with a flavor profile on the spot. Situated across the street from CHOC, XA would go overlooked, if not for the recommendation from our resident restaurant reviewer. Edwin not only told us what to order, but that Shawn would make for a solid interview.

Xa roasts his pork loin and roast beef daily. He knows the quality and taste of the cuisine is top notch, and the medical staff reaffirm this, phoning in orders on a regular basis.

How do you keep the chicken so moist and flavorful?
Our chicken is marinated in olive oil, fresh thyme, Italian parsley and fresh garlic. It's seared on high heat to form a crust, then roasted on low heat with spices.

Favorite meal growing up:
Steamed live crab and shrimp with hot chili lime sauce, poached chicken, steamed spinach, steamed sweet rice with dried shrimp, banh tet, etc. I can't list it all. It's just too much. I love to eat.

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http://go2triangle.com/

Another restaurant is now open at The Triangle, that M.C. Escher-ish mall at the end of the 55 that most of us avoided when it was called Triangle Square. The latest is H2O Sushi & Izakaya and it reportedly occupies some 5,000 square feet of space at the street level part of the plaza.

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I think we can all agree that the best thing at Panda Express is the Orange Chicken. Oh how those morsels of sugary-crunchy poultry pieces shine under the lights. I think Jennifer 8. Lee, the writer behind the brilliant Fortune Cookie Chronicles, hit it right on the nose when she surmised the reason why it and its East Coast variant General Tso's chicken are so popular: It is fried, it is sweet and it is chicken -- all things that Americans love.

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LP Hastings

From our epic slideshow of DTF!

The Fullerton City Council lifted a ban on the evening operations of food trucks everywhere within its boundaries earlier this month...except the downtown bar and restaurant scene. The reasoning? "There is substantial evidence to show that the operation of food trucks in the Downtown area--when bars are being heavily patronized--leads to greater law enforcement problems," a summary of a Community Development Department report reads.

The only problem is, no real detailed evidence from Fullerton police was given to truly validate the claim that allowing food trucks in the downtown mix would lead to more vandalism and booze brawls! Annual statistics detailing a downward trend on calls out to incidents? Nah, just take the FPD's word for it!

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That's what we call dinner.

Julie Lim classed up an unassuming strip mall by SNA a few years ago, converting a liquor store into a wine mart and tasting bar. Equipped with dispensers that run on re-loadable cards, patrons can sample pours from a variety of bottles. But it wasn't only the wine that brought people in. Julie sells craft beer by the bottle, cheese plates and macarons. She also invites popular luxe loncheras, holding special events on a regular basis. It's her constant marketing and approachable storefront that earn her fans.

Naturally we got excited when she announced a second location was in the works. A total makeover and remodel project begins this month. Her goal for this fall is to serve locals in north OC, including Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, even the 909.

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