From Burgers to Bridal Showers: Chef Evan’s Next Course

In this week’s “Best of Laguna Beach Radio,” Laguna native and catering powerhouse Chef Evan Lewis dishes on her Sawdust Festival frenzy, the bittersweet close of her restaurant (Evan’s Gourmet), and why group dining + fully custom catering are her recipe for what’s next. From ahi sandwiches and lamb lollipops to Halloween party ribs shaped like skeletons, Chef Evan proves that food is never just food … it’s an experience!

Text or call Chef Evan for catering
and group dining requests here:
949-388-1569.


Show Notes 

• Chef Evan’s 11-year run at the Sawdust Festival and why her Angus burger + fries never stop flying out the window.
• The pivot: closing her restaurant service while doubling down on catering + group dining at her Thalia Street location.
• Why her spot is the perfect hidden gem for 20–36 person events – weddings, rehearsal dinners, or small business holiday parties.
• Inside her catering world: from 300-person plated dinners to six-course wine pairings (sorbet palate cleanser included!).
• How Chef Evan creates menus from scratch for various catering events, even pulling off authentic Armenian feasts without a playbook.
• Her playful catering side: Halloween skeleton ribs, pumpkin puke displays, and kid parties with trampolines + mini hot dogs.
• The “Create a Recipe” contest where one lucky listener gets Chef Evan to invent their dream dish.
• Growing up in Laguna: her first job at Taco Bell (yes, brown polyester pants included), plus the local hangouts she still loves.
• Rapid-fire Q&A: favorite wine, last meal pick, and why “organized fridge” is a caterer’s superpower.