A DOWN-TO-EARTH EDIT OF THE NEWS YOU LOVE
IN ORANGE COUNTY AND BEYOND
A thoughtfully curated collection of food, services, products, giving, and people in Orange County
GET TO KNOW TABLEAU
Thank you for visiting our website — we’re so happy you’re here! Whether you prefer to browse the site for stories or want to flip through the virtual pages of our digital magazine, we know you’ll love Tableau. Each issue is full of inspiring people, interesting places, delicious dining, fun shopping, captivating art, and opportunities to give back.
Happy reading,
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Happy holidays and welcome to the November/December issue of Tableau!
I know you already may be feeling overwhelmed by all of the holiday “to do” lists you’ve created for yourself. Would it be a miracle (on 34th or any other street, especially yours) if you could cut yourself some slack this year? What if you spent some time breathing into the stress as best you could? Committed to scheduling time for self-care (for real) and remembered to enforce healthy boundaries on your time and energy?
I see you shaking your head, but it is possible. And I hope you’ll do it. Start by revisiting those to-do lists with an eye for what is truly and objectively essential and what isn’t. I bet you can cut them down significantly, leaving time for you to stay as present as possible and find some rest and relaxation this season, amid the (overrated) hustle and bustle.
That’s exactly what we’ve done with this short-but-sweet issue of Tableau. We’ve pared it back to the basics for the holidays, bringing you just what you need for the season, including:
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Gift guides with unique ideas, including items for the home and for your pets, too
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Chefs and eateries who will do your holiday cooking for you
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Ways to give back in your community that are easy and impactful
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A little bit of “what’s new” in town — so you can take some time to relax and explore
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The story of an inspiring leader to get you thinking about how you want to show up this season and in the year ahead
I’m no Dalai Lama, mind you. As I type, I am battling visions of “perfect” family gatherings this season, and how mine will fail to measure up (the curse of Instagram and Hallmark holiday cards before that). I’m determined to do my best to be real, relaxed and grateful as the holidays unfold. I hope you’ll join me!
With gratitude,
Carrie Freitas
TEAM TABLEAU
Meet the passionate and talented team that brings Tableau to life
Introducing the
TABLEAU STAFF
Miki Akil
After working as a publicist in Hollywood, Miki found her calling in consumer/lifestyle PR. She is a Houston native (who you’ll always find watching the Astros or Texans) with a proven track record of developing powerful marketing communications campaigns. After moving to the West Coast more than 10 years ago, she now calls Oceanside home and lives with her husband, two kitties and pups.
Carrie Freitas
Carrie hails from a newspaper/journalism family on her mother’s side, and a marketing/ printing family on her father’s — which explains why she is both a published writer and founder of Kitchen Table Marketing. She lives in Newport Beach with her husband and is a proud mom of two, and stepmom of three. Carrie is passionate about giving back to her community and supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
Jordan Kruk
Jordan has had a love of writing from a young age, leading her to pursue a career in PR. She started off in B2B marketing in the commercial real estate industry before joining the Kitchen Table team where she quickly discovered her passion for the restaurant and nonprofit industries. Jordan is an OC native and currently resides in Huntington Beach with her boyfriend and their pug, Franklin.
Madi Sutherland
Madi found her love for public relations and social media while studying Communications at California State University, Fullerton. After pursuing her degree, she worked for a digital marketing agency overseeing clients in the tech space before finding herself at the Kitchen Table. Born and raised in Orange County, Madi supports a range of locally (and a few national) based food, design, nonprofit and real estate clients for KTM.
Linda Lagunas
After pursuing her Communications degree from California State University, Fullerton, Linda worked in the public and nonprofit sectors. She previously worked with the Mayor’s Office of the City of Riverside and the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County before coming to Kitchen Table. Some of her favorite topics to discuss include social media trends and PR case studies. Originally an Orange County Native, Linda now resides in the Inland Empire. She is always exploring new entertainment, restaurants, and coffee shops in Southern California.
Thank You to the November-December issue's
CONTRIBUTORS
Sophia Anderson
Sophia is a high school journalist who was born near the beach and has seldom left it since. When she’s not writing or studying, Sophia is spending time with her family: doing yoga in her backyard, going out for tacos, and watching movies in her family’s cozy OC condo. It’s her, her numerous notebooks and her purple Converse against the world!
Allison Hata
Allison Hata is a freelance writer and editor based in Southern California. She lives and breathes OC, covering food, style, design and culture around town for over a decade. A former editor for Newport Beach Magazine, Allison is passionate about telling stories that capture the fascinating people and places that shape her community. Her work has appeared locally in Modern Luxury, Pelican Hill Magazine, Design OC and more.
Anissa Brown
Anissa is a freelance writer based in Southern California. She recently completed grad school and has written journalistic pieces for various publications and companies such as Starbucks and Disney. She is also experienced in social media, marketing and consumer insights.
Anita Lau
Anita has been a food writer for almost 30 years, first in Asia, Australia and the Bay Area, before settling in Orange County, 15 years ago. Besides her blog, "diary of a Mad Hungry Woman", Anita was also an International Producer for Netflix's The Final Table, and has judged numerous cooking competitions, including Gordon Ramsay's, Hell's Kitchen. Locally, she has contributed to various publications, including Riviera, Laguna Beach and Orange Coast magazines. She is hugely passionate about giving back, and thoroughly enjoys volunteering, especially, involving underserved women and children.
Sara Hall
Sara has nearly 14 years of experience at several daily and weekly newspapers, including The Record Searchlight in Redding, The Daily Advocate in Greenville, Ohio, the Newport Beach Independent, and most recently at Stu News Newport and Stu News Laguna. Her work has included photography, writing, design and layout. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and pets.
Michelle Pierce
It has been a lifelong dream of Michelle's to own a bookstore one day. When she had the opportunity to purchase Lido Village Books in 2020, she couldn't resist the offer. It's been such a fun adventure getting to know the community and creating a gathering space for book lovers. We hope to continue to share the love of reading for years to come. Be sure to follow @LIDOVILLAGEBOOKS on Instagram for updates!
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