About Us

Christopher Trela and Catherine Del Casale write the Off the Menu dining column for the Newport Beach Independent newspaper, as well as the Off the Menu OC website and blog, which won 3rd Place at the Orange County Press Club Journalism Awards.

Christopher has written about food and wine for numerous publications, and is a member of the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association. His favorite wine is Zinfandel, and he’s addicted to the shrimp cassoulet at Brasserie Pascal in Newport Beach.

Catherine hails from Napa Valley, and is passionate about food and wine. She LOVES gnocchi, and her favorite beverage is champagne.