I lived like a ‘Real Housewife’ for a day: Where I went, what I did for 24 hours in Orange County
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re just as big a fan of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” as I am.
My dream of living like an orange holder came true when I — Evan Real, Senior TV Reporter and co-host of Page Six’s ”Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast — spent an entire day with the cast for our new video series “24 Hours,” reminiscing on iconic onscreen moments at the places they occurred.
I started off by breaking a sweat with Jennifer Pedranti, who treated me to a private yoga session at her Devi Rebel Yoga studio — where I flailed through some tough moves and asked the series newbie about navigating drama with Gina Kirschenheiter.
Speaking of Kirschenheiter, I ran into her, Emily Simpson and Heather Dubrow at Javier’s, a favorite eatery among the cast, where we ate a special soup created just for “Fancy Pants” Dubrow — and, of course, spilled a little bit of tea about “RHOC” Season 17.
After letting loose with those ladies, I ended my time in Orange County by going to dinner at The Quiet Woman, where Shannon Beador famously shouted at alum Kelly Dodd, “This isn’t my plate, you f—king bitch!”
As luck would have it, Beador was waiting for me inside — along with Tamra Judge and “friend of” the cast Taylor Armstrong. The trio dished on some of their wild and “not so quiet” nights at The Quiet Woman, including some not filmed for the Bravo hit.
Whether or not you have a camera crew following you, I’m recapping where I went and what I did in Orange County, Calif., if you’re looking for a reality TV-inspired vacation — or just an excuse to pretend you’re a “Real Housewife.”
Devi Rebel Yoga
22342 El Paseo Plaza Suite F, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Pedranti put her blood, sweat and tears into building this studio — and I did my best not to fall out of some insane poses she showed me. But because the “Housewives” are all about their fitness, I didn’t quit … until I literally tumbled to the ground while attempting a heel stretch.
Pedranti told me that her ability to tap into her inner zen helped her endure her first season as a “Housewife,” which was noted on my end in case Andy Cohen decides to ever cast a dude on this show.
I’m ready to nama-slay!
Thousand Steps Beach
CA-1 & 9th Ave Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Because I could barely keep up with Pedranti, I jetted over to Thousand Steps Beach —where Judge and Dubrow are known to get in their cardio — to see if I would fare better there.
Let me tell you, it was just as hard as yoga!
But at least a few calories were burned before I ate and drank my way through Southern California…
Javier’s
7832 Pacific Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92657
Javier’s is a staple on “RHOC” — especially for Dubrow, who worked with the restaurant to craft a specific soup that comes in a one-of-a-kind Williams Sonoma bowl that, yes, is kept in the kitchen for when she comes in.
“They make this chicken soup that’s delicious and they don’t have it on the menu. But they only have these really shallow bowls here,” she tells me.
“I like a deep bowl because I like a lot of broth and I like it to be hot, so if it’s a shallow bowl, it gets cold. One day I was over at Williams Sonoma and I brought four over.”
I was fortunate enough to slurp this soup right next to Dubrow, who also suggests swapping chips and salsa for cucumbers, carrots and pico de gallo.
Note to reader: do Javier’s like Dubrow! Although, according to Simpson, it can be tough.
“I tried to order the Heather soup without her and they basically told me to kick rocks!” she laughingly laments.
The Quiet Woman
3224 Pacific Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
Judge calls The Quiet Woman the “Not-So-Quiet Woman” when she goes there with friends, especially Beador, the latter of whom tells me her Season 12 outburst in 2017 was a “teaching moment.”
“It’s crazy because I probably cried for two months after it happened because I was so humiliated and embarrassed,” she explains over delicious cocktails and appetizers.
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“Tamra and I, months later, went to a movie premiere together and we said, ‘Let’s stop for dinner at The Quiet Woman,’” she further recalls. “And it had been months and I called Julius the manager and I said, ‘It’s Shannon Beador, can I come back?’”
The Bravolebrity says she was welcomed back with open arms — and a tequila martini (her favorite) waiting for her.
“He said, ‘Shannon, if we didn’t let people like you back in, this restaurant would be closed.’ So we came here for dinner!” she adds.
And Beador’s been coming back for dinner ever since! Now, it’s time for you to book a reservation.
Until then, you can escape with the cast by watching “The Real Housewives of Orange County” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
