From waiting tables to tossing bread

Angelique Flores

Which local waiters and waitresses sing the best birthday songs? Who can

set the table the fastest?

The answers will be revealed Saturday at the Huntington Beach Restaurant

Olympics, when more than 20 local eateries will compete in such events as

tossing a bread basket, toting trays, cherry tomato passing, relaying

clean water, singing birthday greetings, table setting and a long board

sand-surfing race, plus best team spirit and best dressed team.

“We want it to be fun and to remind people what restaurants we have in

Huntington Beach,” said Ron McLin, manager of Longboard Restaurant and

Pub.

Spectators may enter a drawing to win a night’s stay at the Waterfront

Hilton and dinner at Duke’s restaurant. Mid Life Crisis and Ruby’s Swing

Band will perform during the festivities.

The newly formed Restaurant Assn., co-founded last November by Brett

Barnes and John Gilbert, is spearheading the Olympics-style event. Barnes

is manager of Duke’s and Gilbert is vice president and manager of the

Waterfront Hilton.

The city has 320 restaurants, 130 of which are full-service dining-style.

The association was formed to make people aware of the establishments.

“We want to promote Huntington Beach as a dining destination,” Barnes

said.

The association hopes to turn the competition into an annual event and

eventually expand it to two days, adding food booths, volleyball games

and more music.

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FYI

* What: Huntington Beach Restaurant Olympics

* When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

* Where: Pier Plaza for events, Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street;

followed by award party at Duke’s restaurant on the pier

* Call: Huntington Beach Visitors Center at 969-3492 for more information