SAMPLING THE TASTE

The Taste of Newport, which features more than 30 local restaurants,

will end today at Fashion Island, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport

Beach. Hours for the Newport Harbor AreaChamber of Commerce-sponsored

event will be noon to 8 p.m. with Toto performing at 6 p.m.

Though the $15 general admission does not include tasting the food, it

does include the entertainment. Children 12 and younger will be admitted

free.

Actual tastes cost between $1 and $5, and proceeds benefit Orange

County charities. There are some package deals available, such as the $40

Taste passport, which includes all three days of admission and $15 in

Taste Scrip, which can be used for food purchases. Tickets with the

original September dates for the Taste, which was rescheduled after the

Sept. 11 tragedy, will be honored. Information: (949) 729-4400.

All menus listed are subject to change. The restaurants participating

in the Taste of Newport this year include:

* Aysia 101, which plans to serve chicken or beef satay, California

hand rolls and crunchy hand rolls;

* Bistro 201, which plans to serve filet mignon with chipotle

demi-glaze, blackened ahi over Bistro greens with Asian vinaigrette, and

cobbler;

* Blue Water Grill, which plans to serve New England clam chowder,

Manhattan clam chowder, sliced smoked albacore andbay shrimp cocktail;

* Buca Di Beppo, which plans to serve garlic bread with mozzarella

cheese, macaroni Rosa, rigatoni positano and bread pudding;

* Ciao, which plans to serve bruschetta, three-cheese ravioli,

tiramisu and shrimp scampi;

* Clayton Shurley’s Real BBQ, which plans to serve

honey-bourbon-glazed pork ribs and Texas smoked beef brisket sandwich;

* The Clubhouse Restaurant;

* Five Crowns Restaurant, which plans to serve roast prime rib

sandwiches with fresh creamed horseradish and creme brulee with fresh

raspberries;

* Fruit-A-Freeze, which plans to serve frozen treats such as creamy

coconut, strawberry/banana energy, chocolate-dipped banana,

chocolate-dipped strawberry and fat-free lime;

* Gina’s Pizza & Pastaria, which plans to serve Barbacoa chicken,

Gina’s house specials, tasty pepperoni and four-cheese pizza;

* Gulliver’s Restaurant, which plans to serve prime rib, prime rib

French dip sandwich, cream of corn, cream of spinach andEnglish trifle;

* Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, Fashion Island, which plans to serve ice

cream tastes;

* Ho Sum Bistro, which plans to serve dim sum combination, ho sum

chicken salad, sesame chicken salad, tai tai mein and chocolate-dipped

fortune cookies;

* Kitayama, which plans to serve spicy tuna hand rolls, California

hand rolls, shrimp tempura hand rolls, shrimp tempura, teriyaki chicken

sticks, edamame and green tea ice cream;

* Koto Restaurant, which plans to serve hand-rolled sushi, shrimp

tempura, yoki-tori, kara-age and edamame;

* Margaritaville, which plans to serve spicy fish tacos, homemade

carnitas with corn tortillas and salsa cruda, and a sampler of guacamole,

tuna dip and chips;

* Marrakesh, which plans to serve salad with marinated carrots and

fresh cilantro, bastilla -- filo triangles filled with a mixture of

chicken, spiced eggs and roasted almonds -- chicken kabobs, lamb kabobs,

couscous with vegetables and baklava;

* McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, which plans to serve

dungeness crab cakes with chipotle aioli, pancetta-wrapped prawns with

Thai barbecue sauce and chocolate-covered strawberries with raspberry

sauce;

* Newport Fish Co., which plans to serve shrimp cocktail, ceviche,

fish tacos and shark skewers;

* Pavilion at the Four Seasons Hotel, which plans to serve seared ahi

tuna with Chinese vegetable salad; a trio of ravioli with smoked duck,

roasted eggplant and wild mushrooms; broiled pepper-crusted lamb chops

with garlic mashed potatoes and port wine reduction; penne pasta with

marinara or butter sauce; creme brulee with fresh raspberries and warm

berry crisp with vanilla bean ice cream;

* Pavilions, which plans to serve certified angus beef tri-tip

sandwiches and hot dogs;

* Ristorante Mamma Gina, which plans to serve rigatoni al pomodoro,

penne contadina, filet balsamico and tiramisu;

* Royal Thai Cuisine, which plans to serve lady Thai prawns, chicken

satay, pad Thai noodles, Thai stick and a combination plate;

* Rusty Pelican, which plans to serve fish iciban skewers,

Louisiana-style Cajun shrimp, fresh Hawaiian-style mahi mahi and fresh

Atlantic salmon;

* Sabatino’s Lido Shipyard Sausage Co., which plans to serve Caesar’s

salad, sausage sandwich and a combination plate;

* Sage, which plans to serve grilled Asian barbecue beef short ribs

with sweet and spicy dipping sauce, gorgonzola and granny smith apple

salad, tortilla soup and summer fruit crumble;

* Santa Monica Seafood, which plans to serve shrimp and scallop

ceviche, fish and chips, fried calamari and super clam strips;

* Soprano’s, which plans to serve pizza by the slice, meatball

parmigiana sandwich, calamari fritti and assorted Italian pastries;

* Tapas Restaurant, which plans to serve paella rice bowl, empanada de

pollo, tortilla espanola and Spanish chorizo sandwich;

* Tommy Bahama’s, which plans to serve coconut shrimp with mango

chutney, baby back ribs with blackberry brandy barbecue sauce, crab and

onion bisque, and key lime pie;

* Tropical Cafe & Emporium;

* Whole Foods Market, which plans to serve grilled New Zealand lamb,

grilled New Zealand beef skewers, mixed green salad with apples and feta,

garlic and chive mashed potatoes, and lemon curd tart;

* Wolfgang Puck Cafe at Fashion Island, which plans to serve Chinois

salad with chicken, skewered shrimp with spicy cilantro dressing and

stir-fried vegetables, grilled beef satay with Thai peanut sauce and

stir-fried vegetables, grilled turkey burger and fruit smoothie desserts