Restaurateurs rally for tsunami victims

Andrew Edwards

Local restaurateurs have announced plans that would make it possible

for diners to enjoy a night on the town while also aiding tsunami

victims in southern Asia.

The owners of at least two Newport-Mesa eateries have said they

will hold fundraisers in the coming weeks. Their efforts follow Royal

Thai Cuisine’s Friday event that raised at least $10,000.

“I got to my goal of $10,000,” Royal Thai Cuisine owner Sam Tila

said. “I’m really proud of myself.”

Tila, a native of Thailand, has owned the West Coast Highway

restaurant for 23 years. His brother operates another Royal Thai

Cuisine in Laguna Beach, and both restaurants cooperated in Friday’s

fundraiser.

Tila wants to send money to Thailand and other nations hit by the

deadly Dec. 26 tsunami, and he hopes other businesses find ways to

collect aid.

“We want to make sure we in the United States give more than the

rest of the world,” he said. “The government’s kind of broke right

now. My solution is to pitch in a little bit.”

JACKshrimp owner Jack Jasper has events planned at his Newport

Beach restaurant and other locations in Irvine and Aliso Viejo.

Jasper’s chain will donate all profits, and his employees have agreed

to contribute their tips, he said.

“We’ve been seeing this stuff on TV, and me and the managers got

together [and asked], ‘Hey, what can we do?’”

Fundraisers at JACKshrimp are scheduled for Jan. 24. For now,

Jasper plans to keep regular hours at all three of his restaurants,

but he said he will stay open after hours if people come late.

Taco Mesa in Costa Mesa and Taco Rosa in Newport Beach are part of

a local chain owned by brothers Marco and Ivan Calderon. On Jan. 31,

the brothers will donate half of all net revenues from their five

restaurants to UNICEF, the United Nations’ children’s aid

organization, Marco Calderon said.

Each restaurant has different menus, but Marco Calderon is

planning specials that will be served at each location during the

fundraiser.

Restaurateurs will probably schedule a coordinated event next

month, Newport Beach Restaurant Assn. spokeswoman Peggy Fort said. A

future event would probably be a joint venture between Newport Beach

and Huntington Beach restaurants.