Batter up for cheesecake

The Cheesecake Factory at Bella Terra served more than 2,000 patrons in two days last week in a trial run before it opened for dinner on Monday.

Hundreds of guests waited in a queue that snaked outside the restaurant, onto the sidewalk. The restaurant sits between the Huntington Surf & Sport store and Barnes & Noble bookstore off Edinger Avenue and Beach Boulevard.

“It’s an opportunity for our staff to fine-tune what they’ve learned by practicing on the guests,” joked Alethea Rowe, director of restaurant marketing.

The mock-up was heavily attended by a Who’s Who of Huntington Beach, including City Hall officials, Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce members, and friends and family members of Cheesecake Factory staff.

“It’s pretty neat to go to a restaurant and know everyone there,” said Maureen Sloan James, who manages the 5 Points Plaza shopping center on Main Street.

The bakery and bar also got a vigorous workout during the trial run. “It’s been very busy,” said Katharine Jarin, who was working in the bakery section and has worked on Academy and Grammy awards ceremonies. “We’re still getting used to the new recipes.”

Christian Rivera, a local resident who works as a whipper and decorates desserts, has affectionately been dubbed a “Rock Star” by his colleagues because of his multipurpose skills in the bakery.

“I have to remember a lot of things, but I’m glad to be doing this,” said Rivera, who welcomed the intense pace though he’s a first-timer in the bakery.

Aside from the signature Cheesecake Factory interiors, the Bella Terra restaurant’s soaring ceilings give it a breathtaking ambience.

The bar served up about 4,000 drinks in the two days of mock training. And the favorite of many was the Pomegranate margarita, one of the best-selling drinks on the menu.

The menu also has a new look and many new recipes, including an option for smaller portions at lunch time for people watching their waistlines.

The staff underwent about 80 hours of training before the test run began June 22, and they’re still honing their skills and recipes, said Nam Pham, a bartender at the restaurant who is also a Huntington Beach resident.

Servers delivered checks to tables, although the meal was complimentary, to practice every step of a normal dining experience.

“I loved the dedication,” Pat Rogers, marketing director for Bella Terra, said. Mayor Dave Sullivan presented a proclamation to the Calabasas-based Cheesecake Factory founder and chief executive David Overton, declaring June 23 as “The Cheesecake Factory Day.”

“It’s just a fantastic new restaurant that our residents are really enthusiastic about,” Sullivan said.

“The whole community came out for this, and I’m sure it’s going to be an instant hit,” Rogers said.

City Councilman Keith Bohr summed it up best: “One less reason to go to Newport Beach.”hbi.29-cheesecake-2-CPhotoInfo0E1SDD9520060629j1jjj1nc(LA)Cheesecake Factory founder David Overton receives a certificate commemorating the store’s opening from Matt Liffreing (left), executive assistant to Orange County Board of Supervisors member James W. Silva. hbi.29-cheesecake-1-CPhotoInfo0E1SDD9220060629j1jji6ncJAMIE FLANAGAN / INDEPENDENT(LA)In preparation for the opening of The Cheesecake Factory at Bella Terra Mall, bakery trainer Sarah Figueroa (center) guides new employees Christian Rivera and Nicole Dimaano in the art of icing a cheesecake.