Where every mother rules

Trumpets sounded and heads turned as Melinda Saunders, her grandmother, Geneta Farmer, and mother-in-law, Jane Saunders, entered the lobby of the Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa with their family. But the trio were not the only women to enter with such fanfare.

Sunday hundreds of moms, grandmothers and great-grandmothers stopped by the hotel for an imperial reception.

After entering to the regal sounds of the horns, the women were draped in a red velvet robe, crowned with a sparkling tiara and seated in a giant throne for a photograph with the whole family.

Then came the impressive part, a lavish buffet sporting all the favorites, from sushi to custom-made omelets and, of course, heaps of chocolate-covered strawberries held in the Bristol Palms restaurant in the front of the hotel.

With 160 pounds of shrimp, 120 pounds of crab legs, 5 gallons of chocolate and 12 flats of strawberries, just to top the list, the hotel offered enough food for at least 1,000 people, Executive Chef Chad Krahling said.

The event, now in its second year, is the brainchild of hotel general manager Shaun Robinson who dreamt up this novel way of treating mom like a queen for a day at his last Hilton position in Scottsdale.

“It’s a different way to celebrate a good event,” Robinson said. “Give mum the royal treatment, and it’s well-deserved.”

The guests must have agreed as more than 75% of the 500 attending Sunday were return visitors from last year’s brunch.

Along with their three daughters, Amanda, 8; Raleen, 5; and Taryn, 2; Dennis and Melinda Saunders believe the brunch could easily become a family tradition.

Amanda thought it was a great place to take mom as a thanks for all the things she does the rest of the year.

“She take me [to so many] special places,” Amanda said.

After the meal moms hopped on a white Victorian carriage for a ride around the grounds

But dads, don’t get too jealous. Robinson has already started hatching a few ideas for Father’s Day this year.

A dad himself, Robinson plans on furnishing the restaurant with reclining chairs and personal remotes controls for fathers.

Robinson plans to keep the menu simple that day, serving simply cheeseburgers and cold beer. Sounds like a father’s heaven.