Eat your way through Newport

It’s one huge block party.

This weekend — just as it’s been for one weekend in September the past 18 years — the streets in Fashion Island will be closed to traffic, as Newport Beach gives locals and visitors alike a taste of what this city has to offer.

The 2007 Taste of Newport, sponsored by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and presented by Wells Fargo, will feature “warm summer nights, cool drinks and great food” as chefs from about 35 local restaurants get out of the kitchen and take to the streets with samples from their menus.

With 15 California wineries represented, and ice-cold beer and specialty cocktails on tap, diners will have plenty to choose from when their thirst needs to be quenched.

“The Taste is just another great way to boast Newport Beach as Southern California’s Riviera,” said Jessica Quadra, public relations director for the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

“Sort of a way to celebrate the city you live in, or to prove to out-of-towners that dining here is worth the drive. The entertainment this year is also going to bring on such a great vibe.”

And it’s a blast from the past this year musically, as pop bands from the ’80s and ’90s take to the stage with live performances featuring Huey Lewis and the News Friday night and Devo Saturday night.

Sunday night, Academy Award-winning actor, producer and director Kevin Costner wears a different hat — backward, no less, in publicity photos — as he and his band, Modern West, perform original music to close out the weekend’s festivities.

A crowd of more than 75,000 is expected, and that requires a lot of extra hands. According to the chamber, at least 900 volunteers will be helping sell tickets, pour wine and serve food.

While this community-wide event allows businesses and visitors a chance to enjoy the scenery and mingle, being able to give back to the community by supporting local organizations is also made possible through the Taste of Newport Grant program.

The chamber has contributed more than $165,000 to organizations including the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, Leadership Tomorrow, Serving People in Need, the Orange Coast College Foundation and Youth Employment Service of the Harbor Area.

Many restaurants are repeat entries this year, including Daily Grill, Five Crowns, McCormick & Schmick’s, Sabatino’s and Ten Asian Bistro.

One that is new to the event — in name only — is Austin Spencer’s Real BBQ. Formerly Clayton Shirley’s, new owners David Osborn and Eric Webb, who bought out Shirley’s share of the eatery in March, have participated in the Taste of Newport for many years. Osborn said they are prepared for the 500 to 600 people they expect to serve each day.

Their featured fare is sliders, and customers will have their choice of smoked beef brisket, Southern pulled pork or smoked Carolina turkey on a potato bun topped with their original barbecue sauce.

For the undecided, a combination plate with all three is available, along with the restaurant’s “signature hand-crafted potato chips.”

Osborn said being a Newport Beach restaurant and taking part in anything that has to do with the community and the chamber is his favorite part of the event.

“It’s hard work, and we’re beat by the end of it, but we get to see a lot of people we don’t see that often — old friends and family.

We enjoy the music, the bands; it’s a good time for us,” Osborn said.

Another newcomer this year is Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery. Owners Joe and Patrice Mudd were thrilled by the chamber’s invitation to participate.

They’ve been dishing up ice cream at their Balboa Island location for the past three years and have tried to get in at the event before, but were unable because there wasn’t a spot available.

Mudd said trying to prepare for the amount of ice cream they anticipate needing over the weekend has been a two-day endeavor.

The store ordered 400 gallons of cream, made the ice cream, and will be serving five flavors at the event. Chocolate, vanilla and cake batter will always be available, and they’ll add two other flavors each day.

By transporting portable marble slabs with freezer compartments to the event, Maggie Moo’s will be mixing fresh, custom-made treats for ice cream lovers on the spot.

“We’ve been busy, but we’re looking forward to it and we think people are going to be pleased with the taste of our ice cream,” Mudd said.

For a complete list of participating restaurants go to www.tasteofnewport.com.