RESTAURANT ROUNDUP:

Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill at South Coast Plaza is gathering recipes for a “Red-Hot” Dessert contest it is sponsoring.

Chefs interested must submit a dessert recipe by noon Monday. There is only one requirement: The recipe must contain some form of chili pepper. The winning recipe will be included on Z’Tejas’ Chile Fest menu.

The person crowned winner will be featured on the restaurant’s special Chile Fest menu in September, receive dinner for 10 to be prepared by Executive Chef Danny Stevens, and given a $100 Z’Tejas gift card.

Z’Tejas will be donating a portion of the proceeds from its new Chile Fest menu to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

E-mail submissions to recipes@ztejas.com or send mail to 4800 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 3400, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251.

For official rules, visit www.ztejas.com.

Five Crowns to host French wine tasting

A French wine tasting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Five Crowns restaurant in Newport Beach.

French wine specialist Pierrick Bouquet and Five Crowns General Manager Chris Szechenyi will pour four-ounce glasses of wine. Each guest will receive two white wines and two red, served with hors d’oeuvres.

Red wines include the 2006 Chateau Beauchene Cotes Du Rhone and the 2005 Chateau Haut Barreyre, Bordeaux. The tasting will also include the 2007 Domaine Sylvain Gaudron Dry Vouvray and the 2007 Domaine de la Couperie Sauvignon Blanc. All featured wines can be purchased.

The price per person is $25, with tax and gratuity included. Guests who stay for dinner later in the evening will be eligible for a 10% discount.

To reserve a spot, call the restaurant at (949) 760-0331.

— Jacquelyn Rumfola