THE LAST WORD:

Newport Beach is a city notable for many things — surfing, sailing, high-quality schools — and one of them is its rich culinary scene. The city’s Restaurant Assn. has sponsored Newport Beach Restaurant Week for the last two years in January, with dozens of restaurants across town offering special lunch and dinner menus. This weekend, the Chamber of Commerce is celebrating a more long-standing tradition with the 20th Annual Taste of Newport.

The 35 participants at the Taste of Newport this year prove two things about Newport Beach’s restaurant world — it’s eclectic, and it keeps on growing. With pizza, Brazilian, barbecue, sushi and Moroccan, among others, on the menu, the event shows off Newport Beach as a center for international cuisine. And this year, the lineup has welcomed a number of new restaurants, including Blanca, Mastro’s Steakhouse and the Back Bay Bistro.

As 20th birthday parties go, it’s a pretty good one. If you have a chance this evening, stop in for some food and wine — and maybe to the tune of “Red Red Wine,” since UB40 is heading the bill tonight.